stickers are nice.

I was up early with Jonathan this morning reading him a book when he started pulling stickers off of a paper and sticking them on my forehead. I asked him, "what are you doing?" He patted me and said, "sticker, nice!" It brings me joy to think about how Jonathan was doing what he thought would make me look nice (even though I had four multi color smiley faces on my head). It was his intention to bring beauty to his daddy in the way he knew best. And I loved him for it even as I made sure they were all removed before leaving for work.

I'm pretty sure God the Father takes the same joy in us, as we try, sometimes in crazy ways, to show him to be as "nice" as we possibly can. It's comforting to know that as crazy as people may think we are, God loves us all the more for those crazy moments when we seek to show HIS beauty.

call me johnny cash.

I walk a lot of lines. Some of those are good lines to walk, others are not. The majority are only ever in my head (and sometimes on the blog). These lines that I vacillate between, over, and around normally go something like this:

"Well, point A has some great points that I totally agree with; but point B also has some really good points that make a lot of sense. Neither of them seem to be wrong, they are using the Bible to back them up after all. But they can't both be right, as they are opposites."

I am pretty sure I'm not the only one that goes through these types of debates in their head (at least I really hope I'm not, because I usually answer myself back- does that make me mentally ill?) and they normally follow good books or discussions over a cup of coffee, glass of wine, or a great beer.

I could go through a list of these debates, but I think the point is more about the discussion/debate itself. I often wish that life was more cut and dry, that this line was a mile wide rather than razor thin. But life doesn't work that way. Life is a lot of and/or/if. I don't want to say that life is all about discovering which side of this line is "right" and which is "wrong" because if it was all about this, I would spend much more time on the "wrong" side if just out of sheer laziness. There are rights and wrongs, but the important part that I am learning is that it isn't a list, a rule, or always the same.

I love this idea that the New Covenant expresses in the Bible. For those that commit to follow God through Jesus Christ will be guided by the Holy Spirit who will "write these things on [our] hearts." What this means is that life is about following a line that the Holy Spirit shows us as we go. As we seek God's will and take the step (and engage that internal debate) we have the knowledge and hope that the Holy Spirit will lead us in paths of righteousness. No longer can I draw a line in the sand to stand on one side or the other; I'd rather follow that line being drawn to the One who is drawing it. This is my latest internal debate.

towers of blocks.

Life doesn't like to fit into neat compartments. Maybe it shouldn't have taken me 29 years to realize this somewhat profound statement, but it has. Up to this point I have had this idea that there is a way "life is supposed to be." Like, if I don't live up to this certain type of life, things would be incomplete. So, what I try to do is to fill it up with everything I think needs to be in that "supposed to be" life.

I have an amazing wife who loves me no matter what, a son who makes me laugh and smile (and never sleep), a job that I like most of the time, and a church that allows me to be involved in God's work. We live relatively close to our families, we have great neighbors to share the block with, we own our own home, two cars, and have a dog that doesn't throw up when he eats things he's not supposed to. We live in a middle class neighborhood, always have enough to cover the bills, and even get to travel a good deal.

But what I have learned is that as great as all of these things are, the more great things don't neccesarily equal mental stability. Jonathan, my son, really likes to play with the oversized lego blocks. Every morning, when I wish he was still sleeping, we go to our living room, Jonathan sits by his basket of blocks, tells me to sit next to him and starts to build. He really is pretty good, but what he likes to do is build tall skinny towers. he will take the blocks with only one or two knobs and build them higher and higher and then clap for himself. (he obviously had some help with this one). The problem is, it soon falls over because it lacks stability.

That is how my life can feel sometime. I keep piling things on top until it is about to crash. But don't we all do that at some point? Either that or we don't even use the blocks that are available to us. What I have realized, is that life doesn't fit together nicely, but it doesn't stop us from building our towers too high until it's too late. The challenge of life is to figure out how to build our lives in a way that will fit together in a sustainable way. How do our faith commitments interact with what we do at work, at home, or with our neighbors? How do we spend the time with our families and friends in a way that builds them up and glorifies Jesus? How do we find the time to do what God has called us to do and to not go insane doing it? In some ways, I think we need to find where these things intersect and spend the time there. Is there a way that our church responsibilities can be done in the same place/time as our family, work, and community work is done? Maybe or maybe not.

This is obviously something I don't have the answer to, and maybe I never will; all I know is that life isn't supposed to look exactly like something, because it can't. Life is more like the tower Jonathan made, with stuff sticking out here and there. Sometimes we just have to make sure it doesn't fall over.

love and wrath.

Today I was reading Psalms 2. As I was reading through it a couple things stood out to me. First, the significant foreshadowing of Jesus' ministry (see vs. 2, 7-8). Secondly, the emphasis the author puts on the wrath and vengeance of the Lord.

God is all powerful, creator of the universe, all knowing, etc., but I sometimes have trouble putting this idea that "his wrath can flare up in a moment" (Psalm 2:12) and "God so loved the world" (John 3:16). Maybe you are with me on this. But then I try to put myself into as similar a position as possible (i.e. God's view rather than my own), and I think I have come to somewhat of a better understanding of this dichotomy. Let me explain.

I work in Center City Allentown helping (or trying to) chronically unemployed and the homeless try to find work (and actually succeed in their positions). When I start working with somebody, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, I encourage them, give them opportunities for support, and as many chances to "move ahead" as possible. Some individuals respond well to this, they show increased self esteem, a new attitude towards finding a job, and eventually succeed. Others, however, choose not to follow the directives of the program, start pushing the limits to exploit the benefits, and even sell drugs outside the building during training hours. Despite my desire to help them and see them succeed, I have to admit, they make me extremely angry- even to the point of removing them from the program.

One would say that I have every right to remove them from the program. They choose not to follow the directions of the program, even though those rules lead to many benefits for them, and they go their own way, putting them back into the same destructive cycles they were a part of before they entered the program. God has set up the same thing for us: His Son IS the directive he has given us. The benefits of following Jesus are numerous; right relationship with God, Heaven, joy that surpasses understanding, etc. God has done a lot to make those things possible. Ultimately, if we choose to go our own way rather than follow God, he is going to be upset- as Psalms 2 points out.

God's wrath is a wrath of frustration, not hate. It is because He has loved so much that his wrath is so great. Not an easy thought to get past, but in the end, would we really do it differently?

a pint for the Irish.

In honor of St. Patricks Day, I am wearing all the green I own (a track jacket and shirt- dont' worry I don't have green pants). This holiday is one of those strange days where everybody thinks that they are Irish (even if they are not) and every once in a while you will here about why St. Patrick was so special. It also makes me want a pint of Guinness.

St. Patrick wasn't the only Irish Saint, there was also this guy, Arthur Guinness. In the mid 1700's, Arthur would walk the streets of Dublin, lamenting at the drunkeness of the Irish people (apparently this stereotype didn't end there). They would be stumbling out of their whisky and gin bars and do all the things that drunk people do. In Arthur's prayers, he felt led to do something that (little did he know) would forever change Ireland and it's people. He felt that he was to make a healthy drink, that people would like, but not get drunk on. His creation was Guinness Beer. The beauty of what Arthur Guinness did was not to create a well crafted beverage, but rather he sought a way to influence a culture (and the world) for more right living, and hopefully, to be able to point them to Christ. His life reflected his faith.

Apparently he passed this faith lifestyle on to his children who were involved in sending Hudson Taylor to China, building a missionary college, and helping to fund a Chrisitan Childrens home. The story can be found at http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4752.htm.

So today, as we celebrate the Irish (and what God has done in Ireland), let us raise a pint in thanks to God, and seek ways that we can influence the culture of the Lehigh Valley.

losing faith.

The AP put out an article today entitled "More Say They Have No Religion" (http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_survey.6810467mar09,0,6583512.story). It was an interesting, but not surprising article empirically evidencing that the United States is in a "Christian Decline." What was even more interesting though, is the message board postings at the end of the article. The large majority of these individuals making posts are adamant about their convictions that God does not exist, is made up, and that religion is actually the cause of most violence and hate in the world. Wow.

This "evangelical atheism" is really intense. I can't actually say that I have a great answer to all their accusations about the moral imperatives of Heaven and Hell, the "human" influence in the writing of scripture, or the many other tough questions that should be wrestled with, but it does show how tough it is, and will be for believers as we seek to make God known. Ultimately, they are seeking "proof" rather than "relationship." This growing segment of the population is doing all they can to make sure the gospel is not presented to our friends, family, and children. Now is the time to be prepared in and out of season to give a testimony for the hope that you have (II Timothy 4:1-5).

A lot of people get angry at this type of conversation. I wouldn't say that was the reaction that I initially and currently feel. I feel sad. While reading these comments I hurt for these individuals who are so angry at God, so disenfranchised with faith, and living life with such temporal purpose. I worry for them, those that they teach, and their children who won't have the chance to know God, all in the name of "being enlightened." May we stand strong in the faith, speak and act in love, and point all of those around us towards relationship with God.

complexity part II.

A few weeks back when the economic stimulus package was being discussed, I had mentioned how complex economies, government, and social structures are. Yesterday, or the day before, I don't remember when exactly, I had another realization. Some might classify it as a panic attack, but I don't think so. If anything, it was one of those moments of anxiety when every part of your life seems to be crashing down and requiring something of you. Here in the Northeast, and probably around the rest of the US, we call that everyday life. I don't know exactly what I had to do or why I was so stressed about it. Perhaps it was seeing my mile long list of everything that I need to do with the house, work, Riverbend Community Church, Jonathan, Lindsey, seeing the needs of the yard, the neighborhood, the Lehigh Valley, the World and not knowing where to start, what to do next, or how to go about it.

At that moment, I just didn't want to do anything at all.

I think that is why we are told in the Bible to "Be still. And know that I am God." That is a very reassuring truth, with a very difficult practice. It's hard to be still, to not do anything, to stop thinking even for one minute. But we should. We are not told to be still because we shouldn't be productive, but rather because this is the way we stay sane, we keep our stress down, and even stay healthy. Our personal lives are more complex than they need to be, our work lives, our religion, even the gospel we make more complex than it actually is. Why? That I don't know. What I do know is that we need to find ways, as we live life together, to live simply, love genuinely, and act justly. We won't be able to start doing these things though, until we can "be still and know God." I should put that on my list of things to do.

bath time.

I have the priviledge of giving my 7 and a half month old son his bath every night.  He really enjoys bath time and I think he could spend hours in the bath if I let him.  Recently, he has discovered he can drop things out of his little blue bath tub and then he looks over the side and tries to grab it.  Tonight, he finally picked up one of the toys he threw over the side and when he did, he looked back at me with such a sense of accomplishment, desiring my approval.   I was struck with the following thought:

What if that is what God wants us to do.  He has given us the ability to do so many things and accomplish so much in  this world, and he takes joy when we look back at Him for that acknowledgement- that without God's acknowledgement, our deeds are not fulfilling.

I of course praised my son for being such a "big boy" and gave him a big kiss on the forehead.  Then he splashed me in the face.  But that is part of the fun.

I am thankful that God does look on us as His son's and daughters, looking for ways to praise us when we look toward Him.

part of something.

Amazing. After watching the inauguration at work today, I am humbled by the blessing of being part of the United States, where powers transfer peacefully-- even when ideologies are in stark contrast. Obama referenced how we are part of this larger collective in his speech. It was motivating and he has really good speech writers.

I got addicted to The West Wing this summer. After my baby boy was born, my mother-in-law had us rent a season of the show, and in about 5 months, we had watched the complete series. It would have been quicker if not for my wife's school schedule. But after watching it, and being reminded by the inauguration today, I was always struck by a desire to be a part of something as important as an administration. The way they had so many people working towards something that they believed in so deeply, was inspiring to me. I think that is why Obama was able to win this election, he was able to invite people to be a part of something.

The thing is, as I wish I was a part of something as important as being President of the United States, I have to remind myself that I already am. We are reminded throughout the Bible that God has invited us to be a part of something bigger than anything that ever has, or ever will, be. He has invited us to be a part of his Kingdom. His desire is to be the change that the world needs, and for us to play vital roles in that.

We may not have pins, and t-shirts, and hats, and posters that you put by stop signs, but we are a part of something that is more transcendent, transformational, and authentic than any political campaign could ever be. Do we look at what God is doing the same way we look at what politicians are doing? Probably not. Maybe we should start.