Wisdom for Summer

Summer is just around the corner, and that means camps, vacations, trips, and a general change in routine.  I’ve been thinking about wisdom recently and think there are some great thoughts from the Bible’s wisdom literature that is helpful.  I feel like the joy and difficulty of parenting in the midst of these transitional times was made crystal clear yesterday as our family enjoyed some friends’ wedding.  The kids got to see both sets of grandparents and as a result consume too much sugar, dance with abandon, and play with all kinds of new friends.  All of the joy and excitement came crashing in with harsh words, emotional melting, weeping and gnashing of teeth…and that was just me as we tried to settle into bed.  But in reality, I think this just illustrates the struggles of parenting as we enjoy special moments that sometimes “backfire” when they don’t conclude as planned, or end in melting, or are met with ingratitude and we are tempted to say “see, this is why we can’t do special things!”

But thinking of wisdom there are three voices in the Bible.  Proverbs gives wise quips where if you are intentional to pursue goodness, good things will result.  Ecclesiastes responds to that idea with experience that says “hold on a second, there are chance times when things don’t work out that way.”  And Job adds his aged wisdom saying, “yes, although you may be intentional to do good, and life deals you a raw deal, God is no less present in the midst of it and loves you as he walks with you through the good and bad.”

So what?  Well there is a word in Ecclesiastes that is used 38 times called “hevel” which is translated in some English versions as “meaningless,” but can also be understood as vapor, elusive, or absurd. I think this is so helpful as we think about the summer, we may be tempted to wish the summer away in anticipation of the routine of the school year.  Maybe, we dwell on the fun we had on vacation or that weekend away and lament that we aren’t enjoying those better times, and lose the present moments. Finally, we may get frustrated when things don’t go as planned, picnics rained out, flat tires, or crowds thwart our expected fun.  

In this tension, make good plans, but hold them loosely, enjoy the present moments, and reflect on the fun, but don’t become so focused on it that you miss this moment you’re in. Finally, take even the unexpected as divine moments to look for and experience God’s presence.  Thinking back to my childhood, some of the most memorable moments were the unexpected.  I remember getting stuck in our camper playing blackjack because it was storming outside, or my dad throwing away his wallet while paying for ice-cream in Washington DC, or riding an adult tricycle around my Great Grandmas retirement village while we were on a Disney World trip.  It’s amazing how we hang onto the most obscure details, and usually the ones we as parents least expect or least want, but in the midst of every moment, savor your summer, seek God, be intentional to look for His hand in every moment and enjoy the gift of your family at this moment that is fleeting, but oh so sweet!  Praying for you and your family this summer!

A blessing to the families of the world

Recently I was asked the question “if you were to have a scripture tattooed on your body, what scripture would you choose?”  No matter your stance on tattoos, please keep reading, this has less to do with tattoos but more to do with the wrestling with scripture and wearing it boldly like a tattoo.  All scripture is God-breathed and useful, but each of us seem to have those passages that float to the top of our minds because or circumstances or situations that they seemed to take root deeply in our hearts.  For the longest time my life verse has been Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  It seems like that would be a logical choice, but as I’ve been reading through the Bible again this year, I noticed a message given to Jacob, that repeats the same theme as the promise given to Abraham, and I think as children of God, we can make the logical jump that this could apply to us as well.

Genesis 28:14b “and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Wow!  There is both promise and responsibility here.  In verse 15 God says “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…”  As a child of God, He promises to be with me and keep me, but also to use me to bless all the families of the earth.  So here is where I have been challenged recently.  If I’m living by faith in God, how is my life blessing my family, my neighbors, the people I work with, see at the store, on the road, at my church, in my town, and around the world?  What actions am I taking, in obedience to Christ, to be a blessing?  How is my role in my family blessing them and helping them to bless others?

How am I supposed to know how to bless people?  As my heart begins to line up with God’s heart, growing in wisdom from his Word and acting in every situation with obedience to God, I treat others as God would treat them.  I guess understanding both of these verses together, if I get myself out of the way and let God work in and through me as I obey his Word, He will bless the world through my life.  What a great opportunity.  I want to be a blessing to the world, I want my family to be a blessing to the world, and I hope that is your desire as well.  

How are you blessing the families of your corner of the world?  How is God working in your life right now?  I’ll be honest, I’m scared of needles so there aren’t any tattoos happening with me anytime soon, but thinking about some ink has helped me to think deeply about how God’s Word is being applied to my life.  Is the seed of this promise to bless the world through me and my family bearing fruit in the community around me?

How would you respond?

Fifty years ago this week, Frank Borman, James Lovell, and Bill Anders became the first men to leave Earth, orbit the moon and return to earth safely. During the Apollo 8 mission, Anders caught this photograph, titled “Earthrise”.  It was at this sight that the astronauts had an opportunity to broadcast back to earth on Christmas Eve.  

Photo Credit: William Anders (Public Domain) 

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a410/AS8-14-2383HR.jpg

Their opening words were a reading from Genesis 1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”

As I contemplated the power of this scenario and the proclamation of God’s handiwork from men looking back at our planet from the moon I started to cry.  I wanted to be an astronaut growing up, but the course of my life and career veered toward becoming a preacher.  However, I wonder if these astronauts had any idea that their response to God’s creation and their placement in His story would stir the hearts of people for half a century and beyond.

More than the gravitas of seeing earth from afar is the thought of how we are helping our children to have eyes that recognize God at work and the language of scripture that wells up from within, when looking at our world, whether from far away or from ground level, to proclaim God at work.   I haven’t found a lot about the upbringing of these three astronauts, but along their path, scripture was put in front of them at such a place that when they had a chance to see and respond to a view most of us will never experience beyond a screen, they responded with words from scripture.  

John writes in 1 John 2:14 “I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”  What a great challenge to us who know God to help those who are young, our children, to have the Word of God living inside them, uttering responses at the sight of God and His creation the proclaim God’s goodness and love. 

As we start a new year, I want to encourage you to consider how God’s Word is living and acting in your life.  Step further into reading, studying, and memorizing it.  Pass along the lessons you’ve learned and encourage your children to know God and His Word, you never know when as a teacher, astronaut, contractor, etc.… they will be called to preach or proclaim God’s handiwork in creation and redemption of humanity.

Waiting...

What is the hardest part about waiting for something?

Have you ever waited for something so intensely that you could taste it?

I have a Golden Retriever named Nola that tends to steal food, even though she’s ten years old, we are still working on getting her to wait for us to give her something in her bowl. She has recently started barking at our food whiled it's still on the table.  We’ll make her sit or lay down and you can see her eyes brighten when that food is in sight, she starts to squirm, if she’s laying down, she’ll sometimes even army crawl just to get nearer the food bowl.  She’ll sometimes even start chewing before she has it in her mouth.  

Nola in her calm state without food around

Ever feel that way?  I think Christmas can be that kind of a time. Maybe you give hints or write notes to Santa, or have some anticipation for something special, as the time draws near, it’s like you can almost taste it. 

This season of Advent is practice in the art of waiting.  Bonhoeffer said “Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. It wants to break open the ripe fruit when it has hardly finished planting the shoot.  But all too often the greedy eyes are only deceived; the fruit that seemed so precious is still green on the inside, and disrespectful hands ungratefully toss aside what has so disappointed them.  Whoever does not know the austere blessedness of waiting—that is, of hopefully doing without—will never experience the full blessing of fulfillment.”

In Galatians 4:4-6, Paul says “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Previously, Paul talks about a child who inherits all of his father’s wealth, yet is waiting until he is old enough to actually manage it on his own.  But when the time was right, God sent his son, so that we who trust in him could receive the inheritance of Jesus, not as a servant, but as a son or daughter.  Now that sounds like it is worth the wait!  

No wonder we get all antsy like my golden retriever.  Romans 15:13 says “May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may about in hope.”  We are currently in a season of Advent, having gotten a whiff of salvation from Jesus, sent as a baby to be God’s presence with us (Emmanuel), receiving the Holy Spirit that fills us with all joy, peace, and hope. This keeps us focused with laser-like focus on Jesus who is perfecting and writing our faith until he returns for us, where we can spend eternity in his presence.  

As much as I hate waiting, I don’t want to get detoured by imposters that turn out to be too good to be true, looking ripe and juicy right now, but turn out to be green and bitter. During this season of Advent, not just December, but my life, waiting until the fullness of salvation in God, my prayer for myself and for you is that of the Psalmist in Psalm 62:5-8:

For God alone my soul waits in silence, 

For my hope is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

My fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my deliverance and my honor; 

My mighty rock, my refuge is in God.  

Trust in him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

I am the Lord's, I belong to Him

This weekend I sat with a unique perspective as Nina played Mary in our church’s Christmas Program.  As she sang her solo, tears began to well up in my eyes, of course I was proud, and she was cute, and joy overwhelmed me.  But for those few lines of the song, I was transported into the shoes of Mary’s dad.  Nina’s solo said: “I am the Lord’s, I belong to Him, I will call Him Jesus, Jesus, the Son of God.”  What powerful words, not said lightly in Luke 2:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.  “May it be to me as you have said.” 

The incarnation of Jesus did not come without serious impact.  As a father, I pray that my daughter will respond to God with the words, “God I’m yours, I belong to you.”  But as a protector, I realize that I relinquish control and the way that plays out leaves me quaking.  Following Jesus brings with it inherent risk to our comfort and will.  In response to God’s call, my baby girl could follow Jesus across the country, or into the jungles of an unfamiliar nation where the danger of disease, animals, or broken humans could cause her harm.

Mary’s response to carry the Son of God, meant that she could lose her future husband Joseph, who was not the boys biological father, lose her reputation and dignity, or lose her life.  I believe that behind the scenes of the scriptural text stood Mary’s father who feared these losses as well.  He felt the shame towards his family, the fear, and heartache at the thought of losing his child.  Yet, Mary responded “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”  I can’t help thinking that her peace in the face of difficult circumstances was contagious.  As hard as it was for her father to relinquish the task of protecting his little girl, I hope in his tears he felt an overwhelming peace that one much more capable was in control.  That the presence of God that dwelt inside his daughter would bring peace to the hearts of mankind, an everlasting peace that could not be destroyed by anyone or anything had entered the world.

I’m reminded that Jesus breaking into human history was not just an occasion to overtake the government, or stop all war and conflict.  Jesus came to save the world, bringing peace that would break the chains of oppression, injustice, war, and sin.  In the presence of Jesus we can experience power that makes every obstacle and fear pale in comparison.  I want to experience Jesus like Paul said “I want TO KNOW Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10).  Our call to follow Jesus is not a call to an easy, comfortable, or happy life.  Instead, it is a call to experience the power of love and peace in the face of any circumstance that this world throws at us, knowing the one who has come to us, to overcome the world, and give us His life so that we may too.

I am the Lord’s, I belong to Him… 

Running Towards Him

I've recently split my personal blog from our youth group blog, if you're looking for parent insight visit sbcyouthparents.blogspot.com.  I was training to run the Babcock Gristmill Grinder 13.1 mile trail race (wow, that was hard, I can't wait til next year to do it again!) when all these thoughts rushed into my head and I had no place to put them.  I decided that running and doing triathlons has become a steady part of my life, meaning large chunks of time alone running, riding, or swimming, which means me, God, and my thoughts get lots of time together.  I find that there are so many parallels between racing and living the Christian life that I could put my thoughts on training, racing, faith, and life as a father and husband in one place.  So here goes my journey into blogging, chasing the finish line of life toward eternity with God as I make every step here on earth count.

A few weeks ago I finished my second triathlon, the Stonewall Jackson Triathlon, for the second year.  I had to repeat because my first experience was miserable.  I have ridden bikes most of my life and thought that would be the easiest leg.  Needless to say as Carmen, my wife, was on bed rest and making multiple doctors visits each week preparing for our second child(more on that from my awesome blogging wife), I pushed the bulk of training aside.  I began cramping with 8 miles left on the bike leg and waddled like a duck through the 4 mile run.  There were people watching from their cabins as this crazy guy in spandex beat his legs mercilessly trying to get the cramps to subside.  I finished, but it hurt, and I was not happy.

Well this year I wanted vengeance on a triathlon, so I trained using Chris Carmichael's "Time Crunched Triathlete" training plan.
 
It's amazing how training specifically for a race, and putting in the effort before the starting line can change an entire experience.  I discovered pickle juice helps alleviate cramping and brick workouts help you get used to the feel of transitioning between disciplines.  I finished 10 minutes faster than last year, 2:30:55, and much happier with my performance.

I love a challenge and look forward to trying new styles of racing in upcoming years.  My motto since I was a teenager has been "that which does not kill you makes you stronger" in Romans 5 Paul says "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because Gods' love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us." All of the struggles, hard times, and pain is not a waste, but makes us stronger, whether it be physically or spiritually, God doesn't waste opportunities to train us for our future with him.
I run and hurt in training, I drink pickle juice (I HATE PICKLES!!!!), and endure the work and pain, because there is something great about crossing the finish line.  In the same way I live my life, enduring the good, the bad, the easy, and the painful looking forward to my reward, the hope of eternity with God.  But for now, I'll just keep running towards Him.

Heartache

Next week will mark 4 years since my trip to Nigeria.  What began as a trip to study theology and experience another culture became an illustration of what so many people on the African continent deal with regularly.  Our trip to study the persecuted Church turned upside down when a Muslim attack on a Christian seminary student moved the city of Jos into an uproar.  Many of my first hand observations are recorded in posts from 2010, but the heartache of that experience hasn't gone away. 

This morning we jumped back into our normal weekday routine.  My alarm went off at 5am, I sat and drank a cup of coffee while reading Ezekiel (I don't always read Ezekiel, just happens to be where I am in my journey through scripture right now), then at 6am I headed down for a treadmill run as part of training for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon next month, then after a quick shower I refill my coffee and watch the Today Show while getting Nina ready and eating breakfast.  Except this morning a story hit me and stopped me dead in my tracks.  Ann Curry reports that in the Central African Republic "Christians and Muslims are targeting each other, their fury fueled by old tribal rivalries and politics."

This report transported me back to the morning we fled Jos to take refuge at a missionary retreat center in nearby Miango.  The reality that my faith could put me in the middle of a conflict I did nothing to start weighed heavy on me.  In the same way, today, there are people being killed and children being orphaned in the Central African Republic because of long standing disputes over tribal differences and political disputes which in many cases are much older than those fighting.  I know little and understand little about the cultural background and politics of this situation, but I do know one thing: my heart is breaking.  I cannot imagine a child watching their family being killed before their eyes.  I cannot imagine having to flee from my home because my faith places my family in danger.  I cannot imagine the fear day after day.

Four years ago I got a taste of this fear, I experienced a glimpse of flight, and heard reports of violence, but I came home.  I came home to a wife, a safe home, and a comfortable life.  God has not let that heartache and the wrestling in my soul die.  I remember regularly the people I met, the faces I saw, and the missionaries who have chosen to serve God in a turbulent location.  I am reminded in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I don't know what to do next but my prayer is that "Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows.  You find families for those who are lonely.  You set prisoners free and let them prosper."  Psalm 68:5-6. 

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."  Hebrews 13:19-21