The Party of God

(An excerpt from the book “The Secret Message of Jesus” by Brian D. McLaren published by the W Publishing Group, 2006)

Jesus often compared the kingdom of God to parties, feasts and banquets. Today we could say that God is inviting people their gang fights and come to a party, to leave their workaholism and rat race and come to a party, to leave their loneliness and isolation and join the party, to leave their exclusive parties (political ones, for example, which win elections by dividing electorates) and join one inclusive party of a different sort, to stop fighting or complaining or hating or competing and instead start partying and celebrating the goodness and love of God.

Just today I met some folks from a church in Minneapolis who demonstrate this metaphor in a dramatic and fun way. A group of them gather on a street corner in a poor part of town. They take overturned trash cans, old pots and pans, and an assortment of drums and other percussion instruments and start creating a loud, joyful rhythm. Soon a crowd gathers. It’s impossible not to smile when you hear the joyful music being made mostly from junk. Homeless folk and people from the neighborhood start dancing. Then the church members start distributing food—not in the somber style of a soup kitchen, but in the joyful atmosphere of a street party. They don’t have to say a word, really, they’re demonstrating their message—that the kingdom of God is like a street party to which everybody in invited.

I Knew it was Coming...

Most of you who are regular readers know that I’m participating (competing is too strong a word at this point) in a race walking half-marathon in March. What many people didn’t know is that it takes place on a Sunday morning…and that it is sponsored by a beer brewery. That may not seem like a big deal, but for at least one person in my community (not a member of my church, thank goodness) it is.

Actually, he is a lot like me. I grew up in a religiously ultra-conservative, very legalistic environment. Certain activities were “bad”, like drinking, smoking and dancing. The people who participated in these activities were “bad people” and we were taught that if we were involved in such practices, or affiliated with such people, we were “bad” (not in a good sense), too. Guilty by association.

We weren’t allowed to be in the swimming pool the same time the girls were—no “mixed swimming”—lest we lust. The guys were even taught a little chant to reinforce the lesson: “We don’t smoke, drink, dance or chew…and we don’t go with girls who do.” I’m dead serious. That’s the way I was raised. It has taken years to un-do some of the damage that kind of legalism, and judgmental attitudes that often accompany it, produces.

So, I knew it was coming. The backlash. When word got around (and it does so quickly where I live) that the pastor is playing hookie from church to be in a race…on a Sunday…that’s sponsored by a beer company—for at least one neighbor it is nothing short of scandalous.

Never mind that I’ll be “in church” later in the day. Never mind that I’m not drinking beer—although I may be tempted to throw back a few cold ones after the event is over :) Never mind that a good portion of the entry fee is going to support some worthwhile charities…

So I’m sitting here in my old WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) T-shirt trying to figure out how to respond to some of the judgmental condemnation I received recently from one who was less that thrilled about my extra-curricular activities. Currently I’m deciding to take the passive-aggressive route of blogging—the sit-down meeting will come later.

A few things I’ve learned:
¨ The people in the smoking section are not all “bad” people.
¨ Some of the “bad” people aren’t in bars, some are pillars in the church.
¨ Jesus would probably be hanging out where people gather, seeking to make new friends and influence their thinking in God’s direction.

So on a Sunday in March I’ll be hanging out with 10,000 of my closest friends, some of whom will no doubt have too much to drink before the day is over. Hopefully I’ll survive the physical test, make some new acquaintances and have a few conversations about spiritual matters. Later that day I’ll go to church and repent.

I’ll repent of not spending more time in the pool halls and the local bars making new friends and hearing their stories. I’ll repent of not spending more time sitting in the smoking section. I’ll repent of wasting so much time being religious rather than relevant. I’ll repent of wasting so much time not loving people the way Jesus does.

Roadblock or Bridge?

Jesus replied, "You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help... You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won't go in yourself, and won't let anyone else in either." (Luke 11:52)

"There are some who position themselves between you and God. There are some who suggest that the only way to get to God is through them...Jesus' message for complicated religion is to remove the middlemen..We are all brothers and sisters and have equal access to the Father." (Max Lucado, And the Angels Were Silent)

We must be careful not to be become roadblocks to people having a close and growing relationship with God. Religious rules and regulations, Sacramental hoops through which to jump, Self-appointed umpires and rules-enforcers--so distant from the heart of God and the teachings of Jesus.

The Apostle Peter described followers of Jesus like this: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)

The key idea of "priesthood" is to be a bridge, a facilitator; one who helps, rather than hinders, the process of people living in intimate relationship with their Creator.

~ Father, help me today to be a bridge and not a roadblock for those who are seeking You.

I Believe...

I didn't write this...but I really like it. I find a lot of truth in it and wanted to share it with my on-line friends.

I believe ... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe .... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe.... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe .... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe ..... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe..... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe .... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe .... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe .... That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe ..... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe.... That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe..... That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe..... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe....... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe..... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe..... That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe...... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe...... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe ...... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I believe ...... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe....... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe...... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe...... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe ..... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I believe.... The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything...they just make the best of everything they have.

Hitting the Wall

The Shamrock Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) is one month away and I am in intense training. Today I did eleven miles and my legs, feet and hind-parts are feeling it--I've never gone that far non-stop in my life.

I think I hit "the wall" that hear athletes--especially runners-- talk about. Actually I found that there are several walls:

The wall of boredom: a couple of hours of "alone time" with no conversation other than that little voice(s) inside my head. My A.D.D. was kicking in big time!

The wall of fatigue: Just plain tired.

The wall of pain: the soreness, is no fun! But it was worse when I stopped after finishing my goal distance for the day.

All of these "walls" mark a point where I just wanted to quit. But as I think about it, these are familiar walls to most everyone, most every day--walls we encounter in most every area of our lives.

Whether it's one's job, relationships, finances, educational pursuits, etc. we all inevitably encounter periods of fatigue, boredom and pain. What do you do when you "hit the wall"? There are only two choices really--either stop or keep going. Pull out or push through. Quit or persevere.

As Woody Allen says, "Eighty percent of success is just showing up." Just stay in the contest and keep going. The Apostle Paul said it like this: "one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize..." (Philippians 3:13-14)

There are times when it is wise to quit. Albert Einstein is said to have defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

How do you tell when it's time to stick it out or pack it up? I don't have the wisdom to know the difference most of the time. One of the best things about being a Christ follower is having relationship and conversation with the One is who wiser than I, who encourages me when it's time to press on, and counsels me when it's time to move on. Something to think about next time I hit a wall.

Divine Valentine

I wanted to share this on Valentine's Day from one of my favorite authors, Pastor Max Lucado:

Bill Tucker was sixteen years old when his dad suffered a health crisis and consequently had to leave his business. Even after Mr. Tucker regained his health, the Tucker family struggled financially, barely getting by.

Mr. Tucker, an entrepreneurial sort, came up with an idea. He won the bid to reupholster the chairs at the local movie theater. This stunned his family. He had never stitched a seat. He didn't even own a sewing apparatus. Still, he found someone to teach him the skill and located an industrial-strength machine. The family scraped together every cent they had to buy it. They drained savings accounts and dug coins out of the sofa. Finally, they had enough.

It was a fine day when Bill road with his dad to pick up the equipment. Bill remembers a jovial, hour-long trip discussing the bright horizons this new opportunity afforded them. They loaded the machine in the back of their truck and secured it right behind the cab. Mr. Tucker then invited his son to drive home. I'll let Bill tell you what happened next:

"As we were driving along, we were excited, and I, like any sixteen-year-old driver, was probably not paying enough attention to my speed. Just as we were turning on the cloverleaf to get on the expressway, I will never ever, ever forget watching that sewing machine, which was already top-heavy, begin to tip. I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. I saw it go over the side. I jumped out and ran around the back of the truck. As I rounded the corner, I saw our hope and our dream lying on its side in pieces. And then I saw my dad just looking. All of his risk and all of his endeavor and all of his struggling and all of his dream, all of his hope to take care of his family was lying there, shattered.

"You know what comes next don't you? 'Stupid, punk kid driving too fast, not paying attention, ruined the family by taking away our livelihood.' But that's not what he said. He looked right at me. 'Oh, Bill, I am so sorry.' And he walked over, put his arms around me, and said, 'Son, this is going to be okay.'

God is whispering the same to you. Those are his arms you feel. Trust him. That is his voice you hear. Believe him. Allow the only decision maker in the universe to comfort you. Life at times appears to fall to pieces, seem irreparable. But it's going to be okay. How can you know? Because God loves you so much. If God can make a billion galaxies, can't he make good out of our bad and sense out of our faltering lives? Of course he can. He is God.

Primary Colors

Eight digital billboards along three interstates will display up-to-the-minute election results today under an agreement between the State Board of Elections and a local outdoor advertising firm.

After polls close at 7 p.m. and as precincts report vote results, a percentage tally will appear next to each presidential candidate's name on the billboards. When a winner is declared in each party's race, the billboards will indicate the winner.

Patriotic Privilege

At 6:20am this morning I cast my ballot in my state's Presidential Primary. After months of studying the candidates and watching cable news 24/7, I was still torn about who to vote for.

I want to vote for Ron McCamaclinkabee. I like them all!

I know, here in America we're supposed to pick one and demonize all the others. First demonize "the other party" and everyone in it, then demonize everyone in your own party except your candidate and others who support them.

So I'm feeling a little confused today, to be honest, because there are things I like and dislike about each candidate, and I think they are all good and decent people.

Mostly I'm feeling proud. Proud to live in this great country; proud to have the responsibility to vote for our leaders; proud of those who protect and defend our freedoms; and proud to have a say in who our next president will be.

I know, I'm naive; idealistic...but when did those become negative traits? I long for a day when we are united, pulling in the same direction instead of pulling apart.

"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask, "Why?"...I dream of things that never were, and ask, "Why not?".
(Robert Francis Kennedy, 1968 presidential campaign)

The Giving Father

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

He said to them, "When you pray, say
Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:1-13)

I don't know how I've missed it all these years. Why have I never noticed it before?

I know about the hidden details of the parable and the Middle-Eastern customs of hospitality that give insight that is often lost of westerners; and how he shamed his neighbor into action. I have studied the verb tense of the original language and found that it implies continuous action...

Ask, and keep on asking;

Seek, and keep on seeking;

Knock, and keep on knocking.

I have often focused on the contrast between earthly fathers who give good gifts and the Heavenly Father who gives better gifts... and gives "much more".
I have often thought about how "your Father in heaven will give to those who ask", and how that often gets translated into wealth, health and security by many "prosperity preachers".

But I have missed the point. Jesus didn't say God would give us any thing for which we ask. He said the Father in heaven would give the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of the Holy God) to those who ask Him.

If we ask him, not for material things, or healing, or comfort, or peace--or any other thing; but if we ask Him for Himself--to know Him and have His Spirit reside with us--that is the prayer He will answer.

It's all about relationship. If one of my children approaches me, not wanting any thing, but simply wanting me, wanting to spend time with me, hang out and laugh together, just be--that makes my day!

It's not about God giving stuff to those who ask, but giving Himself to those who truly want to know Him. That is a prayer he longs to answer.

Joy Comes in the Morning

¹ I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
² O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
³ O LORD, you brought my soul up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.

⁴ Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalms 30:1-5

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I turn to the lyrics of this ancient hymn whenever I am going through a difficult "season" of life. I have found great hope in the promises, and in God, as I've meditated upon these lyrics during the darkest times of my life.

When my parents divorced after twenty-three years of marriage my Dad was in depression and grieved deeply. I had heard a song in church that was based on the above passage of scripture. I gave my Dad a cassette tape (remember those?!) of the song along with the lyrics that I had written out on a piece of typing paper.

When he died a few years ago and we were going through his things, I found in a little cedar box that he kept on top of his chest of drawers the tattered page, stained and yellowed, obviously read and re-read many times for more that twenty years. We read the lyrics as a poem at his funeral service.

If you've knelt beside the rubble of an aching, broken heart,
When the things you gave your life to fell apart;
You're not the first to be acquainted with sorrow, grief or pain,
But the Master promised sunshine after the rain.

Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning,
Weeping only lasts for the night;
Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning,
The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight.

To invest your seed of trust in God in mountains you can't move,
You have risked your life on things you cannot prove;
But to give the things you cannot keep for what you cannot lose,
Is the way to find the joy God has for you.

Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning,
Weeping only lasts for the night;
Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning,
The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight.

The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight.
Just in sight!

My Dad found great comfort in those lyrics. Those words gave us comfort during the funeral service. I still have that weathered page, and the words continue to encourage me when I must weather another storm of life.

If you're in the middle of one of those dark seasons, dwelling in the pit, wondering if there will ever be any light at the end of your tunnel, then I hope you find these words encouraging to your spirit today.

Hear God say to you, "Hold on, my child; joy comes in the morning. Remember, it's always darkest just before the dawn. Hold on."

~ Father, it's not the song that sustains me, but you. Help me to know your presence and strength today. Give me wisdom and hope. Amen.

The Circus is Coming to Town

I am a political junkie. I'm addicted, and this primary season has kept me transfixed on the 24 hour news channels almost every waking hour I'm at home. I was glued to the tube Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, watching the voting results of Super Tuesday with the same intensity that New York Giants fans watched the Super Bowl Sunday night. Well, not quite, but close.

Tuesday is my state's day to have its voice heard. As far as Red State vs. Blue State, we are considered a Purple State. So Wednesday morning it began--the TV ads, the robotic recorded phone calls, etc.

Tomorrow, one of the Republican candidates will be in town, about 5 miles from my house. It's getting crazy around here. Now I have a better idea of what the good citizens of Iowa had to put up with a few weeks ago when all this began, only for us it is on a smaller scale since the field of candidates in both parties has narrowed and at least on the Republican side the nominee seems inevitable at this point.

It is interesting here, because citizens can vote in either party's primary, but not both, regardless of official party affiliation. When one goes into the polling place they are asked which party's primary they want to participate in, and are given the appropriate ballot. So you could have Republicans voting in the Democratic Primary in order to influence the outcome in their preferred direction.

The Democrats have the same option, but with the Republican race outcome pretty well determined at this point, and the Democratic race still neck and neck, no Democrat would want to waste their vote in the GOP primary when their vote is so important in their own party's race.

Anyway, no real point to this post, no life lesson or "sermon illustration". Just wanted my online friends to know that I AM STOKED that it's finally my turn.

Also to give you the opportunity to tell me who you think I should vote for and why.

Can't wait to hear your opinions.

Rethinking Global Warming?

These folks may be asking, "Where's 'global warming' when we need it?"

China battles “coldest winter in 100 years”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080204/lf_nm_life/china_weather_dc

Life in Abundance

Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) What is Jesus really offering here? When I listen to the ‘prosperity preachers’ on TV I get the feeling that material wealth is a sign of God’s blessing—He wants to bless us “abundantly” with good health, a nice house, a new car, well-behaved children, etc.

What about those who struggle financially, or with health difficulties, or with wayward children. Some would say, "You suffer as a consequence to some un-confessed sin", or that "God hasn’t answered the prayer for abundance because the pray-er lacks faith."

When Jesus said He came to give “abundant life” it is important to understand what He was really saying. One of my favorite authors, John Fischer, points out that in the original language the word “abundant” is a superlative for the word “life”. Jesus was saying, “If you follow my Way you are going to get more of what life has to offer."

Not just the good stuff, but all of life; more laughter and more heartache, more friends and more betrayal, more answers and more questions, more supporters and more critics. Following Jesus causes life to be intensified, magnified and multiplied—not just the blessings, but the struggles. With more to handle it becomes even more imperative that we seek His advice and guidance, His counsel and consolation.

In some ways following Jesus makes life easier, and in some ways being serious about following Jesus’ Way makes life more difficult. I have found it to be the greatest of adventures; this listening and following, never knowing what you’ll be asked to do next, or what’s around the next corner.

The next time you find life really tough, try not to get angry at God. He said we could have life in abundance, and sometimes that is more than we can handle or juggle. That could drive us to our knees in prayer and drive us to our Heavenly Father for wisdom. For me, I can't think of a better place to be.

Let the Good Times Roll!

I love February--one celebration after another. We had a great weekend with a Groundhog Day party early Saturday morning and the Super Bowl Sunday evening (congrats to the New York Football Giants on their stunning and historic victory, and to the Patriots for an amazing season and hard-fought final contest).

Later in the month we've got Valentine's Day, birthday festivities for my wonderful wife and incredible son. And today is a two-fer -- Mardi Gras and Super Tuesday. I'm so excited I'm about to burst! Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll! Ah-yeee! (That's cajun for yee-haw)

My Primary Care Physician is a woman. That was a little awkward for me at first, but I've gotten used to it. The leftover baggage from my strict fundamentalist upbringing only occasionally intensifies my embarrassment during doctor's visits.

Last year I had a check-up that happened to fall on Fat Tuesday (that's English for Mardi Gras). Her parting words were, "Have a blessed Lenten Season" (she's an Episcopal, by the way). I wished her the same and added, "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" and reminded her that today is Mardi Gras where I come from and her last chance to misbehave before Easter.

She squealed with delight, ran back into her office and retrieved several strands of colorful Mardi Gras beads from her desk drawer.

"Here", she said, "These are for you!"

I was thrilled! "Wow! Mardi Gras beads; and I didn't even have to expose my chest to get them!" We had a good laugh and I was on my way, feeling giddy.

I got a few strange looks in the elevator (most folks don't do Mardi Gras way up north, here in Virginia) but that didn't dampen my spirits. In the lobby I saw an older gentleman on crutches, he looked at me and grinned so I gave him some of my beads and wished him a "Happy Mardi Gras". He was still laughing as I left and I glanced over my shoulder to see him giving the beads to his lady friend who had driven him to the doctor, and she was beaming upon receiving the simple gift.

Now, I am not endorsing the debauchery typically associated with Mardi Gras. I'm just saying, there was a lot of joy and laughter for a few moments that morning over some silly beads and kind greetings among strangers. And I'm sure it made God smile, too.

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!" strongly conveys the "joie de vivre" ("joy of living") often found among the residents of South Louisiana. The joy of living; now that sounds like an apt description of people who are experiencing New Life, abundant life. I don't know about you, but I need more of that--every day.

The joy of living. That's what Jesus was all about, and people who follow his Way, of all peoples, ought to be living joy-filled lives. We can "practice the presence of Jesus" and spread a little joy wherever we happen to be standing at any given moment.

Think for a moment, whose life could you brighten today with a simple gift of time and attention? Look for someone who could use a little pick-me-up and let God use you to brighten their day. As my friend Faye says, "When you're feeling down, find a need and meet it". Sounds good to me, and I'm pretty sure God would agree. Making someone else's day--now that's a good time..."Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

~ Father, help me to live this day to the fullest--full of service and kindness, and full of joy. Amen.