Tangible Choices

Scripture:
Genesis 3:17-19 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Observations:
Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters. Indeed, one cannot go in two directions at the same time.

How many times have I heard people talk about not doing something because it would displease their spouse – EVEN IF IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!! Oh, I have heard this so many times. People are so afraid of offending their spouse, that they won’t do what God is asking them to do. It is as if they are more afraid of losing their spouses love, affirmation, and respect than they are of losing God’s love, affirmation, and respect.

I wonder which would be the hardest to lose?

Application:
I would rather please God than man, but I don’t always make the right choices when given these options. Men and women are tangible, God is less so. I suppose that’s because I have not taken steps to make God more tangible in my life. The more time I spend with Him, the more tangible He will become.

Prayer:
Dear God, please teach me to truly experience you? Please teach me to walk with you?

Thanks, gw

*****

Naked Thoughts

Scripture:
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Observations:
I think of the reverence of the moment when Man was given life. Not to diminish the great works of creation before Man was given life, but think of the total beauty of a senescent being – bearing the likeness of God Himself. How majestic that moment must have been. The beauty, the innocence, the awesome accomplishment of this man Adam and later his mate Eve.

Because of the perversion of sexuality and the unnecessary frivolity that surrounds our exteriors and the act of connecting sexually, we sometimes forget that things were once different.

Recently, while watching YouTube, I saw an old episode of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I was amazed by the sophomoric double entendre humor and childish toilet humor. I was embarrassed for these folks. I couldn’t believe that they would find this funny. (Not that I’m totally above thinking and acting like a child sometimes) Then it hit me that millions of people watch this stuff every night before drifting off to sleep. Far more people watch Leno and Letterman than go to church or seek God regularly. And, even those regular church goers who watch late night TV – they spend more time consuming stupid humor than they do consuming God’s Word.

God formed us with his own hands. Thinking with my perverted mind, that conjures up strange images, but thinking with my spiritual mind, I am better able to grasp the beauty of the moment.

We’ve gone from a time when neither Adam nor Eve were ashamed by their nakedness, to a time when little boys (of all ages) sit in darkened rooms seeking picture after picture of naked women. Why has our society become so sex obsessed? Why do the images just become more and more risque and vulgar?

Abused boys and girls are left with an increasing legacy of shame – passed on from men and women who have lived a life of shame. It all started next to a forbidden tree in an abundant garden; and now we live in a society dominated by sex, greed, lust, power, pride, dominance, theft, and shame.

I love the line at the end of Genesis 2:

“The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”

Application:

I long to get back to that kind of beauty.

As I sat in my living room last night with two kids on my lap, talking, playing, laughing with my family, I thought about how blessed I am. I don’t have time for TV. I don’t have time for frivolous amusements. I don’t have time to pursue anything that would detract from the beauty of my family. The view of the dark forest that we call our backyard, along with the joy of my family – that’s enough for me.

My desire is to give back to God the glory of the love and grace He’s given to me. The more I focus on Him, the more narrow my focus becomes and the things of this world (including the death, lust, and greed), grow strangely dim.

Prayer:
Father God, just for today, I give you great glory and I worship you for the beauty you’ve brought into my life. Thank you God – I love you too!

*****

The Wind

Scripture:
John 3:5-9 NIV Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ..6.. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ..7.. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ..8.. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ..9.. “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

Observations:
The dawn is breaking on this beautiful, but wet Christmas Eve morning. As I looked out my window this morning I realized how great it is to look at swaying trees rather than cookie cutter trac-homes. I am so glad to be out of the sprawling subdivisions of Colorado Springs. My soul thrives in natural surroundings.

I think back on Christmases past and the times I had with my family. Where did they come from, where did they go. The events are murky, yet the emotions are clear. The events were mostly created by my Mom, but were a crescendo of traditions and creativity from generations past and cultures present. Last night a Christmas song came on the radio – it is a classic now, but was a pop sensation 40 years ago.

I miss those Christmases, but really, I’ve mostly rejected the secularism that has invaded the celebration of my Lord’s birth. Christmas is more simple, less stressful, and far from the consumerism that punctuated my childhood. As packages come in from grandparents, aunts, and uncles, my daughter begans to experience some greedy anticipation and I am reminded as to why we seek simplicity.

Reading John 2-4 today reminded me of an article I recently read in Newsweek. It was about global models of weather prediction. Some scientists are looking at Siberian weather to make predictions for the coming years; while others look at El Nino and other factors. Though both models have their merits, both seem amazingly inaccurate. After finishing the article (Snow Domes and Crystal Balls), I was impressed by the thought that when it comes to predicting the great mysteries, we are clueless.

Einstein said that he is frail and humbled to understand the magnitude of God. And Jesus said it so simply above, we don’t see the wind, we don’t know where it came from, but we are able to discern the effects.

So it is with the Spirit of God. We can’t see the Spirit, we don’t know where it came from, and we don’t understand where He is going, but we can see the effects.

Application:
When I first began to experiement with church, about 23 years ago, I was dissapointed. I went in looking for the Spirit of God. I didn’t exactly know what I was looking for, but I had experienced HIm a few times in my life. I had moments in my memory. The events were murky, but the emotions were very clear. There were mountain top experiences, late night wake up moments, and quiet whispers in the dark. I knew I would recognize God when I saw Him, but I wasn’t seeing Him in church.

I left those services disappointed, frustrated, yet more determined than ever to find my God. I wish I could say I found God in church, but I didn’t. I found God in the quiet places – alone and in desperate cries of longing. I have only seen glimpses of Him, but that was enough to lead me deeper into my relationship with Him.

It was out of this budding desperation that I now go to church. Not to find God, but to share Him. Our churches are not filled with godly people, they are filled with desperate people who seek God. (That isn’t to say there are not godly people in church, but the majority are seekers) I don’t go to church to receive, I go to church to share; this is a humbling and frightening responsibility.

I can’t teach God. It is not an academic proposition and I can’t explain Him. I can’t tell you where He came from or where He is going – but I can let Him affect me from the inside out. Hopefully you will see the effects of God in my life, my attitudes, and my directions.

Prayer:
Father God, just for today, come into my life and affect me with your very presence. You alone are holy and you alone have the power to affect life on a universal scale. We don’t know if the weather originates in El Nino or on the frozen plains of Siberia, but we do know that you are the author and finisher of our faith. I know God that you will not abandon me, but rather you will be “faithful to complete a good work in me.” Today God, continue to work in me, through me, and out of me.

I love you too!

gw

*****

Walking Away from My Vomit

Scripture:
2 Peter 1:3-4 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:17-22 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Observations:
Peter tells us that everything we need is available through Christ. By entering into Him, we can participate in the divine nature of Christ – our Lord and Savior. On the other hand, Satan tells us that if we follow him and do not obey God, we can become gods ourselves.

If I stop and think about this, I realize that participating in the divine is much better than a bazillion gods running around. As we’ve discovered in the United States, freedom and the pursuit of pleasure is a great thing – until it begins to invade other people’s space. My rights stop when your rights begin. So when we are all gods, we have limited rights, limited freedom, and limited divination. It is only through Christ that I have absolute freedom – and therefore unlimited life.

Application:
No matter how much freedom I think I gain by pursuing my own interests, I am really just boxing myself into a corner. In order to experience the abundant life (John 10:10), I have to truly experience God. In the beginning God told us that we could have anything in the Universe – except this one fruit of this one tree. Satan on the other hand told us that God was being stingy and keeping us from achieving our full potential. Satan focuses on what we can’t have (one thing) and God focuses on the abundance of His creation – all things.

When I follow God – I can have all things good. Which means I don’t need bad things.

Prayer:
Father God – I am silly, stooopid, and selfish (most of the time). Please forgive me for pursuing my own ways. Teach me to follow you. Teach me to NOT be double-minded and from pursuing two gods. Teach me to pursue you at all costs.

Thanks Lord!

gw

*****

Following Rituals

Scripture:

Galatians 4:9-11 NIV  But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?  ..10..  You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!  ..11..  I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

 

Galatians 4:30-31 NIV  But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son."^[3]  ..31..  Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

 

 

Observations:

A few years ago I attended a Hebraic worship service.  Most of the elements of a typical Jewish service were present.  The main difference being the recognition of Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  It was a great experience for me.  Over the course of a few minutes I was flooded with a sense of my spiritual heritage.  Prior to that Sabbath morning opportunity, I had looked at my spiritual heritage from the standpoint of my immediate and ancestral family.  But that morning, I began to see how my Christian experience had roots back to the beginning of time.  Not just 150 years ago and the second great awakening.  Not just 200 years ago to the establishment of the Christian church.  But all the way back to Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham.  All the way back to Moses.  All the way back to creation and to Adam and Eve.  It was an eye-opening epiphany that changed the way I worship and the way I see God.

 

Since then I’ve had other opportunities to experience God through ancient rituals.  Each time I see the rituals, and God, in different ways.  Recently, we experienced an ancient Jewish circumcision ceremony when my son was circumcised.  It was a powerful experience and I will never forget it.

 

However, I have friends who continue to practice many of the old testament rituals that were eliminated at the Cross.  I see no harm in that.  Rediscovering the principles that God intended to teach – that is always a good thing.  But to just blindly practice these rituals, without any thought or growth disturbs me.  Paul tells us to not be enslaved by them.

 

Sometimes I even wonder about the rituals that have not been eliminated?  Are we learning?  Are we growing?  Or, are we merely going through the motions and enslavement to a works-oriented religiosity?

 

 

Applications:

If you know me, you know that I take most rules pretty lightly.  I don’t necessarily obey the crosswalk signal and I’ve been known to make more than one illegal U-turn.  However, you may not know that I think through each of these experiences pretty thoroughly before I decide to break or keep the law.  Indeed, before I engage in the communion experience, I process its value and teachings.  Because of my value of authenticity, it is difficult for me to practice a ritual for no apparent reason.

 

I don’t have friends, if we’re not friends. I don’t keep things if they have no use or meaning.  And I don’t practice certain disciplines if I’m not “there.”

 

 

Prayer:

Father God, just for today, let me see how the daily grind fits into your plan.  Open my eyes and pull me closer to you.  Take my heart, take my life, take my will – and teach me to follow you even when I don’t know why – or where you’re taking me.

 

gw

Fear Not!

Scripture:
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

1 Peter 3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”

Observations:
About eight years ago I bought a sticker for the side of my 4Runner that said, “Fear Not! Isaiah 41:13″ I was about to set off on part two of a dangerous and scary life journey and it seemed so appropriate to put that on the side of my “home” – my truck. Little did I know the dangers and dragons I was about to face.

Dragons are always scary before you slay them. Afterwards, they don’t look so scary.

God says in Isaiah to not fear. Through Peter he asks, “Who is going to harm you?” But even if you should suffer, you are blessed for doing what is right. We have no need to suffer what others fear – we have no reason to be frieghtened.

What am I afraid of? What scares me that I should turn over to God?

Application:
I fear failure. I fear mediocrity. I fear dead-ends. I fear not getting a successful ROI (return on investment – e.g. time, resources, money, prayer, etc.). I fear resentments. I fear unreasonable expectations (my own ). I fear being let down. I fear death, dismemberment, and pain.

I had been working at Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (then Washington County Fire District #1) for about a year when I made a bold statement over coffee with the boys. I said, “I don’t mind dying, I just don’t want to be maimed.” They teased me for years about that statement.

At the time, this is what I felt. I had no fear of death – in fact, I probably had a death wish. Who else would rush into burning buildings, drink and drive, smoke toxic substances, and generally “dancing through doorways just to see what [I would] find leaving nothing to interfere with the crazy balance of [my] mind and when [I] finally reappear at the place where [I] came in [I]‘ve thrown [my] love to all the strangers and caution to the wind.”{a}

When I got married six years ago that began to change. When my daughter was born two and a half years ago, it really began to change. The fear of death now haunts me and God is working with me on that. He is teaching me that He is in control and He will see to my family if anything happens to me. He will also give me/us strength if anything happens to my kids.

Yesterday I was having dinner with some friends and they mentioned how irresponsible someone in their life was. We laughed at the state of America and the consumeristic character of society. People want instant fixes and instant results. Later that night I was telling my wife about an episode of Judge Joe Brown I had seen about a woman who skipped out on her rent and other bills she owed her roommate. She kept making excuses, but the Judge called her on every twisted excuse and held her accountable. It went round and round – but he stuck to her like a rabid dog.

As my wife and I continued to talk, she mentioned the story we had heard over dinner. Then she made the comment that this is what it is like starting a church. Getting people to follow through on their responsibilities is very discouraging at times. Watching people ignore the Lord’s discipleship is disappointing. Watching people making choices that are obviously harmful to themselves is discouraging.

The conclusion of our dinner conversation and the late night discussion with my wife is that we can’t push people. We have to let them make their own choices. People have to fail on their own.

I think this is why I sometimes get controlling. God has blessed me with the ability to see the “big picture,” and it is hard to watch people fail. I tend to think that “if they would only” listen to me, they wouldnb’t fail. Then I hear God say, “Welcome to My world Gary.”

I believe that one of God’s highest values is freedom: Freedom of choice, freedome of religion, freedom of just about anything people choose – even if it leads to destruction.

So, this is where I am torn between the real world and the Heavenly Kingdom. If I don’t employ Kingdom values to raise up a church, then it isn’t a Kingdom church and the growth is not from God. But due to the fact that the odds are stacked against us, the system is broken, and people are consumeristic and irresponsible, it seems only right to bend the rules in order to compensate. It feels as if we already have one hand tied behind our backs.

Last week I had my leaders participate in a role-playing exercise. They were in a no-win negotiation situation. In the debriefing that followed, several people mentioned that the teams did not act in a “Christian” manner. When questioned about it, many said that “it was just a game.” That, “in order to win, they can’t be Christian.” And that, “the opposition has the advantage because they can lie and cheat however necessary.”

I’ve been thinking about this for years. The fact that remains is this. God’s character is on trial and the only way He is going to be vindicated is for us to “perfectly reflect His character.” This means, absolute, transparent honesty. This means we can have no fear. This means that it is only through His power and His Spirit can we even come close to winning this battle.

It is a battle for souls, but more importantly it is a battle of ideas and philosophies. Even if we win the battle (through dubious means), we won’t win the war – which is about vindicating God’s character.

So, whether Common Ground succeeds or fails, that really isn’t the issue. What is at stake here is how we win or lose. “It’s not whether we win or lose, it’s how we play the game.”

So, the real fear should be – how are we playing the game? We need to look deep into our characters and see what is there (scary?). If we aren’t playing by Kingdom values, we are losing – even if we are gaining territory in people’s souls. Maybe we aren’t being successful by human/earthly standards, but we are living a life of serenity, peace, love, joy, grace, patience, and honesty. This is winning – and Peter says, if we are doing this, we have nothing to fear and we will be blessed.

Prayer:
Oh God – teach me to let go and let you work in me to do your good pleasure. Teach me to walk with you – daily.

I love you too!
gw

*****

Revival –> Repentance

Scripture:
2 Chronicles 29:1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

2 Chronicles 29:27 Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the LORD began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. 29 When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped.

2 Chronicles 31:1 When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh.

Observations:
First Hezekiah, the leader decided to stand up and do what is right. Then he had the temple cleansed and ordered that burnt offerings be sacrificed. The people came and they worshiped. After they worshiped, they went out and got rid of all the idols and altars throughout the kingdom.

Application:
As goes the leader, so goes the kingdom. It is so obvious in reading through the Old Testament. Whenever the leader went the way of the world, the kingdom sank. When the leader stood up to follow God’s ways, the kingdom rose in prosperity and spiritual health (not necessarily in that order).

Revival, worship, repentence. That’s what I need. That’s what the church needs. That’s what we all need.

But who is the leader in my heart? Who leads me to experience that? It can only be Jesus. If I surrender my heart to Satan, then he leads based on his pattern, character, and tendency. But if I surrender my heart to Jesus, then the revival starts all over and fresh again.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, continue to live in my heart.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

amen

*****

First Love – Always.

Scripture:
Hebrews 10:32-39 (NIV) Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Observations:
It is true. When we first discover the light of awakening through Christ we will do anything to persevere. Our whole life has been aroused from the deadness of mere existence and suddenly we have life, love, excitement, and joy.

But it is so easy to slip back into the slumber of sameness and mediocrity. Like feeling stood-up on a blind date. We began to take matters into our own hands and forget that we are awaiting for “the one” to show up. Will we be caught picking our nose when our date walks in the door?

We must live in faith that He is coming. We must not slip into mediocrity and slumber. We must keep that first-love experience alive – and well!

Application:
The best way for me to keep my marriage fresh and alive is to keep my focus on my wife. Some wonder how they can regain the spark, but in reality, they should never have allowed the flame to diminish. The same is true with my love relationship with Jesus.

To keep the flame alive with my wife I have to constantly romance her. This takes time – quality and quantity time. It takes focus. The same is true in my relationship with my God. I have to allow Him time to romance me – quality, quantity, and quiet time. As I give Him time – He bathes my soul with love, grace, and strength.

Like my Dad used to say. “I chased her until she caught me.” Am I chasing God? Am I letting Him catch me?

Prayer:
Jesus, save me from my indifference; Save me from my mediocrity; Save me from my cynicism, brokenness, and laziness.

Thank you God! I love you too!

*****

Like a Child

Scripture:
1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV But godliness with contentment is great gain. ..7.. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Observations:
I hear Paul saying that godly contentment is good — but it doesn’t necessarily come immediately. It is a great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we’ll take nothing with us, so why can’t we be content with what we have?

Application:
I am always wanting something. A new car, a bigger house, a better computer, a better iPod, a better style – something bigger, better, faster. And yet, by most measures in the world, I am rich! I need to revel in the things God has give me, and thus be content.

Prayer:
Father God, please teach me how to be content. I have a beautiful wife, a great (and growing) family, and everything I really need to be happy. I need to live in the moment – like a child.

Search Me, Know Me, Cleanse Me

Scripture:
Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? 27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; searches out his inmost being.

Romans 13:3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

Observations:
I sit here, at Poor Richard’s Cafe, wondering what the Lord has to share with me? What great turh arises from my time away and my quiet time with Him this afternoon? Like many in my culture, like many in my time; I want instant answers, and I want instant wisdom and truth! I have this God-sized hole in my heart and I feel empty. I want God to fill that hole now – today!

Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way. It takes time. It takes relationship. It takes trust. It is a building process. Like most of my best friends in life, the relationships developed slowing. The instant friends – the once night stands (so to speak), didn’t last. It was the friendships that evolved and grew over a period of time that hold the most sway in my heart and in my soul.

Until I develop the trust that truly allows God into my inmost soul, how can He reveal The Way more fully. I strive to be a man of integrity, but I have a ways to go. I deceive myself and therefore deceive others. Until I am not fully deceived, I can not be a man of integrity. And the only way I can achieve that is by surrendering to God’s authority.

This too will remove fear from my soul. As Paul tells us above, the man who does right has nothing to fear from authority. There is no shame in right-doing. There is no guilt in doing right. There is only guilt and fear and shame when one has hidden secrets in their heart. As I allow God to remove the guilt from my heart, I will be less inclined to fear. As He cleanses me, I am free.

Application:
Reading Romans 13 made me think about my job situation. As I allow God to make me a man of integrity, I have nothing to fear from the conference. And I’m not just talking about retribution or penalties. I’m talking about changes and situations that don’t agree with my vision or my direction. They can direct me, send me, chain me, restrain me, hold me, promote me, ignore me, or push me. They can lead me, stop me, train me, or confuse me – either way, I will serve the Lord and allow Him to work through the issues.

Life is good when I go with God. Life is good when I allow Him to search out my heart and cleanse me from all unrighteousness and guilt. When the shame is gone, I have complete courage.

Prayer:
Lord God, I’m ready. Bring me to Your place of holiness and presence. Teach me to see The Way. Teach me to allow your light to search me and cleanse me. Remove from me the guilt and anger and shame from my heart. You alone can do this. You alone can cleanse me.