Take God's Prescription!

Do you find yourself being anxious?

Most of us at one time or another are anxious. Some of us choose to live in a constant state of anxiety. I think there is a difference between the two. Being anxious is a momentary state of worry that comes and then goes. Anxiety is when one has let the state of being anxious become the center of our vision.

The other word that goes along with these is uncertainty. There seems to be an air of uncertainty that is dominating our world. We are uncertain about the economic future. There is uncertainty about jobs. Some are uncertain about their relationships. Others find their health is be more fragile than they ever dreamed. In every one's life, there are points of uncertainty.

Which leads us to our next word in the chain, control. I have always maintained that the one who holds the remote to the television is the one who controls the house. For some control is what life is all about. You can identify these folks easily if you go somewhere--they always want to drive. Or if they are not driving, they are quick to point out the deficiencies of the person that is driving. As a person ages, one of the most critical issues in life is the loss of control. Someone will tell us where we live, when we get up, etc. Then we lose control of our own bodily functions.

And we find ourselves back at square one--the state of anxiousness...

In the world of theology there are two prescriptions God gives to us. The first is called prevenient grace. This is the knowledge that where ever life leads us--despite our human errors in choice--God is at work for good in our life. It is not that we lose our free will and it is all planned out just for us to accept. No indeed. God is weaving lives together urging choices to be made by all that bring goodness and mercy to all.

The second prescription is assurance. This is the choice we have to be assured that God loves us and God is at work for goodness in our life. It is the hope that is unseen in worldly terms but very real in our faith perspective. Fanny Crosby speaks of this faith when she wrote the hymn, Blessed Assurance. She speaks of submission, delight, and rest not because all of life is a cakewalk. Remember that she is blind! But it is her story to praise God at all times because of this assurance.

The assurance of God's presence is greater than anything life has to throw at us. Maybe you need God's prescription in your life today!

Do Not Get Weary in Doing Good

This past week I had one of those days. You know those days. It is when everything seems to go wrong. Even when you are trying to help, it just is not easy.

My mother in law's doctor told her to not do anything for a while. She had just had a procedure that just required rest. If she did not rest, permanent damage could be done. We knew she would not listen. She thought she was being sneaky. Busted!

She had been wanting to plant a garden. She had bought everything she needed to plant. But then the procedure had interrupted her plans. The garden would have to wait.

My mother-in-law lives next door to her daughter. My brother-in-law knew of the plans to plant the garden. So one day, he looks out and says to himself, "I will help my mother-in-law by tilling the soil for the garden. Then when she is able, the soil will be ready for her to plant." So he goes out and tills the garden area. About the time he is finishing, he looks up to hear his mother-in-law shouting at her loudest. He can not make out what she is saying as the tiller noise drowns her out. He thinks she is thanking him although the expression on her face is not one of gratitude. Finally through, he turns off the tiller and goes to where she is standing.

Getting closer he realizes that she is not happy. Then the confession comes. She had sneaked out when no one was around and violated her doctor's orders. She had planted the garden that he had just tilled up.

Well, the other day I visited my mother-in-law. Her garden is blooming although everything is in quite disarray. You have a plant of peas right next to the tomato. There is no semblance of order that her garden usually has. I guess that is the kind of garden you get when you do not do what the doctor says!

Now the brother-in-law did not stay in the doghouse long. However, he has made it clear that he will not help anymore without asking. "I was just trying to help!" was his defense.

Life is like this more than we realize. Doing that which is good and honorable sometimes becomes more complicated than we want. Then there is the temptation to stay in our own little world which is not at all what God would have us do.

Do not grow weary in doing good. The world needs more people who are willing to help one another. The world needs more gardens in disarray.

Mother-in-laws should do what their doctors say as well!

Use All the Crayons!

There is a wave in our culture that is capable of doing great damage. It seems to be more prevalent during the political seasons. But it rears it ugly head more often than we think. The wave seeks to destroy at any cost that which is different. Those with different opinions or thoughts are demonized.

At the heart of this disease is the arrogance of being right.

Now before we all start pointing fingers let us confess that there is a time when we all find ourselves wanting to prove we are right. There is something in our human ego that feeds off of this. But being right is not all it is cracked up to be. And if there is a choice between being right and mercy in relationships, Jesus of Nazareth would choose mercy.

Demonizing those who are different from us empowers us to think we can do anything necessary. After all it would be faithful to dispose the world of these demons. But even more dangerous in this process of thought is that demonizing people means that I no longer have to treat them as a real human being. Their humanness is of no consequence to my actions or thoughts. Their feelings or ideas become irrelevant.

This is a great loss to us whether we realize it or not. It would be like trying to color a beautiful picture using only one color. The diversity of thought and ideas offers us the ability to be more creative and more understanding. The ability to listen and appreciate one another in our differences is the key to making our world a better place. It opens the world to the power of God to unite us in our uniqueness.

So what is the next step that God would have us do?

O Dean Martin was a preacher that changed my life when I was young. His preaching is still a part of my life because he made great sense. In one of his sermons, he said we do not need a revival. What we need is a new understanding of what revival is. And he offered this definition of revival.

Go into a room. Make sure no one else is in the room. Draw a circle. Get in the circle. Kneel before God and ask God to change everyone is that circle. That would be a living revival of the faith.

Jesus invites us to live in contrast to the culture--to be different. Resist the world's insistence to make demons of those who hold different ideas or opinions. There are enough demons in this world. We do not need to create more.

Learn to color with all the colors in the crayon box God has given us!

Hope Was Born!

She is guilty! The court rang out. Although it is not he judge who is saying this or even the jury. It is the spectators in the court. Guilty as sin!

There were folks who had their rocks in hand as she lay on the ground. She had been stripped of her clothes. Her nakedness was not about her physical being. It was her soul that was naked before all. She had no standing. She had been abused and used in every way. Any notion of self love had left her long ago.

There was a part of her that wondered why in the world she had been dragged into the public arena. As she looked around the crowd, she knew many of them. She could tell stories about many of them. It seems so much easier to proclaim the sin of others than to confront your own shame.

Then he appeared. He looked at her in a way that others did not. He did not look at her very long before turning his eyes to the ground. But that glance somehow comforted her in the midst of the angry crowd. Who was he? Why was he not like the others? He was supposed to be a religious man. But he was different.

The next sound was rocks falling to the ground. She had not heard what he said. But it disarmed them all in an instant. Although their eyes were still filled with hatred, they were turning around to leave. The rocks that were so lethal were now harmless. She looked up only to find her alone with this man.

He looked into her eyes again. That look was filled with an understanding that told her she was not guilty anymore. His face was gentle. It invited her to be safe in a way that she had long forgotten.

"Where are those who would condemn you?" The answer was obvious.

"Go and sin no more."

She had never heard those words before. All her life she had been condemned. All of her life she had known no hope. Yet she heard these words, her heart was changed. Her mind was changed. Her understanding of life and its possibilities were changed in an instant.

She gathered her clothes and walked away. But she walked away a different person. She did not understand what had happened. But she did understand that she would not live as she had. When she turned to look at the man, he was gone. So was her guilt and shame.

Hope was born.

Live For the Kingdom!

Do you know folks that just seemingly can not find a direction for their life? They are folks who seem to live life like a pin ball in a pinball machine--bouncing here and there. There is no direction in their life. They are prisoners with no freedom in sight.

This is the weekend we celebrate freedom. Freedom is a great gift that comes from God. However, many of us find that we know we are freed from something but have not clue as to what we will do with our freedom.

Over the years, I have looked for great illustrations of freedom. Nothing beats this one. Those of us who have young ones know the frustration all too well--once we stop laughing. Time to change the diapers. Now rookie parents and grandparents do not have everything ready to do this. So the young one is on the floor most of the time. We take the old diaper off and turn around to get what we have forgotten. Unless you have one hand on the critter, what happens? The young one has escaped! They are running around the house naked as a jaybird. They are free!! Whatever you do, make sure none of the doors are open when you do this. Yes, one of mine escaped to the yard, just running around with no clothes on. We provided the neighbors with regular entertainment of one sort or another.

Now all of this is to say: You are free from sin, free from death, free from guilt--just to name a few. But what are you free for? What are you doing with your life's freedom that gives glory to the kingdom of God?

Freedom has been given to you so that you can make life better. Living in that freedom should bring others closer to the joy of God's presence.

In the book of Romans Paul writes, "But thank God you have started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!" Romans 6:15 The Message Today is the day to be set free from sin so that you live for the kingdom of God.

Let this give your life new direction!

Be a Part of The Answer!

Everyone once in a while I hear laughter from the heavens.

If you want a fast start, plug in a bunch of college kids who know a little bit about what they are doing.

We hosted a supper for the group of college kids from the Neuman Center of Sacramento University. They were here to work on the house that is being built in memory of my friend, Joe Monistere. It is a project of the Fuller Center for Housing/Habitat organization. Within four days, the house was almost closed in. The windows and doors were not up yet. What an amazing feat for twenty college kids and some locals thrown in!

One Saturday a month, we have made the commitment to work. We want to be part of the answer to the area's needs! I believe most of our society's problems really have an easier solution if folks would just give their hands and hearts outward.

"Look out! He's got a saw!!" These are the words of my friends. The man who gave it to me had no idea the risk he was creating.

Yes, they know that I am dangerous with tools. I am one of those who is book smart and tool dangerous. My dad would be working on projects and give me something to do far away from him. It was for his own protection.

But I follow directions well. The saw given to me had the blade in backwards (which I did not put in) but it worked. I had been working for a while when one guy tried to tell me to turn the saw around until he too realized the blade was backwards. He then just told me to go ahead. I heard him laugh as he walked away as well.

So I sawed the door openings in the new house. I bothered no one. I got the job done until I had to leave for a funeral. But I was amazed that this group of folks could come together over the next few months and build house for a family. It just takes some coordination along with hearts and hands.

This is the answer to our society's problems. Whether it is housing, education, food, or anything else, our problems can be answered by turning to each other with compassion. Even the dangerous ones like me can help! You can help. Plug in somewhere. Once a month or even more if you are able and willing.

And you too can hear laughter from heaven. I know Joe chuckled as I left that worksite. Everyone else just had a sigh of relief!

Fill Your Life With the Spirit!

So what do you like most about birthday parties?

My grandmother Dunn lived to be 102 years old. When she turned 100, we had a great big party! Then when she turned 101, we had another grand party. She lived another year and yes, the party was there.

At her 100th birthday party, I could see that she was getting tired. I went over and bent down in front of her and asked her, "Grandma, is there something I can get you or do for you?" She smiled at me with her gentle eyes glowing. "Yes. Would you please tell all those folks to go home so that I can take my nap!" With that, I rolled her back to her room and the nurse helped her get into her bed to rest.

Remember as a kid how you enjoyed your birthday parties? All of your friends were there. Time was spent planning the party. Who would come? Invitations were given out. On the day of the party, you played games. You opened the presents. The birthday cake was presented and everybody sang. Maybe the cake was in the shape of an animal or a cookie cake. It was special.

This past week was the birthday of the church. We call it Pentecost. It is the time we remember how the early disciples were filled with the power of the living Spirit of God. At the initial experience of the Spirit, the church was unified. It became clear that all of the world would know and understand the love of God. The church was to celebrate the presence of God.

I think the church has forgotten how to celebrate in some ways. Celebration has been replaced with empty ritual. Maybe our piety has gotten in the way. Maybe the emphasis on doing what we have always done has kept us from experiencing God. Maybe we have forgotten that the invitations to the party are to all the children of the world, not just who we like or to the privileged. Maybe there are some of us who are like my grandma, who has just grown tired and needs to rest.

What we do in the church carries over to the rest of life as well. A person who attends the church that is not celebrating the Spirit will likely live the same kind of powerless life. The "ho-hum" walk with God has no energy of the Spirit of God. Birthdays come and go--more gone than anything else.

Maybe it is time for us to become some what like party animals filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit! You do remember that when the disciples experienced the Spirit, there were those who just thought they were drunk! Maybe each day should be filled with the idea of celebrating life.

And then the world will look at those who called themselves Christians and wonder. And then they too will seek what we have!