Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Thursday, April 5, 2012
St. John?
I had the pleasure of visiting Haywood Street Congregation this past week. If you have never heard of Haywood Street, I encourage you to look it up (http://haywoodstreet.org/). Haywood Street is...well, an unusual church.
Haywood Street is a church that expects diversity.
They expect diversity in the form of race.
They expect diversity in economic situations.
They expect diversity in housing (or no housing) situations.
Haywood Street is a church with a high expectation of what church should be all about.
And yet...Haywood Street is a church that also carries no expectations at all.
Ultimately, Haywood Street is a church that has a heart for those who are outcasts of society.
Many churches claim this, but I must say that Haywood Street is the first church I know that lives this out to the fullest extent.
They see people as Children of God and not as scary dangerous people.
They see all people as friends...not an object to serve.
They see people as real.
I was fascinated to experience this church. I felt like I got a glimpse into what Jesus' ministry looked like. I also understood why that scared so many of the religious leaders. This wasn't a "clean" experience. People smelled, people cussed like sailors, and smoked like chimney's. I stood in line with one individual that was so drunk, I occasionally had to help keep him from falling over.
And yet, these people were loved. Not just in word...they were truly loved. The gentleman that could barely stand told me no less than 20 times how loved he felt by the church and how loved he felt by the pastors. He confessed his "drinking sin" to me just as many times. He talked about how he was held accountable by the pastors and yet the pastors still loved him when he fell off the wagon.
I also kept thinking about how these folks would not be welcomed in most churches that I know. They would be welcomed to certain activities, but they would not truly be "welcomed" the way they are at Haywood Street.
No one exemplifies this better than John. John was an interesting man. He has lived a rough life. He had quite a "smell" to him.
Haywood Street starts off their Wednesday with a free meal for the community. Lots of folks show up for this meal, but only about a third or so of them actually make their way into the worship service that follows. Many churches would see this as a failure, but Haywood Street sees this as a huge success.
As we started the service, we came to our prayer time. Just as we were about to start our pray...a profanity laced tirade started outside. A slew of f-bombs were mixed with threats of many kinds. He wasn't quiet either and he showed little sign of slowing down. Pastor Brian paused the service and stated "it sounds like Haywood Street outside, John's had a rough week, let's pray for him." Like that, we went off of our bulletin script and started to pray for John.
We prayed for peace...
We prayed for healing...
We prayed for his Spirit to be calmed...
We prayed that he would feel how loved he is in this community...
We just prayed. It wasn't in the script or bulletin, but it is what life called for at that moment.
A few moments later we heard sirens and the police outside helping calm the situation. I had a mixture of relief and fear.
Relief that they were there to calm the situation...
and fear for John that the police would react to his actions without really knowing what all was going on in his life.
We move on in the service and debrief what just happened (I'll post about that in a few days).
When we get time to the message, the back door opens and in comes John.
He walks right up the center aisle and gives Pastor Brian a big hug and apologizes. He then takes his place in one of the pews up front and just cries for a while.
How many churches do you know that would allow John to come into the service right after this experience.
The man that just dropped the f-bomb more times in 5 minutes that I've heard it used in the last year is now welcomed into the church.
The man who was just threatening to "cut" people 10 minutes before that is now sitting in the pew in front of me.
What was even more amazing is that when it came time for communion, John moved to the front of the sanctuary and sat on the Altar rail. He pulled a harmonica out of his pocket and played along with the guitar player for the communion music. The same man that caused such a stir and had me rattled is now participating in worship. No one acted like this was unusual and no one seemed bothered by the fact that John was now participating.
It was beautiful.
It was moving.
In many ways...I feel like it was my first experience of what "the church" is supposed to be.
In some ways, I also felt a great sadness as well.
I was thinking about how I would react if this same situation had played out at my own church on Sunday morning. Would I welcome him in or would I escort him out?
I know how I hope I'd react if this same situation happened this Sunday...but I was sad about how I believe I would have reacted if this had happened before I got to experience Haywood Street.
Haywood Street is a church that expects diversity.
They expect diversity in the form of race.
They expect diversity in economic situations.
They expect diversity in housing (or no housing) situations.
Haywood Street is a church with a high expectation of what church should be all about.
And yet...Haywood Street is a church that also carries no expectations at all.
Ultimately, Haywood Street is a church that has a heart for those who are outcasts of society.
Many churches claim this, but I must say that Haywood Street is the first church I know that lives this out to the fullest extent.
They see people as Children of God and not as scary dangerous people.
They see all people as friends...not an object to serve.
They see people as real.
I was fascinated to experience this church. I felt like I got a glimpse into what Jesus' ministry looked like. I also understood why that scared so many of the religious leaders. This wasn't a "clean" experience. People smelled, people cussed like sailors, and smoked like chimney's. I stood in line with one individual that was so drunk, I occasionally had to help keep him from falling over.
And yet, these people were loved. Not just in word...they were truly loved. The gentleman that could barely stand told me no less than 20 times how loved he felt by the church and how loved he felt by the pastors. He confessed his "drinking sin" to me just as many times. He talked about how he was held accountable by the pastors and yet the pastors still loved him when he fell off the wagon.
I also kept thinking about how these folks would not be welcomed in most churches that I know. They would be welcomed to certain activities, but they would not truly be "welcomed" the way they are at Haywood Street.
No one exemplifies this better than John. John was an interesting man. He has lived a rough life. He had quite a "smell" to him.
Haywood Street starts off their Wednesday with a free meal for the community. Lots of folks show up for this meal, but only about a third or so of them actually make their way into the worship service that follows. Many churches would see this as a failure, but Haywood Street sees this as a huge success.
As we started the service, we came to our prayer time. Just as we were about to start our pray...a profanity laced tirade started outside. A slew of f-bombs were mixed with threats of many kinds. He wasn't quiet either and he showed little sign of slowing down. Pastor Brian paused the service and stated "it sounds like Haywood Street outside, John's had a rough week, let's pray for him." Like that, we went off of our bulletin script and started to pray for John.
We prayed for peace...
We prayed for healing...
We prayed for his Spirit to be calmed...
We prayed that he would feel how loved he is in this community...
We just prayed. It wasn't in the script or bulletin, but it is what life called for at that moment.
A few moments later we heard sirens and the police outside helping calm the situation. I had a mixture of relief and fear.
Relief that they were there to calm the situation...
and fear for John that the police would react to his actions without really knowing what all was going on in his life.
We move on in the service and debrief what just happened (I'll post about that in a few days).
When we get time to the message, the back door opens and in comes John.
He walks right up the center aisle and gives Pastor Brian a big hug and apologizes. He then takes his place in one of the pews up front and just cries for a while.
How many churches do you know that would allow John to come into the service right after this experience.
The man that just dropped the f-bomb more times in 5 minutes that I've heard it used in the last year is now welcomed into the church.
The man who was just threatening to "cut" people 10 minutes before that is now sitting in the pew in front of me.
What was even more amazing is that when it came time for communion, John moved to the front of the sanctuary and sat on the Altar rail. He pulled a harmonica out of his pocket and played along with the guitar player for the communion music. The same man that caused such a stir and had me rattled is now participating in worship. No one acted like this was unusual and no one seemed bothered by the fact that John was now participating.
It was beautiful.
It was moving.
In many ways...I feel like it was my first experience of what "the church" is supposed to be.
In some ways, I also felt a great sadness as well.
I was thinking about how I would react if this same situation had played out at my own church on Sunday morning. Would I welcome him in or would I escort him out?
I know how I hope I'd react if this same situation happened this Sunday...but I was sad about how I believe I would have reacted if this had happened before I got to experience Haywood Street.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Flip, Push, Rotate...Repeat
I've been life-guarding in the mornings now for about eight months. It is a fascinating job in some aspects and a completely boring job in others! :-)
One thing I get to do often though, is watch people's strokes while they swim. It is amazing what you can learn from watching the difference between great swimmers and those...well, we'll just say those like myself!
I would not say I'm a great swimmer. I think I'm a strong swimmer. I can pull about anyone in if I needed to do a rescue, I just won't win any speed awards.
Though, one of the biggest things I notice really speeds up a swimmer actually has nothing to do with their stroke. It is all in their turns.
Some people swim to the wall...pause for a while (for some this is a few seconds, some a few minutes :-), turn around and keep swimming.
Some people swim to the wall...come up for a breath, turn and keep swimming.
Others do a flip turn of sorts. Well, they at least are attempting a flip turn. It often looks more like a whale crashing into an invisible wall.
Some do a half a flip turn, where they kind of rotate, but really are just keeping their head in the water for their turn.
However, there are a few that just have beautiful flip turns.
They flip over, push off the wall, and rotate back to their stomach.
These are the folks that really are fun to watch. It is amazing to see them come to the wall a full body length behind someone, and come back off the wall a body length or two ahead.
For eight months, I've watched all the flip turns, trying to learn how to do them properly.
I was taught how to do them while on the swim team in high school, but I had a knack for kicking the all or flipping and pushing off the wall straight into the bottom of the pool. Finally my swim coach just told me to touch the wall and turn without attempting to flip.
So, last Friday...after eight months of studying, it was my time to try the flip turn.
It looks simple, flip, push off the wall, and rotate.
That's what the masters swim coach says when he comes in to do his morning class.
Well, as you can imagine, just watching did not necessarily translate into my body doing what it is supposed to do. I looked more like the whale crashing into an invisible wall than I did the graceful swimmers.
I decided to give up after, 45 minutes of flip, flop, hit the bottom, crash into the wall, drink some from the pool and even the fun, flip and push with being so far from the wall I kick nothing.
I think I had lowered the pool level a good solid inch from the splashing and drinking.
I was really more entertained by my arrogance of thinking that watching folks do it properly would quickly translate into me doing a good flip turn.
I did stumble into a few good flip turns, but overall, I need a lot more practice.
I loved how much I think this also reflects in our spiritual lives. We love to watch others do things, and thing that translates for us. However, everything we do requires practice.
Having faith does not just come, it takes practice and work.
Having patience does not just happen, it takes practice and work.
Many of us are okay with just letting others do the work and trying to learn from their mistakes, but we simply have to learn things own our own.
As I prepare to head toward Nicaragua on a mission trip in the morning, I have been thinking about what I need to work on in my own life. What spiritual disciplines do I need to practice more for my faith to grow?
Here are a few disciplines and traits I want God to help me practice while in Nicaragua.
1. Compassion - I believe I used to be a very compassionate person, but I believe in many ways I have lost that over the last few years. I want to practice having compassion for people again. I know this will be easy to do in Nicaragua, but I want it to translate into my life back home here as well.
2. Listening - I also believe I was a great listener once upon a time. I think I have grown distracted with too many things lately and I do not believe I listen to people very well anymore. The challenge in Nicaragua is that most folks will be speaking a language I do not speak, but I don't think that is an excuse for not listening. This too I want to translate back into my personal life here in the states.
3. Simplicity - It is difficult in American culture to live a "simplistic" life. Our culture dictates that so much of life "requires" us to have so many material possessions. I believe I have become to dependent on these many different forms of technology over the last few years. In Nicaragua, I'll be forced into a more simplistic life, but my spirit desperately needs this to translate back into my home life.
These are just a few things I'm praying that God helps me practice in Nicaragua.
I believe too often we just "justify" away these things, saying they are either traits you are born with or traits you are not born with. I believe they are things we can practice. I believe there are many traits that we could practice, but cop out and say "it just isn't who I am".
This Lenten season, what traits do you need to practice more? What things have been on your heart that you know God wants you to start putting into your life? Challenge yourself on this and do not just take the easy way out.
I do believe that God loves us just the way that we are, but I also believe that God loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
One thing I get to do often though, is watch people's strokes while they swim. It is amazing what you can learn from watching the difference between great swimmers and those...well, we'll just say those like myself!
I would not say I'm a great swimmer. I think I'm a strong swimmer. I can pull about anyone in if I needed to do a rescue, I just won't win any speed awards.
Though, one of the biggest things I notice really speeds up a swimmer actually has nothing to do with their stroke. It is all in their turns.
Some people swim to the wall...pause for a while (for some this is a few seconds, some a few minutes :-), turn around and keep swimming.
Some people swim to the wall...come up for a breath, turn and keep swimming.
Others do a flip turn of sorts. Well, they at least are attempting a flip turn. It often looks more like a whale crashing into an invisible wall.
Some do a half a flip turn, where they kind of rotate, but really are just keeping their head in the water for their turn.
However, there are a few that just have beautiful flip turns.
They flip over, push off the wall, and rotate back to their stomach.
These are the folks that really are fun to watch. It is amazing to see them come to the wall a full body length behind someone, and come back off the wall a body length or two ahead.
For eight months, I've watched all the flip turns, trying to learn how to do them properly.
I was taught how to do them while on the swim team in high school, but I had a knack for kicking the all or flipping and pushing off the wall straight into the bottom of the pool. Finally my swim coach just told me to touch the wall and turn without attempting to flip.
So, last Friday...after eight months of studying, it was my time to try the flip turn.
It looks simple, flip, push off the wall, and rotate.
That's what the masters swim coach says when he comes in to do his morning class.
Well, as you can imagine, just watching did not necessarily translate into my body doing what it is supposed to do. I looked more like the whale crashing into an invisible wall than I did the graceful swimmers.
I decided to give up after, 45 minutes of flip, flop, hit the bottom, crash into the wall, drink some from the pool and even the fun, flip and push with being so far from the wall I kick nothing.
I think I had lowered the pool level a good solid inch from the splashing and drinking.
I was really more entertained by my arrogance of thinking that watching folks do it properly would quickly translate into me doing a good flip turn.
I did stumble into a few good flip turns, but overall, I need a lot more practice.
I loved how much I think this also reflects in our spiritual lives. We love to watch others do things, and thing that translates for us. However, everything we do requires practice.
Having faith does not just come, it takes practice and work.
Having patience does not just happen, it takes practice and work.
Many of us are okay with just letting others do the work and trying to learn from their mistakes, but we simply have to learn things own our own.
As I prepare to head toward Nicaragua on a mission trip in the morning, I have been thinking about what I need to work on in my own life. What spiritual disciplines do I need to practice more for my faith to grow?
Here are a few disciplines and traits I want God to help me practice while in Nicaragua.
1. Compassion - I believe I used to be a very compassionate person, but I believe in many ways I have lost that over the last few years. I want to practice having compassion for people again. I know this will be easy to do in Nicaragua, but I want it to translate into my life back home here as well.
2. Listening - I also believe I was a great listener once upon a time. I think I have grown distracted with too many things lately and I do not believe I listen to people very well anymore. The challenge in Nicaragua is that most folks will be speaking a language I do not speak, but I don't think that is an excuse for not listening. This too I want to translate back into my personal life here in the states.
3. Simplicity - It is difficult in American culture to live a "simplistic" life. Our culture dictates that so much of life "requires" us to have so many material possessions. I believe I have become to dependent on these many different forms of technology over the last few years. In Nicaragua, I'll be forced into a more simplistic life, but my spirit desperately needs this to translate back into my home life.
These are just a few things I'm praying that God helps me practice in Nicaragua.
I believe too often we just "justify" away these things, saying they are either traits you are born with or traits you are not born with. I believe they are things we can practice. I believe there are many traits that we could practice, but cop out and say "it just isn't who I am".
This Lenten season, what traits do you need to practice more? What things have been on your heart that you know God wants you to start putting into your life? Challenge yourself on this and do not just take the easy way out.
I do believe that God loves us just the way that we are, but I also believe that God loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
"More Possessions Mean Less Community"
February of 2005, I spent 10 days in Lucea, Jamaica on a work-based mission team. It is a trip that had quite an impact on my life. However, like many experiences, the lessons learned seem to fade over time.
In a few weeks, I will be headed on another work-based mission team to Nicaragua. I've been praying about this experience, this team and the community we will be building a school for. I've been praying that God would move my heart on this trip. A few days after first praying this prayer, I found the "journal" from my trip to Jamaica that one of the women kept during our time on the trip. As I read the journal, the same theme seemed to come up during each day's journal entry... "More possessions mean less community."
This is a theme we discussed a lot in the evenings during our dominos or spoons games. Each of us were amazed at how much "community" there was in Lucea. Everyone knew each other and more importantly, everyone relied on each other for strength. This stood in stark contrast to many of the communities at our homes in Charlotte. At the time, I had lived in a neighborhood where I had just bought my first home. Of the many homes that would be considered my "neighbors", I couldn't even tell you people's names. Even if I could tell you people's first names, I definitely was not relying on anyone but myself.
More possessions means less community... here in the States, we seem to pride ourselves on not needing to rely on others. The "American dream" seems to mean being financially stable, relying on no one else. However, reflecting back on my time in Jamaica, I wonder if the "American dream" is really more of a nightmare. The folks in Jamaica seem so happy. My neighbors in Charlotte had more to "be happy about", but definitely did not seem happy. Same rings true today, I do not see many smiles amongst my neighbors.
In The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids, Madeline Levine discusses how privilege has its price. She talks about how miserable today's teens seem to be, despite having everything that American culture says we need to be happy.
The longer I work with teenagers, the more I believe the "American Dream" really is a nightmare. There is just so much "noise" in our lives. The more "things" teenagers have in their lives, the more difficult it appears to be for them to really be able to connect to God. I'm not just talking about material "things". I am also talking about the packed schedules, the social media, texting, sports, jobs, school work loads and more.
This is not a generation that often has to "deny" themselves of much of anything. They typically get whatever they want, when they want it. Truth is, I'm not sure whether age has anything to do with it. I would say our culture today does not necessarily promote "denying" ourselves of anything, no matter what our age.
So, why bring this up today? Well, in the church, today is the first day of Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday and is also the day many Christians begin a "fast" of some kind. We "give up" something in our lives to become more spiritually focused.
I hope this is something that you each participate in and I hope that you choose to "fast" with something that is a real challenge. Today on the radio I heard many people calling in to tell what they were going to give up and it amazed me at how few of them seemed to want to really challenge themselves. Most of us use this day to give up something in our lives that we know we need to give up anyway.
But there is often no "challenge" to it and it is no surprise that it is also often not that much of a spiritual experience for folks either. Some folks even skip the "fast" all together and just "add something good" to their lives.
My challenge to you is to really focus on giving up something this lent that is a true challenge. Do not just give up something simple. Try giving up TV for lent. Even for someone who doesn't watch much TV, it was one of the most challenging things I have ever given up.
Reflecting back on my Jamaica Mission trip experience, I must say that most of us have plenty to choose from when it comes time to giving something up. We, as a culture, just have so many "things" that serve as a distraction from God. These things also often serve as a distraction from our communities as well. We are an isolated society and in many ways a miserable society.
This Lent, take a good long look at your life. Really think about things in your life that need to be changed. Really think about things in your life that serve as distractions from God.
In your life, do your possessions keep you from really living in community? Does your schedule seclude you from your community. More importantly, do your possessions and schedule disconnect you from God?
In a few weeks, I will be headed on another work-based mission team to Nicaragua. I've been praying about this experience, this team and the community we will be building a school for. I've been praying that God would move my heart on this trip. A few days after first praying this prayer, I found the "journal" from my trip to Jamaica that one of the women kept during our time on the trip. As I read the journal, the same theme seemed to come up during each day's journal entry... "More possessions mean less community."
This is a theme we discussed a lot in the evenings during our dominos or spoons games. Each of us were amazed at how much "community" there was in Lucea. Everyone knew each other and more importantly, everyone relied on each other for strength. This stood in stark contrast to many of the communities at our homes in Charlotte. At the time, I had lived in a neighborhood where I had just bought my first home. Of the many homes that would be considered my "neighbors", I couldn't even tell you people's names. Even if I could tell you people's first names, I definitely was not relying on anyone but myself.
More possessions means less community... here in the States, we seem to pride ourselves on not needing to rely on others. The "American dream" seems to mean being financially stable, relying on no one else. However, reflecting back on my time in Jamaica, I wonder if the "American dream" is really more of a nightmare. The folks in Jamaica seem so happy. My neighbors in Charlotte had more to "be happy about", but definitely did not seem happy. Same rings true today, I do not see many smiles amongst my neighbors.
In The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids, Madeline Levine discusses how privilege has its price. She talks about how miserable today's teens seem to be, despite having everything that American culture says we need to be happy.
The longer I work with teenagers, the more I believe the "American Dream" really is a nightmare. There is just so much "noise" in our lives. The more "things" teenagers have in their lives, the more difficult it appears to be for them to really be able to connect to God. I'm not just talking about material "things". I am also talking about the packed schedules, the social media, texting, sports, jobs, school work loads and more.
This is not a generation that often has to "deny" themselves of much of anything. They typically get whatever they want, when they want it. Truth is, I'm not sure whether age has anything to do with it. I would say our culture today does not necessarily promote "denying" ourselves of anything, no matter what our age.
So, why bring this up today? Well, in the church, today is the first day of Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday and is also the day many Christians begin a "fast" of some kind. We "give up" something in our lives to become more spiritually focused.
I hope this is something that you each participate in and I hope that you choose to "fast" with something that is a real challenge. Today on the radio I heard many people calling in to tell what they were going to give up and it amazed me at how few of them seemed to want to really challenge themselves. Most of us use this day to give up something in our lives that we know we need to give up anyway.
But there is often no "challenge" to it and it is no surprise that it is also often not that much of a spiritual experience for folks either. Some folks even skip the "fast" all together and just "add something good" to their lives.
My challenge to you is to really focus on giving up something this lent that is a true challenge. Do not just give up something simple. Try giving up TV for lent. Even for someone who doesn't watch much TV, it was one of the most challenging things I have ever given up.
Reflecting back on my Jamaica Mission trip experience, I must say that most of us have plenty to choose from when it comes time to giving something up. We, as a culture, just have so many "things" that serve as a distraction from God. These things also often serve as a distraction from our communities as well. We are an isolated society and in many ways a miserable society.
This Lent, take a good long look at your life. Really think about things in your life that need to be changed. Really think about things in your life that serve as distractions from God.
In your life, do your possessions keep you from really living in community? Does your schedule seclude you from your community. More importantly, do your possessions and schedule disconnect you from God?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Principle of the Path
Sorry for not posting this weekend, Amy and I took a Mini-honeymoon and did not want to pay the money to get interenet at the hotel! :-)
Anyway, here we go with today's post!
Recently I read a book that discussed an amazingly simply concept...but one that many folks seem to struggle with.
In the book The Principle of the Path: How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want to Be, Andy Stanley offers us this little nugget of wisdom:
"Direction-not intention-determines destination" (Stanely page 14).
Here it is reworded a bit differently...
"The Direction you are currently traveling--relationally, financially, spiritually, and the list goes on and on--will determine where you end up in each of those respective arenas." (Stanley page 15).
He also states it this way, "direction--not intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, beliefs, intellect, or education--determines destination". (Stanley page 15)
It seems so simple...and yet many of us do not get it.
We understand that if we point our car north...its not going to go east unless we turn the steering wheel.
However, we have trouble applying this simple principle to our lives.
If you neglect your body by eating too much and avoiding the gym...don't be surprised when you do not lose weight.
If you neglect your spouse and spend no time with them...do not be shocked when that relationship falls apart.
If you spend money freely and never save anything...do not be surprised you always have to live paycheck to paycheck.
If you never crack open a book or do your homework...do not be surprised when you get a bad grade in the class.
If you do not study for the test at all...do not be surprised when you don't get the grade you want.
If you text and drive...do not be shocked when one day you have an accident.
It all seems so simple.
It seems like common sense.
We are even really good at pointing out this principle in other peoples lives.
We hear a story about someone who is having problems, and we can usually quickly tell them what aspect of their life pointed them in this direction.
If I talk to a parent about their child starting to do drugs and drink...I am not shocked when I hear their grades are slipping and their attitude has changed.
The direction they pointed their life...determines their destination.
However, for some reason, we often fail to figure out what direction our own lives are pointed.
And then we are shocked by the consequences of the decision to point our life in that direction.
So you ask, "what does this have to do with Lent..after all this is a blog/devotional for the Lenton season?"
Well...this same principle shows up in our own spiritual life.
If you never pick up your Bible to read, well, you will not learn more about scripture.
If you DO pick up your Bible to read, you WILL learn more about scripture.
If you never pray...do not be surprised when it feels like "God is silent" in your life. do not be surprised when you do not feel closer to God.
If you sleep in on Sundays...do not be surprised when you do not feel closer to God.
If you decide that sports, friends, work, etc. are more important that small group at church...do not be surprised when you continually feel distant from God.
So my question to you for the day is simple...what direction is your "spiritual life car" pointed?
Is it pointed more toward yourself, making work, school, sports, friends, money, etc?
Or is it pointed toward making God the center of your life?
I speak with youth and parents all the time who are frustrated with where their relationship with God is at the moment.
They have great intentions to get closer to God. Their have a strong desire to be closer and make God a priority. When you talk to them, it sounds like their greatest hope and dream in life is to feel "as close to God as they used to"...
And yet, when we talk, it becomes clear that everything else takes priority over their relationship with God.
On mission trips, I do not allow youth to take their cell phones, ipods, psp's, etc. So for a week, they are cut off from the internet, facebook, and texting.
I do this because I try to remove the distractions that often keep us from making God a priority.
Usually at the end of the week, most of the youth have had a powerful experience with God.
I usually get asked "how I can keep this feeling back home." When I point out that they had all of these "distractions" removed, making it easier to focus their energy on God...I usually get a very sad/disturbed look on their face.
They want that feeling of the "mountain top experience", but do not want to redirect their "spiritual car".
Redirecting their life will take effort, will take some self sacrifice and may even sacrifice some friendships.
Are you willing to do what it takes to "redirect your spiritual car"?
If you are not, do not be surprised when in a year or two, you feel even more distant from God than you may feel right now.
After all, Direction-not INTENTION-determines your spiritual destination.
Anyway, here we go with today's post!
Recently I read a book that discussed an amazingly simply concept...but one that many folks seem to struggle with.
In the book The Principle of the Path: How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want to Be, Andy Stanley offers us this little nugget of wisdom:
"Direction-not intention-determines destination" (Stanely page 14).
Here it is reworded a bit differently...
"The Direction you are currently traveling--relationally, financially, spiritually, and the list goes on and on--will determine where you end up in each of those respective arenas." (Stanley page 15).
He also states it this way, "direction--not intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, beliefs, intellect, or education--determines destination". (Stanley page 15)
It seems so simple...and yet many of us do not get it.
We understand that if we point our car north...its not going to go east unless we turn the steering wheel.
However, we have trouble applying this simple principle to our lives.
If you neglect your body by eating too much and avoiding the gym...don't be surprised when you do not lose weight.
If you neglect your spouse and spend no time with them...do not be shocked when that relationship falls apart.
If you spend money freely and never save anything...do not be surprised you always have to live paycheck to paycheck.
If you never crack open a book or do your homework...do not be surprised when you get a bad grade in the class.
If you do not study for the test at all...do not be surprised when you don't get the grade you want.
If you text and drive...do not be shocked when one day you have an accident.
It all seems so simple.
It seems like common sense.
We are even really good at pointing out this principle in other peoples lives.
We hear a story about someone who is having problems, and we can usually quickly tell them what aspect of their life pointed them in this direction.
If I talk to a parent about their child starting to do drugs and drink...I am not shocked when I hear their grades are slipping and their attitude has changed.
The direction they pointed their life...determines their destination.
However, for some reason, we often fail to figure out what direction our own lives are pointed.
And then we are shocked by the consequences of the decision to point our life in that direction.
So you ask, "what does this have to do with Lent..after all this is a blog/devotional for the Lenton season?"
Well...this same principle shows up in our own spiritual life.
If you never pick up your Bible to read, well, you will not learn more about scripture.
If you DO pick up your Bible to read, you WILL learn more about scripture.
If you never pray...do not be surprised when it feels like "God is silent" in your life. do not be surprised when you do not feel closer to God.
If you sleep in on Sundays...do not be surprised when you do not feel closer to God.
If you decide that sports, friends, work, etc. are more important that small group at church...do not be surprised when you continually feel distant from God.
So my question to you for the day is simple...what direction is your "spiritual life car" pointed?
Is it pointed more toward yourself, making work, school, sports, friends, money, etc?
Or is it pointed toward making God the center of your life?
I speak with youth and parents all the time who are frustrated with where their relationship with God is at the moment.
They have great intentions to get closer to God. Their have a strong desire to be closer and make God a priority. When you talk to them, it sounds like their greatest hope and dream in life is to feel "as close to God as they used to"...
And yet, when we talk, it becomes clear that everything else takes priority over their relationship with God.
On mission trips, I do not allow youth to take their cell phones, ipods, psp's, etc. So for a week, they are cut off from the internet, facebook, and texting.
I do this because I try to remove the distractions that often keep us from making God a priority.
Usually at the end of the week, most of the youth have had a powerful experience with God.
I usually get asked "how I can keep this feeling back home." When I point out that they had all of these "distractions" removed, making it easier to focus their energy on God...I usually get a very sad/disturbed look on their face.
They want that feeling of the "mountain top experience", but do not want to redirect their "spiritual car".
Redirecting their life will take effort, will take some self sacrifice and may even sacrifice some friendships.
Are you willing to do what it takes to "redirect your spiritual car"?
If you are not, do not be surprised when in a year or two, you feel even more distant from God than you may feel right now.
After all, Direction-not INTENTION-determines your spiritual destination.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow
In my opinion, there is a growing trend in our culture that I think is dangerous.
I must admit...I fall into its trap. Often. Daily even...
I see many folks fall into its trap.
And we have some great excuses...some really good ones.
However, like I said...I think its a dangerous trend.
I think a quote by Robert Heinlein best gets at the root of the problem:
"Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things".
Is the invention of the motor vehicle progress? Definitely, but I also think it also allows us to be lazy.
I often drive down to the youth house to grab something, instead of walking. Its probably barely a tenth of a mile, but I still walk it. I say its a time issue, but in reality, I'm just being lazy.
Is the invention of the cell phone progress? Of course, there are many great perks to cell phones. However, I think it has also allowed us to become increasingly lazy. Instead of calling and having a real conversation with someone, a quick text will do. We often just text when we do not really want to "face" talking to someone. Cell phones are progress, but they have also lead to lazy friendships and relationships.
Is the invention of the computer progress? Without a doubt. But how many hours do we waste on facebook, online games, email, youtube, etc.? It is unreal how lazy computers allow us to be at times.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. There are so many things we call progress, that have simply just allowed us to be lazy.
But it is not just technology where we are lazy. How many of these statements are familiar?
"I'll start going to the gym tomorrow."
"I'll start my diet tomorrow."
"I'll just do those dishes tomorrow."
"I'll start that project tomorrow."
Once again, I could go on.
What bothers me as well is that it seems many of us, most of us, just do not like to work for things anymore.
I read in a book recently that this current teenage generations motto is "when the going gets tough, just quit and do something else."
If things are hard, we just give up.
Getting in shape takes work and is hard, so we just ignore it.
Being financially sound takes work and is hard, so we just spend and swipe the credit card.
Dieting is hard, so we just order the fries and burger.
I have given guitar lessons to many youth before and I have had more youth quit than stick with it over the last 10 years. The number one reason... "it's just too hard and I don't want to try."
This isn't just a teenage problem though. This is a problem I see with adults and youth alike. Putting forth effort and putting the work in to something hard just seems like a lost art.
It is no surprise that this same attitude filters into our spiritual lives.
A solid prayer life takes work...so we just do not try.
Understanding scripture takes time and effort, and the patience to sit still and listen for God to speak...but we are too lazy to put that time in.
Fasting is hard, and we'd just rather not take the time.
And yet, you ask most folks and they are frustrated with where they are in their relationship with God.
Most of us want to be closer to God, but most of us are just too lazy to put in the time.
We want to pray more, but that extra 15 minutes of sleep is just too important.
We want to read more scripture, but we are too lazy to discipline ourselves to make it a priority.
What do you think would happen to your friendships, marriages and family relationships if you approached them with the same laziness you approach your faith with?
I have a feeling if I was as lazy in my relationship with Amy, as I am with God at times, our marriage wouldn't last very long.
How much energy are you putting into your relationship with God?
If you've been lazy, putting forth little effort, it is not too late to change.
I know you probably have some great excuses and reasons as to why you've been lazy with your faith. I know that I have some excuses that could make a top 10 best excuses of all times list.
However, it is only day 2 of Lent... the time when we are supposed to focus our heart, mind, soul and strength on God.
I think Lent this year is a great time to shed that laziness.
I must admit...I fall into its trap. Often. Daily even...
I see many folks fall into its trap.
And we have some great excuses...some really good ones.
However, like I said...I think its a dangerous trend.
I think a quote by Robert Heinlein best gets at the root of the problem:
"Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things".
Is the invention of the motor vehicle progress? Definitely, but I also think it also allows us to be lazy.
I often drive down to the youth house to grab something, instead of walking. Its probably barely a tenth of a mile, but I still walk it. I say its a time issue, but in reality, I'm just being lazy.
Is the invention of the cell phone progress? Of course, there are many great perks to cell phones. However, I think it has also allowed us to become increasingly lazy. Instead of calling and having a real conversation with someone, a quick text will do. We often just text when we do not really want to "face" talking to someone. Cell phones are progress, but they have also lead to lazy friendships and relationships.
Is the invention of the computer progress? Without a doubt. But how many hours do we waste on facebook, online games, email, youtube, etc.? It is unreal how lazy computers allow us to be at times.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. There are so many things we call progress, that have simply just allowed us to be lazy.
But it is not just technology where we are lazy. How many of these statements are familiar?
"I'll start going to the gym tomorrow."
"I'll start my diet tomorrow."
"I'll just do those dishes tomorrow."
"I'll start that project tomorrow."
Once again, I could go on.
What bothers me as well is that it seems many of us, most of us, just do not like to work for things anymore.
I read in a book recently that this current teenage generations motto is "when the going gets tough, just quit and do something else."
If things are hard, we just give up.
Getting in shape takes work and is hard, so we just ignore it.
Being financially sound takes work and is hard, so we just spend and swipe the credit card.
Dieting is hard, so we just order the fries and burger.
I have given guitar lessons to many youth before and I have had more youth quit than stick with it over the last 10 years. The number one reason... "it's just too hard and I don't want to try."
This isn't just a teenage problem though. This is a problem I see with adults and youth alike. Putting forth effort and putting the work in to something hard just seems like a lost art.
It is no surprise that this same attitude filters into our spiritual lives.
A solid prayer life takes work...so we just do not try.
Understanding scripture takes time and effort, and the patience to sit still and listen for God to speak...but we are too lazy to put that time in.
Fasting is hard, and we'd just rather not take the time.
And yet, you ask most folks and they are frustrated with where they are in their relationship with God.
Most of us want to be closer to God, but most of us are just too lazy to put in the time.
We want to pray more, but that extra 15 minutes of sleep is just too important.
We want to read more scripture, but we are too lazy to discipline ourselves to make it a priority.
What do you think would happen to your friendships, marriages and family relationships if you approached them with the same laziness you approach your faith with?
I have a feeling if I was as lazy in my relationship with Amy, as I am with God at times, our marriage wouldn't last very long.
How much energy are you putting into your relationship with God?
If you've been lazy, putting forth little effort, it is not too late to change.
I know you probably have some great excuses and reasons as to why you've been lazy with your faith. I know that I have some excuses that could make a top 10 best excuses of all times list.
However, it is only day 2 of Lent... the time when we are supposed to focus our heart, mind, soul and strength on God.
I think Lent this year is a great time to shed that laziness.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Gotta, Wanna, Needa, Getta, Hava
We live in a culture that thrives on bigger, better, faster...
We life in a culture that does not see patience and frugality as virtues, but rather signs of weakness. They are seen as being a sign of being lower on the totem pole.
The more you have, the better your social status. The faster you get it, the more impressive it appears.
Patience is laughed upon.
Denying yourself things is seen as foolish.
Why wait 2 years on your cell phone before getting something new? I mean, after two years, your cell phone will be ancient and should be put in a museum.
Why drive a car until it no longer runs, has dents in it and is over 200,000 miles. Even if it is much more financially responsible to do so, we convince ourselves that it is so much "safer" to get a new car.
I was once in a bible study where someone was asking for prayer request for their car...they were worried it would start malfunctioning and having problems now that it was approaching 100,000 miles. I laughed a bit and explained that I had never bought a car or had a car that had under 100,000 miles on it! My first car was finally parked at 307,000 miles. You didn't need a key to start the ignition, it didn't have interior door handles, and was an automatic for the first 100,000 miles of its life (and a manual the last 207,000 miles). That car was in my family for many years, without having to have a car payment. Believe it or not, we were all just fine not having "the newest car in the lot". If anything, I think we all learned valuable lessons about taking car of things and not having the greatest, newest car.
We definitely live in a "gotta, wanna, needa, getta, hava" society. We want it now, we want it to be the best. We convince ourselves that our "wants" are really "needs".
Today we enter a season of Lent in the church. Many people have a tradition of "giving up something" during this season. The idea is that we "deny" ourselves something for a period of 40 days, so that we may grow closer to God.
Isn't that kind of an odd idea and backwards of this world? If we want to grow closer to God...we deny ourselves. When considering what they want to give up for lent, I always ask the youth to think about things that stand between them and God. I tell them to just make a list of things they think hinder their relationship with God, things that take up their time or focus. Last year, one of the youth made the statement that "I'm going to have to give up an awful lot of things for lent then."
These things that we "gotta" have often are the very things that stand in our way of growing closer to God.
The things on our "wanna" list usually have more to do with our own pleasure, rather than our efforts to please or worship God.
Our only real "needa" is a closer relationship with our creator, our sustainer. Our real need is a closer relationship with the one who gives us true life and joy.
And yet, we chase so many things that prove time and time again do not bring real happiness to our lives.
By all worldly accounts, Tiger Woods had everything this world says you need to be happy.
He had a beautiful wife, 2 children, the best cars (and many of them), huge home (many of them too), lots of talent, good looks, plenty of money and endorsements. He had everything and yet, clearly he was not very happy with things.
I encourage you to "deny" yourself of the worldly things that may stand in your way of a better relationship with God over the next 40 days. Go against what our culture says is the key to happiness and get for maybe the first time in your life...deny yourself of something. Do not make it something easy (many youth argue that school takes up lots of time and energy and blocks them from God).
The hardest thing I've ever given up was "fried food". Want to starve... try that one out.
Our pastor gives up bread...once again, something that will be terribly difficult.
In the past I've given up television, eating out, sodas and even cheese one year.
The point is we deny ourselves, so we can gain a bit more of Christ.
Do not just give up something so you may fill that space with something else.
I even think we miss out on a blessing when we do not "deny" ourselves something and just "add a good habit". It is a commendable thought, but how well does that work at New Years for most folks?
I hope you really challenge yourself this year during Lent and give up something that will take lots of effort on your part.
In those times that you are struggling with the temptation to give in, you should turn your focus to God and rely on God for strength.
After all, the whole idea and point of Lent is to prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ. Our focus all year should be on Christ, but this is a time to really evaluate where you are spiritually and do what you can to grow close to Christ.
This world tells us we are weak if we are patient and foolish if we "wait" on things. However, scripture tells us a very different story. Below, I'm just going to list a few of the scriptures that tells us maybe denying ourselves, being patient and relying on God are not signs of weakness, but signs of a wise man!
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1
The Lord is my strength and song, he has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:114
We life in a culture that does not see patience and frugality as virtues, but rather signs of weakness. They are seen as being a sign of being lower on the totem pole.
The more you have, the better your social status. The faster you get it, the more impressive it appears.
Patience is laughed upon.
Denying yourself things is seen as foolish.
Why wait 2 years on your cell phone before getting something new? I mean, after two years, your cell phone will be ancient and should be put in a museum.
Why drive a car until it no longer runs, has dents in it and is over 200,000 miles. Even if it is much more financially responsible to do so, we convince ourselves that it is so much "safer" to get a new car.
I was once in a bible study where someone was asking for prayer request for their car...they were worried it would start malfunctioning and having problems now that it was approaching 100,000 miles. I laughed a bit and explained that I had never bought a car or had a car that had under 100,000 miles on it! My first car was finally parked at 307,000 miles. You didn't need a key to start the ignition, it didn't have interior door handles, and was an automatic for the first 100,000 miles of its life (and a manual the last 207,000 miles). That car was in my family for many years, without having to have a car payment. Believe it or not, we were all just fine not having "the newest car in the lot". If anything, I think we all learned valuable lessons about taking car of things and not having the greatest, newest car.
We definitely live in a "gotta, wanna, needa, getta, hava" society. We want it now, we want it to be the best. We convince ourselves that our "wants" are really "needs".
Today we enter a season of Lent in the church. Many people have a tradition of "giving up something" during this season. The idea is that we "deny" ourselves something for a period of 40 days, so that we may grow closer to God.
Isn't that kind of an odd idea and backwards of this world? If we want to grow closer to God...we deny ourselves. When considering what they want to give up for lent, I always ask the youth to think about things that stand between them and God. I tell them to just make a list of things they think hinder their relationship with God, things that take up their time or focus. Last year, one of the youth made the statement that "I'm going to have to give up an awful lot of things for lent then."
These things that we "gotta" have often are the very things that stand in our way of growing closer to God.
The things on our "wanna" list usually have more to do with our own pleasure, rather than our efforts to please or worship God.
Our only real "needa" is a closer relationship with our creator, our sustainer. Our real need is a closer relationship with the one who gives us true life and joy.
And yet, we chase so many things that prove time and time again do not bring real happiness to our lives.
By all worldly accounts, Tiger Woods had everything this world says you need to be happy.
He had a beautiful wife, 2 children, the best cars (and many of them), huge home (many of them too), lots of talent, good looks, plenty of money and endorsements. He had everything and yet, clearly he was not very happy with things.
I encourage you to "deny" yourself of the worldly things that may stand in your way of a better relationship with God over the next 40 days. Go against what our culture says is the key to happiness and get for maybe the first time in your life...deny yourself of something. Do not make it something easy (many youth argue that school takes up lots of time and energy and blocks them from God).
The hardest thing I've ever given up was "fried food". Want to starve... try that one out.
Our pastor gives up bread...once again, something that will be terribly difficult.
In the past I've given up television, eating out, sodas and even cheese one year.
The point is we deny ourselves, so we can gain a bit more of Christ.
Do not just give up something so you may fill that space with something else.
I even think we miss out on a blessing when we do not "deny" ourselves something and just "add a good habit". It is a commendable thought, but how well does that work at New Years for most folks?
I hope you really challenge yourself this year during Lent and give up something that will take lots of effort on your part.
In those times that you are struggling with the temptation to give in, you should turn your focus to God and rely on God for strength.
After all, the whole idea and point of Lent is to prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ. Our focus all year should be on Christ, but this is a time to really evaluate where you are spiritually and do what you can to grow close to Christ.
This world tells us we are weak if we are patient and foolish if we "wait" on things. However, scripture tells us a very different story. Below, I'm just going to list a few of the scriptures that tells us maybe denying ourselves, being patient and relying on God are not signs of weakness, but signs of a wise man!
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!"
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!"
Psalm 37:7
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:25
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
Philippians 4:11
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:7-8
The Lord is my strength and song, he has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:114
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