Holy Week thoughts

April 2, 2010 //
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Those who followed Jesus were looking for a king who would overthrow the oppressive Roman government. They welcomed Jesus as this king, but did not understand that they were being led, and loved, by a very different kind of king.

They didn’t expect to see a God of justice and mercy.
They didn’t expect to be loved completely.
They didn’t expect to watch him die.

We may be different than these followers.
We aren’t looking for a king.
We are happy to rule our own lives.

Most of us are desperately, quietly, trying to keep our lives spinning.

But we do want to be loved completely.
We do want to know there is a loving, just God.
We know—we know—our ‘spinning’ can’t be all there is.

Because Jesus died, we can live forever
Because Jesus came back to life, we can fully live.

We find our greatest fulfillment when living in the way Jesus taught.
We were created to live this way… with Jesus as our king.

So… is Jesus your king?

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This was written for a part of the Good Friday worship experience at FirstMBChurch tomorrow night.  Good Friday is a traditional Christian holiday commemorating the day Jesus was crucified and died.  Our church has chosen to observe this holiday through a guided journey called the Road to Jerusalem, starting at 7:30pm.  It’s a simple, interactive experience where participants will walk with Jesus and his disciples through the last week of his life.  The experience has been designed with families & kids in mind, but will be compelling for all ages.  If you are in the Wichita area, join us!

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Categories God, ministry, worship

Recognizing Jesus.

March 23, 2010 //
0

I’ve just started a new Bible reading plan on YouVersion, a plan that has me reading Matthew/Mark/Luke/John all at the same time.  I’ll be immersed in stories about Jesus’ life and teachings… like a blast from a fire hose.

Today, here’s what jumped out at me:

In Luke 2, we learn about Simeon, a devout God-following Jewish man.  God had told him he would not die before seeing the one who would save Israel… the Christ. God prompted him to go to the temple on one particular day, the same day Joseph and Mary took their baby, Jesus, to the temple as was the custom.  Simeon immediately recognized that this newborn baby was the Christ, saying… my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2: 30-32)

Simeon recognized Jesus because the Holy Spirit led him to do so. He was walking with God closely enough that it was natural for him to recognize God’s ‘salvation’. He saw because of God’s Spirit.

Years later, Jesus, his family, and his disciples (the men he had asked to travel with and learn from him) were all attending a wedding. The host ran out of wine, and Jesus ended up turning multiple jars of water into the best wine of the night (after a little exchange with his mother… which I would love to have witnessed).  John 2:11 says this, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Later these same disciples realized that the things Jesus did fulfilled the prophecies in the scriptures they had studied as boys.  This strengthened their belief that he was the Christ.

The disciples recognize the truth about who Jesus was by his actions and through the fulfillment of prophecies happening right in front of them. They saw because of God’s word and the experience they were having together.

Our pastor says this over and over… God’s Spirit, God’s word, God’s people. This is how we know God… this is how we live within his will… this is how to live the best possible life.

This is how we can recognize Jesus at work, around us, wherever we are.

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Categories God, faith

Lasts.

March 1, 2010 //
3

I have never been flippant about leaving things behind.

As a kid, I cried when my someone came to buy our little old pickup.  We were buying a big, shiny truck to take its place, but I was still sad.  I felt bad for the old one.  I cried when I came home from school one day to discover a new color TV sitting where our trusty black-and-white set had been.  I didn’t get to say goodbye.  The few weeks before moving to college …. how many ‘lasts’ can there BE for an 18-year-old?  This is the last time I’ll go to church as a resident of this town…. this the last time I’ll sit in this kitchen as a full-time resident of this house. The kitchen itself was sad about this, I thought.  No sentiment was left unturned.

In just a few days our church throws open the doors on a new worship center.  You can read about that project here. We have lots and lots of things to look forward to in this new part of the building.  But we also say goodbye to our ‘old room’.

At the time our original building was built, the people of this church had the wisdom to create a space that could be used for everything. And 23 years later, it has been.  The room has held all the expected things, like weddings and funerals and meals and meetings. But it has cheerfully held its fair share of unusual things… like rappelling and basketball and entire villages made of cardboard.

We’ve now had our last band rehearsal and our last set of Sunday worship services in this room. It isn’t going away; we now get to dream about new ways to use it. But it turns out I have a little emotional attachment to this space.  I have been learning how to worship in this room for 15 years; I have been learning to create opportunities for the church family to worship here for 10. I have learned what a ‘band’ sounds and feels like.  I have planned and led worship experiences during great celebrations, and during times of confusion and grief.  In this room, Neil and I dedicated our kids, and we said goodbye to a dear friend. I’ve laughed and cried and messed up and stumbled into great ideas.

Never do I want to slip into believing that the church IS the building or that the building IS the church. The church is a group of people unified by God’s grace and purpose to be His hands and feet in the world. The building is a tool. But memories are linked to locations, and this part of this building is linked to my entire ministry career so far.  It’s a room.  But it’s been a cheerful friend, willing to handle whatever we’ve tried to create within its walls.  For that I am grateful.

Categories church building, ministry, musings

Oasis

February 9, 2010 //
4

I don’t know what it would be for you, the thing that most recharges. The thing that brings you both quiet and invigoration.  Not an ordinary kind of rest or recreation, but a welcomed life-giving interruption of your ‘normal’; that which helps you remember why any of us were born, and helps you relax into the fullness of your own purpose.

I have found my oasis in an event that unfolds this week.

I know this is oasis because we spent much of today laughing and creating and working alongside good friends that we love dearly and don’t get to see often. I know this is oasis because we walked into a cozy venue tonight, welcomed by friends with whom we share passion for ministry and art. I know this is oasis because we met a new table full of people, and immediately were connected in conversations about faith and ministry and family. We did not know everyone in the room, and we won’t by the end of the week. But we are drawn together through a common love for God, for the church, for art, and for music. A true blessing.

I know this is oasis because my soul was quieted and inspired as we listened to stories and songs by a woman who has been one of my favorite musician artists since I was ten years old. As the words of Ephesians 6 were sung over us in a holy moment at the close of the evening,  I found myself saying over and over in a noiseless whisper, “thank you… thank you… thank you…”

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ….. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

There will be more noiseless whispers during holy moments throughout the week, and there will be an uncommon amount of thankfulness expressed by me. Because this oasis helps me stay humble and makes me thankful.

Whatever you oasis is, make sure you get there from time to time. You will not regret it. Purpose, thankfulness, and blessing. A drenching of the soul.

Oasis.

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Categories faith, recreate conference
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