They Might Not Notice!

It's true! I didn't mention race or ethnicity for about 2 years of my preaching ministry for fear that the predominantly white congregation that I minister to might notice that I was black! And the thinking was literally this: If I don't mention it they might not notice. As if that would work. And as crazy as that sounds we do it all the time with the sin in our lives. If I don't say anything they might not notice. As if people, if they took the time to look, could not see the signs and markings of sin in a persons life. I mean I'm not a sin monitoring machine and I certainly don't go around looking intently in order to spot the signs of sin in people's lives. But it isn't all that hard to spot. Inconsistency in speech and action, distance and distraction, an inability to be authentic; its all there if you look for it. But you don't have to even do that because we all fall short and that "all" stacks the deck in favor of everyone having some sort of sin in their lives. So it can't be hidden. And instead of confronting the sin head on we, "just won't speak of it". But scripture counter intuitively says speak of it, say it, confess it, own it. For only then can you eradicate it. Confession is a launching pad for redemption and forgiveness. I've become more authentic in front of people now that I speak of race and heritage and culture. And I think the same can be said of sins, shortcomings, and struggles. Get real with it. Find someone, not a bunch of people, but someone who is a safe place and let that stuff go! If the story stays inside of you it controls you but once released you control it. You have contained it in language. God has something to work with when you are authentic and available. Confession places you on the Potter's wheel.

Being, Becoming, and Heavy Stuff I'm Trying to Figure Out

One of the truths of spiritual formation is this: We all have a desire to be as well as to become. Keith Anderson in a lecture on the topic shared that we want self definition and self transcendence. And we move from this place of being to the place of becoming. We have a longing to be transformed. This is why the motif of pilgrimage or journey is seen throughout the Bible and in books that attempt to embody our faith. We have a deep longing to define our identity and to determine our destiny. As Christians it is important to own our identity as the beloved of God. We have to embrace the fact that we are the children of God. We have to take hold of the fact that we are followers of Christ. This is the essential step that must proceeds action. We can't determine how to act, how to proceed toward becoming until we truly embrace our being. If we don't, we end up doing seemingly good things and sometimes end up with wrong results; because the action did not proceed from the right place of being. But once we own the being God determined for us; that identity becomes the launching pad for action. And conversely the more we act from that God determined place the act itself solidifies our identity as the beloved follower of Christ. The being determines the action and the action further defines the being.

You Prepare a Table Before Me in the Presence of My Enemies

I can't tell you how struck I was by the thought that I saw it all wrong. I now see the 5th verse of the 23rd Psalm totally different! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. The thought that this verse is not so much about me gaining the upper hand on my enemies by God blessing me before them. As a disciple of Christ I can't imagine as I sit at Jesus' feet he would actually say, "I will bless you in front of all of your foes so you can feel good and they can feel bad." No!!!! Now keep in mind God does favor those who have committed their lives to Him. He will use our divine favor to convict others of sin and convince them of His grace. But more and more I don't believe that is the point of the verse in the 23rd Psalm. After dealing with years and years of conflict resolution and forgiveness and reconciliation work with church members and husbands and wives I see this verse totally different. Could it be this verse is about God getting all of us together in table fellowship. Where as in ancient times the host offers peace and renewed relationship with those at his table. God does the same for us. Shepherding us; leading us to His table. Where we are forgiven and find our way back into right relationship with Him. Where we then have an opportunity to offer peace to our enemies at that same table. We forgive them because God has forgiven us. My prayer: Peace please give way to peace.

The Roots of Faith Grow Deep in Dark Valleys

I shared this thought yesterday in service. And while I hate it, it is certainly true. The roots of faith do grow deep in dark valleys. After church Kathy told me that the reason they grow deep in the valley is because that's where all of the "fertilizer" is. She was so right. Unfortunately it seems as if we need our hands forced to have faith in God. And the fertilizer of life pushes us to grow. For when it pills up we come to grips that it is too much for us to deal with alone. Which provides us an opportunity to turn to God.

I Don't Like Turkey

You know every year I stuff myself with turkey. Drown it in gravy. Carefully place a portion on my fork with just the right accompaniment of dressing and cranberry sauce. Scarf it down and go for more. I've done this every year for quite a long time. Except for this year. I've come to realize I'm forcing myself to eat it and truth be told I really don't like turkey. This is another addition of a growing list of things I consume that in truth I do not like. Turkey goes on the list with coffee and modern jazz. All things I have consumed in mass quantities for several years. I think I like the idea of those things just not the things themselves. I think this list is being developed the older I get. Because the older I get the more I'm sluffing off all of the things that are not authentically me. I am on a quest for authenticity. A me that really can't stand turkey, or bitter coffee, or self pity, or cowardice. But what's funny I'm beginning to think this authentic me is the me God intended for me to be instead of the one society or my on insecurities have made me out to be. But what I'm really trippin' off of is discovering that there are things about myself that I have just done out of habit more than actual preference. For years I've gotten up every morning and fixed coffee I really don't like; eaten turkey I really don't like. What other stuff is in me like that. Sins and behaviors that I just do that are done just because I've gotten into a groove with them. This becoming is no small task. Truthfully it sucks. But my sense is that I'm getting there. I just got to figure out what I'm going to eat for Christmas dinner now.

Bearing Crosses

We are no more like Christ than when we take responsibility for things we didn't mess up. I am so good at seeing messes that other people make. In their lives; in the lives of other people; messes in their homes and on their jobs; interpersonal relationships; family strife. All of those messes!!!!! Its like the proverbial juice stain in the carpeting of their lives. And many times I'm like my little sons. If I see a stain I'll ask, "why didn't you wipe that up?" And they will say, " Cuss' I didn't spill it." And I too will see problems arise and if I didn't contribute to the problem I don't see the need to stoop down and do anything about it besides stating in my infinite wisdom, "Wow what a mess!"

What if God did that? What if he judged us and our messes and stood back and merely said, "Wow, what a mess!" What if God took the stance, "Let the one who made the mess clean up the mess." No, God through Jesus Christ took responsibility for our mess even though He had absolutely positively nothing to do with the mess!!!! Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. He contributed not a drop in the deep pool of human sin. But instead of saying, "Clean that up." Jesus says I'll take responsibility for my beloved's mistakes.

Now the wonder of this truth is this: What if we lived in that manner? What if we became part of the solutions to other peoples messes? I mean intentionally and consistently determine to help, heal,& hold those around us who mess up. Instead of stating the obvious; instead of blaming; instead of accusing; we lovingly stoop down and try to do something to help in the cleansing process. In our homes, on our jobs, in the world.

I'm beginning to believe that is what is meant by bearing our cross.

In the throws of Worship

I had the greatest time while I was gone. I preached a gospel meeting at Center Point church of Christ in Rogersville Missouri, right outside of Springfield and I went to the Zoe Conference in Nashville directly after the meeting. In Rogersville I preached 4 days to a small rural congregation. How small? One of the Elders assured me if people brought their dogs there would be about 60 there. And praise be to God there where more than 60 there and each and every one of them had voices like angels. The singing was wonderful. Mostly older hymns. And the rafters of that church shook with the beautiful sound coming from older men and women, country, rural folk; all giving praise to God. Then I went to Nashville. Huge church! Thousands of people in one place. Being lead by a praise team singing praise songs. And it was wonderful!!! And while both experiences were different they were both right. And it had nothing to do with style or number. It had everything to do with the fact that God was in our midst and He was the focus of our attention and adoration. Young, old, big, small, rural, urban, contemporary, traditional none of those things mean anything in the presence of God. What did Isaiah say when he found himself in the midst of a living God? I am undone. And so are all of our differences.