Following Jesus

So the other day I “attended” an online conference called theNINES.  This year’s version of the conference was entitled “Culture Crash: When Church and Culture Collide”.  They dealt with a number of issues, some of which would, have and will continue to divide churches. 

For those of you unfamiliar with theNINES - just over 200 presenters are invited to contribute a short video on one of the conferences themes.  These videos are then strung together over two days broken up by sporadic panel discussions.

As the conversation unfolded this year there were, as always, buzzwords that emerged, advice repeated, ideas presented and questions asked.  I couldn’t help but notice that in some of the conversations people seemed to argue on the basis of what they felt…  what they wanted… what they valued… what was important to them…

I don’t know if this was done intentionally or not – I’m guessing not.  Presenters don’t know which videos will play before theirs.  I think it was partway through the second day (it all starts to blur together after a bit) one of the presenters made the following statement.  I’m afraid I don’t remember who – maybe if you read this and you know who you can let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.  He said:

If following Jesus hasn’t cost you everything…

              …you might be following the wrong jesus…

He said it so casually and then moved off of it so quickly but it hit me with the force of the Spirit.  I don’t think it needs explaining…

Let me add one more thing.  I won’t comment on it here – maybe in a later post.

Luke 17:5-10 (PNWiV)

The twelve said to Jesus, “Jesus give us more faith!”

Jesus replied, “You don’t need more faith!  You could uproot an oak tree and fling it about with faith no bigger than a grain of sand. 

Have you ever heard of a slave-master inviting his slave to supper in the big-house after a day’s work?  Isn’t the master more likely to say, ‘Hey you!  I’m hungry!  Bring me my supper, now!’ 

Does the master complement the slave on his field work? Of course not!  The slave was only being obedient – as well he should. 

So too, when you have been obedient, you should say, ‘We are such unworthy slaves; all we have done is that which is our duty.”

…just sayin’

Failure

I have found that often when I ask people what they want to do with the next five years of their life, they shrug, laugh nervously and mumble something that often sounds  like, "I don't know..."

Often (not always) when I change the question and ask...

If you could do anything...
   ...and you knew it would not fail...
               ...What would you do?

The response is different.   Even if the person does not have a ready answer, often there is a smile of relief, a tilted head and the dreaming begins...

We find it easy to dream when the possibility of failure disappears.

What's tragic about this is the fact that we cannot grow without failure...   we cannot learn without failure...

I think I've only ever failed one test/exam in my entire life...   (I know, I know... get over it...)

The thing is a test/exam is not life!  

What I mean is this.   Before I ever sat to write the test or exam I spent hours learning how to get the right answer.   Hours erasing and trying again.   Hours squinting my eyes and trying to remember elusive facts, dates, formulas and the like...   In other words... for every right exam question I logged hours of failures.

If you could do anything and you knew you would not fail... whatever it is would be the failure.  

Success cannot exist apart from the possibility of failure.   In other words, if the thing cannot fail... it cannot succeed either.   If the only time an athlete competes is when success is guaranteed they aren't competing.   If the only time a business tries a new product is when its success is guaranteed it's not a new product...

Success and failure are the two inseparable sides of the same coin...

Want some advice?   If you do anything and it "fails" (whatever that means) get up and go at it again until you figure out how to get that coin to land success-side up!

…just sayin…

A Tale of Two Churches (PART II)

…but there is more to the story… 

(if you’re not sure what story I’m talking about you’ll need to go back and read “A Tale of Two Churches (PART I)”)

At the same time that the first group set out for the proverbial greener pastures, a second group, several days-journey north, also set out.  For some strange reason, this group decided that they would first commit themselves to each other.  In other words, each person agreed that they would do what was in the best interest of the community rather than self.  They agreed that they would look out for each other…

…to look after each other…

…to matter to each other.

As they prepared they faced a significant amount of ridicule.  Neighbours couldn’t understand why anyone would commit to travel with “that poor family from the other side of the creek”, family members who said “You’d be better off if you left Uncle Ted behind,” politicians upset that no one seemed to care for their advice.

The day they left was as miserable as any.  Rain came down in sheets, turning the already primitive roads into muddy rivers.  They didn’t get anywhere near as far as they had hoped but none of that dampened their spirits.  The evening was spent running from covered wagon to covered wagon and the sound of their laughter seemed to make music with the pit-a-pat of the rain.

The morning sunrise was spectacular… of course they always thought that.

Don’t get me wrong, their journey saw more than its fair share of danger, frustration and hardship.  Somehow, these things seemed to make them stronger both individually and as a community.  As issues arose, suggestions were offered.  At times there were debates that went late into the night and sometimes voices were raised as one person or the other sought to make their point.  However, because they had started with the conviction that no issue was more important than a relationship, it was never long before they were laughing, and caring, and sharing again.

Soon the weather signalled the inevitable changing of the seasons and a community gathering was called in order to discuss what to do.  There was no rule that stated only certain individuals should talk, but it seemed to make sense to allow those who had the experience and knowledge to be called upon.  When the suggestion was made that they stop travelling and prepare for the winter it seemed so obvious the only questions were “When?” and “Where?”.

I’ll spare you the details of the journey.  It was long, and difficult.  There were shortages of food, unexpected injuries, wild storms, freezing nights, blistering heat, strange illnesses and yes, several folks died. 

Of course there were also births, and birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, they regularly stopped to share meals of thanks and even managed a Christmas feast while they were enroute. 

Finally, however they reached their destination.

Soon all the evening gatherings focussed on planning the layout and the building of their town.  What buildings would go up first, where the roads would run, town square, market, community centre and so forth.  Most of those decisions were logical.  The most heated conversations centred around what to name the town.  Of course, there were several suggestions.  And given that the subject matter was more emotional than rational there was significant disagreement… some of it loud…

…but some inspired laughter. 

In the end, it was decided that the issue was not that important. 

“Let's build.” they said.

Voices in turn said things like, “Let's keep serving each other.”

“The name is something we can decide later.”

“Maybe something will emerge as we go along.”

As with their entire journey, it was clear that they were committed not to the project…

…not to the idea of a town...

          …not to the monetary value of the right name…”

But to each other...

As a result every, and any, little or large thing that might have torn them apart became nothing more, and nothing less than one more thing to bind them together.

Anyone want to take a journey? 

A Tale of Two Churches (PART I)

 There has been much debate about the nature of the church in recent days.  What is church?  Why have church?  Why go to church?  What is church supposed to be do?  What is church supposed to be about?  What is a church community?  What is a community church? 

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus loved to tell stories (personally, I think that’s probably why children loved hanging around him so much).  I won’t claim to be anywhere near the level of Jesus when it comes to telling stories but perhaps you will allow me to try to answer some of these questions with an attempt.

A long time ago, before the west was “settled” word drifted east that there was land aplenty and the opportunity for much wealth for those who were brave enough to seize it.   Given the dangers ahead, and the value of numbers for safety, a group was formed that was made up of various individuals.  Some were after the promised land, others were pursuing wealth, still others were just looking for a place to set down roots.  As with all such endeavours the journey was fraught with danger, disaster, frustrations and hardship.  However, each person kept focussed on their “prize” and continued to move forward.

Eventually, as they travelled the more experienced among them began to notice the weather patterns signalling the changing seasons.  There was much debate about whether they should stop travelling and prepare for the oncoming winter.  The debates took place around campfires, over meals, among friends and family.  Some started congenial others were heated. 

In time, it seemed like they all became heated.

To be fair, there was more than one issue that was debated.  In fact, it seemed that the community was always arguing about something or the other.  They fought over the direction they were heading.  They fought over when to stop for the night.  They fought over when to get up in the morning.  They fought over the noise made by the children.  They fought over seniors who weren’t “pulling their weight”. At times it seems they fought just to fight.  When they finally acknowledged the need to prepare for the oncoming winter they fought over where to stop.  They fought over who should get to name the “town”.  They fought about town limits and the location of a school, a general store, a mill, a church.

Eventually, it became common for members of the community to head off on their own in the wee hours of the morning.  Some left in anger, others left in frustration, still others left  thinking they stood a better chance of achieving their goals on their own.  Most though, left as a result of hurt feelings associated with whatever topic was being raged over at the moment. 

When winter finally came they were so busy fighting each other they had failed to adequately prepare to “fight” their common enemy.  It wreaked havoc on those who had remained.  Though it was hardly a tough one as winters go, the group was so poorly prepared they suffered terribly. Some took to stealing from their neighbours to survive. Others hoarded so selfishly they callously watched those they had once referred to as ‘friend’ die, even though it was within their power to help.  The stories from that first winter were shameful and horrific.  Many died...

…most died.

What I mean is, in the end, even those who survived… didn’t.

Jesus would often end his stories by saying something like, “Are you paying attention?  Really, paying attention?”

All my Heroes Are Fallen

….all my heroes have clay feet….

Of course I know this already… knew this already… still…

I’ve just discovered that a couple of my “heroes” are… well… not heroes. I didn’t expect them to be perfect – that would be foolish – nobody is perfect. I only wanted them to live up to my ideals… 

I wanted them to be the me that I so long to be…

Pretty snappy definition for a hero, hunh? 

Hero ˈhi(ə)rō/  noun:- a person who is, what you long to be…

Perhaps this one is better:

Hero  ˈhi(ə)rō/  noun:- a person who appears to be that which you long to be… but don’t have the strength to become….

Turns out my “heroes” had no more strength than I did. 

Turns out my “heroes” we no more what I longed to be than I was…

Funny how that works.

So, I sit here with the realization that I am someone’s hero.  That someone out there is looking to me as if I am the epitome of what they long to be, but lack the strength to become.

This isn’t going to end well. 

I’m going to let them down

It’s inevitable. 

Actually, the truth is I have already let them down, they just don’t know it yet…  They think I’m “X” and really I’m “Y”  they heard me …or saw me.. or read something I wrote and thought that was all there was to me. 

Eventually they will see me with my socks and shoes off… and discover that I have clay feet.

Just sayin'

Be Still...

Psalm 46:10 …be still and know that I am God…

What do you think of when you read that verse?

Is it a call to find a corner, make yourself small and hope for the best?

Is it a call to be quiet in worship?  …I’ve sometimes heard it used that way.

Is it a call to have a regular quiet time?

What does it mean to be still? 

Two things can help us understand what the psalmist is saying here.  First, the meaning of the word itself, and secondly it’s context in the Psalm.

I won’t bore you with my limited understanding of the Hebrew language.  The word is used several times in scripture and is translated in a variety of ways depending on the context.  My favourite (and the one that I thinks come closest to capturing the original language) is the NASB’s “Cease from striving”.

Stop fighting! …and know that I am God! 

Is it “If you want to know Me you must stop fighting”  OR  “I will be found …or better, I will be seen when you stop making a scene.” ?

You can let the Spirit guide you as to how that applies to your set of circumstances.

With that in mind let’s look at the Psalm as a whole…

Bear in mind that this is song – it’s not meant to be split into tiny sections and put on fridge magnets… it was intended to be sung as a package.

You need to read the whole psalm to understand it…

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

That’s why we do not fear!

… the world might crumble around us but…

God is right in the middle of the chaos!

God is right in the middle of the chaos!  (it’s subtle but powerful)

Our God is not any ol’ god, He is the “LORD of HOSTS” and

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob [the God of our forefathers…

The God who has proved Himself powerful, and able for generations! 

This God is in absolute control!

…and here it is…

Cease striving!  Stop trying so hard… stop fighting!

“Cease striving and know that I am God;

Even the nations will exalt ME!

Somehow…

Suddenly…

That’s enough…

…just sayin’…

Taking the Stink

One of my aunts (I have/had about a dozen) got married later in life.  Because she was so… mature… when she got hitched she already had many of the things young newlyweds often only dream about… like a house of her own. Instead of selling it, she opted to put it up for rent, thinking to use it as an income property.

 

It rented almost immediately and she was off living her married life in another city or country while happily collecting the proceeds. 

 

All was well until the family moved out and she tried to rent it again. 

 

To this day the state of that house ranks as one of the filthiest dwelling I have ever seen.  When we went to see it we could not touch the walls or banisters.  Even touching door knobs required disposable towels or gloves.  Some rooms contained what looked like decaying matter, sections of the carpet still held what clearly looked like human waste.  The smell was something I cannot describe.

 

Let’s say, before departing the house the tenants had called up my aunt (their land lady) and said, “Something stinks in the house!  It’s so bad we can’t sleep at night and the neighbours are starting to complain!”

 

Let’s say they complain for months and nothing changes!  Finally in a fit of angered frustration they decide to move.  They find a new place and begin to pack.  Imagine they pack everything.  The beds, the dressers, the pictures off the wall, the microwave, the knick-knacks.  They pack their clothes and mementos.  They pack their board games, fridge, freezer, TV, stereo and video games.  They pack the drapery and all the bath mats.  They roll up the carpet, decaying matter, fecal matter, filth and all.  They strip the house down to drywall and subfloor, put it all in a truck and move it to their new home where they unload it all and set it all back up…

 

It’s not going to be long until they are complaining about the smell again…

 

In fact, even if they left everything behind at the old address but continued in their same old (dirty) habits, no matter how pretty the new place is, it’s gonna get smelly again.

 

Why is it that Christians think moving from one ministry to another… from one church to another is a solution?  Why do we insist on dragging our stink around with us when Christ invites us to leave it behind?  Why do we feel that moving into a place where nobody knows our baggage means that we don’t have any?

 

It’s time we stopped hauling our stinky junk around! 

 

PUT IT DOWN!

 

It seems to me, the only think Jesus invites us to take with us is a cross…

 

…just sayin…