Smashing Walls

Humbling Ourselves to Serve.  This is the assignment: to present this topic to Middle School youth on Wednesday night.

Jesus.  The Samaritan woman at the well.  Cultural and religous barriers stand unified like a wall, daring to prohibit Jesus from meeitng this woman's needs.

She's a woman.  You're a rabbi.  She's a Samaritan, your people's hated race.  You have a calling to fulfill as the promised Messiah, deliverer of your people.  It's lunch time!  She's unfaithful.  How could you associate with her?  Think of your reputation!

He smashes through the wall and meets the woman.  He sees her.  He knows her.  He speaks into her heart.  He gives her hope and a future.  She's set free.  She spreads the Good news of this hero who has dared to take on the walls of pride to meet her where she is.

What are the thoughts and notions that would dare keep you and I from reaching out to those in need?

Gender?  Politics?  Sexual orientation?  Personal safety?  Denomination alliances?  Team or school affiliations?  Personal preferences?  Socio-economic status?  Skin color?  Thoughts of inadequacy?  "I just don't want to!"

"...do not think more highly of yourself than you ought."

"...have the same attitude as Christ..."

"...in humility, consider others better than yourself."

"I must become greater.  He must become less."

Jesus--"I have food that you know nothing of.  My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work."

Why Not Now?

I have a problem.  My pride insists that if I cannot do something right the first time, I don't bother trying.  Another and reciprocating problem is a good one: I cannot shake the notion that the initial opportunity missed is still worth pursuing.  Enter the words to the song, "City on Our Knees"...

If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now

For years I have dreamed of writing.  More recently, to be used by God to encourage other dads and other believers in general through blogging or even an interactive web site (which I know nothing about at the moment).  Many inspiritations have come and gone.  The Temptation--dwell on opprtunities missed while forgetting the dream.  But if the stirring keeps coming, something is going on in my spirit worth paying attention to, right?  (Thank you God for your patience and continued inspiration.)  "If...sometime...why not now?" 

So here I am.  Blogging again after many failed attempts and inconsistancies.  May this medium become the net that catches real life relfections and organic inspiriation from the Spirit of God in and through me, despite me, and for His glory alone.  If this is of God, may He use it to share His love through me.  And may others be encouraged in their faith as I am by sharing mine through writing.

To God be the glory...great things He has done!

Let the Good Times Roll

Just returned from a week-long family vacation to the beach.  Seems all the unpacking, washing and putting away of stuff is mostly behind us, though we are sure to keep finding sand right up until Christmas and beyond.  As I finally catch my breath a bit, I am remembering how one really tough day early that week was eventually swallowed up by the the good times we had together.  I'm not sure what we learned in that not-so-heavnely day, but I know that somehow, by God's grace, our faith was strengthened just a bit.  It was hard!  But we would all say that our trip was a lot of fun.  We all had a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day".  But we woke up the next morning to the best day of the whole trip.  How is that even possible? 

As I think back on that experience, I see again that God has a way of taking even the most difficult of times and transforming them into something valuable.  I am also reminded that as long as I have others in my life whom I love and care for, the most rewarding and necessary work is done in the trenches of relational hardships.  For some reason, this is where faith is worked out.  Relationships are where I see afresh my own frailty and need of God's grace. Thank God for His grace! 

So, enjoy the good times.  Let 'em roll!  ...Embrace the difficulties too, remembering Jesus.  And may we learn to trust God more deeply as we walk with those whom we love the most.

Character

"Add to your faith, character..." (2 Peter 1:5-8)  Developing character is a significant aspect of discipleship, of growing up in Christ.  I think of the words of Paul to Timothy as he exhorts the young leader to model the Christian life to those he leads, setting an "example" in his words, his actions, his faith, his love, his purity and his attitudes.  Who I am runs far deeper than what I believe.

Clean Laundry

Ahhhh.  The smell of fresh laundry, hung out to dry in the fresh spring air.  Just days ago, these colorful Mexican blankets bore the stench of our old dog's urine, feces and drainage.  YUK!  I know, right!  How disgusting!  But then came the washing machine--Heavy Duty cycle with extra detergent.  Two more days hanging outside, and the transformation was complete.  I know this because I dared bury my face in them to draw a deep whiff.

In that moment of affirmation, my mind shifted.  Jesus has cleaned up the stench of my life.  Made me clean.  (And cleanses me still.)  "He who knew no sin became sin for (me), that (I) might become the righteousness of God in Him."  

Thanking You today, Father, for cleaning me up.  Thanking You Jesus, for loving me.  I once was smelly, but you washed me clean.