Live in harmony...but you don't mean him, right? (titus 3)

Have we forgotten where we came from?

I have an issue with saying things I shouldn't when I get too hungry. My blood sugar gets low and I start wanting to tell people just what I think about them. When I'm hungry my thoughts usually aren't very nice. When I was in college I was over at my girl friends house, her roommate came in to fill us in on the date she just had. Well she was really telling my girlfriend. This was talk not intended for male ears. I don't mean in the mushy romantic sense either. It was female locker room talk concerning the physical build of this guy.

We were in the kitchen and I was working on making dinner, so I was getting close to having food in my system, sugar in my blood, and control of my mouth, but I didn't have it yet. I couldn't take it anymore and my not nice thoughts came bursting forth. "I'm sure glad you got your slab of meat for the night, that's all you think guys are!" It got so quiet, she was stung, and I felt like the biggest jerk ever.

In Titus Chapter 3 Paul tells Titus to remind those around him to submit to authority and be obedient. He goes on to say, we also need to live in harmony with everyone and not bring slander against anyone. We are to treat everyone with humility. Why? Because we used to be the same way. We used to be consumed with the lusts of this world, malice, and all kinds of mess.

Paul emphasizes it was only through the kindness, love, and mercy of God that we have been saved, renewed, made clean by the Holy Spirit. In fact the only people Paul tells us to shun are religious people who are stuck in arguments over the law dividing the body of Christ. In other words those who are not living in harmony with those around them. Those who have forgotten that they were forgiven, those who have forgotten where they came from.

Making that kind of comment to my girlfriends roommate that night was sooooo not in harmony and humility especially coming from a guy who has his own issues with purity. I had forgotten who I was, where I came from, and the loving God who had forgiven me.

When I approach God with my sin I do so expecting to find a loving God who will forgive me. This is the God the scriptures teach about and promise we will meet when we confess our sins and even if we are caught in the act. Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery, he hangs out with prostitutes and sinners. Jesus didn't even have anything to be forgiven for and he was still merciful.

Why shouldn't people who approach me come with the same expectation of kindness, love, mercy, and grace. If I am made in the image of God, forgiven and recreated in the image of God, shouldn't people be able to expect the same from me? Can people come to you with the expectation of finding love and forgiveness?

Today, may we truly learn what it means to be kind, humble, loving, and grace-filled. May we remember were we came from and how far we still have to go as we live in harmony with those around us. 

Stop the world, I wanna get off. (Titus 2)

Do you wish things could just slow down sometimes?

I love Friday nights! I especially love them now that I am back in school. When I was pastoring in my last church I had the wonderful Friday night experience of youth vespers every week. There was a joy there and a rest there as well and I loved creating that space for my students. But now that I am in school again and have Friday nights to myself and my family once again. I have discovered the deep delight of settling in for the night and having time for reflection and a search for God. We really do need this don't we? A time to stop and rest, a sanctuary in time so to speak. When the world just slows down a little. The truth is the rest of the world doesn't really slow down all that muchl. It keeps on spinning. I have found that we can get off the spin cycle if we want to. We can slow down even if everything else does not.

In Titus chapter 2, Paul is encouraging Titus to teach those around him how to have self-controlled lives. He says that when older men and women learn what it means to have self controlled lives then they can mentor those younger men and women around them to have the same. Paul also encourages Titus to live such a life and be an example. He tells Titus to learn how to say, "No!" to worldly passions. What does he mean by the phrase worldly passions or lusts as some translations have it? Is he talking about immorality and sex? Well maybe, the world is pretty sex crazed. But as I thought about it more, the passion of the world seems to have much more to do with getting ahead in live. This might include sex, career, money, the perfect family doing all the perfect things in the perfect SUV, but so busy they never actually see each other.

I wonder if living part of a self controlled life actually has more to do with shaping our priorities enough so we can actually slow down and live. As I slow down tonight I have to say this seems true to me. Sense I have slowed down my activity level and entered into school and study again, I have found time to live deeper and richer. I can still get caught up in school work, but my business has slowed down enough that I can get a restart in the way I look at life. Some things have changed already. I started taking better care of myself physically, eating right and exercising, even attending a health seminar. I have written papers yes, but also found time for an article I have been thinking about for years and I have found time to blog again. Our living expenses have been cut in half and its a good thing we are living more simply.

I know that many of you can't press the reset button on life right now, or at least you feel like you can't. But you can start small. Get off the merry-go-round of the world at least once a week. This is what Sabbath is for. Slow down, breathe, think, pray, and live a little bit better balanced life. Self controlled...hmm...sometimes it takes doing just what the text said. Just...say...no.

No I'm not going to do that extra thing tonight. Sometimes we have to say no in order to be able to say yes to something else.

May we all learn to live self-controlled lives, lives where we can say no, stop, and rest. I pray we would choose to leave the worldly passions behind and live deeper and more richly. Start today, stop right now.

Hey everybody, make me famous!! (Titus 1)

What is the motive behind our desire to inform others of what we know or have found?

It's time for a little reality check for me. Why do I write this blog? Why after writing this blog do I check the stats daily to see how many people have read this blog? Why am I thinking about trying to get this blog published? I had to think about this as I was sending in some samples to a publisher. They wanted to know the purpose of why I wanted to write this book. The answer I gave was to hopefully open the hearts and minds of its readers to the real life application of scripture. To put skin on scripture so to speak. By sharing my life along with the words of scripture I could help people connect faith with life. This sounds like a noble purpose doesn't it? But is this really why? Or am I just trying to create some sort of following for myself and receive a pat on the back and praise for what a talented writer and spiritual person I appear to be.

Titus Chapter 1 really brings this warning out strongly in my heart. Paul writes a comparison in this chapter comparing the type of person who can be an elder (a person of integrity, who takes care of their family and does not seek dishonest gain) and the type of person who has "spiritual" rituals and words but does them for dishonest gain ruining whole households in the process. Paul really goes after these guys who are emphasizing these myths of what will make you holy. He goes so far to say that for those who are pure everything is pure but for those who are corrupt everything is corrupt even their thoughts. You can tell by their actions what kind of men they are. These men who say "spiritual things" and tell others to do them as well, just to gain a following. Even the good things they do are corrupt. So why do we do what we do?

I remember being asked once what I most want to be. The only thing I could come up with was, "a humble man of God." I really didn't know what else to say. This sounds like the perfect kind of political statement for a spiritual leader. But the truth is that is a dangerous desire to have. To be a humble man of God means I will need to be humbled again and again and again...this doesn't mean that I grovel in self pity, but that I take a look at why I am doing what I am doing. To be a humble man of God is to realize the things that I do come from the gifts that he gave me and their purpose is to bring him glory not to lift me up or gain me influence. But to life him up and gain him influence.

May the actions we do today bring God glory. May this be our only hope of gain. Nothing dishonest not using spiritual things for temporal gain, but glorifying God with all that we are and all he has gifted us with.

Research papers and the grand canyon (2 Timothy 4)

Are you longing for anything tonight?

Well the last five days or so I have been alone at home. My lovely wife and precious little girl have gone off gallivanting with my family. Strange I know that they would go and I would stay, but that is they way it works when you are in classes. To tell you the truth I was kind of looking foward to the time alone. Yes I was wishing I could see my family and I've never been to the grand canyon, but I had things that I wanted to get done. You can only get so much work done on a 35+ page papers when you have a wonderful family around to distract you.

So I know the last few days were going to be productive ones, if I could stay on task that is. And I really did quite well I get my whole rough draft punched out which turns out to be about 48 pages so I have done my scholarly duty. But I can tell you there is some definite loneliness setting in. I get to a certain point in the evening and I don't know what to do with myself other than find some sort of show to watch and play stupid apps on my phone. I am really looking forward to picking up my girls from the airport tomorrow.

In 2 Timothy chapter 4 Paul lets Timothy know he is done in. He has fought the good fight he has finished his calling, he has been poured out like a drink offering. Paul is spent he knows he has come near to the end of his ministry here on earth. 2 Timothy is believed to be the last letter Paul wrote before he died. Then paul tells Timothy what he is expecting to come next. He is completely sure there is a crown of righteousness waiting for him to be given him by his faithful judge Jesus Christ. Then he adds this crown is not only for him but for all those who have longed for the return of Christ. There is a work to be done, Paul has done his work faithfully be he longs for his Savior to return and for the work to be finished. This is the assurance of the reward of heaven, the longing to be with Jesus.

I think about the longing I have right now to see my girls, I had work to get done. I have finished it. The time while they were gone was well spent, but I am longing for their return. Now I let the thought sink a little bit deeper. I know I have many years of ministry ahead of my still, but I have to say I am longing for the return of Jesus as well. And...well...according to Paul this sense of longing means there is a crown waiting for me on that day.

Do you long for the return of Christ? Are you tired today? Are you worn out by the strain of life and you would just like some rest? We then be assured there is a crown of righteousness waiting for you to be given by your faithful judge Jesus Christ. You are in his favor and he is longing to place the crown on your head as well.

May we be haunted by a deep sense of longing tonight for the soon return of Jesus on this Easter weekend. He rose again and he has promised he is coming back for us. Let it sink if open yourself up to longing today.

Lovers of God (2 Timothy 3)

What does its really mean to be lovers of God?

It's funny to me the different ways that men and women get ready for dates. I noticed it one day when my wife and I were getting ready to go out on a date. I was taking in the romantic mood and setting which my wife had set up as she got ready. She had a bath with nice smelling salts and candles. She turned on some lovely peaceful romantic music and she was using the time to make herself as captivating as she could be for an evening out with her husband. It was a nice ritual and it fit her so well. When she is done she is ready to flow out the door and be swept away on a romantic night with her husband.

But in my head I was thinking about the way in which I get ready for dates if Laura is not in the house or before we got married. Oh I turn on music alright, the louder the better. Whatever it is that gets me moving. The getting ready process I am playing my best air guitar and drums. It's one of those times when I scream out the melody that is way to high for me to sing and feel like I got it right on. Shave, slap on the hair gel, the whole time my feet never stop moving to the beat. When I am done I am ready to rock out the door for an evening of thrills and adventure with my wife.

Is one way better than another? No not really, we both have the same goal. We both want a great night together with each other and we are fully confident it will come. We simply approach it in a different way. We are both lovers of each other in our own ways.

In 2 Timothy chapter 3 Paul tells Timothy in the last days there will be those who are lovers alright. Lovers of themselves, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, having a form of godliness but denying its power. But they are not lovers of God. Paul actually says they really are unloving and without forgiveness.

When we are getting ready for our date we could be going out for many different reasons. We could be going out because we like the way we look when we get all dressed up (lovers of ourselves), we could be going out to impress others with the extravagance of our clothes or a great tip (lovers of money), or we could be going out because we really love to eat good food and we know the loving we will get out of a "romantic" evening (lovers of pleasure).

But if we went out for these reasons rather than to be with each other would we really have any love at all? We would have the appearance of being in love but would we have the power of a truly loving relationship? Would we come to the end of the evening and separate to our own things and find ourselves all the more lonely?

It is good for us to want to look good...for each other. It is good for us to have a great meal and a great night when we get back home...with each other. When our days and dates are spent seeking to love the other and growing in the warmth of the mutual support we offer each other there we will have not only an appearance of a relationship but the power of our love in one another's lives.

If we read our bibles in the morning to check something off our christian duty to do list, if we dress up and go to church to show we are good people, if we give our offering so that some how we will be financially blessed, if we raise our hands in worship only to get the thrill of shocking the old conservatives next to us then we have an appearance of a relationship but we don't have any power.

As I have been pausing to listen to what God might have to say to me these last couple of days I keep sensing that he is emphasizing his love. I need God's love in my life. I need the power it brings for me to be able to live with love and forgiveness towards my family and others around me. I need to be a lover of God and I need his love in me!

May we be lovers of God today. I don't want just the appearance of godliness I want to be a lover of God. Don't you?

Flashpoint...saving kids

So this one is a little out of character. There is no next chapter for me to comment on. I have been watching some episodes of a show called flashpoint. The general story line is of a special response unit of police. So far all of the episodes have been hostage negotiations. But episode 6 of season one is a little different.

There is a girl just trying to make it through life. She is probably 17 years old. He mother is a drunk and she has turned in a lead gang guy for attempted rape. She heads to work at the mall and is pushed around by some girls from the gang. When she goes on break at the mall she is attacked by the same girls in one of the mall bathrooms. They beat her up, chop a bunch of her hair off and then begin to threaten her with guns. One of the girls drops her gun and the victim grabs it shoots one of the attackers and runs out of the bathroom. All the police know is someone is shot, but they begin to pick up the pieces of her story.

It comes down to a final scene of this beaten down girl hanging on the side of the building ready to jump and end it all. A woman on the Police force begins to try to talk her down. She gets closer and closer. Finally she clips in on the railing and climbs out next to the girl.

Out on the railing she affirms this courageous girl for being the survivor she is. She offers her understanding and promises of a stronger better life if she makes it through this. She finally convinces the girl to take her hand. The girl reaches out to take her hand and slips. The officer catches the girl and falls with her to be stopped by the strap she clipped in earlier. The are pulled up to safety battered and bruised but alive and OK.

I got done watching this episode and it occurred to me; this is what we are called to do. Youth workers, Christians, ethical human beings, this is what we are called to do. Find the people who have been pushed to the limit of desperation and reach out to them trying to draw them back. And then when they fall we catch them even if we get bruised in the process.

There are some interesting rules these police negotiators have to follow. They must form a connection with the person. They have to connect. There must be a relationship. In order to create this relationship they can only tell the truth.

Ministry is all about relationships, life is all about relationships. We are who we are based on the people we relate to and the way in which we treat them. We must connect. They bast way to do that is to be honest, to share a story some common ground, some common experience with the person.

The next important part is to recognize what is good in them and call it out. The more we can affirm the strengths in people the more they will want to continue in them.

And then sometimes we just have to be there to catch them when the fall. Clipped in to our own support network so both of us don't fall. We have to let go of the railing and catch them.

Who would you be willing to let go of your own safety in order to catch them?

It was an intense and inspiring moment. I hope we would all be so compassionate.

Argument with a 5 yr old. (2 Timothy 2)

How many times does our gentle instruction turn to heated argument?

My daughter has been going through one of her independent phases again. She is pushing the boundaries of her sense of control. On my good days I gently instruct her one my bad days I argue with her. Yesterday she says, “I want some apple juice!” I reply in a rather exasperated tone, “we don’t have any.” To which she replies, “Well then make some.” “We don’t have any,” I repeat. “Well then make some,” she retorts. “We don’t have any.” I continue the loop.

All I would have had to do was ask her to come to the freezer and have her look in and see if she could find any apple juice. She would have come to an understanding and a much simply resolution if I had done some gentle instruction with her rather than entering into this no win argument.

I think this is what Paul is getting at in 2 Timothy chapter 2. He tells Timothy twice not to get into arguments over terms and words. He says the conflicts with only lead others astray. Then he mentions one of the topics, which have been argued about. Some have said the resurrection has already come. This seems like a pretty big issue to me. Shouldn’t Timothy stand up against such false teaching?

Paul clarifies a little later by once again telling Timothy not to enter into conflicts and arguments, but if someone disagrees with you to approach them with gentle instruction. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; he must be kind to everyone, and willing to teach without resentment.

Let’s be honest for a minute. When we get swung at, how many of us can come back with kindness, no resentment, and gentle instruction. Furthermore to leave others to come back to the right conviction in the timing of the Holy Spirit instead of our own. It is so easy to argue, it is so easy to quarrel, especially when you know you are right. When can just go for it when we know we are right, we don’t hold back. “I’ll show him to pick a fight with me, I know I’m right!”

Arguments and quarrels are really all about us. I wanted unquestioned control so I argued with my 5 year old about apple juice. She wanted control so she argued right back. It was all about me. If I had really been thinking of her and the best way for her to understand the truth about our lack of apple juice. I would have taken the time to show her and explain to her we didn’t have anymore apple juice in the freezer. Then she would have come to her own satisfied conclusion.

How many arguments at home, in the church, at work, could be quenched by kindness, teaching without resentment or condescension, and gentle instruction? If we could set aside our own ego and simple think of the best way for the person we are talking to understand, to actually serve the other person, quarrels could be avoided. You can’t argue if no one will argue with you. It just doesn’t really work that way.

May we approach one another with kindness today, thinking always of how we can best serve each other to come to a better relationship and understanding.