Another Word on Time

Lent is upon us.  It is a 40-day period before Holy Week (not counting Sundays) in which we, as Wesleyan Christians, reflect, remember, repent, re-center, and rethink how we live out our faith.  Many view Lent as a time for giving up or sacrificing something to grow stronger in our faith.  In my reflection on Lent, I am focusing this year on a better understanding of time.

Last week, I used the Greek words Chronos and Kairos in my sermon.  Generally, Chronos is the measurable time we use to structure seconds into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days into weeks/months/years.  It is where we get the terms 'chronological' and 'chronology.'  It is the order/structure of time.

But this Lent, I am going to consider the more important word for time, Kairos.  Kairos is appointed, meaningful, or prophetic time.  In Mark 1;15 Jesus is beginning His ministry, and He uses the words, “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”  Jesus uses the word Kairos (in the Greek) here.  It is not a day, or week, or year.  It is a time fulfilled by God's perfect plan.  It is the coming of an event appointed and anointed by God.  So, here is the question for us.

First, has the Kingdom of God arrived in your life?  Whether you know it or not, you are either living in Chronos (in the South, we call this "the same old same old") or Kairos.  I spoke to a young man today.  He was stuck in the systems of law enforcement.  Jail, probation, times and dates he must be at a certain place, are his current reality.  He lives in the Chronos of the culture into which he has fallen.  He has learned that Chronos can, and will, enslave you in a cycle that, when viewed in reverse, seems like a repetitive pattern.  In fact, it is an unhealthy pattern that C.S. Lewis said makes people into "cattle for the slaughter."

Second, do you want to live in the freedom of Kairos?  Kairos is the time that is appointed by the one who made us, created us as His masterpiece, and gifted us for a beautiful purpose.  This time is freedom because it fulfills us, completes us, and brings us to life "on earth as it is in heaven."  Kairos allows us to live, love, and become what God has planned, and God's plans are ultimately beautiful.

This week we celebrated 2 big events in the life of the Church.  We saw our sister in Christ, Maegan Pinyan, become married, and we prayed for that marriage to be lived out in Kairos ... appointed, anointed, and prophetic time.  We want those 2 lives to bloom and grow in the light and purpose of the Living God.  We also celebrated the life of Myra Nell Brannon.  Myra Nell entered the glory of God on Sunday and we celebrated her life on Friday. What we know for sure is that Myra Nell was living in Kairos.  How do I know this?  Myra Nell was filled with God's grace, purpose, perseverance, kindness, joy, and love.  Even in her last days, she held the dignity and beauty of God's anointing and purpose.

Maegan is heading East to a life in ministry.  Myra Nell is off to a new beginning in God's house, which has plenty of room for her ... and for you, if you choose to live in Kairos, a place for God's appointed, anointed, and blessed.  How can you get there?  We said it on Ash Wednesday ... repent, and believe the Gospel!

Missionaries of Beauty

We have the saying that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  While this is largely true, I prefer a more encompassing idea that is from Ecclesiastes 3:11, "God has made everything beautiful in its time."  I don't hold to the more Calvinist view that this implies that non-beautiful things are actually created/brought to us by God.  God didn't intend for Hitler, Stalin, and other dictators to kill millions of innocent people.  I do hold to the Wesleyan idea that God can make/turn negative and devastating things into something He can and will use for His good purposes.  But enough theological interpretation.  Here is the point of this blog.

First, God is into beauty.  God created beauty, and even creates our ability to see beyond the seen realm into the beauty of the unseen realm.  Isaiah 53 says, "There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance ...(Isaiah 53:2)."  If we are unwilling to look past appearances, we will fail to see the beauty of even the Son of God, our true and living Lord!  But, if we look closer, we see the beauty, the grace, and the true love of what Jesus said and did.  Jesus was a "missionary of beauty."

Second, from the above passage and many other passages, we can begin to understand that the source and author of beauty is God.

1. "And let the beauty of our Lord, our God, be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us.  Yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17)."  God can make the work of our hands beautiful if He blesses that work.

2. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News (Romans 10:15, Isaiah 52:7)."  God can make our feet beautiful when they bring the saving power, goodness, grace, and forgiveness of God.

Finally, we understand that the world around us is not often in the mode of creating ... it is more into tearing down.  We feed our minds on reality shows that insult and tear down for the amusement of our negative attitudes.  We feed our emotions on videos, rhetoric, and "news shows" (please DO note the quotations) that are selling us the poison pill of hate, violence, negativity, self-righteousness, and victimhood, all so that we will drift further and further under the impression that our opinion, our perspective, our party, our ideology, and our 'group' is somehow better that those "lesser" people.  While we do this, I think God looks down on us and says what He said outside of Jerusalem ... "if you, even you (Jerusalem) had only known on this day what would bring you peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes (Luke 19:42)."  

God DOES make everything beautiful in its time by revealing the things we need to see, hear, know, and perceive.  It is beautiful when we see past the hopelessness to the beautiful hope of the Gospel.  It is beautiful when we see past the beaten, bloody man on the cross to the beautiful Savior who brings us life from death.  It is beautiful when we see a spark of Christ in another person and choose to lift them up from the pit, because of the Christ in us.  And here is some REALLY Good News that is the Gospel truth ... we can, by following Jesus instead of our culture, see and hear the beauty God sends every day!  Don Moen writes it this way ... "Lord, Your mercy is so great, that you look beyond our weakness, and find purest gold from miry clay, turning sinners into saints." AMEN

Where Does Yours Shine?

The Bible talks a lot about light.  Jesus and His disciples are both called light in the world.  And prophecy about Christmas says that "to those walking in darkness, a light has come."  As I write this blog, I have a flashlight beside me, ready for use in an emergency.  But, as we approach Youth Sunday (this Sunday, the 15th), I want you to reflect on a question.  Where does your light shine?

We worship the Son of God, who was the manifestation of all the things in the first paragraph.  But Jesus has given those responsibilities to us, His Church.  You and I have been given a light.  Where does this light shine?

Might I make a few suggestions?

1. How about your workplace, where some of us spend most of every day?

2. What about social media, where people are sometimes excused from the collateral damage of "shooting from the hip"?

3. Maybe your home, where familiarity doesn't have to breed contempt?

Let's remember Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, took His calling of lighting a dark world seriously.  Maybe we, who proclaim His name and announce His kingdom, should follow our Master, Teacher, and Lord.

Sunday, we will sing "This Little Light of Mine."  It is not just a children's song.  It is for and about all who want to change their world ... one little light at a time.  

What Are You Taking?

Have you ever been on a journey, and realized the things you have with you become burdens, rather than assets?  Lee and I have moved over 20 times.  I hate to admit this, but we have carried some things with us that we haven't used in many (many) years.  Planks from an old train station, acquired in 1986.  A multifunctional sawhorse I haven't used once.  The list is long and sad.

As I was reflecting on Luke 10, I stopped on a passage that, at first, seemed out of place.  Here's what it says ... "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals, and do not greet anyone on the road (Luke 10:4)."  This didn't "tweak" me because of what it says ... it interests me because it speaks about the things not to take and the things not to do.  Distractions?

What distracts us from the work we are gifted and sent to do?  On February 18th we begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service.  We will "remember we are dust," by the imposition of ashes.  We will sing and hear music that will prepare us for the journey of Lent.  We will try to leave behind distractions so that we can go from the ashes of Lent to the sacrifice (and beauty) of the Cross.  We will think, remember, reflect, and (hopefully) grow.  We will decide the things that cause us to focus, and we will decide the things we must leave behind to make the journey.

Maybe this is why Jesus' first instructions are not about the many things the disciples need to take, but the things that will distract and divert them from the work ahead.  Let's deconstruct Jesus' command:

1. Purse - Our money causes us to get focused on the cost, rather than the mission.  Remember ... we count the cost, but if God calls us to act, we act, in accordance with His will.

2. Bag - We have a tendency to fill bags with things that make us comfortable.  Maybe Jesus wants us to focus on the mission, and not our comfort.  Maybe comfort itself is a distraction.

3. Sandals - Most commentators take this to mean extra sandals.  If you remember the Hebrews of Exodus, Deuteronomy 8:4 reminds us that those sandals didn't wear out during the 40 years of wandering.  A few days of travel seem like a piece of cake for the God who provides.

4. Greetings Along The Road - I have a friend who strikes up conversations with everyone he meets along each day's travel.  He is an interesting person, but not such a good employee.  He spends most of each day in conversations, and little of each day working on his job.  Gramma said we have 2 ears and only one mouth.  Maybe Jesus wants His followers to get to the destination He has given them.

I hope you are ready and excited for our Lenten journey together.  Remember ... we have a mission and a destination.  Stay focused.  Keep on track.  And, stay in love with Jesus!

Blessed

Are you aware and excited that God has chosen to bless you?  I was reading in Luke 10 today, and these were the words of Jesus ... "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I tell you that many kings and prophets wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but did not hear it (Luke 10:10:23-24)!"

Seeing and hearing are interesting things.  This Thursday, I will have outpatient surgery to remove cataracts in my right eye.  The condition comes with the "territory" of age.  The cataracts block and cloud vision, and keep some of the light from coming into my eye.  I am thankful for doctors and caregivers who allow me to have this procedure, and for the science and medicine that invented this possibility.  Better vision and more light seem to be things worth the recovery and discomfort this will probably bring.  But, as I prepare for this to happen, this verse reminds me that there are worse conditions.

What would it be like to walk through the world in the darkness of only seeing the created realm?  Maybe some are content with this because they don't know or believe there is another realm ... the spiritual realm.  Chapter 10 of Luke describes Jesus and the disciples (72 of them) as joyful over the ability to both see and impact the physical and spiritual realms.  I think these rookie disciples realize that this is what they were made for, and are seeing a world in a reality they have never experienced before!  Everyone lives in the natural world, but we were made for something greater and better.  Jesus brings the supernatural with Him, and he passes the ability to see the spiritual world on to those who are engaged believers.

Jesus reminds us that seeing and hearing through God's eyes and ears is a blessing for which we were created!  This amazing attribute is part of what God did when He made people in His image.  So ...

1. We can see beyond the black and white, into the full color of life.

2. We can hear God's voice.

3. We can see people through the eyes of Christ, who is IN us!

4. We can hear, see, and know what is both beautiful and sometimes uncomfortable.

5. We can look beyond the facade, into the real.

Across the street from the church is the River Youth and Children's Center.  Thanks to Jimmy Rane, the facade of the building is becoming beautiful and appropriate to the period in which the building was built.  But if you go inside, a lot of work needs to be done.  Those of us who have entered the building know how much remains to be accomplished.  Maybe we, as a people and a Church, are like that.  Many of us present a fairly acceptable facade.  But Jesus has entered the building.  He sees the vast work that needs to be done.  He knows that, like the River, the beautiful work, the community change, the lives of people, and the changes of attitude, will happen on the inside.  He is building a building not made with human hands but made with hands that are weaving us together, in the beauty of His vision.  And this, according to Scripture, is a blessing!  AMEN

3 Kingdom Things

So ... I am writing this blog at a very strange time.  Our services were cancelled this morning due to a snow event.  So while I would normally be "landing the plane" (finishing my sermon) I am at the house talking to any of you who might be listening.  Here are my thoughts on this very unusual Sunday morning.

Last week's Scripture (Luke 9) is still on my mind.  To summarize, a lot happens in Luke 9.  Jesus sends out the 12 to "cast out demons and heal all diseases."  Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, feeds a multitude, announces His death, experiences the Transfiguration, and ends the chapter by reminding us of the cost of discipleship.  Or, is He telling us about the benefits of being Kingdom people?  Here's why I say this ...

1. Most of Luke 9 is about the excitement and rapid movement of God's Kingdom, and of the movement of the Church out into the world.  The Kingdom of God is filled with mighty works, major happenings, and the power of God in the world.

2. The end of Luke 9 seems to be a gut-check as Jesus challenges us, saying things like "let the dead bury their dead, but you go announce the Kingdom of God."  Jesus seems to be chastising a disciple who places family issues ahead of Kingdom issues.  And this IS part of the story.

3. Jesus also says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God."  Again, Jesus seems pretty harsh about our tendency to think about what we have left behind.  This IS also part of the story.

But ... what if this entire chapter of God's word is about something bigger, better, and more exciting than we perceive?  What IF Jesus is saying things like:

1. I have chosen YOU for a reason.

2. I have gifted YOU for a purpose.

3. I am offering you the chance to be part of amazing, powerful, Kingdom work, and all I (Jesus) need is for you/me/us to become open vessels that will be filled with God-things?

What if you/me/us "get to" do God's work?

This is a get-to chapter.  We get to emulate the 12 out into the world, healing and confronting (with God's power) the opposing spiritual realm.  So ... having God as a lesser priority ... having Kingdom service as something optional ... will cause us to be unusable, unavailable, and unused by God.

God's desire is to send you out ... use you to proclaim the Kingdom ... and offer you the chance to serve Him in the kingdom.  What an honor and a blessing!  Yes ... we GET TO do this!  Praise the Lord!

The Most Important Ability

As we near the end of the College and Pro football seasons, we have seen injuries, life events, and other happenings take their toll on competing teams.  Teams are somewhere on the spectrum from "dinged-up" to (southernese) "tore-up."  Coaches are pulling our what little hair they have left to put a team on the field that can compete.  As I write this, I am battling a sinus issue, and as Lewis Grizzard once said, "Elvis is dead, and I'm not feeling too good myself."  But ... I am here.

A week ago, one of our new workers came in the back door, reporting for duty.  She was wearing a mask, not to protect herself, but to make sure her ailment wouldn't spread to those she would be working with.  But ... she was here.  Because the most important ability is availability.  I love that a young person would have that drive and work ethic, and my already-robust respect for her went up even more.

I think that Jesus was thinking about this when, at the beginning of Luke 9, Jesus reminds us of the most important ability.  In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the 12, giving them "power to drive out demons and cure diseases."  The chapter continues with Jesus feeding the 5000 (where Jesus says, "you feed them").  Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus predicts His death, the Transfiguration happens, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, and, at the end of the chapter, Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship.  Two people come up to Jesus, saying they desire to follow, after they take care of some personal business.  Jesus has a curt response for each of them:

1. To the man who wants to bury his father, Jesus says ... "Let the dead bury their dead ... you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God!"  You must be available to Jesus to make that happen.

2. To the man who wants to tell his family goodbye, Jesus says ... "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God." You must be available to Jesus is you want to follow and serve.

Jesus' words might seem harsh, but the story is a representation of how we, as people who make choices, decide priorities, and make statements about our so-called faith, really proclaim our faith by being available to Jesus.  It is a lot easier to sing the songs, make the statements, and talk the talk, than it is to 1) serve, and 2) proclaim.  Let's examine what "serve" and "proclaim" mean this week, as we begin the year giving God our most important ability ... our availability.  AMEN