matthias at 8 months

god on the job

Recently, at Emmaus, we've been exploring a Christian approach to work.  Here are some of the highlights:


What Do You Do?
Many of us have built (or reinforced) walls between the parts of our lives which seem to be spiritual and the parts that don't.  Consequently, we often don't expect God to relate to our work, or our work to be relevant to our faith.  We opperate according to one paradigm at church, and another at work, thinking we can divide our lives into parts.  But in the end, its not our lives, but we, ourselves, who become divided. 


It's Not About What You Do, part 1:
It's about who you are.  Production doesn't define us.  God does.  "Pharaoh" calls us brickmakers.  Our value is determined solely by how much we make.  But God calls us children. 


It's Not About What You Do, part 2:
It's about how you do it.  Nearly anything can be done in a way that honors God.  (Who you are - not what you're doing - determines how you do it.)  The Christ-follower will put her whole heart into whatever she does.


Finding Meaning in the Mundane
Work is complex because it's so closely linked to creation (Gen. 1:1, 1:27, 2:2-3), but it's also tied to the curse (Gen. 3).  So sometimes work is life-giving; sometimes it's drudgery.  But even in the most mundane, there is meaning:  1. God is in the routine.  He most-often communicates his good presence in patterns (not in the exception to patterns).  2. Our character is developed in the routine.  It's our choices in the mundane that shape us.  If we will pay attention, be alert, live in the moment, and recognize that God is everywhere, the mundane fills with meaning.  There are no ordinary days.

relentless pursuit

I'm in awe of the resurrected Christ.  Feeling so full today...

A recap of Sunday's message on Luke 24:13-end. 

...  ...  ...


Have you allowed yourself to hope, only to have those hopes dashed?  Are you grieving unmet expectations?  Are you disappointed? With God?  With the Church?  With others?


In their severe disappointment, the Emmaus travelers leave.  They just walk away.  Like we do.  When God doesn't perform we look to other lovers.  We're "prone to wander, prone to leave..." 


And this is what's so tragic about leaving: When we leave we miss what God is doing and we miss what he wants to do next.  We walk away from redemption and try to create our own destiny.  We say "God hasn't worked for me, I'll take it from here." 


But here's the good news: God's pursuit of leavers is relentless.   It's as if God says to us: 
You were walking away from me, you couldn’t see me with you, you didn't see what I was doing, you were ready to write your own future. But I pursued you, revealed myself to you, and I still have plans for your life. 

            You are my witness. 

                        You will tell this story of my loving, relentless pursuit. 

                                    You will live this story of resurrection. 

applause

I confess: I love applause.  I find comfort in the approval of others.

Applause can be a good thing if that which is being approved or cheered is true. 

But applause can be also be deceitful, it can woo us into doing not what is right or true, but only what the crowd will cheer for, only what others will find acceptable – whether true or not.

There's a lot of cheering going on in the final days of Jesus' life on earth.  Some are cheering for the truth.  Some are cheering for a lie.  Thing is, you can't tell by the cheering alone.  The cheering sounds the same either way.

But Jesus isn't swayed by the cheering.  Or the jeering.  It's like he doesn't hear it. 

Instead his ear is tuned to just one voice.  Jesus knows whose he is.  Therefore Jesus knows who he is.  And others' approval (or lack thereof) fades...

It's possible to meet a lot of expectations but totally miss the truth.  

intimacy

Prevailing view on sex (in 1^st C. Corinth and 21^st C. U.S.A.):

Body: Doesn’t matter. Do with it what you want: if you’re hungry, eat; if you want sex, have sex.  We’re all going to die soon anyway.

            

Intimacy: It’s about gratifying my physical and emotional needs.  Maintaining my independence in the process is important (if I don’t want to get hurt).  It’s casual.

             

The Apostle Paul’s view on sex:

            

Body: It matters!  It was created for God.  It will be resurrected by God.  It is the temple of God. 

            

Intimacy: It unifies.  Two become one.  It’s designed to be a full surrender of my independence to another.  It’s more powerful than we realize.

What fuels Paul’s view of sex is his understanding that this life is not all there in to life (I Cor. 7:2-31).  Therefore human relationships are, at least in part, designed to teach us about the ultimate relationship: that between God and humanity. Marriage is ultimately designed to teach us about God.  And so is singleness.  

Relationships are not neutral.  They are either helping us know God or hindering our knowledge of God. 

If you remove God/eternal life from the picture, intimacy is all about gratification and my body becomes a tool.  And all that really matters is physical appearance, sex, and the romantic pursuit.  Because that’s as close as I can get to heaven. 

(But my soul knows better and longs for more, whether my mind is willing to acknowledge God or not.)

lent: noise

God has a soft voice.  You have to be quiet if you want to hear him speak.  And that's the problem: we're so rarely quiet.  We're almost never still.  And our world is even noisier and busier than we are.  

In our culture, communication is a competition.  If you want a share of people's limited attention, you must talk more loudly, be more dramatic, flash more shiny things, promise more benefits, make more noise more often...  That's the game we play.  

But here's the thing: God's not playing.   

In a world of hurricane winds, rock-splitting earthquakes, and raging infernos, God speaks in the thin whisper, in the resonate silence.  (See 1 Kings 19).

My world and my mind are noisy places.  Are yours?

Is all this noise keeping you from hearing?

[ hear the entire teaching at www.emmausteachings.org ]

lent: the comfort tension

[Un]comfort[able].  adj.

The word means : causing discomfort.  Like: that’s the most uncomfortable couch.

But recently I’ve been thinking about how the word may also be a description of me, of us, of our culture…that many of us are – to some degree – uncomfortable.  Like: I am un able to be comforted. 

And of course the great irony here is that most of us live in such comfort.

                         

I was away, praying, thinking, reflecting on my deep need to be comforted by God. 

                        (I am not alone in this need –

                                    many of us are carrying sorrow,

                                    some of us physical pain,

                                    a sense of dread about the future, etc.) 

Many of us are aware of our need for God’s comfort. 

So as I was praying about this: my need for comfort from God, I was simultaneously aware of the fact that I have nearly every earthly comfort available to me at any time:

                        if I’m hungry there’s usually something to eat,

                        if I’m cold, there’s wood for the fire or a sweatshirt,

                        if I’m lonely, I have people to talk to,

                        if I’m feeling useless, I have ways to feel useful…

And I became aware of this tension- like a tight wire between two poles:

            I need God’s comfort, and I’m so easily comforted. 

            I’m so easily comforted, but I still need God’s comfort. 

And then this thought landed in my mind like a bird on the wire:

            Are your comforts keeping you from being comforted?

Are the very things which promise to ease your pain – and, to some degree, do – keeping you from receiving truer, deeper, comfort from God’s Spirit, whom Jesus calls “The Comforter”?

I'm fascinated by these words from the prophet Zechariah (chapter 10): 

1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;

it is the LORD who sends the thunder-storms.

He gives showers of rain to all people,

and plants of the field to everyone.

2 The idols speak deceit, 
      

diviners see visions that lie; 
      

they tell dreams that are false, 
      

they give comfort in vain. 
      

Therefore the people wander like sheep

oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

lent: critical for the comfortable

Some push back on the idea of observing Lent because “the early church didn’t observe Lent.”  Which is true.  The season of Lent wasn’t introduced to the typical Christian experience until almost 400 years after Christ. 

But another thing that wasn’t introduced to the typical Christian experience until almost 400 years after Christ was the phenomenal season of physical, economic, and political comfort which began to characterize the Christian community.

For the first 300 years, the Christian community was under nearly constant persecution.  Political abuse and violence were constant realities.  Killing Christians became a sport.  

And yet, somewhat ironically to our way of thinking, instead of crushing the church this severe discomfort seemed to make the church grow.

  

Finally an emperor of Rome named Constantine claimed to convert to Christianity. Shortly thereafter the Roman state, rather than crushing house church communities, began building beautiful church buildings. And the bishops (overseers) of the church, instead of being killed as examples of Rome’s power, were given political power within the Roman government.

For a few generations, the Christian faith enjoyed unprecedented comfort.

Isn't it interesting that it was at this time that the church fathers formalized the church calendar which included a season called Lent?   

I wonder if, in their wisdom, the church fathers recognized that in the relative state of comfort the church was enjoying they were beginning to lose something of the power of the resurrection. 

I wonder if in their comfort, the church’s need for God to comfort them became less intense. In other words: the message that Jesus saves is only good news to those who are aware that they need a savior. The message that God is a comforter in times of trouble makes little difference for those who aren’t in trouble. 

If you’re comfortable you don’t need a Comforter.

............                                  

I've seen this play out a dozen times: a person lives a very comfortable life – and it may even include God on a comfortable level. Except that God is never really looked to for comfort – He isn’t needed there; other things are doing the comforting. 

Then life happens and some of the key “other comforts” – some are good things – get washed away. And the person, who has known God at some level for years, has no idea how to go to God for comfort because they’ve never done that before. 

............

So I think it’s fascinating that near the end of the 4th century, the church essentially said, “Things have changed for us. We’re much more comfortable than we’ve ever been.  We should take a season of several weeks to remind ourselves that we are in need of grace.  We need to remember that we need a savior and that without the resurrection we are completely lost.  Our only hope is not the government which now says they’re on our side but Jesus himself.  We have some human comforts but we still need spiritual comfort.  We must recognize that our bodies are more comfortable which historically has always led to the neglect of the soul.”

compassion thinks

If there's a difference between the occasional act of charity and the lifestyle of compassion, how does the compassionate person think?

1. Compassion thinks long-term vs. quick fix.  Quick fixes usually don't.  Band-aid solutions are typically engaged in an effort to justify oneself; they don't spring from a deep value for all people. 
2. Compassion thinks today vs. someday.  Those who postpone serving others usually end up doing so indefinitely.  There's never quite enough.
3. Compassion thinks people vs. price.  Multiple factors affect every purchase decision.  Compassion views the purchase's impact on people as the real cost.
4. Compassion thinks deeply.  It does the research. It finds the creative solution.

Think deeply about long-term solutions that begin today and value people.  Got it?  (Now stop thinking and act).  

lent:water #1 uncomfortable

One week into Lent ’10 and I’m feeling it.  As I have a couple times in the past, I’m observing Lent by fasting all liquids except water.  While this specific fast has consistently served as an effective, constant reminder of my primary need for Jesus, I don’t remember it being this uncomfortable.

I’ve realized, this past week, how often I drink and how comforting drinking is for me.  I typically drink 2 – 4 cups of tea and 2 – 3 glasses of juice every day.  And I enjoy an occasional non-fat, decaf mocha.

I’m feeling uncomfortable, which is an uncommon feeling for me.

compassion values

What’s the difference between an occasional act of charity and a lifestyle of compassion?

I think it comes down to one core conviction which has it's roots in the first five words of the Bible: In the beginning God created…  And a few sentences later (v. 27): God created people in His image.  

Thousands of years later Jesus puts this core conviction into practice by affirming that all of scripture boils down to loving God and people.  He then stresses that "people" actually means all people by telling a confrontational story about a man who is beaten and left to die but rescued by an unlikely hero.  A compassionate man.  A man who values all people as created in God’s image.  

There's the guy who chips-in for the occasional charity golf game.  And then there's the guy whose whole life is characterized by compassion.  

One guy is looking for justification.  The other values all people as created in the image of God.  

family

Took some family shots today.  Time to send out our Christmas  New Year  Valentine's Day Letter.

built to sing

Singing together. 

A bit weird, isn’t it?  We almost never do it anymore: kids’ birthday parties, at a good concert, karaoke maybe.  In normal life it just doesn’t happen.

Except at church.  It happens every week at church. 

Why?  Why do we sing?

1.   We sing for God.  Scripture instructs us to sing (see Psalms),  Jesus says if we don’t inanimate objects will (see triumphal entry), and singing is perpetually happening around Christ’s throne (see Rev. 5).  God will be worshipped.  We sing for him.

2.   We sing for others.  Singing as part of a group is incredibly unifying.  When you’re lonely, when you’re weak, when you’re confused – hearing the truth sung by others around you says, “You’re not alone” like nothing else.  Paul and Silas in jail… Dr. Martin Luther King and others marching arm-in-arm… their courage sustained through singing.

3.   We sing for ourselves.  Beliefs become fortified through profession.  Truths access the soul as they’re declared.  What we say affects us. 

In worship we respond to Truth, we declare Truth, and we are transformed by Truth.   We are built to sing.

flying squirrel

There are always more games to be discovered when there's a baby in the house!  This is a new one we're laughing about.  We're calling it "flying squirrel."

 

we have no choir here

One-third of our community’s weekly worship time is committed to preaching.  That’s a lot.  And if we understand its purpose, it can make a significant impact.

Four thoughts about preaching at Emmaus:

1.   1. It’s not the most important thing.  (It’s just one of many tools to be used in working toward the most important thing: the maturity of the church.  Eph. 4:11-13)

2.    2. But it’s really important.  (Because it’s God’s Word for us.)

3.    3. It’s designed to disturb.  (It should provoke, stir things up, make you think, leave you with more questions than answers.  See the parables of Jesus.)

4.    4. And it’s designed to direct.  (It’s supposed to point you in the right direction.  It’s not supposed to answer all your questions. But it is supposed to clarify things.  Again, see Jesus’ parables.)

Bottom line: The answer to the question, “How was the sermon?” should have more to do with what the hearer does with the sermon than whether or not he “likes” it.

A friend once characterized my job as “preaching to the choir,” meaning, I guess, that we’re of no consequence. 

Truth is, we’re way more provocative then a choir.  We’re the Church.  And we’re making a difference.  

love the word

What does it take for something to truly change your life?  What takes something from being a New Year’s resolution to a personal revolution?

Lots of things claim to “change your life.”  Few things do. 

There’s a reason the things that change our lives do.  And there’s a reason the things that don’t, don’t. 

It’s love.

The things we love change us. 

The Church spends a lot of time talking about change – a change in thinking and a change in living – a change to a way of being found in the pages of the Bible which we believe is God’s Word. 

At least we say we believe it. 

We don’t often actually believe it.  Truth is, even though we own God’s very words, we rarely read them.  We don’t really know them.  We don’t love them.

David’s 119^th Psalm is a shockingly confrontational testimony of devotion to God’s Word.  Read it with caution.  David’s passion will astound you.

Many of us truly want to be changed by God’s Word.  We want His peace to fill us.  We want His wisdom and strength to characterize our lives.  We want his love to inform us, to affect us.  We want the things that God says to make a practical difference.  

So may we truly love His Word.  May it change our lives. 

i hope you feel full

How do you feel…now that Christmas is over?  You should think about that.

Four thoughts:

There’s a thief.  He comes only to take and never to give.  He’s sneaky.  Most of the time we don’t even realize he's robbing from us.

There’s a good shepherd.  He comes to give full life.  He even gives of himself so that we can fully live.

There’s a beaver.  I often run past a tree he’s killing.  Never seen the beaver.  But I know he’s there.  His destruction never sleeps.  Even when I’m sleeping, he’s busy… destroying.  Like those who, in their greed, teach things that are not true.

There’s a paradox: Some who have everything are actually very empty.  Others who have almost nothing are very full. 

How do you feel?  If you’ve bought-in to the deceptive, destructive cultural message which is only amplified at Christmas, you’re probably surrounded by lots of things.  But I wonder if there’s a haunting sense of emptiness to it all.  If, instead, you’re choosing a better story: one about loving, serving, and giving, then you probably have less stuff, but I bet you feel full.

(John 1:1-4, 3:16, 10:10, 17:13, and 2 Peter 3)

matthias

Holy Spirit, Holy Suffering, part 2

We'd rather not accept it. Something deep inside us resists it. God and pain, together. The Holy Spirit and suffering, at the same time. This is not the message that sells books. It's far too difficult. Far too uncomfortable. It's sobering.

We typically prefer to stay buzzed on cheap, sentimental, spiritual niceties.

But here's the kicker: pain always comes. Suffering happens to everyone.

And so we have a choice: We can accept the radical biblical idea that God meets us in our pain (and experience union with Him, even in our darkest days), or we can avoid pain at all costs (and miss the Power that is perfected in weakness).

Accept it and experience revolution-quality solidarity with others. Reject it and slide quietly into lonely isolation.

With the strength of a whole community, she says she'd go through cancer a third time. Why? "Because God was so near to me in that hospital room."

Holy Spirit, Holy Suffering, part 1

Like the green spot we missed when painting our bedroom baby blue... Like the 3 or 4 rock chips in my windshield... Like the sound of the train rolling though town... There are some things that are always there, so you hardly notice them.

But if you approach the familiar at face value and take it all in with new eyes, suddenly, it’s conspicuous.

Two themes in Acts that have existed quietly in the background of nearly every story but jump off the page if you’re honest: The Holy Spirit and suffering.

God's Spirit is everywhere - interacting with people as the main character of the story.

And everywhere - Christians are suffering.

At the same time.

Holy Spirit and suffering.

I have to re-read whole pages because I'm surprised at how often the two go together. Makes me wonder: are they connected?

This I know: we don't suffer much as a direct result of our faith today. But neither are we especially spiritually empowered.

And I know this: The Holy Spirit draws near in times of suffering. So near, sometimes, that suffering can feel…holy.

Because God is there.