Musings on Tough Questions

But again they did not understand His meaning, and they were afraid to ask Him for an explanation. Mark 9:32

Time and again the disciples were puzzled by the teachings of Jesus.  Imagine being in that same place day after day... retiring with Jesus to a remote place and scratching your head re: what you just heard.  The crowds were confused.  You're part of His entourage and afraid to let Him know you're in the same boat.  Hmmm.

 

For some reason we think hanging out with Jesus means everything is gonna be crystal clear.  

"My thoughts are not your thoughts..." God spoke through the prophet Isaiah (55:8).

 

"I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you."  Psalm 73:22

 

I was relieved to read "Doubt is the halfway house to faith."  Os Guinness

 

How can we be immersed in the fundamentals of our faith without becoming a fundamentalist (prideful, arrogant, exclusive, without mercy)?

 

We can be genuine followers of Jesus and still work our way through doubt to a place of deeper trust and faith.

 

Back to the disciples...

 

In John 14 we see Philip doing what many of us do, asking Jesus to make everything clear and then we'll be ok. Jesus says, I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you know Me, you know the Father. Rest assured now; you know Him and have seen Him.  (14:6-7)

 

Lord, all I am asking is that You show us the Father.  (14:8 Philip's request)

 

I have lived with you all this time, and you still don’t know who I am? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. How can you keep asking to see the Father? (14:9)

 

It's like He is saying, "Hey, check it out.  I'm here.  Even in seasons of question and doubt.  I am good.  It will all get sorted. And it's better to hang out with Me."'

 

An Hour of Peace

A couple celebrities were recently discussing the struggle to be part of a faith community because of being constantly bombarded by people. They were asked, “If you attended a weekly worship service, what is the one thing you would like to experience?” Both said without hesitation, “an hour of peace.”

Isn’t that what we all want? Not only once a week, but all the time?

Jesus said, ”I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give.” John 14:27

Interesting Jesus said there is a peace this world can give but it's often short-lived and unreliable. It is peace dependent on good circumstances- no storms, no troubles, no conflict. Or it may be a medicated peace- dependent on ingesting the next drug of choice. A young man relayed a few weeks ago, with clear eyes (and constricted pupils), this was the first time in 10 years he had not been high on something and how weird it was to feel and see things he hadn’t felt and seen for so long…

But Jesus said he gives His peace to us. Imagine that. The same peace Jesus has is what He gives to you.

His peace doesn’t depend on absence of conflict. He doesn’t fall off his chair when you tell Him what’s going on in your life. He doesn’t see obstacles as impossible. He desires to give peace, and to take action in response to your prayers!

Just think about the peace Jesus had, facing personal attack, limited resources, family rejection, flaky friends, misunderstanding, loneliness, twisting of his words, unrealistic expectations, threat of drowning, threat of being murdered, etc. Can you imagine in all those situations He never once freaked out? And that same peace is what He will give you?!

All you have to do is ask.

But it isn’t quite that simple. Asking isn’t the same as putting money in a vending machine and out pops the peace. It is predicated upon relationship. His peace flows from Him to you, His life in you.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

That’s why our experience of His peace can increase as we read the Bible, as we pray, as we worship together, as we confess our sins: all as we connect with Him…

Can you experience an hour of peace in the middle of a crazy-busy-frantic life? Absolutely. Just open the door of your mind and heart to Jesus. And keep coming back to those places where you experience His peace.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 The Message

Showing Up on Time

"This is many times the most important thing you can do in following Jesus..."  I was waiting as Bob was going to share some profound insight. "You just need to show up on time."

Seriously?  I've pondered that over the years. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is show up on time.? What does it mean to show up?

First of all it doesn't mean attendance. You can attend something and not really show up. You can go grocery shopping and not show up, checked out and unaware of the person next to you. You can go out to eat with a friend and not show up, as you spend time "connecting" with others via FB, text and email.

We all tend to hide and find it unnatural to show up, to be present.

 

Think about the last 24 hours. In what situations were you present with others? Present in the sense of being aware of them, their story, their feelings, listening, asking questions, and listening some more. It is so easy to fly through the day and not really connect with anyone.

 

Same thing in our relationship with Jesus. Showing up is being aware of Jesus; looking for what He is doing, prayerfully listening to what He might be saying, being restful, not trying to make anything happen, yet exerting some courageous effort in response to His compassion.

  

Most of the time I'm not courageous at all, yet sometimes I bumble my way into a moment when God shows up.

 

 I was in the airport waiting about 45 minutes for some friends to arrive. Standing there behind the metal fence, this guy was going on about his exploits and accomplishments.  He was quite talkative. And asking almost every person who walked through the doors where they were from...

 

At first I was embarrassed, then a little annoyed.  Others were rolling their eyes, and looking down at their phones. I was trying to listen, while wondering if I should assume another quieter position about 20 feet away.

In the back of my mind was this thought, "just listen..."  Then it came out.  He was deeply pained over his son who just entered a treatment center. He didn't know what to do. He was watching alcoholism destroy his son. Wow. As my friends arrived I shook the guy's hand and offered to pray for his son. He looked at me, incredulous. And hopeful.

 

Showing up on time. Easily distracted. Hard to be present. Trying to listen, to others and to Jesus. God is so amazing.

  

A simple prayer:

Lord have mercy on me. Help me to show up on time today.

Make me aware of Your great love for me, and for others.

Help me to listen in the middle of commotion and busyness.

Remind me to pray and listen.

Give me your heart.

Pause

And give me courage to respond to Your quiet voice.

Social Media Envy

In her article "Instagram's Envy Effect" Shauna Niequist states, everyone's life looks better on social media. And that's the problem. Read the full article here.

Encouraging Reminders

“‘Yes, get to work! For I am with you.’ The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! ‘Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back.’" Haggai 2:4-5

I have a picture in my office, which serves to inspire me from time to time.  It’s from 20 years ago, eating lunch with one of my heroes and mentors while on a trip to England. This was the first time we’d ever sat down together over a meal. I can still remember how nervous and excited I was. It was a bright sunny day and we walked several blocks, finally picking a pub where neither of us had been. There was the distinct smell of fish and chips, and beer on tap.

He was so at ease, asking me questions, nodding with understanding. I later discovered he had a serious hearing problem, which made me wonder if he was reading my lips or not hearing much of what I said...He would listen for a while and then interject some simple and profound encouragement. At one point he winced, and I realized he had cracked off part of a tooth while eating his tomato bisque soup. Weird. He said “Aah, no big deal.” Thinking back he was amazingly gracious (and I was pretty oblivious). I can’t imagine my reaction: if one of my teeth broke off while listening to someone talk…

The message I always got from him was “It’s gonna be ok. God is at work. There’s nothing to worry about.  You keep going for it and pay attention to what Jesus is doing… (and he would correct me when I veered off course). Funny, it was the same message my dad gave me time and time again the last few years of his life. It’s the same message my wife has given me for over 30 years. And it's the message I try to give my own sons, and to friends and family at SHV.

It's good to have encouraging reminders!

Happy New Year!

Time Magazine reported "When it comes to New Year's resolutions, our self-improvement efforts often focus on getting a better body. And we ignore that other, equally important part of our wellbeing: our mental health."

As most are discovering the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical are all connected in our lives.  

One person commented "One of my 2015 resolutions is to get back into church..."

I just had to ask what that means?

"Well, get back into church means basically 3 things to me; 1) getting more positive influence in my life, 2) getting free from unhealthy stuff, and 3) rebuilding my relationship with Jesus.  God knows I need all of those...!"

Hmmmm. What an honest answer will do to kickstart things in the right direction!

Get a fresh start! Join us January 2015 at SHV for the "REBUILD: Time for Action" series! Sundays 9:00 & 10:45 am.

Check out new classes and groups.

Real Life | Community | Mission

When Walking Together Works

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NLT

What happens when we enable destructive behavior instead of challenging it? Or we scream so loud that our voices are tuned out?

What happens when we challenge the timid instead of encouraging them? When we push the weak instead of holding them up? 

Patience runs thin and we don't end up walking together for very long... 

It can only work as we yield to Jesus and approach each other in humility, even when we mess it up.

Jack was a unique character, his piercing eyes could see right through you. He challenged me when I got off track. And when he prayed for me it was as though God was holding me up, I was lifted from my fears and energized with hope. Funny, all those things could happen in the span of an hour. I was able to walk "in sync" with Jesus. Oh, for more people like Jack...

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins (forgives and disregards the offenses of others). 1 Peter 4:8 Amplified

Paying Attention to Discontent

To live well means to be "in sync" with Jesus, following Him and drawing our life from Him. What happens when you lean in to following Jesus?  When you experience discontent is that always negative?

When discontent is an invitation to more...

Sometimes there is a growing discontent with things that can never substitute for His life.  It's like drinking seawater.  Trying to draw life from things like success or more stuff, medicating emotional pain, harboring bitterness, etc., we get dehydrated, more thirsty and experience spiritual death.

Thankfully discontent can be a sign on the path to finding Jesus. Jesus said "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink."  John 7:37

My mom and I were talking about this season, how her prayer life is morphing into more silent waiting before Jesus and being with Him. Awkward, unfamiliar, and beautiful!

When discontent is an invitation to inner transformation...

We can easily misinterpret discontent as a need to change our external surroundings when Jesus is drawing us into something deeper.

Many marriages and relationships are destroyed by discontent. Rather than learning "the grass is greener where you water it"people run to something new and novel (seawater).  

On the other hand, discontent in a relationship can drive us further into Jesus and His peace. And into necessary change and sacrificial love- resulting in real happiness. Relationships are much healthier when we draw life from Jesus and serve one another versus drawing life from others and asking Jesus to serve us...

Experiencing discontent? Can you hear Jesus inviting you to drink? Spew out the seawater. Don't run away.  Taste and see that the Lord is good.  

Trust and Thanksgiving

"The more intimate we are with Him the firmer our trust shall be." (Charles Spurgeon commenting on "I have found shelter in You, Eternal One" Psalm 71:1)

Interesting that physical or spiritual proximity does not indicate intimacy. Judas saw fish and loaves of bread multiply in his hands as he distributed to groups of 50 along with the other disciples. Can you imagine that experience?  The miracle?! The nearness of Jesus?! What it would do to your heart and mind?!

Though his hands were part of the miracle, His heart wasn't completely present and available to Jesus. The others in this band of followers weren't aware of Judas' problem.  While others struggled to connect the miracle to future challenges (Jesus reminded them "How many baskets of leftovers did you collect?"), Judas wrestled with deeper unbelief.

Reflect on the invitation to trust, look at your own hands and remember times the bread has multiplied (God has provided). Turn your heart to acknowledge, and to yield, to give thanks.  Take that step toward Jesus. Let trust take the place of doubt.

A Cure for Drama

One practical cure for drama is to enlist the support of a trusted friend.  Whenever they see you start (or enter) the drama, ask them to gently, yet firmly, let you know its happening. "You seem like you're getting amped up?"  "This is that thing you were talking about..." "I know that whole thing sounds crazy, but are you aware its happening...?"

Then make the decision to stop talking, stop texting, stop posting, stop tweeting. Fill those uncomfortable moments of silence with prayer.  "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me..."  Learn how to pray about the thing you naturally get tweaked by. Try it a dozen times and see what happens.

Adventurously Expectant

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. – Romans 8:15  The Message 

The baptism celebration was amazing; new life in Jesus!  A new beginning, coming out of the water...

But we can easily miss out on going forward, like a scuba diver retrieving from the waters what has died with Christ.  What are you tempted to pull back out of the water? Anxiety? Unbelief? Bitterness? Lies? Rejection? Drama? Lust? Pride? 

Take off the scuba gear. No need to tend that watery grave of baptism. You're a new creation in Jesus and the old nature has died. Time to move on with Jesus and with others, adventurously expectant.

Good News

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see –how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. –Psalm 34:8 The Message

Is the Good News really good? How good?  

Good enough to keep me coming back for more, every day? Good enough to occupy my thoughts?  Good enough to fill my heart with gratitude? Good enough to spill over into conversation? Good enough to cause me to yield, or to propel me forward?  

Yep!

Get Quiet and Connect

This is what Stacy shared in her response to “How do I Get in Sync with Jesus?” Simple and profound.

How can you get quiet and connect when the days roll by, when activity fills every space?

To be in sync with Jesus doesn’t mean eliminating activity, it means walking with Him in the middle of it. Can I get quiet and connect while working? While driving? While hanging out with friends? While on my phone? While golfing?

It seems Jesus needed to get away regularly to do this, and as a result He was able to live in connection with His Father (God) when with people!

What happens when I let days turn into weeks without unplugging from activity? I lose my reference point for connection, and for the trust that results. “Be still and know that I am God” is a distant guilt-producing reminder- or an invitation to drink from the relationship where I find real life.

Take a moment to get quiet and connect, right now. Pause. Hear the invitation from Jesus. Whew.

The Noise of Life

Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” John 5:17

Why is it so hard to live in that reality? One author says its because we can’t break free from our internal reactive commentary…

“The reactive life is strengthened by those sudden spasms of talking, talking, talking, talking to ourselves about life and love and how everybody ought to behave and vote. This twittering chatter keeps the attention riveted to and identified with objects that appear in our minds.” p. 18, The Sunlit Absence, Martin Laird

He goes on to say that learning to be present to God in prayer is what sets us free.

How can we do that? He tells the story of a guy who tried to learn this by going on a silent prayer retreat. The only problem, every day a neighbor would fire up his saw in the garage and it literally rattled the walls of his room. He got so ticked off he almost exploded. Finally, after a few days another person (on his own prayer retreat in another room) went over and confronted the guy, yelling and screaming…

But something happened. The first guy began to see that knowing God is always working can happen in the midst of noise. The “loudest saw” can be our own internal commentary. Laird says in prayer we can “gradually move from being agitated victim to silent witness” meaning we can experience God at work.

Most days I’m like the guy who went over to confront the neighbor. I’m learning by experience- to witness God at work comes from being present to Him in prayer, all through the day. Easier said than done.

“Satan blocked our way” 1 Thess. 2:18

Jesus said in Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.

Whenever we attempt to practically follow Jesus we will encounter obstacles.

When have you experienced a nudge, an impression to take a step forward with Jesus?

Set aside some time to pray and read the Bible?

• Have you ever been more exhausted? More distracted?

Connect with your neighbor?

• Could life be any more busy? Why am I so drawn to other stuff?

Make amends with someone?

• What’s up with the increased bitterness and indifference?

Serve outside your comfort zone? Dreams in your heart to make a difference?

• Why the waves of anxiety? Inadequacy? Fear of the unknown?

Take a few moments to get in sync with Jesus and identify the nudge or impression. Receive His strength. Take a step forward today!

Everyday Reminders

What if Jesus pointed to something you saw everyday and connected it with following Him? That's how he taught. Whenever you saw it in the future all the emotion would come rushing back, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the meaning, the message. You'd remember the inflection of His voice, the piercing and pleading of His eyes, the intensity and lightness of His manner.

Imagine today, Jesus might say "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Get in sync with me and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. You were made for my operating system, it has no flaws and it’s made perfectly for you, it’s not taxing but life-giving.”

Whenever you see a computer or sync devices you'd remember, that's like my connection with Jesus. We all are invited to get in sync with Jesus. What does it look like for you? That place where you connect with Him and experience His life? The place you get in touch with the sights, sounds, and meaning of His living Word.

Here are a few examples (check out more on SHV's Facebook page):

Chrissy Utesch: One of the ways I sync with Jesus is by getting out and enjoying His creation. He speaks and I am eager to listen.

Middleton Family: Family Bible reading and listening - the kids draw their responses to what Jesus is stirring in them.

Email your picture and tell us how you get in sync with Jesus or post a comment on SHV's Facebook.