the lenten journey

this lenten journey has been about self-discovery. 40+ days of learning as the Holy Spirit has guided my thoughts and words.

right now i am Peter. that is my discovery. and yet - through my repeated study of 1,2 + 3 John I want to be like John. well, i want to be like Jesus - but i am drawn to John's humanness and through which the Spirit guided him to teach and lead through love.

But i am seeing that i am a pre-Pentecost Peter. bold at times - but cowardly at the times when i need to be vocal. i guess deep down i don't like confrontation. But the Spirit is working within me and has given me words that in time i will share with those who need to hear it. it will be a challenge that i willing accept.

God has placed some words on my heart. I anxiously await the time when he wants me to share them.

and so this journey of self-discovery has brought out new revelations.

I am drawn to the dust of Jesus. I am excited to learn more and more what it means to be his disciple - so that my garment will be covered with his dust.

the Spirit has been faithful even when i have not.

my last goal of this lenten season is to focus not on myself - but on Jesus and His sacrifice that will be remembered this weekend. for that, i don't have words...

one week

in one week...

you retreat to the desert - if you are found - you will be arrested.

you share in a meal prepared in your honor... teaching others a lesson in what it truly means to honor.

you are celebrated by the masses with cheers of gladness and hope. and yet you remain humble.

the turmoil and stress of knowing what is about to happen begins to creep into your mind.

you foreshadow the inevitable. but they don't understand.

you show your deep love and appreciation to your closest friends. you serve them in the most humble of ways by washing their feet.

you answer questions and offer comfort. "I am the Way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." you remind them that the Counselor will be coming and that they will all be equipped to do great and mighty thing. You empower them.

always teaching... always looking for a chance to share Gospel truth... you use everyday things... a vine...a branch... remain in me... stay connected with me - like a branch to the vine... and bear much fruit.

you have chosen those that will carry Your message the masses in the weeks, months + years to come.

you share in a final meal. a meal of remembrance. a meal shared with friends... a connection... a communion takes place.

you prepare your disciples for what is about to come. they don't get it. but you give the words that they need to hear.

in the dark moments on a dark evening before the darkest of days you retreat. you pray for yourself, for your disciples and for all believers.

and then the betrayal comes. one who walked beside for years... one who ate next to you the evening before... betrays you. stabbed in the back, you tell him 'do what you came here for.'

you are turned over to the authorities and arrested.

your most loyal follower denies knowing you... all the while you are being questioned. you remain humble... all while being humiliated.

they take you to the Governor. he tries to sort of free you, but his pride gets in the way. deep down he is afraid of you. you say little as he gives the option of your freedom to the people. the people, many whom were the same ones cheering your entry into Jerusalem a few days before are now asking that another criminal be freed.

you are given a sentence.

death.

agonizing pain. difficult to breathe. flesh and bone stripped away. words can not express...

'it is finished' you say as you willingly gave up your Spirit...

you GAVE up your Spirit.

what a gift...

in one week...

Embracing Grace

embrace.grace.
what does it look like?




grab hold of the morning.
seek the warmth of the sun.
close your eyes.
listen.

can you hear it?

behind the distraction of automobiles and exhaust
just past the dull roar of morning hustle
and beyond man-made disorder.

grace is speaking.

we often don't listen or hear it.
we reject it - thinking that its message can not possibly be for us.
it's chaos over clarity.
'i am not worthy.'

worry + fear + regret + poor self-image
trump grace.
and so i wallow.

"do not worry about tomorrow."
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
So if He feeds them so,
Why is my faith so low?

He speaks. Grace flows down.
it covers me.
like a warm blanket.
and I'm dripping wet no more.

grab hold of the morning.
seek the warmth of the son.
close your eyes.
listen.

can you hear it?

grace.

John 8:11

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Where are you dirty? Where in your life are you committing "Adultery of the Spirit" What other God's are you serving? Lent is about conversion and the one of the meanings of conversion is "the act of change" and so this day is symblized by a "U-turn" symbol.

I realize in my life there are many other Gods... as evident by my lack of posting on this blog. I allow life to get ahold of me and take me away from Him. I know I need to make more time for Him and spend more time on other things and I am really working at it. Some days it goes well and others... well... not so well. I will continue this process and keep pushing forward as we march closer and closer to Easter day.

John 8:7

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

As many of you know, slowly but surely, everyone stepped away... b/c NO one, other than Jesus himself, is sinless. How do you treat people? Are you quick to point out other's faults while you yourself are wallowing in filth? "Good Christians are expected to point out and condemn the sin, to judge the sin and love the sinner." The question is... can this really be done? I pray we all instead are able to follow in Jesus' manner as recorded in John 8:10, 11 where he says,

"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?

"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Notice, while still making it clear that her life of sin was wrong, he didn't stoop down and shame her but instead showed her grace and mercy. How much more of an impact do you think that made than if he would have allowed them all to attack?

May we also be able to follow his example in our daily encounters with others.

the choice is yours

You can get with this, or you can get with that.
I think I'll get with this, for this is where it's at.




your either a disciple of Christ or your not.

you can't 'sort of' follow Him. the light doesn't follow us around it follows Him.

in order to remain in light we must follow.


the lenten season is a few weeks from completion. the next few are pivital. now is the time for truth. seek truth eith your whole heart. seek Christ with everything inside of you.

no room for lazy* Christians here.

the choice is yours.

Light.

John the disciple... the apostle... the revelator... he gave us so many rich images of Jesus... the greatest (and most used) was the image of Jesus as Light. (23 or so times...)

may these scriptures inspire you today... as you walk along your lenten journey, may you remain in light.

• John 1:5
  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
  
  
• John 1:7
  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
  
  
• John 1:8
  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
  
  
• John 1:9
  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
  
  
• John 3:19
  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
  
  
• John 3:20
  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
  
  
• John 3:21
  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
  
  
• John 5:35
  John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
  
  
• John 8:12
  [ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
  
  
• John 9:5
  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
  
  
• John 11:9
  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light.
  
  
• John 11:10
  It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
  
  
• John 12:35
  Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
  
  
• John 12:36
  Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
  
  
• John 12:46
  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

• 1 John 1:5
  [ Walking in the light ] This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
  
  
• 1 John 1:7
  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
  
  
• 1 John 2:8
  Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
• 1 John 2:9
  Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
  
  
• 1 John 2:10
  Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
• Revelation 21:23
  The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
  
  
• Revelation 21:24
  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
  
  
• Revelation 22:5
  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

What Keeps you from growing

Now that we have looked at the need to prepare our soil for growth, we must look to see what else could be holding us back. In a garden, it is soo easy to quickly get over-run with weeds- no matter how diligent you try to be. It sometimes seems as though they appear overnight (in fact- this is the reason we don't even attempt a garden here at our house ;) )
In the soil of your life, are there weeds over-running your growth? Are the weeds reaching higher and choking out the sunlight and nourishment from reaching deeper?
Take a look at your life this week and see what needs weeded out. Are you on the computer too much? Are you a gossip? How about the tv; does it take time away that could be spent deepening your faith?
We all have our weeds, but it is up to us to recognize them and then clear them out. Take the time to get some roundup and clear some new areas for growth.

How fertile is your soil?

"As any gardener will tell you, good soil is essential to a good garden. Good soil, not too wet or too dry, is also critical to the flowering of a good marriage and a good spiritual life."

How is the soil in your life? Is it being watered, fertilized, hoed and weeded? Or... is it sitting out drying and cracking in the sun? We must prepare ourselves to allow growth to occur. So, how are you prepping your life for growth? Are you taking the necessary steps or just hoping that with a little luck, seeds will begin to sprout? Take time to prep your soil today and be prepared for a bountiful harvest.

3 John: Make the Faith Visible

vs. 5: Make the faith visible.

i hear this verse in the voice of Morgan Freeman. kind of like at the end of The Shawshank Redemption when he says 'Get busy livin' or get busy dyin.'" if he were preaching, he might follow that statement by saying 'Make the faith visible.'

faith should be visible not invisible (which is strangely ironic because faith is belief in things unseen or... invisible).

James 2:26 reads 'faith without works is dead.' in 3rd John - John is commending those who have outwardly made their faith known to others - who have gone the extra mile - extending the hand of fellowship and offering hospitality to those in need.

make your faith visible. not to receive accolades. not for glory sake. it's an outward expression of an inner beauty. this beauty comes from God. this beauty is instilled within us all... this beauty is magnified when we follow Christ - when we believe in the unseen. when we allow the Spirit to guide us... when we are obedient to God... when we love Him and love people.

St. Francis of Assisi knew a lot about what it meant to make the faith visible. read his quotes and be inspired.

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.



i am challenged today to make my faith visible.

2 John: Love

Robert Indiana created the 'Love' logo - originally for a Christmas card for the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1964. The logo was later used on a stamp and then created into a statue (now featured in many major cities around the world).

Mr. Indiana received only $1,000 for the design. He had failed to copyright the logo, and as a result did not profit as it appeared on countless coffee cups, T-Shirts and other paraphernalia.

"The logo did not endear Mr. Indiana to the art establishment, and his star faded in inverse proportion to the success of 'Love'" [NY Times]

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The book of 2nd John serves as yet another gentle reminder from John that Love is the most important thing in this world. The word 'LOVE' appears in the NIV text 697 times (32 times in 1,2 & 3 John). Examining the text alone suggests that it is important - but honestly, who needs that to know that 'love' is important? Love is instilled within us. We know that - we just don't always show that. So John reminds us in very gentle ways. I suppose a non-gentle way of reminding us that LOVE is important would defeat the purpose.

Love one another.

---

There are a few interesting things about Robert Indiana's 'Love' design/sculpture.

• The first is that Indiana did not profit from his love logo. In relation to our relationships, 'loving' someone in order to profit something isn't truly love. That kind of love would have selfish ambition or motive behind it. Selfishness + love can not coexist. Selfishness is not a by product of love or vice-versa.

Surely we do profit from loving and from being loved - but not if our motives are anything less than genuine. You can't fake love.

• The second is that Indiana's 'star' or popularity faded quicker than his 'Love' icon.
  Isn't that the way it should be? Shouldn't our love outshine us? Shouldn't our love outlast us? The best thing about our love is that it can be contagious. Our actions can + will last longer than our words. Our love of God and our love of others can have far reaching effects on the world around us.
  

We don't always see the end result of our love. Praise God for that. may that keep us humble. May that keep us genuine + real.

---

Robert Indiana gave us an icon. God gave us a lifestyle.

White Space

Instead of having my thoughts thrust upon you today, it is your chance to just soak up what He might be speaking to you. Take time to make some white space in your life... to go alone and just sit with Him. Allow Jesus to speak to you and fill up that white space instead of filling with with normal daily routine. Rejoice in the emptiness and await His fullfilling presence in your life.

1 John 5: bold and free

vs. 13-17

we become BOLD and FREE in His presence,
freely asking according to His will...

John says that we can ask God for anything and know that he is listening.
We can have confidence that what we ask for is ours.
as GOOD as OURS? really?

Do I really believe that? I mean, I do, but then why don't I ask? Why do I sometimes resist to turn to God when I need help?

I like, though, the example of what to ask for in vs. 16-17.

"For instance, if we see a Christian believer sinning, we ask for God's help and he gladly gives it, gives life to the sinner whose sin is not fatal."

i love it. John's example: a Christ-follower is caught up in sin (not 'fatal' sin)... we can ask God for help and it will be given.

His example is not prosperity based. it is a request that will improve the well being of a fellow believer. The request example has no selfish motive.

--> a BOLD and FREE selfless request to God.

Often my selfishness gets me into trouble - and I petition God for help. I wonder what I could accomplish for the name + sake of Christ if my selfishness would subside.

this Lenten season is about repentance. through that - may we understand what we can accomplish as Bold and Free followers of Jesus.

The World is Your Temple

Do any of you just get a feeling of wonder and awe when you enter a church building? Somehow, many churches seem to give us this feeling- that in that very spot, we are closer with Him than in our normal daily lives. While the Spirit of God does indeed dwell in many of these places of worship, He also dwells among us each and every day.

For me, I feel closest to God when I am out in nature. How can one not just see and feel the presence of God when sitting and watching a sunrise or sunset? To me, that is the ultimate masterpiece... the still quiet hours of morning when it just seems as though it is I and the Lord sitting and He is putting on an exhibit just for me. I can not help but just be filled with His love and just praise Him for all He has done in my life, when surrounded by His creation.
Throughout the Bible we can see where we are called to praise Him... not just in a church, but in all aspects of our lives. Psalm 113:3 states that from "the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.". Psalm 34:1 says "His praise will always be on my lips". Even the earth will praise Him. (Isaiah 55:12)

When living in a cold and grey place such as I do, sometimes it is hard to be inspired by nature, but I challenge you, and myself, to look outside of our traditional places of worship for areas where you can see and feel His presence. He is here with us, surrounding us in all of our daily activities, He is just waiting for us to take notice. "When you see the world as God's temple, you do more than visit God, you are constantly rubbing shoulders with Him."

Take time today to rub shoulders with Him.

1 John 4: Live through Him

[verse 9]

LIVE THROUGH HIM
------------------------------------------------
be alive ..........................didn't stay dead
active .............................embodies action
always ............................growing always watering
being nurtured .............nurturer
walking ..........................dirty sandals
talking ............................story telling
opposite of death .........giver of life
digest the Word ...........is the Word
dirty hands ....................ultimate servant
following our Rabbi......kicking up dust
a disciple ........................teacher of disciples
moving ...........................never complacent
interacting .....................among people
shedding old self ..........provides new self
walking in light ............is the light

Prayer

Prayer, talking with God, Communion with Him...what is it all about?
We are called to be in ceaseless prayer, though how many of us can actually say that happens in their lives? I know I can't... and I know that I should pray more than I do. For me, prayer seems so awkward sometimes... I know- I should pray as if I am talking to a friend... but heck- last I checked- I can readily hear most of my friends- where with Jesus, either a) He doesn't speak audibly or b) I have turned off my listening ears. Now I know that He can speak through other people and such... but for me, not hearing that immediate response can sometimes be disheartening.
While my spiritual gift may not be in prayer... I have been trying to add it to my everyday life... and that of my two kids as well. We make sure to pray before meals and before each of them go to sleep at nite. I must say, one of my favorite parts of the day is praying with my 20 month old before bed... hearing her say, "Dear Jesus"... and "I love you Jesus, Amen" just melts my heart. I pray that she and my son will both have this prayer life ingrained in their lives early so that it is easier for them to connect with Him as they grow.
I pray that during this Lenten season, I, as well as you, are able to learn to reconnect with our Father through the discipline of prayer. I need to add in more than just those "breath prayers" and grace before meals and praying before bed... after all, He is the best listener out there : )

1 John 3: journey towards greatness

1 John 3

1 What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! [How deep the fathers love for us.] Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to.

[they don't understand God therefore they don't understand us.]

2-3But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own.

We are all children of God. what does that mean? How does that feel?
As a child of God (a child of the King) we are heirs to the thrown.

This reminds me of Mephibosheth. he was the crippled son of Jonathan... Jonathan + David had made a pact... if Jonathan was killed then David would look after his family.
When David became king he called upon Mephibosheth... as a grandson to Saul - the man who repeatedly tried to kill David, Meph feared for his life. When he entered David's court - he compared himself to a dog... "what do you want with a useless dog like me?" David said - "because of the pact i had with your father Jonathan, you will eat at the kings table for the rest of your life."

Mephibosheth was chosen.
We, also, as children of the King (God) are chosen.

chosen for what?

>to do great things... to do things the world will not understand.

as a child of God - we know that when Christ is revealed to us - we will see him + become like him. [vs. 2-3]

>owning our faith means becoming the embodiment of Christ. the pure life of Christ is a model for our life. this is the essential part of the journey towards greatness. we were chosen for this the moment we chose to follow Him.

1 John 2: the journey is nothing new

The two most diffucult things to get straight in life are love and God. More often than not, the mess people make of their lives can be traced to failure or stupidity or meanness in one or both areas. The basic and biblical Christian conviction is that the two subjects are intricately related. If we want to deal with God the right way, we have to learn to love the right way. If we want to love the right way, we have to deal with God the right way. God and love can't be separated.
FROM THE MESSAGE REMIX INTRODUCTION OF 1, 2 & 3 JOHN

--

the Challenge of this lenten journey (and of the living the 'Christian' life) is found in vs 6 of chapter 2: Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

i have always loved that verse. The NIV translation says it this way:

Walk Like Jesus.

Live the same life that Jesus lived. That is what it means to be a 'Christian'.... a follower of 'The Way'. [early church leaders were refered to as followers of 'The Way' see: Acts 9:2 , Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23, Acts 22:4, Acts 24:14, Acts 24:22]

verse 7-8 goes on to say: this message is nothing new. What is new is that it is in Christ + it is in you. it is the Message. it is the Word. it is Gospel (good news). it is Truth. it is Light.

almost a year ago i was in a planning meeting for a summer youth camp that i was involved with... a queston was asked: "what concrete examples can we give them (the campers) to help them keep the fire alive?"

i responded: "we teach them to follow Christ." but what does follow Chist mean to a person who has not grown up in church - has not cracked open a Bible - has little or no knowledge of Jesus, God, the Bible or the like? i was challenged. after some time and thought - here was my response - right or wrong...

the 1st step in FOLLOWING CHRIST or MODELLING CHRIST is to study the example in the Word and in return, strive to live it out so that ACTIONS + WORDS are consistent.

How do you do that? 2 things come to mind:

>LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE. Matthew 22:36-40
> BE REAL. with yourself, your friends & with God

that is all that is asked of us. When we can love God/Love People + Be real with ourselves, others + God, the rest falls into place.

this part of the journey is nothing new. but the outward expression of this part of the journey is fresh each day it is lived out.

We were absent

due to a youth retreat being held at our church this past weekend. Look for a new post from each of us this evening.

Which Way do I go?

We all have come to crossroads in our life. I am sure you know what I am talking about- those times when we are faced with a choice and we need to make a decision. Sometimes those paths may both lead to the same outcome- but with different twists and turns throughout... and others may take us entirely different ways and our choice will leave an imprint on our lives forever.
We have a decision to make this Lenten season as well...do we continue on with our daily lives as they are and scarcely remember what it is that we are celebrating or do we take on the full challenge of growing closer to Him?
There are so many different crossroads in my life that I look back on and wonder, "what if I had chosen that path". The problem is, I will never know. What if...? I don't want this season of Lent to pass me by and then be left wondering another "what if" I want to use this time to grow, develop, and deepen my relationship with Him. I want to be able to look back and instead say, "wow. what an amazing journey it has been"

Proverbs 3:5-6

1 John 1: telling the story

1-2From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.

3-4We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

the first 4 verses of 1 John are beautiful. John is so excited to share with others his experiences and encounters with Christ.


What STORY or STORIES do we have to tell?




may God allow others to come to Him through our stories.



[STORY]

Are you a Hobo or Bum

First of all, what exactly is the difference between a hobo and a bum? Simply put, "a hobo is willing to work along the way, a bum is not. Anyone unwilling to work daily to make his or her loves vibrant and alive is a bum who only wants a free handout and refuses to work. We can be will-dressed bums, unwilling to labor at love, only looking for handouts, free gifts or love from others and from God... but love strives to express itself by giving more than is received."

Take a look at your life? What is it that you are living as...and is this what your heart desires?

3 John: a grassroots journey to a firm foundation

thanks Lilly for the SHOUT OUT!

***

the book of 3 John [NIV] [MESSAGE]

1-4The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!

It's neat to see how excited John is about the steadfast faith of his friend, Gaius. it made me think back to high school youth group. how many of my peers, my friends are still faithful to Jesus - striving to be the disciple God wants them to be? i don't really know the answer - but i would guess there aren't as many as i would hope. i wonder why that is? did the church not equip them? did something happen that made them 'walk away'? was their faith their own or their parents?

as a youth pastor - i often think about those who have come through our youth program. how many of them could i write the same letter to that John has written to Gaius.

verse 5: Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible.


i love that statement. during this lenten season - i wonder if my faith is visible... i wonder more about what my faith will be like after lent. i don't want this to be a mountain-top (with a valley to follow). i want it to be a period of time in which ground work is being laid for a firmer foundation of faith in Jesus.

when you read much of the letters of John, Paul & Peter you see the foundation of the early church. The Way, as it was often called, was very grassroots. i suppose that was the only way, but it was grassroots none the less.

we see the messages of Christ shared via:
-word of mouth
-hospitality
-fellowship over a meal
-worship in one's home
-giving to those in need

this grassroots journey was fruitful in spreading truth + love. sometimes i'm a little envious or at least curious. it must have been a beautiful thing.

i wonder what kind of grassroots thing(s) i can do to spread the Word? what about you?

3rd John ends with John mentioning a man by the name of Diotrephes, a man who "loves being in charge...he loves being first" apparently he was spreading rumors (rumors + gossip in church?) and he neglected hospitality to fellow believers/missionaries. Now John doesn't call him an anti-Christ (a name often used by John in prior 1 & 2 John) - but he recognizes that a problem is present.

i think sometimes leaders + members of churches unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) let their own plans creep into the forefront, rather than the plan God has for us. (myself included)

i was talking about this to a friend recently and these words came to me...

it’s about digging deep and finding the mission of Christ instilled inside of us. it’s about letting the mission breath, rather than subconsciously choking it in the supposed name of Christ in order to get our own agendas (not truly God’s agenda) birthed into our false reality.

i am ready for the mission of Christ to breathe within me... so that i may in return breathe it out to the world. i've been on a journey for some time now. i am in the process of putting vision to paper... the vision is there inside my mind, body, heart & soul... i am processing it all. maybe i've just realized that in order for that to happen i need to open up & breathe deep Christ.

it has to be his vision... not mine. i want to be faithful to Him.

i feel alive...

Skinny Tuesday

Ahh...A day I like the sound of ; ) A week has passed since "Fat Tuesday" and thus traditionally the period of self-denial and sacrifice has been in place. Belts have been tightened and the preparation for the Holy Season has begun. Lent is all about focus and commitment and of course sacrifice. With that, these questions are brought forth... where do your priorities lie? Where do you put your time and energy? Who is number one in your life?

For me, it is easy to get my priorities out of whack. It is so easy to place my family before God, I mean- who doesn't want to be a good wife and mother? My family is my life... and I want to do all that I can for them. It is so easy to get wrapped up in daily activities that I push God out and tell Him, "We'll talk...when I have time" I so often loose sight that it is He who has given me all that I have.

I pray that during this Lenten season and beyond, I can once again arrange my priorities to give Him the respect and honor He deserves. I am tired of hearing people make excuses (and making them myself). If I am devoted, I need to give it my all. According to Merriam Webster,
devotion means:

Main Entry: de·vo·tion
Pronunciation: di-'vO-sh&n, dE-
Function: noun
1 a : religious fervor : PIETY b : an act of prayer or private worship -- usually used in plural c :
2 a : the act of a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregationdevoting <devotion of time and energy>
b : the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal devotion to the cause> devotion>
3 obsolete : the object of one's devotion.

Notice in definition B... "The fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal" Can I look at my life and say that definition is representative of who I am? Can you?
I don't just want to go through the motions but instead want His love to infest every part of my being and my devotion to be just that... devoted.

2 John: On this Journey, Don't Walk out on God

in case you forgot, this lenten journey is about love... and John speaks of love a lot throughout his 3 letters.

God's commandment to love is unifying. [2 John 1:6]

John reminds us that this commandment has not changed.
it will not change.
that is the message!

---

i begin to wonder if things have really changed after all these years. John was writing to those who were in contact with deceivers + misleaders of the truth. Gnostic leaders led believers astray - claiming that God himself was never 'in the flesh'. their false teaching seemed to blend in with other Christian teachings which created a lot of confusion. sounds a lot like things today.

here is what John had to say: [2 John 1:7-13]

7There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!

8-9And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.

10-11If anyone shows up who doesn't hold to this teaching, don't invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.

12-13I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'd rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.

interesting.

i'll be blunt. these 'religions' out there... Christianity, Mormon, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc... we are not all the same. Christianity is Christ and nothing else.

if only the church would simply preach Christ first. who knows how the world would change.

i think what John is really saying is this:
WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP!

Does this mean we should shy away from deceivers or non-believers?
I think it means practice DISCERNMENT.
Be in the world and not of it. [i.e. be 'Christ' / emulate Christ among the people w/out compromising our faith/belief.]
We can not turn a blind eye to the lost just because they practice deception or carry with them evil hearts. which one of us was not evil until Christ got ahold of us?
But being All things to All men doesn't entail compromising our belief.

[EDIT: the church needs to scrap all of this 'christian-ese that we use... thank you Eli, for that discussion]

i don't think we have to compromise anyting... we just have to be ourselves.
Jesus' prayer for the disciples was that they would be protected from the evil one. the day we compromise on the simplest of things - the day we open ourselves up to more... it can become a slippery slope.

evil is at our beck-and-call. we have to watch out for that which will lead us on a journey not of love - but towards darkness... away from the honeymoon path of Jesus.

thankfully God loves us no matter what.
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

i am grateful for this lenten journey thus far. it is keeping me close to the love of God. i needed it. so do you. Good luck.

[PRAYER: Jesus - continue to reveal yourself to me in new, fresh ways... may your love abound within me... may i see you and feel you and know you so that i will have the power and ability to preach your message through action + word.]

Will your faith hold up?

It was quite interesting when I read today's reading...it was a continuation from yesterday. The thing was...today's reading was actually what I blogged about yesterday. I guess I wasn't supposed to take the "kindness" aspect of the cat yesterday, but instead look at the sinister side...and then today focus on well...everything that I wrote about yesterday :)

So... today I shall look at the sinister side of the cat...the dark, black cat that many people seem to fear. Many people associate a black cat with evil and even with the devil. In Jesus' day, he too faced evil as he was tempted by the devil, and thus the reason this day of Lent is also symbolized by a cat.

Just as Jesus was tempted in the dessert, we too are tempted daily by the dark forces in our world. Maybe the temptations in your life are small, maybe they are big...but it all boils down to one thing... temptations draw us from our faith in Christ. While we are all faced with temptation, each of us handle them differently. It is here where the strength of our faith is tested. Are we going to allow ourselves to be eaten or are we going to stand strong and turn it over to Him?

I, like everyone have of course faced temptation. I too have been eaten up with the desires temptation have brought... and have handled them in all sorts of ways. It can be so easy to take our eye of our Heavenly prize when the earthly prize shines so brightly. Though my faith has definitely had some bricks knocked out of it here and there and wobbled off and on, I can thankfully say that through HIS strength, I have always came back, and He has always welcomed me with open arms.

The question is not, "will I face temptation?" it is instead, "Where is it that I will turn when those temptations come?" May you always turn back to His love and continue on your honeymoon with Him.

1 John 5: how do they know?

Do we love God... truly love God? the example of one who loves God is one who obeys, who keeps His commands. i am reminded of that old campfire song "We Are One In the Spirit" or something like that... (if you want to read the lyrics and sing along - click HERE) The chorus of that songs says "They will know we are Christians by our love." If we keep God's commands (i.e. love) then the world will notice... not that we do things to get noticed - but how we live is an example of how much we love God.

so is that song true? - 'they' will know we are Christians by our love. I don't know if 'they' (i.e. the world) will know that we are a follower of Christ - but i do believe that 'they' will recognize something different in us.

so here's a question: can our love change the world? I've often asked my youth a similar question: what would it be like if everyone on earth put others first? the first response usually is "there'd be long lines of people saying 'you first', 'no, you first, i insist.'

so yeah, love can change the world - but maybe it's more that our faith will change the world and our faith in God compels us to love.

in 1 John 5:5 says that those who believe overcome the world. The Message translation says we 'conquer' the world and bring it to its knees. Our faith changes things.

does faith change:
our world
their world or
the world?

i think faith changes things in that order... first it changes our world. we begin to see what God sees in us. we follow Christ and strive to live out his teachings. we learn to love God, love others and love ourselves.

as a result we change their world... the worlds of those we come in contact with. we don't wear a badge that says "I'm Joe Christian", but the outward expression of our inward faith is exemplified.

collectively, as the body of Christ we can change the world. but not without unity.

somehow this all goes back to that camp song. if i recall the first verse goes this way:
"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored."

we can change our world. we can change their world. but we can only change the world if we become united in love and united in truth...

First Sunday of Lent

While not technically counted in the traditional 40 days of Lent, (it was considered inappropriate to fast on a Sunday, the day commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus), today is in fact the first Sunday of this Lenten season.

Today's hobo symbol is that of a cat (had to add that in there in case my stellar drawing skills weren't up to par ;) ). So, what does a cat have to do with Lent? For hobos, the symbol of a cat on a door is a sign to them, telling them that a kind-hearted woman lives there, and in essence will be kind to a hungry hobo.

Me, being a woman myself, started to think of whether or not a hobo would want to place this sign upon my door if he were to visit. Would he look at me and see love, or would he look at me and see contempt? Unfortunately, in today's time, I think I have become gun-shy at helping others. I mean, I will do most anything for those people that I have a relationship with, but when it comes to a stranger on the street, I more or less retreat.

Jesus tells us not to be this way, in fact, he says numerous times to "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me". How is it then that I have allowed my heart to grow so wary of reaching out? The mere ability to Love is given to me from Him and here I sit afraid to share it.

I pray that during this Lenten season, my heart will be changed and the desire to reach out to others will once again burn within me. I want the image of the hobo cat imprinted not only on my door, but also on every action that I do. I want people to think of my as being a kind woman and one that shares love with everyone that I know.

Are You in Love?

(from the book)
"The rich word, honeymoon, some scholars believe, originated with a drink composed of honey and mead, a type of wine, shared by a bride and groom each night for a month after their wedding. For some poets the term honeymoon suggests that love after marriage, like the full moon at its peak, begins to wane- it grows smaller with the passage of days. The first lunar month of marriage was seen as the sweetest, being like honeyed wine. Israel's forty years along in the desert with God was indeed a time sweet as honey. When the Exodus ended and the Hebrews abandoned their years of migration, settling down in villages and becoming city dwellers, they quickly forgot about their marriage covenant with God. As happens in countless marriages, the honeymoon was soon over!"

Unfortunately, it seems that all too often, our relationship with God also seems to wane after the honeymoon period has ended. How often do you hear about people being on the "hilltop" and then soon realizing they are once again in the "valley" that they thought they had come out of. It is so easy to revert back to the old way of life and while not completely forgetting about God, also not sharing in that same deep, devotional love that occurs soon after profession of faith. Why is it that that love seems to diminish so quickly?

I know that in my life, my love for God has definitely had its ups and downs. Just like the Hebrew people, I too easily revert back once the honeymoon period is over. Thankfully I have taken more than one honeymoon with him BUT why is it that I need more than one...shouldn't that love just continue? As Tim has already talked about, Lent is intertwined with love. If it weren't for love, would we even have the season of Lent? Lent ends with the ultimate showing of love- Jesus giving all for you and I. WOW. That is definitely the ultimate showing of love.

I want that love like that to become real in my life. I want it to spill from me and be evident in everything I do. I don't want the honeymoon to wane...but instead have that love grow stronger and stronger with each passing day. I hope that this season of Lent will help me realize the love He has for me and thus in turn be able to share that love with others in my daily live. Let me learn from the ultimate example... and let me Love as He loves me.

"Come, Holy Spirit, usher me, as you led Jesus, into these desert days. As the Spirit of Love, fill me so I can again be romanced by my Beloved God."

1 John 4: crossing the bridge

There's this story of a father who is a railroad draw bridge operator. One day his son accompanies him to work. During a cold afternoon of playing in and around the river below (fishing, skipping rocks, etc.) the boys heads back up to the bridge where his father is stationed. His son walks on the tracks near the point where the track and bridge separate. The draw bridge has been placed in the up position as a boat passes by. Dusk falls and for a moment, the father loses sight of his son.

Off in the distance a passenger train whistle is heard. The father calls out for his son to return to his booth for safety. The son replies with a cry in the distance. The father comes out onto the track - only to see his son, his only son caught in the gears of the bridge where the bridge and track separate. The train is approaching fast. in a matter of minutes it will reach the bridge.

The father has a choice to make: save his son - and risk certain doom for the people on the passenger train or sacrifice his only son by putting down the bridge so that the hundreds of people on the train will be saved.


The father's heart breaks as he sacrifices his son - putting the bridge down so that many on the train may live.






We are all on that train. Christ is the boy sacrificed. God is the father. This is love.

His love gives us life. It is through Him (Jesus Christ) that we live. It is through Him (God) that we love.

How can we not love? we were born to love... created to love...

this is the essence of 1 John 4. [NIV] [Message]




MOST (The Bridge)
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Are You Hungry?

Traditionally, the Friday's during Lent are considered days of fasting. Many celebrate the Fridays of Lent by partaking in some sort of fish and abstaining from meat products. Though not quite as symbolic as it once was, this practice of fasting is still in place in many people's lives.

While I myself do not practice the eating of fish on Fridays during Lent, I have often thought about the practice of fasting. I have attempted fasting from food, and all I end up doing is focusing on my physical hunger instead of a hunger for God. Through reading A Lenten Hobo Honeymoon, I have came to realize that fasting is not only about the physical act of non-eating, but can also be about the practice of abstaining from apathy and the injustices present in our lives.

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Here he is not talking about those who hunger for physical food, but instead those who hunger for holiness and justice. We are called as Christians to stand up against injustice, but for so many of us, it is easier to take the easy road and sit back and believe that someone else will get the job done.

I have always believed that I have a heart for those less fortunate than I and I have always wanted to reach out to others that are hurting. These beliefs were the basis of my choosing social work as my major in college. Although I didn't have everything I thought I needed, I knew that I had a lot more than so many others and some part of me wanted to reach out and give some of that back. I really believed that I could go out and make a difference- to somehow impact someone else's life.

As you can expect, my eyes were really opened and not only did I see the apathy of many inner-city teens, I also felt as though I took on a lot of the problems of others and although I wanted to make a difference, my part seemed so little it didn't matter.
I decided to leave the social work field after my oldest child was born and though my heart still breaks for others, I am not longer out in the field trying to make a difference and honestly don't pay much attention unless it happens right in front of me.

After reading today's reading, it really hit me. I really want to take something from this Lenten journey and with that must come an attitude change. I have become those apathetic teens I used to try and help, my life and my walk with God has unfortunately simmered down to less than luke-warm.
With that fresh in my mind, instead of choosing to fast from food this Lenten season, I am instead hoping to fast from my own apathy and thereby hunger for my God again. I want to be able to just Love again...to be able to reach out to others and let them see the Love of Christ in me and see my love for Him written across my face. Too long have I been in a fog and allowed myself to become blind and uncaring. I want to feel hunger and once again yearn for the closeness that we once shared, so I then can in turn reach out and simply love others in the way He has continually loved me.

1 John 3: practice what you preach

1 JOHN 3 [NIV] [MESSAGE]

is John writing this letter for my church? is he writing it for me? amazing how the scriptures come alive and speak to each of us.

John again is writing words that reinforce this message: Practice what you preach.
-i wonder: is that the single greatest problem in the church... among believers? [not practicing what we preach?]

the Litmus test: [1 John 3:10]
if you don't do right - you are not a child of God.
if you don't love your brother - you are not a child of God.

John seems to eliminate any GRAY area. Love + your with God / Don't Love + your with the Devil.

i haven't often thought about that - yeah - i know i'm supposed to love (and not just because Jesus commands it - but because i want to be his disciple so much that i can't help but emulate him). but these words from John are harsh - vs 14+15: "Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer..."

in today's world - equating not loving to being a murderer? are you kidding me? i'd like to see that one played out on Law & Order.

but i love the harshness... i love the lack of gray. there is too much gray amongst the body of so-called believers. our sinful nature has a keen way of creeping in and distorting God's truth - to fit our gain.

THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WHAT LOVE IS: (John is spelling it out for those of us who are slow learners) JESUS CHRIST LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. [vs. 16]
it's good to see that Jesus practiced what He preached. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." [John 15:13]

is it also just a coincidence that 1 John3:16 and John 3:16 are similar? Christ's love + God's love are one in the same: All For Love.

THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WHAT LOVE IS... {kind of puts to rest Foreigner's question: I Want To Know What Love Is...}

---

today's journey of love is a reminder that love is more than words. i can say 'i love you' but if my actions don't back it up - then i am a liar... a murderer, even.

one of my biggest pet peeves is when 'Christians toot their own horn - giving word to a specific mission - but leave action in the closet of their heart. i was at a conference last year when i heard a few people talking about the importance of feeding the poor. they were making a resolution that as a denomination we would 'support the poor.' everybody stood up in clapped. they sat down and i began to wonder... 'o.k... help the poor... support the poor. got it... now how are we going to do that?' there was no mention of that. on paper it will forever read that at this conference that a resolution was passed to 'support the poor.' only God knows what action was actually placed behind said motion. a 'friend' of mine called it a 'feel-good resolution'. it makes us feel good. but this is not the message of John or Jesus. i thought - if we really want to support the poor - then let us find a way for every church to open its doors to feed those who are hungry - clothe those who need garments - provide shelter to those who need a roof, etc. now i know that many churches and believers do such things - yet the righteous ones do it in secret - and seek no gain for such actions. that is love.

i, myself have a lot to learn about love. i have a lot to learn about sacrifice. i pray that during this journey of lent that my heart will be opened to the mission of Christ in new ways - and that opportunities to love others will abound.

to God be the glory.

Ash Thursday

(from the book...)

"Besides ashes, Lent could also begin with a sign usually reserved for Valentines Day- a red heart- painted on your forehead. This heart sign could be a reminder that these forty days are to be spent as a honeymoon."
...a honeymoon is a time to escape from daily life. We can see throughout the New Testament that Jesus frequently escaped from daily life to be alone in prayer...and we are called as Christians to do the same in our own lives. While most of us are not able to literally "escape" our daily life, we can make it a habit to take time to spend time in prayer...and not just practical prayers, but also devotional prayers that speak of our love of God. When Lent is seen as a honeymoon it truly parallels Mark 12:30-31 "You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind and body and your neighbor as yourself."


This reading reminded me of an assignment I had in college while working towards my youth ministry minor. While studying the spiritual disciplines, one of the assignments was to spend a day in solitude. If you have never done this, then you truly have NO idea how hard that is to accomplish. First of all, we have so many little things crammed into our days that it is almost impossible to truly just get away from it all and be able to focus on God and Him alone. Secondly...24 hours talking to no one? OK- maybe that is easy for some- but for me- who can be a very social person- that thought frightened me.
Although I didn't technically complete my assignment as I was interrupted numerous times, I did take a lot away from that time. I spent most of it in my home church's sanctuary. What an odd feeling to sit in a place of worship and be all alone. For the first few hours I think I dozed off here and there, listened to the creaks of an old building, listened to my disc man (Nope- no ipods back then ;) ) and lazily tried to pass the time away. After I got bored with that I started looking through the hymnal and softly singing songs to myself and actually focusing on the words. That led me into looking up Scriptures and then to journaling and so forth... and before I knew it quite a few hours had passed by. It was amazing what I gained from taking the time to just sit and be still. Still to this day this verse stands out, "Be still and know I am God"

Most of us probably know and believe the second half, but how often do we really focus on the first half, how often do we take the time to be "still"? Probably not often. Stillness is not a virtue in our lifestyles...everything is "go go go" and "stillness" is seen as laziness and laziness is highly looked down upon. But oh what we can learn if we only take the time to be still and just sit in the presence of our God.

While that time of stillness still stands out in my mind, I am embarrassed to say that I don't think I have really attempted it again in my life. Today's reading though has prompted the urge in me to once again "Be still" and just sit and revel in the Love of God. I want to go on a honeymoon with Him and just begin to rediscover all that His word holds for me. While I can't devote a day at this point in my life...I can take time out to sit and be still. Whether it be fifteen minutes or a half hour daily... I can at least do that and plan to make it more than just a one time thing this time around. I am excited to see what God will reveal to me in those quiet times and look forward to this journey with Him.

1 John 2: the journey begins - Walk Like Jesus

I studied 1 John chapter 2 today. Finally, the theme of LOVE comes out.

i gather that John must have encountered many who were not walking the talk... those who's actions were not being backed up by their proclamation of Christ. if we claim to be a Christian - then our behavior must be that of Jesus. This, i believe is why John, early in chapter 2 says 'here is how to know God... keep his commands.' Jesus gave us the GREATEST commandment: Love God... Love People. i believe if we follow those two commandments - the 10 Commandments fall into place as well.

so we are to Walk Like Jesus (1 John 2:6)... if we claim to live in him... we must walk like Jesus. Eugene Peterson (from The Message) writes it this way: Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

this reminds me of Rob Bell's Nooma video titled Dust. He talks, in the video, about the role of a disciple and about how they would literally follow so closely to their Rabbi that their garment would be covered in the dust of their Rabbi.

he concludes the video with this quote:
“May you believe in God. But may you come to see that God believes in you.
May you have faith in Jesus. But may you come to see that Jesus has faith
that you can be like him. A person of love and compassion and truth.
A person of forgiveness, and peace, and grace, and joy, and hope.
Any may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus.”



if we are going to claim to be a follower of Christ - then we ought to have his dust on us. at it's core, that dust is love.

love is the an intricate part of this Lenten journey.

Ash Wednesday

This Hobo marking means "Beware- bad dog" One might then ask, how does "bad dog" relate to Lent? It's use relates to the the past grimness of this day- a day when hard and grim fasting took place. Long ago, this day began forty days of serious penance. It included strict fasting and embracing the absence of all life's pleasures and enjoyments. While modern culture has tamed Lent, it still stands as a day of fasting and abstinence.
Traditionally Lent begins with the sign of the cross in ashes on your forehead. Many people, afraid of being told they have dirt on their face, immediately wash the ashes off their face once leaving their place of worship. In the process, they are also wiping away the solemness of their journey of reform...


So what would the next forty days be like if we were to keep this marking upon our face? I remember back in high school how it was "cool" to have this marking- and you would try to share it with others - not b/c of it's meaning, but b/c it made you stand out. What though would it be like if that excitement I (we) had back then were evident in our Christian faith? What if the excitement of sharing that marking were still upon me and I had that desire to instead share the message of Christ? What a difference that would make.

While I didn't even participate in an Ash Wednesday service this year (our church does not engage in this practice), the former question has weighed on my mind today as I began this journey. Though I won't be walking around with an outward sign on my forehead, I will attempt to carry it as outward as possible in all that I do in the next forty days...through study and conversation and such. I hope that although not visibly evident, my life will be a living witness of the message I carry inside and so deeply believe in.