All The King's Horses & All The King's Men

You don't have to look far to observe a lot of brokenness. In fact, it's all around us: in the world, our local communities, our families, and (perhaps most significantly) in ourselves. Psychologists talk about much brokenness coming from one's family of origin and the Bible agrees: "punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments" (Ex 20: 5-6).

That sounds pretty harsh, but I think it's just common sense. There are definite patterns of behavior that are passed on from generation to generation whether you're talking addictions or dysfunction of other sorts. Children see or hear their grandparents or parents behaving in certain ways and those behaviors seem normal. In some cases (like addictions) genetic predispositions come into play as well.

The result is that brokenness is unavoidable. All of us are victims and perpetrators. Victims because... well because we're humans born into families. Perpetrators because to greater or lesser degrees - as we choose - we live into brokenness rather than wholeness. Remember that God not only promised that children would be punished for the sins of their fathers for three or four generations, but also blessed down to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Leaving brokenness behind and moving toward wholeness is a choice - a decision. Many prefer brokenness. It provides an excuse to fail, to mistreat one's self or others, and does not require the hard work of moving toward freedom.

We're all Humpty Dumpty. And although all the king's horses and all the king's men can't put us back together again, the King both can and will. We simply have to ask Him to - and then do whatever is necessary to leave behind our fears, compulsions, sins, etc. It's a long and arduous journey, but one that leads to wholeness, peace, restoration, and glory - yes glory - as we become the people we were always intended to be.

Not In the Strength of The Horse Nor The Speed of The Runner

Last week I was driving to work feeling like a big zero. My primary vocation is "mother" and I was not feeling terribly successful. In fact I was feeling like I was failing. Parenting teenagers is not for the faint of heart...

On Saturday I went to a presbytery meeting and there were several people "examined" before being approved as ministers of Word and sacrament. One of the questions asked one of the candidates was concerning infant baptism. I thought of my answer (which btw was Martin Luther's originally). When Luther baptised infants, he stood before the congregation with the baby in his arms and quoted the scripture that says, "See what love the Father has for us that we would be called children of God. And so we are."

What Luther was saying is that when you look at a baby it's clear that he or she brings nothing to God. Not their faith, not their works. Nothing. The truth of the matter is that no matter what age you are, you bring nothing to God. Even faith is a gift granted by the grace of God. If you have it, it's only because God has given it to you. Even all of the potential for good embodied in the life of an infant is there as a gift from God (no one can take credit for their intelligence, beauty, etc.).

So riding down the road last week I was brought back to the reality that I may fail in my primary vocation (I hope not), but even if I do, I'm not a big zero. God is not so interested in what I bring to the table in terms of what I can do for Him. Instead, He's seeking one thing: love. Mine and yours. Like the baby being baptized, he loves us because he does. And that's what He hopes to receive back from us. It's really the only thing we have to offer Him.

Psalm 147: 10-11
"His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love."

Resting

How rested are you? If you're like me maybe you can sing along with James Taylor, "I've been spreading myself thin these days, don't you know." There seems to be no end to demands on our time and attention. It's probably fair to say that most of us are tired. Weary might be a better word...

But it's not simply that we're physically tired is it? We're living in troubled times. The economy provides plenty of fodder for worry. So do the wars abroad and fears of terror at home. Our society's not in the greatest shape either. Hopes that our economic woes would refocus us as a nation (much the way the Great Depression did) have not come to fruition. I've received plenty of emails stirring up a sense of worry about all of these things. For folks my age, there are added family worries: teenagers and aging parents!

In spite of all there is to worry about, Christians are called to rest. In Matthew 11: 28-29 Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. The writer of Hebrews talks about entering God's rest in chapters 3 and 4. Some, the writer says, never enter God's rest? Why? Because of their unbelief.

Was the problem that they didn't believe in God? No. Instead those who never entered God's rest did not believe that God would take care of them. They refused to go into the Promised Land because they didn't believe that the God who plagued the Egyptians, parted the Red Sea, and miraculously provided for their nourishment in the desert could grant them victory in this new venture.

God was calling them to a sort of active passivity. They were to go up into the land BUT trust that God would be the one to do the actual work of bringing victory. The Israelites simply had to do whatever He told them to do.

Usually when I find myself stressed out about something it's because I've forgotten that I'm called to the same kind of active passivity. God calls me to listen for His voice and do my best to be sure, but He also calls me to trust all of the important stuff (outcomes) to him. He's got it. He can handle it. And He's reliable. If we truly take His yoke upon us we will find rest for our souls.

Where'd All The Good People Go?

I've been seeing lots of commercials for "reality" TV shows lately. The most recent one is called "The Colony". Viewers are promised lots of drama - the breakdown of the society created by the producers. I was pondering why America seems to be so fascinated with these shows on my way to work when Jack Johnson's "Where'd All The Good People Go?" coincidentally played.

I don't watch "reality" TV for two reasons:
1. I'm raising a couple of teenagers by myself. I have all the reality (drama) I can handle. Give me fantasy, adventure or even romance - but spare me the "reality"!

2. I have a friend who has a friend who auditioned for "The Apprentice". The woman was successful and competitive. Sounds like just what the producers are looking for. She had one fatal flaw, however: she was too well adjusted. The producers didn't think she'd make for good TV.

I didn't watch "The Apprentice" (or any other reality show -for reason #1) before I found out that little bit of information, but now I know that it's only a certain kind of "reality" that seems to have entertainment value. So "reality" TV is not really "real". If you're normal, you're not a good candidate to appear on one of those shows.

That's good news! The "good people" are still out there. They're just not on TV.

What Difference Does It Make?

I gave a "Minute For Worship" this morning. I introduced "Friends Sunday" that we will celebrate in mid September at my church. The idea is that you prayerfully consider whom within your circle of influence you'd like to share faith with, and invite them to church.

I live around 60 miles from Lynchburg, Virginia. Thomas Road Baptist Church (Jerry Falwell) studied the small city where I live and determined that 70% of the residents are unchurched. Their solution was to start a new church (there are already about 140+ churches in this town already).

I'm not certain that what we need is another church. Don't get me wrong. I believe that participation in a communion with fellow followers of Jesus Christ is essential for Christians. The Bible is clear that community is God's will.

It's interesting how loaded a word like "church" is for so many people. It's one thing to be wounded by someone, but when those wounds occur in the context of the church, the hurt seems to be magnified. I mentioned the 140+ churches in the town where I live... Why do you think there are so many of them? Are they filled up and we have to plant new ones just to have room in the pews for all of the worshippers? No... members get mad at each other and instead of working out their differences, they take their marbles and play somewhere else. I love First Presbyterian Church (where I worship), but I am painfully aware of many former members who left because of some hurt they suffered at the hands of someone at church.

I think that most folks who are hostile toward "Christianity" are actually hostile toward Christians. What's not to love about Jesus? You'd have to be crazy to not want to be Jesus' friend. The problem with Jesus in the eyes of many are his friends: us. It's not Jesus that they don't want to hang out with, it's us. The irony is that in 2 Corinthians Paul says that we are ambassadors for Christ. What kind of ambassador are you? What can people tell about the Kingdom you represent from your life and relationships? What difference does Jesus make in your life?

May God grant us the grace to grow in grace and love so that we represent Him well.

Reaping & Sowing

One of this morning's Lectionary readings is from Galatians:

Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Years ago I heard Charles Stanley preach a sermon where he said: You reap what you sow, more than what you sow, later than what you sow. It's a principle that holds true in the garden as well as in our lives. If you sow tomatoes, you're not going to get watermelon. If you sow squash, you won't get cucumbers. You reap what you sow.

One tomato plant will yield lots of tomatoes. The same with beans, cucumbers, squash, etc. It's not unusual at this time of the year to be offered the produce from the gardens of your friends and neighbors. They have vegetables a -go-go and have to share just to keep ahead of their garden's production. I think that from year to year gardeners must forget how large the yield from the year before was. Then they're a little surprised when they're swimming in produce. You reap more than what you sow.

Fresh fruit and vegetables is one of the best things about summer. Once the weather gets warm and gardens are planted, I find myself watching - even in restaurants - for things like ripe tomatoes to show up in salads and on hamburgers. We had fresh green beans from my uncle's garden last night for dinner. They were to die for - very tender. Fresh just tastes better. But those beans didn't show up the day after my uncle planted them. Reaping takes time, care, cultivation, sun, and rain. You reap later than what you sow.

According the the Bible, our lives are not unlike a garden.

You reap what you sow. If you sow discord, you're not going to reap peace. That's just good common sense. In the passage above, Paul says that if you sow to please your sinful nature, you'll reap destruction while the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Earlier in Galatians Paul talks about the "works of the flesh" (or sinful nature): immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of rage, selfishness, dissensions, and factions. These are contrasted with the "fruit" of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Which do you want in your life? Seems like a silly question, but if you want the good stuff, you've got to plant the good stuff.

You reap more than what you sow. It's amazing how this works and how surprised we are at the magnitude of the good or bad that comes our way as a consequence of our decisions and/or actions. Those who have sown good seeds are amazed and humbled when their lives are blessed or they are honored. They feel unworthy of the good things that come their way or the words of praise others have for them. They feel that it's disproportionate to anything they've done. Those who've sown bad seeds are also shocked at what they get. They weren't that bad. The consequences seem way more than what they think they've got coming. Life's unfair.

You reap later than what you sow. This statement is either encouraging or cautionary depending on what road you're on. In the passage above, Paul says not to become weary in doing good. You will reap a harvest at the proper time if you don't give up. It's an encouragement to keep on doing what you know you should be doing - even if the seeds haven't sprouted or the fruit is not evident. It's also a warning. If you're doing wrong, don't think that just because you don't see any consequences yet that there are none forthcoming.

The fruit of our lives will ripen and become manifest - whether we are seen to be fruitful and beautiful gardens, or a wasteland of thorns and weeds. By God's grace, let's sow to please the Spirit and reap the harvest of eternal life.

Knowledge Is Power?

Here's some information that should blow your mind:

From the dawn of time until 2003, approximately 5 exabytes of information were created. An exabyte is 1 billion gigabytes or 1 million terabytes. That's a lot of information, right? Well...
Today we generate that amount of information every two days!

The explosion of Google and other search engines reflects this incredible fact. Do you want to know something? Google it. Information is available at our finger tips in an unprecedented way. It's also easier than ever before to disseminate information. Hence this historic tipping point.

They say that knowledge is power. If so, we are more powerful than ever before in history. Maybe we are.

But in spite of all of this information - this power - we still cannot master ourselves. We are more aware of the obscure details of the universe, and the minute (and dare I say irrelevant) details of people's lives (thanks to Twitter), but we are less self aware than ever. And why not? With all of these distractions, who has time to listen to his heart?

Information does not have the power to change lives. Only God can do that. We are not more compassionate, loving, joyous, generous, wise, or good. We are (if Twitter is any indication) more narcissistic than ever. While all of the small narratives clamor for attention, the Meta Narrative moves inexorably forward.

God seems to prefer mystery. He is not terribly concerned with providing an information dump. I've noticed that He seems to tell me things on a need to know basis - and there is much that I clearly do not need to know.

So... while from a technological perspective we're living in an exciting - and unprecedented time, nothing much has changed if you're concerned about what really matters. The changes that happen in our hearts still take a long time. The transformation of our lives, a lifetime.