This coming Sunday, I'm preaching from 1 Timothy 6 and four words jumped off the page at me when I first read it earlier this week. Those four words are from verse 17 where there is a warning that we do not set our "hopes on the uncertainty of riches." Those four words: the uncertainty of riches.
Think it through for a second. It seems like every journalist has to place the words "in a bad economy" in every single story. It seems like that thought of the uncertainty of riches couldn't be more relevant "in a bad economy." I mean, we just spent over a decade in arguably some of the most prosperous economic times in our North American history. And, in the course of six months, all that 'certainty' and 'sure thing' collapsed.
There are things we can count on and there are things we cannot. There are things and people that will let us down but we have one certainty that will not let us down. Because the six words after "the uncertainty of riches" are "...but on God, who richly provides."
I'd write more, but I won't (after all, I still need to preach it!)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
On and Off the Field
Have you heard all the hooplah over the 100-0 thrashing in Texas High School Girls Basketball? It's bad enough when this happens but in this case, it's extra-bad considering that this is a Christian school. The coach, of course, denied running up the score (they ended their full-court press and three-point shooting once they reached triple digits), likely because they could have easily scored at least 20 or so more points (after all, 120-0 would be humiliating the other team!). Thankfully, the school administration didn't see things the same way and promptly canned the coach.
To my mind, this story isn't about a cruel coach or mean girls playing basketball. It has much more to do with the question of what it means to model Christ-likeness in every area of life. See, I make it no secret that I play and love hockey. And, well, let's be frank: hockey isn't known as a sport where Jesus' values of healing, forgiveness, turning the other cheek and love are widely expressed! So, if I call myself a Christian, do I simply hang up my faith in the change room, right beside my jacket? Admittedly, I don't have this thing figured out. And, from what I've seen, very few do.
This morning I read the annual pre-SuperBowl headline about the mix between faith and football. And, after the game, there will be at least one person who thanks God for helping them win the game (which leads to all sorts of questions as to why God chose to only help one team and not the other...). For all the right reasons, athletes want to incorporate their faith into their athletics (after all, if you believe something to your core, it should affect every area, right?).
The truth of the matter is, it's not just about sports, it's in every arena (no pun intended). And there's no real pat answer that works in all areas. I guess, what I'm coming to realize is that it's more about asking the question: what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in any situation. It probably looks a lot less like the aforementioned basketball coach and more like the football coach down in Texas who conscripted fans to cheer for the opposing team.
As in many things, living life the way Jesus would probably has more to do with constantly asking the question than having the answer.
To my mind, this story isn't about a cruel coach or mean girls playing basketball. It has much more to do with the question of what it means to model Christ-likeness in every area of life. See, I make it no secret that I play and love hockey. And, well, let's be frank: hockey isn't known as a sport where Jesus' values of healing, forgiveness, turning the other cheek and love are widely expressed! So, if I call myself a Christian, do I simply hang up my faith in the change room, right beside my jacket? Admittedly, I don't have this thing figured out. And, from what I've seen, very few do.
This morning I read the annual pre-SuperBowl headline about the mix between faith and football. And, after the game, there will be at least one person who thanks God for helping them win the game (which leads to all sorts of questions as to why God chose to only help one team and not the other...). For all the right reasons, athletes want to incorporate their faith into their athletics (after all, if you believe something to your core, it should affect every area, right?).
The truth of the matter is, it's not just about sports, it's in every arena (no pun intended). And there's no real pat answer that works in all areas. I guess, what I'm coming to realize is that it's more about asking the question: what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in any situation. It probably looks a lot less like the aforementioned basketball coach and more like the football coach down in Texas who conscripted fans to cheer for the opposing team.
As in many things, living life the way Jesus would probably has more to do with constantly asking the question than having the answer.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Books by Dead Guys
I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post. Several people asked me last week why I've been slacking so I figured I'm (over)due. If you've been checking back regularly looking for a new post, well...Sorry, Mom.
What do you say when it's the end of January and your last post was "Merry Christmas"? It's too late for "...and Happy New Year" (since the year's already 5% over). The temptation is to fill in some blanks and try to explain my mysterious absence from the blogosphere. But I will not.
In a couple of weeks, we're heading out as a family on vacation, so I figured I should stock up on some reading for the week. I went into the book store with one criteria: the author had to be dead. When the store owner asked if he could help me find something, I told him my criteria and he seemed a bit surprised. In fact, he began pointing me to recently published title that was part of a series on ancient spiritual practices. I pointed out that dead guys generally don't have recently published titles.
And he kept showing me 'good books' by people who could still fog up glass. Finally, I said, "Look, I'm serious. If the author isn't toes up, I don't want to buy the book."
See, I've read many good books. I've just felt lately that, if a book was published decades ago by an author who won't be invited to a conference to talk about it, and if that book is still in print then it must be worth the read. So much of what is written today is written to fulfill contractual obligations on book deals. And, to be fair, there is generally at least some good stuff in any book. However, much of that is also very time-sensitive. It is written in a way that reflects our culture today.
However, I've felt the sense lately that I will grow more as I grab hold of timeless truths. Truths that don't depend on my understanding of a particular time and place. Of course, as a follower of Jesus, I happen to subscribe to the philosophy that the Bible is the ultimate litmus test of truth and even books written decades or centuries ago still fall under that. But I'm banking on the fact that there will be a greater proportion of timelessness in a book that has stood the test of time. I'll let you know after my vacation how the dead authors fared.
What do you say when it's the end of January and your last post was "Merry Christmas"? It's too late for "...and Happy New Year" (since the year's already 5% over). The temptation is to fill in some blanks and try to explain my mysterious absence from the blogosphere. But I will not.
In a couple of weeks, we're heading out as a family on vacation, so I figured I should stock up on some reading for the week. I went into the book store with one criteria: the author had to be dead. When the store owner asked if he could help me find something, I told him my criteria and he seemed a bit surprised. In fact, he began pointing me to recently published title that was part of a series on ancient spiritual practices. I pointed out that dead guys generally don't have recently published titles.
And he kept showing me 'good books' by people who could still fog up glass. Finally, I said, "Look, I'm serious. If the author isn't toes up, I don't want to buy the book."
See, I've read many good books. I've just felt lately that, if a book was published decades ago by an author who won't be invited to a conference to talk about it, and if that book is still in print then it must be worth the read. So much of what is written today is written to fulfill contractual obligations on book deals. And, to be fair, there is generally at least some good stuff in any book. However, much of that is also very time-sensitive. It is written in a way that reflects our culture today.
However, I've felt the sense lately that I will grow more as I grab hold of timeless truths. Truths that don't depend on my understanding of a particular time and place. Of course, as a follower of Jesus, I happen to subscribe to the philosophy that the Bible is the ultimate litmus test of truth and even books written decades or centuries ago still fall under that. But I'm banking on the fact that there will be a greater proportion of timelessness in a book that has stood the test of time. I'll let you know after my vacation how the dead authors fared.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas.
In the most literal rendering of that phrase. "Christmas" is formed from the joining of "Christ" and "Mass". I have discovered that "Mass", as we see it most often, is not the original intent. We see Mass celebrated most prominently as the main liturgical Eucharistic celebration of the Catholic church.
What I've learned is that "Mass" is derived from the Latin word from which we get "mission" in English. Which suddenly changes the meaning of Christmas. The purpose of celebrating Christ at this time of year isn't meant as a liturgy to follow. Rather, we join him in his mission and purpose.
With that in mind, suddenly "Merry Christmas" is the equivalent of saying "May you find joy as you go out into your community and into the world, doing what Christ did and living like Christ did."
So...
Merry Christmas!
In the most literal rendering of that phrase. "Christmas" is formed from the joining of "Christ" and "Mass". I have discovered that "Mass", as we see it most often, is not the original intent. We see Mass celebrated most prominently as the main liturgical Eucharistic celebration of the Catholic church.
What I've learned is that "Mass" is derived from the Latin word from which we get "mission" in English. Which suddenly changes the meaning of Christmas. The purpose of celebrating Christ at this time of year isn't meant as a liturgy to follow. Rather, we join him in his mission and purpose.
With that in mind, suddenly "Merry Christmas" is the equivalent of saying "May you find joy as you go out into your community and into the world, doing what Christ did and living like Christ did."
So...
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Follow-up to Last Week's Post
I had a post last week. Don't know what happened. When I logged on this morning, I saw that my most recent post was from two weeks ago. I was sure I had posted something last week. In fact, I know I did; it must have been abducted by aliens. Or maybe it's because I'm typing on a PC. If this was a Mac, the Mac would've known what I was thinking and posted it before I even sat down to type it, wouldn't it (all you Mac-ers)?
It's weird when that happens, huh? I'm going to assume that I'm not the only one who goes through stuff like that. Where you're absolutely certain that you've done something only to find out you didn't do it at all. Like, suddenly as you're wrapping Christmas gifts and you are certain there was another one but no matter where you look, it's nowhere to be found. Surely someone's been there.
I find it curious often though how we can be so confident of something that never happened. How we can be so certain that we've accomplished something when we've, in fact, done nothing.
In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul says that he was advancing "beyond many of my own age among my people" (Galatians 1:14) but he goes on to say that he came to realize that all this advancement was getting him nowhere and that his real accomplishments came as a result of God changing him and God working out His plan through Paul.
See, like Paul, I am realizing that nothing I do is worth any confidence or, for that matter, worth anything, unless it is God working in me and through me.
After all, apparently I can't even blog!
It's weird when that happens, huh? I'm going to assume that I'm not the only one who goes through stuff like that. Where you're absolutely certain that you've done something only to find out you didn't do it at all. Like, suddenly as you're wrapping Christmas gifts and you are certain there was another one but no matter where you look, it's nowhere to be found. Surely someone's been there.
I find it curious often though how we can be so confident of something that never happened. How we can be so certain that we've accomplished something when we've, in fact, done nothing.
In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul says that he was advancing "beyond many of my own age among my people" (Galatians 1:14) but he goes on to say that he came to realize that all this advancement was getting him nowhere and that his real accomplishments came as a result of God changing him and God working out His plan through Paul.
See, like Paul, I am realizing that nothing I do is worth any confidence or, for that matter, worth anything, unless it is God working in me and through me.
After all, apparently I can't even blog!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
That's It
Jesus.
That's it. That's all there is.
I have spent four days sitting in conference sessions discussing any number of topics related to church leadership and management. I have listened to nationally-known people talking about our culture, about management issues related to the organization of the church, about preaching, about producing really cool Sunday morning programs.
I have pages and pages of notes and millions of firing synapses. And I am left with Jesus. That's it.
I spend my life planning, programming, strategizing, and managing. It is way too easy for me to be more concerned with the organization than about Jesus. I do what I do because Jesus is all that matters to me. It might be telling that I needed to spend a week away from my desk to come to that realization but I have come to that realization.
Short of the life-changing power of Christ in my life, every sermon I preach is just a talk. Without being centered on Him, every program I create or organize is just an event.
Over dinner, as I was talking about this with a Vicar (that's "Vikah", after factoring in for the accent!) from South London (England, not Ontario), I suddenly made sense of a verse I've read probably hundreds of times in my life. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Once my life has been properly oriented around Jesus, then all these things (that I thought I needed to work for) will be added. They'll just be added.
I don't have to worry about all that stuff that I normally worry about. In fact, we all have things like that. We worry about being effective at our jobs, about being better parents, about being able to pay our mortage. But life isn't about that. It's about...
Jesus.
That's it. That's all there is.
That's it. That's all there is.
I have spent four days sitting in conference sessions discussing any number of topics related to church leadership and management. I have listened to nationally-known people talking about our culture, about management issues related to the organization of the church, about preaching, about producing really cool Sunday morning programs.
I have pages and pages of notes and millions of firing synapses. And I am left with Jesus. That's it.
I spend my life planning, programming, strategizing, and managing. It is way too easy for me to be more concerned with the organization than about Jesus. I do what I do because Jesus is all that matters to me. It might be telling that I needed to spend a week away from my desk to come to that realization but I have come to that realization.
Short of the life-changing power of Christ in my life, every sermon I preach is just a talk. Without being centered on Him, every program I create or organize is just an event.
Over dinner, as I was talking about this with a Vicar (that's "Vikah", after factoring in for the accent!) from South London (England, not Ontario), I suddenly made sense of a verse I've read probably hundreds of times in my life. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Once my life has been properly oriented around Jesus, then all these things (that I thought I needed to work for) will be added. They'll just be added.
I don't have to worry about all that stuff that I normally worry about. In fact, we all have things like that. We worry about being effective at our jobs, about being better parents, about being able to pay our mortage. But life isn't about that. It's about...
Jesus.
That's it. That's all there is.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Two Planks
"Jesus didn't die on the cross to save sinners." I actually heard someone say that yesterday by a man affectionately known around Willow Creek Church as Dr. B. Now, to put that into context, as a kid I went to Sunday School and it was one of those pillars that we just had to know: "Jesus died to save sinners." I've made poor choices; I could never measure up to the perfection that Creator God expects of me; and I need someone to bridge that gap. Since I was a kid, I was told that Jesus loves me. That Jesus died to save me because I'm a sinner.
The reality, Dr. B continued, is, "Jesus died on the cross to save sinners for the purpose of bringing them together into a oneness community under the cross." What he means by that is that Jesus is not only concerned with restoring that gap between myself and God; Jesus is equally concerned with restoring the gap that exists between myself and other people.
There are two planks on the cross and each plank symbolizes a part of why Jesus died. The vertical plank represents my being brought back to rightness in relationship with God. And the horizontal plank, the one on which Jesus stretched out his welcoming arms, symbolically represents the restoration of relationship with those around us. Jesus came to bring us back to God and to bring us into community.
Real, vibrant, Christianity is only lived out when we are in right relationships with people. I cannot be a Christian if it's just 'me and God'. I am only living like a Christian when it is 'us and God'. Until I have embraced those around me with Christ-like love, I have not embraced Christ. That's a big deal. To be honest, I still haven't figured it out. If you're reading this and confused, you're not alone (because I'm writing this and confused!). I read and reread Ephesians 2:11-22 this morning because this is a great picture of why Jesus died on the cross; especially in light of the two planks.
The reality, Dr. B continued, is, "Jesus died on the cross to save sinners for the purpose of bringing them together into a oneness community under the cross." What he means by that is that Jesus is not only concerned with restoring that gap between myself and God; Jesus is equally concerned with restoring the gap that exists between myself and other people.
There are two planks on the cross and each plank symbolizes a part of why Jesus died. The vertical plank represents my being brought back to rightness in relationship with God. And the horizontal plank, the one on which Jesus stretched out his welcoming arms, symbolically represents the restoration of relationship with those around us. Jesus came to bring us back to God and to bring us into community.
Real, vibrant, Christianity is only lived out when we are in right relationships with people. I cannot be a Christian if it's just 'me and God'. I am only living like a Christian when it is 'us and God'. Until I have embraced those around me with Christ-like love, I have not embraced Christ. That's a big deal. To be honest, I still haven't figured it out. If you're reading this and confused, you're not alone (because I'm writing this and confused!). I read and reread Ephesians 2:11-22 this morning because this is a great picture of why Jesus died on the cross; especially in light of the two planks.
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