the intersection of life and grace

The power of being present has been on my mind quite a bit lately.

That solitary sentence has existed in isolation in a draft post for months. It’s still true, so I thought it was time to dust it off and hang out with it for a while.

What originally spurred it? I’m no longer certain. So many people live in isolation, even in an age of hyper-connectedness, that it may have been any number of situations. But today it seemed to fit my thinking about the ‘in between’ nature of Holy Saturday, upon which Christians consider the time between Jesus death and resurrection – the time during which he was no longer physically present. It’s a profound point when you believe in an omnipresent God. It can also turn into a theological rollercoaster ride, which isn’t my intent here today.

So much of caring is wrapped up in presence. Is it possible to display love and caring without presence of some sort? I’m not sure it is; I know it wasn’t intended to be. Babies die without touch. Adults go insane in extreme isolation. Communities deteriorate without presence. It’s the power of the humanity of Jesus – God came to be with humanity. It’s the power encapsulated in the proclamation of faith which shouts “be with” – Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Between the “risen” and the “come again” Jesus is not gone. He is in. In his people. In his church, the body of Christ, BUT only as far as we are present for each other, for the isolated, for the young, for the old, for the community.

Last week, in the neighborhood to which I’ve been present in one way or another for 10 years, where my church is situated and the kids I’m called to serve live, there was a sadly ordinary act of street violence. Taken was a 17-year-old, one of the kids I knew as an elementary-aged kid, and a 21-year-old. Senseless death.

Yesterday, in keeping an ancient practice of re-enacting the steps Jesus took from his condemnation to his death, my church walked the streets of the community, passing by the street memorial for these young men. [See a news report of the community walk here.]  It was a poignant reminder of the need for the Church (not just ours, but all of it) to be with it’s community – to be community.  During the Stations, a man named David gave his life to Christ.  Tonight, David will be baptised during one of the most ancient known liturgies celebrated today, The Great Vigil of Easter. It is marked by a transition from darkness into light, from slavery and condemnation to freedom and salvation. It’s an amazing re-telling of the love story God has given in scripture. It tells us of his desire to be with us… about the importance of presence.

The Bible reads "HURT" via Adam McLane on flickr

I want to go to Haiti. I believe God wants me, and a whole lot of other people, to go and be his physical presence doing all sorts of tasks.  From the moment I learned of the devastation in Port-au-Prince, I was wrecked.

The people of Haiti lived a largely subsistence-level life before this earthquake took most of their material goods, housing and ability to earn any living. Millions of people were instantly dependent upon the good graces and provision of the rest of the world. As with many previous disasters, like Hurricane Katrina and the Tsumani that hit Sumatra, people poured out emotions, financial assistance, and in many cases, practical help for a long time. I, myself, have participated in a number of relief trips hands-on or as an organizer.

The news coverage of Haiti is mostly ended now. It’s likely we’ll only hear about crimes, corruption, and the occasional update on some milestone of progress. We won’t see the daily ordeal of getting food for a family. We won’t see the danger to vulnerable children and girls that comes from human traffickers. We won’t see the mud and mire that will engulf the nation as the rainy season begins and people continue to live in makeshift ‘shelters’ made of bedsheets, tarps, and debris from fallen buildings.  We definitely won’t see the spiritual revival taking place among Haiti’s people on our evening news.

I have a group of friends who spent a week in Haiti to serve, to raise awareness of the situation on the ground through social media, and to investigate partnerships for serving alongside the local church now and into the future. They went nervous they’d  all want to adopt an orphan, desiring to help however they could, and with sore arms from the copious vaccinations they received in preparation for their short notice adventure.  They served, they observed, and they were wrecked by the experience. Changed forever. I’m so proud of the way they let God use them. I’m so awed at how God used them. I’m wrecked each and every time I read or hear them speak about their experiences.  I’m going to link to some of their blogs, photos, facebook and videos. Go and see.

Adam McLane – photos – blog posts here, here, here, here, here and here

Tim Schmoyer – blog – podcast

Jeremy Zach – blog

Ian Roberson – blog

Lars Rood – blog

Mark Oestreicher – blog

Anne Jackson – blog

Youth Ministry Advance Team: Haiti – facebook

It’s a lot, I know. It’s all worth it. God is calling. I’m wrecked. When? Where? To do? I don’t know yet. But I’m listening. Are you?

Believers, Christ-followers of any denominational and doctrinal stripe – I’m talking to you. And me.  Stop it. The whining.  The complaining.  Really.  Before you speak, or type, another word about:

• a devotional practice or church tradition you have never participated in and therefore believe it must be specifically prohibited by scripture
• a politician or government policy, or the President, with clearly ill-considered sarcasm and disrespect  and nary an ounce of constructive thought (much less action)
• you get the idea, right?

I see a lot of facebook status updates (and their attendant comments), and twitter updates, and blog comments, and forum comments over the course of a week.  I have to say, a lot of them are whining or complaining.  The rest are fine – running commentary on life.

I’m only talking about the sort that fling sarcastic, unhappy criticism out into the cyber world and are never followed up with contstructive action thereafter.  Think – there are a lot of people who can see what you’ve said on the internet, people who may not be your direct “friends” on a particular social network.  They may not all be as smart, enlightened, mature, or skilled in discerning satire as are you.  And, in the written word, that discernment is mighty difficult because 85% of communication is non-verbal.  Words are evocative, and 100% open to interpretation.  [Public service announcement pause to tell you that I am completely calm, not angry, and not kidding about the subject of this post.]

Therefore, before you or I type another sarcastic, caustic, crushing word on your blog,  a disucssion forum, facebook or twitter status… stop.  Are you representing Christ accurately? Are you doing more than throwing words into air?  If not, why not?

What do the scriptures say about tearing each other down?

How about tearing down those who do not believe?

Maybe, even if you don’t practice the penitential season of Lent, you could just try, for the next 7 weeks, to:

“[S]et an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” [1 Timothy 4:12b-16]

And:

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” [Galatians 5:13-15]

We can communicate more clearly, more effectively, if we first heeding Paul’s teaching about his message (that of Christ) to the Corinthians in written and personally-spoken form:

“You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present” [2 Corinthians 10:7-11]

Don’t hide behind your computer screen if you aren’t going to act on the words in real life.

From time to time, an online friend, fellow Christ-follower, and Mets fan, named Adam Roberson will send me an email about something that God has put on his heart.  I asked him if I could share this one with you.  I think he should have his own blog to share these things! See if you don’t agree:

And now, more Rambling Candor…

Today, February 25th, 2009 is a pretty significant day. Yes, Tiger Woods has finally returned to competition and the TV Golf Ratings will quadruple. And, yes, Baseball’s Spring Training is now in full swing (intentional pun). But the Wide World of Sports is not what I am talking about.

Today is Ash Wednesday. In brief, today is the first day of Lent marking the beginning of the 40 Days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. The marking of Ashes on the forehead in the sign of the cross is a symbol of our repentance. “From Dust we are made and to Dust we will return.” These practices are typically, but not always, observed in Protestant Denominations.

Lent is a season of the Penitent Man. Again, it is a Season to focus on God through our repentance, meditation and prayer. It prepares us for Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, which is, of course, the very foundation of Truth. That is, Christ conquered death. He paid the penalty for my sins and yours.

I hear people sometimes inadvertently use this season as a punch line when claiming to give up chocolate or TV or red meat. In other cases, some choose to fast one meal a day. Others, choose other areas of their life to sacrifice. If we are starting our 40 day journey to the cross in a penitent manner, our Lenten Season should be helping us maintain focus on God and what Christ has done for the world. How do we do this?

If we choose to sacrifice an hour of sleep in the morning, we devote that extra hour of the day to God through prayer, meditation and study. If we choose to turn the TV off every evening, we devote that still quiet to God by opening His word. If we choose to fast a meal or snack (lunch, candy, coffee), when we are tempted by the hunger and cravings for such things, use those hunger pains to remind us of Christ Suffering on the Cross and His Gift of Salvation to the World.

The point is denying our Self-Righteousness, becoming Penitent, and focusing on God. This journey to the cross reminds us we are sinful, we are human and we are lost without Him. At the Cross, we find Redemption. At the Cross, we find Salvation. At the Cross, we find Truth. At the Cross, we find Love. Christ died on that Cross to pay the punishment for our Sins. He conquered and defeated sin and death three days later when He walked out of His tomb.

If you don’t traditionally observe Ash Wednesday, Lent or Holy Week, please take this time to recognize what God has done for you and me. Observing these practices ARE NOT required for Salvation. They are simply actions some of us take to remind us what Christ has done for us and why we need Him. Just as Christmas is recognition of Emmanuel; God with Us; the Birth of God in Human Form.

God Bless.
Adam

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer, p. 217]

In traditional Christian practice, today begins a season of reflection, fasting, introspection for the purpose of repentance and renewed relationship with Almighty God; through the remission of our sins and the forgiveness available by the Cross we approach more closely each day of our Lenten journey.  In short, a check point, a tune up, a time to set aside some comforts and distractions and listen to what God has done, and wants to do.

Perhaps, in the listening, we’ll find those places where God wants to bring us closer to him; where he wants us to yield to his better way; where he will heal us, teach us, refine us.  If we set aside some comforts and distractions and listen for a short season, only a few weeks purposed to uncluttering as we consider Jesus Christ’s approach to the Cross in humilating horror, the fait d’accompli we fallen made necessary, and of which we fallen only can receive the benefit.  Stunning.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

[Hebrews 12:1-14, ESV]

This first section of Part I sets the stage for the rest of the conversation as Eugene Peterson examines the Way metaphor, the ways that Jesus is the Way in person, in conduct, and in relationship. The section also sets out some of the challenges of living in the Way of Jesus.

In my experience, teaching on John 14:6 has largely placed the emphasis of the passage on a different word in the statement than Peterson’s focus. When I’ve heard the passage preached upon, emphasis has been on “the” – the uniqueness of Christ.

⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

I don’t believe that emphasis is mis-placed, Christ is unique and brings salvation distinct from that claimed in other faiths. But the emphasis in this book is on way… it is a challenging and refreshing perspective. Most interesting was the discussion on Jesus’ temptations in the desert, and how those point the way…

(more…)

This morning I spent time reading the Introduction to The Jesus Way.  I’m intrigued about this book as it draws examples of Jesus’ Way not only from Jesus’ incarnate life, but also from the lives of others who came before him.  Also, as in many of his works, Peterson places emphasis on eradicating any sense that laity or layperson = less than full participant in the kingdom of God.  I am looking forward to unpacking what Peterson means when he challenges the people of God not to jump past the way of Jesus, which is the means to the truth of Jesus, which is the path to the life Jesus gives.

From the Introduction, page 14-15:

The intention throughout this conversation is to explore the ways in which Christians follow Jesus.  The ways become clear in the act, and only in the act, of following Jesus on the terms enacted by Jesus.  None of the ways can be abstracted from Jesus, depersonalized into a principle or strategy.  I also want to post warnings against the many well-advertised ways and means that send us off on tangled detours or hopeless dead ends.  And, not least, I want to recruit my friends in Christ for the work defined by Maritain as “the Purification of Means.”

Ways and means that are removed or abstracted from Jesus and the Scriptures that give witness to him amount sooner or later to a betrayal of Jesus.  In this kingdom-of-God world, the person that we follow is the primary shaping influence on the person that we become.  Christians follow Jesus.

Part I, chapter 1, The Jesus Way, which I intend to post about tomorrow, is available as the sample excerpt on amazon.com – click here to read it.  Making use of it would give anyone interested in joining the conversation here a week to find a copy of the book.

In the absence of a church-organized small group study for the Lenten season, I’ve chosen to read and study Eugene Peterson’s book The Jesus Way – a conversation on the ways that Jesus is the way as my own Lenten study. I intend to focus on the seven chapters of Part I: The Jesus Way between now and Easter (Part II is Other Ways).

The chapters in Part I are:

1. Jesus: “I Am the Way…”
2. Abraham: Climbing Mount Moriah
3. Moses: On the Plains of Moab
4. David: “I Did Not Hide My Iniquity”
5. Elijah: “Hide Yourself by the Brook Cherith”
6. Isaiah of Jerusalem: “The Holy”
7. Isaiah of the Exile: “How Beautiful on the Mountains”

If you have read, or want to read, this book and want to discuss it, I’d welcome the interaction. I’ll blog about the material I’ve read on Fridays.