Intentional Intimacy

One of the gravest errors any Christian can ever make is to assume that their walk with Jesus (to grow in intimacy with Him) depends solely on the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t. We must be accountable and deliberate disciples seeking to intentionally live out our professed faith in Jesus. Some may believe this is addressed if we are involved in the care and service to the disenfranchised. However, I believe this is a skewed view of intentional living in Christ. Why?

Although mandated in Scriptures, the care for the poor and disenfranchised is essential to the Christian life, but in order for us to be accountable and deliberate disciples we must first start with ourselves. It begins with me; with you. We must first delve deep within each of us and pray that God rips out intimately personal planks, before we can ever reach out to take the splinter from another’s eye. We must be brought to our knees and experience the humbling transformation of self before we can ever genuinely profess it to others. This is how we experience genuine intimacy and fellowship with the Light. If not, “we walk in darkness and do not practice the truth,” as it written in 1 John 1. And if we walk in darkness, we then serve ourselves as we “serve others”, while actually exploiting their situation in order to veil our brokenness and to increase our sense of pride.

It begins with deep, prayerful introspection wherein we find the root of the issues that cause strife, conflict, anxiety and insecurities in our lives. When we choose to address these aspects of our self before, during and after they spring up; we will then begin to live an accountable life, i.e., accountable to others (couples/marriage/family/friends/colleagues).

As we embrace this new way of living in Christ, we also choose to seek to heal from these sources of brokenness. We address them with heartfelt tenacity, turn them over to God with a contrite spirit and heart and seek to sever their power over us by praying for their removal in the name of Jesus Christ.

In the end, the Spirit will always provide the power, endurance and cover for us to grow closer and closer to God through Chris Jesus; but the Christian must run the race… and running is never a passive exercise.

If we choose to get on the track and run the race in earnest, we must re-examine what is to be understood as God’s calling for our lives. "To be called", is a phrase most often is associated with ordained ministry, and yet, Scripture clearly shows that as we are members of the Body of Christ, we are called to serve as members of a royal priesthood. Therefore, we are ALL called to serve God in, through and because of Jesus Christ. Whether ordained or not, ALL Christians have been given this holy task. We have all been called into an active life of prayer, intimacy and service in this world as followers of Jesus.

Persistent Blessings

What if God has shelved blessings He had every intention of bestowing upon us?

What if our lack of trust in His character has caused these aforementioned gifts from the Lord to remain out of our reach as we've delayed their delivery due to our hardness of heart?

Here's a quick anecdote for illustration purposes. . .

This afternoon I had a great conversation with an amazing sister-in-Christ. In the midst of our talk, she mentioned how a ministry we share in common causes her to remain uncertain about our response to God's guidance and plans. In other words, have we somehow grown uncertain about God's ability to provide for us and, in turn, do we doubt His faithfulness? Do we somehow veil these sentiments and attitudes by "waiting for God" or claiming that we need to spend more time in prayer, but in fact we're just stalling or avoiding the inevitable confrontation with our true feelings?

Some of us feel that the only way that we can ensure that something really comes from God (notice the control issue) is if we ensure that we take no action. We remain bystanders. If we do take some kind of action, then it leaves the door open for questioning whether what has taken place, or has been given, is actually from God.

Then there's the possibility that we exerted just enough influence to get what we wanted and in essence, it's not from God at all. We forced something to happen.

But again, what if God has, in fact, made all sorts of provisions available to us and even after all of our inaction and delay tactics; God continues to afford us with a way to return to Him and harvest the blessings He's made ready to turn over to us. . . what then?

Is "waiting for God" justifiable? Or, in this case, is waiting upon the Lord actually a veiled way of burying our talents, of ignoring them and allowing fear to entice us to turn our backs on God's mission for us and for the city?

I believe that we often worship a god that is too small and is counterfeit. The God of the Old & New Testament is beyond our ability to comprehend. His ways are definitely not ours and we must begin to re-experience awe, fear, wonder, mystery and trembling before God. When we struggle so much with disbelief and with a sense of spiritual ennui, I figure that it's because we just don't feel we can deposit all of confidence into the hands of a God, which if we're honest, like the line from The Script's hit pop song, Breakeven, we seem to "pray to a god I don't believe in. . . "

After all God has done for us, it is fitting that He upbraids us for our hardness of heart and disbelief. How can we ever expect to be ready and truly used by God, if we don't believe He is worthy of our trust. How can we pray and expect any answer to come, if we're not even sure God is available, listening to us or, for that matter, capable of addressing our petitions?

I believe we must risk everything for God. I believe that when we begin to act as if God is truly capable, then we will begin to see the signs and wonders promised to accompany the Church wherever it is and wherever it goes. Until then, we're not going to see anything remotely close to what Jesus promised us during those post-resurrection days.

In a great book by Jim W. Goll entitled, The Lost Art of Intercession, Goll passionately tells readers that the Lord told him, "I will restore Pentecost," (pg. 119). I have no doubt that God speaks to us and can reveal His plans and purposes to whomever He chooses. I do believe, though, that Pentecost happened and that the power unleashed on that day isn't going to be restored. It is already here and ready to be reclaimed, not restored.

That power is latent in the Church. It is asleep. It remains dormant due to growing distrust in God's character and as a result of worshiping science as the oracle of the enlightened and educated. A substantial part of the Church in America has chosen to follow the guidance of business pundits and adopt measures that extinguish faith in Jesus Christ and dismantle any belief in the supernatural nature of our faith. How? Through idolatrous self-reliance and introducing cost-benefit analysis as means of making "sensible" financial decisions as Christians seek to "serve Christ" in trying and uncertain times - just to name two reasons.

At the moment we return to the Lord and repent, God will bless us with the power He has already set aside for us in Jesus Christ. It is collecting dust due to our disobedience and neglect. As soon as we begin to pray to God with fervent contrition and trust, we will literally move mountains. But, of course, if we believe this to be scientifically impossible, it will remain so unmoved and no other option will be available to sensible people. What if God is asking for everything that runs contrary to all sensible decisions and in turns, He expects our undivided fidelity and complete trust? What if those are the two things we must have in order to see the power of Pentecost once again?

Are you in? Are you game? Are you willing to let go of all sensible attitudes, advice and guidance and embrace becoming a fool for Christ?

If you want to see the power of Pentecost, if you want to receive the blessings already designated for you since before time began, then begin to underestimate the power of the dollar, stop depositing confidence in people to be the answer to problems that only God can be and begin to live an unrestrained life in Christ. Decide with faith, act with trust in His character and pray with the certainty that the petitions have already been answered as He wills. Desire nothing more than His will for your life and crave nothing short of being one with Him.

Do these things and watch the Kingdom unravel, unfold and unveil itself before you. May this be so, even now -

For the sake of Jesus Christ.

Danny+

God-Saturated Words

* With thanks to IHOP Orlando for the pic . . .


Some of the most engaging and thought-provoking introductions to the Old Testament Prophets are found in Eugene H. Peterson's translation of the Bible, The Message. His description of the prophets' purpose and place in salvation history centers on their God-inspired speech. At times incendiary toward the religious establishment and at other junctures supplicating the people to return to a collective, personal & passionate devotion for the Lord, the prophets sought to bring the people back to God. They faced all sorts of seemingly insurmountable odds such as confronting a nation, who like ours, "... are accustomed to 'fitting God' into our lives, or, as we like to say, 'making room for God,'..."

Consequently, the prophets, Peterson continues, "are not 'reasonable,' accommodating themselves to what makes sense to us. They are not diplomatic, tactfully negotiating an agreement that allow us a 'say' in the outcome. What they do is haul us unceremoniously into a reality far too large to be accounted for by our explanations and expectations. They plunge us into mystery, immense and staggering," (Peterson, 962).

The major resource available to the Prophets were words. Just as the Lord God created the universe through the Logos, the Word, the prophets used their Spirit-given, God-saturated words to redirect the people's hearts and minds toward God. Their cry for repentance - on behalf of a broken, miserable and sin-ridden people, would eventually take on flesh as the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world so that the words of the prophets would be vindicated through their fulfillment before the eyes of the generation that witnessed Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

Words are so powerful. . .

They express love, they nurse wounds, they nourish souls and they edify us. Words also transmit indifference, sow the seeds of fear and hate - and they can and do hurt. Words are agents of combustion that cause & effect chain reactions in people, across communities, nations and the world over.

Prayer is to be, as the great Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, "conspicuous" in our everyday life. As it is ordained throughout Scripture, we are to pray at all times, constant and unceasing. The words we utter bring us into conversation with God. However, unlike our interactions with humanity, our thoughts also are unhidden before God. So, the words that spin around in our thoughts, memories, feelings, images and attitudes are as actively a part of our prayer life as are the words we ultimately use to encode our praise, worship, petitions and intercessions.

They are the words that we utter in everyday life. In language, there are no sacred or secular words. That difference, if it exists, is to be found in the imagination. The imagination either propels us into the heavens, or they oppress us into spiritual slavery - iron clad and double ironed - like Marley's Ghost.

It's been said that we are masters of our thoughts and slave to our words. In Christianity, the mastery of our thoughts is quickly vaporized when we acquire the mind of Christ. Likewise, we are emancipated from our words when their master is love and judged before the Mercy Seat.

Peterson argues for Christians to live by the radical and unapologetic standard of the prophets. Their God-inspired words are to bend our will toward love and service and toward the pursuit of radical personal definition in God through Christ.

As we seek to live out our faith, we need to be ever cautious that our religion does not grow lukewarm, inauthentic and fat on the sin-curds of self-interest, power and ecclesial authority (Peterson, 1330). To that end, our lives are to be humbly submitted before God in contrite reflection and unceasing prayer. The standard of our words may, indeed, be the Prophets, but the life we are to embody is that of Jesus - the Word made Flesh.

Be @ Peace

Christ shows us His wounds. His wounds are His promises fulfilled and carved into His flesh. The tortuous piercings’ are not veiled. They are scandalous & repulsive to this world. Christ’s wounds are before the disciples’ to physically behold. The scars cannot be ignored, hidden or disregarded.

And they remain to this day invoking the same deeply visceral and acute feelings among believers and non-believers.

His wounds remind us that His sacrifice & suffering was necessary and never forgotten. Human history was never the same after the Lamb of God was nailed to a tree.

All the same, His wounds are perfected through His glory, grace, mercy and power. The fear, shame, guilt and indifference are all transformed when we see that the torture was received and endured for love of God for us and for His entire creation.

(Verse 20:21) Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

Here the disciples – as any one of us – need God’s continued reassurance and provision of peace, protection and power; and He will surely give to us said provisions freely and in great abundance. As He comforts us, He equips us as well – so that we may be prepared to live out His example as we go through this life.

In fact, we are ALL missionaries. Being a missionary is not contingent on the location we find ourselves in.

In Keith Miller’s classic book, “The Taste of New Wine,” a controversial perspective on mission is provided. I find it to be refreshing, provocative and therefore, the most biblical view on our living out the great commission.

“As I began to read the New Testament accounts I saw that Christ almost never ‘went out of His way’ to help anyone. He seems to have walked along and helped the people in His path. He was totally focused on doing God’s will and going where God led Him. But He never failed to help the people He met along the way while going where God directed Him. This made for an amazing steadiness and spiritual economy in His direction and ministry. This one change in my perspective made witnessing not a program but a way of life.” (p.93, 1965).

As He went before us, we are called to follow.

The hardest charge is for us to live out the ministry of Jesus in our own lives. For this we need to wear our scars and to show them before all who are without Him on this life journey. The quintessential ingredient we must be in possession of is lack of fear.

Fear distances us from God. Fear handicaps the spirit and opens the door to the enemy to his deceptive and destructive ways. In this day and age of positivism and scientific arrogance, it is way too easy for the darkness to oppress cities, people and churches. As we turn our backs on the sick, distorted and violent campaigns of Satan against God’s people, we fall victim to the great deception and in essence, are accomplices to his destructive agenda.

So, fear isn’t addressed spiritually. We have terms such as phobias, anxiety and other clinical vocabulary, but ultimately, the question of fear – requires a spiritual diagnosis as well. Fear incapacitates people and enslaves them. Once oppressed, the individual is no longer capable (in their hearts and minds, they are convinced) to pray, worship and serve the Lord. Paralysis is the end the enemy seeks to achieve.

As the disciples were hidden because of fear, they were not proclaiming the Gospel, they were not witnessing to others about Jesus’ resurrection. Fear has incapacitated them.

We’ve discussed brokenness and pain before. As in the case of our Lord, our wounds are healed and they undergo the healing process of Resurrection. They are no longer sources of spiritual death, but they do leave scars. It’s often said that one of the most difficult issues concerning forgiveness is whether it is possible for us to forget the transgressions we’ve have committed or those done to us.

I don’t think it’s about forgetting anything, actually. These scars are also physically carved into our flesh – into our hearts. Yet, they no longer possess any power over us. We are free and no longer enslaved by the sources of the injuries. The scars are now sources of power and remembrance of God’s healing power and of His promises. In essence, we are free from the consequences of this profound life transformation, fear. In the absence of fear, we are no longer silenced and defeated – seemingly unable to proclaim His praises, because our healing is the direct result of His death & resurrection.

When we forgive, there is no longer any need to forget the past for it has lost all its power over us. From that moment onward, the past acquires a place in our lives sourcing inspiration and testimony – for we see then that God was, in fact, always with us – even when He seemed to be on mute - distant and indifferent to our needs.

Scarring is an integral part of a wound’s healing.

The tribulations we undergo are seasons of being put through the fire. As we go through the fire, we are purified and tempered. We are strengthened and reinforced for greater things for the sake of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Interesting enough, the word scar was derived from the Greek word schara, meaning place of fire. . BTW, it’s no coincidence, my friends.

(Verse 20:22) When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”

We receive the Holy Spirit and in doing so, we are no longer a broken, scattered and fearful minority. Because of the Spirit, we are more then conquerors. We are on fire for the Lord and alive; empowered to proclaim & live out the story of salvation in our lives as living sacrifices.

(Verse 20:25-28) So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe. A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe. Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

Doubt. This is a topic of discussion that causes all sorts of heartache among Christians. In some circles, doubt is absolutely unacceptable. To so much as suggest the possibility of doubting brings harsh consequences so many believers, just keep their doubts to themselves. Ironically, instead of feeling comfortable with sharing these dry seasons with other Christians, many are hesitant to do so. They feel the non-Christian crowd may actually be far more forgiving. Another irony, eh?

Traditionally, Thomas has been given a real hard time because he doubted. I sometimes feel inclined to say that he was probably one of the most sincere in his present state of confusion and disbelief. Thomas doubted that Christ could actually disarm once and for all the unfathomable powers of death, oppression, illness, injustice and brokenness on this planet. To Thomas, how could one poor, solitary life change the universe on a desolate and damned hill outside of the city gates and then defeat death once and for all by physically walking out of a stone cut tomb on Resurrection Sunday? How?

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are some of you reading these lines that are currently in a dry season overshadowed by doubt and disbelief.

Thomas was not excluded or excommunicated from the group of disciples because of His doubt. Rather Christ came to Him and revealed His wounds so that he may come and see for himself.

Thomas wanted to believe, though. And I believe that makes all the difference. When we want to believe & trust God, God seeks us and reveals His wounds so that we may come and see as well.

Fear and doubt are inextricably related. Once we fear, we doubt possibilities are available to alter the reality we are facing. Once we are taken over by fear, it becomes harder and harder to see anything beyond what is currently undermining our lives. God seems farther and father away and our ability to communicate and be heard by Him seems to be less likely and we have less desire and intention to pursue it any further.

Once we are in that state of spiritual disarray, we are once again paralyzed and ineffective. We are where the enemy wants us – hidden and afraid.

Christ offered Thomas His peace before he offered His wounds to him. As Thomas, you are able to receive that same peace as well. You are not excluded from the comfort God affords anyone who struggles and wrestles with faith and disbelief. In fact, I would suggest that it is during the state of crisis Thomas underwent that he was most effectively equipped to minister to others and to be a source of peace, companionship and compassion while taking the Gospel to where tradition suggests he ended up in – India. Why?

Humility – plain and simple. Humble recognition that the dry seasons will come and when we are in those times of spiritual famine, we know that our God does not leave us to starve. All we need to do is ask to be fed and to be willing to receive what comes from God with thanksgiving and open hearts.

How do wounds, scars and fear all measure up to a message? Jesus’ peace is Shalom. It is total healing. It is holistic. Every single aspect of our lives is transformed when we receive the peace of God. The peace of God surpasses all human understanding because it transforms the human mind to entertain and behold the things of the Spirit. Those things cannot be appreciated by minds seeking to debunk the things of the Spirit – and seeking to intellectualize their understanding of God. Those activities – rooted in the need to control God and hubris cause estrangement from God. The outcome is that there is no peace, no healing, and no revelation - nothing. Apart from the vine, we can do nothing.

The fulfillment of Jesus’ ministry and incarnation is consummated in the Resurrection. The resurrection initiated the chain reaction of witness and proclamation that is culminated in the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost. The Church’s mission begins with Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, though. Here is where they receive the great commission to make disciples, not converts of men and women of every nation and every tongue.

How can a broken people – scattered, afraid and without a sense of future be the forerunners of this body of believers? Through the peace and healing that comes in Christ. These first Christians would face challenges they couldn’t even begin to fathom. Their legacy would be left to a remnant that would remain faithful even when much of the outward expressions and inner workings of the Church was as rotten as the whited sepulchers our Lord spoke of in the Gospels. And so it today, that the remnant of believers continues to pray, worship, serve and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in the midst of ecclesial corruption, denominational apostasy and hierarchal inefficiency and irrelevance.

The wounds of Christ were the physical, bodily expression of His sacrifice; forever recorded in scars testifying to His limitless love for all humankind. Through these wounds, we are healed. Through our healing, we too rise from spiritual death and enter the Kingdom of God.

As sons and daughters of the Kingdom, we are enjoined to testify to what we have seen, heard and experienced in our own lives; in short, to show how our scars tells a story as well of recover, redemption and resurrection. As others doubt, we can have others come and see for themselves that God in fact is present, in our midst and reconciling all things to Himself through Jesus Christ. In this story, we are also like Thomas, at times doubting and in need of a physical encounter with Jesus. As fear sets in and seeks to destroy our love for and trust in God – peace is offered and peace is given. The Spirit is imparted and we can in fact, come and see, touch and realize that Jesus is our Lord and our God.

When we live in the Spirit, fear no longer has a deathgrip on our hearts. We are free to serve God in Spirit and in Truth. We can walk out of caves, rooms and hidden places to meet our neighbor and love him/her. No longer are we afraid of consequences for we serve a living God – creator and sustainer of all things and in full control of all things – including me. We risk everything for God in the trust & knowledge of His faithfulness and goodness.

The humility of our falls and lack of faith reminds us of our total dependence in God. As Paul wrote about the thorn in his side, we too, have our own thorns that prick, stab and pain us – at times quite deeply. May we worship even when our hearts are cold. May we pray even when our minds rage against the things of the Spirit. And may we know that God is always eager to grant us the privilege and the blessing to see Him – all we need to is to ask and to receive His peace.

Daniel+

Prayer - the "do nothing" ministry

In the past few weeks, I've experienced a revival of sorts concerning my attitude toward prayer events. In the last year, I noticed a remarkable nonchalance concerning prayer - especially among Christians who described themselves as "social justice" oriented.

I find that absolutely ironic.

I also find the hesitation action-oriented Christians sustain as they address issues concerning prayer to represent the greatest obstacle to the achievement of their agenda and sense of mission and ministry. Underneath it all, however, lies an attitude affording pride to sabotage what they would want to see happen in their local communities and globally as well.

I know this post will upset, anger and urge some readers who have never entertained the intention of posting a response to do so - and that's a good thing. You see, I believe - without reservation whatsoever - that as Christians, we will NOT change the world. We are called to SERVE the world.

The transformative power of the Holy Spirit will CHANGE the world - we won't. If we genuinely commit to loving our neighbor through serving all - especially the least of these - then change will come. BUT, the change that will most certainly come will not be like we envision it. It will be sustainable - not temporary, as it conceived and birthed in Jesus Christ. Unlike the world's thirst for the latest drama, it is not a fashionable cause so many choose to jump on the bandwagon and support for a season. We will be witnesses to true change when it is unequivocally rooted in God's will and purposes for this world - not our own. When this happens we will also come to realize that the true spiritual stamina and endurance to love comes from the Spirit - the source of all transformation.

To suggest that we ourselves change the world is NOT rooted in a careful reflection of the Gospels (or of the entire Bible). It is self-centered in character, western in its strategy, politically motivated and a market-based approach to understanding the Church & Christian ministry altogether. So much so that prayer becomes the most commonly discarded ministry as it suggests idleness or limited opportunities for social action. Malnourished and erroneous as these perspectives may be, they truly inspire all sorts of advocates suggesting "prayer" is a personal affair. Too much ado about prayer may be seen as living out of touch, or at odds with, the assumed militancy the Church should be characterized as being in possessing of and demonstrating "leadership" in the areas of justice, politics, economics and the environment.

We must face up to the reality that the Church MUST be a praying community prior to any action and that prayer must be the foundational ministry of the Body of Christ. The Church MUST be constantly dying to self seeking to have its collective will crushed and in its place, filled with a heartfelt passion for its will to be perfectly aligned with God's. The only way we can ever hope to truly live our call as sons and daughters of the Kingdom of God is if we are willing to listen to God's direction, to receive God's purposes as our very own and refuse any and all temptations to taking any action predicated on what we "believe" the Church should be doing instead of what God "expects" the Church to be.

We MUST seek to divest ourselves of intentions to make of our churches extensions of political parties and of their respective platforms and/or programs. We represent the Kingdom of God. ALL political parties - be they right, center or left, must bow down in contrite obedience before the LORD and seek His will & purposes.

We MUST refuse to make of prayer a passive activity to remove "guilt" as we pray to get it over with before we really "get-down-to-business" at the next church meeting.

We MUST repent for having introduced our desires veiled as "discernment", "confirmations" and/or "guidance" acquired from God through prayer.

We MUST stop believing that there are some people with a "gift" of prayer making their petitions far more effective and successfully sent toward God than others. According to Scripture, everyone can pray and ALL who love the LORD God and seek His will & righteousness are effective prayer partners.

Jesus has called each and everyone of us to the ministry of intercession. We have our prayers commingled with our Saviour's intercessions before our Father - always! How is it that we relegate - shamefully relegate - the mystery of prayer to the fringes of Christian living, ministry and proclamation. Our Lord was in constant prayer. How can we not be?

I urged each of you to reflect on the place prayer holds in your life. How many excuses do you have for not praying? How are we able to fill our days with senseless activities and in superficial conversations while remaining incapable of directing our slightest attentions to the One who gave everything so that we might live?

It is my prayer, that the entries to come will invite reflection, controversy and a deeper conversation about prayer with yourself, with others and above all else - with the Lord Himself. Through these posts, I pray that you'll be engaged in the activity whose purpose exists above every other - to seek intimacy with God and to reveal our love for Him in service to our neighbor for the sake of His glory.

May you find no greater joy that to get lost in God's embrace...

In Christ,

Daniel+

Taking the Gospel Too Seriously. . .

This phrase is taken from an essay written as part of an obituary for a radical Anglican priest of the 20th century. The Rev Alan Ecclestone was described as, “. . . possessed of a brilliant mind and endowed with outstanding pastoral gifts. But he took the teaching of Christ too seriously – some would say too naively – to be preferred for high office in the Church.”

Ironic isn’t?

And yet. . . these are two distinct characteristics that every committed Christian must embody, endure and excel to be in constant possession of. Why? Because these are the very same character traits demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ during His entire earthly, itinerant ministry. He was deemed to be radical; embodying the teachings of the Law of Moses before the people while simultaneously exhibiting all manner of blasphemy toward the very things the Law sought to safeguard against – or so it seemed to the religious authorities – those that determined, or rather judged, that Jesus was, in fact, a naïve, blaspheming Nazarene whose death would ultimately save an entire nation.

And so it is with us – as we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ – or at least I hope it is with us. Today is a celebration leading to a greater awareness of how we have fallen short of living our lives in a full, unapologetic commitment to emulating our Lord and Savior.

In 1 Peter 2:24, the disciple wrote, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

It is by the sacrifice on the Cross that we are redeemed, healed and made right before God the Father. The end of the whole cosmic affair of the Cross and Resurrection was to make humanity right before God. The freedom from the curse of sin corrupting every human life, every intention & purpose under Heaven was & continues to be made available through Jesus Christ alone.

This is the inevitable consequence of Jesus’ death on the cross. It is singular and it is unique. Nothing compares to Him and to His ultimate sacrifice. It is exclusive, unpopular and not moved by, influence or compelled by polls or pundits.

Now comes the part that makes us cringe. . .

Again, 1 Peter 2:21 – “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

How dare God expect or even tacitly suggest that we “owe” Him something for what has always been taught (and expected as entitlement) as a “free” gift from God. Why should I somehow feel “guilty” or “committed” in having to choose to suffer and to live a life that is equated with sacrifice and with constant association to this man of sorrows; well acquainted with grief?

This leads us to the ultimate question of love. For love is the underlying message and purpose of all this. In our day and age where love is most often equated to sex and to instantaneous gratification, it almost seems absurd, if not altogether outrageous, that an individual could possible view love as (1) a choice (2) a life of sacrifice, in pursuit of healing and embodying forgiveness (3) an expression rooted in God and perfectly expressed in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Nothing that we do for someone we love – if we genuinely love them; that is to say – in freedom and in truth – is ever viewed as a necessity. It is viewed and experienced as a desire to make the other happy, comfortable, remain confident in our love for them and to enjoy their pleasure as if it was our very own. This is the love God has for us and it the love He desires for us to have toward Him. As it was freely given, it is desired to be received in Spirit and in Truth.

How?

Through our devotion, through our sorrow, through our brokenness, through our holding on for dear life, through our giving over to Him all of our control and through the ultimate expression of selflessness – giving Him the coveted first priority over everything else that we worship over God – our family, our lives, our comforts, our pursuit for money, status, appearances & pride – just to name a few gods. . .

What I have found is that this isn’t sufficient for many. The sense of repulsion and indignation people feel at the thought that somehow they are responsible for the death of a prophet – a good man who taught great things 2000 years ago is inconceivable and in the face of a postmodern, scientific worldview – totally unacceptable. There is no way to rage against this position for it is born out of the resistance and rebellion all human beings face when confronted with the reality of the human condition.

And so, this is where the parable of the Prodigal Son performs the miracle it has been doing for the last 2000 years.

[Insert Luke 15:11-32]

You see, my friends, coming to Jesus on this day isn’t about the guilt of having somehow contributed to killing Jesus, but it is about coming to terms with the reasons for why we are not able to free ourselves from the spiritual quicksand our ancestors threw us into eons ago. In this case, we’re guilty by nature of our humanity and by the consequences of our being human.

So, yes, Christ did, indeed, die for you. That is a non-negotiable of cosmic proportion. He died for me, and for every single person on the face of this planet – past, present and future. He took upon Himself the sins of the entire world – past, present and future.

Christ died so that you could be free from the slavery to sin – from being estranged from God in the here-and-now and of having to meet the inevitable consequences of sin – death. In more theological terms - estrangement from God in the afterlife. You see, to follow Jesus means that we follow Him forever. It means that the spiritual dimensions of our humanity become the centerpiece of our purpose on this planet – every single thing we say, do and think of is inextricably rooted in the nature of our spirit. This is why it is an inaccurate & malnourished understanding of Christianity to be so preoccupied with death and with the end of all things, for our eternity is secured in Christ and our attention should therefore be on the things of this world that need to be transformed by the Gospel.

But let’s go back to this issue of sin – past, present and future. . .

All too often the emphasis is on what we’ve done as the cause for Jesus’ death on the Cross. However, there are some of you who will receive these words, or listen to them and as you consume these paragraphs, you will struggle with the consequences of the sins that were transgressed against you.

Yes, we’re all sinners, but there are those out there who are victims of rape, sexual abuse, drunk driving, domestic violence, war and of crimes and injustices that boggle the mind of every conceivable stripe. What about the victims then? The death of Christ on the Cross heals those brutal and inconceivable transgressions. The sins waged against you are not forgotten in the divine economy of God’s mercy, purpose and grace. All the contrary… the blood and wounds of Christ are available to heal the indescribable pain victims struggle with in silence and often without any measure of advocacy or solace available to them.

The death of Christ was to redeem us from being lost. It occurred so that we, like the prodigal son, could come home to God the Father and be reintegrated into the Kingdom of God. It happened so that we could be forgiven and healed. It took place so that we could be transformed from transgressors to healers and from victims to more than conquerors. This is why the offense we feel at the scandal of the crucifixion becomes the celebration of the sacrifice of the King of Glory - and of Life - itself on Resurrection Sunday. Truly, He makes all things new and doesn’t leave any stone unturned.

And what about the stone of the tomb? What does that invite us to pray, reflect and/or consider?

Do not be afraid. . .

The Gospel According to Matthew 28: 1-20 provides a vivid and compelling description of the those early hours of Resurrection Sunday.

[Insert Matthew here]

For me, the most engrossing part is found starting at verse 11 to verse 15. More specifically, “… Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were sleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

This day will end and we will return to the regular course of the days, weeks and months to come. I am reminded of how the disciples that were with Jesus on the day of the transfiguration wanted to build booths and remain before the majesty and wonder of the clouds, beholding Jesus, Moses and Elijah. As soon as the desire to remain in the moment of glory, avoiding the necessary travails of the Passion, became the desire of the disciples, the cloud dissipated and the opening to Heaven was – for the time being – no longer within their ability to see.

This is the problem with days like today. Within the 24 hours, many experience momentary glimpses of glory. It’s as if they were watching Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ and walked out of the cinema humbled, quiet and “not-the-same”; remember? Did it happen to you? Remember after 911, the churches were filled with “the faithful” - what happened after approximately 6 months? The numbers returned to as they were prior to the attacks.

We must be weary of those that will slander the Cross and seek to undermine the Truth. It is going to be attempted often in sophisticated and elegant ways. Reasons and explanations will be offered in order to destroy the joy you may feel at this moment. The fire you may feel at this time, others will seek to overtake with water and sand.

Do not be afraid. . .

Trouble will come your way and circumstances in your future may be referred to as a Calvary of sorts. Too often, Christianity comes across as triumphant and the notion of “favor” sets many on the course to emotional and spiritual suicide.

Do not be afraid. . .

11 disciples went up a mountain with the Risen Lord and worshipped Him. 11 disciples and others, I’m certain, who would be on the front lines of this revolution stood on top of a mountain and were witnesses of the authority, glory & reality of God. The Jesus I preached about on this occasion is the very same that Scripture speaks of and testifies to. For 2000 years, every imaginable war has been waged against Christ and His Gospel and yet – here we are today – rejoicing in the absolute, unquestionable Truth – Christ has risen, He has risen indeed.

When you close your computer or this leave this place of worship, prayer and proclamation– made holy because He lives and because of the Holy Spirit’s overwhelming power and purpose, you will be challenged. Days of famine will come when you will feel weak and distracted. You will feel deflated at times and confused. You may think I am referring to non-believers. Sadly, I speak of all of us – do not let this collar fool you. Here is where the message of the Resurrection transcends the possible superficiality of the day. The Resurrection is my proclamation and in the truth of the event, I live. It transforms my entire life. . . in the midst of the death of my sense of purpose, God resurrects me. When I feel weak, He strengthens me and gives me rest. When I feel dead in spirit, He resurrects me, inspires me and sets me ablaze with His Spirit. I am never alone. He is with me and He will always be with you. No trial or tribulation will ever be in vain again. For His wounds have healed you and in your suffering you will be used to heal others – for His glory!

If you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today – you will never be alone and you will see His presence, glory and grace embrace you – now and forevermore. All authority was given to Him and He has given that to you – if you receive Him into your life today. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ breaks the bonds of death and releases you to savor and experience true life – and you don’t have to die to start living it today.

Receive Him – today.

Amen.

Taking Risks

Are you a risktaker?

Futures, stocks & bonds require a certain amount of risk, don't they? Some readers may be willing to take a risk on a relationship, on picking an exciting paint for a room or on riding an attraction at some theme park. . . You get the point.

What about God, though?

Are you willing to take a risk - any risk - for God? In the world of investments, a certain amount of risks are taken as being necessary for the sake of the possible returns an investor may yield, gain, etc. With relationships, the old axiom, "what if", tends to boggle the mind and encourages people to make decisions that may - in fact - turn out to be wonderful for the risktaker, but in some cases, risks mean certain death - HIV, for instance. You may have found an exciting photograph in a magazine that inspired you to go to your local "do-it-yourself" store and buy daring hues of paint to add spunk and "new life" to a rather dreary and shabby looking room. Theme parks are filled with risk-taking possibilities - many of those opportunities are recorded on camera & ready for purchase at the exit of the ride. These "stare-death-in-the-face" moments become priceless moments for families & friends.

Jesus asks us to count the costs before we embark on following Him. His life and ministry are the prospectus that we are to pray about as we discern investing every shred of our spiritual, physical, mental and emotional capital into a life - that according to the world's pundits, with some notable exceptions (and these are becoming rarer and rarer over time), will not yield any worthwhile dividends.

This leads to the next issue - relationships. . .

What are the "expectations" you have about having a relationship with God? Does God need to satisfy you? What are your expectations for yourself toward sustaining a relationship with God? Do you have any?

Funny thing that I've often heard women and men talk about having an "ideal" person in mind when it comes to a relationship. What's your "ideal" god like? The Bible teaches us that we are to divest ourselves of these pretensions and self-serving attitudes, but they are present and they do influence are choices and actions. So, instead of acting as if we don't have these expectations for God, let's face up to them and ask how do they measure up to the God of Abraham, Ruth, Elijah & Deborah, for instance?

As words like sacrifice, suffering, humility, forgiveness and reconciliation continue to become more and more offensive and to demonstrate a measure of vulnerability most people are not willing to entertain for anyone (or for God, for that matter); words like b!$%h, f*&k, s$#t and other crude vulgarity become commonplace vernacular demonstrating individualism and defiant attitudes apt for song lyrics, primetime TV & video games. This new "liberating", "in-your-face" & "whatever" diction is even used by some teachers addressing their students and for some parents addressing their kids.

It's no wonder we grow more violent as a society, less altruistic as a community and surely less willing to experience vulnerability in relationships.

As all things work against loving one another, we find more and more examples of how we should do things for "ME" rather than for someone else. We begin to reconfigure and "paint" the town with a new sense of being and purpose that is singluar, rooted in individuality and unwilling to bend for others - unless it benefits us. The selfless life of faith in God doesn't seem too attractive or - even worse - FUN. This is especially true when we consider Brittany Spears lyrics, ". . .livin' in sin is the new thing . . ." Where has she been? Consider a 9-year-old singing "3" by Spears... get the picture?

Our masks, our attitude and our beliefs, are the paint we use to present ourselves; our masks before society - and in vain we choose to do the same before God. We seek to veil our shame, guilt, insecurities and feelings of emptiness, just to name a few.

So, as we stare this reality squarely in the face, and take time to acknowledge the nature of our mortality - what risks are we really willing to take? Are we going to risk focusing on ourselves alone and remain estranged from God? Are we going to risk only what we can control and manage? Are we seeking a god we can control? A god that agrees with us and serves our ends?

Will we concentrate on making memories that will ultimately cause us to reflect on a stagnant and selfish existence? How far are we really willing to go to love without conditions or expectations? Do we have limits to forgiveness?

Only God and you know the answers to these questions. The tragedy also lies in the fact that not only are these questions directed to non-church goers but to believers as well.

I challenge you to divest yourself of as many pretenses as possible. Ask the Holy Spirit to take total control of your life and to convict you to do away with the "me first" attitude. Ask God to bind all those thoughts that suck the life of your prayers and passions for God. And if you happen to not have passion for God, ask the Spirit to engulf you in holy flames for Him. Risk your life for God's life in you. As you die to self, the Lord will save you from spiritual suidice.

Speak to anyone who seeks love in clubs and in the world. An honest conversation will surely unveil the emptiness and desire to find something better. What limits the possibilities for so many are the assumptions that most have that the Church is morally and spiritually bankrupt. Consequently, there really isn't any other way to survive in this world . . . so, . . . You do your best, try to live a "good" life, don't hurt anyone . . . Have you heard this before? How many people do you know who have this so-called "philosophy"? Have you had a cup of coffee with them? You may want to. Ultimately - a theme and a pattern will become more familiar to you as you have more and more of these cups of coffee with others - discouragement.

Risk everything for God. Everything. Ask others to tell you what their lives are like and then ask yourself if you agree that living for anything other than God is really living at all.

Re-Connected

I met with an old friend yesterday afternoon. We've been discussing, reflecting, arguing and conceptualizing post-seminary education for at least 4 years or so. As of yesterday, I feel comfortable in saying we're out of the drawing room and heading straight to implementation.

I honestly didn't think we'd ever get to this point! To be frank, I had given up on him and on the whole affair.

A lot has happened in the last two years. For those of you who know me well, you know it's been an emotional Kingda Ka. It has also been a time of unquestionable spiritual growth and reflection. I remember sharing with another dear friend how I felt I "missed" God - something that was inconceivable for me in the past.

Between the inconceivable and the incalculable, exists the insurance of God's direction, protection and provision. These may seem to be trite statements often shared with co-pilgrims along the narrow road, but I confess that in my case, they are refreshing and a genuine testimony of where I've been and whence I come.

Throughout this journey, I was disappointed by Christians, especially those in the "prayer" movements. I figured they'd be different and I was sadly mistaken. Prayer movements don't transform, prayer does. Prayer movement folks aren't any closer to God than those who pray under their breath but with greater sincerity struggling to connect with a God who they feel is light years away - but what if. . .

Throughout this journey, I was moved to tears by the sincere struggle of Christians seeking to live the faith in the midst of judgement, pressures of the Christian clique and the "expectations" of perfection from other Christians.

Throughout this journey, I saw my ministry transformed. I thought I was at the top of my "game", surveying the theological landscape in Miami, and in the midst of the climb, I was beaten down into the mire and brokenness of my own life. From the muck of my life, I can see clearly. . . isn't it ironic?