What happens to Godly people?

Our Associates where having a fascinating conversation about what happens to the biblical characters that God has called.

What happened to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Jonah, Paul, Peter, Stephen, Judas, the other 11 disciples?

God called them to an extraordinary task. God called them to amazing work. God called them to hard work. God called them to service...and when he was done with them? He discarded them like a worn out toy. He used them, then left them under a tree (Jonah); left them begging for God to remember him (Nehemiah); Imprisoned (Paul); Crucified (Peter); Murdered (Stephen); committed suicide after being burden by guilt (Judas); scattered across the world (the 11).

I think that many in the church misunderstand a life of faith as a warm fuzzy feeling that calls us to a "splendid life." It's a picture perfect family heading into the church walls in order for their soul's to be nourished.

I recently read an incredible book by Phil Vischer of Veggie Tales fame, and then listened to a podcast that basically sums up the end of his book. In it he quotes, Rick Porter, who asks: "What does it mean when God gives you a dream, and the dream comes to life, and God shows up in it, and then without warning the dream dies?"

As ministers, I believe it is dangerous and wrong to present this pollyana form of faith. Instead, we need to demonstrate that the life of faith is interweaves human lament with hope. It let's us see that the hardship of life are real, are valid and are unavoidable. But interwoven in this is hope...our so I hope.

Reformed Oops

The Reformers emphasized as the 'marks of the true church' that such a church exists wherever the gospel is rightly preached, the sacraments rightly administered, and (they sometimes added) church discipline existed.

The result is that the church has become a "place where religious stuff happens." It became the endpoint of religiosity.

The problem is that the church becomes the center of people's lives.

Why is that a problem one may ask? Isn't that the whole goal, for the church (the body of Christ, vie sa vie Christ) becoming the center of someone's life.

The problem is that this model of church is more like a vortex that sucks people out of the world and into the church for activities. The church building becomes the center of every aspect of life...where worship occurs, where community is built, where marriages are enriched, where homeless are fed, where blood-pressure is screened, where kids go to preschool, where Biblical education occurs, where fellowship dinners happen.

Still don't see the problem?

The problem is that the Church, thereby faith, becomes another dispensing institution. Or, even worse, it becomes like Wal-Mart and dispenses knock-off replicas of the real thing because it's programs are so diverse and water-downed.

Rather than being a vortex that sucks people out of the world and gives them cheap knock offs--such as "community." The church should be a place of worship, where people are met, directed and sent by God into the world. Then they are prepared to build community with the people they live/work around, to strengthen marriages, to address the systemic issues of poverty, to provide medical care, to educate children, to teach scripture in the homes, and to have neighborhood dinners through their (or arguably God's) initiative "out there."

Excellence Triathlon

Taking on a new adventure, I ran (and swam and biked) my first triathlon this past weekend.
It was a sprint race: 400meter swim, 20k bike ride, and 5k run.
While I was the most nervous about the swim, it actually went really smoothly. The bike on the otherhand was an interesting challenge because I could never quite find the right the gear.
When it came time to run, I hopped off the bike and it felt as though my feet were lead weights. Turns out, howver, I ran a 7:19/mile pace--one of my fastest times ever.
Hmm, onto the next adventure...

O the places I (wish) I would go

Spring Fever has been slow coming, but looking at the world's largest swimming pool...

Devotion: Exchanging Mud Pies for Infinite Joy

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’” Matthew 9:2

In this story, friends fight through a crowd and tear open a hole in a roof in order to bring a paralyzed man before Jesus. It is interesting that the first words Jesus utters are, “your sins are forgiven.”

I would imagine that the friends would be disappointed, thinking to themselves, “Jesus this is not why we brought our paralyzed friend to you. We want him to walk, we want him to be physically healed.” Jesus did not meet their expectations; rather he exceeded them.

What they witnessed, however, was that Jesus responded with something far beyond what their minds could comprehend or imagine. He not only healed the man physically, but also spoke spiritual healing into his life; surpassing the expectations of everyone.

In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis writes,
“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”


• In what ways have we been disappointed by God? Where have we seen God exceed our expectations?
• What would it mean if the things we long for are not too much for God to handle, but rather too weak?

Finding the "right" communion bread

Baker: "May I help you?"

Me: "Yes, do you sell gluten free, non-sliced, round loaf of bread that easy to break?"

Baker: "Huh?"

Me: "Um, yeah, I am a preacher and I need communion bread for tomorrow, and it has to be gluten free?"

Baker: "Well we sell commercial gluten free, but it is pre-sliced. It needs to be gluten free?"

Me: "Because of allergies we are now only using gluten free bread. [pause, chin scratch] What if gluten is what makes it Christ's body though?"

Baker [confused and not amused]: "Here is some sourdough but its got gluten and it's pretty tough to break."

Me: "Yeah, they warned us not to use sourdough in seminary."

Baker: "Really? Well, what about this one?"

Me: "Hmmm, while raisin bread would simplify the process, I don't think that will work either. Thanks, I guess I will go with the gluten rich Hearty Italian. See you next month."