A Prodigal's Path

Idle Idols

Last night it occurred to me that I needed to make a decision . . . I've actually known it for a few days . . . maybe a week or so.

I had to choose between things I simply cannot win . . . and time devoted to things that bring me joy and hopefully honor to God with the talents he has given me.

Ugh . . . the pain of finding pleasure.  The things I do . . . the ways I find to waste time . . . to engage in nothingness . . . even if it's at the very end of the day when nothing else seems to matter . . . when there is no daylight left to start another endeavor . . . or time enough to put the final touches on another.

There's always the Bible . . .  "but" I read that this morning.  There's prayer . . . "eh" . . . been doing that all day . . . like drifting in and out of consciousness.  There's journaling . . . writing . . . thoughts to capture on paper before they drift away in the whirlwinds and breezes of time . . . "no" this time I'll remember them . . . I'm in denial that my memory fades with age.  And I've been in denial too . . .  about my time . . . and what I sometimes . . . often . . . do with it.

If I am going to pursue him with all that I have (Matthew 22:36-38) . . . including my time . . . 

well . . . 

then . . .

I've just deleted all the video games from my iphone . . .

it's incredible how many minutes add up to an hour . . . 

. . . 60 actually.

I have too much to read . . . think . . . experience . . . and write about . . . then to be given to such an expensive waste of time.

Am I suggesting you do the same?  Absolutely not.  But I do think our very nature makes us prone to the folly of our hearts. minds, and time being dangerously captivated, misdirected, and unfocused from more worthwhile pursuits.

"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man. I gave up childish ways." (1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)

 

Opened Minds. Burning Hearts.

Not to say there is anything "ordinary" about any scriptures, but there are always a few that stay with

me. Cause me to pause. Wonder. And imagine the possibilities and impact of their truth.

Luke 24:45 is one such verse that for the last year has changed my approach, and prayers, when reading and studying. Luke recounts the last days of Jesus after the resurrection and notes:

    "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45 ESV)

At times I've had a practice of reading "just to read". To make it through all 31,173 verses in 365 days . . . I've always failed. And now I'm not so sure that's such a lofty goal . . . reading "just to read".

How much more valuable is insight gained through "understanding"? I began to wonder what would happen if I prayed and asked for "understanding" in my reading? To be able to digest and fathom the treasures buried within the depths of scripture. What would, and will, happen if I asked the Father to "open my mind" too . . . what changes would His Spirit have within me?

Interesting . . . this morning while reading the account in Luke 24 once again I noticed a comment made by one of the disciples while on the road to Emmaus:

    "They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24:32 ESV)

And there it was . . . the answer to the "what if I asked for understanding?" question.

"Our Hearts Burn Within Us"

Passion created by Understanding.

Ask.

 

Outside In. Inside Out.

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body." C.S. Lewis  

 I came across this quote a couple months ago and have been mulling it over since. It's had a most profound effect on my perspective and I've become engaged in this "Outside-In Inside-Out" awareness.

Outside In. I always thought of myself as this body . . . then I began to love Jesus . . . and God made this soul come alive inside me. Body, then soul. I've spent much of my time entertaining myself . . . my physical self . . . reacting to the physical world around me in a very . . . well . . . human way. Naturally. I wake up, I eat, I need coffee, I like music to start my day . . . I'm cold . . . I'm hot . . . "ohhhhhh, look at that! I want one." It's as if we view and order our existence focused on the physicality of our world . . . our body and physical comforts are our primary source of direction. And occasionally, if we're not too tired, we may engage the soul inside us. We think and act from the outside in and we wonder why we're still desperately empty.

Inside Out. I've had it all twisted up . . . never thinking much about finite and infinite when it came to body and soul. God assembled us from the beginning with two distinct parts. From day one we have a temporal physical body that will indeed someday fail us all. And He also imparted us with an eternal spiritual soul . . . the part of us that no matter what we do will live on . . . somewhere. Instilled inside of each of us is an eternal beacon . . . a homing device if you will . . . that points us towards Christ if we're in tune with it. What I've found is the more I think about and view the world from the inside out . . . using my soul as my primary filter . . . the more things begin to appear different, and differently. Naturally we have "outside in" needs . . . needs to sustain ourselves physically . . . but we also have very real, very important, spiritual needs. We do need to feed our souls in order to grow . . . our souls do need to rest in a weary world . . . our eternal voices do need to sing and cry out in praise to our Creator. It's the push-pull between our dualities that seems to create this daily tug of war . . . this battle for our attention and affection.

Think about it. Think about it as you go through your routines and rituals. What you'll begin to realize is that no matter what you buy . . . no matter how you adorn yourself . . . or what you eat, drink, watch, listen to or wrap yourself in . . . you will never be fully satisfied if it's "outside in". Our bodies are temporary . . . they are here, then gone, just like everything else we see and touch.

Truthfully, we may never be fully satisfied until we understand and accept our finite physicality and wholly embrace and focus on our infinite spirituality.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2 ESV)

 

“Riding Naked” . . . well almost

If you want to captivate my attention the subject of "motorcycling" will always make me indefinitely linger. My interest goes far beyond the casual ride and deep into the physics and geometry of riding well and riding to the edge of my limits.

Rollie Free was such a rider as well . . . and more so than I will ever be.

On the morning of September 13, 1948 Rollie Free carved out a new American Motorcycle Speed Record on the parched Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. Free pushed a Vincent Black Shadow that had been stripped of 100 pounds of needless panels, parts, and body work to a record 150.313 mph. Unsatisfied with an initial run of 147 mph Rollie shed his protective gear and leathers and made the record setting run nearly naked wearing only a Speedo bathing suit, shower cap, and a pair of borrowed sneakers. In an expression of his desire to secure a coveted record Free made his final run lying across the spine of the bike to achieve better aerodynamics and squeeze every bit of mechanical life out of the Vincent.

The now most famous photo in motorcycling history makes me pause and wonder: "What are we willing to strip away in pursuit of becoming closer to Christ . . . closer to God?"

What is it that that individually and collectively holds us back at times?

Why does my heart seemingly stall out, run dry, and cause me to drift along?

Am I waiting on God . . . or is He waiting for me?

Here are a few scriptural clues to the answer that I have come across.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8 ESV)

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." ~ Jesus (Matthew 7:7 ESV)

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

The answer . . . the solution . . . becomes our actions driven by our affection. While it is true that God offers us eternal reconciliation it is up to us to direct our hearts, minds, and actions toward Him. Much like Rollie Free's irrepressible drive to make speed, our passion for a closer union with God may rest in our response and responsibility to strip away the things of the world that slow us down. We may be called to perform acts of faith that call us to shed the comfort of our "protective leathers" and to trust God's hand on the throttle to drive us further in and closer to His heart. I'm finding it clear that passionate Christianity requires us to get off our spectator porches of life . . . to act upon our passion . . . and that God will respond in kind.

If our true passion is to commune closer with our creator then ultimately we will have become one of those "crazy Christians" that seemingly "ride naked" through life, oblivious to threatening and enticing worldly desires, and blaze bright trails home.

A Moment With “Hugo”

When life isn't spiraling us around in its' whirlwind of endless demands we make Friday or Saturday night "Family Night". Recently that has evolved into "Family Movie Night" and this weekend's vote landed on the movie "Hugo".

"Hugo" centers around the story of an orphaned clockmaker's son who has inherited his love of machines, their gears, timing, precision, and function. I found it "mildly" engaging . . . until this quote rolled from the young man as he interpreted his world to a newly found friend:

"Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do...Maybe it's the same with people," Hugo continued. "If you lose your purpose...it's like you're broken." – Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret

It's been an empty and adrift 264 days since I've "thought on paper" or shared anything. Not that I haven't thought about or pondered the meaning of "it all" . . . and not that I can't expel a litany of excuses for doing so. Or not doing so. All amassed I've spent countless hours grinding out uninspired motions of daily life . . . working the endless "To Do" list all in soulless pursuit and vain validation of what "Hugo" expelled so simply.

"Yes, Hugo it's true," my mind whispered back. "It is the same with people."

I've come to realize these last few days that Christ didn't come just to live, die, and live again for us. That's far too simple if we believe that God that has blessed us all with individual gifts and talents.

More accurately perhaps is this thought: That Christ lived, he died, and rose to breathe eternally so that He may live through us. That's not to diminish the unfathomable sacrifice for our atonement . . . but to give a more profound and purposeful meaning to our rescue and rescuer.

Our "purpose" is to allow ourselves to be used by, and for, Christ in our own unique and gifted ways. The result is that our lives should become a reflection of His work within us and our talents moment by moment acts of worship. In doing so, in pursuing the life He has purposed us for, we become "unbroken", full, and fulfilled.

"Sometimes I come up here at night...just to look at the city. I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too." – Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come . . . . Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:17, 20 ESV)

At The Heart of Sin

We seem to talk a lot about sin . . . or about specific sins: lying, cheating, murder . . . you know . . . "The List." But there's seemingly little discussion on the source of our sin. Granted we are sinful by nature, but it's as if we willingly accept that flawed feature and move on through life trying to avoid over-doing "The List."

But why do we do the un-loving, un-caring, and un-thinkable things that we do? What is at the heart of our darkness? What is the splinter in our being that infects us with sin?

Here's why I ask: Because if I know "why" I sin, what is at the root of it all, then maybe there is a chance I can become more aware of why I do what I do and per chance do a little less of it.

Like most things, if you want to know the answer, simply start at the beginning. And the beginning of sin starts in The Garden.

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate," Genesis 3:6

And sin became born of greed.

"and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." Genesis 3:8-10

And like the second son . . . fear is born.

Read on and you'll find that Adam's and Eve's fear leads them to blame others for their behavior. Sounds familiar . . . because we all have our excuses, right? All too often we rely on our excuses and our crutched habits for causing our sin. Perhaps that's a symptom of not understanding the source of our errant behaviors.

The inner circles of Marketing, Advertising, and Sales all understand that the two biggest motivators of consumer behavior are Fear and Greed. Examine the message behind most good advertising and you'll soon discover the reasons you should buy are likely because: it's for a limited time, limited edition your neighbors have one . . . or worse yet may get one before you do . . . chicks will dig you (or not, if you don't buy one soon) . . . your family will be safer, healthier, and happier . . . you'll sleep easier, jump higher, feel more confident, look like you did in High School . . . and of course . . . you'll be smarter.

Examine the messages you get from why we do some of the shameful things we do and the message is much the same today as it was in The Garden . . . "you can have it all!" . . . and the "dark-side" is counting on your fear and greed for you to buy in.

On the occasion I sit and reflect on a day that hasn't gone so well relative to "good versus evil" I often find that my short-comings are a result of either giving into my fear or playing into the false hope of greed. Much like the "buyer's remorse" we often experience I'm confronted with one of two choices: either blame those around me for "making" me do the things I do . . . or dig deeply into the soil of my own Eden and attack the roots of my own fear and greed.

Getting to “Yes” (part 3)

We all experience and deal with a number of hindrances in inviting our friends and family to worship and church events. None of them maybe more paralyzing than the fear or feeling of rejection. One of the first things I was taught in sales was that "No" and "Yes" are mathematical probabilities. It was something to the effect that you'll get 7 "No" responses for every "Yes". I have no idea if that's true but it has always helped me get on with my asking . . . somewhere out there is a "Yes".

Gracefully Getting Past "No". The reality of asking is that we must be prepared for disappointment and rejection. It happens. It's natural. And it happens regardless of whom we are, how old we are, and despite how influential we might be. But the stakes are higher in our endeavor and mission as the Church and the implication of "No" is much more weighty, eternal, and heart-wrenching than is being rejected by mom in the candy isle of the check-out line.

If there is a parallel message to be found in the Gospels then Jesus may be delivering the "Gracefully Getting Past No" message to the disciples here:

"Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake." ~ Jesus (Matthew 10:21-22 ESV)

Right after Jesus tells them that when they are rejected in one town to move on to the next (v 23), followed by this:

"Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven," ~ Jesus (Matthew 10:31-32 ESV)

Matthew 10 concludes with Jesus asking us to take on the smallest of tasks in His name and act, and ask, on His behalf.

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." ~ Jesus (Matthew 10:42 ESV)

 

How to Gracefully Getting Past "No" may best be answered by paraphrasing Jesus' instructions to the twelve. He, Christ, never promised us that following Him would be easy. He knows, and asks, that we face challenges. But just as He did with the twelve, the words of Matthew remind us of these truths:

We will face rejection . . . but only if we ask (v 21-23)

When rejection comes accept it and move on (v23)

Don't be afraid . . . asking is worth it (v 31-32)

We're acting for Him . . . and asking on His behalf. (v42)

In other words . . . the rejection, and hopeful acceptance, is not about us,

It's all about Him. It always is.

 

 

Getting to “Yes” (part 2)

In "Getting to Yes Part 1" I commented that: "What you say is just as important as how you say it." And nothing may be truer than when we are trying to invite our un-churched friends to Church. That in its self maybe part of the problem.

 Stop Inviting Friends to Church. What? Did he just say what I think he said? You read it right: Stop inviting friends to church and start asking them to attend "events" and "celebrations". After spending 20 years looking at churches from across the street let me say that a great many if our un-churched friends don't attend Church because they simply don't want to . . . and for variety of reasons.

People are more prone to accept an invitation to attend and "event" . . . such as an Easter or Christmas Celebration. They may be very interested in attending classes like Financial Peace classes or life applicable lessons on raising teens, dealing with marriage, etc . . . anything but "church."

So look at your prayer list from Part 1 and start thinking of better ways to ask. A lot of 'what' you say may be in 'what' you know about your friend.

See if the gate is open by asking: "How are you celebrating Easter this year?"

The answer right now doesn't matter . . . it's "what" we say next.

"Northridge is having a cool 1 hour celebration at 10:00. It's the best if you'd like to come." And if it works add something like, "We can grab a coffee at Starbucks along the way."

A few things just happened, and didn't happen in that sentence. First, we didn't say "church". Second, we put an appealing time limit on it because people may be more willing to accept if they know they won't be held hostage all morning. Third, we invited them to an event. I never mentioned "church", although I did refer to, and I never used "insider" words like "Resurrection Sunday" . . . even that one still "spooks" me a bit.

That's it. Short, simple, and purposeful. No pressure, no "insider" scary words. And no unintentional mixed messages like "you should join us".

Two quick thoughts; First, if they accept make sure you dress as they are . . . nothing is worse than being a visitor and feeling out of place. Second, know that it's really God's work and will and be open enough to gracefully accept "no".

Think about this verse,

     Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17 ESV)

While it was Jesus, doing his ministry on this earth, and even though it was himself rubbing shoulders with his disciples daily, he still gave all credit and praise to God the Father for His work in the hearts and minds of men. 

 Have faith, believe in the work your Father, and just ask. Oh . . . and if you attend Northridge the Easter Celebration times are 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30.

 

Getting to “Yes” (part 1)

Easter this year is April 24^th . . . roughly 5 weeks away . . . or 41 days to be exact. Most churches will experience an influx of visitors much like Sundays that neighbor the Christmas holiday. Many of us may think it's a bit strange that popular culture thinks these are the best, or most appropriate, two Sunday's to "visit" church while they can casually ignore the other 50. If that really is the thought process of our mostly un-churched friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers then it may just be the opening in the gate we need to walk through to "Get to Yes." Meaning if these indeed are the 2 Sundays a year that our culture is open enough to entertain the idea of attending church then perhaps it's our duty to ask and invite. It may be our best chance to "Get to Yes."

Having been in some form of sales nearly my entire life I'd like to share a few thoughts and ideas on "Getting to Yes" over the next few days. For those of you that are shy about sales . . . or think that "sales" and "church" should never be co-mingled in the same sentence let me say this: the "art of sales" is simply mastering the "art" of asking" the best question at the most appropriate moment. That's why most of us are quick to run from loud, pushy, obnoxious, over-the-top, sales people.

Regardless of what homespun wisdom may believe; What you say IS just as important as HOW you say it. But before we get into all the semantics let me share with you a great concept from Outreach Pastor Scott Bixby.

Begin With Prayer.

Scott introduced the idea of PI² to Northridge Church a few years ago. That is; Pray, Invest, and Invite. Pretty simple equation, so for today let's start there. Let's start by building a list of people in our lives that we are Invested in. That is, put together a list of people that we rub shoulders with on a regular basis. While it may be easy and tempting to populate our list with those that seem most approachable, let me encourage you to put those seemingly least receptive and most in need at the top of your list. Remember, God has often chosen those least likely, least popular, and most broken, to accomplish His will.

For now let's simply pray for wisdom, courage, receptive minds, soft hearts, and open gates.

"do not be anxious about anything, but by everything in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6 esv)

 

Doctors of Empathy

     In one of life's many discussions I shared this thought with a friend a few days ago: 

     Maybe it's about learning to be content? That is, adopting a love and appreciation for the friends around you and people in your life, and mine. About finding the "good things" people and circumstances bring into our lives. Perhaps it's about taking on a new learned posture in relationships and life that says "I will think before I act." Suppose we loved people for who they are, where they are, and not what we want them to be? What if we became the "Doctors of Empathy" and practiced learned understanding before we jumped to conclusions? What if we first we're still . . . and listened to our hearts?  

     Perhaps we should practice being more content . . . and learn to be satisfied with, or accept on some level, the things we cannot change.

     Maybe we could love and admire what we do have . . . and not be frustrated by passions for the things we want but do not truly need.

     Maybe learning to be content is the first footstep on the path of peace.

 

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world." (1 Timothy 6:6-7 ESV)