One flows into another

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.” (Revelation 21:23-25 )

If I place myself in the mind-set of the writer of Revelation, I can understand why it would be desirable to be in a city where there is no night. The fading of light and the coming of darkness brings with it fears and concerns that the light would banish, not to mention elements of the/in the dark – you know, scary, creepy, evil things. And as the author of Revelation says, the light is the glory of God and the lamp that is the Lamb. Those are lights that would never fade. But quite honestly seeker, I am not sure I would want to live in a city where there is no dusk, no sunset, no cool of the evening, no moon rise. And without a sunset, how can there be a sunrise?

But the endlessness of the day is like the endlessness of God’s mission. Because God always was and always will be, God’s mission will continue on. It may change when the Lord comes again, and creation is re-made. But humanity and creation will always have a place in God’s plan, and always a purpose.

Tomorrow, seeker, will turn a new page; or more precisely turn back five years to another year set of scripture verses. During the year 2012 the scripture passages that make up the “Sip of Scripture” will be passages used in Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective . It is actually the second time that I will be writing to and addressing these verses. And I am looking forward to it. The Confession of Faith covers a broad range of topics and themes. While it comes from a Mennonite vantage point, the issues are ones faced by many denominations and faith systems. I invite you to look with me at these verses.

Mennonites believe that God asks us to allow our Christian faith to impact all parts of our life, and the Confession of Faith is one way we define how that is done. To borrow the metaphor from this passage of Revelation, God is the light that shines on our entire lives, and is unending. We walk and live in that light all our days, and nights.

May you seeker never cease in being involved in God’s mission, wherever it may take you. Selah!

Eating as Ministry

“Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ “
( Luke 10: 8-9 )

Our youngest (Steven), when he was little, was a very picky eater. Many days he ate only grilled cheese sandwiches and canned ravioli. I kept worrying about his diet, getting him to eat veggies and all the other kinds of things a mother worries about regarding their children’s eating habits. Now at 6 feet tall the mantra around the household is “Don’t let try something new! He will like it!” Somewhere along the way he decided to be brave and try something new, and discovered a whole world of food and taste buds he never knew existed.

I have to wonder how people going into the mission field where the food is totally different from what they grew up with manage. How do you, with grace and aplomb, tell your native host you would never eat the food before you even if you were starving? Well . . . . I imagine you don’t. Fortunately sharing a communal meal is not the only thing that Jesus asked his disciple to do while they traveled from town to town. But then, they were in their home area, so probably the food choices were known to them,

Perhaps though the quantities and availability of food was not what they were used to. This may be another issue modern missionaries face; those around them may not have the same access to resources for buying or growing food. Perhaps in those instances it is sharing what you, the missionary, have with those around you. I am reminded of a fellow missionary student who felt it was his missional calling to help those around him where he and his wife were stationed find sustainable ways to grow food. What started as an agricultural experiment turned into missional work that is revolutionizing the way food is grown where he is.

Curing the sick takes a skill that not all people have. And prophesying is not something everyone is comfortable with either. But everyone can accept and provide hospitality in the way of food. It is a human need that transcends all cultures and traditions – we all need to eat. And, we all need to make sure that those around us have enough to eat and/or access to food. By supporting this simple and basic need we are saying without words “ The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

May you seeker share not only the bread of life which is Christ, but the bread of life which is our daily bread. Selah!

Being sent, when God is already there

“After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. “ ( Luke 10: 1-2 )

I have heard it said – heard it said far too often – God never sends us things/issues/situations that we cannot handle, or that God does not give us strength to handle. And over the years I have liked that less and less. It makes me feel that there is something wrong with me if I have a tough time with something; it is not a comfort. Far better, I think, is the idea that we are never faced with a situation that Jesus did not already face in his life, and so our Lord is there ever ready to help us through all that we might encounter. So too I like this verse because it says that where the disciples were sent, Jesus was going also. Our Lord did not sent his beloved seventy where he would not go himself. Sure, yes, there are few who will go where they are sent and few who are brave enough to take on what they might encounter. But this verses promises where we are sent, God will be there also. A comforting thought.

Being missional, seeker, does not meaning going somewhere or doing something that God is not already there to help us. We are never sent out alone, but go out with both the support of our fellow believers and workers, and the presence of our Lord. May you willing be sent out, and may you always feel the presence of our Lord, for the Divine is there. Selah!

Becoming God’s Own

“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2: 10-11 )

I saw the most delightful scene today. I was downtown on an errand and saw a young man and a little girl (it could have been a boy) walking hand in hand – he striding along and the little tot skipping along. The little one could not have been more than three. After crossing the street, the little tot dropped his/her father’s hand and lifted his/her arms up to be picked up. The young man never broke stride and leaned down to pick up his child. As they walked on I could see the little tot grinning from ear to ear.

Seeker, we are God’s children. And I think the writer of 1 Peter is a little bit in error, because we have always been God’s children. I understand what the writer of 1 Peter is saying, that once we chose to take on the responsibilities of Christian living, we are formed into God’s people. But even in the darkness of our ignorance and sin, we belonged to God. We just had not asked God to “pick us up” yet.

May you seeker turn away from the “desires of the flesh” and become the people and children of God you were always meant to be. Selah!

Searching for, and finding, God’s light

“To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. “ ( 1 Peter 2: 7-9 )

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas, and one I do not get to do often, is to go around and see Christmas lights. I love Christmas decorations – not, mind you, the ones that are large and inflatable or corny-gimmicky – but lights and decorations that glow with peace and warmth.

When we lived in Indiana there was a medium to high income housing development whose residents would throw lights up with reckless abandon. I loved it! We have some places like that here to in Eugene-Springfield, and during the Christmas season I look forward to driving past them or through them. But it is sort of a secret avocation, this sightseeing Christmas lights, and there are not enough occasions to satisfy my appetite.

I mention now only because of this verse, that we as Christians are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Is this not good pairing, the gentle glowing lights of Christmas and God’s light? God’s light does not have to be glaring, blinding white light. God’s best and most inviting light was the star over Bethlehem. Our modern day Christmas lights might be a poor repetition of that light, and may have gone the way of more commercialism than reverence, but I take my inspiration and enjoyment where I find it. Maybe the homeowners whose lighting displays I admire did not intend to emulate the star over Bethlehem, or maybe they did. But those lights glowing out from the darkness call me to consider and ponder on the birth of Christ, and draw me into the Christmas season.

So number me among those who are in now rush to take down the Christmas adornments that celebrate Jesus birth. I follow the tradition of waiting until sometime in the New Year to pack away Christmas décor, and the very last being the nativity set. In fact I added another set to my collection, and have inserted a picture of it. Because I got it late in the season, I was not able to display it to take best advantage of it. Next year I hope to set it up where it will capture the natural light and glow. It is even more precious to me because was “redeemed” from a second hand store, given “new life” so to speak.

Jesus, in human form, was born only once. But Jesus can be re-born in our hearts as often as needed. That is one of the miracles of Christmas, and one of the ways God’s light beckons and calls to us.

May you seeker carry God’s light in your heart, and may it shine forth especially at this season. Selah!

Believing in Firm Foundations

“For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2: 6 )

The author of 1 Peter is traditionally held to be the apostle Peter – the same Peter that denied Jesus three times in order to save his reputation and pride, and possibly his life. It is nice to read Peter write later on that there is no shame to be had in believing in Christ. We are, however, at Christ’s birth and not his crucifixion. But it is just as an appropriate time to talk about laying a “cornerstone”. That this “cornerstone” is a baby laying in a manager should not deter us from recognizing this significance.

Is it an embarrassment to believe that an innocent baby will become so important to the world? Should we be ashamed of worshiping an infant who can barely hold his head up, much less support the word of God? I think, seeker, hearing Peter’s words at Christmas time is more of a message and calling then at the time of Christ’s crucifixion.

A good span of days back I talked about God having plans to reconcile humanity and creation to the God-self, and that was a plan far before prophets started foretelling of the coming of the Messiah. If there is not shame in believing in Jesus the adult, there should be no shame in believing in Jesus the child, nor in Jesus the foretold Savior.

According to this passage God has specifically chosen this foundation to be significant to God’s people. But to put a firm foundation to good use only the best of materials and techniques should be used. That means us seeker. Let it not be said of you,that you have not put forward you best effort.

May you seeker believe with conviction in the Lord who has called you to build on the foundation that God has laid down in Christ our Savior. Selah!

My Missional Christmas Message

“And the Word became flesh
and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth. “
(John 1:14 )

The greatest of mission of all was not accomplished by humanity, or by creation. The greatest mission was accomplished by God. The mission: to bring about harmony and reconciliation between God and humanity/creation. But because humanity/creation was/is/will be imperfect, the task could only be accomplished by God. And the Lord did so.

In humanity’s “wisdom”, we have created celebrations and traditions around this missional outreach by God. And we have selected a specific time of the year to commemorate this mission. But because the mission was such a large undertaking, the initiation and fulfillment of this mission spans over several months, and over the lifetime on earth of Christ.

This season, seeker, is the beginning of the mission. The birth of our Lord was the birth of God’s missional renew, for God had tried many ways of breaching the gap between us and the Godself.

So hang the garland high. Trim the tree and decorate all the meeting places. Wish each other the merriest and happiest of Advent and Christmas seasons. Let the waiting be over so that we might celebrate God’s gift to us, by giving gifts to each other. Though we may blur and bury the meaning of Christmas does not mean it has disappeared. We must re-discover it everyday by speaking to and caring about each other and creation spreading the good news of God’s love and mercy; it is our task in God’s grand missional work.

Merriest and most joyous of Christmases! Selah! Shalom!

Christ, the Coming of Divine Light

“I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. “  (Isaiah 49: 6 b )

This verse, as originally written in Isaiah, does not seem to apply to the Messiah. The best clue is verse 4; “I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.” It may describe a man who might have tried to live as God would have liked him to live. But, at least according to my theology, it was not Christ the Messiah. (There is more that could be said concerning that verse, but my salient point lies further ahead.)

Although . . . . Christ was a light to the nations. And God’s salvation did reach to the ends of the earth, and beyond, because of Christ. But we also seekers can be lights, and God can work through us as God will.

On the eve before Christ’s birthday let us remember the star that heralded Jesus’ birth, and the star that the shepherds saw, and the star that brought the wise men. We too can herald new things and new beginnings.

As this year of looking at mission draws to a close, let us reflect on what our mission has been, and look forward to the mission of God we may be called to. May you be a light to the nations you know and do not know, and through you may God’s salvation reach to the entire earth. Selah!

What price the soul?

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?“ ( Mark 8: 36-37 )

Think of all the riches of the world laid out in one room. In another room is the summation of all knowledge. In yet another room are techniques, devices, and services to make one attractive beyond words and description. (Are you tempted yet?) In still another room is food and drink from the ages. And in a room beyond that soft pillows and beds that are like lying on the softest clouds. But at the entrance to each room is a gate that will strip you of your soul when you enter. Would anything I have described be worth that?

As I was thinking about these verses, I was reminded of the story/play “Faust.” Faust desired knowledge above all things, and traded his soul for knowing all things, or more precisely having someone teach him all things. But eventually the cost of this knowledge had to be paid and Faust was condemned to hell. In some versions he is saved by divine intervention, but on his own he would have been worse than dead.

I admit, probably as some of you, such things I listed above would be very desirable. But nothing would be worth your soul. The deep secret, and that which not everyone has realized is that heaven is such a place where such things could be enjoyed. If only the human will could wait. Do you not think heaven would be full of treasures? Will we not know all things in heaven? And physical perfection would no longer be something we would only dream of. Food and drink? Christ’s supper table would be beyond imagination as would be the softness of actual clouds.

Seeker, we must but wait. Perhaps it is the “waiting room” we might take exception to, and the time we have to wait for such things. Life is a difficult journey – no question. But it is better to travel this life with our soul intact than to think about eternity dreaming . . . still . . . of those things we did not think we could wait for.

May you seeker hold tight to your soul, and dream and yearn for the days with our Lord when all our hopes and dreams will come true. Selah!

Having it all . . . and losing anyway

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? ” (Mark 8: 34-36 [NLT])

When I was little . . . I mean very little . . so little as to be wobbly on my legs . . . I learned an important lesson. You cannot squeeze sand and still hold on to it. I do not have many independent memories of when I was little. But this I remember – carefully squatting down (remember, this was before I was a steady walker) and picking up a fistful of sand, squeezing it tight so while I stood up it would not get away, and then trying to throw it. Just picture this little hand with only few particles of sand in it, and my dismay that there was not much there to throw. So, okay, try it again. Carefully squat, grab the sand, stand up and THROW! Uh oh! No sand. Try it again. And again. I did learn. Sand can’t be squeezed. You need a bucket to catch the sand and throw it. So, I got my little bucked. Scooped up some sand, and THROW! I got sand in my eyes.

What does it benefit you seeker, to think you have the world by the tail and have conquered it all, just to get sand in your eyes?
May you hold on tightly to only those things that are truly worthwhile and long lasting. Selah!