I know that full well

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Do you? Are you fully convinced about the ever-present, lavish abundance of God’s work in your life? When was the last time your breath was taken away by the incredible design and artistry of the Almighty?

While in Alaska this summer, my family walked into the performing arts center in Anchorage to watch a short film on the Northern Lights. I had wanted to see them live, but was told that the summer was the worst time of the year to catch them. So settling into a theater to watch them on screen was a bit underwhelming.

Until I saw them in action.

Hues of green, red, blue, and yellow lit up the sky like ballerinas twirling and leaping across the global stage. Waves of colors flickered and splashed effortlessly around the dark horizon, provoking incredible displays of momentary beauty. The blackness of space provided the perfect canopy for God to paint the sky with a majestic spectacle of his glorious handicraft.

I sat in my seat, mesmerized by what I saw. One cannot watch this phenomenon unmoved. Then a little spark began welling up inside me, an urge that moved me deeply enough that I started to cry. I wanted to worship God right then and there; jump up and down, clap and cheer, hold my hands up in humbled awe at what I saw on film.

We and the world we inhabit truly are a masterful achievement. That might sound arrogant at first, but if you look at it through the lens of recognizing the scope and shape of who we are and how we are made, one cannot but acknowledge that a truly gifted and expert Craftsman designed all this.

I see this happening in two ways:

We are an incredible product. Seriously, we are a complex creation. Regardless of how marred we are by the presence and effects of sin, we retain a Dynamite Design that continues to preside to this day even in the face of sin, death, and darkness. It's like a tiny flickering candle in a dark winter's night.

We undergo and incredible process. When we give our lives to Christ, we begin a remarkable process whereby God radically changes us from the inside out – all the while we are living in the land of half-way-there, not-quite-what-I-had-in-mind,  already-but-not-yet. And we’re surrounded by half-finished projects (or half-baked, if you will) that God is not finished with yet either.

This fall, as we begin our march of togetherness in our growth groups, do not lose sight of the amazing reality that is at work among us, in front of our very own eyes. It’s a work often times hidden, but nonetheless real and ongoing in the hearts and lives of your group members.

May you see, with your own hearts and eyes, the truly majestic dance of light the Father is showcasing for his Glory and our salvation in the lives of your group members.

Just like you and me

I’ve been spending Thursday mornings at a local rescue mission, working in the kitchen to help prep food for meals for the residents and people off the street. I love it. One morning, I got to slice up 40 lbs. of beef. They were calling me “the butcher” by the time the morning was over. The crew is a lively bunch, as you can tell.

On one occasion, one person introduced himself to me, with my prompt response being “how long have you been a resident here?” To which he clarified “I work here. I’m on staff.” Oops.

Once the embarrassment of that moment subsided for me, it led me to a reflective thought: as I scanned the room, I realized that it was hard to tell the difference between staff and resident. This is not meant as a slam to the staff; it’s meant as a realization of just how close we all truly are with one another.

It reminded me of how at a similar stage we all are when it comes to the need for God’s abiding grace. On this matter, we’re all in the same boat. Regardless of circumstances, appearances, and surface level manners, every one of us is greatly in need of the love of Christ. At the foot of the cross, we truly are one and the same.

It also brought to mind the story Jesus told in Matthew 25 about broken people in great need of love and redemption, and the choice that some made to step up and contribute. One of the questions that people in the story asked the Son of Man was “When did we see you in need?”

To both those who chose to love others, and those who chose to ignore the need, the presence of God might not have been easy to spot. But Jesus’ response is penetratingly clear: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” In a way, those who chose not to help never saw it coming. They never saw the need because it wasn’t written in the sky or flashed in front of them with neon letters. It was easy for them to miss the need, and focus on something else. And miss God in the process.

When Adolf Eichmann, famous Nazi war criminal, was brought to trial, one writer who covered the affair was astonished at what she saw: a person who looked as normal as the common man or woman on the street. It left her with an uneasy realization that a man who could commit unspeakable horror would not appear as a hideous monster, but instead just like you and me.

Just like you and me. That’s what every desperate, broken, hurting, wounded person on earth looks like. The choice for us as followers of Christ is to decide whether or not they are a worthy recipient of the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ answer is a resounding yes. 

What will yours be?

Year of the Servant

©iStockphoto.com/NatanaelGinting

Ok, so there’s no Chinese calendar year by that name – it certainly sounds more ennobling than rat, pig, or donkey, right? (Apparently, this year, it’s the year of the Horse. I was born in the year of the Goat. Yippee.)

I was thinking the other day about themes for this year; words or phrases that I would want to rally my heart around; that resonated in me; that would remind me of the primary, essential, majorly important truths for my lie that God has been articulating to me recently.

One word has continued to return again and again – servant.

It has been a slow emergence in my soul over the past few years that to live humbly and look for ways to give of myself to others is at the core of what it means both to follow Christ and also to serve others in love. By being sensitive to His promptings, I am practicing the very obedience I pray for and desire in my personal times with Him.

And it’s clear from the Scriptures that this focus on being a servant is at the bullseye of its message for us. In reality, it's at the center of the 2nd part of the Great Commandment - to love your neighbor as yourself.

It’s clear from scriptures that God desires us to have other-centered hearts and serve others in love. We read in Galatians 5:13 that "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."

It’s clear from scriptures that serving others not like yourself, or giving to those hurting and in desperate need demonstrates the redemptive dignity of actually blessing Jesus Christ himself.  in Matthew 25:40, we read that Jesus said "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

It’s evidently clear that He uniquely equips us in different ways and degrees to share and give out of the strengths that we have so we can bless others. (Romans 12:6-8)

The Word is clear also that as we engage in love with others – serving where it’s needed, giving out of the overflow of what God’s giving us – we are providing a moment to glimpse the very heart and presence of Jesus in our midst.

So as I embark upon this chronological journey through time over the next 11 months, I am hopeful that my heart and mind will be open, receptive, and sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit – that when He calls me to stop me in my daily traffic jams and make a move with Him to help another, I am responsive and not resistant to Him.

I hope you'll be willing to join me and discover the passion of God to see a world blessed due to your service.

May you also discover the joy, the satisfaction, and the new ventures that arise from those moments where you listen and respond to the Holy Spirit and make this year the Year of the Servant.

Waste can be good

“When scarce resources become abundant, smart people treat them differently, [utilizing] them rather than conserving them. It feels wrong, but done right it can change the world. The problem is that abundant resources are too often treated as scarce.” – Chris Anderson, Wired

OK, I know I’ve just upset some of my efficiency-expert friends with this one. But it’s true – when it comes to developing relationships. What can seem to be the most un-relevant and unintentional moment towards spiritual formation can actually be a moment that will accelerate the process later.

There are times when the things members are doing – chatting about the weather, the kids, the latest sports teams – can be seen as very wasteful of your time. Yet they can also be the very thing creating the bonds of friendship that later are needed when the conversations turn deeper and more reflective, more vulnerable.

Leaders are task-oriented people. We want to accomplish things. They evaluate the day by how much was finished. My wife is exceptional with this. Most people plan to do four things, finish two—and call it a good day. She plans ten things, does seven—and then feels like she had a disappointing and unproductive day.

We do the same with our small groups. We have our start time, our end time, our timed-out minutes for discussion and prayer. And we strive to keep our segues clear, transitions quick—all to timely arrive at the end of our lesson at our group ending time, with a few minutes to spare to pick up the kids.

But here’s what we may be subtly communicating: grace is scarce. While we know time is a locked in commodity, grace can be seen and shown in different ways. It doesn’t arrive or reveal itself in the same ways, and we may miss the moment if we’re focused on the task at hand and not the opportunity for grace to be revealed in it. We have a God who is profuse and lavish with his dispersal of grace; we don’t need to skimp and be afraid to be generous with it also.

So when you’re sitting in your chair, ready to steam roll through the night’s agenda, and two ladies are catching up about the kids, you can feel the hairs on your neck rise. Your blood pressure elevates. You pulse quickens. Your brain kicks in and begins to re-calculate how much time each section is going to need, while your dwindling minutes tick away between two gabbies carrying on about pre-school or music camp.

Relax. Seriously, chill.

Now for some leaders, your biggest challenge is getting started and keeping the group moving in a timely fashion. If it’s 8pm, and you’re still on the ice breaker, then yes, you may not be utilizing your time well. Leadership is the challenge of balancing different, and sometimes even competing, values at the same time. So for you, work on the value of time, while you practice the value of people.

Leaders, here’s a tip: Make your task people. Make it part of your check list that you spend a good amount of time talking and listening to your members in settings other than the Bible study discussion. You could even separate it and make it before and after the meeting altogether.

May you enjoy the "wasted" moments of your time together spent in the abundant grace of Jesus Christ.

Take a moment and ask yourself...

These are 10 great questions to ask yourself in a moment of reflection and silence before God.

Each one touches an important area of your walk with Jesus.
 
Copy and paste them to your mobile device, print a copy, or read the article for further thoughts on each item:

• Am I progressively moving away from sin?

• Is God's Word food to me and am I spending time in it? 

• Am I worshipping as a lifestyle, both privately and corporately? 

• Am I demonstrating and sharing my faith regularly by what I say and how I do things?

• Am I stretching my faith regularly, stepping out of my comfort zone to a place where I depend on God? 

• Am I daily talking and listening to God in prayer? 

• Have I been alone with God enough to hear his voice? 

• Am I serving with the abilities God has given me? 

• Am I farther along in my relationship with God than I was a year ago? 

• Have I made myself accountable to other trustworthy Christians for my spiritual maintenance and growth?

Article 

Home away from home

Last year, I went to Ethiopia with one of our missions teams. We flew back afterwards and touched down at Dulles very early in the morning. This was my fourth trip abroad for a mission, so I was used to the travel involved.

What I found striking was that each and every time we’ve touched down on American soil after a trip abroad, most of the plane breaks out in cheers and applause for finally being home. It never fails. The land of the free and the home of the brave just causes an impromptu cheer for those of us returning to loved ones, families, and our homes.

It makes me wonder what heaven will be like when we finally get there. Some of us have been waiting for a long time, you know. Seventeen hours in the air can make one start to wonder if their new living room is going to be the flight attendant’s prepping station next to the bathrooms.


New citizens being sworn in...

I remember one trip across the Atlantic after a mission trip to India. We hit turbulence somewhere around England, and endured it the entire way across the Atlantic till we landed in Washington. I was more relieved than excited to finally get off the plane and touch the terra firma. The flight was a disaster, but the end had come. The journey was over. We were home, citizens in our own country.

Paul writes in Philippians 3: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Aaron, in his part deux on Community, touched on the concept of being citizens of heaven. We are bonded together. We are fellow citizens, brothers and sisters in arms, having the same distinction as well as direction. In the far flung corners of the world, others who are fellow citizens with us can become close partners simply because of that common affinity.

So how much more do we owe it to forge the same kind of alliances with those with whom we are bonded to because of Jesus? Frankly, it should be a top priority while we are on earth to develop significant connections and relationships with others who are following Christ.

We are, in a sense, in a far flung corner of the universe, far from home. We owe it to ourselves, as well as our fellow travelers, to link up as early and often as we can, and to live our lives together in such a way that the world is drawn in to notice – not really us, but the presence of the God whom we serve.

I spent one summer in Bangkok, Thailand, which included the fourth of July. It was, frankly, the only time I ever got homesick that entire summer. Missing the celebrations I took for granted every year only deepened my desire to spend that time with others who’d want to celebrate our country's freedom with me.

The international school near the American Embassy hosted a day-long celebration culminating in a fireworks display at night—all for us lonely, home-sick Americans stuck on the opposite side of the globe who happened to live and work there. I never enjoyed an American hot dog as much as I did that day in remembering the home of the free and the land of the brave.

May we have forged in us the heart-felt desires of celebrating and sharing our joy with others who dream of arriving in the eternal land of the free and the home of the faithful.

The rhythm of practicing Jesus

As I listened to Aaron’s message today, I found myself at certain moments wanting to jump up and down, wave a huge neon-lit exclamation point high in the air, chanting “Yes! Yes!” I greatly resonated with his conviction that it’s not our resolves of self-driven efforts that will bring lasting change into our lives, but the frequent practice of habits driven by a heart moved with love, gratitude, and joy in what God had and is doing in our lives. The shift is from simply resolving to do good, to practicing habits that become virtues as they become embedded in our lives.

Quick question: name a place where you can practice these things on a regular, weekly basis. I have a big one for you: a small group. As you engage with others around that table or living room; share your stories, your struggles, your failures and pain; ask for prayer while praying for others—you are weaving the habit of deepening and sharpening your faith while anchoring it into the steady rhythm of your schedule. Not only that—by your willingness to carve out time and space in real time to practice your faith with others, you are securing a presence in both your private world AND public world to your Biblical values and convictions.

Did you know that in large part, the commands of Jesus Christ in the New Testament are relationship-based commands? Do an exhaustive read, and you’ll find twenty-one commands of things we are to practice (love, serve, encourage, forgive), and ten commands of things to avoid doing (slander, criticize)–all within the context of relating to others. Every writer of the New Testament includes a few in their letters to churches or people.

It’s hard to love when you’re isolated from people and live in your own bubble world. It’s tough to honor others when you have nobody to practice that on. It’s easy to accept others when it’s in the theoretical imaginations of your mind; but doing it with real people and personalities gets much, much tougher. Serving is easy and convenient when nobody is connected enough to you relationally to make it inconvenient and sacrificial to your preferences.

This is why I believe so firmly in our growth group ministry. It is the laboratory where you can practice the things you learn in a class at Living Word, or read in scriptures on your own. Remember in college when you had a class that had a laboratory connected to it as part of the requirements? You’d go to class, learn the information, then head to the lab to practice and flesh it out in real time.

The same goes for our spiritual life. We learn on Sunday morning or in our private reading, but until we flesh it out in real time and space, it doesn’t make much of a difference. When we get into the rhythm of practicing our faith, especially in relationships with others, we are challenged to depend on God and ask Him to give us the strength to love others in the ways He wants us to love.

Bottom line: the best place for you to anchor and embed these new desires and values, to forge a real-time and space faith is in a weekly commitment to a small group of friends and followers who are committed like you to asking God to reveal and confirm His purposes and practices in your personal and public world. It will also be the place, when you see them becoming real in your life, that will be the first to celebrate with you the transformation being a disciple of Jesus will make in you.