Walking in Another Person's Flip Flops

OK, I'll be the first to admit that doing a blog post that consists of quotes from a book (again) is probably the lazy persons way of doing things, and there might be some small truth to this, but it really is more than that. As I mentioned in my last post, I've been reading John Fischer's book, "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee" and it has some really good things to say about us people who claim Christ as our Lord and Savior but have a way of falling way short of being the kind of witness that truly attracts others to Christ. So, as I read through the chapters, I'll be sharing some quotes from each chapter/step of recovery. If you don't get the book for yourself, hopefully some of the quotes I post will at least get you thinking.

Step 2: We have come to believe that our means of obtaining greatness is to everyone lower than ourselves in our mind.

"We need to learn to see ourselves through other people's eyes to see ourselves as we really are."

"It's virtually impossible to get another view of yourself by yourself. Just like we need at least two mirrors to see the angles most other people see of us, we need other people to tell us who we really are."

"Recovering Pharisees need to have people around them to tell them the truth - to hold up the mirrors."

"It would be wise to look at the groups we travel in and see how honest they really are. Do we have our own prejudices and secrets? Ate we honest with one another, or do we protect one another's weaknesses and sins? Do our groups foster an accurate portrayal of ourselves as we really are, or do they bolster a kind of corporate lie or propaganda?"

"We need friends who tell us the truth - other shoes in which we can stand."

"Standing in someone else's shoes changes our view of ourselves, but it also drastically changes our view of others when we see their situation from their point of view. If we truly see from someone else's perspective, we might at least be able to understand why they do what they do instead of issuing a knee-jerk judgment of what we do not understand."

"Empathy is a marvelous antidote for the tendency to judge others, and personal pain is the pathway to empathy. It's worth the pain to become more human - to identify with people - to join the human race." 

"To empathize with someone you don't even like is a sign that you have accepted and faced your own problems and therefore can understand how other people can be trapped by their own difficulties in life, even if they are difficulties outside your experience." 

"As a Pharisee, there is no doubt that the need to judge other people is at the level of an addiction. It is intimately tied to our sense of identity and is the means by which we feel good about ourselves. We judge without thinking, and it's a habit we can't get along without."

How well do we do when it comes to putting ourselves into another person's shoes? How quick are we to write somebody off or to pass judgment without giving any consideration to what their circumstances might be, how they might interpret a situation different than our interpretation, or how they might have misunderstood our intentions/words/attitudes? How open are we to the possibility that our situation or our interpretation or our intentions, words, or attitudes could be, if not wrong, certainly impact our perspective and opinion?

May God give us the sensitivity, the caution, the compassion, and his grace, to place ourselves in the flip flops of the person we are judging, and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Me, a Pharisee?

Many, many years ago, back in the early 80's, during the first stage of my life as a minister, I did a sermon series entitled, "Me, a Pharisee?" It was a rather pointed message, more pointed that it should have been, at times, and made a few folks upset with me. It wasn't that I wasn't preaching the truth, I was, but you can sometimes preach the truth/Gospel in a way that cracks open peoples heads instead of challenging and healing peoples hearts.

I pray that I'm much different now in how I preach the Gospel and God's Word in my third stage of my life as a minister.

Somewhere around 2001 I was going through a clearance book bin at a Christian book store and came across a book by John Fischer, "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (Like Me): Finding Grace to Live Unmasked." Well, it reminded me of that sermon series from way back when so I bought the book. Besides, it was on clearance and you should never pass up a bargain on a book. It ended up on a shelf, quickly forgotten. As they say, "out of sight, out of mind."

Then last week or so I was working on a sermon and went to the bookshelf to get another book for an illustration I had remembered but accidently pulled off this John Fischer book, which I had forgotten about. I felt compelled to start reading the book. You know what? This is an interesting book and well worth reading. And very uncomfortable and convicting. Now I know why it remained on the shelf!

I would like to share with you some quotes from the first chapter of the book. Read them carefully, thoughtfully, prayerfully, asking God to speak to you about you. 

Step 1 - We admit that our single most unmitigated pleasure is to judge other people.

"Few activities in life rival the thrill of passing judgment on another human being."

"Our eyes look out, they do not look in, and if they are looking for what is wrong, they will always find much upon which to focus.."

"I think to myself, rationalize by myself, decide for myself. I am the author and finisher of my own perspective."

"So long as we remain our own authority, we do not have to be challenged. We can carry on with our own conclusions about ourselves and others, even if they contradict reality, because we are in charge of all the conclusions, and we can bolster our story however we want."

"If I judge even one person, I announce that judgment is the basis upon which I want everyone evaluated - myself included (Matthew 7:1). This is the law of impartiality. You want to judge? Fine, get ready to face the Judge.

"In the same way, if I want mercy for me, then I have to allow it for everyone else, even those who, in my estimation, are 'worse' sinners than I. This is the big picture that we all need to see: Justice for all; condemnation for all. A cross and an empty tomb for all; mercy for all." 

"When God calls for perfection, it is assumed that I cannot perform it. It's the demand for perfection that keeps me relying on God's mercy and grace. But the call to faithfulness is a call I can answer. Faithful to follow, faithful to confess, faithful to obey, faithful to repent, faithful to believe, faithful to pray and seek God - all these are the requirements of faithfulness. All of them are doable and are, in fact, my responsibility and my joy, having been the unexpected recipient of so great a mercy."

"Remember the words of Jesus: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Lk. 6:36-38)"

"What an incredible proposition. Want love? Give love. Want mercy? Give mercy. Want acceptance? Give acceptance. Want to judge? Get ready to be judged. Want to escape judgment? Don't judge at all. Don't do it. Get with those who want to get over this problem and remind each other of God's grace."

Might a recommend you get this book and read it for 2012. Get some of your Christian friends together, or your Sunday school class, and read and discuss this book together. I think it is time that we remove the mantle of living and behaving like a Pharisee and start truly living and acting like a follower of Christ. We've done enough damage to our witness as Christians and his Church. We need to remove the masks that keep us hidden, that make us critical and judgmental, and instead have our words and lives be a true reflection of Christ's light and glory. 

 

 

 

 

God's Holy Hand Grenade

 Click here to read Joshua 6

We are in a battle. It is around us, it concerns us, it involves us, and it impacts us. The Church is in the midst of that battle and every follower of Christ is being attacked on a daily basis. Our souls are the prize being fought for. It is an external battle but it is an internal one, and eternal one, as well. Some days we serve on one side and other days we may find ourselves serving on the other. We can, at times, be our own worst enemy!

Sounds a tad confusing, I admit; a little disturbing, for sure; and very frustrating, without a doubt.

You know what I mean, don't you, this battle that is going on and that involves you and me? It's the one where you feel pulled in directions that you know you should not go. It's over your thoughts and desires and attitudes and possessions. It includes your family, your friends, your job, even your church - most definitely your church. The world is both the battle ground and part of the army that is against us. Certainly it is a physical battle but it is also political, social, emotional, and psychological; and you can probably add a few more "...al's" into the mix. But above all, this warfare is against enemies in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:10-18). The weapons we use need to be, first and foremost, spiritual in nature (also see 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). And as Paul alludes to in both these passages, we need to be aware of and unitize these weapons in the battles we face in our lives. If we do not, we lose the battle.

But here is an important truth to keep in mind: even though we have these weapons at our disposal, and we are to equip ourselves and use these spiritual weapons, we also have need to have the confidence (trust/faith) that, because we are in Christ, we fight a battle that  has already been won! Christ has already been victorious, and he fights along with us in the battles we face. We are never alone!

I was reminded of this fact as I read Joshua 6. The process involved for victory by Israel was a convoluted one, bizarre by military standards. No leader of an army would go about preparing and approaching battle in this way! Which just goes to show, again, that God's ways are not our ways, and that we need to trust God in the battles and situations in our lives. We prepare ourselves, as the Israelites did, by listening to God's "word" and commands, and through obedience to God. Any other way brings failure, even if we make it through our "battle" on our own, because we have been disobedient, have been selfish, have placed ourselves in the role of God, and that, in a nutshell, is sin.  

Another thing that strikes me in this story that I need to remember is that, just as victory comes through the Lord, all glory must also go to the Lord. It's easy to take credit for something that I had little to do with, even though I may think that I gave a whole lot of effort in the task. When I start thinking, "I got through this," or "I pulled this thing off," then I have lost focus on the Author and Perfector of my faith and have placed myself above my Lord and Savior. Once I start doing that, my fall can be pretty hard! Truth is, I've fallen hard too many times because I kept looking at the wrong thing, myself.

Having faith in the victory that Christ has secured, being obedient to God's Word and Christ's commands, being equipped for "battle" with the weapons God has provided us, keeping our focus on God, and giving God the glory, are all key to experiencing the victory in our lives that God has made available to us through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 1:17-23)

On a side note, and a slightly skewed one at that, as I read the instructions given to Joshua in this passage, who, in turn reiterated those instructions to the army and the people, I couldn't help but be reminded of a scene in the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Read through those instructions again, then, for your viewing pleasure, give this a watch.

The Colors of Fall

I love the season of Autumn. I also love the season of Spring. I like Summer, but it gets so hot down here in the mid-south and I tend to stay in doors more than being out, though there is nothing like slipping into a pool or a stream or a lake on a hot summer day. Winter is OK but it's pretty grey in the south and usually white way too long in the north. So, I'm much more connected with Spring and Autumn. I think it's the colors. I love the explosion of flowers in Spring and the trees in Fall.

There is a distinct difference between the northeast region of our country and the southern part of our country when it comes to fall colors. To me (and I stress that this is my opinion), fal colors are brighter and more distinct in the northeast than here in the south, where they tend to be a little more muted. Fall peak hits the north in September whereas it hits here in the south in the middle and latter part of October. 

But here is what I have found, for me, in regards to fall colors in the south: I look for and appreciate the vibrant colors more here in South and North Carolina than I remember doing when I lived in New York and Vermont. I still loved looking and still had moments in the north when I'd go, "Wow!", when pulling around a mountain into a valley and I'd see a quilt of colors, but every valley and every mountain and every street corner tended to consist of deep reds and bright yellows and vibrant oranges.

I just spent two days in the mountains in upper SC and lower NC - part of the Smokie Mountains. The peak season had already passed but there were still a lot of leaves on the trees, at least in the South Carolina part of the mountains. The colors were more brown because of being past peak but it was still pretty (mountains in general impress me, even without leaves). While we hiked the 10 miles on the first day in the middle of Panthertown Forest (?) in Sapphire, NC (Toxaway Lake), most of the trees had already lost their leaves. We crossed over several lovely waterfalls, looked out across some impressive vistas, but generally saw very little in color.

Well, that would be incorrect. I don't know what shifted for me but I did begin to notice patches of trees, or individual trees, that still had some leaves and some of those trees were radiant with color. And if the trees were bare or "dull" in color, I would notice a cluster of weeds with flowers of blue or white or yellow. Or I would come across a stream with leaves of yellow or red floating by, as if they were in a race toward the finish line. It struck me that, if I had continued to look for the grand color scheme of quilted color, I would have missed the little nuances of color and beauty that was, in fact, all around me.

I am like that with God's grace, more often than I realize. I tend to look for the vibrancy of God's blessings in my life, and if I don't see it I wonder why he isn't working or what might be wrong with me that is preventing God from working. But the fact is, God is always working, sometimes vibrantly, but most often in more of a muted way. I don't usually see it because I tend to be focused on the vibrant. I want the spectacular.

One day some religious leaders came to Jesus and asked him, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority” (Matthew 12:38). Jesus, in essence, says, "Here I am! And what I'm going to do will be greater than any vibrant color I could conjure up for you at the moment, and you're going to miss it because you're focused on what you consider vibrant, not what God considers vibrant."

God's grace and blessing pours out around us, and on us, in so many ways but we miss so much because we're looking at the wrong things - what we consider vibrant - instead of looking to God, listening to God, being still before God. He will surprise us in so many ways, if we learn that even in the muted tones he is there, working. But every once in a while, when we turn the corner in some area of our life, we may see an amazing splash of colors. I think that's God's way of reminding us that, "yes, I, your Creator, am working in ways that you don't always see nor understand. You are my painting, my poem, my workmanship, and I am at work in and around you."

May God open our eyes to see glimpses of his grace, open our ears to hear his whispers, open our hearts to receive his love. 

Foreskin, Spare Skin, and Bare Skin

Click here to read Joshua 5

I've been sitting on this 5th chapter for over a week now. It's been one of those chapters that just wasn't flowing right in my head - not that anything flows right in my head but let's move on.

As I thought about the first verse the realization came to me that, because I am in Christ, all the enemies that I face in my life - physical or spiritual - are defeated foes. Now, that's a nice thought to have but I admit that I don't often live with that being an active truth in my life. I can be all too quick to be controlled or impacted by enemies than to face them head on. I am learning, however, to not shy away but to stand firm, as Paul writes:

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:13)

It's interesting that the leaders and people in Canaan and the surrounding area were so afraid of the Israelites because they had heard "how the Lord" had done some pretty amazing things. It says that they had "lost heart" and were "paralyzed with fear". You know, when God is working in a persons life, and when we allow God to work, people around us will sense that something is different and are often uncomfortable around such a person. There's something about the power of God at work that makes people who are distant from God uneasy. God's power is strange that way. Could it be that even his power has a convicting quality about it?

Foreskin
As we move into verses 2-9 we are confronted with a somewhat awkward situation. At least, whenever we're talking about sharp objects and cutting and really sensitive areas of the body, I get nervous. I had never realized that all those Jews that had been born while on the road to the promised land were never circumcised. Now, imagine what must have gone through their heads as they stood on the brink of taking the promised land by storm, knowing that all its residents were paralyzed with fear, and Joshua comes along and says, "Hey folks. Great news. We're going to have a circumcision party! Line up and let's get a cuttin..." This isn't what they taught military leaders to do to win battles. Why would God require this of them and why at this moment?

Two things, I think. First, circumcision was a sign of God's covenant with Abraham and it stood as a symbol for Israel's faith in God's promises. So, doing it now was God, in a way, re-declaring his covenant to his people - a whole new generation, and they were declaring their faith in God's promises. Secondly, God doesn't usually do things according to what we think is normal! And this sure wasn't normal. A normal approach would be to attack while the people are full of enthusiasm and the Canaanites are scared to death. Then, after your victory, you have the circumcisions done. God's way? Have the cutting first, take several days to recover, and then go into battle.

Talk about trust! But think about this: shouldn't there be consecration/reconsecration before we take action in our lives, in the decisions of the church? What I mean is, before I go into action, if I want God to be the one in charge and at work, don't I need to consecrate myself - recommitting myself and my trust in God? What God doesn't have, he typically won't use.

Spare Skin
Once they recovered from their surgery, they celebrated the Passover. This was an act of worship that reminded them of God sparing their lives, and of what he had promised and was now fulfilling. The Psalms are filled with examples of the author calling out to God for help and guidance, questioning and struggling, and then he pauses and remembers what God has done in the past. When he does this, his focus changes, and there is a fresh confidence that God will answer and work again. When we are faced with doubts and uncertainties, and when we find ourselves in the midst of difficulties, remembering what God has done in our lives can be a source of strength. We need to have our own "Passover" rituals, one could say.

But their celebrating Passover was more than just remembering the past, it was a preparation for their future. Notice what happens after they celebrate Passover:

On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. (Joshua 5:11-12)

Another act of God fulfilling his promise! And yet I wonder how many began to grumble because there wasn't any manna provided by God as there had been for decades. Now what they ate they made by their own hands from the land God had provided. There's one word that came to my mind as I read this: CHANGE!

We don't like change very much, and it doesn't usually matter when that change comes about because of God being at work. Just look at the church. Churches are notorious for being resistant to change. We do what we do because we've always done it that way. We're comfortable with it. But here in this passage we see God changing how he works to meet the needs of his people. I find reassurance here - that in the midst of change, which is going to happen whether I like it or not, God's resources are more than enough to meet the needs, to help me adjust to those changes, and to make changes in my life that are needed as well.

Bare Skin
The last three verses lead me to three things:
1) It's not that God is on my side that is important, it's that I need to be on God's. We tend to go about life wanting God to be in our corner, helping us out, supporting our cause, but it needs to be the other way around - us submitting and following him. Jesus put it this way: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). Nuff said.

2) When we let God be in control of our lives, and our situations, not only will God be present with us but he will also provide us with what we need to accomplish the task. Philippians 4:13 reminds me that, "I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me."

3) That the first step, and the last, in winning the battles is to worship God and submit to him. Somewhere I came across the following quote and wrote it down, and it fits to this third point:

"We can only enter into the battle so that we experience God’s deliverance when we remove our sandals and submit to His authority and His presence and power." 

Back when Moses was the leader, and he and the people were standing on the edge of the Red Sea being chased by the Egyptians, he turned to the people and said:

"Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today." (Exodus 14:13)  

You know, I like to think that I have my act together and that I can handle whatever comes my way. But then, when I'm in the midst of my struggle, I find myself ill equipped and often overwhelmed. My first mistake was thinking that I could handle it by myself, which led me to my second mistake - thinking that I can do it without God. Wrong! But when I turn to God first, remind myself of what he has done for me in the past, and seek his will in the present and the future, then the battle is already won - through his strength, with his gifts, by his guidance.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7) 

Good words to live by!

Memory Stones

Click here to read Joshua 4

I can't help but think that when Joshua told the 12 men to go and pick up a stone and bring it back to the camp that there was at least one that thought about getting a little stone, one that would be easy to carry. At least, that would be what would go through my mind! 

There are a lot of things that serve as "memory stones" in our lives. Pictures, videos, journal/diary entries. Even certain smells can cause us to remember something from the past - good or bad. A lot of the music I listen to serves as memory stones, transporting me back to days with high school and college friends, concerts that we saw, trips we took. They all serve to remind me of great times of laughter and sharing. Whenever I hear Tom Petty's "Free Falling" I remember a trip  I took with my son and daughter (Jonathan and Cassie) where, every time we played the song, we would sing it at the top of out lungs.
 

But there are also things that remind me of the bad times. Someone you see, even in a picture, an old letter or card or documents that I may have held on to for some strange reason. They remind me of pain, struggle, a sense of loss, and confusion. And yet, those memories - those stones, can serve a positive purpose, even in their negative history. They may remind us of the negative times but, if we don't obsess about that, they can serve to show that we have moved on, recovered, healed, grown stronger, overcome! That is, if we aren't clinging to these negative things and reopening old wounds and feelings, which some people tend to do. That's not good for us and it prevents us from moving forward, healing and growing and learning from those difficult experiences.

How do we go about developing memory stones that remind us of what God has done in our lives? That is what I asked myself as I read through this chapter. Sure, all of the afore mentioned "stones" can be part of that pointing to God but should there not be more specific memory stones in my life that directly point to God and what he has done? Scripture does, certain people do, the cross around my neck does (though it's significance has changed a bit since I lost my original cross - 15 years I had that cross!), places - like a church or a certain geographical location, certain gestures - like the making of the cross with my hand across my body, or kneeling, even walking a labyrinth; these "memory stones" can direct my thoughts and memories to God.

And let us not forget the sacraments, or, as Wesley referred to them, the graces of God: communion, prayer, worship, our baptism, reaching out to and serving others. These all serve to bring us back, or to remind us of, our place with God and the love he has poured out on us.

I would hope that, as I stand in the middle of whatever dry riverbed that God has led me through, and he tells me to pick out a stone to remember this event through which he was glorified and worked in my life, that I will pick up the biggest and most perfectly shaped stone there is and put it where I will always be reminded: 

"He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:24)

Holy God, remind me of who you are. Stir up my memory of what you have done in my life. Help me to tell others the stories of God, the mercy you have poured out and the love you bestow. May my very life serve as a memory stone to others. Amen.

Stop, Drop, and Listen

Click here to read Joshua 3

The spies have made it back, thanks to Rahab, and the next morning Joshua and the people head over to the Jordan River to set up camp for a few days. Something's in the works, there's a plan being put together and people are beginning to get the word: when they see the priests pass by with the Ark of the Covenant, they are to fall in line - at a distance - and follow them, since they've never been there before. In other words, don't run ahead and get yourself lost. Or worse, dead!

Isn't that like human nature? In fact, isn't that like our spiritual nature, to run ahead, to think we know the way to wherever God is leading us, only to discover that we took a wrong turn somewhere? My impatience gets the best of me, at times. "God, you're moving too slow." "I don't want to have to go through this experience in order to get where you want me to be." So, I jump ahead, I skip the line. And I get lost. Or worse.

What happens next should cause us to stop in our spiritual tracks.  Joshua 3:5 says:

Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”

The people are eager to get moving. They can see the other side, the land they've been headed towards for a long while, but before God is able to do his work, the people must purify themselves. They must seek forgiveness and commit themselves again to God - in preparation for God's work to come. It's as if God is saying, "for me to do what I need to do, you must first get yourselves ready." 

There is no doubt in my mind that I have missed out on a lot of God's work in my life because I was "unprepared" and not in a right relationship with him. As the saying goes, God can't use what he doesn't have. How often have we been left standing with our hands at our side and wonder why God has left us standing by the side of the road? Most often, I believe, is because we've run ahead and got ourselves in a mess and then we're not willing to admit that we blew it, that we failed, that we sinned, that we were selfish, that we were unkind, that we were controlling, that we were.... And God can't use us because he doesn't have us. Jesus' words come to mind:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matt. 16:24-26, NLT)

Another thing that catches my attention is Joshua 3:9. 

So Joshua told the Israelites, "Come and listen to what the LORD your God says. 

"Come and listen." Perplexing words to a person who is always on the move and crowded out by sound and commotion. It reminds me of when I was a kid and my brothers and I would be so excited about going somewhere special, being ready to bolt out the door, and then having our parents to yank us back into the house and sit us down to go over some some sort of ground rules or how they expected us to behave or something. I mean, really, the last thing we wanted to do at the moment was to sit and listen.  

Here are the Israelites, all pretty pumped about what was going to happen. They have been waiting for this moment for a pretty long time. They were about to cross over into the promised land; they were going to see God do another miracle. There was excitement and anticipation all around, but I'm sure there was plenty of worry and hesitation, as well, because they also knew that they were going to have to face a whole lot of uncertainty - there might even be battles that have to be fought. Their minds were all over the place but they were ready to go! But Joshua calls to them and says, "come and listen." Just as my parents had some things for us boys to know before we headed out to wherever, there were some instructions from God that the Israelites needed to hear, and their attention needed to be refocused in order to hear.  

    

I'm not a good listener at times. My mind can get pretty occupies, filled with worry, dwelling on things it shouldn't be. I'm going here and there with my schedule, busy doing "my stuff" or the things of the church or for the conference or with the family or... or... or... But there are times, many times, that I need to "come and listen," to step aside from everything and refocus my attention on God - his presence, his Word, his agenda. I'm too easily distracted, too complacent, too preoccupied, too stubborn, too opinionated. And because of that I often miss God's leading and instruction. 

And I find myself standing on some path that is unfamiliar, alone, unsure of where to turn or what to do... until I stop, drop and listen to God's whisper to my soul.

    

Lord God, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for my lack of attention and my lack of holiness. I'm sorry that, even in my times of silence, I am not silent and listening to you. I want to hear you. I want you to work in my life and ministry. Help me to listen to you and help me to deepen my commitment to you. Thank you for your patience, your forgiveness, and your unending love. Amen.

A Most Unlikely Person

Click here to read Joshua 2.

I remember sitting in youth group one Sunday when I was a teen when this passage of scripture was read for the lesson that was about to be taught. What first caught the attention of a couple of us was verse 1: Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. Instantly someone blurted out, "Joshua, the son of Nun. What a real zero!" And we all laughed. Then there was another, less audible statement made about the spies and where they came from, but I'll leave that one alone.

One Sunday during worship, again when I was a teen, a couple of friends and I were sitting towards the back of the church while a particular passage of scripture was being read from Numbers 22 about Balam. What caught our attention was this verse: And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. One of my friends said, under his breath so only those around him could hear, "How else do you ride a donkey but on your ass!" To which we all laughed silently in our pew, except one of the guys, who had to leave the sanctuary lest he lose control of himself.

I doubt we were being sacrilegious but I'm sure the adults within ear shot weren't very appreciative. But, hey, you put a couple of teenage boys together who are also Christians and you're going to get this kind of stuff, I guess. 

I digressed. Sorry. Back to Joshua 2.

I find this a fascinating chapter, aside from the points that stirred our funny bones. The key person in this story is Rahab, and she is a prostitute. She is the essential ingredient for the safety and success of the two spies that were sent by Joshua into the town. 

She is such an unusual person for God to use, don't you think? I mean, she's not your normal, super-spiritual, amazingly blessed with spiritual gifts, standard person that we would expect God to use to accomplish his will. 

Everything was stacked against her. She wasn't a Jew, she was a Canaanite (the people who were in the land that the Jews were soon to be moving into); she was a woman (they weren't seen as having much value back then); and she was a prostitute (loved by men, despised by women). And yet, her she is, professing her belief in God (news of what God had done had spread like wildfire), and actively working to save the lives of the spies. 

I read somewhere that because of her profession in God and her help with the spies, she became a part of Israel and thus one of God's chosen people.

How strange to use such a person like Rahab, with so many strikes against her. But then again, didn't Jesus reach out to Mary Magdalene, who also was a prostitute, and didn't she become part of his circle of followers? Didn't he choose a bunch of guys who were fisherman, a tax collector (seen as a cheat and a traitor), a political zealot, to name a few? In fact, we see this bazaar, unexpected approach of God, using people that are flawed, broken, sinful, rebellious, and all the other faults and failures we could add - throughout the Bible. The Bible doesn't shy away from showing these people that God uses in all their faults and how God's glory and will was worked out through them. In fact, Rahab shows up in scripture three more times outside of Joshua that I can recall: in the genealogy of  Jesus as found in Matthew 1; in the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrew 11; and in James 2. 

Here's what I learned way back when in our youth group: If God can use a prostitute to accomplish his task, then he could use a most unlikely person like me, right? Me, who often falls short of the mark, who struggles with sin, and who, at times, wrestles with depression and discouragement. Me!

And you! 

The Birds of the Air

I like to sit outside on my porch and have my devotions, do some reading and thinking, and drink my cup(s) of tea. I also like to watch the birds around my house.

We have a bird feeder just a little ways from the back deck and a Hummingbird feeder on the deck, and it's fun and interesting to watch the different types of birds come and go. Green Hummingbirds with a light ring around their neck, deep red Cardinals, Bluejays, bright Yellow finches, Robins, Doves - they, and several other kinds, come and help themselves to the food we provide for them. Occasionally I see hawks or falcons (I'm not sure sometimes) dart through the trees but they've not graced my meal spread yet.

 

There is another bird that hasn't graced my birdfeeder, and I'm thankful for that, but I see them around my area all the time, especially along the side of the road. Vultures. They're big ugly things, and even uglier when you drive past them feasting on some dead carcass. Living in a small town/rural area, I see that quite often.

However, when these Vultures fly, they have a majestic presence about them. (It does help that you can't see their faces when they're in the air.) They just soar, wings outspread, riding the wind across the fields and trees around my house. And you can't help but get an eerie feeling when one flies overhead and casts its shadow on the ground, or across my dog! Watching these birds fly, as ugly as they are up close, is a pretty inspiring thing!

I've heard that the Condor out in the west was almost extinct but has come back, thanks to the efforts of many folks and organizations. They say that these birds can have a wing span of up to 10 feet. Now, watching them in flight would be a majestic site to behold! Check it out by clicking here.

There is another bird in my area, especially around my house, that is even more majestic to watch, especially when compared to these Vultures. I don't know what kind it is but they have earned my greatest respect. They are not much bigger than my hand and they will take on any Vulture at anytime. They will literally chase and attack these big birds. They dart towards the Vultures, almost crashing into them, squeal at them, and I am sure they even peck at them while in flight. And these Vultures? They get going and high tale it out of town. 

I'm sure there's a moral in this story, kind of a "David and Goliath" thing, I suppose. You know what I mean: what's important is using what gifts and talents and abilities we are given and not to give in to our weaknesses or failures or inadequacies. So true, and so often we need to be reminded of this. So take this lesson and apply it where it needs to be applied in your life. However, at the moment, what I get from this is this: you may be big and ugly but that doesn't carry any weight when up against some little creature that is ticked off at you! So get out of their way.

Be Strong and Courageous

I've been doing a reflective reading of the book of Joshua over the last several weeks. Not a daily thing but at least weekly. Not an in-depth study of text structures and historical comparison and such, just a reflective reading. Hears what I do: I sit down, open my Bible to the chapter that is up next (or I use eSword on my computer), and ask God to speak to me through what I am about to read. Then I read through the chapter, sometimes envisioning in my mind what is playing out before me on the page - kind of a move in the mind - followed by a second reading, maybe even a third. What I try to do is put myself in the place of each of the character's in the chapter, participating in the conversation. Then I try to shift the story to my situation, 21st century experience, my place of faith.

So what follows, and what I am sharing with you, are those "thoughts" that I had. I have made some adjustments, applying it to "we" and "us" instead of just "me" and "I". Hopefully there will be something you can connect with, get insight on, be encouraged about, pushed further along in your walk of faith.

And I also hope that I can keep posting my discoveries and questions from this journey through Joshua at least once a week.

Click here to read Joshua 1

"Be strong and courageous"

These words are mentioned several times in this first chapter of Joshua (1:6, 7, 9). As I read this chapter and especially these verses, I couldn't help but wonder what "land" God is calling each of us to posses. Is it a spiritual land, a level of maturinty that we have yet to achieve? Is it a battle with sin that has kept us from moving forward in our growth with God? Could it be concerning our relationships - with a spouse or family member, with friends, with our church - moving with them into new territory and change? The easy answer would be, yes to all of the above. The hard answer would be, yes to all of the above.

"Be strong and courageous"

I don't know about you but I have to admit that I feel I am neither of these in any of those "lands" I find myself traveling through or that I see coming before me, I'm afraid. Like Moses, I often feel ill equipped to lead God's people or to speak to them on His behalf. Like Timothy, I sometimes doubt my gifts and can struggle with feelings of insecurity. Like Paul, I have my own thorns that irritates and distracts me. Like John Mark, when I get overwhelmed and stressed and frustrated, I want to retreat, to run away. And I'm no different than Demas, who sees life on the other side of the fence a whole lot greener and wonders why I can't have that like everyone else.

"Be strong and courageous"

How do we get ourselves to that place? How do we build strength and courageousness into our character, our spiritual DNA? Could the following verses from Joshua be an important step in the process?

"Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." (Joshua 1:7-8)

God's Word, coupled with the Holy Spirit within us, along with our committment to allow God to control and leader in our life, helps build these characteristics (the fruit of the Spirit, transformation, holiness) that are necessary for our maturity and growth.

"Be strong and courageous...

for the Lord your God is with you..." (1:9)

I don't think it's because we forget that the Lord our God is with us, though that happens sometimes. I think it has more to do with the fact that we often ignore that truth, or we resist that truth, or we don't rely on that truth. God has promised that He will be with us (through His Holy Spirit), to transform us, to mold us, to lead and guide us, to serve as an "umpire" in our lives. But here is a cool thing: God is quick to forgive us for not listening, for not responding, for not trusting, for not opening ourselves up to Him. He forgives us for settling for mediocrity in our lives.

Here's what I have to ask myself a lot of the times, and maybe you need to start asking these questions, as well: Do I really want to be strong and courageous? Do I want to overtake the land God has promised for me? I don't think God forces us to take something we don't want. And I don't think God can give us what we need until we are willing to put ourselves in the place to receive what He has to offer us. God provides, God leads, God strengthens and encourages, but we have to trust... and posses the land.

A Good Cup in Hand

There are things that we hold dear in our lives that have special meaning. A photograph, a special album, maybe an article of clothing or a piece of furniture. I still have many photographs that I occasionally look through, smiling from the memories that come flooding over me. I don't have but a handful of albums (LP's) now, and none really hold any great significance to me, though I have a few CD's that have taken the place of those attachments that a few albums from way back when once held. And clothing? Well, my wife has long since gotten rid of those. And the only piece of furniture I had - picked up from the side of the road on the way out of town on a road trip with two dear friends after I had graduated from high school - was returned to the side of the road in the winter of 2003 when it finally fell apart and could no longer be repaired. But there is one item that has held a special place in my heart for many, many years. It is a large coffee mug - well, for me, a tea mug.

I purchased this mug when I started my sophomore year in college. I had lived at home my freshman year and decided to move on campus my sophomore year. There wasn't much need to go out and purchase any furniture for the dorm room because it was pretty much furnished: bunk beds, two dressers, two desks with book shelves, and two closets. My roommate was Kurt Brown. We had known each other since I first moved to Greece, New York in 1969 (I think that was the year). We quickly became best friends, and remain so to this day.

Anyway, we only needed to bring our clothes, stuff to plaster on the walls (we did - Rolling Stone covers), a couple of lights, and some miscellaneous dishes and silverware. I purchased a tea mug. It was dark brown with light brown around the top lip of the cup. It felt good in the hand, solid, held just the right amount of hot beverage, and it kept it warm for a long while. I would often wrap it up and take it on camping trips, even a canoe trip or two. That mug was a part of many conversations over the years. It brought comfort to me through some tough times and had a way of adding a sense of pleasure to times of laughter and joy with friends and family.

Yesterday my mug decided it had served its usefulness and ended its life. I was there when it jumped off the edge of the counter into the sink. My screams of "no" were unheeded.

This morning I got up to have a cup of hot tea. I opened up the cupboard and then remembered. I paused for a few moments, lifted up my hand as if I were holding the mug, and offered thanks to the mug and to God for the many years my cup and I had spent together, in conversation, in prayer, in silence. Then I closed the cupboard door, got dressed, and left for the office. I couldn't bring myself to have a cup of tea without my companion.

So long, my hot beverage companion. Thank you for your many years of service, kindness, and warmth. May you now be ever filled!

15 Reasons Why Beer Is Better Than Religion

So, here I am at Course of Study at Emory/Candlar in Atlanta, having deep discussions about theology, the Wesleyan Movement, doctrine and faith issues and I find it fascinating, challenging, insightful, stirring, inspiring, and, at times, a little confusing. I guess these classes are serving their purpose, right?

Anyway, I check out a YouTube clip that a friend brought my attention to of a current New Testament theologian, Marcus Borg, who I found interesting, insightful, not that I agreed with everything he had to say but he made some good points, nonetheless. In one of his introductions he made mention of the following list and, after some research, I post it here, with a few tweaks and additons. 

I mean to offend no one in posting this. I just found it insightful, challenging, fascinating... and funny!

PS: I couldn't help but think of my high school friend Mark as I read this, who has an amazing ability to find amazing and pleasing beers. So I have been told.

15 Reasons Why Beer Is Better Than Religion:

  1) They don't force beer on minors too young to think for themselves
  2) Beer doesn't tell you how or with whom to have sex
  3) No one will kill you for not drinking beer
  4) No one has ever been hanged, burned at the stake, or tortured for  

choosing the wrong kind of beer
  5) When you have a beer, you don't go knocking on people's door trying to

give it away
  6) There are laws saying that beer labels can't lie to you
  7) If you've devoted your life to beer, there are groups who will help you stop
  8) You can prove you have a beer
  9) Beer never caused a major war
10) You don't have to wait 2000 years for a second beer
11) You don't have to get dressed up to have a beer
12) No one expects you to believe that every word in a beer commercial is

literally true
13) Beer labels include a warning about the dangers of drinking beer
14) No one gives you wine and expects you to believe it's beer
15) Beer is easier to swallow

A Quote About Discipleship

(Jesus) is something—someone—worth losing everything for. And if we walk away from the Jesus of the gospel, we walk away from eternal riches. The cost of nondiscipleship is profoundly greater for us than the cost of discipleship. For when we abandon the trinkets of this world and respond to the radical invitation of Jesus, we discover the infinite treasure of knowing and experiencing him.

- David Platt. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (p. 18).