RE:think

It Always Comes Back to the Gospel

This is a slightly edited repost from November 2006…

What is the process that turns my thoughts into something to post on my blog? In other words, how is it I come up with this junk that I use to torture the few of you that come here? I'll try to show you.

This post is about looking for redemption in the wrong places. I am giving it to you uncut from how it forms in my mind, develops there, crystallizes, and then finally makes it to print. If it's hard to follow, well, welcome to my mind.

It starts as a little quote I formed recently about putting politics above the things of God:

"Seeking redemption in politics is like looking for a diamond in a bucket of razor blades."

Is this absolutely true, nah. I think I know what I mean by it though. Plus it's cute and pithy, and I like cute and pithy. Now, I am obviously going to use my belief in Jesus against this statement. As a Christian I know where my ultimate redemption comes from.

Let's see, a few questions. Can I find redemption in politics? A particular sort, yes. Can God use politicians for redemptive purposes? Absolutely. But what kind of redemption? Certainly not ultimate. Not going so well here. OH! But what happens when I put politics and the like above God? Then I am relying on politics as my functional savior. Yes! That's it!

OK, I need to adjust the quote. I better say this I think:

"Seeking redemption in politics and not in Jesus is like looking for a diamond in a bucket of razor blades and never finding it."

Yeah I like that better.  I see Christians doing this on an almost daily basis. How could they! The humanity! But hold on, that isn't totally fair. I may not personally make politics my savior, but I cetainly put other things there from time to time. We all do, right? Maybe I should say this.

"Seeking redemption first in _________ and not Jesus is like looking for a diamond in a bucket of razor blades and never finding it."

Yeah that is better. But I don't know if it is all the way to where I want it to be. That "blank" can change almost daily. There has to be something controlling that dadgum "blank". What most influences what we put in the "blank"? Well, I'd say we influence it ourselves more than anything.  Our identity and security rests on the things that we put in that "blank".  So we fill it with things, and people, and experiences.  We try our best to find our identity in these things. We look for safety and love in those things. But we fail at every turn. This is a pretty good definition of sin isn't?

So maybe it's best for me to say it like this:

"Putting my identity and security into anything other than Jesus will turn out badly."

Yes, I like that much better as my pithy statement. Nothing cute about it though. But being cute usually gets us into trouble anyway.

Here is the deal; it always comes back to the Gospel doesn't it? So I will end here. The actual post, had I not done this gimmicky thing would have commented about the statement I arrived at, but today, I'll just end with this:

Dear God, please show me how to stop pushing Jesus to the side and reaching down into that bucket of razor blades. Because I'll never find what I need and those blades are very sharp. I stand a man still in need of a savior. May I never lose sight of the gospel.

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Tangible Kingdom

I found this video via Frank via Grace. I really want to read this book now. This video gets to the heart of what I'd like my family to experience as it applies to both church and The Church. It's very powerful. Here is the description that goes with the video:

Watch as a normal God-searching man finds hope, as he sees a glimpse of the kingdom in a community of friends, around a table, and everywhere he goes.

Radius

Why Don't Christians...

I am going to start a new series that asks why Christians don't do certain things. I see the church in all it's forms missing the boat on so many things and we never even stop to question why. I will give this qualifier now and in ever other post.

There are some churches and organizations out there that ARE doing all the things I'll ask about. And God bless them! I am only going to bring up the things that more than a few us should be doing but don't.

This will be lots of fun. :)

What Have I Emerged Into?

There are lots of discussions going on around the blogosphere (see here, here, and here) elsewhere about the "Emerging Church" and how, if it hasn't already, it will soon "jump the shark". Many of these discussions and posts are very helpful. Some are just flat dead on. They have also gotten me thinking about my own journey and how the EC has probably already jumped the shark in my life.

When I jumped into the waters of the EC a few years ago, it rocked my world. The ideas and proposed practices were so new and so fresh to me (to some it was old hat) that I had finally found salvation for the idea of "church". And I still think this to be true. But like any other conversation or movement that has people involved, I started to see cracks in the dam.

Some of these cracks were bad theology or outright heresy. Some were people who talk of the rigidity and close-mindedness of others while being close-minded and rigid themselves. Hypocrisy is one of the things that drove me in the direction of the EC in the first place.

I want to tell you how it is playing out in my own journey. And why I think that what is happening with me could happen to many others and lead to the concept of Emergent and the EC getting left behind. Tim Lahayed if you will. :)

Like many others who have latched on to the books, web sites, and speakers for the EC, I come from a conservative, evangelical background (mostly). And like many others, I did not leave that theology completely behind. What got me going the most about the EC was people talking about actually putting their faith into action! I loved the broader implications of the EC (and still do). 

We wouldn't just meet up on Sunday morning anymore. We'd be communal and missional. Meaning we'd actually love our brothers and sisters enough to journey with them and together we'd take our good news from inside the four walls of the church into our communities. And we'd do it in ways that were a little deeper than chick tracts and community festivals that ended with an alter call. We actually try to get to know people and love them before they ever sat in one of our pews.

I am finding that once you start doing that, you want to talk about it less. And the more people figure that out, the more they will do what I have done. They'll take those things back into the realms they've always known and use them to instruct others on putting their faith into practice.

Will I still read the books? Probably. I enjoy them and like the challenges I get from them. Will I still frequent the blogs? Yeah, there is still a lot to learn about what is going on in places other than my hometown. But am I concerned with the label and "conversation" on a level that makes me want to help keep "brand" alive? Nope. And I suspect that there are many out there just like me. Call it whatever you want, I just want to obey Jesus in loving God and loving others. I don't need a brand name to do that.

So what have I emerged into? Well, I'm not sure. I'm still emerging. I hope you are too.

Remind Me to Remember You

Oh forgetful me...

My Mom will be the first to tell you that I am horrible about forgetting people and losing touch. (I love you Mommy!) She'll call me and ask why I haven't called or been by. She'll remind me that it's been a week, maybe two since we even talked. Horrible. I should have the crap kicked out of me for that. Oh, I can come up with a good excuse, like work's been busy, lots going on with the kids, or something else. And the reasons are true. But they do not excuse my neglect.

But do you know what is worse? Forgetting God. I know all of you have probably gotten this licked but... have you ever gotten to the end of a day and thought, wow, I haven't thought about God today, much less talked to him. Or maybe it's a been a couple of days. Or, gasp, more? I know I've been there more than I like to admit.

How in the world does this happen? The God that has given us so much and even made the ultimate sacrifice becomes forgotten in our feeble little minds. He is ignored to the point of being shut off from our hearts. We lose our desire to pursue him as we pursue those things that clutter our everyday lives.

It blows me away.

I love David's words in Psalm 139:

1O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.

3You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.

4Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?

It's a darn good thing that God knows us and that he is infinitely better at pursuit than we are. Even when I forget him, he has not forgotten me and there is no fleeing from his Spirit.

So God, thanks for pursuing us and please remind us to remember you.

Shackles: So What's the Answer?

I think we all know that the only road to freedom is Jesus Christ. That's a given for those of us who follow him. He said he came to seek and save the lost and when he left he charged us to go into all the world and spread his good news. There will be some people we run across who are ready to hear about him straight away. Many though will need a relationship with you first.

I look at the way Jesus did it in the Gospels, he always had the message. That was a given. He was ready to share it with all who would listen. But another thing I noticed is that he nearly always had something tangible to offer the community he was visiting with whether it was one of his miracle or just his friendly presence. He literally set free many from their physical burdens as signs of the Kingdom that he proclaimed was "at hand". He also was a regular friend to many and spent time with them. He would share meals and attend community functions as a guest (i.e. weddings, etc.). In this way he modeled ministry, IMHO, for us.

There are so many hurting people out there in need as Jake said in a prior comment. It is impossible for us to reach them all. It truly can be overwhelming. But I think the key is, and this is a "no duh" statement, living and moving amongst these struggling people with the love of Jesus. So how do we take this out into the world and not "leave Christ on the street" to quote a Caedmon's Call lyric?

Here are the things I think each of us can do to accomplish this mission:

1. Don't take our mundane daily routines for granted.

We all have a rhythm to our lives. Even the most unorganized of us are in the same places doing the same things regularly. While moving through these rhythms we come in contact, daily, with people who are shackled. You know some of them well and others not so much. Either way, Jesus called us "a city on a hill" and told us we are the "light of the world". If we follow Jesus as best we can, that light will shine and God will be glorified. They'll see another way.

Even as I try to follow Jesus I see others who's light burns brighter than maybe my own (at least in my eyes) and I see that there is even more still. That's how I know for myself that Jesus works through us and reveals more of his Kingdom.

This idea fits well with the "regular customer" notion that Fred put out there. We are all a regular customer somewhere whether it's by choice or convenience. Use that as an opportunity. When you go to the local grocery or big box store be kind to those who serve you. If possible see if you can get in the line of the same cashier every now and then if not all the time. Be kind, help them bag your things, and ask them how things are going. Many of them are glad to have someone to talk to.

2. Persistent Presence

This goes hand in had with the first point, but I still want break it out. I think that it's very important for us to develop a consistent and persistent presence at places outside our homes and churches. When we do this, we develop relationships with people that we'd never have the chance to by inviting them to church or over to the house for dinner. These venues allow for real relationships to form between Christians and not yet Christians because they are either neutral or home turf for those we meet. Some people need that first. Handing them a tract or asking them where they would go if they died tonight will do very little.

This "strategy" takes some time and we have to be committed to the long haul. It may take a good bit of time before the chance to share the Good News with them comes along. It also means we may become friends with someone who never "gets it". Lots of Christians would tell you if this is the case, then you've wasted your time. They will throw out one of their favorite lines about swine and pearls. But how much do we really care about them if being a friend is not at or near the top of our list?

There is a little Chinese Restaurant that I make it a point to have lunch at once a week. I walk in take my seat and head to the buffet. When I get back my Diet Pepsi is waiting for me without me having to say one word. When my waitress returns, she asks how things are and we talk for a bit about various things. Sometimes she will mention a sick family member or a problem with one of her children. I don't know that I have ever told anyone about my lunches there, but they have become a very sacred part of my week. I couldn't spend 10 dollars any better way. Plus the Mongolian Pork is outstanding!

3. Learn to Listen

I say learn, because most of us, including me, can always do better at listening. Even if they don't spell it out, most people will tell you everything you need to know about their situation. Heck, lots of people will unload it all after just meeting you.

We do this because there seems to be a need in all of us for peace. We tell our stories not just because we like to talk about us, but because we all know there is something missing. We look for others ideas on things and seek advice. We know our stories aren't perfect and it's in our nature to have them redeemed. Sometimes we try to redeem them ourselves and make the cuffs fit much tighter.

If we are actively listening, then we will know all we need to know. Some people are good at hiding things but eventually we'll get keyed in. Listen and be sure the person speaking to you KNOWS you are listening.

So, I guess that's all I have to say for now. I hope that I've made my point easy to grasp. I don't really know how well I do that. It's mostly just good for me to write and talk about these things because it helps me in joining God in his work. It gets me in a Kingdom mindset and reminds me that redemption is something many many people are seeking.

Our Brokenness and God's Closeness

Anyone who truly attempts to follow Jesus and make him Lord knows that it's very hard escaping our own brokenness. As we journey on and learn more of how things should be, the more glaring that brokenness is.

In Psalm 144:3 David asks:

O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?

Isn't this what we all ask when we see just how broken we are?

For me, the revelation of my brokenness is one of the hardest things to deal with as a Christ Follower.

It's so very easy to let it overwhelm us (especially me) to the point of feeling like a failure. Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness can become paralyzing. We do things that we know are not good for us as we try to find a way to get rid of those feelings.

Then we find that all of this ugliness has the power hurt those around us. And it spirals, down, down, down from there. It's easy to stop caring and just look for the seemingly easy way out. The pain that follows is nearly unbearable.

Suddenly God doesn't feel so close. And that becomes a huge problem. We need him but can't feel his presence. I haven't really faced one of those "dark nights of the soul" but I imagine this is one way it could easily get started.

Psalm 145:18 says:

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

What a promise in the first line! But then second comes along and makes things a little harder.  It's very easy to call on him. I do it every single time I am in trouble. And it's even easier to do it with what WE want as the truth being our motivation.

Lest I depress you, Psalm 145 is a wonderful read for anyone in this tough spot. As I fight battles of my own creation and those that were imposed on me, I dwell on this passage. I am broken, yes, as all creation is. But my Redeemer lives!

Verse 14 says:

The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.

What a glimpse of the Gospel! I must remind myself that I still need the Gospel, everyday. May God continue to pick us up when we fall and straighten us up when life weighs heavy.

Blessed to be Generous

Our church, Radius, is going through a series right now called "Blessed". Last night, Chris' message was "Blessed to be Generous". It involved how blessed we are here in the US and also the touchy subject of giving. I have heard many messages over my lifetime about giving and this one ranked right at the top. It made me think and also challenged me.

I come from a very generous family. My family is one of the most giving of it's talents, time, and finances that I know. I may be biased but I could cite example after example to back it up. My parents and grandparents have literally given away about as much as they have kept for themselves. That said, you'd think it wouldn't be a tough thing at all for me to be a giving person.  Not so fast my friend!

Now, I am not a miser, but when I look at my attitude towards generosity compared to my family's and now my wife's, I could do much better. She sees someone in need and she's ready to do whatever it takes to meet that need. It's a beautiful thing. And it has done wonders for my own attitude.

I think she understands just how blessed we have been and she has a real passion to be a provider and pass that on. That's what Chris spoke about so well last night. He didn't make it a guilt trip. He also didn't focus simply on giving X amount of dollars to your church. It was about being generous.

I can't say I really remember too many times where my blessings were paired with the thought of being generous. That shouldn't be revolutionary, but it is.

So, here's to doing better at being generous.

First Sunday of Advent: Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5

1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,

3and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go the law,[1]
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

5O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord.

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