SIMPLY REJOICING 3: Rejoice and Proclaim His Good News

TELL YOUR STORY

“What you have seen and heard may touch another heart.” (PL)

SATURDAY, June 7

        Heading for home today so this will be brief.  In this “Tell Your Story” section, author Lewis writes of Jesus and children and being childlike in our faith.  I especially was moved to consider her last few lines:

          “Who are the children God is calling you to lead to Jesus and disciple?  Be on watch – the fields are ripe for harvest.  Does he have a Timothy for you to mentor?  Is there some young person who would benefit from hearing your story?  Keep alert!  Perhaps he has a lesson to teach you from a child who is excited about his or her faith and wants everyone to have the joy of knowing Jesus.  Those are thoughts IO’m pondering and questions I’m asking myself as I meditate on the teachings of Jesus regarding children and being childlike in faith.” (p. 79)

          The ‘fields are ripe for harvest’.  Hmmmm….those lines sound amazingly familiar to our missional team.  Open Door is one way our church has reached out to youth by meeting their needs for fellowship and food.  Where else is God calling us?  

FRIDAY, June 6  Like a Child

Luke 18:16-17 MSG

“Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”

A Recycled Scribble today from Mark's similar passage

          Jesus loved children.  He relished being with them and playing with them.  But more importantly, Jesus saw the importance of children – to approach life with the simple openness and honesty of a child.

          How do we view children?  Are they a burden to be seen and not heard?  A nuisance that leave toys on the floor and make messes at inconvenient times?  Or do we look at a child and see the miracle of potential within?  Do we see God in their face in their blatant acceptance of everyone and unselfishness?  Do we see a harvest to be reaped in the very best way imaginable? 

          Our church values our youth, and that impact will reap rewards for the Kingdom of God that we can’t imagine.  The more we spend time with the youth and share our stories,  the more time we spend listening to their struggles and dreams, the time we mentor without knowing it, we make a difference.  Even more, the interaction usually is of benefit to BOTH sides.  You don’t have to be a designated youth leader – everyone can be a part of youth ministry.  God calls us in various fashions, but we are all a part.

          Make no mistakes in Jesus’ message: we must come to God with the same trust and simplicity of a child if we are to understand the Kingdom. 

WITNESS THE MIRACLE
"An amazing answer to prayer leads to the next bold request." (PL)

THURSDAY, June 5  Holes in the Wall

“The losses that puncture our world may become holes to see through to God….There’s a reason I’m not writing the story and God is.  He knows how it all works out, where it all leads, what it all means.” Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts

        Praying hard also means continuing to pray even when the answer isn’t apparently what we want.  Praying hard when the answer seems to be exactly the opposite!  Praying hard when the answer hurts and is painful.  Because God has a much bigger plan than our little world and experience.  We are just a piece in the puzzle and only God knows how it fits together.

          Ann Voskamp’s words made me envision a wall between us and God.  When everything goes smoothly, we have no need of God, no need to trust and put our faith into action.  And hence, we really don’t know the vast capacity of God’s love.  But when we experience loss, when we experience forgiveness, holes are punched in that wall that allow us to see God more clearly. 

WEDNESDAY, June 4  Tell the Story

Galatians 1:15-16 VOICE

But God—who set me apart even before birth and called me by His grace—chose, to His great delight,  to reveal His Son in me so I could tell His story among the outsider nations.

          The apostle Paul, formerly persecutor Saul, knew what it meant to be ‘saved’.  His conversion is probably one of the most dramatic reversals in the Bible.  When I remember Paul, how can I ever doubt that God can work miracles of his chosing?  God-Holy Spirit is ready to work through me to proclaim the good news. 

          I think my problem is I equate proclamation with street corner preachers and that isn’t my modus operandi.   But perhaps God doesn’t use all of us in that way.  Perhaps I am currently writing or drawing my proclamation.  Perhaps I don’t even know who reads my morning ramblings, the reach of an internet blog to a world I don’t see. Who sees a Scribble and is renewed, a prayer drawing and is encouraged?  Perhaps I don’t know who is watching my actions and my witness.  Perhaps….No, FOR CERTAIN, God is at work without my knowledge.  My job is to remain open and willing, to trust God to work through me, and be ready to embark on new journeys. 

          This section of Lewis’ book ends with another thought by Mark Batterson in The Circle Maker, a thought that reminds us that the journey isn’t easy, but filled with unexpected and abundant rewards:

          “By definition, praying hard is praying when it is hard to pray. And it’s the hard times that teach us to pray hard. But if you keep praying through, the peace that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind.”  

TUESDAY, June 3  Proclaim!

Acts 1:8 MSG

"... and when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

          Rejoice. Witness.  Proclaim.  I think I do ok with the rejoice part.  I’m working on recognizing God at work and celebrating God’s presence.  I try to live my life as a witness by who I am and how I act.  But proclaim?  Actively announce and share?  That’s a little more overt.  I do it if I sense a listening heart or a fellow believer.  But to proclaim to a hostile audience or to those who may rebuff me?  That’s much, much harder, and I’m afraid I have a long way to go in that mission. 

          So…my prayer today is to be a better proclaimer for Christ.  To be more vocal in what guides my life.  To risk the rebuff and allow my rejoicing to publicly call others to God.  A lofty goal?  Yes, and I can’t do it alone.   But….with the Holy Spirit, all things are possible!  

LUCADO: The Church - God's Family

The Max Lucado Inspirational Reader
Chapter 2:  The Church - God's Family

MONDAY, February 3  Poetry

Ephesians 2:10a  NKJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works...

     Rarely do I quote from the King James translation, but the key word here is workmanship.  Others translations cite handiwork, accomplishment, work.  But according to Lucado, workmanship comes from the Greek work poeo which means poetry.  God wrote poetry in and through us!  Divine poetry! The Creator God took humankind as words and wove us together to express his love for the world.  
     This isn't a single word poem, but a masterpiece of different phrases and thoughts.  As Paul writes in Corinthians, we all bring many gifts to the poetry of church, but we are all equally part of the composition.  The church is the WE of God.   

 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. (1 Cor 12:27 NLT)  
Together, one body.  Separate and distinct, many parts.  All God's children.  All family.  That really is poetry!  

(I am switching back to Max Lucado for the next few weeks...who knows for how long!  Off on travels and something small and easy to pack!) 


TUESDAY, February 4    A Common Song

Acts 1:8 CEB
Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

     Lucado writes of a time in college when he traveled with a diverse group of ministry students to rebuild homes in earthquake torn Guatemala.  They debated theology enroute on the plane - vast chasms separated them.  But when faced with a common disaster, a team was created.  As he worked side by side with one who did not share his music styles, they began to sing together songs that worked for each.  Lucado said, "Our common concern gave us a common song."  
     Our common concern should be justice.  Our common concern should be to witness God's love.  All the divisions we have created were not God's intent.  Jesus charges the disciples collectively in Acts.  

"None of us can do what all of us can do....Jesus works in community. For that reason, you find no personal pronouns in the earliest descriptions of the church." (ML-19)

     Reminds me of a common sports poster:  There is no I in TEAM.  The church is our team, the WHOLE church.  We are starting to show a little teamwork locally in Open Door and Backpack.   We are singing a common song!  


WEDNESDAY, February 5

Matthew 13:13  MSG

I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge people toward receptive insight. 

“Story is the primary way in which the revelation of God is given to us…” writes Eugene Peterson.  The Bible is filled with the stories of Moses, Joshua, David, and the prophets.  Jesus told stories, the Gospel writers told stories about Jesus.  We share the gospel today with the stories we tell our families and friends.  We live a story and in that story God is revealed. 

What story or narrative of God will Rick and I find in Hawaii?  I write enroute…somewhere over the Pacific.  We are filled with anticipation and excitement…for a new adventure, for a new culture and climate, for a true vacation!  But I am also excited to seek God in this place – in the beauty, the people, the history.  What story does God have to share in this island paradise?  My seat mate is a postman from Illinois, transplanted to the Islands over 20 years ago.  He is flying HOME to his story (He came over to Portland to watch the SuperBowl with his son and family ….proudly wearing his Seahawks shirt back!) I later check on the internet as he and his wife have a vacation rental.  His name is Ken Smith and their place looks amazing!

Back to Max Lucado tomorrow!! 

THURSDAY, February 6     Planes & Pews

Matthew 7:7 NIV

Seek and you will find. 

     “People on a plane and people on a pew have a lot in common” says Max Lucado.  As I flew yesterday for the longest extended flight I have ever taken, this hit home.  How so, I wondered? 

     Most flyers approach the flight as ho-hum.  Gotta do this.  Satisfied but not excited. The faces on many travelers confirmed this. (Although the anticipation of a resort destination makes a bit of a difference!) Most worshipers approach Sundays the same way.  Gotta do this.  Ho-hum.  How soon can I hit the trail, the ski slope, or the golf course?

     But when you come longing for something more, you just might find it.  Lucado tells the story of a young boy who excitedly anticipates meeting the pilot, looking out the windows, eating the peanuts, etc.  His enthusiasm transferred to wonder, to a deep contentment and joy. He went to the cockpit.  He met the captain.  He received his ‘wings’.     

     Do we come to church hoping to meet our Pilot?  Do we enter into the experience with anticipation and preparation?  If we seek, we just might find.  We just might go home with new wings.  

FRIDAY, February 7   Refuge
Psalm 46: 1 
God is our refuge and strength,
    a help always near in times of great trouble. CEB
God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.  MSG

     Another brief break from Max Lucado...as I wanted to comment on the experience of visiting The City of Refuge: Pu'uhonua O Honaunau yesterday.  This city of Hawaiian ali'i (kings), nestled in a sandy coconut grove near a small harbor, also housed the pu'uhonua - place of refuge.  Kapu meant most any kind of transgression, whether refusing or unable to fight in battle to preparing a meal for a man (women).  To break kapu meant death.  Some of the laws reminded me a bit of a few Judaic laws in the OT: laws which we don't understand the purpose for in our modern culture, but which usually had some alternate purpose of health or safety in their day. 
     To reach the refuge was not easy.  A 17' wide, 10', wall barricaded the refuge from the kings' village.  The only access was by sea, over a rough, tidal altered, reef of aa lava.  Ki'i, wooden statues, still guard the site.  
     What brought me to thinking of Psalm 46 is the final aspect of the Refuge:  ALL were treated equally once there.  A murderer was no different from one who had walked on the shadow of the king.  According to the NPS brochure, "If they reached the pu'uhonua, the kahuna pule (priest) performed a ceremony of absolution, and the offenders could return home safely.  The spirit of the pu'uhonua was respected by all." Forgiveness granted.  Sins absolved.  
     We have a Place of Refuge even now: safe in the arms of God.  We can seek refuge and forgiveness - we don't have to swim the ocean or crawl over aa lava to get there.  And all sins, large and small, are washed away.  

SATURDAY, February 8   Support & Fellowship 
"At some point you need support.  You need to be with folks who cheer when you do.  You need what the Bible calls fellowship.  And you need it every week.  After all, you can only go so long before you think about joining the crowd."   (Max Lucado)
     
     When you attend a ball game at the stadium of the opposing team, you often don't find many friends in the crowd.  People turn and stare at you, maybe heckle you, when you cheer at the 'wrong' times.  How satisfying and encouraging it is when you find someone nearby who is cheering with you.  A bond is formed that can extend across lines of race, age, or status.  If is the bond of fellowship in a common 'team'. 
     Join God's team and find camaraderie in your teammates and other 'fans' in church.  We can only survive a wilderness experience so long.  Even Jesus came back from the wilderness.  Christianity is community.  
     Off this morning early to explore a different community - that 'under the sea' in the ocean reef!  Still all are God's creatures, and we are bound together in that!  

SUNDAY, February 9   One Flock - CHURCH
Ephesians 4:3  CEB

...and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.

   Toby Mac's song One World just went flying through my head.  As I wander the Hawaiian Islands, where no one culture is in a majority, Paul's words to seek the unity of Spirit make sense.  A couple of Lucado's thoughts...

"Never in the Bible are we told to create unity.  We are simply told to maintain the unity that exists.....Our task is not to invent unity, but to acknowledge it.""What would happen if all the churches agreed, on a given day, to change their names to simply 'church'?...then we Christians wouldn't be known for what divides us, instead we'd be known for what unites us - our common Father.......God would like it.  It was his idea to begin with."

     We aren't going to make it to CHURCH today - the way our schedule worked out, this is our day of most driving.  We need an early start.  But I will ponder One Church thoughts as we drive.  I have no clue what 'denomination' some of the churches we have seen are, and it isn't important.  There are brothers and sisters of faith across the island.  They are family.

     Back to Ken Smith, my seatmate on the plane.  I felt a sense of 'family' when I went to his website, and there beneath the picture of he and his wife, was a symbol of a fish with a cross in the center.  A small sign, but one that made us ONE.  Have a great day, brothers and sisters!!

I finished a couple of my prayer mandalas.....they use a 'snowflake-style cutout' for the basic pattern, but where you go from there can really change the result.  Both of these center on the four areas of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, intercession, and confession.  

MONDAY, February 10  Family

Romans 12:10 

Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.MSG

Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. CEB

Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. GNT

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. NIV
Multiple translations above of Paul's admonition in Romans to get along as members of a family.  Lucado goes on to explore all the different Greek words for love, indicating that an awkward but accurate translation might be, "Have a friend/family devotion to each other in a friend/family sort of way."  However you interpret the verse, the intent is the same:  God unites us.  And because God loves us both, we need to get along.  Lucado writes, 

You didn't pick me.  I didn't pick you.  You may not like me.  I may not like you.  But since God picked and likes us both, we are family. (p28)

'Nuf said, brother!