“Where are you?” That’s the first recorded question from God to man. God did not need a GPS to locate Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:9. He knows the numbers of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). He knows the very secrets of our hearts and where we are even in the darkest night. There is nowhere we can go to flee his Spirit or presence (Psalm 139). So what was God asking by calling out, “Where are you?”
The question then and today is introspective. Adam & Eve were clearly seeking to avoid an encounter with their creator because they had committed the first act of disobedience. They were seeking to hide themselves in shame because of their disappointment and failure. We have many methods of ‘hiding’ today. We seek to hide in work, other relationships, drugs (prescription drugs count also), ego gratification, such as food, sex, power grabs, etc. even religious activity or any number of other ways to hide our own shame or admission of failure.
Since Eden we all have failed. The word most translated sin in the scriptures comes from a Greek word that simply means ‘to miss the mark’. We were created in the image of God for divine and unique fellowship with the Supreme Being of the universe. Anytime we fall short of his glory (which is daily) we fail.
God wanted Adam & Eve to examine themselves (and us as well) to see where they were in their relationship with Him. He was seeking to restore them and provide means for restoration. He is always seeking to do the same with us. This is only done through faith in Christ. They, like us, were and are the only entity in all creation with the ability to make ‘God-like’ choices with and in our lives. With this opportunity comes responsibility. To make responsible, better or God-like choices we must continually examine our motives, heart, mind and soul asking, “Where am I?”
Examining our own heart, beliefs and motives on a continual basis leads to a walk closer to God rather than one that wanders away. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates said that at his trial for heresy. He was on trial for encouraging his students to challenge the accepted beliefs of the time and think for themselves. I Thessalonians tells us to “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” Now, that doesn’t mean that I need to try cheating, crime, drugs, adultery, drunkenness, etc. I don’t need to re-test that which is already proven defective and destructive. Nonetheless, I do need to be open to continually ask myself “Where are you?” in my own thoughts, motives and actions; am I being honest with others, myself and God?
However, we are not often the best to search and evaluate where we are. We have proven ourselves to be biased and blind to some of our best hiding places. We can justify, rationalize and cover- with the best of them. Who then is the best to seek, find and bring us out of ‘hiding’ to enjoy the place for which we were created which is unsheltered, blissful, divine and unique fellowship with the Supreme Being of the universe?
Psalm 139 closes with the wonderful answer to the self-examining question. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Begin each day and pause several times during the day to ask the Father, “Where am I?” He will let you know if you have wandered. He will bring you back. He misses you and desperately wants you back. This is why he continually walks the garden asking, “Where are you?”
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Life is Good!
The last Monday of February marks my 9th anniversary. I celebrate my only kidney stone. Nine years ago I woke at 2 AM on a journey that saved my life. I was packed and ready to join some friends for a two day conference. My ‘alarm clock’ was a mild and unusual kidney stone. I never had a stone before or since. The doctors said men ‘my age’ rarely have their 1st stone. (Don’t you hate it when that phrase becomes part of the dialogue?) The scan showed a calcium deposit that led to another doctor (remember this pattern).There was an aneurysm on my renal artery. Others doctors and scans later revealed other aneurysms outside both kidneys and a very rare renal artery disease called Fibro Muscular Dysplasia. This is not the way one wants to learn new vocabulary words. One also does not like to hear doctors say, “This is now more complicated than my area of expertise.” Now we move to see special doctors in other states. Nothing gets your attention like a talk with the most prominent specialist in the field in the nation and hearing, “I don’t like the looks of this.”
I will spare you details but there is no feeling like lying in a hospital room after having prayed with your family and seeing them walk out the door and then knowing you will wake up either in the recovery room or Heaven. There is reality! I had two life saving surgeries. The first was in June. I could not have the second until I recovered enough strength for the second in November. Major artery reconstruction was preformed and three aneurysms were removed. I was told how serious the condition was but reality set in after the 2nd surgery when the patient after me with the next surgery that day with the same condition and same surgeon died in the next bed in ICU. My doctor told us most that situations such as this do not find the aneurysm until the autopsy, after it ruptures causing death with no warning or symptoms. He said, “God still has some work for you!" So, as I begin each day ‘admiring’ the 25 inch scar around my 33 inch midsection and go through the day with no feeling in that area of my abdomen, I seek to make the most of the gift of life. I do admit times of frustration I when I see people throwing away the precious fragile gift of life wasting time, fussing, fighting and arguing over petty matters.
I am amazed at the ways we find to become angry and unhappy when we live in such a blessed country and are so blessed by God. Do you know that your garbage disposal ‘eats’ better than much of the rest of the world? People in many countries who are caught worshipping Jesus are beaten or killed. We have total freedom to assemble and worship the risen Christ and a spring shower is enough to keep many away from church. Others go to church and fuss about anything and everything that displeases them rather than finding the unity in Christ that He prayed for just before going to the Cross (read John 17:20-26).
I am reminded of an old TV commercial for cell phones. They end the commercial saying, “We’re, part of the AT&T wireless network…and we get it!” I often think we could do a similar commercial but we would have to change the words and say, “We are Christians living in America, saved by the abundant grace of Christ, living in a free nation to enjoy life at the fullest…and we don’t get it!” I Thessalonians 5:16 commands us to “Rejoice always” yet we often sit in the middle of God’s blessings and frown. Next time you think you are having a bad time, remember the blessings you have here in America, read I Thessalonians. 5:18 and move on. You could have been born in India as an ‘untouchable’ (how would you like a life of cleaning out sewers with no hope of bettering your status in life?) or in you could have been born in Pakistan or Cambodia and not had the freedom or blessings that you have. John 10:10 says Jesus came to give abundant life. Let other stuff go and live! If I can rejoice over a 25-inch scar and celebrate the 9th anniversary of a kidney stone, you ought not to look too far to find your own reason to rejoice.
Happy Anniversary!
I will spare you details but there is no feeling like lying in a hospital room after having prayed with your family and seeing them walk out the door and then knowing you will wake up either in the recovery room or Heaven. There is reality! I had two life saving surgeries. The first was in June. I could not have the second until I recovered enough strength for the second in November. Major artery reconstruction was preformed and three aneurysms were removed. I was told how serious the condition was but reality set in after the 2nd surgery when the patient after me with the next surgery that day with the same condition and same surgeon died in the next bed in ICU. My doctor told us most that situations such as this do not find the aneurysm until the autopsy, after it ruptures causing death with no warning or symptoms. He said, “God still has some work for you!" So, as I begin each day ‘admiring’ the 25 inch scar around my 33 inch midsection and go through the day with no feeling in that area of my abdomen, I seek to make the most of the gift of life. I do admit times of frustration I when I see people throwing away the precious fragile gift of life wasting time, fussing, fighting and arguing over petty matters.
I am amazed at the ways we find to become angry and unhappy when we live in such a blessed country and are so blessed by God. Do you know that your garbage disposal ‘eats’ better than much of the rest of the world? People in many countries who are caught worshipping Jesus are beaten or killed. We have total freedom to assemble and worship the risen Christ and a spring shower is enough to keep many away from church. Others go to church and fuss about anything and everything that displeases them rather than finding the unity in Christ that He prayed for just before going to the Cross (read John 17:20-26).
I am reminded of an old TV commercial for cell phones. They end the commercial saying, “We’re, part of the AT&T wireless network…and we get it!” I often think we could do a similar commercial but we would have to change the words and say, “We are Christians living in America, saved by the abundant grace of Christ, living in a free nation to enjoy life at the fullest…and we don’t get it!” I Thessalonians 5:16 commands us to “Rejoice always” yet we often sit in the middle of God’s blessings and frown. Next time you think you are having a bad time, remember the blessings you have here in America, read I Thessalonians. 5:18 and move on. You could have been born in India as an ‘untouchable’ (how would you like a life of cleaning out sewers with no hope of bettering your status in life?) or in you could have been born in Pakistan or Cambodia and not had the freedom or blessings that you have. John 10:10 says Jesus came to give abundant life. Let other stuff go and live! If I can rejoice over a 25-inch scar and celebrate the 9th anniversary of a kidney stone, you ought not to look too far to find your own reason to rejoice.
Happy Anniversary!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Are You Serious?
I smiled at the cashier looking at her name tag and said, “The last time I met someone with that name, I married them!” The person next to me suddenly looked shocked thinking I was blatantly flirting. He seemed shocked because he is my Music Minister and knows my wife’s name is Cathy. He also knew I was not flirting because he has been with me long enough to know there is a method to my madness. The cashier was…well bless her heart, not petite (different ethnic background) and probably not used to people being nice but she flashed a lovely smile when I finished my sentence…after my dramatic pause. Yes, I did marry someone with your last name. I was the preacher who performed the ceremony. My wife is Cathy. Her smile and my acknowledgement of my relationship with Jesus opened the door to a wonderful conversation about her faith, love for music in her church and brightened both of our days.
I have been on staff at this church for nearly a year and the staff jokes that they can’t take me anywhere. I seem to cause a stir everywhere I go talking to folks and having a little fun and trying to help them enjoy the love of Christ. The key is doing it with everyone. This morning the cashier was Chris and the conversation starter was his tattoo. He wound up telling me about his daughters. When we finished our transaction we both were smiling.
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept”. However, the second shortest verse is “Rejoice Always” (I Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV). Four more letters make a huge difference. This is also a command not an option. I take the commands from the Father seriously. So, I look for reasons to rejoice, smile, get happy and share this with others. There are plenty of people who think their contribution to the planet is to find dark clouds in every silver lining so I think my place is to be the Light of Christ and let people know there are reasons to rejoice (seems I read that somewhere). Every screw up I have ever made, and I have made plenty is completely forgiven and forgotten. The worst thing that will happen to me is that one day I will die…and then I will spend the rest of time in Heaven. How bad is that?
Life is too short not to rejoice at every opportunity. That is why I look for reasons to get happy ASAP. When my wife and I have some of those discussions that growing marriages have (don’t look at me funny you know what I mean). I will often say, “OK how long do we have to be mad about this and when can we start having fun again…is five minutes long enough or can we do it in one?” (Please pray for Cathy…she is a special woman to put up with me.)
Oh, I know we can’t laugh and smile about everything. I know there are serious times in life. As a pastor I am the guy who has held hands and prayed with a spouse or parent as their husband or child eased into eternity. I am the guy who sat in the waiting room with the family when the doctor came and said, “It is worse than we thought.” I am the guy who was on the operating table twice nine years ago facing major surgery wondering if I would wake in the recovery room or heaven (I will share more about this experience in a couple of weeks). Believe me, I do know serious!
I also know Jesus. He is in the daily business of transforming serious into joy. He transformed death into everlasting life. Top that! So, if you having a bad time turn things to Jesus. Let him turn it transform despair to joy. If you are looking for motivation or for a verse to learn & live try the 2nd shortest and give it a whirl every day with every opportunity and everyone you encounter. It is fun and contagious!
I have been on staff at this church for nearly a year and the staff jokes that they can’t take me anywhere. I seem to cause a stir everywhere I go talking to folks and having a little fun and trying to help them enjoy the love of Christ. The key is doing it with everyone. This morning the cashier was Chris and the conversation starter was his tattoo. He wound up telling me about his daughters. When we finished our transaction we both were smiling.
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept”. However, the second shortest verse is “Rejoice Always” (I Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV). Four more letters make a huge difference. This is also a command not an option. I take the commands from the Father seriously. So, I look for reasons to rejoice, smile, get happy and share this with others. There are plenty of people who think their contribution to the planet is to find dark clouds in every silver lining so I think my place is to be the Light of Christ and let people know there are reasons to rejoice (seems I read that somewhere). Every screw up I have ever made, and I have made plenty is completely forgiven and forgotten. The worst thing that will happen to me is that one day I will die…and then I will spend the rest of time in Heaven. How bad is that?
Life is too short not to rejoice at every opportunity. That is why I look for reasons to get happy ASAP. When my wife and I have some of those discussions that growing marriages have (don’t look at me funny you know what I mean). I will often say, “OK how long do we have to be mad about this and when can we start having fun again…is five minutes long enough or can we do it in one?” (Please pray for Cathy…she is a special woman to put up with me.)
Oh, I know we can’t laugh and smile about everything. I know there are serious times in life. As a pastor I am the guy who has held hands and prayed with a spouse or parent as their husband or child eased into eternity. I am the guy who sat in the waiting room with the family when the doctor came and said, “It is worse than we thought.” I am the guy who was on the operating table twice nine years ago facing major surgery wondering if I would wake in the recovery room or heaven (I will share more about this experience in a couple of weeks). Believe me, I do know serious!
I also know Jesus. He is in the daily business of transforming serious into joy. He transformed death into everlasting life. Top that! So, if you having a bad time turn things to Jesus. Let him turn it transform despair to joy. If you are looking for motivation or for a verse to learn & live try the 2nd shortest and give it a whirl every day with every opportunity and everyone you encounter. It is fun and contagious!
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