From now through Easter, we're going to be focusing exclusively on the person of Jesus in a series called High Definition Jesus. From February 25 through March 1, I'll be blogging on the InTake blog (see link to the right) on the importance of Jesus being our main focus. From March 2 through Easter on March 23, we're challenging everyone to read a chapter of the book of John each day, and Brad and I will post on the InTake blog each day on the chapters as we're reading together. So join in and take a High Definition look at Jesus Christ. There isn't a better investment you can make with your time and energy.
I've said several times recently that this will likely be an annual practice for us to focus on Jesus himself, and hopefully everything we do the rest of the year will be oriented around Him as well. If I'm going to make a mistake, I don't want it to be that I didn't focus on Jesus enough. Ironically, Jesus is still popular and intriguing to people in our world, and frankly we're not. Our opinions about how life should be lived aren't terribly popular either, but WWJD is still buzzworthy. What matters most and what interests people the most happen to converge in the person of Jesus himself. So let's make sure we get it right, and do our best to see Jesus for who He really is. I look forward to sharing this month-long journey with you, hearing your comments and stories, and knowing Jesus better than I did before.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Caught Up or Freed Up
As we concluded our Simple Faith series yesterday, we featured a song by Keith Urban called "Everybody."
Maybe I've been too caught up
To see what you've been going through
All that I can say is that I'm here now
Everybody needs somebody sometimes...
These lyrics, taken from the bridge and chorus of the song, gripped me as I prepared to sing them last week. When it comes to loving our neighbor (or perhaps loving anyone), one of our greatest obstacles is past failure. How do you start loving someone when you have a track record of conspicuously not loving them? It feels like you're only highlighting your own past failure by suddenly changing. "Better late than never" sounds like a hollow and embarrassing excuse. For most of us, I think, just leaving things the way they are is a much more comfortable option, but it has consequences.
I have a friend whose parents divorced when she was two years old. Her father was not a part of her life growing up; she hasn't actually seen him since she was twelve. Now an adult with a family of her own, she has attempted to help her father connect with his daughter, son-in-law and beautiful grandchildren, but those attempts have met with resistance. The reason? To the father, these people are painful reminders of a past failure. The healing, restoration, and joy that would come from these relationships are blocked by the fear and discomfort of facing the past. He's destined to repeat his offenses by continuing to run away from them. As the song says, he's "too caught up" to see beyond himself, and it hurts him and his family.
While all our relationships are not as crucial as that of a father and daughter, any relationship has at least the potential to be so, and no relationship is without its affects. Jesus said, "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42 TNIV) Even the smallest step in the right direction breaks the hold of the past and opens a door to a better future. Will the guy in the cubicle next to yours wonder why you're inviting him to lunch when you haven't spoken two words to him in years? Probably. Will your estranged neighbor wonder why, after all this time, you now decide to walk across the street and talk? Yep. Sometimes all you can say is, "I'm here now." If you do, you may be surprised how easy it is for both of you to let go of the awkward past.
Don't settle for "caught up." Life is better if it's freed up: freed up to engage the people around us, freed up to discover their stories and let God use the relationship to change both lives.
This week resolve, with God's help, to break free in a relationship that is "caught up." Engage a neighbor or co-worker that you have not engaged. Break an old habit of overlooking someone you see relgularly. Christians stepped in when my friend's parents stepped out and it changed her life. So step in!
Maybe I've been too caught up
To see what you've been going through
All that I can say is that I'm here now
Everybody needs somebody sometimes...
These lyrics, taken from the bridge and chorus of the song, gripped me as I prepared to sing them last week. When it comes to loving our neighbor (or perhaps loving anyone), one of our greatest obstacles is past failure. How do you start loving someone when you have a track record of conspicuously not loving them? It feels like you're only highlighting your own past failure by suddenly changing. "Better late than never" sounds like a hollow and embarrassing excuse. For most of us, I think, just leaving things the way they are is a much more comfortable option, but it has consequences.
I have a friend whose parents divorced when she was two years old. Her father was not a part of her life growing up; she hasn't actually seen him since she was twelve. Now an adult with a family of her own, she has attempted to help her father connect with his daughter, son-in-law and beautiful grandchildren, but those attempts have met with resistance. The reason? To the father, these people are painful reminders of a past failure. The healing, restoration, and joy that would come from these relationships are blocked by the fear and discomfort of facing the past. He's destined to repeat his offenses by continuing to run away from them. As the song says, he's "too caught up" to see beyond himself, and it hurts him and his family.
While all our relationships are not as crucial as that of a father and daughter, any relationship has at least the potential to be so, and no relationship is without its affects. Jesus said, "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42 TNIV) Even the smallest step in the right direction breaks the hold of the past and opens a door to a better future. Will the guy in the cubicle next to yours wonder why you're inviting him to lunch when you haven't spoken two words to him in years? Probably. Will your estranged neighbor wonder why, after all this time, you now decide to walk across the street and talk? Yep. Sometimes all you can say is, "I'm here now." If you do, you may be surprised how easy it is for both of you to let go of the awkward past.
Don't settle for "caught up." Life is better if it's freed up: freed up to engage the people around us, freed up to discover their stories and let God use the relationship to change both lives.
This week resolve, with God's help, to break free in a relationship that is "caught up." Engage a neighbor or co-worker that you have not engaged. Break an old habit of overlooking someone you see relgularly. Christians stepped in when my friend's parents stepped out and it changed her life. So step in!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tacos and Trash Talk
There are markers in every relationship, big things or small things that mark the beginning of a new era. For me, the most important ones have usually marked the movement from formality to informality. It's sometimes very subtle, but when people start to relax and let their guards down, everything changes. Small changes in behavior or conversation usually tip this off, and I think my radar is always scanning for them subconciously. Our table group Sunday night included a couple of these.
For the first time that I can remember, we made fun of each other. This is a big deal, and doesn't work unless people trust each other. Unless you're relationally obtuse, you won't make fun of someone unless you're confident that they know you truly value them underneath the insult. On the receiving end, it's only possible to laugh at yourself (and be laughed at) if you're confident of your standing in the group. It was open season Sunday night. We all had fun at our own expense, and it was a win for the group.
I usually have a question or topic for discussion that I throw out at the table, for the kids as well as the adults, as I did on Sunday. However, as the evening went on, the conversation took a different turn. People in our group needed to talk about other things going on in their lives, and they viewed the table as the place to get advice and insight. So the conversation turned. The formality of a "discussion question" was usurped by the informality of real life; a meeting became friends looking for help from friends. Whether our news is good or bad, whether we need someone to celebrate with us or we need answers, I think all of us would look toward Sunday evenings as the place for that. And if it was urgent, we wouldn't wait until Sunday evening.
We laughed about our dinner. We had tacos, and I think most of the ingredients were leftovers from our families' refrigerators. But we "ate together in our home with glad and sincere hearts, and enjoyed the favor of all the people." I'm sure we'll have some fine china and crystal nights that will be very meaningful, but the leftovers-paper plate-verbal abuse-good counsel from friends nights are pretty hard to beat.
For the first time that I can remember, we made fun of each other. This is a big deal, and doesn't work unless people trust each other. Unless you're relationally obtuse, you won't make fun of someone unless you're confident that they know you truly value them underneath the insult. On the receiving end, it's only possible to laugh at yourself (and be laughed at) if you're confident of your standing in the group. It was open season Sunday night. We all had fun at our own expense, and it was a win for the group.
I usually have a question or topic for discussion that I throw out at the table, for the kids as well as the adults, as I did on Sunday. However, as the evening went on, the conversation took a different turn. People in our group needed to talk about other things going on in their lives, and they viewed the table as the place to get advice and insight. So the conversation turned. The formality of a "discussion question" was usurped by the informality of real life; a meeting became friends looking for help from friends. Whether our news is good or bad, whether we need someone to celebrate with us or we need answers, I think all of us would look toward Sunday evenings as the place for that. And if it was urgent, we wouldn't wait until Sunday evening.
We laughed about our dinner. We had tacos, and I think most of the ingredients were leftovers from our families' refrigerators. But we "ate together in our home with glad and sincere hearts, and enjoyed the favor of all the people." I'm sure we'll have some fine china and crystal nights that will be very meaningful, but the leftovers-paper plate-verbal abuse-good counsel from friends nights are pretty hard to beat.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Rediscovering Matthew 10
Over the last couple of weeks, I've been rediscovering Matthew 10. I've lived most of my Christian life in the Matthew 28 mode of "all nations," and God has backed me up a few chapters to rediscover the local mission of Christ. I've labelled it the "First Commission," which I'm studying and about which I'm posting comments on our InTake Blog this week (see link to the right). Check it out and let me know what you think.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Hunks Victorious!
I can hardly move. My thighs hurt, my knees hurt, my calves hurt. But who cares? The Hunks (translated: dads/old men) beat the Punks (sons/teenagers) by a score of 6 touchdowns to 4 in our neighborhood's annual Super Sunday football game. We played on a vacant lot in our neighborhood that a couple of the dads actually chalked and striped for the game, which was a good thing because there was a lot of "discussion" about first down markers and out-of-bounds. The game was filled with memorable moments, from the Punk who lost his shorts (the defense was a little too grippy on 2-below tackling), to the controversial penalty when the Punks had too many men on the field, to the final touchdown that saved the Hunks' pride for another year. To be honest, we knew we needed to win quick before we hurt ourselves and/or ran out of gas!
I can't remember a day I enjoyed as much as yesterday. We had a great service at the YMCA that I felt was a landmark moment in the life of our church (you can listen to it all at www.cometothesprings.com). The Hunks vs. Punks game and the great neighborhood party afterward were one of the best times I've had in a long time. Thanks to our awesome neighbors who enjoy spending time together and have made us feel at home on Hidden Brook Lane!
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