Best for Last

When Jesus began his public ministry I have wondered what his thoughts were. Did he really want to begin with a splash and grab everyone's attention? Did he want to heal someone or bring someone back from the dead? Or did Jesus hope for a gradual beginning that wouldn't overwhelm him? If we read the story of Jesus' first miracle we may still be left to wonder.

Jesus' first miracle came at a wedding and as the party ran out of wine there was a real crisis. Mary, Jesus' mother, goes to him and pleads for him to turn water into wine so the celebration could continue. Literally, Jesus' first miracle was to keep the party going. It wasn't a healing story or feeding thousands. All of Jesus' miracles are impressive, but this one at first glance seems to lack the gravity we would expect.

After Jesus turns the water into wine the party's wine steward comes to inspect (quite a party to have its own wine steward!). He was instantly impressed with the wine and proclaimed:

"Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." John 2:10

The wine Jesus turned from water turned out to be far superior to the wine from earlier and while wine lovers might find this tidbit interesting, for those who wish to more deeply understand the significance Jesus' first miracle we may be left still bewildered.

One way to approach this text is to think in terms of the natural human tendency to hold back. When we are uncertain about circumstances or people we often play a "wait and see" game. For those who have had bad experiences in life and love this can be particularly true. We have been burned before and are not going to allow ourselves to be hurt again. In this story, Jesus seems to be holding back as he is initially reluctant to do anything about the problem. Only after his mother persuades him does he then turn water into wine.

How many of us operate in a similar fashion? We are asked to help others and have to be guilted into it. On our own we tend to worry about ourselves and not others. Even Jesus tells his mother "it is not my time." Even when we can be coerced into giving sometimes we fail to give our best. We give to charities or food drives from our reserves not from our best. We hold back and hedge our bets. Ultimately we see in Jesus the giving of his full self, without holding back. We see in Jesus the pouring out of himself for us and for the world. What will we give?

For us we can and must give our very best in life: loving and serving others in Christ's name. We can give our best knowing that God will provide the rest, God will fulfill God's promises. We no longer need to hold back our time, talent, and treasure but can live generously knowing God will provide. We can be open emotionally and spiritually with others knowing that our savior and Lord gave all for us. We can live the abundant life while we are here knowing that God has promised us even more in the life to come.

Economic Oppression and the Seductive Lure of Debt: The Parable of the Talents

The current movement Occupy Wall Street has taken hold throughout the country and is now extended in many parts of the world. As protesters gather and speak our against corporate greed, lack of employment opportunities, and banks run amok the question for people of faith becomes: what would Jesus have to say about all of this? Does our Christian faith have anything to offer? There are some Christians who claim that Jesus was only interested in spiritual issues, others are convinced that Jesus would fully support capitalists, but if we take the scriptures seriously we cannot avoid that fact that Jesus speaks frequently and vehemently against greed and the love of money.

The parables of Jesus are often misunderstood to be moralistic teachings or simple analogies for faithful living. While these interpretations are valid they often do not take into account the historical reality of Jesus' life and ministry. Jesus spent his time with the poor and the oppressed. He spoke out prophetically against the spiritual and economic oppression that the people endured. While Jesus was certainly concerned with the spiritual lives of people, he was deeply concerned and committed to speaking out against injustice. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) offers us such an example.

In the parable a rich landowner chooses three slaves to care for his property while he goes on an extended journey. "To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability." (Matthew 25:15) A talent was an enormously large amount of money and it was given to the servants who had earned the most trust with the master with the hope that they would find a way to increase the money. The owner is driven by greed and is willing to enlist the servants to help increase his wealth while he is away. The first two servants quickly go out and double the amount by "trading" with them. The acquisition of wealth was most often done in ways that exploited the poor and the weak. Any additional profit that was made would be understood as "honest graft" for the servants. In this way the wealthy landowner co-opts the servants into the game of building wealth through the exploitation of other peasants. The two servants thus become like their master even as they do their master's bidding.

The third servant refuses to invest the master's money but inside buries the talent in the ground. When the master returns he praises the first two servants: "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21) Their shrewd maneuvering and managing of their master's money has earned them higher praise and standing. The third servant speaks out against the landowner in a daring and prophetic way:

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ (Matthew 25:24-25)

The servant has named the sins of the oppressive and exploitative landowner and in doing so has spoken for an entire peasant class that has been preyed upon by the wealthy elite. The third servant is not a "wicked and lazy slave" but functions as a whistleblower who speaks the truth to power. The parable concludes with the third slave being cast out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is sharing this parable with the poor and the oppressed of his day and it is his way of sharing the good news of God. With this interpretation God cannot be understood as the wealthy landowner, rather the third servant is the hero of the parable because he speaks out against injustice and oppression. He suffers the same fate as Jesus himself, death at the hands of oppressive power.

We too live in a time of tremendous economic inequality. While corporate profits are at an all-time high, unemployment remains intractable at over 9%, as many jobs are shipped overseas. While big banks are Wall Street firms were deemed "too big to fail" and received a government bailout, ordinary Americans are losing jobs and losing their homes. The protesters on Wall Street and here in Detroit understand that things are not as they ought to be and like the whisteblower they are compelled to speak out.

The question for us is whether we will stand with those who speak for justice or allow ourselves to be co-opted by the seductive power of wealth. For just as the first two servants are given incentives to play the master's game of exploitative wealth gathering, we too are incentivized to play the master's game of debt and wealth acquisition. For those of us who have retirement accounts and pensions have relied upon the wall street traders to secure our future. We chose to buy homes we could not afford, we chose to live beyond our means and now find ourselves enslaved in a cycle of debt and dependency.

And even if we see the "game" of debt and wealth for what it is, the game itself is rigged for those in power. You cannot buy a home without good credit and you cannot get good credit without going into debt. You must play the game of building debt in order to build credit. Try buying a house or car without a credit history. Unless you have the cash you must get a loan and then banks own you. Unless and until we can speak the truth to power and even more speak the truth to ourselves we will find ourselves cast into the outer darkness.

As Jesus shared this parable he was not only championing the heroics of whistleblower he was also sounding the bell for collective action and awareness. If the other faithful and trusted servants were willing to stand up for justice and one another, they could negate the master's exploitative game. The master is after all dependent upon the servants to acquire his wealth. If the servants stand with the peasants and refuse to play the master's games under the master's rules then real change can take place. Similarly, if we stand up and take collective action for the greater good then those in power will have to take notice (which is why I recently left Bank of America for a local credit union). It may sound crazy and we may be cast out into the darkness, but we are doing a good job of it ourselves.

For more insight on the parables see: Parables as Subversive Speech: Jesus as Pedagogue of the Oppressed William Herzog

Summer Hydration

There are many things to love about summer days: the warmth of sunshine, extra time with family and friends, traveling, and baseball. It seems for many, at least in Michigan, we endure the winter months of cold and snow hoping for the arrival of summer. As a runner I have mixed feelings at best about running in summer. I tend to have more time and certainly more daylight hours to run, and the trails tend to be in their best shape in summer. The downside is the heat and humidity make it tremendously difficult to run. A normal 5 mile run can feel like 8 and one can quickly become dehydrated from the extreme heat. Of course I refuse to stop running in any weather so I have learned to make accommodations for hot conditions. When it is very hot I run with a water bottle and take breaks as needed.

Spiritually, summer is a time when many take a break from regular church attendance and the spiritual disciplines of scripture and prayer. We have family vacations, graduation parties, out of town guests, and many simply need a break from the unrelenting schedule of school year routine. It is good to have time for rest and sabbath, but if we are not careful we may find ourselves spiritually dehydrated if you do not continue to take time for God in our lives.

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

It is so easy in life to become either overwhelmed by stress and anxiety that we do not make time for God in our life OR when we have time to relax, we not only take time away from our routines but we take time away from God. This can be spiritually dangerous because we simply cannot live long or well apart from the amazing love and grace of God. When we drink from the font of Jesus' love we are filled with all that we need.

What makes dehydration so difficult, both spiritually and physically, is that we often are unaware of being dehydrated until well after the process has begun. As a runner, when I sense my own thirst and begin to feel dehydrated it is already too late. My body has already begun to slow down and become less efficient. Spiritually, we enter into dry times we often cannot notice until we reach a really dry and depressing place. The key then is to avoid dehydration by remaining hydrated. We must continually come to Jesus to be filled up with love and grace, keeping us in good spiritual health.

The good news for us is that whether we have hit a dry spell or remained steadfastly hydrated in God's word, prayer, and worship, it is never too late to return to the font. We all live with a thirst for God and in Christ we find our fulfillment. May God bless you in days of summer dehydration!

Ananias and the Conversion of Saul

Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us." But the Master said, "Don't argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I'm about to show him what he's in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job." Acts 9:13-16

The story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus is the stuff of Christian legend. Saul was the chief persecutor of the early church and after his conversion becomes the most highly effective pastor and church planter in history. Much has been said about Paul, his conversion, his influence, and his letters, but what concerns me in regards to spiritual friendship is the connection between Saul and Ananias.

Ananias is called a disciple of Jesus and is called by God to go find Saul and to lay hands on him to bring healing to his sight. Ananais' response to God is what we might expect; he is shocked and repulsed by the idea of helping the chief enemy of the church. God tells Ananias to not argue but to go and do it, that God is working in Saul's life and has a plan to use Saul for God's glory. Ananias obediently submits to God and goes to Saul saying:

"Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul's eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal. Acts 9:17-19

Ananias, in the presence of a truly despicable human being, was being offered a choice, would he repay Saul for all the injustice he commited or would he extend grace and hospitality? He could have rejected Saul and ignored God's commands, instead he chose to be a spiritual friend to Saul paving the way forward for the church. Through the power of the holy spirit and the willingness of Ananias to offer the same forgiveness and love given through Jesus, we see the power of God's amazing grace to bring transformation to the lives of individuals and the community.

For us the question becomes: who is God calling us to befriend? Who are we to extend grace and mercy to? God never gives up on people no matter who they are and what they have done. God is on a mission to bring transformation, love, and grace to a hurting and broken world. God's best and only strategy is to use US to be God's hands and feet in carrying out this mission. God is calling us to love the unlovable, give grace to the sinner, and welcome the lost. This is a high and holy calling, one we should be familiar with since it was first given to us.

What a Friend We Have

I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. John 15:11-15

The life of a follower of Jesus is one filled with life-giving relationships. We are called to be in relationship with Jesus and one another, to receive and to share the love of God. We cannot live a meaningful and fulfilling life apart from God or from one another. Jesus tells us that "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5) signifying that we receive our vitality and connection through our relationship with him. Apart from Christ I am like a dead branch, dried up and useless, but connected to Christ I am alive and bearing good fruit for others. As Jesus prepared to travel to the cross he took time at the Last Supper to share last words of wisdom with the disciples. He knew the challenges and obstacles the disciples would face in the immediate aftermath of his death and the subsequent days, weeks, months, and years of the early church. The only way to remain faithful, for the disciples and us, is to abide in Christ. We must take time for Jesus in our lives, we must submit our lives to our Lord Jesus. We must also abide in one another, providing encouragement, support and love. Together we can journey with Jesus through whatever challenges we might face. Apart from God and one another, Satan will lead us astray by dividing and conquering. To have friends in our lives who share our connection and commitment to Christ is a true blessing. To have friends who are willing to go to hell and back with and for us gives us courage to be who God created us to be. To have friends who love as Jesus loved, willing to sacrifice and give of themselves fully brings hope and transformation. Who is that type of friend for you? Who are you that kind of friend for? Honor and treasure those relationships if you have them, make it a priority to develop those relationships if you do not.

Community of the Spirit

And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. Acts 2:44-45

The early church as depicted in Acts 2 may sound a bit naive and idealistic to our 21st century ears, but I believe it is the true representation of what God has in mind for the church. After Peter delivers his Pentecost sermon several thousands Jews come to faith in Jesus Christ and become baptized. Filled with the Holy Spirt, the early church lived together in community, sharing resources and coming together for worship, prayer, and learning. They had, as scripture tells us, "all things in common." This is absolutely remarkable, especially when you consider the devisive and divided nature of Christian sects today.

What is so powerful about the unity of the early church was that it was achieved despite enormous cultural and ethnic differences. Faithful Jews from across the known world had gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost, and despite differences in culture and language, the power of the gospel brought God's people together in a transformative way. The unity of the church existed in the midst of real diversity, it was not a group of like minded people of similar backgrounds.

So what might the unity and diversity of the early church have to say to us today? For me it means that the petty differences that define so much of human relationships are truly meaningless to God. It means that in Christ we are free to be ourselves AND honor others for their uniqueness. It means that while we acknowledge diveristy, we recognize more fundamentally it is not our differences which define us but our shared connection through our Lord and Savior. Genuine Christian community is possible but it starts with our shared identity as children of God. Let us stand together, seeking authentic community, honoring one another while serving and loving the Lord.

Jesus and Spiritual Friendship

He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight...But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! Matthew 13:11-13;16

Jesus had a special relationship with the twelve disciples. He hand-picked them to be his followers and spent every day for three years with them, teaching them about the Kingdom of God and demonstrating that he was the Son of God through a series of miracles. When Jesus spoke to the disciples he spoke as a spiritual mentor, providing guidance, encouragement, support and correction. By contrast, when he spoke to large crowds he often did so in parables which the disciples and followers of Jesus understood but others often did not. Because Jesus took time and effort to cultivate a relationship of trust and support the disciples had "eyes to see" what God was up to.

Spiritual friendships are absolutely essential to the life of faith. We cannot walk alone, there are too many challenges and detours along the way. Jesus' ministry demonstrates to us the power of relationship, accountability and trust. When we learn to share with others, inlcude others in our spiritual lives, and allow others to guide and correct us when necessary we will grow stronger in the Lord. If we continue to walk alone Satan will certainly place obstacles in our way to keep us from seeing and experiencing the true joy and love of God.

So may you look for ways to support and encourage others in the spiritual journey, and may you allow others in your life to support and encourage you.

Much Given, Much Expected

It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Matthew 25:14-15

The parable of the talents is a powerful reminder that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. The gifts, talents, and passions that we have were given by God, but with those gifts also come responsibilities. The gifts of talent and treasure require from us an acknowledgement that God has given us these gifts, we have not earned them nor do we deserve them; they belong to God. We are called to be good stewards of the gifts we have given and to share those gifts with those in need.

As the master distributes resources to his servants, he gives according to ability. To those who are given more, more is expected. When the master returned he expected that the servants would have made good use of the resources they were entrusted with. The first two servants do very well in their use of the money but the third servant, while not selfish, squanders away the opportunity to use the resources productively.

The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' "The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? Matthew 25:24-26

The master is furious with the servant, not because he lost the money, but because he was afraid to take a chance. He kept his resources to himself for fear of losing what he had.

It seems to me that many people live their lives this way. We hold so tightly to what we have that we fail to realize opportunities to make a difference. When we are consumed by anxiety and fear, we fail to place our trust to God. When we fear judgment for failing, we are not seeing our gracious and loving God.

God is calling us to use our talents, not recklessly, but boldly. To step out of fear and into faith. To give to others fully, knowing that God will not leave us nor forsake us. This is a life of adventure, faith, and joy. To live otherwise is a terrible way to live.

Ananias and Sapphira

Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn't lie to men but to God." Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. Acts 5:3-5

The story of how Ananias and Sapphira literally drop dead after failing to be generous in their giving should give us all pause. It is a remarkable story but one which easily can be misunderstood. As a community the early Christians decided to pool all their resources together for the common good. It was agreed upon that if anyone sold property they would donate the full sale to the church. When Ananias and Sapphira sell their property they only shared a portion with the church and lied about the selling price. They are both individually confronted by Peter and drop dead presumably from guilt.

When it comes to financial giving, or any other part of our life, God wants our whole heart. It pains the Lord to see people give half heatedly. It pains the Lord to see people go through the motions in their prayer life, church attendance, or any other aspect of faith. God wants our whole lives to be a living sacrifice to the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. When we give only a little, or only enough to get by God is neither impressed nor fooled.

When you give you are not giving to the church you are giving to God. Fundamentally giving is not even about money, it is about your relationship with God. When we give generously and from the heart, we acknowledge that God is the source of every blessing and in faith trust that God will continue to bless us. When we hold back we reveal our hearts to be not fully converted.

Take a step forward in faith and obedience to the Lord and give with a full and generous heart!

Lazarus and the Rich Man

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. Luke 16:19-23

We live in a time in our nation and especially our world where the gap between the rich and the poor has never been greater. While CEOs and hedge fund managers make multi-million dollar salaries with even greater bonuses, the middle and lower class are under assault. Teacher and public worker unions are being blamed for state deficits, senior citizens and those in poverty see their taxes increase, while the wealthiest Americans and corporations receive tax breaks (or in the case of General Electric pay no tax at all!). This is a spiritual issue more than an economic issue and God's word is not silent.

Jesus shares the story of the rich man and Lazarus to make a prophetic point. Those who have wealth must not ignore the needs of others if they wish to remain in good standing with the Lord. Jesus cannot sit back and watch poor Lazarus suffer while the rich man feasts in luxury. God loves justice and reminds us that if we use our resources for self-centered and self-indulgent purposes we will not be received by the Lord.

This story also tells us that although the world may forget about the poor, the elderly, the widow and the orphan, God does not. God's heart is with the oppressed, the poor, and the broken hearted and offers them a vision of heaven filled with hope, love, and transformation.

While most of us would reject the choices the rich man makes in Jesus' story, what we fail to realize is most of us are more rich than not. We may not being in upper 1% of income in our country but if we have a job, a car, a home we are rich in wordily standards. For us the question becomes: what will we do with our wealth? Will we even notice the Lazarus in our midst? Will we even bother to look for ways to helps others?

Hear the word of the Lord, repent and live life on God's path.

Giving to God, not the Church

The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all. Mark 12:43-44

One of the least favorite times of year for many church-goers and pastors is stewardship season. We hear things like: "all the church cares about is money" on the one hand or "let's help the church pay its bills" on the other. The truth is that giving is not about the church at all, money is a spiritual issue that must be discussed and when it is avoided contributes to the spiritual shallowness the pervades our culture.

Jesus talked a lot about money and the power of wealth to lead people away from God. He talks about it a lot because it is such a seductive and alluring threat to our relationship with God. Coming to a spiritual understand of money is absolutely essential to becoming a follower of Jesus. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34)

For me, giving generously is really very easy. I suppose it is a spiritual gift not to be overly concerned with nice things or needing to keep up with the Joneses. Once I decided to tithe I have found great joy and peace in giving. I have learned to trust that God will provide and so there is no reason to not to give fully. It has been a blessing and I continue to find ways to try to out give God (as they say) but God continues to bless me.

For others I know giving is much harder. I have had people tell me they give my giving their time or that they simply cannot give right now or as much as they would hope. While I do have compassion for those going through tough times the story of the widow reminds us that everyone can give generously. We all must begin to think differently about our money and posessions.

Once we understand them as a gift from God, a gift which does not belong to us, it frees us to give knowing God will provide. I suggest to those at the beginning of their giving journey to start out giving a percentage of your income. Don't try to start at 10% but work up from 2 or 3%. Rather than giving an arbitrary amount (20 or 50 dollars a week) take your check stub and calculate a percentage.

As you learn the joy of giving you delight in your ability to give generous and be motivated to give more and you will be blessed along the way!

Anxiety and Trust

What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Luke 12:29-31

One of the biggest obstacles to living life for and with God is anxiety. We spend time worrying about things that truly matter: our children, our jobs (especially these days), our retirement, whether or not we can send our kids to college and so much more. We worry, we fret, and mentally pace ourselves into nervous wrecks. Can any of these worrying add even a day to our lives? The opposite is true; worry and stress is a killer of our bodies and our spirits. Jesus understood stress and worry and offered wisdom for our lives. The antidote to anxiety is trust. Do we trust that God is in control? Do we truly believe that God has blessed us and will continue to bless us? Or do we secretly believe that we are the ones who have to do it. If we don't handle and fix everything it won't get done. Who do you trust more: yourself or God? When we trust that God will provide for us and we need not worry about anything, we are freed to love God and neighbor. When I trust that God will continue to bless me, as God has always done, I am free to be generous with my time, talent, and treasure. When I trust God to be God, I don't have to be!

How Much is Enough?

Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." Luke 12:15

One of the biggest distractions that takes away from our relationship with God is money. When we do not have a balanced or proper understanding of wealth and material things, they can come to possess our attention, time, and devotion in disturbing ways with deep spiritual consequences. Jesus speaks about money a great deal because it is a spiritual issue, and if we do not think and act clearly about wealth it has the potential to destroy us. Consider that a large proportion of people who win the lottery end of bankrupt within a few years. It isn't the money that made them bankrupt it was their values and lack of foundation about money. When we have a skewed understanding of possessions and wealth it doesn't matter whether we are rich or poor, we are in spiritual trouble.

The man who built bigger barns to hold all of his stuff will never have enough to be satisfied, he will never have enough to feel secure. When we operate out of a mindset of scarcity, assuming that at anytime my provisions will run out, we miss the fact that it has been God all along who has been blessing us. God has taken care of us and blessed us in our lives, God will continue to provide for our needs and bless us in the future. All that I have and am is a gift of God's grace, it has never been about my ability to earn it or keep it, but about God's continuing blessings.

When we are driven to acquire more stuff, when we are obsessed with accumulating, when we needlessly get more and more, we must resist and remember. Resist the temptation to define success as "the one with the most toys wins" and see success in life as being content with what you have. Remember God's amazing grace in your life, and that God will continue to be present, continue to bless. As Jesus tells us: "fool! tonight you die and your barnful of goods--who gets it?"

The Place of Honor

"When you're invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, 'Friend, come up to the front.' That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." Luke 14:10-11

Growing up a child I had the opportunity to experience "the kids table" many times. Our house was often the host for family dinners at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. This meant that the adults gathered at the real table while the children (my 14 cousins and I) were in the other room. What made this strange for me is that I was displaced from my normal place at the table. I always felt like I was missing out and wanted to be part of the adult table.

When Jesus talks about taking the last seat at the table rather than the place of honor, he is really telling us that with our position in life, whether it is humble or grand, we need to see others with respect. When we have an inflated sense of self and look down upon others we are far removed from the Kingdom. When we see that others are honorable and worthy of praise we see how God sees them. As I grew older and became eligible to sit at the adult table I realized that there was nothing particularly unique or privileged about it. The adult table had ordinary conversation and the same food. In fact I now look back at my time at the kids table with fondness. That was where we shared laughs and made milk come out of Matt's nose! So may you embrace the seat of last place, making room for others to receive the dignity and respect God has for them. May you walk humbly, serving God and neighbor.

Who is my Neighbor?

He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:27-29

The parable of the Good Samaritan is well known not only within the church but in our broader culture as well. As any Seinfield fan can tell you the series ends when Jerry and friends are arreated for breaking the "good samaritan law" which requires bystanders to help someone in need. Like Jerry, many of us turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the needs around us, asking "who is my neighbor anyway"

The Pharisee, after Jesus turns his question back on him, tries to save face by asking Jesus who exactly should be considered a neighbor. Jesus of course responds with the well known parable that points out the hypocrisy of the religious elites and the goodness of the samaritan. What strikes me today is not Jesus' response but the pharisee's question. He wants to know who is neighbor is not so that he can go out and serve, but so he knows who he doesn't have to serve.

The question of: "well who is my neighbor anyway" suggests that he is looking to do the least amount possible. The question is looking for an answer which limits and qualifies his moral responsibility to care for the needs of others. Jesus' response is that we must help all people, everyone is a neighbor because everyone is a child of God. Everyone counts!

The parable concludes with a samaritan performing acts of love and compassion for a Jewish man. In others words, the ultimate non-neighbor in Jewish culture turns out to be the most neighborly. Because he showed mercy and compassion and love, the samaritan proved to be a neighbor, while the priest and the levite do nothing.

For us the question is whether we are more like the samaritan or the levite and priest. Do we look for ways to serve others or do we fail to even see the needs around us? Who are we showing mercy to? Who needs care, love, and compassion in our lives? Would we be praised by Jesus for our acts of kindness or arrested for standing by while others suffer?

First Things Last

They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the road?"The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. He sat down and summoned the Twelve. "So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all." Mark 9:33-35

As Jesus' ministry became more and more popular, the crowds grew and so did Jesus' power and influence. As the disciples began to realize their teacher was powerful they began to argue amongst themselves who might be Jesus' successor. They were focused on individual power and completely missed Jesus' message of humble service.

It is a natural human tendency in the face of opportunities for power and influence to look after one's own self-interest. Our culture defines success as "getting ahead" or excelling over the competition. We can easily become obssessed with success and fail to see that others suffer for the sake of our prosperity.

The way of Jesus however is the way of service and humility. With power we are to serve, with resources we are to share, with influence we are to include. The way of Jesus means putting others before ourselves and loving with the indiscriminate unconditional love of God.

How are you "first" in life and how can you share your power and influence to be God's hands and feet?

Serving up Some Salty Goodness

I don't know about you but I love salty french fries. I know sometime soon in life I will have to cut back on my salt intake but there are times when I simply crave a burger and fries, and salt is an integral part of that culinary equation. We need salt to live, but with too much we get high cholesterol, high blood pressure and assorted high problems. The key to health is balance, and so it is with our faith too.

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. Matthew 5:13

As we serve others in Jesus' name we often encounter people who could be considered "salty" or a bit rough around the edges. To be Jesus' hands and feet we must have love and compassion for those who have a had rough and difficult lives, for those whose lives are less than moral or admirable. To serve God and neighbor we cannot stay in the safe and clean places, we must be willing to get salty. We must be willing to engage them where they are, bringing to them a word of hope and transformation. The trick is not to lose ourselves in the process. We must hold firm to the love and grace of God, not losing sight of the path God has given us to follow.

So be salty but no too salty! Who wants some fries?

Healed in order to Serve

Read Matthew 8:14-17

When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. Matthew 8:14-15

One of my favorite stories of Jesus is how he heals Peter's mother-in-law so she could make them dinner. Ok so perhaps that isn't the point of the healing story but it seems almost selfish doesn't it? Ok fine, not so much but the point is that Jesus heals her from a fever and she immediately goes about "ministering to them." We see Jesus many times offering his services of healing to those who were sick, blind, deaf, or in need of some sort of healing. This story is unique because immediately after being healed the person starts serving others. For me this let's me know that not only do I stand in need of healing, but that the purpose of healing is not for me but to enable me to serve and love others. Too often we can get caught up in our own need for healing or too easily get bogged down in our own issues and problems. Peter's mother-in-law reminds us that we are healed in order to serve, we are loved in order to love, we are given grace in order to be gracious. Yes we need the healing power of God's love and grace in our lives but we need it so we can use our gifts to love and serve others. It is not about me but what God can do through me.

The Power to Serve

Read Matthew 8:1-13/Luke 5:12-16 As Jesus' ministry progressed he had more and more people coming to him seeking healing. He was proclaiming God's word, healing the sick, bringing hope...God was working! As exciting and powerful as it must have been for Jesus and the disciples to be part of such transformation, it must have also been exhausting. The needs in our world today are monumental; people are crying out for a word of hope. The problem is we have neither enough time nor energy to meet all the needs. In Jesus we see not only a deep commitment to serving others with God's amazing love and grace, but also a concerted effort to stay balanced and connected to God. "As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the way places for prayer." (Luke 5:16) Jesus knew that in order to continue serving God and neighbor he needed consistent and regular time devoted to God. Without developing a deep spirituality we can become burned out by the expectations of others and the needs of those around us. But when we can rely upon God to fill and re-fill our cups we will be blessed with the energy and compassion to serve others. As we serve others in the days to come we must remember to receive the life-giving love of God and take daily time for and with God.

Love and the Holy Spirit

Read John 13:31-35; 14:15-31

It is my hope that over the past week you have truly enjoyed digging in to the scriptures and that God has revealed, through the stories of Jesus' life and ministry, the love and grace of God. We have seen how Jesus truly loved all people and how he gave us an example of how to live. In today's reading we find Jesus preparing to be arrested, face trial, and be crucified. Jesus knew what God's plan was and that he had very little time. Jesus takes time with the disciples to share last minute wisdom, instruction, and encouragement.

Jesus knew the challenges the disciples were going to face in both the short and long term. In the days ahead, the disciples would face: the threat of similar arrest and persecution, sorting out the meaning of Jesus death and resurrection, and begin deciding what to do next. Their challenge for the long term would be continuing the ministry of Jesus, by sharing the good news with all people and starting the Christian church. Jesus knew these challenges could overwhelm the disciples, so he wanted to share two key nuggets of wisdom: love and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gives the ultimate reminder of what his ministry was all about when we offers a "new" commandment:

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Jesus wants the disciples to not only love one another, but to love each other as he loved them. In addition, this love is not a private love but a public love which would be seen by others. Jesus wants them to love to the extent that they become known by their love. To be a disciple we must learn to love as Jesus loved, we must love who Jesus loved. Jesus loved everyone everywhere and loved from the center of his being. Jesus gave his whole self to loving others, without holding back. If we truly want to be followers of Jesus, we must love, without holding back, all people. What is holding you back?

Jesus also knew that the disciples would face challenges from both within their community and from outside. Loving others is the mandate, but Jesus also provided the Holy Spirit to empower their work, provide guidance, comfort, and truth.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you...I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." John 14:15-17, 25-26

The work that God called the disciples to do would be challenging, difficult, and dangerous. Jesus reminds them that, although he won't be physically present, the Holy Spirit will lead them, guide them, remind them, and comfort them. The Holy Spirit will provide everything they need. So it is with us as well. God has called us to participate in God's mission in the world. It can be challegning and difficult, but we are equipped to do so and empowered by the Holy Spirit. May God continue to inspire, enlighten, and support in our journey of discipleship

Who is Jesus to you? Week 2: Day 6

Read John 10:22-42

As Jesus became more and more popular with the people, and his healings and teachings began to be made known, he was increasingly viewed as a threat to the religious leaders. The “Jews” as John refers to Jesus’ opponents is really a description of the religious elites (Pharisees, priests, and scribes) not the Jewish people themselves (remember Jesus and his disciples were all Jewish). As Jesus grew in notoriety, more and more people came to believe that he was the Messiah. The confrontation in this story between Jesus and the religious leaders is fundamentally about who Jesus really is.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus performed miracles and signs that were interpreted as acts of God. He brought sight to the blind, helped the lame walk, fed the multitudes, and brought the dead back to life. For Jesus, his signs were evidence that he was doing the work of the Father and that he was the Son of God.

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered,

“I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:24-30

Despite the skepticism and lack of faith of the leaders, Jesus tells them the truth. He is the long awaited and promised Messiah and that he and the Father are one. For the religious leaders this is blasphemy. No one could claim to be God and Jesus was clearly making this point. Jesus uses the signs and miracles he performed as evidence of his identity as the Messiah. The religious leaders are forced to renounce their religious traditions (by believing that God had taken on human form) and believe Jesus, or renounce Jesus and try to discredit him. We know of course the path the leaders chose, and their rejection of Jesus leads him to the cross.

Ultimately the question Jesus asks the religious leaders is the same question he asks each of us: who do you say I am? Who is Jesus to you and what difference does it make? The leaders were either unwilling or unable to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and God incarnate. They had too much invested in their religion and their place of power to receive the truth. Believing in Jesus would have meant contradicting their long-held religious beliefs, which they had built a career sharing with the people and defending. Jesus was asking them to believe despite the high cost.

For us the question is just as pressing. Do we really believe that Jesus was the Messiah? Are we willing to order our life around this truth? What is the cost to us for living our life with a robust Christian faith? Many people claim to be Christian but their lives don’t reflect it. To be a disciple of Christ means that each day we are learning to be more and more like Jesus. It means we are willing to risk for our faith and stand up for God even when it is unpopular and inconvenient. It means placing God at the center of our lives and that all our decisions are filtered through our faith. As Christians we know that Jesus paid the highest cost for us and for the world. Jesus is calling us into a life-changing relationship which asks us to put God first. Are we willing to take the risk and pay the cost? Are we willing to say who Jesus is for us?

Judge Not Week 2: Day 5

Read John 8:1-11

It is in the gospel stories that we learn who Jesus is most clearly. Throughout his life and ministry he interacts with all sorts of people from all walks of life. Jesus did not confine himself to relating to those who were like him, he did not follow the rules that governed social interaction. Instead Jesus, time and time again, goes out his way to relate to those outside of his social network in order to show that God's love and grace is for everyone, everywhere. The story of the woman caught in adultery exemplifies how Jesus breaks through barriers to share the love and grace of God in a profound and transformational way.

As Jesus is teaching in the temple, the Pharisees bring before him a "woman caught in adultery." The Pharisees ask Jesus if the woman ought to be stoned to death as Hebrew law required (see Deut. 22:22, Lev. 20:10). They asked Jesus, not because they were confused on the law itself, but because they wanted to "test" him. If Jesus allows the woman to be stoned his popularity with the people and the compassion he so frequently demonstrated would be compromised. If he bars the stoning he is violating the law. The Pharisees were trying to discredit Jesus' authority because he was becoming more and more popular as religious leader, thus jeopardizing the Pharisees position of power and influence in Jewish society.

Jesus responds to the trick question as he so often does, by turning it back to the questioner. Jesus tells the Pharisees and the crowd: "let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." The judgment, anger, and blood lust of the crowd is turned away from the woman and back toward themselves. Jesus refused to validate the question about the law, and instead focuses on the judgmental anger of the Pharisees. In doing so, he offers a tremendous gift of grace for the woman and a valuable lesson for us all.

To be a disciple of Jesus we must learn more and more to think and act like Jesus. In this situation while the majority of people were filled with judgment, Jesus was filled with love, grace, and compassion. After each of the people depart, leaving Jesus and the woman standing alone, he says to her:

Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” John 8:10-11

In a situation where it would be incredibly easy to judge the woman, Jesus refuses to do so. There is no question in the story about whether or not the woman is guilty, as she was caught in the "very act" of adultery. Jesus is not at all interested in determining what actually happened or where blame deserved to be placed (notice however that the man who was caught in the act is no where to be seen--this seems a bit unfair doesn't it?). Jesus wants this woman to know that she is not condemned, that she remains a person of value and dignity. He tells her to go and sin no more. Jesus offers the gift of grace, a gift which transforms people at their very core. No doubt she left this encounter with Jesus a changed person, fully aware of the amazing and life-changing gift of God's love and grace.

As I reflect on this powerful story of Jesus, I cannot help but place myself in the story. If I am honest, I realize that sometimes I am just like the Pharisees. I can easily cast judgment on others and become focused on determining who is right and who is wrong in a situation. We rarely want to see ourselves as the judgers, but most of us are rather judgmental (whether we admit it or not). Jesus is calling us to move beyond such judgments, even when those judgments seems fully justified. After all, Jesus stands in our place so that we are not judged. We ought to be so grateful that judgment doesn't come our way that we steadfastly refuse to judge others. Imagine what our lives could be like if judging of others didn't take place....

Similarly, I can easily see myself as the woman in this situation. I have sinned and fallen short in life again and again. I deserve judgment and condemnation for all I have done and left undone. And yet, Christ comes to me, comes to us, and refuses to condemn. Instead of judgment, Jesus offers us an invitation to a new way of life. In Christ we no longer are defined by what we have done well or poorly, we are no longer defined by our ability or inability to live perfectly. In Christ we are defined by the life-giving and awesome gift of God's grace. Through Christ I am forgiven, through Christ I am transformed, through Christ I am free.

So let us receive anew the gift of grace and let God give us the strength and courage to be gracious to one another.

Reversal Week 2: Day 4

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought Matthew 5:3-5

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7) is the most important and powerful teaching of Jesus. If you ever wanted to understand the Christian life, these three chapters are a great place to start. Jesus proclaims from the mountain words of revelation and truth, words we need to hear today.

In the opening verses of this great speech Jesus offers what are called the Beatitudes. These are a series of sayings that describe blessings in life. What makes the Beatitudes so powerful is the people he describes would not normally be understood as blessed in any way. The poor, the hungry, the mourning, the meek, the perscuted would all be people that would be considered less than blessed.

The Beatitudes reveal God's heart those the world overlooks and rejects. While the world may tell us that those who are rich, powerful, good-looking, skinny, and smart are favored, God reverses human expectations. God's love and favor is for the forgotten and forsaken. God's love is for those who have failed or fallen short. God's love is for those who suffer and struggle.

The Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaims offers us not only the promise of eternal life, but also a glimpse of heaven on earth. Through Jesus we see God most clearly, through Jesus we have a model of how to live a Godly life, and to experience eternal life in the present. It may not include wealth, popularity, and a luxurious lifestlye, but it will include an awareness of God's amazing love and grace. And with that we are indeed blessed, no matter what anyone says!

The Other Side: Week 2: Day 3

Read Mark 5:1-20

I love this scripture in Mark because it so powerfully demonstrates the love that Jesus has for all people. This scripture involves Jesus healing a man who has been possessed by a demon. Jesus specifically seeks out this man in order to restore him to health. It was no accident that Jesus went to the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee. He went there to find this strange and troubled man, and to restore him to health and wholeness. In healing this demon possessed man, Jesus not only saves a life he also shows us that no one is beyond redemption, no one is forgotten by God, all people matter and are deserving respect and dignity.

I also love this scripture because it is so strange, and it is one of many examples of Jesus interacting with demons. Until I really began to take seriously the power of darkness in the world, I would quickly dismiss stories in scripture about demons. But the reality is that each of us, at some level, must deal with the darkness in our own lives. And if our life isn't centered in Christ, we are vulnerable to over taken by it. For Jesus, the powers of darkness were very real and he constantly fought against them. In our modern world, with science, technology, and psychology are we too quick to dismiss demons? What are the demons that are present in our life? I believe Jesus has a lot to tell us in this scripture.

In chapter 5 of Mark, Jesus and his disciples travel by boat to the country of the Gerasenes, a great distance from their normal travels. When they arrive the text says:

And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Mark 5:2-8

A significant detail here is that demon possessed man lives among the tombs. In Jewish culture, associating with the dead in any way was a major taboo and to live among the dead would be a guaranteed way to both be left alone and raise significant questions within the community. The demoniac has either been pushed out of the community or voluntarily removed himself. The text implies that this man was well known to be demon possessed, and no doubt stories, rumors, and legends of this man with demons were well known. Yet, Jesus seems to seek out intentionally this man. He specifically comes to this strange land to met and heal this strange man. A man who has been left for dead and forgotten by the world.

It is no accident that Jesus has come to this place and is meeting with this man. In Mark however, it is part of a theme where Jesus consistently interacts with demons (cf. 1:21-28; 3:7-12; 7:24-30; 9:14-29). Jesus has power and authority over the demons and they seem to know exactly who he really is. This is quite remarkable because in Mark there is a continual theme of people not understanding who Jesus really is. Yet the demons know Jesus and they are scared of his power. In this episode, the demons have fully taken over the man. Jesus does not address the man because the man doesn't exist in his demon possessed state. When demons are allowed to take over and become powerful, the person hosting the demons for all practical purposes ceases to exist. In the end, Jesus confronts the demons and casts them out, into a herd of pigs which are cast into the sea (vv. 10-13), restoring the man to health and wholeness. The demoniac has been restored and his transformation is so dramatic that the crowds are in disbelief and fear. (vv. 14-16) The man asks Jesus if he can become a follower and assist in his ministry. Jesus refuses, telling the man to tell his story of transformation and healing to all of his friends.

For me, this strange and bizarre story of demons exemplifies Jesus' earthly ministry. Time and time again Jesus searches out the most vulnerable, forgotten, and marginalized members of society. He spends time with the blind, the deaf, the lame, the lepers, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and demon possessed. He seeks out the forgotten and acknowledges their humanity, giving them dignity and respect. Jesus never gives up on anyone, no one is ever beyond the miraculous healing power of God.

What would our world look like if we took this example seriously? Who are the forgotten ones in our world today and what are we doing to acknowledge their humanity?

Today we might label a demon possessed person as mentally ill, epileptic, addicted, or eccentric. These labels may give us some level of understanding, but there are whole segments of our world that are forgotten and marginalized. Jesus' ministry calls us to love and serve all people, with particular emphasis and passion for the forgotten.What would this mean for us? How can we actualize this in our life today?

Follow Me! Week 2: Day 2

Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed. Mark 1:16-18

When Jesus began his public ministry one the first things he did was ask people to join him as disciples. He was not well known, had no educational pedigree, and was offering no compensation or benefits. Instead Jesus offered Simon, Andrew and the others disciples the same thing he offers us: to live life with the Savior and Lord of the world, Jesus Christ.

It never ceases to amaze me how these two brothers (and James and John who follow shortly thereafter) drop everything to follow Jesus, no questions asked. They leave behind their father, their livelihood, all of what they knew. They left not knowing where they would go and what would happen next.

The question for us is: are we willing to follow Jesus? Are we willing to leave our safe, ordinary, and not so risky lives behind to follow? Are we willing? Are we able?

Being a disciple is challenging, difficult, and requires sacrifice. Are we willing to give our whole life to Jesus or only the safe parts?

God wants all of us. God wants us to hold nothing back and put Christ at the center of who we are. Are we ready? Are we willing?

Temptation and Faithfulness Week 2: Day 1

Read Luke 4:1-13

The story of Jesus' temptation is a powerful reminder of the humaness of Jesus, and how easily we can be distracted from God's purpose for our life. Jesus was given a divine mission to share God's Word, bring healing and wholeness to the poor, oppressed, and broken hearted and to give himself on the cross for all of humanity. Jesus understood God's plan for his life and knew the sacrifice, focus, and dedication it would require. The temptation of Jesus was an attempt by Satan to distract, distort, and derail Jesus. Jesus' temptation was real and his success in overcoming temptation is inspiring.

At baptism, Jesus receives the power of the Holy Spirit. This power would enable him to do his earthly ministry and complete his mission on the cross.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2

Here we have Jesus filled and empowered by the Spirit, but also driven to the desert by the Spirit. It is almost as if the Spirit wants and needs Jesus to endure the temptation by Satan. At the same time, while Jesus is attacked by Satan's temptations, he also filled up with the Spirit. Perhaps Jesus needed to successfully go through temptation in the desert, so that he would be able to overcome the later temptation to abandon God' plan of pain and suffering to be endured on the cross.

The circumstances of Jesus' temptation are important to note. It is only after 40 days of living in the desert without food, that his temptation begins. Jesus was at his absolute weakest when he was tempted. He was physically weak and after so much time in the desert he must have been emotionally fragile as well. For many of us, our temptations come when we are at our weakest; when we are tired, emotionally and physically spent, or when we have lost a sense of who we are.

It is also important to see the kinds of temptations Jesus goes through. He is tempted with food, earthly power, and divinity. Satan tries to get Jesus to use his divine powers to help himself. If Jesus had done so he would have jeopardized God's mission. Jesus resists the temptations of Satan by drawing upon the strength of his faith by quoting the scriptures (Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, 6:16 respectively). In our lives, Satan will use whatever means necessary to lead us off track. Some of us are tempted by money and power, others pleasure, food, sex, popularity, affection, or acceptance. Whenever we act out against God and against who God created us to be, we are giving into temptation.

I am more and more convinced that the closer we get to fulfilling God's purpose for our life, the more temptations come our way. Think about it. If we start fulfilling God's purpose for our life and participating in God's mission in the world, Satan will lose! As we start being more and more faithful, temptations increase. The story of Jesus illustrates this increasing level of temptation (Jesus will continually be tempted to use his power and to reveal himself before the time is right, and he was most certainly tempted to avoid the pain and suffering of the cross). As we grow in our faith, deepen our commitment to Christ, and become disciples we too can expect temptation to come our way. But like Jesus, we are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, given the gift of God's Word, and the knowledge that with God on our side we can and will do amazing things.

Dwelling at the Feet of Jesus

As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." Luke 10:38-42

As we move forward in week 1 of The Discipleship Challenge, we are focusing on making prayer a more integral part of our life. I have had many people tell me, after I explained the purpose of the challenge and the time investment needed to be successful, have told me how they are too busy to take the challenge. People are busy no doubt, but the challenge is exatcly what people who are too busy need in their life!

Our culture defines for us success in many ways, not the least of which is the busier you are the more important and successful you must be. We cram our schedules (and our children's schedules) with activity after activity, we run around like chickens with our heads cut off. We are stressed, anxious, and busy and as long as we buy into the myth that busyness equals success we will continue to be stressed, anxious, and have no time for anything.

Let me say it clearly: God is not impressed with you! God is not keeping track of all you do and judging you based on your efforts--God has already made up his mind about you! God offers unconditional love and grace that is completely separate from our efforts, our successes, and our many failures. God does not want you to run around like a crazy person and have no peace, joy, or happiness in your life. God wants a relationship of love, God wants your time, your energy, your focus.

I suspect many of us are like Martha. We run around trying to do everything for everyone and exhaust ourselves in the process. We have no time or energy left for ourselves or God. Mary, however dwells at the feet of Jesus, taking time to hear from God and find joy and peace in Jesus' presence. In many ways, taking intetional time to pray for 10, 20, or 30 minutes is a Mary way of life. Yes there are things to do, but there always will be. You will never be done with your to-do list, but if you take daily time with our Lord you may just find the "main course" rather than being stuck with the dishes.

The Discipleship Challenge

Welcome to all who are taking the Discipleship Challenge this year. Last we started with 130 people from King of kings taking the challenge and it was a tremendous experience. This I have shared the book with neighboring churches and we have a total of 8 churches and over 400 people participating in the challenge! I pray that God will do great things in these 40 days!

I will be using this blog to offer some personal reflections as I journey with you in this time of challenge. Week 1 is prayer and I have been praying by name for our folks at KOK and for the other churches as well. Prayer is the foundation of the Christian walk (which is why it is week 1!) and connects us to God and one another in deeply meaningful ways. While I am already less than perfect in my Discipleship Challenge 2, I have already been tremendously blessed in my prayers this week.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all!