Why Do You Do This?

Acts 1:1-8 contains an incredibly speedy review -- Jesus came, taught, died, resurrected, and taught some more -- which sets the scene for the next three verses. He promised again the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would empower the disciples to tackle their God-given mission. Then "he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight."

"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going..." Makes sense, doesn't it? This Jesus, their Savior and Teacher and Lord, was not just leaving, but leaving in a pretty spectacular manner. I wonder how long the disciples would have stood there watching if not interrupted by the "two men dressed in white" who prompted them with this question: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?"

It reminds me of the question asked of the women by two similar figures at Jesus' empty tomb: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5), and it reminds me that God does not meet my expectations of how the world works.

Everything Changed

Jesus spent three years in ministry on earth, and it changed everything in the lives of those who followed him. He healed sick people, liberated spiritually oppressed people, welcomed rejected people, taught seeking people, challenged wrong people, and loved all people. His disciples would never be the same after encountering the Messiah...

Getting Ready

The worship team gathers for about an hour on Sunday mornings to finalize preparations for worship. They rehearse the music, clarify the order of service, adjust the sound system. Like the Levites of the Old Testament, they do not just sing; they lead the way into the presence of God.

They are getting ready right now. I have joined them occasionally over the years, and know more or less what they're probaly doing. Dave makes sure things are ready for the team, Phil adjusts the sound system, Deanna and Jen set up the computer. Then, before anything else, they come together for prayer. It is a significant time in the life of this group, and therefore in the life of our church.

I am thankful for this group of committed people who do not take themselves too seriously, but do not take worship lightly. I look forward to joining them soon for a great morning focused on our great God.

Fear and Courage

Gideon was hiding in a winepress, trying to thresh his wheat without being noticed by the enemy troops, when he was called by God to lead His people into war. He gathered 32,000 men to fight, though this was still a small force compared to the many swordsmen of the Midianites. That's when God told Gideon that the already-outnumbered Israelite army was still too big, so he told "anyone who trembles with fear" to go home, and 2 out of every 3 men left. Even then God judged the army was too large and sorted them again, leaving only three hundred remaining.

And how did they prepare themselves? Following God's instructions, Gideon mustered his little army during the night's middle watch and issued each person a trumpet, a big empty jar, and a torch. He divided them into three groups and directed them to places around the enemy camp. And so they went -- in the dark, in the presence of their enemies, thinly spread, greatly outnumbered and poorly armed.

Those three hundred men were to follow the lead of Gideon, the one who had just recently been called out of hiding and into war. On his signal, each person in that tiny little army was to blow his trumpet, smash a jar, yell, and hold up a bright torch. Can you imagine a more foolhardy battle plan? There was no way, based on human understanding, they could possibly survive this encounter. Yet those three hundred men followed, trusting God's direction. Such courage!

I don't think those men entered that battle situation without fear, but their fear was tempered by trust in God and by their recognition that something else -- obedience to God -- trumped fear. That is the kind of courage I want to cultivate in my life, and to help others cultivate as well.

There are plenty of God-given commands which would fit here, but the one that comes to mind today is we are to take the initiative to restore right relationship after offending -- or being offended by -- another person. Too often fear keeps us from taking that step. What if they won't forgive me? What if they won't acknowledge they've done something wrong? What if they say something bad about me to another person?

Those fears are often very real, but still quite irrelevant. Our fears need to be tempered by trust in God, and by recognition that something else -- obedience to God -- trumps fear.

(This story of Gideon is found in Judges 6-7.)

Protected by Time

Time is a gift.

It doesn't always seem that way. When there is so much going on, so much busyness, it seems like a barrier. "If only I had more time..." I feel stuck in time, limited by it. But time is a moment-by-moment reminder that I don't need to do everything, that I am not created to do everything. It prompts me to discover what is most important and to prioritize. This is a lifelong process, and it is a spiritual discipline.

The confines of time seem to bind sometimes, but this is the platform from which we can begin to see clearly.

Preparation in Prayer

In the Christian tradition, the weeks (approximately 40 days, but that's another discussion) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday are known as the Season of Lent. It is a time particularly devoted to prayer, confession, self-denial and service, a time to prepare our souls for intense and personal remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection.

While speaking recently with Jason M, he shared some from his journey through Lent. With his permission, I'd like to share it also with you:

Before Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem, he prayed, and his was a prayer of repentance. During this Lent season, let this passage fill you, for God is at work in Salt Lake City, and he is building His church. However, we should approach this in humbleness and not in pride, and what better way to humble ourselves than to repent and expose our authentic hearts to His awesome presence like Nehemiah did:

"Then I said: 'O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his commandment of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my Father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying "If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if you exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to a place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name."
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.'
I was cupbearer to the king."

-- Nehemiah 1:5-11

How are you preparing your soul?

Mighty Warrior

"The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

These words were on my mind as I entered the hospital to visit a friend today. He does not look like our culture's perception of mightiness; he is quite weak, and cannot currently speak. Even a task like raising his arms is often too much. But God is with him, and I saw a mighty warrior.

"The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Judges 6 introduces a man named Gideon as he threshes wheat in a winepress due to the country being pretty much overrun by their enemies. Gideon was hiding fearfully; he didn't look much like the mighty warrior he was called to be by the angel of the Lord. But "mighty warrior" was not about physical strength or courageous feelings; it spoke of a much deeper, soul-level identity. God saw what we could not.

My friend today communicated with me the best he could. These are very difficult times, but his trust in God gives him courage and strength. A battle is being fought there, and I am so grateful to know that the Lord is with this mighty warrior every step of the way.

Pennies

I had a plastic penny bank when I was a kid. It was perhaps ten inches tall, shaped like a little girl, very durable. That is where my penny collection started. It was just for pennies; other coins were kept somewhere more useful, more accessible. I didn't keep other coins long-term.

The penny bank was full before I entered junior high. The stash was eventually transferred into a bigger plastic bank shaped like a Coca-Cola bottle, and more recently into a sturdy bucket which started as a container for dog biscuits. I've had some of these pennies for thirty years.

Consider a penny - a small, lightweight little thing. Hardly noticeable at all. But they add up.

My penny collection is measured now in weight, not pieces. It has reached thirty-eight pounds. Lifting the bucket carries potential for injury if done incorrectly. It causes some painful toe stubbage, too, when I'm not careful.

My bucket of pennies is a lot like bitterness.

A lot of slights are really rather small - a sarcastic comment, an unreturned call, an off-hand remark, a dismissive look. But, like my pennies, so many of these low-value items gather and become baggage that gets in the way of life, often causing pain to us and to others.

But we can shift the metaphor, too, and my bucket of pennies is also like gratitude.

Most gifts are small, like pennies - a friendly smile on a difficult day, a door held open for you as you carry a cumbersome package, a note in the mail, an older friend reading with your child. My bucket of little pennies is worth around $63. Like so many pennies, we can collect little gifts of gratitude and see their value together.

What are you collecting, and what are you choosing to let go?