Homeboy vs. Hometown Riot

Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV)
¹The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ²to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

Jesus stood in front of those gathered together in the synagogue of His home town and read these words…then, glancing at everyone in the room who were listening he rolled the scroll back up, it was placed in its customary resting place, and he took a seat to teach on the reading. You can almost imagine the crowd gathered there in the synagogue waiting for this fellow resident of Nazareth to speak. What would He say, he’s just a stone cutter’s son, and how much scriptural understanding does He really have? In the back of the sanctuary a person coughed, all eyes trained on Jesus, hanging on expectantly for what He would say.

Then it happens, with scriptural intent Jesus, now seated, looks directly into the faces of the people and fellow teachers and declares; “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” And then He lays it out there in his teaching. He tells them, without flinching or hesitation that every prophet is rejected in their home towns and proceeds to give examples of this through Elijah and Elisha. His meaning strikes the congregation like an audible slap in the face. Since the people of Israel rejected their prophets and continued in their ignorance the prophets went to the gentiles instead.

A fellow Jew takes a step forward and yells in outrage “What are you saying?” “How dare You!” another screams, the color of anger red rising in his face. “Blasphemy” another calls out and is repeated like an echo in a cave throughout the room. The once docile crowd seemingly awakens from its sermoned stupor and like a crashing wave onto jagged rocks at high tide convenes on the cause of their anger – Jesus. And with murderous intent glinting in their eyes, they grab Jesus roughly by His cloak. The roar of anger reverberates off of the columns and ceiling as the crowds of neighbors, townsmen, and even those who had worked with Joseph and his sons including Jesus…they knew Him, and yet they knew nothing. Anger now brimming over like lava from a volcano, the hometown crowd hauls Jesus out with cries of blasphemy and curses. Their intent is to end the guilt and conviction they feel by ending Jesus’ life. But as they approach a nearby cliff, something remarkable happens. Perhaps it’s an unrecorded miracle because no water is turned into wine, nor is someone healed from a sickness, but it’s a miracle nonetheless. The murderous rioters or would be church goers who were intent on killing Jesus aren’t permitted to do the deed! It’s not time yet for Him to die, and this isn’t the place for His ultimate sacrifice.

Instead of falling to His death, Jesus walks through the crowd. Nothing more is said of this event except that He goes on His way (v30). Was Satan involved in this sudden murderous riot? Were the town folk prompted to respond this way by a spiritual battle unseen? Perhaps, but the focus still remains on Jesus here. He walks through the would be murderers from the cliff and continues on this path and mission of teaching, healing and changing lives. This act of the crowd is fulfillment of Christ’s words only moments ago “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” It wasn’t time yet for His sacrifice for the sins of the world. And so He moves on. Something to ponder here is if this event broke Christ’s heart. Were there tears in His eyes when He walked away from them, from His home? People He had known for years had just attempted to kill Him. His ‘old stomping grounds’ had become a hostile and uninviting place for Him, further reinforcing scripture that “He had nowhere to lay His head…”or call Home anymore. (Matt 8:20)

For us today, we may never face public riots for what we say for the sake of Christ. People might not be attempting to throw us from cliffs. But if we are to be followers and emulators of Christ we too must take bold stands and remain firm in them. Jesus said to His disciples and even now to us, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16:24) In these words speaks of sacrifice, selflessness and purpose beyond our earthly lives. Jesus understood this measure of surrender, his purpose for being here on Earth and He gave himself completely to this task despite being rejected by the hometown crowd…how about you?

What is the measure of your surrender today?

(*My title isn’t meant to offend, please know I reverence Jesus and that of His life, and please don’t misunderstand my intent in the use of ‘Homeboy’)

March 27, 2013 1

Treasure: Curses or Blessings?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21)

I can’t help but think of the original movie “Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Blackpearl” in which Johnny Depp plays Captain Jack Sparrow. His treasure is the Black Pearl and taking his rightful place as its Captain again…His antagonist is Captain Barbossa and the crew have been cursed by a pirate’s treasure so that they can never die but they cannot enjoy the pleasures of life anymore either. Their treasure in life has become their undoing and they are now cursed because of it.

Is it so far fetched to think that earthly treasure can be like this with us as well? No we may not appear as ghosts in the moonlight, but we may be ruled by our treasures. Just flip on the television and consider the numerous commercials that tell us we haven’t truly lived until we have the newest and best telephone, electronic device, car or job. Earthly treasure certainly has its trappings, its lures and its appeal doesn’t it?

Have you heard it said, ‘whatever consumes most of your time will consume you?’ Another word for our treasures could be the word ‘Idol’. If we become consumed with an idol in our lives, it dominates our time, and our attention then does it not take away from the time we should be spending with God? Don’t we see throughout the Old Testament that God is a jealous God who wants us to be completely sold out to Him alone? It literally breaks His heart when his people sell His love for cheap idols of this world that are temporal and will fade away. It’s like having the Hope Diamond yet trading it in for a cubic zirconia ring that was seen the on Home shopping network…it just doesn’t make sense!

Where is your treasure today? Are you investing your time and your passions on the Eternal or the temporal and Earthly? Have you been cursed by your possessions? Consumed by them? Don’t allow earthly treasures that are cheap and temporary to replace the love of God which is perfect, lovely and will last forever!

Truth be told, I have made this mistake countless times, it never pays off. Sure for a time we’re happy with our treasure, but over time it loses its shine and what we thought would bring us happiness leaves us with a vacuum in our hearts…and we’re empty. Eternal treasure will never leave us feeling this way! God will never leave us or forsake us, and His promises are always true, noble and priceless in value!

So what’ll it be? Your shiny new toy that will one day fail you, or God’s Eternal light which shines forever?

Where your treasure is…there your heart is also. Think on these things, and with the words of Jesus, “He who has ears to hear, let Him hear!”

March 25, 2013 1

Peeling Stickers and Gaining Freedom

I am a rubric’s cube champion! I can solve a rubric’s cube in my own time and my own method. Let me explain my method.

Many years ago I was given my first Rubric’s cube and began that very day to attempt to place each frustrating colored cube into the right sequence to match them all up. I tried turning the columns this way at that to find success..I would make a turn only to realize I have been going around and around making the same mistakes, actually repeating the same sequential turns which turn into repeated bad habits. When it was all said and done I was a stubborn fool going round and round doing the same things which were not leading me anywhere near success in solving the colored cubed problem. I recall many times tossing it aside in frustration and vowing never to pick it up again only to break that vow countless times.

I had all but given up, then I had a bright idea…it was one of the older rubic’s cube models and because it was older, the colored squares that made up the cube were actually stickers glued into place.

HERE’S WHY IM A CHAMPION:
I had this bright idea, I would solve this cube puzzle by my own methods…and so I proceeded to peel off the first sticker, then another, then another…I peeled off all of the stickers and then re-assembled the pieces until there in front me was a completed rubric’s cube puzzle all uniformly placed in color coordination. I was now a rubric’s cube champion…in my own mind that is.

Okay confession time, truth be told I admit that I cheated…but I did solve the problem, just with my own method and my own out of the box idea.

WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY?
Life is like one big Rubric’s cube sometimes. No matter where we go, turn we take, we keep making the same mistakes and the same stubborn wrong decisions. It is said that doing the same thing over and over again is complete and utter insanity…so we must all be insane sometimes. Truth be told we live in a fallen world and we are a fallen people. The Bible teaches us this. Yet over and over again we play the game of life and think we’re on a healthy path then make decisions or encounter the consequences of prior decisions and we end up right back at the place in which we started from. Life can become utter insanity when we live like this. We go round and round, vowing to live better, make better decisions, to be good people…then our actions or our attitudes and our habitual lifestyles get the best of us once more…we become frustrated, tired, worn out, and we just want to throw our hands up and just quit.

Jesus came into this world and proved that the Law wasn’t God. Jesus came into this world and illustrated for us that the Law that people had added to and Pharisees regulated couldn’t be kept…God’s children were going round and round, making sacrifice after sacrifice in order to compensate for their habitual life style that had them going round and round in circles. Jesus came to break that cycle of sin. Jesus busted the game of sin, peeled the stickers (so to speak) off of the lives of humanity and reset them through the shedding of His blood on the cross. He set us free from the cycle and from certain death…because we could not solve this puzzle of life which is Holiness in and of ourselves.

Jesus wants to peel the stickers off of your life and reset them for you today…will you allow him to do this for you? God’s object is to free us…will you let Him?

(My apologies to those avid Rubric solvers out there…It’s just an epiphany that struck truth in my life today!)

March 20, 2013 0

Early Morning Fears

It’s five o clock in the morning

a small pajamaed body

creeps into our bed

silent as a shadow

shaking like a leaf

in the fall

dreams had turned

and now he churns

next to me,

breathing heavy on my neck

heating these old bones

forgetting how it used to be

when everything is possible

and nothing too hard to fathom

it’s five o clock in the morning

and we wake to encompass

our young soul with love

to help him brave through

the nightmares of tomorrow

…this too shall pass.

March 18, 2013 0

Patience…not just for Doctors

Patience is a virtue they say, forgive me because i seem to have missed that day when they were handing patience out. Patience has always been a struggle for me and I always jokingly say that I once prayed for patience and got four children. Interestingly enough though I consider myself to be blessed by not only my children but by this family that God has blessed me with. They put up with me and sometimes that’s saying a lot!

How are you in the patience department? Do you get bent out of shape when your food you ordered at a restaurant takes longer than expected? Do you huff and puff at the minor inconveniences of life?

One of my biggest areas of discontent and struggle in the patience department is being on time. For me I have been taught that you don’t ever show up late, you arrive early but with four kids arriving early to anything would be a miracle. I really struggle with this and find it hard to have patience in the midst of those moments.

Whatever your struggle today, patience or otherwise, it is always healthy to take a step back from time to time and look honestly at yourself. Ask yourself “Am I proud of those moment when I huff and puff at things beyond my control? Am I really proud of my behavior when I lash out or am irritable?” Of course the answer is no, so what are we going to do about our poor behavior? Do you want to change, improve your life and physical/spiritual well being? Then we have to dismantle our impatience and stop fueling the fire of our tempers. If you are at all like me, I want to change I honestly don’t want my impatience and poor handle of my emotions to rule me.

Take a hard look at your life today, don’t sugar coat it or bury it but look closely at your life and begin today to make those changes…small steps at a time! Pray to the Lord for guidance and strength to be an overcomer in your struggles. He will guide you and remain at your side through it all. What have you got to lose but to try?!

-Just a thought.

March 15, 2013 0

birthday gifts and yellowed pages

I received a book

today

this my birthday

From a forgotten poet

He wasn’t famous,

nor well known

the pages are yellowed

with age

old and dusty

it smells like

mildew, library shelves

And wood varnish

these pages

life is poured out

essence of heart

Etched with grace

Like sunrises on

Bright blue mornings

Crisp in spring time breezes

It was said also

Samuel Clemens

Was born with the rise

Of Haley’s comet

And passed it again

At the closing

Such a final chapter

Isn’t in this book

But only spoken

In whisper

Too loudly

Like creaking pews

In church

I wished I could have

Met them both

Yet still might

They be heard

If one listens hard

Enough

On waning breezes

And in the scent

Mildew, library shelves

And wood varnish

Thank you

For unread

chapters.

March 12, 2013 0

IF (Rudyard Kipling)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

March 8, 2013 1

A Sloop, A Squall, A Savior

The Rabbi finishes his teaching and instructs his followers to get into the boat and head out into the lake. He settles himself down into the creaking bow as the sounds of the water lapping and splashing become his lullaby. He is exhausted from human contact and needs to rest for just a little while. With his eyes closed and his breathing a rhythmic tune for the sandman, his disciples chatter about the day. What did Jesus mean about the mustard seed? Were they to go out and gather this seed to become great leaders of faith like him? Their conversation continued while a couple of the disciples cast out nets to bide their time in the dusk of the day. Their learned profession casting nets into the waters would inevitably feed them tonight.

Out of the East a rumble is heard. The wary fishermen are all too familiar with the temperamental shifting of the wind and the rising swells that sometimes swoop down onto the lake. They become nervous. The small sloop isn’t even halfway across and soon this storm will overtake them. Another rumble echoes off of the wooden mast and continues to roll out into the horizon, this time accompanied by a bright flash of lightening as the pressure of the air changes around them. This is going to be a big storm, and they have nowhere safe to go, they are vulnerable. The wind suddenly picks up and the idle chatter of conversation is carried out past them as the howl of this squall begins. Jesus is still asleep.

Simon Peter looks over at his brother Andrew and they exchange a momentary glance of concern. The wind starts to increase the chop of the waves and soon enough the boat is hurtling forward on a rollercoaster that has everyone’s stomach in their throats. First up a tall breaking wave and then down into the depths only to repeat again over and over. The rain begins to pelt them with larges droplets and soon they are drenched from head to toe and the bottom of the boat looks more like a big bucket of water. Still Jesus is asleep. How much more can this little boat handle? They begin to wonder this as another strong gust has them bracing for another crashing wave over the bow. Concern gives way to fear, fear gives way to dread. This could be their last night and that realization is evident on each of their faces. Finally, after another crash of lightening that strikes too close to them and a roar of thunder that is felt in their chests they seek the only source of hope that they have left; Jesus. He is still asleep, the day had been long and he was very weary from travel. One of the disciples places firm hands on Jesus’ shoulders and shakes him awake. “Help us Teacher, can’t you see that we are about to die!” Jesus looks up into his disciples’ face and sees sheer panic and terror as the swell screams and tears through the boat and crashing waves.

Jesus takes off the now soaking cloak from his body and makes his way to the prow of the boat. He stands up boldly before the storm as all of the disciples are behind him huddled together quaking in fear. He raises his hands as if he wants or dares the storm to strike him. Then in a loud voice he yells out into the squall. “STOP, BE STILL!” The disciples witness something astounding. It doesn’t happen incrementally, or taper away like a receding storm, but all at once everything becomes calm. Everything! The waves cease their rising and crashing. The wind that threatened to blow them away simply went away. The roll of thunder and crash of lightening suddenly disappears as if the storm has decided to go elsewhere. All is calm.

The disciples look up at their teacher, amazed. Jesus stands there before them says to them; “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Then something clicks within them, and they are terrified. Who is Jesus? Did that just happen? So many questions run through their minds. But the evidence is right before them; Jesus has just stopped a storm with His words. The air that was once filled with pressure from the storm is now filled with rebuke of the disciples’ lack of faith. “Do you still have no faith?” These words will echo in them for some time. It will remind them and spur them on for years. Their Rabbi, God’s one and only son, has shown them what faith can do. The disciples will never forget this moment. It will be forever engrained in them, forever a living example of God’s power that is alive and active in the world. Perhaps, just perhaps Christ’s words rings even truer when He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. “ (John 14:12,13)

I’m not sure about you, but I can identify with the disciples! I too have doubts. I too struggle with a waning faith from time to time. Sometimes the storms that invade my life seem to crash over me and threaten to capsize all that I am and possess. Many times I respond to Jesus just like the disciples when crisis comes my way, “Help me Jesus, can’t you see that I am about to die!” But the Son of God, the same Jesus who calmed that storm so long again with mere words still speaks to the storms in my life today! He speaks to your storms as well! How’s your faith? In whom is your faith today? Perhaps, if it’s not in Jesus, the storm calmer, life giver, Messiah; you could be sinking and afraid. Cry out to Him, have faith in Him and He will be there to help you in your tempests and your storms. “Peace, be still!”

March 6, 2013 1

Question: “Why Did God come to Earth?”

“It is only because he became like us that we can become like him.”

-Dietrich Bonehoffer

Jesus came to earth. That impact alone has been felt through time, like a ripple in an ocean that eventually became a tidal wave. God came to us! This one statement should touch us in a way that no other statement on earth can compare itself to. The Creator of this planet, and everything else for that matter, descended to our level…descended to become one of His creations. Why? Why would He do this? What would the motivation be for Almighty God taking on human form? Was He bored? Was there nothing else to do? Obviously there must be a reason.

The Reason:

John 3:16 tells us plainly the reason for God coming to us as a man. “God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!” God loved us! Not just the world that He created, but the men and women that He created in His own image…you and me! God came to our level so that we might be saved.

Wait.

Saved from what? Was there some sort of cosmic invasion? Were there still dinosaurs out there that needed vanquishing and we needed protecting? No! So what were we saved from?

The answer is that we were saved from ourselves. Huh? What does that mean? Romans chapter three puts it plainly for us: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” –Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

Everyone on this rock that we call Earth has sinned. Everyone. Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned.” Back up a few verses and it also says, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” Romans 3:10 (NIV) Since Adam and Eve broke God’s heart in the garden of Eden and committed the first sin, everyone who has ever lived carries this ‘sin gene’ within themselves. There is no one on Earth that is good enough, holy enough or perfect enough to merit meeting the expectations of “righteous”. So this is why God had to take on human form and save us. He came to save us from ourselves. To save us from our own punishment that is certain death without his redemption and sacrifice on our behalf. God knew we needed a redeemer and so He provided a way for us to be saved. Why do this for us? Because He loves us that much! He loves us more than we could ever comprehend or understand. He loves us even before we reach out and reciprocate (or try to reciprocate) that love. Then and only then can we truly understand what Jesus was saying when He said, “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” –John 10:10 (ASV)

Do you need some assurance today that you’re loved? Do you realize just how important you are to God himself? He extends His arms of love to us today and still says to us “I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly!” Our Father in heaven invites you to experience real life today. If you need help learning more about this great love He has for you, begin by reading the gospel of John…read the gospels and especially read the very words of Jesus. Don’t miss out on the abundant life that God has for you! Don’t miss out on His love. Begin today…I dare you!

March 4, 2013 1

A Prayer

when the clouds have rolled back

when the pain cascading over

has receded passed our broken hearts

when the tides of confusion too

have drifted, current strong back into the deep

there, my soul, we will be free.

When the strength of ebb and tide

flows through our veins

when worries no longer drive us insane

and the peace of the Divine

enters us once again

that is where I will want to remain.

Don’t capsize me dear Lord

I am weak and without sword

but You have never left my side

through pain and sorrows been my guide

Provide Your light

return my sight

All to You I give, all for You

I will live.

February 28, 2013 0

Tag: Life