Breaking the cycle

It seems we are inclined to follow this same cycle we see in the Book of Judges.  

There is a temptation 

• To live in denial that such a cycle might exist. 
• Or that it only exists in others. 
• Or that we can live above it by our great will power.
• Or follow the way of religion, which puts a shiny veneer over it (and pretends everything is okay). 
• Or resign to living for the good times and medicating the bad ones.

The only path to freedom is the way of Jesus, and that can actually be the hardest path...

Just to encounter Jesus gives hope that we can be free.  And interestingly, freedom can become our possession in ways we least expect.

Jeff was a guy who worked hard, never got in anybody's business, and loved to have a good time.  But Jeff had a dark side..., something very few people saw.  He struggled with depression and with alcohol.  And because of those struggles most of his relationships were doomed to fail from the start. 

One day the lights came on.  Jeff knew that this stuff about Jesus was more than words and a crutch for weak people.  He felt something change.  His outlook changed.  The desire to escape lessened.  New friendships developed.  He started talking to God, being honest, and trying to follow Jesus.

But Jeff had a persistent nagging thought - am I really changed? 

When a big disappointment hit, the old feelings came rushing back in.  How could he be changed when he felt the same junk he'd felt before??

But after a couple bouts with depression, he ran into an old friend who talked to him about this different way of following Jesus.  Hmmmm.  He said it was normal to have those feelings.  But that didn't mean Jesus was any less present or any less powerful. 

It was like blinders came off. 

Just knowing Jesus was close..., and that old feelings didn't mean he was destined to jump back into old patterns..., it was like a shaft of light had broken into his soul.

What Jeff learned was the first encounter with Jesus wasn't the end but just the beginning.  And he desperately needed daily encounters with Jesus.  Sometimes it came when praying or reading the Bible. Sometimes in worship services with other followers of Jesus. Sometimes while driving.  Sometimes listening to worship music. Sometimes right before he went to sleep an overwhelming sense of well being swept over him.

But some encounters with Jesus were not accompanied by feelings of happiness.  Some experiences were like standing on a lonely road, seeing dim headlights in the distance, or not seeing anything.  It was learning to reach out and believe in the dark times.

It was in those darkest times that Jeff began to know he was getting free from the old cycles.  He learned "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me..."

In the dark times the old feelings seemed to have their greatest power.  And he felt weakest.  But his faith was growing stronger than ever.

Jeff still had struggles but the cycle wasn't the same.  The old feelings had lost their familiarity.  He was walking with other guys and encouraging them just like his old friend had walked with him.  

He had gradually changed and didn't even recognize it.  

It seems this is also the way of Jesus. 

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.  1 Peter 4:12-13 Message Version

Shutdown

“Broncos defense adjusts to shutdown Eagles”

Okay, that’s not the shutdown everyone is talking about…

“We shut down if we feel like we don’t matter or that your agenda is more important than ours."  Chris, 38

That quote may be closer to describing the present shutdown in the news.

Jesus used life situations of his day to highlight God’s agenda.  I wonder what He would say right now…?

Maybe something like the story of hanging out with Matthew’s friends? 

Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew.  Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him.

Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?”

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”    Matthew 9:9-13 Message Version 

What a great example of the way of Jesus- addressing the less important things (religious exclusivity) in order to point out God’s agenda (“I’m after mercy”).

Jesus still “shows up” in our lives by bringing love and truth from His Word to the core of who we are (Hebrews 4:12).  Whenever Jesus shows up in a situation that isn’t working, we typically discover what we think is most important isn’t that big of a deal (or isn’t the biggest deal).

But without His presence, it’s like common sense drains out of us like an oil leak in our car.  The warning lights come on, but we ignore them.  Shut down or fit-throwing is inevitable.

So what can we do when it feels like we don’t matter or someone else’s agenda is more important than ours?  We can learn to follow Jesus in those times.  What would that look like?  Seriously, isn’t it easier to follow Jesus or to get along when things go our way?

 

Maybe a true sign of maturity is not shutting down or throwing a fit when things don’t go our way?

Ah, the invitation and the challenge…

The next step...

There is a next step for everyone in following Jesus… 

Sometimes we end up managing chaos and forget there is a next step.  Sometimes we fear taking another step because of the unknown.  Or like in Jesus’ day, we think we’re on the outside, and not a part of the people who are "invited to take a next step...”

Jesus made it clear in the Beatitudes that He actually had something amazing for those who thought they were on the outside.  Check out the Message Translation of these words:

• “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
• “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
• “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
• “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
• “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
• “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
• “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
• “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Even with all that encouragement, it seems like so many things scream out and paralyze us in following Jesus. 

I was traveling recently and got to get out and play golf.  I was put in a group with 3 people I didn’t know (which can be interesting), and it ended up being a blast (better than expected).  I ended up having a lot of fun with one of the guys joking about golf, football and missed putts.  Eventually I asked if he had any spiritual belief.  He said he was Catholic but was pursuing his own journey because he was fed up with how the church had become a “big business.”  It was clear that his disillusionment had actually paralyzed him spiritually. 

I was so struck by God’s love for the guy and that this was no coincidence we were from different parts of the country, playing golf and talking about spiritual matters.  After hearing more of his story I just told him simply “this isn’t about Catholicism, it’s about Jesus…”  And basically that Jesus loves him and wants him to experience more, and to let go of the other junk (the next step).  It was one of those times you feel has been brewing on God’s agenda for months.

The next step for me was to get out of my comfort zone and explore what Jesus might be saying to this guy.  Boy was it worth it!

I think about the guy Jesus called “the rock” (long before Dwayne Johnson).  This guy had failure screaming at him, so much so he initially asked Jesus to leave him alone.  Jesus said this unstable guy was going to be “the rock” – Jesus would change his identity.  He took the first step and then spent 3 years following Jesus: watching > listening > doing > failing/succeeding; watching > listening > doing > failing/succeeding, etc.  There was always a next step for this guy.  Then after the colossal failure of denying Jesus, he was restored as Jesus told him 3x to “feed My sheep.”  That guy was Peter who ended up leading the rest of the disciples.

Peter wanted to know what Jesus had planned for one of his friends.  Jesus said “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.”  Translation: don’t worry about anybody else (friends, family, another leader, the catholic church or any church), you follow me!

There is a next step for you in following Jesus!  Find a local church community where you can connect with others in the journey with Jesus and don’t let anything keep you from taking the next step!

Colorado Fires: Scriptures of Hope

West Fork Fire, via: 9 News

As fires continue to burn across Colorado, here are some things we can pray for:

• - For rain
• - For the firefighters
• - For those who have lost their homes
• - For those being threatened
• - For local church communities as they reach out to comfort and serve

Check out these Scriptures of hope

The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.  James 5:17-18 MSG Version

The thief comes with the sole intention of stealing and killing and destroying, but I came to bring them life, and far more life than before.  John 10:10 JBP

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.  Romans 12:15 NLT

Keep your eyes on Jesus

Do you have to understand God, or understand much of anything in order to worship Him?

Do the events of life have to make sense in order to follow Him?

Did He reveal His love to you at one point, knowing that in the future you would come across a seeming contradiction and turn away?

Did He know you'd encounter someone whose doubts would become your own?

Are the times of aloneness when you don't "feel" God's love signs that He doesn't love you anymore?

These types of questions seem to be the struggles and battleground of faith.

It is much easier to believe when things are going our way.

What if God knows fully and loves fully?  He says He does.  Can I believe that when going through struggles?

The spiritual journey can be like learning to ride a bike.  We like the training wheels of security.  We like to think God is holding on to the back of the bike all the way down the street.  In reality He takes off the training wheels, gives us a push and off we go.  It is exhilarating at first until the bike starts to wobble, or we fall down.

Yes, the analogy breaks down because God is with us even when it may feel like He isn't.

But this is where faith comes in.  Trusting when you can't see.  Holding on in the dark to what you believed in the light.

I've been talking with quite a few people who are being shaken (myself included).  Aurora Theater Shootings, Boston Marathon Bombings, Texas Plant Explosion, Hurricane Sandy, Oklahoma Tornadoes, Death of loved ones, etc.

I don't have a lot of answers.  

I do know that every time we ask Him to hear us He does.  

I do know every time we invite Him to be with us in suffering He brings comfort.  

I do know peace fills our minds when we give up our right to understand everything.

I do know when His kingdom comes, wrongs are set right.

And I'm learning the contradictions and paradoxes are part of the fog of this life, the smoke rising from skirmishes between good and evil.

My dad would have reminded me "Sure its tough.  But in terms of what you're going through-- a little smoke never hurt anybody.  Keep your eyes on Jesus."

Ever-present help...

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

Bombings, terrorism, violent crime, shooting rampages, natural disasters, civil war, innocent victims...

The mantra of "We're gonna get back up!" can begin to sound hollow and empty. 

The answer isn't resignation, but surely there must be a greater source of strength than "the indomitable American spirit?"  

It can seem like we're walking through the valley of the shadow of death and trying to cheer ourselves (and others) back to the mountaintop.  The resilience and potential resolve of the human spirit is amazing.  We all need encouragement.  

But sometimes you don't need a cheerleader but "one called alongside to help."  
That is one of the meanings of the Holy Spirit's name.  He actually gives help, peace, strength, hope...

It is in the place of desperation where we can "fear no evil" not because we are super-positive, but because "God is with us."

An ever-present help in trouble.

The Psalms can become our songs.  We can learn to sing in every situation.  Sometimes lamenting.  Sometimes celebrating.  Just reading them, singing them, it puts words and expression to our struggle.  It opens the door for God's presence to comfort and strengthen.

One guy shared about being shaken up by the economy and the stress of it all. He wondered about how to provide for his family.  He plunged deeper into despair and self-destructive behavior.  He was asking "WHY GOD?  Why did you let me get into this mess?"

Reaching the end of his rope something changed.  Perspective changes when you can't pull yourself up and don't have the strength to hold on.

He found the ever-present help in trouble.

Learning to quit searching for more resolve, more internal strength, more happy thoughts.  How exhausting when everything around us is being shaken.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..."  Hebrews 12:28

An ever-present help in trouble.