(note: i have yet to write out my first encounter and resulting relationship with Bobby -- i'll try to do that soon for those of you who may be reading this without knowing the background)
While i was at Bobby's last week, i saw a picture i had never seen before. When i took a closer look, it was a picture of Bobby at my age -- holding his 4year old daughter and 2 year old son. i knew that Bobby had kids. i knew that he had been married. i knew he had brothers and sisters, and even met a few. But in all these months of seeing Bobby, i never saw him as someone's dad, someone's son -- that a child or wife, or parent were out there somewhere, praying, hurting, seeking their loved one. That in his 20+ years of addictions and wandering, someone was out there missing their dad.
As i drove away, i started seeing other people differently -- not some guy crossing the street, but someone's lost son maybe on his way to or away from home. Not some kid bobbing her head to the radio, but a daughter who may have tuned her parents out a long time ago. i started to ache for people, and pray for them, and not just pass them by.
Maybe that's how God sees the people we pass by so easily. While we're on our own agenda or trying to check out of WalMart as quickly as we can, God is hurting for the people we try to beat to the open cashier. God is pleading with us to see the wayward son, daughter, mother, father and to join Him in rescuing them.
Then i started aching for a different reason -- why haven't i been aching like this? Why have i been so self-centered? Why is seeing people as God must see them so difficult, so unnatural for me. Even as i write this, i know that my heart has begun cooling off to that previous cold state.
Jesus, speaking of the last days, warns us in Matthew 24:12-13, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." And John records the revelation of Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).
Dear God, Heavenly Father who ever pursues us with Your faithful love, keep my love hot and my heart tender for others just as Yours is. As You help me to see others as You do, motivate me to love them as you would, for your name's sake. Amen <><
Monday, February 28, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
spurred
That says ‘spurred,’ not ‘spurned’. Unfortunately, the former is not as easy to find as the latter. Especially for those with dreams, visions, and desires beyond the ordinary, the status quo, the day-to-day. Tragically, the imbalance of spurn to spur is prevalent, even in the body of Christ.
My father-in-law recently sent me a cartoon with a dejected pastor and an enthusiastic layman sitting at a booth. The booth has a sign that reads, “slam the pastor, $5” while the layman exclaims, “we’ve just paid off the CE wing, and now we’re going for a new parking lot!” Even what starts off as a good spur can end in a stinging spurn. For example, after one recent Bible study, one saint remarked, “I really like your Bible studies – you’re a really good teacher...” (At this point, i’m about to graciously accept the kindness, until the rest of the comment) … “In fact, you may have missed your calling.” At which point, i could simply smile and bite my tongue.
This kind of treatment is not just reserved for pastors, but is very much alive between the pews. Sometimes this lay-spurn is blatant and direct, but more often experienced in a spiritualized, guerilla warfare through any number of looks, whispers, Sunday afternoon lunches, and business meeting power plays. Andy Stanley says it’s often disguised in the form of prayer requests, as gossip is masqueraded through the prayer chain.
The tragedy is that it’s not disguised to a watching, skeptical world. What we think are only read by our compatriots is clearly perceived by young Christians and unbelievers alike. In the end, the church loses, the Kingdom suffers, and God weeps.
God had a different design for his people. Even before sin corrupted a perfect world, God saw there was something wrong in paradise. God’s first observation of man was that we needed others. In creating Eve, God created relationships – the spurring kind – positive, intimate, encouraging, challenging, reciprocated, interesting, humorous, comforting, inspiring.
One of my favorite verses regarding the fellowship of believers has been Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Last night, we were able sit around a table with friends and share some struggles, share some passion, laugh together, pray for one another – and in the process fulfill that verse. My wife and i left spurred. (to those friends, thank you)
Today, i sat with other pastors and lay leaders from other churches in Alabama. Together, we prayed, sought God, wept, shared hurts, shared burdens, shared dreams, and more. We read Scripture, and meditated and spoke of our God who is able to break down every dividing wall of hostility, while propelling His church against the very gates of hell to reclaim lost souls. In the process, i was drawn not only closer to God, but closer to everyone in the room – even particularly closer to one that i had not ever really seen eye to eye with. At the end, we embraced and share mutual respect and appreciation for the heart and dreams of the other. i left spurred. (to those men and women, thank you)
Wouldn’t it be great if that was more common? What if spurring was more prevalent than spurning? Wouldn’t our churches be different? Wouldn’t our pastors and lay people be healthier? Wouldn’t the Kingdom win? Wouldn’t it?
Another dream? i know. So will you spur it or spurn it?
My father-in-law recently sent me a cartoon with a dejected pastor and an enthusiastic layman sitting at a booth. The booth has a sign that reads, “slam the pastor, $5” while the layman exclaims, “we’ve just paid off the CE wing, and now we’re going for a new parking lot!” Even what starts off as a good spur can end in a stinging spurn. For example, after one recent Bible study, one saint remarked, “I really like your Bible studies – you’re a really good teacher...” (At this point, i’m about to graciously accept the kindness, until the rest of the comment) … “In fact, you may have missed your calling.” At which point, i could simply smile and bite my tongue.
This kind of treatment is not just reserved for pastors, but is very much alive between the pews. Sometimes this lay-spurn is blatant and direct, but more often experienced in a spiritualized, guerilla warfare through any number of looks, whispers, Sunday afternoon lunches, and business meeting power plays. Andy Stanley says it’s often disguised in the form of prayer requests, as gossip is masqueraded through the prayer chain.
The tragedy is that it’s not disguised to a watching, skeptical world. What we think are only read by our compatriots is clearly perceived by young Christians and unbelievers alike. In the end, the church loses, the Kingdom suffers, and God weeps.
God had a different design for his people. Even before sin corrupted a perfect world, God saw there was something wrong in paradise. God’s first observation of man was that we needed others. In creating Eve, God created relationships – the spurring kind – positive, intimate, encouraging, challenging, reciprocated, interesting, humorous, comforting, inspiring.
One of my favorite verses regarding the fellowship of believers has been Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Last night, we were able sit around a table with friends and share some struggles, share some passion, laugh together, pray for one another – and in the process fulfill that verse. My wife and i left spurred. (to those friends, thank you)
Today, i sat with other pastors and lay leaders from other churches in Alabama. Together, we prayed, sought God, wept, shared hurts, shared burdens, shared dreams, and more. We read Scripture, and meditated and spoke of our God who is able to break down every dividing wall of hostility, while propelling His church against the very gates of hell to reclaim lost souls. In the process, i was drawn not only closer to God, but closer to everyone in the room – even particularly closer to one that i had not ever really seen eye to eye with. At the end, we embraced and share mutual respect and appreciation for the heart and dreams of the other. i left spurred. (to those men and women, thank you)
Wouldn’t it be great if that was more common? What if spurring was more prevalent than spurning? Wouldn’t our churches be different? Wouldn’t our pastors and lay people be healthier? Wouldn’t the Kingdom win? Wouldn’t it?
Another dream? i know. So will you spur it or spurn it?
Monday, February 14, 2005
serving: the reflection of God
At the top of the list of things the prophet Micah reports as divine requirements is “to act justly.” we’ve summarized that term in the word “serve,” because i feel it reflects the heart of God, as demonstrated through His Son Jesus Christ whose acts of justice were found through his serving.
Jesus sets his purpose plain in Mark 10:45 when He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Hebrews 1:3 tells us that the Son is the exact representation of the Father, just as Jesus Himself told Thomas and the disciples, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Then, as i once heard Erwin McManus conclude in a Q&A session, the chief description of God would be a Servant.
So what does it mean to act justly?
Essentially, to act justly is to not only to live according to God’s righteous character and commands, but to bring this state of justice into the lives and relationships of others. Then, to act justly, you would have to enter someone’s injustice.
This is reflected in Jesus’ life and ministry. In reading the prophet Isaiah, Jesus read His divine purpose, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
To enter someone’s injustice is not easy. It’s not clean. It’s not going to fit your schedule with a start and end date. Formulas and plans often end up out the window. People suffering from the chains of injustice are right where Satan wants them. Entering into injustice is like trying to break someone out of the enemy’s dungeon—expect a fight.
This is why we stress the end before the beginning in the Micah 6:8 ministry strategy – if you’re not walking humbly with your God, and if you haven’t got a good understanding of mercy, you can’t act justly. Jesus set this example through His earthly ministry.
In accomplishing the prophetic mission, Jesus’ mercy was evident (several requests for Jesus’ healing began with “have mercy”); and his words and actions were according to the will of God as determined through prayer and His humble walk with His Father. He said, “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it” (John 12:49) and "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19-20).
Then, again, God must be a servant, The Servant--and His people ought to be about His business of serving to reflect His love and character.
In future blogs, i’ll share a few of our experiences in the desire to act justly. We don’t have this all figured out. It’s person by person, learn as you go, trial and error, grace and mercy. Many have paved this road ahead of us and offer a legacy of wisdom. Sojourner Truth, William & Catherine Booth and the original Salvation Army, Mother Teresa and the sisters of charity in Calcutta, countless missionaries, and i would add Kurt Salierno and his co-laborers in Atlanta (www.churchonthestreet.com).
Jesus sets his purpose plain in Mark 10:45 when He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Hebrews 1:3 tells us that the Son is the exact representation of the Father, just as Jesus Himself told Thomas and the disciples, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Then, as i once heard Erwin McManus conclude in a Q&A session, the chief description of God would be a Servant.
So what does it mean to act justly?
Essentially, to act justly is to not only to live according to God’s righteous character and commands, but to bring this state of justice into the lives and relationships of others. Then, to act justly, you would have to enter someone’s injustice.
This is reflected in Jesus’ life and ministry. In reading the prophet Isaiah, Jesus read His divine purpose, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
To enter someone’s injustice is not easy. It’s not clean. It’s not going to fit your schedule with a start and end date. Formulas and plans often end up out the window. People suffering from the chains of injustice are right where Satan wants them. Entering into injustice is like trying to break someone out of the enemy’s dungeon—expect a fight.
This is why we stress the end before the beginning in the Micah 6:8 ministry strategy – if you’re not walking humbly with your God, and if you haven’t got a good understanding of mercy, you can’t act justly. Jesus set this example through His earthly ministry.
In accomplishing the prophetic mission, Jesus’ mercy was evident (several requests for Jesus’ healing began with “have mercy”); and his words and actions were according to the will of God as determined through prayer and His humble walk with His Father. He said, “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it” (John 12:49) and "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19-20).
Then, again, God must be a servant, The Servant--and His people ought to be about His business of serving to reflect His love and character.
In future blogs, i’ll share a few of our experiences in the desire to act justly. We don’t have this all figured out. It’s person by person, learn as you go, trial and error, grace and mercy. Many have paved this road ahead of us and offer a legacy of wisdom. Sojourner Truth, William & Catherine Booth and the original Salvation Army, Mother Teresa and the sisters of charity in Calcutta, countless missionaries, and i would add Kurt Salierno and his co-laborers in Atlanta (www.churchonthestreet.com).
Thursday, February 10, 2005
mighty mercy
Perhaps you’re like me and you’ve heard grace and mercy differentiated this way:
Grace is getting what you don’t deserve
Mercy is not getting what you do deserve
i appreciate and use those definitions regularly – the two go hand and hand. In addition to the above, especially in relation to Micah 6:8 and our ministry strategy, i’ve adopted another set of definitions:
Grace puts us in right relationship together
Mercy keeps us there
When we “love mercy,” we live in a relational commitment to one another. We love freely, knowing that our love, our sacrifice, our gifts, our time, etc. may not be returned like for like – in fact, it may be returned with rejection, apathy, a sense of it was expected, or any number of other negative responses.
In that sense, from a natural perspective, the love was not “deserved”. But God sets a supernatural example of love; Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” -- that’s grace putting us in right relationship with him. The same thing happens in the Church, the Body of Christ when we receive a new believer into the fellowship – we’re set into a family relationship together regardless of past differences. Galatians 3:26-28, “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.”
But God’s Word goes on to further define and reveal the amazing characteristics of His supernatural love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.”
That familiar passage of Scripture is out of the context of maintaining relationships in the Body of Christ, as defined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. i believe that when we love in the ways outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, we’re loving with mercy. Such merciful love is not only what keeps us in relationships together, but also is active in keeping us in right relationship with God. The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” i think this is the mercy of God greeting us in loving-kindness, compassion, and faithfulness every morning.
As believers, we’re called to reflect the love of God to a world in need of Him. We need to greet each other in grace, and continue to greet each other through mercy. That doesn’t mean that we overlook or condone the sin of others, but that we walk with them in the truth of God’s Word and hold one another accountable to it--because we love each other. More on this, another time...
Grace is getting what you don’t deserve
Mercy is not getting what you do deserve
i appreciate and use those definitions regularly – the two go hand and hand. In addition to the above, especially in relation to Micah 6:8 and our ministry strategy, i’ve adopted another set of definitions:
Grace puts us in right relationship together
Mercy keeps us there
When we “love mercy,” we live in a relational commitment to one another. We love freely, knowing that our love, our sacrifice, our gifts, our time, etc. may not be returned like for like – in fact, it may be returned with rejection, apathy, a sense of it was expected, or any number of other negative responses.
In that sense, from a natural perspective, the love was not “deserved”. But God sets a supernatural example of love; Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” -- that’s grace putting us in right relationship with him. The same thing happens in the Church, the Body of Christ when we receive a new believer into the fellowship – we’re set into a family relationship together regardless of past differences. Galatians 3:26-28, “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.”
But God’s Word goes on to further define and reveal the amazing characteristics of His supernatural love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.”
That familiar passage of Scripture is out of the context of maintaining relationships in the Body of Christ, as defined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. i believe that when we love in the ways outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, we’re loving with mercy. Such merciful love is not only what keeps us in relationships together, but also is active in keeping us in right relationship with God. The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” i think this is the mercy of God greeting us in loving-kindness, compassion, and faithfulness every morning.
As believers, we’re called to reflect the love of God to a world in need of Him. We need to greet each other in grace, and continue to greet each other through mercy. That doesn’t mean that we overlook or condone the sin of others, but that we walk with them in the truth of God’s Word and hold one another accountable to it--because we love each other. More on this, another time...
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
two realities
This has been slowly developing all week – my son has taken over my computer the last few days! Later this week (or next), i’ll continue my thoughts and explanations regarding our ministry strategy, “serve, love, pray”.
The message i shared Sunday during Worship continues to speak to me. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus is surrounded again by an eager crowd. Through this crowd, two different individuals work their way to Jesus, seeking healing. The first is Jairus, one of the local synagogue rulers whose 12 year old daughter is sick and at the point of death. The other is the woman with the issue of blood, who reaches through the crowd and receives healing just by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe (5:28-29). Much is preached and taught about the extreme faith, risk, and healing of the woman that the daughter of Jairus and his faith is often overlooked.
First, some background. The fact that Jairus’ name is recorded lends us to believe that he may have become a follower, a member of the early church that the audience of the Gospel would know and his name recognized. As a synagogue ruler, he was used to dignity and respect. Yet he comes in great humility to Jesus, not pulling him aside to confer a favor between teachers, but to Jesus’ feet. He was filled with belief that Jesus could make a difference, “please come place your hands on her so that she will be healed and live’ (v.23). Jesus honors Jairus’ humility and faith and sets off through the crowd to Jairus’ house; until the woman with the issue of blood delays them. Yet Jairus, with the cure for his daughter literally at hand, doesn’t get high and mighty on her, is never impatient, is never recorded as speeding Jesus along.
Then messengers come from his household. i can only imagine the grief of a parent seeing the grim news of your child’s death coming toward you. It’s in these two verses that i’m most challenged (v.35-36). Jairus is confronted by two realities. First is the “seeing is believing” reality – the reality the messengers brought to him, “we’ve seen your daughter—she’s dead. No need making the teacher take another step.” Then there’s the reality that Jesus presents to Jairus, the “believing is seeing” reality. Jesus ignores the messengers—see that, Jesus IGNORED someone (specifically, those who were not speaking by faith)! Jesus pays them no attention, he continues with Jairus on his previous course to heal the daughter. Jesus encourages Jairus not to be afraid--don’t run in the other direction. Then Jesus strengthens that shred of hope, the now mustard seed size of faith that once brought Jairus from his daughter’s death bed seeking the cure in the Lord of life. Jesus spoke similarly and in more detail to Martha, in John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
As the pastor of a church that has seen little change in its history, i’m continually confronted by the first reality. You know, “we’ve tried that before,” as well as, “we’ve always done it this way.” Honestly, i’d like to ignore those statements and that reality. Actually, i’ve been accused of doing that and am told to cater to that reality for the sake of peace and unity—you know, “Don’t upset the apple carts.” But to live in the second reality, you have to ignore the first – continuing on the course the Master is leading you to pursue. It’s not easy to do this, as i’m finding out, especially now. Honestly, i’m more weary these past few days than i’ve ever been.
So i look to how Jesus encouraged Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe” (v.36). The word “afraid” carries an original meaning of running away in fear or terror. When Jesus ignored the messengers, i think he was simultaneously helping Jairus to continue to step toward his home. Amazing Grace has a verse that says, “T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” The fear of her death drove him toward Jesus in hope he could bring her to life; now Jesus is driving him to the “reality” of her death to see his hope come to life. There are times when i just want to run away – what’s the point? Can anything change the “reality” we’re facing? But God won’t let me go—He keeps leading me into my fears, and the fears of others.
“Just believe” – mustard seed faith is pretty small, but apparently Jairus is watching even this slip through his grasp. In this statement, Jesus is underscoring the second reality, the realm of faith. Essentially, if he would continue to believe (literally to place his faith, his trust, his daughter’s life, his hope) in Jesus, he would indeed see his daughter healed and living. Am i to continue to believe? Can this sleeping church spring to vibrant life again? As Ezekiel said in the valley of dry bones, “you, O Lord, know.”
The rest of the story: Jairus goes on with Jesus. And, after Jesus puts out mourners who are doubters, Jesus restores life to the daughter and her care to her parents. Jairus is also awakened to new life. The scripture records that “they were completely astonished” (v.43). This literally is amazed and astonished – words that referred to being displaced from their reality. Jairus is awakened to the Lord of life and His power over death.
Are there mourners that need to be put out for you to work, Lord? If so, will you direct them out the door? i want to see the young revived, awakened into your presence while my own faith is resurrected to a new level of belief.
The message i shared Sunday during Worship continues to speak to me. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus is surrounded again by an eager crowd. Through this crowd, two different individuals work their way to Jesus, seeking healing. The first is Jairus, one of the local synagogue rulers whose 12 year old daughter is sick and at the point of death. The other is the woman with the issue of blood, who reaches through the crowd and receives healing just by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe (5:28-29). Much is preached and taught about the extreme faith, risk, and healing of the woman that the daughter of Jairus and his faith is often overlooked.
First, some background. The fact that Jairus’ name is recorded lends us to believe that he may have become a follower, a member of the early church that the audience of the Gospel would know and his name recognized. As a synagogue ruler, he was used to dignity and respect. Yet he comes in great humility to Jesus, not pulling him aside to confer a favor between teachers, but to Jesus’ feet. He was filled with belief that Jesus could make a difference, “please come place your hands on her so that she will be healed and live’ (v.23). Jesus honors Jairus’ humility and faith and sets off through the crowd to Jairus’ house; until the woman with the issue of blood delays them. Yet Jairus, with the cure for his daughter literally at hand, doesn’t get high and mighty on her, is never impatient, is never recorded as speeding Jesus along.
Then messengers come from his household. i can only imagine the grief of a parent seeing the grim news of your child’s death coming toward you. It’s in these two verses that i’m most challenged (v.35-36). Jairus is confronted by two realities. First is the “seeing is believing” reality – the reality the messengers brought to him, “we’ve seen your daughter—she’s dead. No need making the teacher take another step.” Then there’s the reality that Jesus presents to Jairus, the “believing is seeing” reality. Jesus ignores the messengers—see that, Jesus IGNORED someone (specifically, those who were not speaking by faith)! Jesus pays them no attention, he continues with Jairus on his previous course to heal the daughter. Jesus encourages Jairus not to be afraid--don’t run in the other direction. Then Jesus strengthens that shred of hope, the now mustard seed size of faith that once brought Jairus from his daughter’s death bed seeking the cure in the Lord of life. Jesus spoke similarly and in more detail to Martha, in John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
As the pastor of a church that has seen little change in its history, i’m continually confronted by the first reality. You know, “we’ve tried that before,” as well as, “we’ve always done it this way.” Honestly, i’d like to ignore those statements and that reality. Actually, i’ve been accused of doing that and am told to cater to that reality for the sake of peace and unity—you know, “Don’t upset the apple carts.” But to live in the second reality, you have to ignore the first – continuing on the course the Master is leading you to pursue. It’s not easy to do this, as i’m finding out, especially now. Honestly, i’m more weary these past few days than i’ve ever been.
So i look to how Jesus encouraged Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe” (v.36). The word “afraid” carries an original meaning of running away in fear or terror. When Jesus ignored the messengers, i think he was simultaneously helping Jairus to continue to step toward his home. Amazing Grace has a verse that says, “T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” The fear of her death drove him toward Jesus in hope he could bring her to life; now Jesus is driving him to the “reality” of her death to see his hope come to life. There are times when i just want to run away – what’s the point? Can anything change the “reality” we’re facing? But God won’t let me go—He keeps leading me into my fears, and the fears of others.
“Just believe” – mustard seed faith is pretty small, but apparently Jairus is watching even this slip through his grasp. In this statement, Jesus is underscoring the second reality, the realm of faith. Essentially, if he would continue to believe (literally to place his faith, his trust, his daughter’s life, his hope) in Jesus, he would indeed see his daughter healed and living. Am i to continue to believe? Can this sleeping church spring to vibrant life again? As Ezekiel said in the valley of dry bones, “you, O Lord, know.”
The rest of the story: Jairus goes on with Jesus. And, after Jesus puts out mourners who are doubters, Jesus restores life to the daughter and her care to her parents. Jairus is also awakened to new life. The scripture records that “they were completely astonished” (v.43). This literally is amazed and astonished – words that referred to being displaced from their reality. Jairus is awakened to the Lord of life and His power over death.
Are there mourners that need to be put out for you to work, Lord? If so, will you direct them out the door? i want to see the young revived, awakened into your presence while my own faith is resurrected to a new level of belief.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
help—i’ve fallen on the prayer road
Bill Hybels says that most Christians get lost between “Dear God” and “Amen” (Too Busy Not To Pray). Even if this is true for you, your prayers to our Heavenly Father are enabled by the other two thirds of the trinity so that you can find power and consistency in prayer.
The Son is at the right hand of the throne of God interceding for us (Romans 8:34, “Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us;” and Hebrews 7:25 “he always lives to intercede for them”). So, along with Him our prayers can find agreement when we’re aligned with His purposes (Matthew 18:19, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven;” and John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”).
The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses so that we know what and how to pray (Romans 8:26-27, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will”).
Other things that help your prayer life – crutches, if you will – are journaling, patterns, labyrinths, Scripture, and qara.
Journaling – though you may slow down by writing out your prayers, you eliminate many of the “and, uh…” moments of your praying. You are able to finish thoughts and pray specifically instead of the “and Lord be with ‘so and so’” prayers. Journaling also provides you a record of your requests that can become a record of praises and victory. My wife started me on journaling in college, and though i was skeptical at first, i found a lot of help (and continue to find help when my prayer life seems absent).
Prayer Patterns – these ‘formulas’ help you progress from “Dear God” to “Amen”. Since we’re creatures of habit, i think that we naturally settle into prayer patterns without actually realizing it. There are many patterns out there – using an existing pattern is a good place to start, tweaking it to your experience and personality is natural. Some patterns include:
ACTS
o Adoration – time of praise of God for who He IS
o Confession – time of confessing any sins or asking God to reveal any wrong way in you
o Thanksgiving – time of thanking God for what He has DONE
o Supplication – time of praying for requests
Hour of Power – an hour of power helps you to spend an hour in prayer through 6 (ten minutes each) or 12 (five minutes each) different sections/types of prayer. i’ve seen and created a variety of these sessions for myself, individuals, and different events. Some sections of this pattern can include: waiting, listening, praise, thanksgiving, Old and/or New Testament reading and/or meditation, intercession, confession, etc. You can also build in special prayer sections for church, pastors, nation, leaders, family, friends, etc. If anyone is interested, i can send sample hours of power that have been used in different settings.
WAITS – is a pattern that emerged out of my journaling and hour of power – i would try to spend at least five minutes in each section, with the Intercession and Scripture sections taking more time
--Waiting – time of clearing thoughts and listening for God’s voice, prompting, leadings (i encourage folks to right down two lists during this time 1) a to-do list of all the things you need to take care of later and 2) a list of potential prayer foci for later)
--Adoration – time of praising God for who He IS
--Intercession – time of prayinf for specific requests, individuals, events, anything from the #2 waiting list, etc.
--Thanksgiving – time of thanking God for what He has done, is doing, will do
--Scripture – meditating and praying scripture by applying its messages and meanings to your life, church, etc.
Labyrinths – or prayer path -- are actual prayer walks. These were incorporated in many early monasteries or early cathedral courtyards. These walks included stations for specific inspiration, meditation and prayer so that an individual could spend dedicated and structured time in prayer and with the Lord. The experience varies according to the design, but each that i have done have proven to be enriching and meaningful. Our youth and prayer pastors collaborated with several church members to create a prayer path in our fellowship hall using a kit from Group Publishing. We began offering the path during Holy Week last year and ended up seeing it extended for a month after word of mouth, newspaper, and television coverage encouraged participation. During that time, we learned that one local church in our community has a prayer path in their courtyard.
Qara – is the transliteration of the Hebrew word for “call out” or “cry out”. One occurrence of this type of prayer is in Genesis 12:8, “There he [Abram] built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.” Qara is the simplest of prayers – it involves 3 specifics: a specific Recipient (our Heavenly Father), a specific Request, with a specific, desired Result. Qara is desperate, honest praying. It’s the “Lord HELP” prayer, when it seems like that’s all you know how to pray. Think about the times when you make a prayer like that – when you’re in trouble. That trouble could be the result of being guilty of a wrong; or when wrong has been done to you or a loved one; or when you’ve stepped out in faith, so that if God doesn’t show up, you’re screwed. In Genesis 12, Abram has left home and father’s household – he’s now a stranger in a strange land amidst strange people with strange and brutal customs. God said go, he went, and now he’s crying out to the Lord because if God doesn’t make good on His promises, Abrams’ screwed. i like qara moments like that, because i’ve seen God come through time and time again. i’m also a frequent qara warrior on behalf of others and myself when in trouble because of wrong.
If you fall on the prayer road, God is ready to pick you up, brush you off, and resume the journey. No matter how many times we fall.
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