Month: May 2022

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Don’t ya just love going away gifts?

Reading Time: 5 minutes 
“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​In the final moments, it happens. Jesus unlocks the doors that have kept the disciples minds cloudy, unsure of how all that was written and all that they personally experienced would be all connected to Jesus himself. He was and is the great mystery. Jesus was and is the final puzzle-piece that allows the entirety of the picture to make sense.

Luke writes of this grand sweep of records kept from early on in God’s story to his people, the Jews. There were millions of other things going on in the world, but God’s specific story of redemption would be told through Israel and all of it pointed to one promised messiah, Jesus. “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” All of it spoke of the very moments that Jesus lived to be, to show, to highlight the Word becoming flesh – dwelling, dying, defying the curse, hell and the grave. And after he had descended, bringing good news to those even to those imprisoned in hades itself, he would now ascend and restart the clock, reset the timer on finishing the plan to return for the finality of the earth.

However, just before Jesus exits the earth, he mentions leaving a gift, a promised going away present, that would be necessary to thrive in the years ahead until his second coming.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Before, in all of history since the creation of the world, the Holy Spirit would come down and do a work, fill a king, come upon men and women to do extraordinary things here on earth. It was always powerful, but temporary. The Spirit of God would come and rest on a human being then leave after the specific job was accomplished.

Jesus was telling his disciples. Now, the Holy Spirit would come and STAY! The Holy Spirit would come and dwell among them just as He had done. The Holy Spirit would come and fill all who would welcome him just as anyone of the disciples would open the door of their heart welcoming Jesus himself.

Just as Jesus had given his followers the power and authority to say and do the work of God, just like he was doing among them. All the healings, the works of miracles, would be done still in the power of Jesus’ own name, but within each believer. In each believer would reside the Holy Spirit in the unique way of not just being a witness in our soul, speaking to our soul of the truth of God, but now exponentially more through the power of God to accomplish his will. This gift of visitation would not just be a quiet sense of assurance of salvation and peace with God, but now also the explosive power of God to do the supernatural.

It’s no wonder people are concerned about receiving such a gift, being filled with such an amazing but weighty responsibility to allow the Spirit of Jesus, the power of God himself to address the current issues of our day. It’s not a personal power, to feel goosebumps and tingles as the Spirit of God comes upon our bodies. It’s a purposed power to free prisoners from invisible handcuffs of sin, to kick out demonic powers that invade and create a home of hell within a victim’s mind. It’s power to heal and restore lost hope as a person struggles to see that their life is valuable and has worth in God.

No wonder it makes Christians really think about accepting such a gift. Maybe you don’t want that kind of responsibility, that accountability in your life.

Was Jesus just making this up, or is it real? Was Jesus just speaking to the few who had gathered to hear that promise or is it for every believer? Do I really want that gift? Do you? It is so interesting that the Holy Spirit’s name is defined as “one who comes alongside,” the paraclete in Greek. That part everyone likes about the Holy Spirit. The comforter, the encourager who speaks so gently and counsels us in our fears, our weakness, our struggles. But oh, that’s not the only picture of the Holy Spirit. Jesus and Paul describe the power of Spirit as one who raised Christ from the dead who comes upon humans with incredible power.

This phrase, “opened their minds to understand,” is also a way of explaining the way God’s story is unfolding. The Law, the prophets and psalms are all fulfilled, accomplished in Jesus, but the story continues doesn’t it. Jesus words, “and now” are a connector to what is to come. He speaks of the Holy Spirit and says, “just as the Father promised.” The “filling” of the Holy Spirit isn’t something necessarily new, it’s a continuation of what God has always been up to in human history.

The Holy Spirit is God, eternal, everlasting. This application point when Jesus says, “wait,” means that in God’s grand plan, this is how it was always intended to be. This is the time of the Holy Spirit’s permanence, to us, to be in and a part of every believer’s life to not only to dwell but to comfort and empower. This is God’s way of multiplying not only the gospel (repentance and salvation through Jesus), but also that there is now a physical representation of himself IN US, through us. Not just to live as witnesses to the gospel, but as powerful ambassadors to neighbors, friends and family members who are hurting, suffering and need a real and physical touch from God! That touchpoint is so needed today.

For those who are asking or curious about this “infilling” moment, this empowerment of gifts, including, but far from limited to speaking in tongues, this has always been a part of the plan and the story. I’m sorry if we as church or denominational leaders have been either divisive or combative about this going away gift to all believers. I’m sorry if we’ve under-emphasized or over-emphasized on specific aspects or applications of this gift. We never meant harm to you or the body of Christ.

We’ve just struggled with trying to “protect” or control the Biblical narrative. You now know – we can do neither! We’ve left a mess with all this because, well, we are messy people and don’t always get it right. The Pharisees took this approach to protect and control and failed miserably. Just know this; this “gift of the Spirit” is and has always been God’s plan and it would work fantastic if we would just obey and cooperate with Him instead of fighting and bickering with each other.

PRAYER

Dad,
This ideal of yours about unity in the body of Christ is so much more difficult than I ever imagined. I understand church and denominational leadership types have different and even strong opinions, but it has hurt the body we are supposed to be serving. Your Word does not need taken apart, watered down or explained away and reduced to be powerless. It is what it is because You are who you are! We’ve done such disservice to the church and the world by trying to control your commands! It’s so frustrating and embarrassing. Please help us. Please bring us together for the sake of souls and the gospel.

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A very real and eternal throne.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore— the Lord above is mightier than these! Your royal laws cannot be changed. Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.” Psalms‬ ‭93:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This imagery in Psalm 93 is so interesting. Yes, it summons thoughts of a majestic and powerful ruler. Yes, it is grand and glorious in its eternal, immortal existence.

From this throne, David writes the “royal laws cannot be changed.” They enormously perfect, just, right and true laws of God can never, should never be rescinded. The ideal of a throne, the lavished stories told over ions of time about thrones, kings and their quest for righteous rules all for the kingdom they serve.

I find it all so intriguing because as a kid I read many, many stories of good kings and kingdoms. I also read of bad kings and villains who would try to rule for their own selfish gain, misusing and abusing people and power to pursue their evil plans to keep them in power. All those stories had these good and evil themes woven throughout.

The most recent show that Robin adored and I tolerated, The Crown, opened with majestic music and beautiful cinematography swirling around this ultimate symbol of power – the King’s or in this case, the Queen’s crown. The seat upon which she sat was the last remembrance I have of seeing a throne. The place where laws are declared, justice dispensed, orders given to be immediately executed. The throne, the crown, the person sitting on it was seen as all powerful and revered.

This throne-symbol of power has lasted for several millennia and shows up extensively in the New Testament, much of it in THE book of endings – Revelation. The word thronos appears 62x in the New Testament, 47 of which are in the book of Revelation.

The throne may not be a prominent and even powerful modern symbol, but it will be so in the end. The word picture David paints in Psalms will return in full real and living color as this world wraps up and a new one is created. The words of the psalmist seem to echo from the song that was penned so long ago all the way to the very end of this world’s human existence – “Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.”

PRAYER:

Dad,
What a very real and very poetically written majestic story. And I’m not just talking about David’s psalm. I am talking about the entire story of your majesty and might, your beauty and wisdom, your truth, righteousness and justice. It’s all there. It’s always been there. A very long story of not only our existence, but more amazingly, our redemption. It is and will be the very happiest of happy ending of any story that has ever been told! And, it is all about you. Gratefully and thankfully about you. I am quite happy being a part of it and even more excited to be present as it all comes to an end, then an entirely new beginning.

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Honesty IS the best policy!

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.” Proverbs‬ ‭11:1, 3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Isn’t it interesting to think that the God of all creation is not just about truth, but also honesty.

Honesty is a characteristic of God? Truth has not only been divided and degraded it has also oddly been weaponized! But honesty, how is that going? Lying, or at least telling partial truth is crept into every part of our culture. Why? Because, people now want to play the games of hidden agendas and non-disclosures.

Honesty may invite more questions. Honesty may hurt feelings. Honesty may be embarrassing. The whole idea of dishonest scales in ancient times is like our modern day of “hidden fees.” And, back then it was common to rig the scale to make a little extra on the exchange especially taking advantage of the poor! The poor couldn’t do anything about it. They knew they were being cheated but risked being shut out from buying goods or food if they reported the owner.

Years back we had honesty in a lot of our work related phraseology. Honest day’s work. Honest pay. Honest wages. Honest business! Over taxation and complicated laws birthed a whole era of “under the table” and cash only earnings.

I also find it interesting that God is absolutely interested in the unseen, almost invisible behaviors of humans. Honesty and dishonesty is hard to spot, because it is built on trust. This is how reputations are made. This used to be how individuals and businesses would thrive. Hand shakes and humans that keep their word were valued and sought after. No one did business with “crooked” owners. Oftentimes, an owner or business became so dirty in their dealings that they ended up doing business with mafia and gangs just to keep their business afloat – but that comes with a horribly high price.

Bottom line, God HATES dishonesty because it’s is anti-God and it always takes advantage of the poor, the weak and the outcast. There are entire companies that PREY on senior citizens, on widows, on special needs people, even orphans! Whoa to these crooks, these politicians, these business cheats – God is watching and he will have his justice.

PRAYER

​Dad,
Even though I was a total creep in my youth when it comes to being honest, it now really gets me angry when I see people cheating or taking advantage of those who have no one watching out for them. I feel a sense of frustration with our government leaders who try to legislate care and protection for those at risk but end up creating horrible loopholes and drive the dishonesty even deeper and harder to spot and prove.

I feel like the church should be so much better at stepping in for the weak or disadvantaged, but we just don’t have our act together and folks just figure that’s what social or government services are now there to take care of. Government is horrible at care! Systems cannot love! Bureaucracy is not merciful or kind. Help us be better God.

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What farmers know that I don’t.

Reading Time: 4 minutes 
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Luke‬ ‭8:11-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Thank goodness Jesus explained this one to his disciples, thus explaining it to all of Luke’s readers! I love the fact that Jesus told stories and parables that were fitting for the audience who,was listening. This is an “aggie” story. This is a story for farmers and families who live in an agricultural community. Jesus wouldn’t have told this story, say in downtown Los Angeles. And he wouldn’t have told an urban story to a bunch of Fresno, California peeps. These are rural stories for rural people.

As a non-farmer and the son of a non-farmer, I can get the point, but I will never be able to feel the story or experience the story like those who hands are worn with dirt. How could Jesus, being a Rabbi and a mason, tell a good ‘ol farmer story. I believe Jesus spent an enormous amount of time with a massive cross section of people from all walks of life, all income brackets and social standing.

Did you know that Jesus often told stories with words and concepts from the entertainment industry of that day? Yeah, one example is using the word “hypocrite.” The word comes from theatre troops, popular in Jesus’s day. Jesus would not have attended many of these performances, because they were NSFW, but he did talk with theater people. Same here. Jesus probably did not farm himself, but he spent a lot of time with ordinary farmers. His ability to not just BE with people, but to listen and learn their lingo and their needs is extraordinary! I read this story of “a farmer goes out to sow seeds” and it feels a little flat to me. I’ve never gone out and sown seed. And when I read it, I think, “why is the guy throwing seed on paths, weed patches and unprepared ground?” Seems like a waste of seed to me. But you know what? I’m NOT a farmer, so I have no idea what they really do or why they do it! But the audience knew exactly what Jesus was taking about, probably nodding their heads in agreement with each point he made.

I have friends that live in places like Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas who constantly educate me on the ways of agriculture or livestock. I don’t think our school even had a 4h club, so I wasn’t going to learn about the land that way.

Jesus’ parable, especially with the key-code to unlock the mystery really helps. And, it helps understand a facet of how God works and the Kingdom of God works among us.

One more question before I wrap this up. When Jesus said, “The seed is God’s Word,” I wonder – exactly what “Word” was Jesus referring to? The Old Testament Law? The entire Old Testament, including Psalms, Proverbs and the Prophets? Was Jesus referring to himself, the “Logos” even as he was living and speaking while he was Son of Man/Son of God on the planet? The gospels and the epistles (letters) wouldn’t be written down for several decades, possibly even a hundred years.

I believe, wholeheartedly in the now written Word of God, but I also believe that God continues to speak to men and women’s hearts through all kinds of ways. I don’t claim that any of it is scripture, but God still has ways of delivering his seed, his word our world today. And as it is scattered everywhere in hopes that it finds fertile ground, it is still up to the soil/heart of the hearer to keep their soil in good shape or for sure, clear out rocks, weeds and hardness to allow God’s word to be productive in our salvation and redemption.

Prayer:

Dad,
I love the parables and stories, filled with mystery and just begging to be explored by curious or needy minds. I love the beauty of Jesus’ ability to talk with any and every human no matter their background or way of life. You know us so intimately! You love us so thoroughly. I am grateful that we get to be seed sowers of your love and grace. We get to be wild and liberally tossing out your gracious words of hope and not have to be concerned that every seed finds its rich target in good soil. And, we even get to continue to keep our own heart and soul in a state of preparedness taking care of our own hardness, rockiness, weedyness. I take it this picture of a farmer sowing isn’t a one and done kind of story. It continues on while we live on a very earthy, soiled planet!

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Refreshingly clean and good smell of unity!

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalms‬ ‭133:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Such a small verse with a BIG impact! Interestingly enough, the psalmist goes in to physically describe what UNITY feels like. Togetherness feels like a total body cleansing like rainfall on a hot day. The song directs us to think about a very public act that was not only performed on the high priest, Aaron, but also a very common act of anyone who wanted to be clean, refreshed and even getting ready for a big event.

I’m not at all a oil or lotion guy. I just can’t stand any kind of perfumed substance on my body. I don’t like hand, face or body lotions. I don’t even like sunscreen! I certainly can’t imagine anything oily in my hair. Robin, on the other hand, LOVES lotions, creams and various liquids on her. She loves the way her skin absorbs the oil or lotion and how it makes her ski feel after applying it. I’m the opposite, I only like water or strangely enough rubbing alcohol. I only like things that REMOVE oils on me, not apply more!

In ancient times, water was used for washing, but it was difficult to get it and keep it fresh. Ancients were obsessed with fresh water and only the wealthy either had or built natural springs running through their house or property. But oils, likely essential oils, were portable, easy to make and use. So these oils would be used much like a modern day shower or washing your face in the sink. They were cleansing and healthy for hair and body. Plus, they were fragrant, like we would use a deodorant. As much as I don’t like oily things on my skin I still see the point the psalmist is getting at. Thankfully he writes about dew or light rain falling in the mountains as well – THAT I can get into.

Either way, it’s a great visual of how unity, how togetherness brings all the benefits that oils, cleansing and smelling good brings. Unity cleans our cooperative, collective souls. Unity refreshes our hearts, minds and attitudes. Unity brings a clean, fresh, delightful aroma to us as a group. This picture of the benefits of unity should draw us in to want that! To wash away the nastiness of all that goes on in our culture, stuff that just gets picked up on the freeway or while waiting in the impatience of a grocery, coffee or food line.

To be refreshed by each other’s love and cooperative attitudes is like going to a health spa. And to smell the aroma of unity that replaces our individual and sometimes stinky selfishness. Oh how good it is to dwell together in unity. This is truly a picture of how God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit has always existed! And when we cooperate, come together and act in unity – wow it looks and smells amazing!

PRAYER:

Dad,
This is not only ideal and completely an affirming YES and big head-nod, it is also a lot of work! Unity is work. It is a work in progress. It takes sacrifice, humility and calling each other on bad behaviors that tear down instead of build up. It’s a loving accountability, a pact, a promise to hold up when trust is eroded and tempers flare. We want unity, I think. We want the amazing refreshment of clean and nice smelling, but we have to identify the reasons and the attitudes that prevent us from getting there. Help us!

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The Church responding in crisis

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)” Acts‬ ‭11:27-28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Go Agabus! We’ve often talked about a prophetic word being an encouragement or an exhortation, keeping things uplifting or giving poignant reminders. I’ve heard it said that prophecy is more forth-telling than it is foretelling. Yet, Luke’s words attest to the fact that God still speaks to warn believers of what’s ahead. Luke also let’s us know the famine did indeed come while Claudius was in power.

What should believers do when given this kind of warning? This group started raising money to get it to Jerusalem BEFORE the need became a reality. This wasn’t some “whoa is us” kind of warning. This wasn’t a doom and gloom scenario. It was a now-that-we-know, let’s get busy response. This is a picture of how and what the modern Church should look like! A Church, led by the Spirit of God, getting future tips of what will happen and then making plans to meet the crisis head on. In their case, it was sending money.

It could have been a lot of things – sending money is great for buying, and storing ahead of time then distributing supplies afterwards.

However, the Church needs a few things for this kind of scenario to happen today: We’ve got to be people of the Spirit. We’ve got to listen to our gifted men and women whom God will speak to. We’ve got to tear down our denominational divides and be willing to come together for action. And, we’ve got to quit worrying about who gets the credit for best response and see ourselves as ONE! Basically, we must fulfill the prayer Jesus prayed in John 17 – we must be in unity!

Looking back at the Church’s response in a global pandemic, individual churches did some spectacular work and responded by collecting and distributing millions of pounds of food with a government program called farmers to families. The first round of purchases occurred from May 15 through June 30, 2020 and saw more than 35.5 million boxes delivered in the first 45 days. In total, USDA has distributed more than 167 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and spent about $5 billion. Churches linked arms with nonprofits and had weekly distributions on their own property. The church I served on staff with, Mesa Church, had a weekly food distribution that went from May through to August in 2020. One nonprofit in Costa Mesa, called Trellis, headed up a massive, multi-nonprofit, multi-week distribution in an Ikea parking lot. It was a perfect picture of unity! We were also able to pray with families as their trunks were being filled with fresh groceries.

Yet, even in the midst of great opportunities to serve, we (the Church) still struggled with being horribly distracted by politics, conspiracy theories, and internal infighting over race, masks, vaccines and meeting indoors. Churches NEVER did shut down, never closed! Yet we squabbled over indoor services, creating unnecessary tension between being a super-spreader event and our “religious” rights to gather in a building.

This was ridiculously embarrassing on the Church! Many rallied behind churches that proudly never stopped meeting inside the building. Others stayed home and participated in church online. Still others just took the church out to meet in parks and parking lots. I thought parking lot church was the most exciting thing I’ve seen happen since the 70’s! Bottom line – we divided when we should of and could of been united! And even worse, we took our griefs and gripes to the public forum of social media and made ourselves look like fools!

As Pastors, we were not prepared to mitigate between two vocal, almost militant groups of Christians. Next time I hope, I pray that we get our love-act together and behave and serve as one.

PRAYER

Dad,
I don’t know what grieves your heart more, our sin or our inability to be united? We have done so much better in the past. We need to be better in the future. I believe the last time we had a global pandemic, the church did a better job both in serving and in coming together in agreement on what we should be doing in crisis. I think that may be some of the reasons folks aren’t returning to gather together. It may take awhile to forgive us for acting so poorly.

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Relationships on the dark planet called earth.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul!” 1 Samuel‬ ‭20:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This scene that takes place with David and Jonathon takes place with an “in-between” moment, a now but not yet. God has already yanked His Spirit from Saul and put it on David. God has already renounced and even regretted Saul being king and has anointed and appointed David as successor. But God allows Saul to live on and allows this whole drama to play itself out.

One of the big mysteries of God is all about this kind of scenario. Why doesn’t God step in, intervene and just kill Saul himself? I don’t think we’ll ever fully understand until we enter eternity. God takes on the questions and “bad press” but it doesn’t bother Him in the least. God has ways we will not understand.

David had this ability to read people and situations incredibly well. It’s one of his gifts as a leader. He starts as a shepherd, living in opens fields caring for the sheep and ends up in the palace in preparation to serve as Israel’s second king. He’s found a true friend in Jonathan. Remember, Jonathan is much older than David, likely by at least 20 years! So if David is in his twenties, Jonathan is in his forties at this point. David knows Saul wants him dead but also doesn’t want to begin the inevitable “run for his life” outlaw lifestyle.

Jonathan just can’t believe his own father has the capacity to kill someone like David, an innocent, gifted young man that has only done good for the king and country. Jonathan’s own codependency just thinks, “Dad has some anger issues,” and seriously underestimates the real danger within his own family. Jonathan had been covering for his own Dad for several years and did not understand the shift that took place when the Spirit of God left his Dad! How is that possible? How can a son or a wife or daughter or even a father miss the cues of behavioral change in the family? Because we want to believe in the best in our loved ones and often can minimize the red flags because it means that some serious work needs to happen before a family member truly goes off the rails – hurting themselves or others. There were signs and warnings all along but they were ignored!

Jonathan tells David, “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!” Did you see that? I KNOW MY FATHER. Jonathan may have KNOWN his father, but didn’t recognize or chose to minimize when his behavior radically changed.

Until Saul turned on his own son and made it clear, “Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?” Jonathan tried to reason with his dad and actually defended his friend David. That did not go well! “Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.” Saul, the king, the spear hurler and father explodes with uncontrollable anger. Who in their right mind let this guy have access to weapons when he has lost his sanity? Saul didn’t have the courage to spear-hurl Goliath, but he now he’s throwing a man-tantrum at his own son!

God lets humanity’s choices play out and rarely overrides free will, even to the point of allowing crazy leaders to make horrible decisions. I am glad this story and others are left IN the Bible and IN God’s grand story from creation, to redemption, to the final end when true justice and grace will make all things right again. Personally, I get a little sick of living on the dark planet. It is filled with beauty. And there is good amidst evil. I’m just weary of our own arrogance of denial.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I agree with the cry “come quickly Lord Jesus,” but not to get out of this existence or have a callous heart towards humankind. I ache for the end. For godly justice to be served instead of these weak imitations and excuses for justice that is just a smokescreen for more selfish, self-serving ideologies pretending to help or advance our culture, our world. Let your light shine bright through my life and the lives of true followers of Jesus.

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Hello, my name is Glenn and I’m a blabaholic.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” Proverbs‬ ‭10:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is one of those Proverbs that keep coming back to smack me in the face. Have you ever posted or put up sticky notes or cards with sayings and Bible verses you’d like to memorize and live by? This is one I should make into a T-Shirt.

I talk too much. I overshare, tell too-long stories and have determined it’s way too much like gossip. I shouldn’t even be writing this because it’s probably the last time you’ll tell me anything! I do have some safety features built into my blabbering ways. Sometimes I remember to ask friends, “is this confidential or is it something I am free to share?” Honestly, if it’s confidential I don’t share it with anyone, not even my wife. That word, confidential, seems to be the key to keeping my mouth shut! And those confidential things shared with me go into the VAULT.

I find it interesting, no HAUNTING, that the wisdom writers associate “too much” talking with sin. It’s like I hear people talk about drinking alcohol. A little, they say, is like “social” drinking. Like Paul telling Timothy to take “a little” wine for his stomach. But TOO MUCH and boom, you’re drunk. I don’t drink, but too often I blab. I’d love to say “oh, I’m just a social blabber,” or, “a little blab for levity.” Truth is I’m kind of a blabaholic.

There, confession is good for the soul or confess to one another so I can be healed. I see the remedy right there in the saying – just keep my mouth SHUT. I’d get that tattooed, but I hate needles. Plus, I’d have to explain it to anyone who asks, then I’d be shunned for sure!

Anyways, Proverbs is right and I need this constant reminder. If we talk please us the phrase, “this is confidential,” that should keep us both safe. Thank you for reading.

PRAYER:

Dad,
Wow. Many times I look into your Word, the Bible and it is experienced much like looking into a mirror. Except, I don’t like the reflection I see looking back at me! Forgive me of my sin. Help me in my sin. Help me change and grow to not increase in foolishness, but instead in wisdom. Thank you for your grace and power to overcome my big mouth.

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The whore and the holy

Reading Time: 5 minutes

​Oh boy! I just love these real life examples of Jesus’ interactions with both the highest and lowest people on the social ladder at that time. I have so many questions as I read this story.

“One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” Luke‬ ‭7:36-38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

At first, there are no names mentioned, “one” of the Pharisees and a “certain” immoral woman from the city. Where exactly do Pharisee’s live? Since they are relatively separatists, my guess is that they lived uptown somewhere, away from the chaos of the town. And, I imagine that this Pharisee was surrounded by fellow religious leaders that made up his neighborhood. A place where privilege provided privacy. Where it was safe, egos were fed and status was earned by seemingly clean, holy living. There were no sinners there, only saints.

Where did the city-girl live? With her kind, her people. She lived and worked where the greatest concentration of traffic and opportunity would be. Where she could eek out a living, be herself, not be judged and have a certain kind of freedom of invisibility. Her neighborhood may have carried a label like Red-district, Bourbon Street or Crack Alley. Her neighborhood was where people go to purposely get lost, or lose themselves in addictions and pleasures. A place where people were quite comfortable making transactions for a moment of position, pleasure, or pain – searching, aching for peace and anything to escape their mundane lives. I doubt neither the religious leader nor the immoral woman spent much time in each other’s neighborhood.

Ah, but Jesus felt at home in both neighborhoods. He probably hated the stench of one and grieved the sight of the other, but his love compelled him to look beyond the facades of stereotypes and labels to find his mark, his mission – the human heart.

The city-girl, out of some bold desperation could not wait for Jesus to come back through her part of town, that day she decided to make her move towards life itself. She must have heard, she must have seen the kinds of things this rabbi had done. She must have felt that she could risk everything to not just get out of the hood, but out of a lifestyle that was killing her – eating away and stealing every small morsel of moral fiber she had left. This desire drove her to go uptown, to walk the cold quiet streets of glaring eyes and the invisible cloud of judgment and shame to get to the rabbi-Jesus. And with her she clutched her most prized and protected possession. She brought with her escape plan, her nest egg, her only lifeline to a possible retirement from the hell-hole from which she was either born into or chose to make a living. Bringing her alabaster jar appears to be her statement saying, “I’m never going back.” Maybe she didn’t know what she would do with her expensive retirement plan when she, if she, actually met Jesus. Maybe she was planning to pay her way into his group. Maybe she was going to give it to Jesus thus paying for her sin and hopefully the transaction would free her from a life of pain or guilt. But when she arrived at Simon’s complex and saw Jesus reclining, relaxed, possibly smiling, literally being the LIFE of the party, something overwhelmed her.

She looked at Jesus dirty feet and knew what she had to do. She decided she would go all in and use her life savings to clean the master’s feet. She didn’t care who saw her. She didn’t care what anyone in the room thought. She served the rabbi with the only things she owned, her tears, her hair as a towel and her ointment as a way to seal and heal Jesus, now clean but rough feet. And Jesus let her do it! We forget, there was so much tension in that room. It must have vacated the air, time must have slowed to a crawl and everyone one else’s brain went into shock. I’m am positive that eyes were wide, dialated and mouths were gaping open. No one could move. No words could come out of their mouths because their vocal cords were also frozen.

But Simon’s and the others thoughts were written all over their faces. It was the only thought their tiny, tightly-wound, religious minds could think – IF JESUS KNEW… Bah ha ha. If Jesus knew? Are you kidding me. IF Jesus knew? EVERYONE knew who this woman was. Her clothing, her mannerisms, her gender – oh my goodness. If Jesus knew! That is hilarious. Then Jesus speaks. What is he going to say? Jesus had 100% attention in the room. EVERYONE was absolutely captivated by this dramatic, cliff-hanging curiosity of what would happen next. It wasn’t WWJD, what would Jesus do it was WWJS, what would Jesus say?

Jesus tells Simon he has something to say. Remember Luke tells us that Jesus answered Simon’s thoughts, but Simon did not know he’d been read like a cartoon strip! I always wondered, was this Jesus’ human, gifted ability to read the room or was this a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit giving Jesus the unspoken thoughts of humans? I like to think maybe it was both! Either way, it’s important to remember Jesus did not do anything that he didn’t fully expect his followers to do as well. We can’t keep using the, “yeah, but he’s God” excuse to dodge both the gift and the responsibility of all those who believe and follow Jesus.

Then Jesus tells a story that lowers Simon’s pride and elevates God’s grace. Who has greater love? The one with the greater debt! Powerful. Especially because Simon and all the other religious leaders in the room had a wrong perspective in their heads. They believed they had zero debt to God, they were perfect because they kept most of the law. I’m fact, they believed that God owed them! What about the woman? I love the fact that Jesus never winked at, minimized or excused the woman’s own sin. That would have been dishonest and insulting to her.

Jesus said, her sins “and they are many…” have been forgiven. Done. Complete. In the past. Why? Because she cried? Because she served? Because she spent her future to care for Jesus calloused feet? No, because in her act of service she gave Jesus everything! Her repentance was in her tears, her love was in her hair, now becoming a dirty towel, and her salve/lotion gift of generosity was proof of her changed heart. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

If anyone wants to see how God looks at our human sin coming to him in brokenness, this is the picture. If anyone wants to see what makes God sick to his stomach just look at the human pride assuming that God won’t come near to those who are broken. The paradox of Simon’s sin to look down on another compared to this woman’s salvation to look up to God in repentance is stunningly clear!

PRAYER:

Dad,

Oh let me never ever forget from where I have come and from who I have come from. Help me to never look down with judgment and arrogance on a life that is not only different than mine, but much more complicated than mine. Help me to be an broker of hope, generous in grace and approachable because of your joy and peace.

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God does a woodcraft object lesson with Ezekiel

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Again a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, take a piece of wood and carve on it these words: ‘This represents Judah and its allied tribes.’ Then take another piece and carve these words on it: ‘This represents Ephraim and the northern tribes of Israel.’ Now hold them together in your hand as if they were one piece of wood. When your people ask you what your actions mean, say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take Ephraim and the northern tribes and join them to Judah. I will make them one piece of wood in my hand.’” Ezekiel‬ ‭37:15-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I just love the physicality and practicality of God. In having a chat with one of His spokespersons, God tells him, “pick up a couple of sticks and write on them.” There is something wonderfully simple with connecting our God given senses to learn or teach a lesson. The more senses involved the better.

Ezekiel LOOKS for a couple of pieces of wood, he sees the perfect set, he puts thought into the type, length, maybe even circumference. Then Ezekiel picks up the wood, he FEELS the weight and roughness of what was once part of a tree. Maybe he HEARS the sounds as he cuts and carves into preparing the wood and as he does so takes in the aroma as pieces fall to the ground. Wood has its own unique SMELL, individual to the tree that it came from. I love the smell of fresh cut or carved wood!

God had Ezekiel participate not only in a wonderful object lesson by working with these two pieces of wood, but it is also a beautiful picture of craft time with God himself. I wonder if Ezekiel choose two different pieces of wood, different tree stock to represent the two very different tribes of Israel. Maybe one of them was dark and hard, dense and difficult to carve. Maybe the other was lighter, softer, easy to carve but also easy to make mistakes.

When I read these messages, these prophetic words, which by the way IS the point of the writing, I am delighted by the lesson, the idea and delivery behind them as well. God tells him to hold the two sticks together as if they were ONE piece of wood. Ezekiel, after selecting and preparing the woodcraft, would then practice the lesson so that he could easily share it with the people, “Then hold out the pieces of wood you have inscribed, so the people can see them.” God has Ezekiel walk around showing them this strange lesson, and it will make them curiously ask, “why are you showing us this?” Isn’t that the best teaching method ever? When the passive watcher wants to know more? Then Ezekiel told them that God himself will personally hold the two pieces of wood (representing the divided nation), just like they see before them. He tells them about God’s promise, “And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever.” Just so you know, God is speaking of Jesus as the peace covenant and we, being filled with the Holy Spirit, become the temple. God still speaks today and still gives us amazing object lessons to help us understand, even using our own senses to make the point sticky!

PRAYER:

Dad,
You’re greatness, your holiness and majesty of all might, authority and dominion does not mean you are not creatively and intimately involved with us even in the smallest details of a lesson or learning. Thank you for truly being with us, as a father and now also as a friend. Thankful for being mindful of both our weakness and our expansive wonder and curiosity.