spiritual regurgitations

Deus Interrupta...

Deus Interrupta - God interrupted

Did you know that there are over 140 instances in the bible that specifically state, "but God?"  I've noticed those words more intentionally as of late.  God interrupts us...it shouldn't come as a surprise.  I mean, God is God...and either we have God in our lives where the focal point is us and we are essentially USING God (conveniently playing our own god) and asking God to be around to bless OUR plans or we are submissive, intentional and humble about our plans coinciding with God's plans and will for our lives.  It comes down to this, "who is the real Lord of our lives?"  OR, will the real Lord please stand up!  

Sit down now, will you?

I've come to realize lately how God interrupts us...for every plan, for every tragedy or stuggle, for every seemingly "good idea" there is also the God of our lives who is gracious and merciful enough to say "woa, no or SLOW DOWN" to any or all of our initiatives.  

Take what happened in our lives this past week - for over a year, I've been praying and seeking God about our family's finances.  Vicky and I have had extensive prayer times, conversations and planning sessions about how best to proceed.  We thought we had a strategy...we embarked on fulfilling that strategy, and started to act on implementing the strategy when all of the sudden, God spoke.  NO, I wish God had done the "sorry Charlie" or "speak from heaven" type of thing...but that didn't happen.  What did happen was an outpouring of emotion and a strong sense that we should STOP what we had planned and reevalute.  Frankly, there was a part of me that said, "hey, what's this...full steam ahead."  But I was wrong...we needed to revisit our "listening quotient."  We had to act on the fact that we pray that God would slow us down...and He did.  Yeah, "but God"...yeah, we had our plans, "but God."  We had made our decision, "but God."  

You see, there's always more to who God is and how God is acting than we give Him credit for...we casually throw up a prayer or maybe even stop for a second to appease God with a moment or two of our time over a particular issue.  We plead with God to keep up with us as we run at full speed with whatever we desire to do.  And even in the midst of lip service, we are surprised that God has the audacity to throw a "but" into our plans?  

I was just reading last night in Proverbs, yeah, you know the book...the one with all the practical wisdom.  Proverbs 16:1:

"We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer."

There's a part of me that hates that because I SO want it to work in the reverse...I want to have the right answers to God's plans.  "But God" doesn't work that way.  God's not around to make sure OUR plans are the ones that are always right...God IS around so that HIS plans are always right.  In that reality God invites us to partner with Him in making our lives and our world what He desires it to be.  And if that takes a few "but God" moments in our lives so that we can finally "get it", than so be it.  

The world was on the edge of destruction BUT GOD saw Noah...

Sarah and Abraham were too old and faithless to believe that God could provide a miraculous birth BUT GOD knew different...

It looked like the people of God were "toast" in comparison to the armies and will of Pharoah, BUT GOD had other plans...

People questioned Jesus on whether he had the right to forgive...BUT GOD had some forgiving to do....

We were stuck helplessly in our brokenness...BUT GOD loved us before we could ever even acknowledge who He was and is, and HE lived, died and rose and EMPOWERS us to live a new, Kingdom life...

So, what do you think?  How might there be some "deus interrupta" moments in your life...and, most importantly, what are those moments telling you about your Kingdom life?  You see, the issue really does come down to "who's the boss"...if it is you, then stop pretending that God is God and simply acknowledge the truth that  you are a spiritual consumer asking God for His blessings on your already self-fulfilled and self-directed life.  Oh, and by the way, don't blame God that He isn't coming through for you...remember, you are the one setting the direction and asking God to jump on YOUR ship.  But if God is leading and you are responding then that's a dynamic partnership.  Will we get everything we want?  No...and we shouldn't.  The world isn't about us and our fulfillment...it is about God and His will and HIS-story of which we are a significant and much loved part.  Oh, you and me...we can make our plans...that's OK...but don't be suprised when God says, "but."  He has a habit of doing that...so that we acknowlege where credit is due and who truly is the supplier of every good and perfect gift.  

Chew on that for a while...more to come!

Gone for a few more days...

Don't know whether I'll post anything new for a few more days...enjoying some time giving my brain a vacation...check back though!  I'll be back!

Trying to keep up...

I ran into this pic and had to laugh but then, upon second look, started to relate to this poor shmo.  Playing the hamster in life...that's the way that most of us feel.  I know, that's how I feel.   I remember reading a great book years ago that still "haunts" me - Tim Hansel's book, When I relax I feel guilty.  It is out of print now...but the title is what got me.  It goes hand in hand with a powerful pamphlet I read when I was a kid about the "tyranny of the urgent."  Wow, I've tried to conquer that overwhelming sense of being on and in a rat race.  And as the old cliche goes, "the only thing you get out of a rat race is that you turn into a rat."  Yep, that's what happens.  No, there are times that it doesn't change much of how others perceive me but the "internal rat" changes how I feel and how I respond to situations that pose themselves in my path on a day to day basis.  When I'm feeling that "rat-ness" inside, I am less patient, more judgmental, more apt to blow by a person instead of engage a person...more driven by my clock than from my heart.  I don't like feeling like a rat...I don't like the "hamster like" existence.  And I know you don't either - so what's it all about?  Well, frankly, it is about self-agrandizement.  In other words, it is about us feeling important, getting attention, and no giving the world the chance to see our humanity because we are posing as gods.  Friends, no one can do everything...and no one can do everything perfectly.  That's really what drives the hamster wheel...it is WE who want the attention, the pats on the back, the comments that lift up notice of our "grand sacrifice" of time through our busy-ness...that's why the first step OFF the hamster wheel and feeling compulsive drives to "keep up" has to be brokenness and confession and brutal honesty.  I know that today when I am trying to keep up and feeling frustrated about it that it is time for me simply to say to God and those around me, "I'm getting off the throne...I don't covet your attention or admiration but I desire God's approval more."  You can have the "peace that passes understanding" when you get off the throne of your own desire for "worship" and allow God to be God.  Instead of always trying to not just predict but manipulate outcomes its best just to "give up and give in" to the fact that we can do our best and leave the results to the Lord.  So, what say you when you look at your own "rat race" life?  Is it time for a de-thronement?  I know it is for me...

What shouldn't happen in a faith community...

I said in a message yesterday in our faith community that many people (especially young people) are apt to "walk away" from an experience in spiritual community for two reason - they don't feel that they are treasured and they constantly feel that they are being PREACHED at and not listen to!  In fact, most of the time, people who leave community and shut the door on a "church" experience is primarily because they can't reconsile a LOVING and GRACE-FILLED God with a judgmental and ungracious and unloving people who align themselves with God.  The conclusion is that either God is wrong or the people are wrong...and frankly, people are not apt to trash God (there are MANY MANY MANY people who say that they love and follow Jesus who are not part of a local church) but they do leave expressions of gathered community because they have been "trashed" by HIS people.  May we listen and heed the words of 1 John...that WE LOVE because He first loved us...that if the LOVE OF GOD doesn't abide in and through our lives, then our relationship with Jesus is a sham.  How is God's love and NOT His judgment (which is HIS perrogative given HIS nature and character as God) flowing in and through your life?

OK - it may be dopey but it is a great learning tool!

I'm a HUGE veggietales fan.  Phil V and his team have been producing family videos and learning tools that encourage solid and biblically based values for years.  Phil's story is compelling and his dedication to his art is unwavering.  I respect him immensely and am thankful that the Spirit has enabled him to keep going in the midst of a very difficult media world.  As far as the veggies go, there are still silly songs that first appeared in videos that continue to rattle around in my head most everyday (Cebuuuuuuuuuu, Barbara Manatee).  Anyway, now the "What's in the Bible" series is approaching its eighth release with the center section of most bibles, the Psalms, Proverbs and other writings.  I've purchased everyone...given them to our grandkids...recommended them to people...used clips in children's ministry AND, most recently, used a few things from the series to "educate" and reinforce some of the learnings that adults within our faith community are experiencing as they make their way through the One Year Bible.  All I can say is "bravo" AND if you have a need for some "quick reinforcement" of what is actually IN the bible and you don't mind bad puns, ridiculous costumes, animation and popsickle stick humor, take a look and join children in LEARNING what's in the bible!

 

Why I have to do this occasionally and you should too...

Ok - this post is specifically for those who are intimately involved in a Jesus following journey in their lives - sometimes, I have to be specific in terms of audience for posts...so, here goes:

Sometimes I have to do this - read a book that is "outside" of what many of us would call the "main" stream of faith.  I do it for the following reasons - first, I want to be up to snuff about what people are saying about the bible, a faith journey and issues related to all things "church."  Secondly, it is important to keep abreast of current scholarship in "my" field.  Scholars are cherished persons in the world...they do many things that many of us don't have the time, interest or expertise to do.  Thirdly, I need my thinking challenged.  True...I do and you do.  It is important to keep our minds active...challenging our assumptions and presumptions keeps our faith fresh, our intellect strong and the "mind of Christ" being constantly reformed within us.  I know for me, I don't have to be afraid of encountering issues that might push me a bit.  In fact, as Peter Rollins so well did in his last book, Insurrection, doubt has a redemptive quality to it.  It presses us for resolution...see doubt, maybe, as that which pushes you into new realizations, new understandings, and new truths.  

I just finished Bart Ehrman's new book, Did Jesus Exist.  Good book...if you want to put it this way, "classic" scholarly work done by a person who, by his own admission, has walked away from faith.  Bart is a smart man...his scholarship is excellent and he does a great job in laying out what many would call a "Schweitzer" perspective on the life of Jesus (that being, he was an itinerant Jewish apocalypticist who died under Pontius Pilate - no God, no Son of God, no Savior, etc.).  But what Bart does is argue for the historicity of Jesus in opposition to the "mythicists" (his word, not mine) who deny that Jesus as we know Him in the bible actually existed.  I enjoyed the book...I don't buy his theology but I thought his approach in analyzing biblical texts and historical issues relating to the "quest for the historical Jesus" was thorough and well-written.  In fact, if you want a good "fly by" of what some scholars think about Jesus and biblical issues, he lays them out....unapologetically and plainly.  

So, I just had to do it...I got a bit annoyed with Bart's "preaching" near the end...his cynicism (of which I'm not immune) started to bug me...but the book was worth reading because it stretched me and made me mentally engage in what I think and believe.  As I said, I'm not afraid of this stuff...you shouldn't be either.  Here's 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  We don't have to be afraid of information and honest debate and inquiry.  Jesus is still Lord!  

Now, I'm moving on to something just as challenging but definitely more confessional - NT Wright's book on the Kingdom of God...mmmm, tasty!  Oh yeah, if you want ANOTHER book that will challenge your thinking, try this one Genesis for Normal People (of course if you are "normal", you own a Kindle).

Dr. Peter Enns and the conversation between the scientific and faith communities

Peter Enns has got to be a smart and courageous guy.  He's has been grappling with Old Testament scripture (especially the book of Genesis) and attempting to "open" a conversation with scientific assertions and theories (specifically those of human origins)...that's an astute and challenging intermingling of disciplines and passions (not to mention the implications of worldview).  After a friend plowed through Peter's book, (The Evolution of Adam - summarized well on the "Jesus Creed" blog) I decided to pick up a copy.  Fact is, I encouraged a "scientifically curious" (his words, not mine) pal of mine to read it and give me his take.  After he informed me that it "rocked his world", I decided to wade into the waters myself.  

I don't want to give you a full overview here...you can read what work has already been done on the blog I alluded to above.  That blog will take you through a series of posts that outline the book as well as pose a significant number of excellent questions which will challenge any reader. What I WILL be willing to say is that this book is a MUST READ for anyone who  is serious about wrestling with issues having to do with cultural engagement, intellectual honesty, biblical faithfulness, as well as having a bird's eye view of how serious scholars engage biblical material in light of the context in which we live. I found the book fascinating to read...I highlighted much of it...discovered and re-discovered exegetical conclusions that were challenging and rather enjoyed a divergent hermeneutic (in other words, a different interpretation) of key passages in Genesis as well as the letters of Paul.  Make no mistake about it this book is one which wrestles with "interpretive" issues...for example, how do we faithfully interpret the book of Genesis without reducing it to a bunch of disconnected, morality based tales? How would people in Genesis' original audience react to the material and how might that be different from how people in the apostle Paul's day?  How did Paul view Adam and what difference does and should that make in how we view these biblical stories?  As Peter says in one of the final chapters, "if Adam had stayed within the confines of Genesis 2-5, there would be far less difficulty in synthesizing evolution and Christianity-a "historical Adam" would likely be no more crucial to the Christian faith than a literal talking sanme or a literal garden paradise."  If that question interests you, than this book is for you.  It will make many uncomfortable...trust me, it will.  When I was a college kid and my first bible professor told me that some scholars believed that Moses didn't write the first five books of the bible, I walked out of class (only to be followed by my professor who explained to me that I needed to open my mind to some new insights into the bible if I was to be the person God was forming me into be).  If you haven't thought through some of these issues before, the book will take you to foreign territory.  If you have, it will challenge you in your assumptions and poke at your biblical "sacred" cows.  This is an important book to read because this conversation is a necessary one.  It is necessary NOT because we need to be apologetic for believing what we do about the bible as followers of Jesus but rather because as Peter states in one of his theses at the conclusion of the book, "scientific and biblical models of human origins are, strictly speaking, incompatible because they speak of 'different language.'  They cannot be reconciled and there is no "Adam" to be found in an evolutionary scheme." He also discusses the fear that many people who love and follow God have in even opening their minds to this discussion...and I imagine he's right on that account.  Our usual point of reference in these discussions is defensiveness or intelletual naivete.  Truthfully, if you desire a good read that will stretch you and get you to ask some good questions about the bible and faith and science that you may have never asked before, pick up the book.  

In fact, you can get a good "sense" of the book by watching a lecture that Dr. Enns gave at Westmont College in 2011.  Here it is for those who want to wade into the waters:

In this instance, ONE pic is worth a 1000 words...

I've written on community before...but this is worth a look:

Genesis 1:13–“in the beginning…”  In the beginning, there was a relationship...there was a community.  In fact, what makes Christianity what it is theologically is its emphasis on a Trinitarian view of God, in other words, there is a community concept/eternal community of the Godhead that is essential in understanding how biblical people think.  As the bible begins, it reveals this Community in action: "Elohim barach", when God created or began to create, "fathering-mothering-creating" the existence we know; when the Spirit was hovering, floating, and present as creative force or dynamism encountering and transforming chaos; when we hear/recognize/expereince the Speaking God, that Word of God, that Word which was God, whose very utterance made things happen or emerge into existence...when this Eternal Word was present (see John 1 for the reference that exclaims that the Word became flesh) we get a glimpse of many things...more than one blog post can summarize...but we do "see" and behold the power of community.  

It was this God, multiple in action but/and united/connected in purpose that brought humanity into reality with the mark of the "image of God."  In other words, each of us were not only created for a purpose by a loving and creative God but we were created for relationship - the same dynamism and unity of purpose in the very essense of who we are that reflects the nature and character of the One we worship and serve.  

It shouldn't come as a suprise with the importance of community within the DNA of the Jesus following experience that I have reflected on community in the past.  I've spelled out before that community is that which experiences "ONE-ness", that expression of biblical love (“ahab”) from which we have expressed to us the one God, one flesh, mystery of unity (“they act/play as one”) dynamic.  A community of Oneness is not only central to understanding of God but it is central to our understanding of relational nature of world, our lives, and God’s design for community.   This is why we crave community...to be intimately involved with each other's lives...this is why you get any group of people together and eventually they try to find ways to connect - because relationships are integral to humanity.  Relationships are essential to what it means to be HUMAN (not an afterthought or a result of what the bible spells out as "the fall" - Genesis 3).

Community cannot be an afterthought for followers of Jesus...in other words, we cannot continue to behave in community/ekklesia (aka "local church") as if we were defined by Genesis 3. We are a Genesis 1 and 2 people…yes, we are living with the reality of the fall, evenso, that was not God’s original intent. Redemption/Salvation isn’t about God doing a “new” thing as much as it is God restoring us to our original design.  The “not good” of the opening chapters of the bible has NOT ONLY to do with essential human brokenness but also the "not good-ness" of disconnectedness.  That's why it is so dangerous to say, ‘all you need is God’ – that type of thinking really is lethal.  Why?  Because not even God thinks like that! Even God knows that we need more than him…we need each other! When God sees "alone" what does He say?  “Alone??? This is not going to work!”  So God idea of life...His giving of life…includes other people – we are continually formed by God (in the Spirit and in the very image of God's incarnation in our lives through what the New Testament calls "the Body of Christ) in community with one another.  

Well, now that I have THAT out of my system, let me share something more with you - you can click below and read a very good article done by the author of 1000 Gifts and the Holy Experience...15 Reasons why Community is Important (even if You've been hurt).  Let me tell you honestly, in the day to day grind of life where it seems that it would be much easier to avoid problems by avoiding people, calls continues to call us into relationship...why?  Not only are relationships our life-blood but they are the ONLY way God works His transformative power...He relates to us...He relates to others through us...He relates to others...God relates.  Community...pray for it to be alive in your life...pray for others to see God's love in the midst of it and as it is shared.  Oh, and fill your hearts and minds with more thoughts about it (read Philippians 4:8-9 to underscore that point).  

Download 15 Reasons Why Community is Important …

 

Raising children a "LUXURY?" Come on...

Actually our growing debate (links here and here) in the USA about "women and working" will clarify just how far our values have changed...the insinuation is that it is now preferable for children to be raised by daycare providers, schools and government programs while women go out into the marketplace and live a "real" life...for those of us who see what damage has happened to the family as a result of this societal shift it is extremely enlightening...what is fascinating and sad at the same time is that a majority of women I know would love for the clock to turn back and for our culture to return to single wage earner paradigms so that children could be cared for and raised by the people who brought them into the world in the first place and in whom is ultimate responsibility - parents.   I have said it often - I thank God for the women in my life who have chosen sacrificially to stay at home with their kids...these women are competent, intelligent, leaders, and extremely gifted women who could and did and would make a huge difference in the marketplace but they CHOOSE to raise children...their children and they work hard at guiding, mentoring, training, disciplining, and essentially preparing children to grow up as responsible adults in the world.  Many families are CHOOSING to live "smaller" economic and materialistic lives because they "GET" that it is more important to raise children and love children...they are choosing to (and I quote a great Hybels book's title) to Descend into Greatness...in this instance, greatness is a scenario that involves the family at the potential cost of giving up materialistic and personal goals. Now, I know that this is a multi-faceted issue and that many families don't have that choice...I get that and accept that.  Vicky and I had to make tough decisions in our past...in fact, we were both single parents for a time in our lives.  So, we know both sides of the debate by personal experience.  But for anyone to imply that women don't have a "real life" (or that doing this, as noted by the President, they have some sort of "luxury" in their life) or understand the world because they choose to raise children is purely ignorant, arrogant, and delusional when it comes to real importance in life.  It is aggrivating...I hear yesterday that there are cities and states where kids can have three meals a day at school (breakfast, lunch AND dinner)...again, I get the issue of poverty and their importance of "ministering" to those individuals and families..but to "train" children to depend upon the "state" vs. their families to feed them because of the economic and values structure of culture is way off base.  There's much more that could come from this post and I'm under the "gun" timewise...I'm already running 10 minutes late.  For now, let's chew on that!