Why am I here?

From Hebridean Altars

Seven times a day I work upon this hungry farm, I say to Thee, 'Lord, why am I here? What is there here to stir my gifts to growth? What great thing can I do for others - I who am captive to this dreary toil?'

And seven times a day Thou answerest, 'I cannot do without thee. Once did My Son live thy life, and by His faithfulness did show My mind, My kindness, and My truth to men. But now He is come to My side, and thou must take His place.'

Renovare notes cont'd - Words

"The opening page of our Scriptures presents us with God speaking words: saying the entire creation and us into being. 'And God said. And God said. And God said.' Everywhere and always as Christians follow Jesus we use words that were first used by God in bringing us and the world around us into being. Our language is derivative (as everything about us is!) from the language of God."
-Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way

Words: Moses and The Jesus Way - Richard Foster

God said, 'Let there be light' and the Big Bang occured.
God is our 'communicating cosmos' (Dallas Willard)

Words trivialized by the blogosphere, corrupted by doublespeak, and debased by blasphemies keep us perpetually distracted. We say more and more about less and less.

Responding in Faith and Hope

• Words that are few and full: Grounded and drawn out of silence unplugs us from the inane babel of modern culture.

• Words that bless and encourage: significant in context.

• Words that are crisp and clear and imaginative: "The difference between right word and almost right word is between lightening and a lightening bug." Mark Twain Imaginative words paint pictures, show and don't tell.

St. Teresa's Bookmark

Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing; God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.

Renovare notes cont'd - Worship

Worship: Elijah and the Jesus Way - Emilie Griffin

"Worship in the biblical sources and in liturgical history is not something a person experiences, it is something we do, regardless of how we feel about it, or whether we feel anything about it at all. The experience develops out of the worship, not the other way around. Authentic worship means being present to the living God who penetrates the whole of human life."
-Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way

Elijah - single minded, undivided heart
Elijah teaches us how to wait for God - solitude, submission, surrender
Elijah consistently accepts whatever God sends him, desolation and consolation. He knows that God is always with him.
Through Elijah's example we learn about embracing the tough stuff of life. Elijah accepted and sought to hear God's voice even in the tough times.

Elijah experiences rejection and goes into hiding. He runs for his life. This is because he is Yahweh's man, becomes he condemns the worship of false gods.

On the run, Elijah hears God while hiding in the cave. One translation is that he hears God in the sheer silence. St. John of the Cross calls it, "Silent music or music that keeps still."

Teresa of Avila: "God is enough"

How should we worship the Living God?
-Being present to the living God who permeates the whole of life
-Becoming temples of God's Spirit
-Walking the "hidden path" of interior formation
-Rejoicing/manifesting faith in God in community
-Letting your life speak: 'Responding to every movement of grace like a floating balloon" (deCaussade)

The worship service is a frame into which we pour our lives and the desires of our hearts for God. A frame in which we live and move and have our being. A frame in which we find ourselves present to the living God.

Renovare notes cont'd - Servanthood

"'Servant' surprises us because it is so incongruent with the way itself, the way of salvation, a 'highway for our God.' The 'way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert' is a glorious affair, extravagantly glorious. But the agents God chooses to carry out this glorious work are inglorious servants." Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way

Servanthood: Isaiah in the Exile and The Jesus Way - Dallas Willard

Notes:

• Servanthood leads us to forgiveness and mercy.
  
• We turn our kingdom over to God's kingdom
• The cross casts us off from the burden of self control.
• You can only serve out of abundance not out of scarcity
• In exile we learn the sufficiency of God
• Jesus spoke about a grain of wheat that must die to grow. How is our life like a grain of wheat that falls into a ground to bear fruit?
• In John's gospel, travelers from Greece asked Philip if they could talk to Jesus. Historically we conclude that they were hoping to invite Jesus onto the speaking circuit traveling around the Empire and spread his teachings. This was consistent with what other philosophers and teachers had done. Jesus' response to them was that he must die. He denies their request.

Notes from Renovare - The Jesus Way

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Renovare - The Jesus Way conference in San Antonio. Great stuff. Over the course of the next few blog entries I'll share some of the notes I wrote from the sessions. And away we go...

From Eugene Peterson's message "The Jesus Way: What is it? Why do I care?" (The following are all Peterson's words)

• We live in a spiritually thirsty, God curious culture.
• The Jesus Way is a Human Way: The easy part, God becomes human in Jesus and doesn't ask us to be divine. Jesus was grounded in his humanity as we are and that makes it easy for us to identify with him. The hard part, when it comes down to it, I think I would rather be like God than have God be like me. The Serpent's promise to "be like God" is still pretty attractive. However, God fantasies leave us less human.
• The Jesus Way is a Conversational Way: The easy part, Jesus speaks in a language that I am already fluent in, an everyday language of personal conversation that makes me a speech partner with the Word made flesh. We are drawn into a conversation with God. The hard part, it is a lot easier to use language impersonally and functionally. Personal engagement requires something beyond information and explanation.
• The Jesus Way is an Ordinary Way: The easy part, this is an ordinary, well worn path that millions have walked. I don't have to be a super-athlete, a mountain climber. I can do this. It is a "feet on the ground" way. The hard part, "ordinary" is boring. I'd like something that gives me an edge on the common humdrum of life. A little excitement and the spice of entertainment.

Perfect churches are like perfect families, or a bit like the Blue Ridge Mountains. They only look blue from 50 miles away, but when you get up close...

What if Starbucks marketed like a church?

Shared power

"I've got the power."

That's what my VBS shirt says. Right there on the left side of my chest, white letters on a fluorescent green.

that But...before I get a big head, and begin to build my kingdom...I look around and acknowledge all of our VBS shirts say the same thing. They all say, "I've got the power." Ok. Now I'm confused. Who has the power? We all do.

God's design for the church is for us to share power, God's power, and use that power to love and serve each other.

We don't insist on our own way, boast, keep records of wrongs, delight in evil, or fly off the handle. Instead we humbly share power through kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness (1 Corinthians 13).

It's not simply that the pastor(s), a group of leaders, a single leader, a long time member, or the most vocal, or most influential who hold power. That's not the way God's designed the church.

The Spirit in all its fullness comes to each one of us in baptism. God breathes on all of us equally.

Who's in charge?

While we share the power, we must recognize the source of our power is Jesus Christ. Before his ascension Jesus said to the disciples, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples..." (Matthew 28:18) Jesus, who holds power over us, commands us to go. We go and advance God's kingdom with boldness and graciousness.

Remember, we're all in this together.

Mike

Advice or direction?

When praying, do you find yourself asking more for God's advice on a subject or situation? Do you ever find yourself saying, "I really should get God's opinion on this situation?"

I've done it and at times I still do, and I don't think it's right.

Behind asking for God's advice is a belief that I'm really in control and ultimately responsible. I make things happen, and I'm just a bit confused. If God could just dispense a bit of help I'd be better off. If I pray a little prayer at the beginning of a meeting or as I face a decision I'll be better off.

And then I was reminded yesterday of Jesus' words, "...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19)

Jesus then tells us, "Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me...Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:4,5)

We're not simply to ask for advice, we're to humble ourselves before God consistently as a way of living. We acknowledge that we absolutely, positively need God...we need advice, yes, but what we need more is God. We need his completeness and his presence to move through us and in spite of us. What if we approached prayer with that type of attitude?

Prayer requests or demands

How many times have you entered prayer with a list of demands instead of a list of requests for God? Too many times for me. What's the difference between asking/praying with boldness and confidence and demanding that God deliver?

If we approach God like a vending machine dispensing blessing on demand, then we'll treat God with disrespect.

But, if we approach God in humility and honesty, asking God for what we hope and desire and leaving it in God's hands to work his purpose out, then we'll have the proper perspective. It's like Jesus praying in the garden of gethsemane. He didn't want to die a painful, agnonizing death...that was his desire, but he tempered it saying, "Not my will but yours be done."

Bottom line: Prayer emerges and is evidence of a relationship. I don't have a relationship with a vending machine. I have a relationship with God who desires to have a two way communication between himself and his people.

He's everywhere

Everywhere we turn God is.

David writes in Psalm 139, "You know when I sit and when I rise...Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?"

God is everywhere. Graciously. Powerfully. Silently.

Even in a cheeto?

All the cool kids...

Are you going to be there Saturday?

Everyone's who is anyone is going to be there.

It's the happening thing.

Nope. Not an Ohio State football game (it's the offseason).

Not a concert.

Not a party...

The Blessed are the Peacemakers seminar, Saturday at 9am at All Saints.

I hope to see you there.

Mike

Nine times

A holy kiss

Is this a picture of people leaving a church or people leaving a public building like a school?

Most likely it's the latter, but I think it illustrates sometimes what happens in congregations if we're not careful. Out of fear, resentment, or bitterness we can become unwilling to talk and interact with certain people.

Paul encourages us to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (2 Corinthians 13:12). We can't do so with masks on our faces...or invisible barriers between us. Holy kiss is figurative...it indicates a willingness to engage and bless instead of distance and curse those within the community of Christ.

Take the masks off. Attend the Ambassadors for Reconcilliation Peacemaker seminar at All Saints on May 16 from 9-3:30pm. Lunch is provided and it's free.

Together with you in Christ,
Mike

Pandemic and peacemakers

The world is holding its breath waiting to see if the swine flu becomes a pandemic. All of us are hoping for the best. The latest...

-Deaths: 149, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. 1,995 people have been hospitalized with pneumonia but government does not yet know how many were swine flu.

-Sickened: Forty confirmed in U.S., 28 at one New York City school. Elsewhere, 6 confirmed in Canada; 13 suspected in New Zealand; 1 confirmed and 17 suspected in Spain; 1 suspected in France; 1 suspected in Israel.

-Confirmed cases in U.S.: 28 in New York, 7 in California, 2 in Kansas, 2 in Texas and 1 in Ohio.

We pray for God's healing for those who suffer, comfort for those who mourn, and intervention that it doesn't get worse.

This isn't anything new. Since the beginning of time humanity has faced threats of various pandemics, not all physical. Some are emotional like unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, self pity, and blame. They sicken and destroy relationships. How many lives have been destroyed by such sickness? How many marriages and families have been broken apart? And, we pass the sickness on from one person to another, to friends, and even to our children.

It doesn't have to be this way. God provides a way by showing us love and being the source of love and forgiveness. As John writes, "We love because he first loved us." As we love, we embrace God's call to each of us to be peacemakers.

Build your and your families immunity to emotional pandemic that wreaks havoc in our lives by attending the Blessed Are the Peacemakers seminar on May 16 at All Saints. Details are on the All Saints website, www.saintsonhigh.org Hope to see you there.

I know how you feel

With 16 seconds left in the game, Texas scores to beat Ohio State in last night's Fiesta Bowl. Ouch. Buckeye nation, I know how you feel.

As a Browns fan, we've had victory snatched from our grasp lots of times. Mention Red Right 88, the fumble, the drive or even John Elway's name to any Browns fan and you're bound to get a sigh of resignation. In the last seconds of three playoff games, the Browns found a way to lose. Last night's drive by the Colt McCoy led offense was reminiscent of Elway's leadership of the Broncos offense when they drove down 98 yards to score sending the 1986 playoff game versus the Browns into overtime.

I know. I know. It doesn't help when people say, "At least the game was competative and well played." Those words are little consolation and barely touch the sting of the loss.

Browns Backers everywhere weep with you. We heed Paul's words from his letter to the church in Corinth, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Take heart. There's always next year.