To be with Jesus or without?

From Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ.

When our Lord Jesus is present, all things are pleasing, and nothing seems hard to do for His love. But when He is absent, all things done for His love are painful and hard. When Jesus speaks not to the soul, there is no steadfast consolation. But if he speaks only one word, the soul feels great inward comfort. . . To be without Jesus is the pain of hell. And to be with him is a pleasant paradise. If Jesus is with you no enemy can grieve you. He who finds Jesus finds a treasure, better than all other treasures, and he who loses Him has lost more than all the world. He is most poor who lives without Jesus, and he is most rich who is with him. Book 2:8

Lust and anger

Allender in his seminar showed us how lust and anger are related in Mtt 5:21-28. He shared with us about the need to acknowledge sin in our world. Two key related sins—lust and anger

• Lust is desire gone mad
• Lust is demanding that you have a husband, children, job, money NOW
• Whenever desire becomes a demand, we have lust
• Every lust is an effort to fill a core emptiness in us that we demand to be filled NOW!
• Anger is a form of vengeance
• Anger is making someone else suffer for your emptiness
• Mtt 5:21-28 describes our universal struggle with lust and sin. If we don’t admit our sin, there will be hurt

She says, “I am lonely” and he says, “I am a failure.”

One of the most interesting parts of Dan Allender’s seminar on “Loving Your Story” was his section on the results of the fall.

Genesis 3 and curses

Woman “Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.”

• Describes the desire or desperation within the heart of every woman
• Men respond to this desire within women by shame, contempt, anger and intimidation
• Women are shaped by God to reveal His tender heart
• Woman will suffer in all relationships. Her desire will feel too much for her.
• This is why all cultures and marriages find ways to silence women, telling them that there emotional needs are illegitimate. The tragedy is that many women believe this lie
• Women are always seeking to help insecure men from feeling inadequate

Man “Cursed is the ground…thorns and thistles…painful toil …to dust you will return

· For man the fruit of the earth will not come easily

· Man will suffer a world that does not make it easy for him

· Nothing a man builds will last, all will return to dust

After the fall

• Women say “I am lonely, I have too much desire or desperation, I am too much.”
• Men say, “I am a failure, I cannot be exposed, I am not enough.”
• If women feel lonely and men feel like a failure, how do we come together under grace to get back home to Eden? Owning, knowing and telling our story?

Reflections from Is 9

Reading from Is 9 (New Living translation) this Christmas Eve morning. What beautiful verses. A couple grabbed my attention.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light–a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. v2

For God will break the chains that bind His people and the whip that scourges them . . .v4

His ever expanding peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate committment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this. v7

I know this passage is talking about the exile of the nation of Israel but I there is so much more here. So much encouragement for my heart. My prayer became a poem that went on and on. Here is one of the last verses.

Sometimes, my losses pile up

            To such an extent that I think

            I can never face them.

But you challenge me to embrace the pain,

Allow the painful thrusts of evil

And my own sinful choices

Be seen for what they really are.

Opportunities for grace.

Shalom shattered by the fall and tragedy

Part of our story says Dan Allender is when our shalom is shattered by tragedy. He writes, “How have your tragedies shaped your view of the world and how you function in it? Can you note both the beneficial and destructive effects.” (printed notes from seminar on “Learning to Love Your Story”)

Allender said, “Many of us have moments in our lives marked by the pain that entered it.

• Evil enters into our world
• When we were most deeply sinned against by someone meant to love you
• When we were betrayed
• When love became foolish

Evil wants to use these stories to cause us to be silent, to accuse ourselves and to harden our hearts to keep others out.

When did tragedy enter my world? When was shalom shattered?

• Sexual abuse by my uncle, someone I trusted. The day I lost my innocence, a unique form of evil and shame entering into my world
• Death by suicide of my mother, ultimate rejection, loneliness
• Failure of an oral entrance exam into a PhD program (one that I expected to pass!), competency questioned
• Realization of the need to resign my position as director of a seminary, admission of my weakness and the need to give up control

Experiences of shalom

Wanted to finish up a post I started last week on shalom, from Dan Allender’s seminar, “Learning to Love Your Story”

Where or when have I know shalom in my life? (It fits, I fit and all the pieces fit together) “the way life should be” (to use Plantinga’s phrase about shalom). Challenging–would like to do more on this.

• Fishing off the lake dock with my grandmother and aunt. Playing scrabble or canasta with them. Life was simple and I was able to live in the present for those few moments, not worrying about what would come next.
• Being with my Uncle Red and seeing tears come down his Lou Gherig’s ravaged face as I shared Christ with him.
• A family counseling session with my wife, son and daughter in which for a moment everything came together
• Learning to relax and just enjoy my experience of Scuba diving

Christmas is but “sheer grace”

Following is the closing prayer for this week’s readings in Ancient Christian Devotional. Indeed, none of the Christmas message makes sense apart from sheer grace.

 “For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the Son of man, so that human beings might in their turn become children and heirs of God? Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.” Augustine

An experience of the fullness of Christ

John Piper described a recent epiphany moment in which God gave him a glimpse of the fullness of Christ.

God granted in that moment that the word “fullness”—from his fullness—carry a fullness that was extraordinary in its effect on me. There was a kind of Holy Spirit drenching. I felt some measure of what the word really carries—the fullness of Christ. I felt some of the wonder that, yes, I had indeed received grace upon grace from this fullness. And I was at that moment receiving grace upon grace. I felt right then that nothing would have been sweeter than to simply sit at his feet—or read my Bible—all afternoon and feel his fullness overflow.

Read the full post

More from Abandonment to Divine Providence

In discussing the abandonment of the soul to the will of God, Caussade is not saying there is no activity. He writes,

“It is vain to picture any kind of abandonment from which all personal activity is excluded. When God requires action, sanctity is found in action.”1: 1: 8

He talks about the various paths people choose on the way to holiness or the different responsibilities given to each one. One activity is not superior to another.

“It would be foolish and frivolous to try to discover which is the most holy. Each has to follow the appointed path. Perfection consists in submitting unreservedly to the designs of God, and in fulfilling the duties of one’s state in the most perfect way possible. To compare the different states as they are in themselves can do nothing to improve us since it is neither in the amount of work, nor in the sort of duties given to us that perfection is to be found.” 1: 1: 8

How does one measure holiness? Conformity to the will of God.

“I think that holiness can be measured by the love one has for God, and the desire to please Him, and the more His will is the guiding principle, and His plans conformed to and loved, the greater will be the holiness, no matter what may be the means made use of.”
1: 1: 8

Ask for a sign

In preparing for the fourth Sunday in advent, I am reading Is 7:10-16 about the future virgin birth.  But what caught my attention is the character Ahaz.  When attacked, his heart (and that of his people) trembled with fear–”like trees shaking in a storm. ” He worries even about “the two burned out embers”, as Isaiah describes Kings Pe3kah and Arar.  In verse 9, he is told, “If you want the Lord to protect you, listen and believe what I say.”

But, alas, he was not able to do so.  He was told to ask for a sign, “ask for anything you want” in verse 11.  But the response of Ahaz in verse 12, “No, I wouldn’t test the Lord like that.”  Isaiah’s response, “You exhaust the patience of God.”

What was his problem? Fear and anxiety?  An unwillingness to trust God?  Did he totally misunderstand the character of God?

Power, prestige and possessions

I can’t say that I agree with everything that Richard Rohr says but the following from his e-letter is worth posting.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says there are three basic obstacles to the coming of the Kingdom. These are the three P’s: power, prestige and possessions. Nine-tenths of his teaching can be aligned under one of those three categories.

I’m all for sexual morality, but Jesus does not say that’s the issue. In fact, he says the prostitutes are getting into the Kingdom of God before some of us who have made bedfellows with power, prestige and possessions (see Matthew 21:31–32). Those three numb the heart and deaden the spirit, says Jesus.

Read Luke’s Gospel. Read the Sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew’s Gospel and tell me if Jesus is not saying that power, prestige and possessions are the barriers to truth and are the barriers to the Kingdom.

I’m not pointing to bishops and popes; I’m pointing to us as the Church. The Church has been comfortable with power, prestige and possessions for centuries and has not called that heresy. You can’t see your own sin.

 From Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr

Learning to love your story by Dan Allender: Part 1

I have been reflecting upon the power of story in my life and in the life of others over the past few years and Dan Allender’s conference on Saturday brought new courage and determination to tell more of my story and to encourage others to tell more of their own stories. Although I have a dozen pages filled with notes, it was Allender’s own use of story that made this conference so effective.  He encouraged each of us in the conference to reflect upon our own story. Here are a few of his points.  Thanks to Abbie for sharing the first part of her notes with me since I came in late.

 Each of us has a unique life story that tells something unique about the gospel.  That is why others need to hear our stories.  Our story reveals God and his character in a way that words can never explain. At the core, our stories reveal His death and resurrection uniquely worked out in us.  We must not hide our stories of death for they are an essential part of the gospel story of death and resurrection.  He asked us to tell our own story that reveals the death, life and power of God.  Allender said, “If we cannot grieve our own losses, how can we be compassionate?  If we cannot be angry with our stuff, how can we stand for others in justice?

Allender challenged us to write out our own story, beginning with the top stories of death in our life.  He said, We don’t study our own life, yet our stories determine our future (didn’t quite understand that). Allender told us that no one has a right to their own suffering.  Whatever part of your life bears shame, needs to be shared. A question for us, “Is there any part of your story that you can’t share?”

First part of our story

Where did you know shalom in your life?  (It fits, I fit and somehow the parts of my life fit together—places, people, seasons and processes are part of shalom.  “A moment of shalom is a taste of life in Eden.  It is life without sin, tragedy, emptiness or fear.  What are your memories of moments of shalom?  What are your memories of rest, safety and warmth?” 

I think I will stop here and reflect on this first question. I welcome others to share their stories of shalom here.  To give you a heads up, the next part of the story is “shalom shattered”, the fall in which we encountered tragedy.

 

 

 

“That which God wills for the present moment is best.” Caussade

I wrote about Caussade’s Abandonment to Divine Providence a few days ago. Here are a few quotes from his book that say what I was attempting to recall in my own words.

In reality, sanctity can be reduced to one single practice, fidelity to the duties appointed by God. Now this fidelity is equally within each one’s power whether in its active presence or passive exercise. 3

The active practice of fidelity consists in accomplishing the duties which devolve upon us whether imposed by the general laws of God and of the Church, or by the particular state that we hay have embraced. Its passive exercise consists in the loving acceptance of all that God sends us at each moment. 3

The passive part of sanctity is still more easy since it only consists in accepting that which we very often have no power to prevent, and in suffering lovingly, that is to say with sweetness and consolation, those things that too often cause weariness and disgust. 5

Our moments are made fruitful by our fulfillment of the will of God. 7

The soul that does not attach itself soley to the will of God will find neither satisfaction nor sanctification in any other means however excellent by which it may attempt to gain them. If that which God chooses for you does not content you, from whom do you expect to obtain what you desire. 10

poetry on love

Here are some reflections on God’s love that I wrote last week.

Your love awakens me to sing

Sing at the top of my voice

Shouting and declaring to all

Your goodness and beauty

I want to dance—a dance with

Abandonment

Wild, unrestrained, uncontrolled

Yet free and lovely

Ripped off the cliff of my life

You expose me for who and what I am

Yet without condemnation or guilt

Slowly but surely I am drawn to You

As metal to a magnet

As grains of sand pulled out to sea by a receding wave

A rushing, whirling, turning, white foaming river of love

Dangerous yet beckoning me to come

To plunge in, yet not afraid

Of dangerous rocks that threaten to dash my life away

Swirling eddies, pools of decay

Tempt me to get off this journey to safety

 

A love that is painful, a love that woos me

All consuming love

Gently fiery touch

Love that is deeper than the ocean

Wider than the skies

Not a love that is self-formed

Always demanding that my needs be met

But a love that frees me from my bondage to self

Unyielding, incontrovertible love

Abandonment–1

Started reading Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751), a French Jesuit. I am almost through the book 1 which is the theoretical section of his book. If I understand what he is saying it is this. The way to holiness is two-fold–an active faithfulness to those tasks that God has given to us and second, an abandonment in the present moment to all else that God should will that we encounter. When we are truly present in the now (and not worrying about what has happened or what might happen), something sacred occurs. Other writers describe this as an appreciative abandonment. If we believe that God is in control, then what He desires from us is to abandon ourselves or in my words, “embrace whatever life would bring our way.” Tonight, on my way home, I was struggling with a negative comment someone made to me earlier in the day that I felt was unjustified. I don’t know what Caussade will say later in the book about how we are to practice abandonment in the present moment.
But, rather than continue plotting my revenge, I gave it up and abandoned myself and the situation to God. I may need to get involved in the situation tomorrow since other people are involved but for now, I do not have to worry and fret about the other person and their reaction to me. Or, to use more al-anon terms, I am not responsible for their behavior or attitude. More to come on this

Get out of debt

Here is a tongue in cheek video, one of those–so obvious that we don’t get it videos explaining how to get out of debt. Found it on the sound mind investing site.  This is a great tool for those wanting to follow biblical principles in investing, for those who have nothing and are in debt to those in the final years of planning for retirement.  To get the subscriber services, you have to pay $8.95 a month.  Takes the pressure off in making some financial stewardship decisions

Prepared to die so I can be prepared to live

Read Romans 13 by mistake this morning instead of Romans 15 but what powerful verses these are in verses 11 to 12. what an encouragement to wake up from our slumber! Reminds me of what I read in The Imitation of Christ earlier in the week.

Oh, the great dullness and hardness of man’s heart, which thinks only about present things and gives little care to the life to come. book 1:23

a Kempis talks about the need to be prepared for death–a bit of a dark melancholy section but some good thoughts

If you are not ready this day, how will you be ready for tomorrow? Tomorrow is a day uncertain, and you cannot tell whether you will live that long. . . What profit is it to us to live a long life, if in a long life we so little amend our life? Long life does not always bring us to amendment; often, it brings an increase of sin.

If it is fearful to die, perhaps it is more perilous to live long. Blessed are those who have the hour of death ever before their eyes, and who every day prepare themselves to die.

Be always ready, and live in such a manner that death may not find you unprepared.

Learn now to die to the world so that you may then live with Christ.

And the end of all men is death, and the life of man is as a shadow which suddenly glides and passes away.

Keep yourself as a pilgrim and a stranger here in this world, as one to whom the world’s business counts but little. Keep your heart free, and always lift it up to God for you have here no city long abiding.

I don’t know about you but these words are extremely challenging to me. If I am not prepared to die, am I prepared to live?

Advent Readings

My reading during this second week of advent has been focused on Psalm 72, Is 11:1-11, Mtt 3:1-12 and Romans 15:4-13.   I have been struck by the beauty of the Coming One!

Psalm 72

• defends the afflected
• saves the children of the needy
• crushing the oppressor
• enduring as long as the sun
• like rain falling on a mown field
• like showers watering the earth
• ruling from sea to sea
• delivering the needy who cry out
• mercy on the weak and needy

Is 11

• takes delight in obedience
• does not judge by mere appearances
• nor does not make decisions on basis of hearsay
• treats the poor fairly
• makes the right decisions for down-trodden
• full of justice and integrity
• and the Spirit upon Him–a spirit that gives extaordinary wisdom, provides the ability to execute plans and that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord

Thinking about His glory among the nations–about how worthy he is to receive our worship and how that will one day happen. Deeply moved by his future ruling over the nations and His reception of deserved glory and honor

Considered foolish for the love of God

Put this up as a page last week by mistake and am now re-posting.

Continuing to read in a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ and was struck by the following words all from Book1:17.

If you would stand surely in grace, and profit much in virtue, consider yourself as an exile and a pilgrim here in this life, and be glad, for the love of God, to be considered in the world as a foolish and an unworthy person, as you are.

Living in a foreign country, it is not too hard to understand the first part of this quote but the latter part of this sentence I find quite a challenge. I would much rather be considered intelligent, competent, valuable and significant but for the love of God, can I give that up? That is where I am just now and I guess I have been fighting it.

A Kempis goes on to talk about those in religious communities, or what I would call those of us who might be considered spiritual leaders.

He who seeks any other thing in religion than God alone and the salvation of his soul will find nothing there but trouble and sorrow; he will not remain there long in peace and quiet who does not labor to be the least and subject to all.

Ouch! This message keeps getting repeated over and over these past months. Finally, a Kempis concludes this chapter. When he talks about religion but in my context, I would not say religion (too often perceived as man’s attempt to reach out to God) but spiritual service in the body of Christ.

It is good, therefore to remember often that you came to religion to serve and not to be served, and that you are called in religion to suffer and to labor, and not to tell vain tales. . . no person in religion can remain long in grace and virtue unless he will humble himself with all his heart for the love of God.

First Sunday of Advent

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent–what our pastor said was that Advent helps us to focus on waiting, waiting not for the Lord Jesus’ birth but His second coming. Advent is the beginning of the year for the believer! Since we have not practiced the advent tradition much in our church, this makes me want to learn more about advent. We did some advent calendars with the kids when they were grown up, but it was more for the kids than for me. I don’t think I really understood. I have been using A Guide to Prayer and not surprisingly, it starts with the first Sunday of Advent. Actually, I began yesterday, a new reading guide, called Ancient Christian Devotional, edited by Thomas C. Oden and Cindy Crosby. Each week, there is an OT reading, a Psalm, a NT reading and a gospel reading. Following these readings, various comments from the church fathers about the passages are given. Quite interesting. So far, I have liked the prayers most of all. The closing prayer this week was from Augustine.

O you who are everywhere present, filling yet transcending all things; ever acting, ever at rest; you who teach the hearts of the faithful without noise of words: teach us, we pray you, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

Ruth Barton from The Transforming Center sent out a nice piece on Advent. Here is one paragraph. Follow the link to her website and complete article. If any of you see other links or articles on Advent, let me know. Thanks

Advent, in particular, is a season that teaches us to do something that is very hard for us to do: wait. It teaches us how to wait for the Advent or arrival of Christ into our world, not just way back then in Biblical times, but now–in those places where we long for his presence and need his intervention.