More than a Change of Opinion

S - "After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand. When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn’t drown in the sea, but Justice will kill him anyway.” Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn’t harmed. The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god." Acts of Ambassadors 28:3-6

O - As it turns out, the local people were right about Paul's violent past and wrong about Justice.  On a couple of different occasions, he will write about his life before encountering Jesus of Nazareth on the road to Damascus. He describes himself as violently persecuting the community of followers and trying to destroy it; a pursuit which involved imprisonment and death for those he was after. When Paul didn't die by the snake bite, the local people would change their minds about him and be wrong again. The straight-line (cause and effect) thinking of people often appears logical and accurate and is just as often wrong. What is required is a change of thinking, not just a change of conclusions or opinions based on certain subsets of input. Straight-line thinking isn't always wrong but at its best it is always incomplete. This is, in part, why Jesus starts his conversation with world by saying: "Change your thinking. The kingdom of heaven has come near." 

 

A - Nature defies (resists, refuses) a straight line. Trees are vertical not straight. The Himalayas are beautiful but not one of them is straight. Rivers don't flow in a straight line and the horizon is curved. So, who made nature? Who are we following? It’s true that the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line— but it seems he rarely takes it. Straight-line thinking is why the 12 want to send the 5,000 families away hungry. Jesus had something else in mind.  It is why the Scripture experts of his day misunderstood and misapplied Sabbath. Straight-line thinking is why the religious and political leaders killed Jesus. He says "Change your thinking. The kingdom of heaven is near." He also says "Unless you change your thinking you too will end in ruin." I will welcome and accept more than a change of opinion; more than conclusions based exclusively on sequential assessments. I'll pursue and embrace a transformed thinking made possible by God's Spirit and the Kingdom that is near. 

 

P - God of Jesus and God of me,

I admit that I need an ongoing change of thinking unto the life that is really life.  I will welcome this change day by day, relying on you for its clarity and effect.  Thanks for the beauty of creation and the beauty beyond straight-line thinking.

Steve  

Faith - it may not be what you think it is

 

S - "Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 

 

O - These are the words of Jesus spoken to the sister of his friend who had died four days earlier. He was talking about a resurrection on that very day and she was stuck in her theological framework. You can read the entire exchange in John's account at chapter eleven. So, what does Jesus mean by "if you had faith"? Is he provoking her to rehearse, enhance or alter some theological conclusions about his identity? Is having faith laying a claim to some promise or principle in scripture? The record is clear and the answer is no. In fact, the resurrection of her brother is not the result of her request, spiritual intensity or scriptural understanding. Yet, she sees her brother raised to life and the glory of God in it all.  Faith (the original language word) is not a theological term but a relational one.  It means to rely on or have confidence in.  It is not the result of theological definition but of personal exchange.  Even in her misunderstanding and failure to ask, she is relying on and having confidence in Jesus.  The rest is history and a glorious one it is. 

 

A - The opportunity of choice, the work heaven wants all people to do, is to believe (to have confidence in and rely on) the one sent by God.  Religion has made faith a theological term and heaven insists on keeping it relational.  The great thing for me in this story is that being near Jesus in relational confidence is more important than knowing what to ask for.  The sister won't miss because of who she is with; not because of her theological prowess or spiritual fervor. The same dynamic is offered to me and to all.  The invitation remains: "follow me and you'll be amazed at what you see."  All these years later I can say -- I remain amazed at Jesus and at God's glory.     

 

P - Lord,

Am so very grateful for your open-ended and unrelenting invitation to come near and to believe.  Thank you for insisting on a relationship rather than a religious practice; for the joy of knowing you and not just knowing about you.  Thank you for putting the face on God; for clarifying his person and his purposes.  

Confident in and relying on you,

Steve  

Known not just Known About

S - "GOD called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew GOD for himself. It was before the revelation of GOD had been given to him personally.)" 1 Samuel 3:6-7 MSG

 

O - This ancient event and text identify one of heaven's essential desires for all people.  The desire? That each of us would know GOD for ourselves, a relational exchange given to us individually, personally.  Religion is satisfied for people to believe its presentation of the facts about God.  It creates adherents, devotees and enthusiasts.  It develops gatherings, rituals, programs and organizational structure based on the information it presents. It calls people to believe in God the way 330 million Americans believe in Abraham Lincoln. Heaven has no such desire.  

 

A - Knowing someone and knowing about someone (regardless of how many facts about them are possessed) is not the same thing. Jesus of Nazareth clarifies eternal life with this same dynamic. "This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent." The beauty for me is not only can God and Jesus actually be known/experienced but we are also known by them. We are not just known about by heaven (the way the IRS knows about us).  We are known, loved and wanted even at our worst.  WOW! 

 

P - God who invites us to know,

Am so very grateful for you and your kingdom which is relationships. For the great dignity of choice given to us all so that we would have and grow in an actual relationship with you. I admit that I can't make you do your part and you won't make me do mine.  We choose together.  

Am grateful to live and pray in Jesus,

Steve 

The Tragic Result of Self-Reliance

S - "Some people brought their children to Jesus so he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his followers told the people to stop bothering him. When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. I promise you that you cannot get into God’s kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them."  Mark 10:13-16 TJB

 

O - In this rather famous event in the life of Jesus, he identifies those who belong to God's kingdom and also how that kingdom is entered.  It is the same for both entry and belonging. Childlikeness is the only way.  In fact, we are promised by Jesus that without this reality actively working in our lives we "cannot get into God's kingdom"; and we cannot and will not belong. Those people (regardless of age, station in life, religion and ethnicity) who enter and belong are childlike. Any who try to stop or prevent childlike entry and belonging anger him.  He says "Don't try to stop them."   

 

A - Jesus is the most childlike human being to live on earth and he insists we join him in childlikeness. Religion and the "grown-up world" in which we live do not believe him about this reality. It thinks that accurate theology and right religious practice are the keys to entering and belonging.  The result is the conflict which angers Jesus.  The world tries to stop all childlike thinking and living.  It insists on worldly wisdom and maturity.  God insists on the opposite.  If I am going to enter and belong I must accept, pursue and engage childlike living in all circumstances. Grownups are taught to rely on themselves; what they know, what they have and what they can do. Children rely on another for direction, protection and provision.  Childlikeness is not naiveté, that is childish. Rather it is consistent reliance on another, on God and not ourselves.  In my thinking and living am I childlike?  Am I living a self-reliant life or one relying on Him? In my interface with others am I hindering their childlikeness by words and actions of "maturity"? Jesus says: "Blessed are those people who rely only on God.  They belong to his kingdom."

 

P - Our Father in heaven,

Your kingdom is near and you give all people the dignity of choice.  I accept the instruction and assignment Jesus gives regarding your kingdom.  It is in my heart to enter and to belong and so I choose to learn the ways of childlike living.  Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify your person and purposes. 

Steve

Christmas Forest or Christmas Trees

This time of year, Christmas trees (which we love and should love) are everywhere. They can lift our spirits, recalibrate our thoughts and have enamored countless generations of children in anticipation and joy. Add a carol or two, a few angels on high with some lowly shepherds and the combination is fantastic! 

 

For those who wish to look a little deeper into the events inspiring this much-loved holiday, heaven's interface with earth becomes increasingly apparent. Magi and a star from the East; angelic visits, dreams and songs; instructions and miracles for unlikely people who become the lead characters in a story that never grows old. Wow!

 

Still, there's more to the story and the celebration.  From ancient times and sacred texts predictions and descriptions of these events abound.  Studied by scholars and proclaimed by clerics for centuries, the amazing convergence of history, scriptures, culture and hope all congeal. To even a casual observer, a plan so brilliant and well-ordered emerges arresting one's imaginative and analytical powers.  Joy to the world … God actually has, and is working, a plan! 

 

It's still a common expression in our day … you can't see the forest for the trees. Nothing could be more applicable in this season of celebration. The Christmas plan, like the Christmas tree, is inspiring and alluring. It is captivating. However, the plan is not the focus heaven is inviting the world to see.  Heaven's point is not the plan nor its components.  Heaven's only point is a person.  Jesus of Nazareth is the Christmas Forest; everything else is just Christmas trees.  

In or Out?

S - "Once again Jesus used stories to teach the people: The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. The king sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused. … Then he said to the servants, 'It is time for the wedding banquet, and the invited guests don’t deserve to come.'" According to Matthew 22:1-3, 8 TJB 

 

O - Jesus is sent by God to clarify his person and his purposes. According to Jesus (who is the expert), the dynamics of this story are what God’s kingdom is like. The guests don’t get excluded from the wedding banquet because they missed their opportunity. There’s no misunderstanding, accidental lapse or unintended miscue.  They decide to refuse the invitation and exclude themselves. 

 

A - Religion inspires people to live in the fear of missing God’s person and purpose; that somehow, we’ll miss by mere distraction or by a misunderstood dynamic with unintended consequences.  Numerous religious teachings encourage this thinking and the tragic paranoias it produces. Again and again Jesus lives, demonstrates and teaches that God and his kingdom are not like that. We can in fact be excluded but not by mistake or misunderstanding. If I’m excluded it will never be by an unintended miss but only by an intentional choice.  Jesus’ invitation remains in force day by day: "follow me". Since I’m with him, choosing to follow him each day, I can’t miss and won’t be excluded. 

 

P - God Almighty,

Thank you for sending Jesus to the world (now 7.7 billion people).  Thank you for inviting us to meet and follow a person not join a religion, commit to a principle or work a plan. Thank you for the great dignity of choice … am very glad to be choosing day by day.

Intentionally following Jesus, 

Steve 

About the American Dream …

The American Dream inspired, captivated and propelled our Nation's Founders and Citizens to a way of thinking which was unheard of in their day: we the people … created equal … endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights … life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. The right to vote based on citizenship rather than financial holdings, religious freedom, a free press and the right to assemble all flow from this Dream.  To this very day it is unequalled and unparalleled in our world.  

 

The Dream came to imperfect people in an imperfect world.  A look back confirms that it was engaged by three basic types of individuals. Revolutionaries, patriots and those looking only to advance themselves.  The distinction is not necessarily apparent in one's speech but becomes very clear in one's living. Consider the following: While George Washington was leading the revolutionary army, a patriot named Martha Washington was living out her life in essential and sacrificial support. Paul Revere and his female counterpart in Connecticut, Sybil Ludington, sounded alarms at critical points in the conflict.  John Adams had the revolutionary task of obtaining a loan from the Dutch while the patriot Abigail Adams gave herself tirelessly to activities which kept them all alive. Esther DeBerdt Reed established “The Ladies of Philadelphia” raising an enormous amount of money to fund American troops. When Benedict Arnold wasn't being advanced as quickly under Washington as he thought he deserved he had no trouble going to the British to advance himself and his military career.  

 

Along with the Dream, these three types are with us to this very day. In this election year the phrase "the American Dream" is being touted.  The issue is that what many refer to as the Dream isn't the Dream at all. The beginning of the American Experiment came when 56 individuals started with the Dream and, as a result, pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to each other under the protection of Providence.  The change of thinking and living that followed is providing the world (not just Americans) with so many opportunities and blessings to this very day.  But the opportunities and blessings are not the dream, they are the result of those who embraced it.  The Dream cannot be embraced for me.  It calls me to decide my own response.  My thinking and my living will be the final arbiters as to which of the three types I become.