Joy and Sorrow (from Tuesday)

Psalm 30:5 Portrayals of Christians in the media often frustrate me. Whether it on the news or in a drama or sitcom, Christian characters rarely look like the people I work and worship with at Oak Ridge. As life-issues have become more complex and global awareness of atrocity and societal breakdown has grown, Christians have too few strong and competent voices on the national and international stage. And, we are portrayed as either withdrawing into our comfortable cocoons or boldly addressing topics far removed from general concerns. But that is not how you act. How do you stay engaged in another's pain? How do you find strength to become a child-advocate with CASA? How do you serve lunch to hungry neighbors at Center of Hope? How do you love on a friend or relative as they suffer and die of cancer? How do you keep joy and sorrow as two sides of the same coin?

A Joyful Noise (from Thursday)

Psalm 95:2 At the end of last night's devotional Nouwen prayed, "Every prayer we pray, heavenly Father, is a sign of our love, our hope and our trust in you. " This devotional presented a new and transformative perspective for me. Even my requests, which sometimes seem petty or selfish, express a confidence in God the Father. Fathers provide. Children trust in the Father's ability to provide, yes, but also in his desire to provide. Your comment on the blog could be a blessing today. In fact the more comments the bigger the blessing. What are you thankful for today? Remember, it could be something God has already given or something you are trusting him to provide. Wow... What are you trusting God to provide?

Forgiveness (from Tuesday)

Matthew 18:21 The NRSV translation may surprise you here. Peter asks, "...if another member of the church sins against me..." The Greek word aldephos, normally translated "brother" is used in Matthew 18 Testament to show kinship among a group of like minded believers. (see verses 15-18) This connotation interests me. Webster's online dictionary tells us that the word "forgive" comes from the two Anglo-Saxon words that mean to give wholly. It seems to mean that when someone has wronged me, I give them pardon without holding anything back to bring up later. If I "forgive" someone multiple times and then say, "This time was the straw that broke the camel's back" then I have been keeping a "straw's worth" of offense each time. Jesus says that's not the way to do it. We are to give our pardon wholly, every time a fellow believer offends us. Let's count straws. What small offenses do you find difficult to pardon wholly?

From Sin to Salvation (from Sunday)

Exodus 20:2 The verse for today repeats at least ten times in the Pentateuch. Up to the present devout Jews remind themselves that God brought them out of Egypt and that he is their God. What a pleasant surprise to read this devotional in connection with yesterday's sermon! We journey to the Promised Land together. Use the comment space today to confess the reasons why we too often "go it alone" or make practical suggestions for how to share the journey with a brother or sister of faith.

Waiting with Open Arms (from Saturday)

Luke 15 All of Luke 15 will pop-up from the link above. Perhaps we need a reminder of just how Jesus emphasized this thought. God wants us desperately. Like a Shepherd searches with determination for a wandering sheep. Like a widow wants a coin back from her wedding dowry. Like a Father longs for a son. Share a story from your life where you frantically searched for something lost to you. How does it affect your thoughts about how God longs for you?

When Love Disappoints - (from Friday)

Genesis 37:23-24 Michael Card wrote these lines in a song: Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord? And, why did he have to use a kiss? That's not what a kiss is for. Only a friend can betray a friend, a stranger has nothing to gain. And only a friend comes close enough, to ever cause so much pain. Lent reminds us that Jesus' passion enters our human experience most deeply. Wounded by friends and threatened by strangers he prayed, "Father forgive..." What obstacles make us hesitate to love unconditionally, give unselfishly, and care unflinchingly? Choose one of these pathways to explore in your comments: Unconditional love rewards selfishness in others. Unselfish giving keeps others from seeing the need to give. Unflinching care blinds others to the pain they cause.

Trust in the God of Life - (Thurs reading)

Jeremiah 17:7-8 I hope you relate to Nouwen's story about the trapeze artists and the "catcher" being the hero. Seems to me, the "flyer" has pretty heroic trust. Was trust in the Father, the difference between Judas and Peter? Is it an expression of trust when our kids confess to us? Do we hide our secrets because we distrust? Our devotional only quotes part of Jeremiah 17:7. Click the link above and read both 7 and 8. Then come back and comment about trusting God through the drought.

From Wednesday's Reading (March 11)

Matthew 20:26-27 Don't miss the tension Nouwen created in our reading last night. The theme of the devotional focused on our frustrated search for happiness or fulfillment. But, the Scripture offered at the beginning teaches us to make service the purpose of our lives. This tension remains. Jeremiah called our efforts to meet our own needs sin. (Jeremiah 2:13) The people reject God, the spring of living water in favor of self-made, broken cisterns. In the sight of the God of all creation we scramble about trying to make ourselves happy. Our loving Father, knowing exactly what we need and eager to give it, waits. In our hands we find nothing but sand. He holds the water we are truly thirsting after. Make a mental list right now. What are the things you chase after to become happy or fulfilled? Now, respond to this blog with a practical suggestion for slowing down and accepting gifts from God.

People in Little Boxes

Luke 6:37 As children we learn about the world in broad categories. Parents chuckle quietly when their daughter points at a horse and says "doggie!" She's close. It has fur and walks on four legs. Growing up brings the ability to differentiate. We develop numerous smaller categories for filing away concepts. It is an efficient if sometimes inaccurate way of interacting with the world. The inaccuracy sometimes brings trouble. We've all known a person who allows their friends only one mistake. Cross them once, blurt out something in the heat of the moment, or embarrass them in front of others just one time, and they write you off. They pull open the file drawer labeled "People In My Life" and pluck you out of the friends file to permanently stuff you into "Enemies". The more dynamic our filing system, the less we judge. If we work at updating and maintaining our files we can see that people change, that someone's mistake shouldn't define their character or our relationship to them. Sure, we should limit how much a selfish person should injure us. But didn't Jesus demonstrate an amazing vulnerability to difficult people? He opens his arms to each of us. Perhaps our greatest work this Lent season is dropping our guard and walking straight into those arms.

Hopeful Prayer of Petition

Psalm 95:2 The Southern culture breeds into our genetic makeup the necessity of the phrase, "thank you." Saying "thank you" communicates a certain degree of humility and some recognition of the value or worthiness of the giver. If a person seems truly thankful, they extend the generosity of others. "Mommy can I have this. Mommy can I have that. I really, really want this or that. Daddy, please, please, ple-e-e-e-ase." Those phrases wear us out. They decrease our willingness to give to our children. But when a child who comes to us in a quiet moment and thanks us for a gift given in the past with a story about its meaningfulness to them, we not only want to give more we want to give well. God gives better than we ever will. However, Jesus reminds us that the Heavenly Father gives as a good human father gives. (Matt. 7:7-11) In last night's devotional, Nouwen reminds us that asking isn't necessarily selfish. It can also be a thanksgiving, and an expression of thanks for our Giving God. Why be afraid to ask?

The Joy of My Salvation

Psalm 51:12 My apologies for the skipped days this week. We will work harder on this for the rest of Lent. You can keep us encouraged by commenting below. Last night a young man from our church called me. I asked, "How's it going?" "Just tryin' to live in the joy of my salvation today... that's what today's Lent devotional was about." Wow. Just a few days ago there was no joy in his salvation. Henri Nouwen didn't fix him. The Holy Spirit will do all the fixing. But the timing of it all astounded me. Is your salvation new every morning? Are you more focused on the economic crisis than God's active involvement in this world? Do we believe that the sparrows are really oblivious to the rise and fall of the DOW? Can we learn from the lilies of the field? If seeking first the Kingdom means learning to live under God's rule, then Lent is a marvelous exercise for us. Give us willing spirits, Father!

Monday, March 2

A Spiritual Paradox, Psalm 25:4 How do you explain the word "paradox" to your children. When something seems it shouldn't be true, but you suddenly realize its true, that's a paradox. The clearest example of this in my life experience comes from the outdoor activity rappelling: walking down a wall while using a rope to keep from falling. Intuitively we try to walk like we're climbing down a ladder. But when we do that our feet slip off the wall and we smack our face against it. If we trust the rope and lean far back, so that our body is almost perpendicular to the wall, our feet press against it and stay where we want them. Our spiritual walk is very similar. Feeling far from God, may actually mean the Holy Spirit is right with us, reminding us of our need for him. When we feel the weight of our sin, most likely we are nearest to confession and forgiveness. What did Nouwen say? "We were innocent before we started feeling guilty; we were in the light before we entered into the darkness; we were at home before we started to search for a home." Lent is about coming home again. Today's devotional offers an important thought to believers of all ages. What is our personal vocation? What has God designed me to do in this world. Just asking that question is important.

Saying "YES" to life...

Deuteronomy 30:17-21 I love routine. Each morning I get up and get myself ready for the day. After I have finished getting my self ready it is off to get baby Laedin ready for her day. Waking her up, dressing her in accord with what my wife tells me to put on her, and feeding her breakfast. It is then off to either Acorn Acres or the babysitter. Everything throughout the day is about routine. It is about doing everything like I did yesterday and the day before. At 7am the next morning it all starts over. I love routine, but it does keep me from saying "YES" to life. To often I'm stuck in routine and I don't see the "smallness" of life. I miss the beauty of the Kingdom, because I love my routine. Life is happening all around me and yet I miss it. I teach our students that we are a part of this grand story of God and that the Kingdom is all around us...we just have to choose to see it. We have to learn to life our life with our eyes open and our hearts saying "YES" to life. Lord, teach us to see life within our own lives...to see everything we do as apart of your Story...and say "YES".

Our Second Ash Wednesday

Psalm 51 I think this year the blog will reflect on the readings/events of the previous day of Lent. From a Church of Christ minister's perspective putting together an evening like Ash Wednesday presents its own difficulties because of our unfamiliarity with it as a tradition and the diversity of attendees as a range of visitors and members. At Oak Ridge, we've added the challenge of making it an inter-generational activity. I believe the challenges are worthwhile. Through the hour we spent together last night my thoughts and feelings swung from frustrated and disappointed to elated and surprised by Divine action. Smiley faces weren't what I anticipated being drawn on the paper. A twelve year old admitting that pride keeps him from admitting his wrongs exceeded my expectations. Please comment. What did you experience as a spiritually transformative moment last night? What do you think we should consider doing differently next year?

Comments & Archive Practice Run

Ash Wednesday is this week! Please take a minute to practice posting a comment on the blog. In order to add a comment or read comments already posted you click on the link at the bottom of the day's blog that has a (number) in front of the word Comment(s). That will open another window displaying the comments on the left and space to add your own on the right. Simply left click inside that space to begin typing your comment. When you are finished click simply click the Publish Your Comment button at the bottom. It's that simple! Please go there and try it now. Your comment could be something quick like "Howdy Y'all!" or encouraging like "I look forward to reading this blog and comments during Lent." Grace and Peace be with you all through this blessed season!

Why We Will Observe Lent

Psalm 51:1 We have daily devotionals for our families to use during Lent this year. Each day's reading contains an excerpt from the writings of Henri J. M. Nouwen. In the very first one, for Ash Wednesday this week, Nouwen directs us to make Lent a time for breaking down the idol of guilt. That thought provokes me. Lent began as a time of preparation for baptism. As the Church matured and generations of Christians worshiped together, older members began to re-enter the time of reflection and fasting that those just coming to faith walked through. Together the Church celebrated the blessing that God did not abandon us in our sin but came to live among us and redeem us. During Lent those new believers exchanged their idols for the Living God. For Greek's Aphrodite fell and for Jews the Temple tumbled. But 21st Century Christians have idols too. Sadly, some of us do worship wealth or power or pleasure. But isn't it true that some of us pay grudging homage to our guilty consciences. We keep "going to church" because we owe it to God or our parents. We hold back from relationships with other believers because we don't feel spiritual enough. We sit in worship or try to pray at home and wonder why we can't connect with God. All because, we have never found a way to get past our guilt. During Lent we can tear down this obstacle. Lent is not about self-deprecation and focus on sin. It creates space and time in our lives to search out and destroy anything that stands between us and God. Sure, we should do this year round. Lent offers a chance to spend a season doing it together as a community of faith.

OK... What about divorce?

Wow! I don’t remember when a sermon stirred up this much conversation. Interestingly, what I’ve heard focuses not on the main point, but on a topic briefly mentioned. Sunday, I presented our need to have clearly communicated expectations of behavior for our community of faith. To illustrate that such a “list” is appropriate, I summarized Jesus’ list from Matthew chapter five. Number 6 seems to be the one to cause the most stir. Many of us drew a painful breath and held it as I read, “Do not divorce—Do not marry someone divorced.” One of our Shepherds told me his mind ran through a list of people that might be distressed by such an unmitigated restatement of Jesus words. A member related to me her attempt to clarify to another that I wasn’t just outright rejecting anyone divorced. She explained that my point was about needing a clear list of expected behaviors and that on the topic of divorce I would look at a lot of other Scripture. I affirmed that her response was both accurate and appreciated. Another member expressed concern that I had virtually skipped over divorce and treated it too lightly. Yet another appreciated both my willingness to address the topic and Oak Ridge’s willingness to help people heal as they go through the very painful process of divorce recovery. He also appreciated us offering space to K. Hott for the Parenting Through Separation and Divorce class. I wondered what she was thinking so I called her. She focused on the call to be a community of faith and our need to help each other live out the behaviors that reflect that community. She heard the reference to divorce only in the context of all those behaviors Jesus listed. K also emphasized that in her work she helps people in second marriages recognize their part in the failure of the first marriage. She said the healing necessary for the success of the second marriage has to include a humble willingness to change. I told her I have yet to meet someone who saw the divorce they had been through a divorce as a good thing. At times I have agreed a divorce was necessary and unavoidable. Never have I believed that God or anyone else involved was truly pleased with the situation. That seems to be Jesus’ reason for including it in his list. God doesn’t want our expected behaviors to include divorce is an option for a difficult marriage. Jesus does not offer adultery as an exception to the rule. God would rather have reconciliation, healing, renewed commitment, earned trust, and healthy marriages. Those are the expected behaviors. When a couple chooses other behaviors they need healthy discernment, supportive wisdom and spiritual guidance from their faith community. It may be that one or both of the spouses has done irreparable damage and the marriage must be dissolved. Let’s not pretend God or any of us are “ok” with that situation. God weeps that his children suffer so. Malachi 2:15-16 No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth. "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and the one who is guilty of violence," says the LORD who rules over all. "Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful." I would like anyone interested in discussing this topic further to join me from 6:30-8:00 pm Sunday night March 8th for Conversation. Perhaps we can have a different Conversation topic each of the remaining 2nd Sunday nights this year.