The Best Defense is a Good Offense

Many times over the past several months, I've heard folks trying to figure out how to stop some sort of negative behavior.  Usually the negative behaviors have to do with some relationship they're in.From a college student, "How can I be more positive with my roommates so that we can get along?"  Co-worker, "How can I deal with this person who's bad behavior is hurting the team?"  From a church member, "How can I deal with my bad attitude toward that very 'unlovable' person?"

When I hear anything like the above - or when I wonder them myself - I think about Pastor Joe and some very important things I learned from him.  Maybe I'd better begin by explaining who Pastor Joe is.  Pastor Joe served as an interim minister for our church for a year.  His ministry profoundly changed my life and the lives of so many members of our church.  How did that happen?  Love.  He loved us.

I don't have room on this page to describe everything in Joe's ministry that changed the way I think and approach my life.  I want to focus on one thing.  Something that struck me about Joe's prayers was the thanksgiving and praise.  Whenever he prayed with me or in a group, he spent focused time praising God for good: God's own wonderful qualities, the good things that were happening, and the good things that he saw in the lives of those he was praying for.  Though as a Christian, I'd received instruction about doing this, for most, this time of praise and thanksgiving was at best perfunctory.  In Joe's prayers it was profoundly powerful.

Praise and thanksgiving refocuses the mind and heart.  If you're praying about a difficult circumstance, and truly begin with praise and thanksgiving for all that God is doing, you're able to see the circumstance in its proper perspective.  A difficult thing is a part of the wonderful and gracious unfolding of God's plan - a plan that He is fully in control of.  We can rest assured that God's plan  means glory for Himself, and in a mysterious way is our glory too.  If you're praying for a person - even someone who may be giving you difficulties - and begin with praise and thanksgiving for that person's wonderful qualities, then your mind is refocused to view that person as a gift from God.  Focusing on the positive, changes the way you perceive the negative.

Anyone who has children can attest, that if you want a child to do something, then tell him not to... The thing you have forbidden becomes irresistible. We can't stop doing negative things by telling ourselves not to do them.  Instead, we must replace the negative with the positive.  If you are praising and thanking God for circumstances and people -- focusing on the positive -- the negative begins to lose its power.  It's hard (perhaps impossible) to continue to feel down about something or someone you've just been praising God for.  The best defense is a good offense. 

I've included in this post a picture of the front of a book Joe P. has written called An Unthinkable Marriage.  In it, Joe explains in a very entertaining and readable way, how he came to do the things he does. I have never encountered anyone as affirming as Pastor Joe.  The way he lives is transformational - for him and everyone he meets.  He wasn't born that way.  He followed a path leading to love and freedom, one that he invites his readers to follow.  I highly recommend it.

Finding What Was Lost

I had a very Luke 15 kind of experience yesterday.  My sister has a cat that she and her son love very much.  This cat (Tomas) reminds us all of the cat we had growing up (Tom - a.k.a. Amor, Amorcito, Royalty Redhead).  Two orange and white, long haired cats with very laid back personalities.  Well, Tomas had been missing since Monday.  My sister checked the Humane Society, several vets, and many of her neighbors.  No Tom.

I didn't find out about Tom being missing until Wednesday, but as soon as I heard, I began to pray.  Now you may be thinking, "Praying for a missing cat to be found?  Really?  Don't you think God has better things to worry about?"  It's true.  There are many things more "important" than a missing cat.  But in the Gospels, Jesus says that not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside of the rule of God. 

Yesterday afternoon, my sister in law, my niece, and four nephews decided we'd go looking for Tomas.  Which way should we go left or right?  Right.  Let's look in the woods nearby.  No Tomas.  On our way back, I called out one last time, "Tomas, kitty, kitty!" 

"MEOW!" 

All seven of us exclaimed.  The kids started to go crazy.  We shushed them. 

"Tomas.  Kitty kitty."

"MEOW!"

Tomas was in the back yard of a neighbor in a trap that had been set to catch squirrels.  The trap was very small - squirrel sized.  Poor Tom had been in there since Monday with no food or water.  He was very glad to see us and we were very glad to see him too.  Our short walk back to my sister's home was full of laughter, tears, and shouts from the kids, as they rushed into the house to tell my sister the good news. 

In Luke 15 Jesus tells the story of the "lost sheep", the "lost coin", and what many folks call the "lost son."  In all three parables something lost is found resulting in great joy.  The final parable in the chapter focuses on a father who never stops looking for his son to return.  It is the seeking, searching, love of the Father that is actually highlighted in all three stories, and culminates in a shocking picture of shameless love with the parable of the Prodigal Son. 

I don't think it's going too far to say that the exuberance we experienced yesterday was holy.  God understands better than we what it's like to lose something precious, dearly loved, and find it again.  The season of Lent is a time to reorient ourselves to a God who came looking for us.  The lengths He went to to "find" us are - well, I'm not sure I have words to describe it.  I only know that I'm humbled, awed, and bowled over by the love and devotion of God who would not let me remain lost. 

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

OK.  I know I'm a day late - Epiphany (a.k.a Three Kings) was yesterday, but I still want to think about the Three Wise Men (or Kings).  We talked about them today with members of the community that we serve lunch to on Saturdays. 

Some folks in the crowd were aware that yesterday was Epiphany, and when I asked if anyone remembered what the three kings brought to Jesus, some knew that it was gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  I asked if anyone had any gold, frankincense, or myrrh -- no one did.  Then I asked if we had any kings or queens in the audience.  Two pretty smart guys raised their hands.

I suggested that we are all kings and queens of our own little kingdoms (thank you Dallas Willard for making me aware of that!).  We all have a realm where we rule.  We may be the only subjects of that kingdom, or their may be many subjects, but in our kingdoms we rule.  And although we may not have any gold, frankincense or myrrh to bring to the Lord, we each have something that is uniquely ours to bring.

Epiphany is a great time to be reminded.  It's also a fantastic time to reflect on the quality of our rule.  Are you a good, kind and wise ruler in your kingdom?  Are you bringing the gifts that only you can bring or are you squandering your wealth?  May we, like the Three Wise Men, seek after the King of Kings and bring him our worship and  our most precious gifts.

Random Thoughts

I saw a commercial last night for a new show on Fox called (I think) The Finder.  It's about a guy who notices the connections between things, allowing him to find things that are lost and/or solve mysteries.  It's an interesting premise and one that illustrates an important truth.

I think that many folks today believe that much of what happens in the world is random.  In fact several years back we were encouraged to practice random acts of kindness.  The emphasis on randomness grows out of a world view that asserts that the universe happened by chance and everything since the beginning has just sort of happened- randomly or by chance.  We won't go into all of that right now, but suffice it to say that I find that very hard to believe.  As one of my Philosophy professors said (and he may have been quoting someone - I don't know): you could set a chimpanzee in front of a typewriter, and it would never type out Hamlet- or anything remotely resembling brilliance....

It's tempting to believe something to be random when we do not apprehend the cause.  If we could see the connections between events, we would better understand why certain things happen when and how they do.  Even a person who thinks he is practicing a random act of kindness likely chooses the recipient of his largess for reasons that are determined by events or individuals from his past.

On his new album Counting Stars, Andrew Peterson has a song entitled "Many Roads".  It's the perfect song to begin a concert with, assuring his listeners that many small decisions may have led them together so that they might hear a certain song or story.

One thing is clear: Christians understand that behind it all is the hand of a loving God who guides history and the lives of individuals toward a glorious end.  Even the events that appear to be random are full of meaning if we can but apprehend.  Perhaps in the new year, like The Finder, we'll become more adept at noticing connections.

I Will Feed Them With Justice

2011 has been a year of unrest.  People are not happy, and mainly it appears, that the unhappiness concerns the way things are being run.  For the last several weeks in the United States there have been "occupy" protests from Wall Street to university campuses and towns.  Around the world it's more obvious than ever that the guys in charge can't be trusted to rule wisely or justly.

It's nothing new that those in power want to hold onto power - and of course, wealth.  The 'system' is designed to keep the poor in poverty and the weak without power.  Justice is the exception rather than the rule. 

Although this is true, there is (I think) an innate sense in most people - even those who live in parts of the world where the rule of law is not practiced - that wrongs should be righted.  While many accept injustice as normative, there is a longing in human hearts for justice and righteousness.

Today is Christ the King Sunday, and the end of the liturgical year.  Christians end each year with a reminder that Christ is King because we live in a world filled with many things that are wrong and cry out for remedy.  Christians remind themselves today of two things:

1.  One day, Christ will return to set things aright.  Today's Old Testament Lectionary reading is from Ezekiel 34.  In that passage, the Lord says that he will feed people in good pastures, that He will seek out the lost and strayed, that He'll bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak.  He also promises to judge the "fat" sheep who took for themselves, leaving the weaker ones to only get weaker.

2.  The Gospel passage for today is from Matthew 25 and is the parable of the sheep and the goats.  Knowing that God will judge injustice, Christians should be engaged in working (like God) to feed the hungry, tend to the lonely and ill, clothe the naked, etc.  I'm not talking about the simple redistribution of wealth (a concept doomed to failure).  Instead Christians are called to give at every level - money, time, love, concern - to be fully invested as humans in the well-being of other humans.

As Thanksgivng approaches, we have much to be thankful for.  Chief among them is that fact that Christ is King.  He will one day return and "feed them with justice" (Ez 34:16).

On Being Human

I'm writing a paper on King David right now. It focuses on his humility. This summer I was reading a book entitled Humble Leadership: Being Radically Open to God's Guidance and Grace. At the same time the Lectionary, which I read devotionally was moving through 1 and 2 Samuel. It was (I suppose) natural that I would be reading about David's life with the rubric of humility superimposed...

I preached at a church a couple of weeks ago, and afterward one of the elders asked me who my favorite Bible character is. I promptly replied David (though my 'favorites' are subject to change). He was surprised. "David was a scoundrel. A womanizer." "Yes," I responded, "but he was humble." And that's the truth. David was always ready to submit to God's will and ways, even - or maybe especially after he'd sinned.

David did some very human things. He wasn't idealized in the biblical narrative. It's actually normal for the foibles of the biblical characters to be highlighted, since the Story is really about God... But when you think of kingship in the Old Testament only David is upheld as a successful example of "king." He's an integral part of the history of salvation.

David's humanity shouldn't make us uncomfortable. I don't know about you, but I fall into the 'human' category myself. My leadership at home, church, and work is effective, but flawed by my own sin and brokenness. Check out this quote from Eugene Peterson's commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel:

"...notice the way the story keeps us immersed in and attentive to hour human condition. For it is not easy to attend to ourselves; it is more attractive to try to rise above our human condition; it is easier to sink below our human condition and live like animals. But 'human' is unique, and we require a long growing up to realize who we are and the way we are before God. (p. 137)"

It's okay to be human. Don't worry if in the story of your life your 'starring' role is marred by lots of imperfections. You don't really have the starring role - not even in the story of your own life. "For we possess this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Cor.

The Power of Gratitude

Lately I've encountered several people who have been very focused on what's wrong. What's wrong in their lives. What's wrong with other people in their lives. What's wrong in their town, the USA, and the world. Lots and lots of talk about what's wrong.

I was playing tennis a couple of weeks ago at one of our city parks and mentioned that I would be playing the following day (Sunday) after church. A guy there said, "Oh, you need to go and atone for your sins, huh?" I responded, "No, I'm going in gratitude for all that God has blessed me with." He told me that God had done nothing for him.

Christians focus a lot on gratitude. Gratitude is meant to be the motivation for much of what we do. As grateful recipients of love, grace, forgiveness, and God's generosity, we should be generous givers of the same. The concept of tithing is rooted in gratitude. Does God need our money? Not, really. Does God need us to say, "Thank you?" No.

We're the ones who need to experience and express gratitude. Gratitude focuses us on the positive. If you want to be happy, it's critical that you have an attitude of gratitude. Why? I think because we get what we're looking for. If you feel that everything is wrong in your life, and you spend time thinking about all that is lacking, you'll be miserable. Things will go from bad to worse as you spiral down that rabbit hole.

It's amazing, however, how focusing on all that is right and good seems to increase your awareness of all that is right and good. Even when there is something wrong that can't be ignored, it's better to begin your prayers about it with a thankful heart - one that acknowledges anything good in the situation or person you're praying about or for.

Spend some time thanking God for the good stuff. There's lots of it there if you'll look.