DEAD OR ALIVE

Ever heard another Christian or even pastor remark with disgust at the forgetfulness of God's people, Israel? We have all pictured them wondering around in the desert complaining, stumbling around and getting into trouble for forty years. We read about their indiscretions and disobedience time and time again. After they make it into the promised land the Book of Judges records the peoples fluctuation between obedience and oppression also. God shows how this cycle of falling away from him continues. The Books I & II Kings do much the same thing. They record the sucesses and failures of many generations of leaders who either followed or fell away from the worship of God as it had been established in the scriptures.

That my friends is a lot of scripture dedicated to reminding us that our poliltical, social and even material situation is connected to our spiritual condition. All of life is connected. We cannot allow certain aspects of our lives to go unchecked.

I was recently reminded of this reality. Like the Israelites I lost perspective.
I forgot some really important guidance. I chose not to do what I knew should have been done. I told myself many times, "It is just a little thing. Everyone is doing it. No one is following it," etc, etc, etc.

My indiscretion took place behind the wheel. That is one of the most common areas I struggle with. Once I'm shut in a vehicle and I am isolated from the rest of the world I often shift into a bad gear heading to fast to the wrong destination.

Today I feel like I understand exactly why all those pages are filled with the failings of others. It is not so that I can feel good about myself, pacing back and forth in prayer telling God that I am thankful I'm not like those sinners. It is so that I will not fall into the same traps, snares and sin that my brothers and sisters have. They are recorded so that I will be reminded as I start my day in the life giving, guidance and counsel of God.

WHAT IS IN YOU? WHAT WILL GUIDE YOU TODAY?

His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light onto my path.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (NIV).

DUST

Deuteronomy 28:24 "The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed" (NIV).

We are in another major dust storm. When people told me they had dust storms over here my mind always thought of strong winds blowing stuff around. That is not what I have experienced here. It has been much more subtle than that. Its like we wake up or walk outside and its just there; it kind of hangs there; or maybe its not hanging but gently, slowly, gracefully falling from the sky.

It is so weird outside right now it seems like we could be on planet Mars. The color is messed up, the temperature is outta wack, and the air smells dirty. Visibility is limited, lights have a strange red/brown glow. All the flights are canceled, convoy missions are canceled, things kinda slow down or stop. I guess even a curse can be a blessing in some ways.

This is probably the fifteenth time we have experienced this in the few months we have been here. For many of the guys I serve with it is hard to imagine what is worth fighting for in this forsaken land. Yet it is home to many people who would die for it; many people who have died for it.

My wife (Amy) sent me two temperature gages. I wanted one for the sun and one for the shade. I figure the real temp is somewhere in between. It is hard to believe that it is consistently over 115 degrees. It does not feel that hot to me. Its not all that bad. It sounded soooo bad before I got here, it is all perspective.

I know that the beauty of a land is tied to the memory of the people you meet there. When I held resentment in my heart i could not wait to leave my home as a young man. Now as an adult, who has taken care of the past, I see things differently once again. I long for and even love the prairies of North Dakota. My wife thinks I'm crazy. She is from Big Sky Montana. She wonders who would ever want to live in a forsaken place like that.

I used to call it the land of the leftovers. A few leftover trees, a couple small rolling hills, nothing big, nothing fancy, thats my home. Some people may think it cursed. If a blessing or a curse is tied to your environment; maybe then this place is cursed. But what if a blessing or curse is tied to relationship with others or to relationship with God? Then I'm blessed beond the curse and my environment has little to do with it.

Is your hope invested in your environment or your relationships?
If you are not in the right relationship with Christ you are still under the curse with the rest of creation.

Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Created for Worship

We all worship something, we can't not, its what we do. If you are not sure what it is; it is easy enough to find out. Follow the trail left by your time, money, energy and effort. See where it is spent, where it leads. You will end up at an altar, on that altar there will be a throne, on that throne is what you value most and that which you value most is what you worship.
For some it may be a spouse or family. For others a career, wealth, fame or fortune. For the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 that throne was occupied or reserved for a husband. Jesus shows us in this incident that He knows where you have been, where you are and where you are going. Jesus shaows that he knows her well. He knows you well also. He knows your name; he hears your prayers; He is waiting to meet with you.
John 4 teaches us two of the most important lessons we will ever need to learn as Christians. First He teaches us that the object of our worship is foundational. He points her back to the Jews; back to the place where the Samaritans and Jews seperated. He says, "you Samaritans worship what you do not know." That does not sound very politically correct or sensitive but it is to the point isn't it? He is pointing her back to the revelation of God as revealed and recorded through the history of the Jews.
She remembers the Prophets speaking about their hope of a Savior. One who would come and bring justice, deliervance and healing to God's people. Jesus says to her, "I who speak to you am He." Jesus tells her that he is the answer to her many prayers, He tells her that he is the one who come "to explain all things." He is the "Truth" that she seeks (Jn 14:6).
He also brings another difficult concept to light when He addresses "how" to worship God. Worship that pleases God will not only be done in truth (ie to/through/in Christ) it will also be done in spirit. It will not necessarily be in one spot; Mt Gerazim, The Temple Mount, Mt Sinai, Mt Carmel or any other Mount. God is not as concerned about the location, the sacrifice, the ritual, or the exactness of the worship as he is about the spirit of the worship that is given him.
Remember the passage in Isaiah when the Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men (29:13). If our hearts aren't in it...it isn't worship. It is something less. God wants our hearts, our affection, our love...nothing less.

All Things Are Possible

I was writing a friend this evening and remembering how much I appreciated the training and mentoring time that we shared together at Luther Middelfort Hospital. We were preparing in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) to walk with people through tough times in the hospital. I have said for years that the training I recieved in the hospital would be a blessing always and forever in whatever ministry God lead me to. I sensed it and I knew it even then. This week I lived it.
In the last few days I have had to sit with people I knew little or nothing about and in the few minutes I had with them somehow help them try to make sense of whatever problem it was they came to me with. Sometimes the call was to sit with them and not have any answer for them, the call was just to listen, to be with them in their struggle, feeling the wieght of it, experiencing the sadness.
At times the task I am faced with seems overwhelming, impossible, even hopeless if I am blatantly honest. And I am convinced it would be too, if it were up to me alone to perform the miracle. I am not a miracle worker. But I know one who is.
Lately I have been absoltuely amazed at Jesus Christ. Amazed once again that he allows me to take part in the sacred act of revealing himself to people. Allowing them to know that he is indeed alive, living, and active in the affairs of men.
I still feel fear at times. Fear that the magic will not happen, Christ will not show, I will be alone in that room. But he shows up. Time and time again he shows up. We meet together. Some for maybe the first time. We all acknoweldge that something wonderful, someone wonderful has met with us.
JESUS IS ALIVE! Hallelujah, He is Alive!