This blog post may get me fired, but here I go anyways.
It is a strange phenomena, but I'm starting to realize that the time that I question my faith the most is around Easter. I hear the familiar story, the same story I have heard every year for the last 31 years, and I think: "That sounds like a bunch of phooey-dooey. How can I really believe that?" I mean if you look at the story that the entire Christian faith is based on, it sounds a little crazy. When you step back and try to look at it from an unbiased, outside perspective - it sounds kind of far-fetched. A man who claimed to be the Son of God was arrested, did not fight against the ludicrous charges, was put to death on a cross, and then came back to life three days later. Really?
That's why I'm thankful for the story of Thomas in the Gospel of John. Maybe that's why John included this story, because he knew that there would be more skeptics than just Thomas along the way.
Thomas just couldn't find it in himself to believe that Jesus was really alive. All of his friends were talking about it. They all said it was true. But unless he could see for himself, he just couldn't believe. I love Jesus' words when He finally confronts Doubting Thomas.
"Stop doubting a believe...because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27,29
This is ALWAYS the lesson the Sunday after Easter. It comes as surely as Easter itself. And every year I take comfort in those words. Stop doubting. Believe. Blessed are those who believe without seeing. Isn't that what faith is all about? Believing in something you cannot see.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
At some point, you just have to jump. That's why it's called taking a "leap of faith." Faith just doesn't make a lot of sense. But faith is what keeps me going. Faith is what drives me forward and what makes each day worthwhile.
I have faith in a faithful God. I have faith that God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I have faith that God's not done with me yet. I have faith that I will survive parenthood. I have faith in love over law and grace over condemnation. I have faith that beyond this place, there is a new heaven and a new earth where we will be in the presence of the Lord forever.
I have faith that sending Jesus was God's plan to redeem and restore humanity unto Himself. I have faith in Jesus Christ who was crucified, died and was buried. Three days later He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Even if it at times sounds like phooey-dooey - I have faith that it is true.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
She Did What She Could
This week I am reading in each of the Gospels what happened on each particular day of Jesus' final week. Today is Tuesday - the day Jesus did much of His final teaching. As I read these accounts, some several times because of repeats in each Gospel, I find it funny how you can read a familiar story over and over but one particular time something will stick out to you.
That's what happened to Elisa Morgan, a woman I met at the Children's Pastors' Conference in San Diego this year. I went to her workshop which focused on one sentence in the Bible. A sentence that I read again today. A sentence that was spoken on the Tuesday before the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord.
While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Mark 14:3-9
She did what she could.
I often times get overwhelmed by the problems of this world. I usually don't even watch the news because it just stresses me out and makes me sad. Sometimes the darkness just seems so dark and there seems to be just too much that needs to be done. There are so many people hurting, dying, starving - so many who are lonely, homeless, living in fear - all over the world. How on earth is there anything that I can possibly do that will make a difference? My to-do list of personal things overwhelms me - much less the to-do list of humanity. I am just one girl.
Mary was just one girl, too. The girl of Mark's story is Mary - the sister of Martha and Lazarus, the daughter of Simon the Leper. Perhaps Simon was the leper that Jesus had healed at the very beginning of His ministry, just after He called Peter, James and John to be His disciples (Luke 5:12-14). Regardless, this family had become very close to Jesus. Jesus often stayed at their home in Bethany - this is also the same Mary that was found not working with her sister, but at the feet of Jesus listening to His teachings.
Mary loved Jesus and she knew that He loved her. She spent time in relationship with Him. She had heard Him foretell His death and resurrection and I can imagine she was confused and scared. Her friend, her teacher, her Lord had said that He would soon be put to death. There was nothing that she could do to stop it. But because of her deep relationship with Him, I'm sure she felt she had to do something. Her relationship resulted in a response. She did what she could. Mary lived loved and she showed her love to her Lord by anointing Him with extremely valuable perfume.
This perfume was made from nard and cost 300 denarii, nearly a year's wages. Nard was imported from Egypt. Mark tells us that she broke open an alabaster jar. Once you break open an alabaster jar - you have to use it all. There is no corking it for later, the perfume spoils if it is not all used immediately. Her actions are a big deal. In my mind, I can see Mary concocting this plan up in her head, acting impulsively, and then when the disciples indignantly rebuke her for being foolish - I can picture her holding her breath and thinking, "Oh crap. What will Jesus say? He's always telling us to help the poor."
Instead of rebuking Mary, Jesus reprimands the disciples and tells them to "leave her alone." In giving what she could give, in doing what she could do, she did a beautiful thing. Now think of how lovely the perfume smelled running down Jesus' head. This is Tuesday before Jesus is arrested on Thursday night. The likelihood of Him hopping into a shower is not good. The fragrance of this expensive perfume more than likely lingered with him throughout the rest of week - He could smell it during His trial, His beatings, and while He hung on the cross. When Mary did what she could, her blessing lasted much longer than that Tuesday evening.
What if we didn't worry about doing everything, doing it all, and being the best at it all? What if we did what we could and we didn't feel guilty about the rest? What if we lived loved - and out of that love, we did what we could, when we could for Jesus and others?
If you did what you could and I did what I could and every Christian did what they could - what could we accomplish together? What if we stopped worrying about all the darkness that surrounds our world and just concentrated on being a light that shines in it?
Today, I pray that you release the guilt of not being able to do everything and be everything to everybody. I pray that you do what you can to be His light in the world around you. I pray that this day, you live loved.
(Thank you to Elisa Morgan for inspiring this blog. Check out her book, "She Did What She Could.")
That's what happened to Elisa Morgan, a woman I met at the Children's Pastors' Conference in San Diego this year. I went to her workshop which focused on one sentence in the Bible. A sentence that I read again today. A sentence that was spoken on the Tuesday before the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord.
While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Mark 14:3-9
She did what she could.
I often times get overwhelmed by the problems of this world. I usually don't even watch the news because it just stresses me out and makes me sad. Sometimes the darkness just seems so dark and there seems to be just too much that needs to be done. There are so many people hurting, dying, starving - so many who are lonely, homeless, living in fear - all over the world. How on earth is there anything that I can possibly do that will make a difference? My to-do list of personal things overwhelms me - much less the to-do list of humanity. I am just one girl.
Mary was just one girl, too. The girl of Mark's story is Mary - the sister of Martha and Lazarus, the daughter of Simon the Leper. Perhaps Simon was the leper that Jesus had healed at the very beginning of His ministry, just after He called Peter, James and John to be His disciples (Luke 5:12-14). Regardless, this family had become very close to Jesus. Jesus often stayed at their home in Bethany - this is also the same Mary that was found not working with her sister, but at the feet of Jesus listening to His teachings.
Mary loved Jesus and she knew that He loved her. She spent time in relationship with Him. She had heard Him foretell His death and resurrection and I can imagine she was confused and scared. Her friend, her teacher, her Lord had said that He would soon be put to death. There was nothing that she could do to stop it. But because of her deep relationship with Him, I'm sure she felt she had to do something. Her relationship resulted in a response. She did what she could. Mary lived loved and she showed her love to her Lord by anointing Him with extremely valuable perfume.
This perfume was made from nard and cost 300 denarii, nearly a year's wages. Nard was imported from Egypt. Mark tells us that she broke open an alabaster jar. Once you break open an alabaster jar - you have to use it all. There is no corking it for later, the perfume spoils if it is not all used immediately. Her actions are a big deal. In my mind, I can see Mary concocting this plan up in her head, acting impulsively, and then when the disciples indignantly rebuke her for being foolish - I can picture her holding her breath and thinking, "Oh crap. What will Jesus say? He's always telling us to help the poor."
Instead of rebuking Mary, Jesus reprimands the disciples and tells them to "leave her alone." In giving what she could give, in doing what she could do, she did a beautiful thing. Now think of how lovely the perfume smelled running down Jesus' head. This is Tuesday before Jesus is arrested on Thursday night. The likelihood of Him hopping into a shower is not good. The fragrance of this expensive perfume more than likely lingered with him throughout the rest of week - He could smell it during His trial, His beatings, and while He hung on the cross. When Mary did what she could, her blessing lasted much longer than that Tuesday evening.
What if we didn't worry about doing everything, doing it all, and being the best at it all? What if we did what we could and we didn't feel guilty about the rest? What if we lived loved - and out of that love, we did what we could, when we could for Jesus and others?
If you did what you could and I did what I could and every Christian did what they could - what could we accomplish together? What if we stopped worrying about all the darkness that surrounds our world and just concentrated on being a light that shines in it?
Today, I pray that you release the guilt of not being able to do everything and be everything to everybody. I pray that you do what you can to be His light in the world around you. I pray that this day, you live loved.
(Thank you to Elisa Morgan for inspiring this blog. Check out her book, "She Did What She Could.")
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Big God Story
A little over a year ago I began to listen for the sacred echoes of God. I heard a speaker, Margaret Feinberg, define sacred echoes as repetitive, scripturally sound themes, events or ideas. She holds the idea that God uses these echoes to get our attention because He wants to teach us something. As I started listening and watching, I found that in my own life, this is how God often speaks to me. If He wants to make something known in my life, He echoes.
About three weeks ago, new echoes began. One day after we had returned from Israel, I was flipping through the channels, trying to find something interesting to watch during daytime TV (which I am not used to watching). Something caught my attention and I stopped on ‘Channel 47.’ Although I don’t usually watch this Christian station, I recognized that the man on the screen was in Jerusalem. Since I could identify the backdrop for his teaching, I stopped and listened for a moment. The man was talking about the return of the Messiah. He said when Jesus comes back, He will descend on the Mount of Olives and the mountain will be split in two. “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” Zechariah 14:4 I had been to the Mount of Olives only weeks before, so the picture of this green mountain was fresh in my mind. I had briefly heard someone mention the mountain in relation to Jesus’ return when I was there. I continued flipping channels, not thinking much about it.
A couple days later I was reading my Bible. I hadn’t found any certain place that I wanted to land - just randomly flipping through - when I caught a word that was familiar to me from my time in Israel. I began reading in Ezekiel where He prophesies about the Valley of Dry Bones. I had seen that valley. I continued reading from Ezekiel when he describes the Messiah. “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd...my servant shall be their prince forever...I will set my sanctuary among them forevermore...my dwelling place shall be among them...” Ezekiel 36:24-28 I hadn’t ever just read through Ezekiel before.
A few days after that I went to the evening Praise and Worship service at my mom’s church. They have been watching Rob Bell’s Nooma videos series for their “sermon” time. The Nooma for that night was called “Trees” and it wasn’t one that I had seen before. In the video Rob Bell describes how there are two trees in the Bible. One is at the very beginning - the tree in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life. In the last book of the Bible, Revelations, John describes another tree that is in the center of the city of the new earth ... the place where we will spend eternity, where God will dwell with us once again. He says we are living in the time between the two trees.
We are living between the trees. I was fascinated by this concept. I had never spent any time reading Revelations, so when I opened my Bible the next day, I decided to find this tree at the end of the Bible. And there it was, just Rob said. I spent time that day going through the book of Revelations ... learning about the return of Jesus, the defeat of Satan, the new heaven and earth that will be established and the restoration of humanity. “On either side of the river is the tree of life...and the leaves of he tree are for the healing of the nations.” Rev. 22:2 - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first earth had passed away...I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among the mortals. He will dwell with them...” Rev. 21:1
By this time, I was really paying attention. I thought that there might just be an echo occurring, but I couldn’t piece it all together. All this talk about the end-times and the Messiah had to mean something, but I had no idea what.
A couple other things happened along the way, but I forget now the specifics. A week later, though, I went to a Saturday night service and the Pastor started his sermon talking about the end times. “Okay God, I get it...but really I don’t,” I thought to myself.
The next day I left for San Diego to attend the Children’s Pastors’ Conference. I arrived to the conference in a much different place than I ever had in the past. I usually arrive to CPC depleted, empty, tired, done. This was the first year that I came without the need of being refreshed and renewed. However, I still carried an expectation to hear God speak, to see God move, and have Him guide and lead me in amazing ways.
With this expectation, I went to a workshop called Transformational Teaching by Dr. Michelle Anthony. She talked about the concept of teaching kids “The Big God Story.” The Bible is actually one, big story - the story of how God has worked throughout history, calling His people into relationship with Him. A story that begins with God creating the earth and everything on it; a story that continues in a beautiful garden in Eden and the first act of human rebellion. A story full of a God who wants to set things right and to redeem and restore creation to himself. A story that ends with the nations coming together to spend eternity worshiping the God who created it all. It’s a story all about Him - a story of which we play only a part. One story - between two trees.
So often we teach kids stories from the Bible but we only allow them to see pieces of the bigger story at any given time. Our kids can tell us about Moses and Noah. They know about Joseph and his coat of many colors and about Peter and John, the disciples of Jesus. So often these stories are fragmented, told in isolation. Many times we don’t put these stories into the context of the bigger story where God is central. We make Moses the main character or Noah the hero. In reality, God or Jesus should always be the main character and the hero. What if we taught kids about The Big God Story and shared with them the truth that they play a supporting role in this story, just like Moses and Noah, and Peter and Paul. God has worked through men and women throughout history and God can work through us, too. When we allow children to see themselves as a part of this bigger story, we invite them to feel the awe of being part of something way bigger than themselves. “We can tell them the concrete stories of history in the context of the bigger picture, and we can create opportunities for them to put what they are learning into action,” writes Michelle Anthony.
Michelle Anthony also says that we need to “make the Jesus of Revelation known to our children - to make Him the hero of our lives.” I’m not sure I would have gotten that if God didn’t start echoing to me weeks before. I’m not sure if I would have be challenged to make this mind-shift. The Big God Story might not have had the same effect on me - if He hadn’t started getting my attention (using the end of time) and if He hadn’t continued to echo. If He hadn’t started at the end, I might have missed the big picture.
“At the heart of our Christian faith is a story ... Unless the story is known, understood, owned, and lived, we and our children will not have faith.” John Westerhoff
May you know today that you are a part of the greatest story ever told. And may we strive to teach this story to our children.
About three weeks ago, new echoes began. One day after we had returned from Israel, I was flipping through the channels, trying to find something interesting to watch during daytime TV (which I am not used to watching). Something caught my attention and I stopped on ‘Channel 47.’ Although I don’t usually watch this Christian station, I recognized that the man on the screen was in Jerusalem. Since I could identify the backdrop for his teaching, I stopped and listened for a moment. The man was talking about the return of the Messiah. He said when Jesus comes back, He will descend on the Mount of Olives and the mountain will be split in two. “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” Zechariah 14:4 I had been to the Mount of Olives only weeks before, so the picture of this green mountain was fresh in my mind. I had briefly heard someone mention the mountain in relation to Jesus’ return when I was there. I continued flipping channels, not thinking much about it.
A couple days later I was reading my Bible. I hadn’t found any certain place that I wanted to land - just randomly flipping through - when I caught a word that was familiar to me from my time in Israel. I began reading in Ezekiel where He prophesies about the Valley of Dry Bones. I had seen that valley. I continued reading from Ezekiel when he describes the Messiah. “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd...my servant shall be their prince forever...I will set my sanctuary among them forevermore...my dwelling place shall be among them...” Ezekiel 36:24-28 I hadn’t ever just read through Ezekiel before.
A few days after that I went to the evening Praise and Worship service at my mom’s church. They have been watching Rob Bell’s Nooma videos series for their “sermon” time. The Nooma for that night was called “Trees” and it wasn’t one that I had seen before. In the video Rob Bell describes how there are two trees in the Bible. One is at the very beginning - the tree in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life. In the last book of the Bible, Revelations, John describes another tree that is in the center of the city of the new earth ... the place where we will spend eternity, where God will dwell with us once again. He says we are living in the time between the two trees.
We are living between the trees. I was fascinated by this concept. I had never spent any time reading Revelations, so when I opened my Bible the next day, I decided to find this tree at the end of the Bible. And there it was, just Rob said. I spent time that day going through the book of Revelations ... learning about the return of Jesus, the defeat of Satan, the new heaven and earth that will be established and the restoration of humanity. “On either side of the river is the tree of life...and the leaves of he tree are for the healing of the nations.” Rev. 22:2 - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first earth had passed away...I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among the mortals. He will dwell with them...” Rev. 21:1
By this time, I was really paying attention. I thought that there might just be an echo occurring, but I couldn’t piece it all together. All this talk about the end-times and the Messiah had to mean something, but I had no idea what.
A couple other things happened along the way, but I forget now the specifics. A week later, though, I went to a Saturday night service and the Pastor started his sermon talking about the end times. “Okay God, I get it...but really I don’t,” I thought to myself.
The next day I left for San Diego to attend the Children’s Pastors’ Conference. I arrived to the conference in a much different place than I ever had in the past. I usually arrive to CPC depleted, empty, tired, done. This was the first year that I came without the need of being refreshed and renewed. However, I still carried an expectation to hear God speak, to see God move, and have Him guide and lead me in amazing ways.
With this expectation, I went to a workshop called Transformational Teaching by Dr. Michelle Anthony. She talked about the concept of teaching kids “The Big God Story.” The Bible is actually one, big story - the story of how God has worked throughout history, calling His people into relationship with Him. A story that begins with God creating the earth and everything on it; a story that continues in a beautiful garden in Eden and the first act of human rebellion. A story full of a God who wants to set things right and to redeem and restore creation to himself. A story that ends with the nations coming together to spend eternity worshiping the God who created it all. It’s a story all about Him - a story of which we play only a part. One story - between two trees.
So often we teach kids stories from the Bible but we only allow them to see pieces of the bigger story at any given time. Our kids can tell us about Moses and Noah. They know about Joseph and his coat of many colors and about Peter and John, the disciples of Jesus. So often these stories are fragmented, told in isolation. Many times we don’t put these stories into the context of the bigger story where God is central. We make Moses the main character or Noah the hero. In reality, God or Jesus should always be the main character and the hero. What if we taught kids about The Big God Story and shared with them the truth that they play a supporting role in this story, just like Moses and Noah, and Peter and Paul. God has worked through men and women throughout history and God can work through us, too. When we allow children to see themselves as a part of this bigger story, we invite them to feel the awe of being part of something way bigger than themselves. “We can tell them the concrete stories of history in the context of the bigger picture, and we can create opportunities for them to put what they are learning into action,” writes Michelle Anthony.
Michelle Anthony also says that we need to “make the Jesus of Revelation known to our children - to make Him the hero of our lives.” I’m not sure I would have gotten that if God didn’t start echoing to me weeks before. I’m not sure if I would have be challenged to make this mind-shift. The Big God Story might not have had the same effect on me - if He hadn’t started getting my attention (using the end of time) and if He hadn’t continued to echo. If He hadn’t started at the end, I might have missed the big picture.
“At the heart of our Christian faith is a story ... Unless the story is known, understood, owned, and lived, we and our children will not have faith.” John Westerhoff
May you know today that you are a part of the greatest story ever told. And may we strive to teach this story to our children.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Who You Know
Fun Night is the biggest fundraiser of the year for my kids' school. The evening is full of carnival games, food, and Silent Auction baskets. My family joined in the fun this past weekend - and it was great, as always. Just before we were ready to leave, we had a brief mix-up in dinner plans. Long story short, we ended up with $10 worth of extra tickets for food. Lee tried to sell them back but the people at the ticket table just laughed at him. Poor guy. A friend said that she would take them and get the money back at the end of the night. "It's all in who you know," she said. Isn't that the truth? She took the tickets, gave us ten bucks, and that was that.
The next night I was invited to go to a Hoe-down school fundraiser with another friend. She had played the role of "Elvira" for the promotional videos and was able to bring a couple friends along at no charge. When we got there, instead of paying our $50 to get it, my friend said, "They are with me." Sure enough, our names were on the list and we walked right in-with free drink tickets, too!
Don't you love "knowing people"? When Lee worked in the restaurant business, I loved going in for dinner - complementary, of course, because I knew the manager. Sometimes it's free drinks at the bar because you know the bartender or free concert tickets because you know the band. Maybe it's just better service because you are friends with someone's boss. When was the last time you had an "in" because you knew someone?
It made me start to wonder .... is that what it will be like when we get to heaven? We'll arrive at the pearly gates and Jesus will nod His head and say, "She's with me." Now that is someone worth knowing! Free parties and free food is nothing compared to free life eternal.
Jesus gives us hints to the benefits of a friendship with Him:
"You are my friends if you do what I command...I have called you friends, for everything I learned from the Father I have made known to you." John 15:14-15
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3
"For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him." John 17:2
But just like it takes work to maintain good friendships on earth, the same is true for our friendship with Jesus. Friendships are two way streets and give and take; good communication is needed. Who wants a friend who just uses you for their own benefit? I don't think that we can just play the "I know Jesus card" and call ourselves good.
Jesus asks a lot from us. No one said that following Him was going to be easy. We spend a lifetime trying to figure out how to be like Him and trying to do what He would have us do. But even when we mess up, He loves us still. He never turns His back on us, as long as we keep trying. He's always there, waiting to welcome us back with open arms.
Now that's a friend.
The next night I was invited to go to a Hoe-down school fundraiser with another friend. She had played the role of "Elvira" for the promotional videos and was able to bring a couple friends along at no charge. When we got there, instead of paying our $50 to get it, my friend said, "They are with me." Sure enough, our names were on the list and we walked right in-with free drink tickets, too!
Don't you love "knowing people"? When Lee worked in the restaurant business, I loved going in for dinner - complementary, of course, because I knew the manager. Sometimes it's free drinks at the bar because you know the bartender or free concert tickets because you know the band. Maybe it's just better service because you are friends with someone's boss. When was the last time you had an "in" because you knew someone?
It made me start to wonder .... is that what it will be like when we get to heaven? We'll arrive at the pearly gates and Jesus will nod His head and say, "She's with me." Now that is someone worth knowing! Free parties and free food is nothing compared to free life eternal.
Jesus gives us hints to the benefits of a friendship with Him:
"You are my friends if you do what I command...I have called you friends, for everything I learned from the Father I have made known to you." John 15:14-15
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3
"For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him." John 17:2
But just like it takes work to maintain good friendships on earth, the same is true for our friendship with Jesus. Friendships are two way streets and give and take; good communication is needed. Who wants a friend who just uses you for their own benefit? I don't think that we can just play the "I know Jesus card" and call ourselves good.
Jesus asks a lot from us. No one said that following Him was going to be easy. We spend a lifetime trying to figure out how to be like Him and trying to do what He would have us do. But even when we mess up, He loves us still. He never turns His back on us, as long as we keep trying. He's always there, waiting to welcome us back with open arms.
Now that's a friend.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Peace
Our Israeli tour guide's name was Alan. Except for the time that we were in Jordan, Alan led us from site to site, explained historical events, read us Scripture, and helped us picture the Holy Land at the time of Jesus. Alan told us many stories - including his own.
Alan was a secular Jew who grew up in New Jersey. His family didn't practice religion and he didn't really care to know anything about it. When he was a young adult he visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. The experience changed him. It affected him so deeply inside that for the first time in his life he felt a desire to know more about his people. So he went to Israel. He lived in a Kibbutz (small Jewish community) for awhile and finally decided to become an official citizen of Israel. He has been there for 25 years now - and has become an expert of the history, the land and the culture. He is now a practicing Orthodox Jew - very devout in his faith.
One evening during dinner conversation, the Pastor over our group, Dale, was asked if he had ever spoken to Alan about his faith and about Christianity. Since they have been good friends for many years, naturally they have had many of those conversations. Dale said that although many things affect Alan's beliefs, there are two main reasons why he can't buy into Christianity - even though he has way more Biblical knowledge than I have.
First, he can't get past God's first two Commandments (Exodus 20:1-2):
1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything...For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...
You see, Christians have come in an built churches over everything and anything they think might be remotely related to Jesus - enormous shrines with gold and gody crosses, candles and pictures. The best (or perhaps worst) example was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. When you walk in the church there is a rock - a wet rock - where they supposedly laid out Jesus' body after the took Him down from the cross. People were laying all over that rock ... wiping the water on their faces and their bags and their crucifixes. Bowing down to it and kissing it. And then you go up some stairs and there is a line that you can stand in - to see the rock of Golgotha. When it's your turn, you can crawl under a golden alter and reach your hand into a hole, to touch this "holy rock" - surrounded by ornate golden ... stuff. Then on the other side of the church you can wait in another line to enter this walk-through shrine of a room, which holds supposedly the tomb of Jesus. Again - gold threw up all over it. I just couldn't do it. It was so disappointing. And yet these churches are everywhere. They are at Gethsemane, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Mount of Beatitudes, over Peter's house at Capernaum, Feeding of the 5000 church ... the list goes on and on. To a Jewish person, to Alan, it seems like idolatry. I completely understand.
The second thing Alan can't get past is the Holocaust. Hitler, who was responsible for slaughtering of 6 million Jews (11-17 million people when you count the non-Jewish disabled, homosexuals and religious and political opponents), was a Christian. He used the Bible to justify his actions. He used the words of Martin Luther to further his cause. Over half of the Jewish race, wiped off the face of the earth in the name of Jesus. He just can't understand how a Christian could do this - and doesn't want to be any part of what Hitler was apart of. Regardless of the argument, I don't understand either. We went to Yad Vashem while we were in Jerusalem. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The site covers 45 acres containing a Holocaust History Museum, Children's Memorial (that honors the 1.5 million children who lost their lives), and the Hall of Remembrance that houses the names of every known person who was murdered. There is also a garden with trees planted in honor of every known non-Jewish person who risked their lives to save a Jew. I have been to Dachau, a concentration camp in Germany, and this memorial site brought back that same solemn, sad, eerie feeling that I felt there. It is hard to wrap your mind around all that happened during those seven years. I didn't think I could even make it through the Children's Memorial - nothing inside of me even wanted to enter. Their pictures, their faces, but 1.5 million lights are reflected in there, representing their lights that were put out early - it hurt my heart. The Holocaust still haunts most Jews.
I've been thinking a lot about Alan lately - about the path he has chosen. I've always respected Jewish people - I love to learn about their history and their culture. I think I understand their struggles a lot more now having been to their land. They have been fighting for their existence for thousands and thousands of years. Did you know that every Israeli person is mandated by law to join the Israeli army for at least three years when they turn 18? No college, no way out - you must serve your country. They are still fighting to survive. I know that the other side has their arguments, too. I was able to hear some of both sides of the story ... and the division among the land and the people is very sad. I'm sad they don't have the freedom and forgiveness Jesus can bring.
We are blessed to live in this country, to be Americans. We sit and argue about our differences, but our division is not actual life or death to our families. From the beginning, Alan and Shimon(our bus driver) would say, "Say a prayer for peace in Israel." By the end of the trip, I understood why that is so important to them. For the ritual of it all, I stood at the Western Wall and I prayed... "Peace for Fellowship" and "Peace for Israel."
Alan was a secular Jew who grew up in New Jersey. His family didn't practice religion and he didn't really care to know anything about it. When he was a young adult he visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. The experience changed him. It affected him so deeply inside that for the first time in his life he felt a desire to know more about his people. So he went to Israel. He lived in a Kibbutz (small Jewish community) for awhile and finally decided to become an official citizen of Israel. He has been there for 25 years now - and has become an expert of the history, the land and the culture. He is now a practicing Orthodox Jew - very devout in his faith.
One evening during dinner conversation, the Pastor over our group, Dale, was asked if he had ever spoken to Alan about his faith and about Christianity. Since they have been good friends for many years, naturally they have had many of those conversations. Dale said that although many things affect Alan's beliefs, there are two main reasons why he can't buy into Christianity - even though he has way more Biblical knowledge than I have.
First, he can't get past God's first two Commandments (Exodus 20:1-2):
1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything...For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...
You see, Christians have come in an built churches over everything and anything they think might be remotely related to Jesus - enormous shrines with gold and gody crosses, candles and pictures. The best (or perhaps worst) example was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. When you walk in the church there is a rock - a wet rock - where they supposedly laid out Jesus' body after the took Him down from the cross. People were laying all over that rock ... wiping the water on their faces and their bags and their crucifixes. Bowing down to it and kissing it. And then you go up some stairs and there is a line that you can stand in - to see the rock of Golgotha. When it's your turn, you can crawl under a golden alter and reach your hand into a hole, to touch this "holy rock" - surrounded by ornate golden ... stuff. Then on the other side of the church you can wait in another line to enter this walk-through shrine of a room, which holds supposedly the tomb of Jesus. Again - gold threw up all over it. I just couldn't do it. It was so disappointing. And yet these churches are everywhere. They are at Gethsemane, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Mount of Beatitudes, over Peter's house at Capernaum, Feeding of the 5000 church ... the list goes on and on. To a Jewish person, to Alan, it seems like idolatry. I completely understand.
The second thing Alan can't get past is the Holocaust. Hitler, who was responsible for slaughtering of 6 million Jews (11-17 million people when you count the non-Jewish disabled, homosexuals and religious and political opponents), was a Christian. He used the Bible to justify his actions. He used the words of Martin Luther to further his cause. Over half of the Jewish race, wiped off the face of the earth in the name of Jesus. He just can't understand how a Christian could do this - and doesn't want to be any part of what Hitler was apart of. Regardless of the argument, I don't understand either. We went to Yad Vashem while we were in Jerusalem. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The site covers 45 acres containing a Holocaust History Museum, Children's Memorial (that honors the 1.5 million children who lost their lives), and the Hall of Remembrance that houses the names of every known person who was murdered. There is also a garden with trees planted in honor of every known non-Jewish person who risked their lives to save a Jew. I have been to Dachau, a concentration camp in Germany, and this memorial site brought back that same solemn, sad, eerie feeling that I felt there. It is hard to wrap your mind around all that happened during those seven years. I didn't think I could even make it through the Children's Memorial - nothing inside of me even wanted to enter. Their pictures, their faces, but 1.5 million lights are reflected in there, representing their lights that were put out early - it hurt my heart. The Holocaust still haunts most Jews.
I've been thinking a lot about Alan lately - about the path he has chosen. I've always respected Jewish people - I love to learn about their history and their culture. I think I understand their struggles a lot more now having been to their land. They have been fighting for their existence for thousands and thousands of years. Did you know that every Israeli person is mandated by law to join the Israeli army for at least three years when they turn 18? No college, no way out - you must serve your country. They are still fighting to survive. I know that the other side has their arguments, too. I was able to hear some of both sides of the story ... and the division among the land and the people is very sad. I'm sad they don't have the freedom and forgiveness Jesus can bring.
We are blessed to live in this country, to be Americans. We sit and argue about our differences, but our division is not actual life or death to our families. From the beginning, Alan and Shimon(our bus driver) would say, "Say a prayer for peace in Israel." By the end of the trip, I understood why that is so important to them. For the ritual of it all, I stood at the Western Wall and I prayed... "Peace for Fellowship" and "Peace for Israel."
Monday, February 22, 2010
An Ancient Blessing
Israel is a very new country, in comparison to the people's history. These people have been occupied and ruled over for most of their existence. But on May 14, 1948, Israel declared their Independence. Still, much of the land that is now Israel was occupied and controlled by Jordan. Then during the "6 Day War" in 1967, Israel took control over all of Jerusalem.
For many years history has been covered by layers of soil. Periods of time, hidden by dirt and rocks. Possessions and tools of people long ago - waiting to be found. Finally, once inhabited caves and ancient villages that lay in ruins are now consistently being discovered by archeologists.
Just a few years ago a cave was discovered in Jerusalem. On the edge of a bluff, in a highly populated, modern part of the New City - somehow, someone found something ancient. I'm sure there is much in Jerusalem that has yet to be excavated - but in this certain cave artifacts were found dating back 2600 years. That is a long time.
The Israelites had just come home from exile in Babylon. The second temple was rebuilt, but it was small in comparison to what Herod would build hundreds of years later. 2600 years ago was the time period of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It was 600 years before Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem. That is a long time ago.
In this cave, among other things, was found a charm that would have been worn around a woman's neck. Inside the charm was a scroll and on the 2600 year old scroll was written these words (see if they sound familiar):
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."
These are the words of Numbers 6:24-26. These words are spoken as a benediction most Sundays by my Pastor at the end of worship. This is the blessing I encourage parents to use to bless their children. These are the words I use to bless my children before they go to sleep. These are the words spoken and cherished by a woman 2600 years ago.
When we read Scripture, very rarely do we think about its history - we don't stop to consider how ancient the words are. Do you know who spoke these words? I didn't. These are the words that the Lord told Moses to speak to Aaron and his sons. It's called "The Priestly Benediction." These are actually God's words. Spoken to Moses for Aaron. Spoken to a woman living in a cave outside of Jerusalem. Spoken to you and to me thousands of years later.
How beautiful are the words of Scripture. I've always known that the Bible is sacred, holy, inspired, wonderful...but I think I've taken it for granted. Scripture is messy. Sometimes it is really hard to understand. It was written to and for and by people long ago. But it is alive, reaching across time and space, finding its way into our hearts. Sometimes finding us in a new way and changing our world forever. And that's what makes it so beautiful.
For many years history has been covered by layers of soil. Periods of time, hidden by dirt and rocks. Possessions and tools of people long ago - waiting to be found. Finally, once inhabited caves and ancient villages that lay in ruins are now consistently being discovered by archeologists.
Just a few years ago a cave was discovered in Jerusalem. On the edge of a bluff, in a highly populated, modern part of the New City - somehow, someone found something ancient. I'm sure there is much in Jerusalem that has yet to be excavated - but in this certain cave artifacts were found dating back 2600 years. That is a long time.
The Israelites had just come home from exile in Babylon. The second temple was rebuilt, but it was small in comparison to what Herod would build hundreds of years later. 2600 years ago was the time period of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It was 600 years before Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem. That is a long time ago.
In this cave, among other things, was found a charm that would have been worn around a woman's neck. Inside the charm was a scroll and on the 2600 year old scroll was written these words (see if they sound familiar):
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."
These are the words of Numbers 6:24-26. These words are spoken as a benediction most Sundays by my Pastor at the end of worship. This is the blessing I encourage parents to use to bless their children. These are the words I use to bless my children before they go to sleep. These are the words spoken and cherished by a woman 2600 years ago.
When we read Scripture, very rarely do we think about its history - we don't stop to consider how ancient the words are. Do you know who spoke these words? I didn't. These are the words that the Lord told Moses to speak to Aaron and his sons. It's called "The Priestly Benediction." These are actually God's words. Spoken to Moses for Aaron. Spoken to a woman living in a cave outside of Jerusalem. Spoken to you and to me thousands of years later.
How beautiful are the words of Scripture. I've always known that the Bible is sacred, holy, inspired, wonderful...but I think I've taken it for granted. Scripture is messy. Sometimes it is really hard to understand. It was written to and for and by people long ago. But it is alive, reaching across time and space, finding its way into our hearts. Sometimes finding us in a new way and changing our world forever. And that's what makes it so beautiful.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Overwhelmed & Adopted
I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed.
Although I won't be actually "working" for six more weeks, I already feel behind. I've double-booked myself several days, there are so many pictures to go through, so many blogs to write - memories to capture before they are erased from my mind. I think culture-shock hits harder coming home. Our America is so different...so fast paced. Being a mom is hard work. Technology surrounds and at times invades us. Not having my church home is kinda hard.
I think that I will slowly sift through my pictures and my notes. I hope to continue writing about my time in Israel, but I know that other things of this world will soon overtake it. But the blog that has most been on my heart is about adoption...
--------------------------------------------------------------
I have no personal connection with adoption. I don't know anyone who has been adopted and don't know anyone who has adopted a baby. The closest thing I know is that I thought I wanted to adopt a "Haiti-Baby" after the earthquake. But, I have no personal investment in what adoption means to real families.
Yet, I know the Bible is full of the mention of adoption. I have been told for years, and having been teaching children for years, that we are adopted into the family of God. I know it on the surface - but what does that even mean?
I witnessed the beauty of adoption on the Mount of Olives. It was one of my favorite moments in Jerusalem.
As you know, God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15, 17). God promised that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham's descendants are children of God - they are God's chosen people. History is full of how God has worked through them and with them - how God has blessed them and punished them. The Old Testament is their heritage.
A few years ago a Messianic Jew came to our church during the season of Lent. He showed us how Christ fits into the Jewish Passover - the symbolism between who He is and what Passover is all about. I was fascinated. Last year during Sunday school the children did a unit on Feasts and Festivals - learning all about Jewish holidays. You always learn by teaching - and I learned a lot about Jewish traditions. I decided then that I wanted to be Jewish. But I'm not Jewish. I know a little about my family ancestry - and I don't think that there is any Jewishness in there at all. But still I admire them and their history.
Being in their land, learning their history, hearing the stories of Abraham and David and their descendants - I was a little jealous it wasn't my history, my heritage. I love learning about genealogy and I want this to be apart of my genealogy.
But wait...it is. Abraham is my "father," too. God's promise to Abraham includes me - I am an heir. How can that be? Adoption.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will - but born of God." John 1:12-13
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29
You see, God was the God of the Israelites. The other people of the world were mainly pagan. They worshiped Baal, or this god or that god. They worshiped idols. They built temples to Greek gods and Roman gods. It was the Israelites who believed that there is only ONE God. Even though there were many times they slipped away - forgot who they were, whose they were, they were God's chosen. Before Christ, my ancestors were most likely pagan. I am a Gentile. Gentiles were pagan and unclean in the sight of God - not heirs of the promise of Abraham. But God sent His Son, Jesus, for all people. To save all of humanity. To be the one God of all.
And so, as I stood on the Mount of Olives I looked around me. People from all over the world had descended upon this place. Languages from every corner of the earth could be heard. A beautiful sound filled the air - a song of worship. I looked and saw a group of Koreans who had gathered to sing praises to our God. A man played his guitar and lead the group in singing. Although I could not understand a word, I knew they were worshiping and I knew who they were worshiping. I stood in awe of the beauty of the moment. These people were definitely not Jewish. But, like me, they had become children of God through adoption - through the blood of Christ.
It is my history and my heritage. Through adoption I am a child of God - loved, saved, and redeemed.
Although I won't be actually "working" for six more weeks, I already feel behind. I've double-booked myself several days, there are so many pictures to go through, so many blogs to write - memories to capture before they are erased from my mind. I think culture-shock hits harder coming home. Our America is so different...so fast paced. Being a mom is hard work. Technology surrounds and at times invades us. Not having my church home is kinda hard.
I think that I will slowly sift through my pictures and my notes. I hope to continue writing about my time in Israel, but I know that other things of this world will soon overtake it. But the blog that has most been on my heart is about adoption...
--------------------------------------------------------------
I have no personal connection with adoption. I don't know anyone who has been adopted and don't know anyone who has adopted a baby. The closest thing I know is that I thought I wanted to adopt a "Haiti-Baby" after the earthquake. But, I have no personal investment in what adoption means to real families.
Yet, I know the Bible is full of the mention of adoption. I have been told for years, and having been teaching children for years, that we are adopted into the family of God. I know it on the surface - but what does that even mean?
I witnessed the beauty of adoption on the Mount of Olives. It was one of my favorite moments in Jerusalem.
As you know, God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15, 17). God promised that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham's descendants are children of God - they are God's chosen people. History is full of how God has worked through them and with them - how God has blessed them and punished them. The Old Testament is their heritage.
A few years ago a Messianic Jew came to our church during the season of Lent. He showed us how Christ fits into the Jewish Passover - the symbolism between who He is and what Passover is all about. I was fascinated. Last year during Sunday school the children did a unit on Feasts and Festivals - learning all about Jewish holidays. You always learn by teaching - and I learned a lot about Jewish traditions. I decided then that I wanted to be Jewish. But I'm not Jewish. I know a little about my family ancestry - and I don't think that there is any Jewishness in there at all. But still I admire them and their history.
Being in their land, learning their history, hearing the stories of Abraham and David and their descendants - I was a little jealous it wasn't my history, my heritage. I love learning about genealogy and I want this to be apart of my genealogy.
But wait...it is. Abraham is my "father," too. God's promise to Abraham includes me - I am an heir. How can that be? Adoption.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will - but born of God." John 1:12-13
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29
You see, God was the God of the Israelites. The other people of the world were mainly pagan. They worshiped Baal, or this god or that god. They worshiped idols. They built temples to Greek gods and Roman gods. It was the Israelites who believed that there is only ONE God. Even though there were many times they slipped away - forgot who they were, whose they were, they were God's chosen. Before Christ, my ancestors were most likely pagan. I am a Gentile. Gentiles were pagan and unclean in the sight of God - not heirs of the promise of Abraham. But God sent His Son, Jesus, for all people. To save all of humanity. To be the one God of all.
And so, as I stood on the Mount of Olives I looked around me. People from all over the world had descended upon this place. Languages from every corner of the earth could be heard. A beautiful sound filled the air - a song of worship. I looked and saw a group of Koreans who had gathered to sing praises to our God. A man played his guitar and lead the group in singing. Although I could not understand a word, I knew they were worshiping and I knew who they were worshiping. I stood in awe of the beauty of the moment. These people were definitely not Jewish. But, like me, they had become children of God through adoption - through the blood of Christ.
It is my history and my heritage. Through adoption I am a child of God - loved, saved, and redeemed.
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