Lent 2012 A clean Heart, Create in Me C.S. Lewis
Saturday, March 2 Matthew 5: 44-45
Love your enemies. Three simple words. A lifetime to master. I have tried this and seen some amazing changes... in me. Anger and enemies is mostly about self anyway. We hold on to the anger and resentment that creates an enemy. Can we maintain that anger when it is met by grace? And what do we have to be so angry about? Lewis slaps us in the face with those survivors of the holocaust that forgave their tormenters, the slayers of their families, the rapers of all that they considered sacred home.
When I get angry I try first to change my breathing. Then I focus on giving the injustice, the hurt, the wrongness to God and praying for the strength to leave it there. Then I seek to find something positive to pray for with my enemies in mind. At first I devise prayers that were retribution for the wrongs I had perceived. For that person, that drives me crazy, I prayed that God give them patience. I knew that God would give them situations where they had to develop patience. I giggled at what "I" had inflicted. When I matured a little, I prayed for my enemies safety and deliverance. For the impossible driver who cut me off, I prayed for them to arrive safely becase obviously there was some emergency that I was not aware of and they needed God's protection to make it wherever they were going. But then I sounded haughty, like I knew better. So finally I have settled on asking to be part of God's will either because of this situation or in spite of this situation. By praying myself out of the center of this struggle, the angry energy dissipated and I found myself forgiving as (in the same manner) I would like to be forgiven. I had not changed the reasons and people involved in my struggle, but I had changed.
And as for that saying: "either you are for me or against me," well I'd like you to consider gravity. It is by definition, a force that acts against us every moment of our lives and yet, we would not have an atmosphere, or the ability to move without it. Maybe our enemies are teaching us how to breathe and allowing us to be strong enough to move.
Dealing with our enemies is similar to cleaning our closets. How can we have a clean heart with dirty packed closets? So, a clean heart, create in me by helping me love my enemies.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Our Best Effort
Lent 2012 A Clean Heart, Create in Me C.S.Lewis
Friday, March 2 Matthew 5:20
Mom always said,"Honey, all your father and I want is for you to try your best and we will be proud of you." But if you keep improving and growing how can you ever know when you've done your best? In my youth I felt I could never do enough to earn their pride because I couldn't understand the difference between my best and the best. I was on a sliding scale where noone would or could share the scale with me. Now C.S. Lewis sets up the same no-win situation in being good. Ewww. He suggests that we keep on trying so we can know more and more how much we need God.
Because of this, I choose to respond to this scale in a similar way to Jesus. When someone said, that Jesus was good, he responded, "Why do you say that I am good? No one is good except my Father in heaven." (Mark 10:18, Lke 18:19) That doesn't let me off the hook for my behavior, but it does give me the freedom to understand and rely on God's grace. I know that I will fall short of all that I can be if I only rely on myself. However, by relying on Jesus I can get off of the hamster wheel of trying to earn grace, and be free of the stranglehold of legalism. I don't have to worry about trying to exceed the scribes and Pharisees (teachers and judges of the law) to enter the kingdom, I will throw myself on the mercy of Christ.
By the way, now that I am a mom myself, I understand better what she meant when she told me to do my best. She was asking for effort that was commiserate with the situation and the leading of God, the model of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Still it's a lot to ask, but at least with God, I know that anything is possible.
Friday, March 2 Matthew 5:20
Mom always said,"Honey, all your father and I want is for you to try your best and we will be proud of you." But if you keep improving and growing how can you ever know when you've done your best? In my youth I felt I could never do enough to earn their pride because I couldn't understand the difference between my best and the best. I was on a sliding scale where noone would or could share the scale with me. Now C.S. Lewis sets up the same no-win situation in being good. Ewww. He suggests that we keep on trying so we can know more and more how much we need God.
Because of this, I choose to respond to this scale in a similar way to Jesus. When someone said, that Jesus was good, he responded, "Why do you say that I am good? No one is good except my Father in heaven." (Mark 10:18, Lke 18:19) That doesn't let me off the hook for my behavior, but it does give me the freedom to understand and rely on God's grace. I know that I will fall short of all that I can be if I only rely on myself. However, by relying on Jesus I can get off of the hamster wheel of trying to earn grace, and be free of the stranglehold of legalism. I don't have to worry about trying to exceed the scribes and Pharisees (teachers and judges of the law) to enter the kingdom, I will throw myself on the mercy of Christ.
By the way, now that I am a mom myself, I understand better what she meant when she told me to do my best. She was asking for effort that was commiserate with the situation and the leading of God, the model of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Still it's a lot to ask, but at least with God, I know that anything is possible.
Death as a Kindness???
Lent 2012 A Clean Heart, Create in Me
Thursday, March1st Happy New Month! Psalm 138:8
Does repentance need to be a burden? Are these trials a necessary evil that must be endured? C.S. would say definitely, yes. As usual I both agree and disagree. There are those that believe that all trials are given to us by God to sharpen us and show our never ending need for grace. While I believe that God will use all events to the good of those who love God, I cannot recognize a God that rains pain on those who love him in the name of our good. We are the ones that turned from God and chose sin over joy. We are the ones that brought these trials upon the world. How dare we blame God for our sinfulness? I do agree that "repentance is no fun at all," but I believe that the bringing death to our sinful ways is a kindness. So these trials may instead be methods of healing, seasons of strengthening, and opportunities to show God's power, grace and love. I will accept a kind of death to those selfish parts of me that keep me from all that God has created me to be. Instead of grieving those losess, I will seek that kind death that brings me into new life. Lord, help me grow closer to you through my repentance. Let each of these thousand little deaths be a kindness. For where there is less of me, me, me there can be more of You, my king.
Thursday, March1st Happy New Month! Psalm 138:8
Does repentance need to be a burden? Are these trials a necessary evil that must be endured? C.S. would say definitely, yes. As usual I both agree and disagree. There are those that believe that all trials are given to us by God to sharpen us and show our never ending need for grace. While I believe that God will use all events to the good of those who love God, I cannot recognize a God that rains pain on those who love him in the name of our good. We are the ones that turned from God and chose sin over joy. We are the ones that brought these trials upon the world. How dare we blame God for our sinfulness? I do agree that "repentance is no fun at all," but I believe that the bringing death to our sinful ways is a kindness. So these trials may instead be methods of healing, seasons of strengthening, and opportunities to show God's power, grace and love. I will accept a kind of death to those selfish parts of me that keep me from all that God has created me to be. Instead of grieving those losess, I will seek that kind death that brings me into new life. Lord, help me grow closer to you through my repentance. Let each of these thousand little deaths be a kindness. For where there is less of me, me, me there can be more of You, my king.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
"Going back is the quickest way on."
Lent 2012 A Clean Heart, Create in me. C.S.Lewis
Wednesday February 29, LEAP DAY! Psalm 51:10 our title verse
Oh how british! (in your best brit accent) "the quickest way on" To repent means more than to turn around it means to turn towards Christ. How often have we given up one bad habit only to replace it with another? Turning back on our wrong road allows us to repair the mistkes we've made and to heal the brokenness that made us think this path was the right road to begin with. However, if we don't seek God's right path for us then we can find another wrong road or worse still get stuck repairing on the roadside, never really moving in any direction.
Admitting we are wrong is such a bummer. It's just as difficult as admitting we need help. Tough independent spirited Americans never admit being weak or wrong, it's anti-patriotic. However much of our need is created when we refuse to admit weakness or misjudgment or miscommunication or mistakes. It is near impossible to create a clean heart if we don't honestly assess the state of our hearts. Let us trn to our God and ask to be shown where we've gone wrong. Let us ask to be led back to the path that leads to forgiveness and grace. Let us ask for yet another chance to follow Christ. Let us ask for fellow travelers on whom we can depend. Let us ask for a true GPS (God Positioning System) and the obedience to follow its directions. Since we have a lot to ask let us first be silent and listen. Let us pray...
Wednesday February 29, LEAP DAY! Psalm 51:10 our title verse
Oh how british! (in your best brit accent) "the quickest way on" To repent means more than to turn around it means to turn towards Christ. How often have we given up one bad habit only to replace it with another? Turning back on our wrong road allows us to repair the mistkes we've made and to heal the brokenness that made us think this path was the right road to begin with. However, if we don't seek God's right path for us then we can find another wrong road or worse still get stuck repairing on the roadside, never really moving in any direction.
Admitting we are wrong is such a bummer. It's just as difficult as admitting we need help. Tough independent spirited Americans never admit being weak or wrong, it's anti-patriotic. However much of our need is created when we refuse to admit weakness or misjudgment or miscommunication or mistakes. It is near impossible to create a clean heart if we don't honestly assess the state of our hearts. Let us trn to our God and ask to be shown where we've gone wrong. Let us ask to be led back to the path that leads to forgiveness and grace. Let us ask for yet another chance to follow Christ. Let us ask for fellow travelers on whom we can depend. Let us ask for a true GPS (God Positioning System) and the obedience to follow its directions. Since we have a lot to ask let us first be silent and listen. Let us pray...
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Is any prayer ordinary?
Lent 2012 A Clean Heart, Create in Me C.S.Lewis
Tuesday, February 28 Matthew 6:9
"Ordinary" prayer, "Ordinary" prayer???? Is any prayer ordinary that seeks connection to God? The Lord's Prayer, or Our Father, is a prayer that many Christians memorize. Yet, even that has fallen by the wayside. In worship, I try to make sure the words are always available because I can no longer assume that every person has this prayer as a basic part of their education. Many churches in their quest to be contemporary dismiss the practice of saying this prayer as qaint or outdated. Simple daily prayer where we admit our need for God should never be considered "ordinary." It is a restraining of our independent headstrong bent as humans, it is a humbling of our warrior spirit, it is acknowledging our smallness by hoping for a connection with infinite greatness. It is no "ordinary" practice or mindless rite. Even though we may treat it like the alphabet where we have to recite the whole thing to get one little bit from the center, it remains a vital discipline of our spiritul journey. Prayer may be the simplest expression of faith but God the Creator, Jesus the Savior and the motivator known as the Holy Spirit work together to be present, when we pray. How can that be "ordinary?" And maybe that is Lewis' point afterall. Indeed, "Let my prayers come to you, O Lord, in purity (from a heart now clean) and simplicity." but Lord remind me everyday that this privilege of speaking directly through you and to you is anything but ordinary lest I take it for granted. And all God's people say?...
Tuesday, February 28 Matthew 6:9
"Ordinary" prayer, "Ordinary" prayer???? Is any prayer ordinary that seeks connection to God? The Lord's Prayer, or Our Father, is a prayer that many Christians memorize. Yet, even that has fallen by the wayside. In worship, I try to make sure the words are always available because I can no longer assume that every person has this prayer as a basic part of their education. Many churches in their quest to be contemporary dismiss the practice of saying this prayer as qaint or outdated. Simple daily prayer where we admit our need for God should never be considered "ordinary." It is a restraining of our independent headstrong bent as humans, it is a humbling of our warrior spirit, it is acknowledging our smallness by hoping for a connection with infinite greatness. It is no "ordinary" practice or mindless rite. Even though we may treat it like the alphabet where we have to recite the whole thing to get one little bit from the center, it remains a vital discipline of our spiritul journey. Prayer may be the simplest expression of faith but God the Creator, Jesus the Savior and the motivator known as the Holy Spirit work together to be present, when we pray. How can that be "ordinary?" And maybe that is Lewis' point afterall. Indeed, "Let my prayers come to you, O Lord, in purity (from a heart now clean) and simplicity." but Lord remind me everyday that this privilege of speaking directly through you and to you is anything but ordinary lest I take it for granted. And all God's people say?...
Wesley's Rules for Circuit Riders
Wow, saw this and had to share it. I realize that I need to laugh off some things and be in prayer over others. I have issues with obedience and order and authority (the list goes on and on) but what if these became my code? I can see some changes that I'd need to make immediately and I also see where I need to ccept grace. What do you think? Should this be the standard for evaluating pastors today?
1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time, nor spend more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Let your motto be, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women, particularly with young women.
4. Take no step towards marriage without solemn prayer to God and consulting with your brethren.
5. Believe evil of no one unless fully proved; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.
6. Speak evil of no one, else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker; keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.
7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
8. Do not affect the gentleman. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of alL
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin; no, not of cleaning your own shoes when necessary.
10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them, and that for conscience’ sake.
11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.
12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel, and in union with your brethren. As such, it is your part to employ your time as our rules direct: partly in preaching and visiting from i house to house, partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which the Conference shall advise, at those times and places which they shall judge most for His glory.
“Observe, it is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care merely of this or that Society, but to save as many souls as you can, to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and, with all• your power, to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And, remember, a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist discipline. Therefore you will need all the grace and sense you have, and to have all your wits about you."
The following is taken from John Telford’s The Life of John Wesley (Hodder & Stoughton, 1886), which is available online [1] at the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University.
1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time, nor spend more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Let your motto be, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women, particularly with young women.
4. Take no step towards marriage without solemn prayer to God and consulting with your brethren.
5. Believe evil of no one unless fully proved; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.
6. Speak evil of no one, else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker; keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.
7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
8. Do not affect the gentleman. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of alL
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin; no, not of cleaning your own shoes when necessary.
10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them, and that for conscience’ sake.
11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.
12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel, and in union with your brethren. As such, it is your part to employ your time as our rules direct: partly in preaching and visiting from i house to house, partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which the Conference shall advise, at those times and places which they shall judge most for His glory.
“Observe, it is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care merely of this or that Society, but to save as many souls as you can, to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and, with all• your power, to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And, remember, a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist discipline. Therefore you will need all the grace and sense you have, and to have all your wits about you."
The following is taken from John Telford’s The Life of John Wesley (Hodder & Stoughton, 1886), which is available online [1] at the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Guided toward truth
Lent 2012 A Clean Heart, Create in Me
Monday February 27 Psalm 19:7
"Guide me toward the truth: about myself, about the world, about You." All things true added together do not create a sum that is truth. That does not make these items less true but perhaps less significant on the Grand Scale, on our "permanent records." The Ten Commandments stand as the basis for society and yet do not fully capture the entire will and truth of God. Yet we cannot deny our human need for such structure. But legal and mindless obedience to a list of rules is not what we are called to. They are but the beginning.
I went to the Holland Patent Swim Banquet yesterday. Coach Celecki said several times that looking honestly at the team, at some meets they were fighting at best for second place. Yet that did not stop the team from individually and collectively striving for their best. They developed strength through coaching and practice, they developed an identity through the family created by athletes, parents, coaches and friends. They had an excellent record overall and beat several personal and school-wide records. Yet they knew that they probably would not be number one.
We too will fall short of all that God desires for us. Let us not be stopped by some ranking. Through practice and coaching let us strive and thrive according to God's will. Let us revel in our identity revealed through our service, our loving, of family, peers, coaches, friends and strangers. Fortnately God is more than the sum of Christianity's parts. God is truth and love and truth in love, and so much more.
Monday February 27 Psalm 19:7
"Guide me toward the truth: about myself, about the world, about You." All things true added together do not create a sum that is truth. That does not make these items less true but perhaps less significant on the Grand Scale, on our "permanent records." The Ten Commandments stand as the basis for society and yet do not fully capture the entire will and truth of God. Yet we cannot deny our human need for such structure. But legal and mindless obedience to a list of rules is not what we are called to. They are but the beginning.
I went to the Holland Patent Swim Banquet yesterday. Coach Celecki said several times that looking honestly at the team, at some meets they were fighting at best for second place. Yet that did not stop the team from individually and collectively striving for their best. They developed strength through coaching and practice, they developed an identity through the family created by athletes, parents, coaches and friends. They had an excellent record overall and beat several personal and school-wide records. Yet they knew that they probably would not be number one.
We too will fall short of all that God desires for us. Let us not be stopped by some ranking. Through practice and coaching let us strive and thrive according to God's will. Let us revel in our identity revealed through our service, our loving, of family, peers, coaches, friends and strangers. Fortnately God is more than the sum of Christianity's parts. God is truth and love and truth in love, and so much more.
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