It is true, we believe, that the Christian life should be more focused on a “filling up” rather than an “emptying out.” Yet, we don’t want to underemphasize the importance of stripping off whatever is in our way of running this race, of experiencing union with God, being undivided and whole. For there are so many obstacles that keep us from a full life.

(This verse is referring to the Greek runners who would strip down naked before running their race so that nothing was holding them back whatsoever)

And, as has been said, the worst kind of problem is not knowing you have a problem. What we are seeing a lot of today is a lack of healthy self examination with the intent of growth in Christ. Yes, we have plenty of introspective absorption where we recycle our problems and woes perpetuating only negativity, but we seem to lack the purposeful look at ourselves to see what is holding us back from living the eternal kind of life.

We can follow God while simultaneously being self-deceived and harboring unseen sin that keeps us in a state of double-mindedness. As we journey toward God, He reveals more and more of our sin to us, that we did not see before. Then of course we must do something about it.

We must be in the word looking to hear what God desires to reveal to us. We must have spiritual partners who are willing to be an honest mirror for us to even show us that which we may not be able to see from our vantage point. Those who can and will show us our destructive, unseen patterns. It was John the Baptist’s mission to clear the path for the Lord, and this was done through repentance, through doing an about face to our old ways of thinking, choosing, and walking.

Until we correctly identify whatever is holding us back, we will not move forward. And we must come to terms with the fact that our problem is rebellion. It is an idolatrous relationship with something that has grown within us. This can be something we’ve adopted as part of our style, of who we are, and therefore be difficult to pinpoint. It’s very difficult to part with something that is a part of who we are, even if it is toxic.

A way of identifying these things is to pay attention to our emotions. Perhaps God intends for us to pay attention to our emotions instead of ignoring them. Perhaps we are to pay attention to them the same way we need to pay attention to our bodies and what they are telling us. I’m having pain in my left shoulder-rotator cuff. Now I could keep on lifting heavy at the gym, doing what will make it worse (bench press) while telling myself to ignore the pain because I shouldn’t be hurt. I’m a smart lifter with good form, I’m beyond that. It’s nothing. Take some ibuprofen for the pain and keep going! Or just work around it, but keep moving! No, I need to stop, diagnose it properly, and then take the proper action to get back to where I can function optimally. Or else it will eventually tear and make me partially immobile.

So with emotions, they are our sensors. What do you get angry at often? What always gives you anxiety? Stop and take a look. Talk to God candidly about it. Talk with someone who knows you well. “The problem named is the problem solved” I read in a book. Expose it to the light. Sooner or later you will have to do something about it. Or else it will kill you. Which sounds horrible. Don’t give in to laziness by telling yourself and others, “That’s just the way I’m wired.”

God desires to rewire you. He can and will. If you let Him. If you strip off what is keeping you from Him.

In the Name of Jesus, 
Soli Deo Gloria

And you placed everything under His feet.
When it speaks of everything being subjected to Him, it leaves nothing that is not subjected to Him. As things are at present, we don’t see everything subjected to Him. What we do see is the one who was, for a little while, made lower than the angels-that is, Jesus-crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by God’s grace He might taste death on behalf of everyone.
Hebrews 2:8-9

Everything is subjected to Christ. Yet we do not see it at present. We just don’t. Bad things happen. Our prayers for healing are not always answered affirmatively. Our friends, our family members die sometimes at young ages. What gives?The kingdom of God was inaugurated with the Advent of Jesus, but will not be fully realized until His second Advent. That’s what the New Testament teaches. That’s how it is, how things are. In many ways we all do see God’s kingdom realized here and now, but not fully…obviously.

We could ask, “Why?” We can live in denial of reality. We can try to ignore the fact and numb ourselves to the pain. But do we then miss something? A big something? A deeper something?Is there much more to gain if we embrace any suffering we encounter? By meeting it head on, acknowledging it, and walking straight through  it? It seems that whenever we deny it in some way, that we remain stuck somewhere, unwhole, unhealthy, inhibited from being fully human, fully ourselves.

Perhaps our perspective is too small and in the wrong place. We don’t see everything subjected to God, but what we do see is Jesus, who suffered. Who suffered His way to glory and honor. Instead of asking why or trying to figure out how to deal with the pain, we are suppose to look into Jesus’ face as we fully embrace what we are feeling and going through. Maybe we are meant to walk right through the pain in order to come out the other side a new human, more human, more our true self as we were intended to be.

Is this why Jesus refused to drink the narcotic offered Him to dull the extravagant pain of His crucifixion in Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23? Is that physical refusal a huge spiritual lesson for us who follow Him? Not to numb, but to walk through, looking at Jesus the whole time…?

Focusing on the pain drives you mad. Focusing on Jesus gives you endurance and larger perspective. I’ve read several prison camp survival stories that have the common thread of the extreme necessity to trust in something bigger than self to get you through. Staying focused on the situation itself kills you.

I remember a year ago or so when Zayra got a piece of glass stuck in her foot. She was freaking out at the mere thought of mommy pulling it out with tweezers. But she had to go through that ordeal in order for her foot to heal. So we sat her on the bathroom counter and I got in front of mommy and right in Zayra’s face telling her to look into my eyes the whole time and focus on me and talk with me, while mommy was out of sight performing minor surgery. We could not pretend the glass was not really in her foot, or sit around dwelling on why and how it happened, we had to embrace the reality of what was and walk through it to the other side to glory (I’m really making this sound monumental). And of course afterward, she didn’t even realize we were already done. Because she was looking at me instead of the wound?

“To focus on our situations, our problems, our pains as primary (rather than the purposes of God) is to move away from important aspects of following Christ. We must follow Christ in the way of suffering.”                      -George Guthrie

Maybe there is a new level of humanity awaiting us, only to be fully realized once we embrace our reality, whatever it may be, look into the eyes of Jesus, and walk straight through it. (I use the words “maybe” and “perhaps” a lot because the more I learn, the more I realize I do not understand. Also, I’ve not gone though any suffering that I would classify as super intense yet)

It appears that people who have undergone suffering of any degree either come out the other side a new person who has experienced insane growth, or else remain stuck in a cycle of repetitive life-inhibiting denial, complaint, ignoring, or lament. Is the difference perspective? Who or what they focus on? The decision to embrace? All the above?

“We have become committed to relieving the pain behind our problems rather than using our pain to wrestle more passionately with the character and purposes of God. Feeling better has become more important than finding God. And worse, we assume that people who find God always feel better.” -Larry Crabb

“The problem of evil for the Christian lies not in God’s abilities, nor even in our perception of His will and timing, but in our perception of Jesus. As a pilot in a dense fog keeps on course by looking to the instruments, Jesus provides a reference point from which to assess the greater realities of any given situation. What we need is to ‘see Jesus’, to take a ‘double look’ at Him in His incarnation and exaltation.” -George Guthrie 

In the Name of Jesus, 
Soli Deo Gloria

I’ve removed every obstacle between us that you could not remove yourself. The only ones remaining are the ones you’ve placed there. You don’t even know what they all are, but if you take the time to look, you will see them. They are the barricades you have placed in front of the door to your heart to protect yourself. Some you placed there long ago, some recently, to “survive” in your mind. You crave connection and you want to numb pain. So you self-preserve. But if you let go and let me preserve you, you will be more free than you have ever thought possible. And you will have a connection so deep that you will be able to handle ANYTHING that comes your way and be joyful. I promise.

Do you trust Me?

I’m not going to knock the barricade down though. I want you to do that, so that you can see it clearly and then help others to do the same. You must name the obstacles in order for them to be removed. I will tell you that some of the common blockades are: the need to be well thought of, dwelling on the past, beating yourself up, fear of rejection, complacency, thinking you’re better than everyone, the need to look good, the need to do everything yourself, to be perfect, to achieve, to accomplish…those are just a few to get you thinking. I will help you, but I’m not going to do it all for you. You’ll understand why later.

Do you trust Me?

I love you. I love you so much and want to be closer than you realize. Will you let me in? Will you let me love you? I’ve done the hard part, believe Me. Will you do your part and remove all idols in the way of our relationship? All those things you are depending on to give you life more than Me? Oh I hope so. I don’t mean to brag, but I am waaaaaay better than all those other things. I wait patiently, hopefully, and expectantly 🙂

I love you.

In the Name of Jesus, 
Soli Deo Gloria

Providence is one of those tricky topics. Controversial even. Heck, I sure don’t understand it all. But what I’ve taken from my reading, praying, and thinking on the subject is my utter need to trust God in all circumstances. To always start from the premise that God is good and is for me, no matter how it looks. This is not always easy, and obviously is easier for some more than others due to wiring and circumstances.

I am most at peace when I’m trusting God even in the face of an unfavorable situation. He knows me better than I know me, and only wants what is ultimately best for me. And as Billy Graham said, “If the human mind could comprehend God, then God would be no greater than that human mind.”What I’ve learned from the old Quaker lady Hannah Whitall Smith, as well as Brother Lawrence and Jean Pierre de Caussade, is to surrender to the present moment trusting God in all things. It is in surrender where the truest of freedom is found.The most intense, extreme case of this I’ve probably come across is Louis Zamperini’s story in Unbroken. He went through about the most insane stuff I’ve heard of, and yet, after it all, he surrendered to God and His love for Him. And he was free. And his life was one of joy and fruitfulness from that moment. As all those who knew him attest.

One of my favorite books I read last year was Toward God by the Australian monk, Michael Casey. In it, there’s a quote I’ve been chewing on for weeks, and it is provided here for your mastication:

“Both anger and sadness represent a refusal on our part to accept a situation that God’s providence has allowed to develop. Whether our reaction is manic or depressive, we are expressing a lack of faith that in some way the present crisis is a gift from God, designed for our ultimate good. Taken far enough, even the most “innocent” annoyance becomes a doubt about God’s love for us.”

In the Name of Jesus, 
Soli Deo Gloria

Hebrews 2:1
So then, we must pay all the closer attention to what we heard, in case we drift away from it.

Scripture and the early creeds are kind of like our guard rails. If we wander off too far from them, we will soon find ourselves lost and groping about in the darkness of our own, or somebody else’s, version of the Gospel. Perhaps unknown to us, we will be living by a made-up philosophy.

I like definition #5 of “philosophy”: a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs. 

For further thought, here is an excerpt from George Guthrie’s commentary on Hebrews 2:1-4:

“If our listeners do not have a clear concept of God’s right to rule their lives, if they have no sense of accountability to the divine Word, then our teaching or preaching of this passage loses its rhetorical power. This text cannot “speak” to them if they rest comfortably in a self-centered authority that judges all of life in light of one’s own self-actualization rather than according to the will and ways of God.”

“…many drift because they lack a solid grasp on commitment and personal responsibility. This problem is exacerbated in Western culture by the concurrent, contradictory longings for both autonomy and status as victim.”

What are your principles for guidance in practical affairs? Where do they come from?

Remember, the root of our religion is Jesus Christ. Scripture and creeds may be our guide rails, and good works will be our natural response, but our root is a person. The resurrected, living Christ always with us.

Distanced from Christ, CHRISTianity loses its meaning.

May we never stray from Jesus, His Spirit, His Father, His guidance, His teaching, His example, His power, His life, His presence. For from Him, from His actual life, flows the living water which we have to drink if we hope to live how He told us to live.

In the Name of Jesus,
Soli Deo Gloria

If you grew up protestant (or not in Mexico) like me, you may hear of January 6th being “Three Kings Day” and respond with, “What the heck is that?” (in a southern accent for best effect) It’s also referred to as “Epiphany”,  or “The Feast of the Epiphany”, and is a celebration of the manifestation of God the Son as human in Jesus Christ. For a manifestation of God is an epiphany. It commemorates the visit of the Magi (or Wise Men) to the Christ child and thus Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles. So if you married someone from Mexico, where Three Kings Day is commonly known and celebrated, and were wondering why you were putting out gifts by your child’s bedside the night of January 5th every year, now you know.

Last night, as I ran out to get a couple of little gifts for our daughter’s bedside, I turned on the CD player in my car, and the start of a sermon entitled “The Journey of the Magi”  just happened to be where I left off last time I listened. How appropriate.

**Rabbit trail alert** Read parenthetical paragraph only if you have extra time
(I picked up this CD on our way out of St. Meinrad Monastery last month because it said “FREE” and was accompanied with a hand-written Post-It note, presumably by one of the monks, stating “Please take only if you will actually listen. Thank you.” HA! I had to take one. Plus I couldn’t help but crack up that the sermons on the disc are given by the “Very Rev Robert E. Barron”. Oh well, since he’s VERY reverend, I guess I’ll take one. Regular ole reverend just won’t do for me anymore. What does Very Reverend mean? Well, sure enough, wouldn’t you know, I fell in love with this CD and these five 15 minute meditations on the Glory of the Incarnation. I’ve listened to it three times so far…My apologies for judging, V.R. Barron!)

So I thought I would share the five points I found so poignant in this meditation on the lessons from The Journey of the Magi that correspond to our spiritual journey:

1)  Be Attentive

• They studied the sky, looking for signs of God’s presence and will, for lessons on the spiritual journey all around them.
• Why do some of our spiritual journeys never get off the ground? Because we don’t take the time to be attentive to the signs of God or to look at our lives deeply.
• They took the time to look for God.

2)  Move, Act

• They acted on what they heard by going to find Jesus.
• They moved.
• When you see a sign of Christ, move! Act on it! Don’t delay, don’t be complacent.

3) Expect Opposition

• This was a very difficult trip for them back then. Don’t be afraid of it, meet it as clever as a serpent as Scripture advocates.
• Herod tried to manipulate them
• We will be blocked on the journey of following Jesus. Expect it.

4) Give God Your Best

• They prostrate themselves. To worship Him.
• They gave gifts, the best, finest gifts they could find–Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh. Give God your best when you meet Him, not just mediocre.
• What’s a great danger in the spiritual life? You meet Christ and give Him just a little bit of your time, a little bit of your energy…Where do we spend most of our time, energy, lives? If we’re honest, probably on ourselves.
• To whom do you give your best?

5) Expect to be Changed

• After seeing Christ, they returned by a different route.
• “Of course they go back by a different route! You never come to Christ and go back the same way you came.” -Fulton J. Sheen
• You never open up your heart to Christ and give Him your whole life and expect to remain unchanged..anyone who makes Jesus the center of their life is a different person afterward.
• The way you were walking before, you will walk differently, the way you were thinking before, you will think differently, the way you were choosing before, you will choose differently.
• After contact with Christ, after meeting Christ, YOU WILL BE DIFFERENT!

In the Name of Jesus, 

Soli Deo Gloria

As we journey toward being one with God, we find that the message and the task before us becomes more and more simple. It is we who complicate the message and journey with a plethora of added requirements for living this life, not God.

Simple does not mean without challenge, for it is in challenge, in suffering, that we grow. Isn’t it in suffering where things often become simpler by narrowing our focus on what is truly important?

We grow through suffering and discipline, discipline being more on our terms. Discipline is also a narrowing of focus on what is most needed for growth. It is a prioritizing. Time with God, soaking in His presence, meditating upon Holy Scripture, devotion to prayer–listening as much as speaking, encouragement with others who pursue union with God.

So, inspired by Andrew Murray’s writing, Ruach showed me that we can state our intentions succinctly with, “Abide in Christ. Serve the suffering.” This goes nicely with the two greatest commandments according to Jesus–Love God. Love who’s in front of you right now. 

Abide in Christ. Serve the suffering.

It was clear how Todd preached it yesterday: to abide in Christ is to “stay connected to Jesus.” Another simple way of stating truth. Stay connected to Jesus. How? The ways are many, but will involve carving out time to spend focused on Him via the means mentioned above–Time with God in soaking, meditation, prayer, fellowship, just thinking about Him wherever you are all the time. To remember that He is with you and loving you at every given moment. To remain open to Him and what He has for you right now.

And if we’re abiding in Christ, we will be led to serve the suffering, to be with them. It is not one without the other. To paraphrase Murray, if you are abiding in Christ, then get serving. If you’re serving, then get abiding in Christ. Just the abiding without the serving is more of a private pietism. Just the serving without the abiding is mere social justice. Jesus showed us not an either/or, but both/and because of the power of YHWH and His indwelling Spirit. That is the difference, what makes ALL the difference–supernatural love and power flowing through us.

Abide in Christ. Serve the suffering.

Not the other way around.

It is not, “I think, therefore I am.”

No, God is I AM. We exist and have life because of Him. He chose us, we did not choose Him.  We love Him because He first loved us. Without God, we are able to initiate NOTHING.

And Jesus?

Here’s who God said Jesus is:

He appointed this son to be heir of all things;
Through him, in addition, he created the worlds.
He is the shining reflection of God’s own glory,
The precise expression of his own very being;
He sustains all things through his powerful word.
He accomplished the cleansing needed for sins,
And sat down at the right of the Majesty Supreme.
See how much greater he is than angels:
The name he was granted is finer than theirs.
Hebrews 1:2-4

That’s all.

Worthy of worship.

May we know our proper place this day and always.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. As always before, so now and evermore. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus, 
Soli Deo Gloria

Yesterday we talked about the sadness and pain it would cause if a dear friend, who we loved to spend time with, started to avoid us due to guilt on their part for not feeling like they were good enough. And how perhaps this is how Jesus feels when we avoid Him for the same reason. This may very well “grieve the Holy Spirit.”

Today, let’s think about a friend who is too busy for you. They always have so much going on that you can’t even get on their schedule, even though you’ve been close and whenever you do get together it’s a really great, life-affirming time of rejuvenation.

Have you had a friend like this? Do you know someone like that now? Are you that someone? Too busy to even grab coffee and sit with a good friend for a half hour to do…nothing?

Wasting time with people is one of the very best ways to get closer to them (so obviously it’s not wasting time at all). Spending time together when you have nothing to do is a great way to absorb someone’s presence and appreciate them. Why? Because you don’t have a thousand other things to try to accomplish that are competing for your attention. Your focus is on each other.

So every New Year’s Day we have a tradition of getting together with close friends, the “Dinner Club”, to hang out all day with the only thing on our agenda being to eat soup at some point. It’s great, we do next to nothing, but in all that nothingness we bond. We encourage one another. My spiritual partner and I do the same about every week (without the soup). Same goes for my family–if we don’t have times of just sitting together, eating, cuddling, bonding, then we just go about our lives and agendas wondering who the heck are these people living in this same house.

The other way we bond closer is of course to go through suffering together. But why wait for suffering to come? Start wasting time with God now. Then do what you hear God tell you, for He will inevitably show you work you can do together to even further bond–instead of looking for something to do for God before bonding with Him.

By wasting time we really mean to narrow your focus on Him, and this through a spiritual practice guided by Scripture that helps you laser in on God and what He wants to say to you. It’s been proven that multi-tasking is a physiological impossibility. You cannot focus wholly on more than one thing at a time. So take a season and pick a practice to hone in on with the purpose of knowing God better and more deeply, to remain on the Vine, ingrafted into God. One of the best practices we can possibly partake in, in my opinion, is to meditate on the life of Jesus in the gospels. As the monks at St. Meinrad say, they are “seeking God with the Gospel as our guide.”

For me, in this current season, I’ve been focused on abiding in Christ and the practice I chose has been the examen prayer in the way of Ignatius. It’s beautiful the way he would always begin a practice with just 5-10 minutes of silence to first become aware of the loving presence of God. He would not start an exercise until he was focused first on how God sees him. This alone has been greatly moving for me. If that is a helpful example, great. If not, forget it. As we say, “If it doesn’t throw you into the arms of Jesus, then throw it out!”

Very early–in the middle of the night actually–Jesus got up and went out, off to a lonely place, and prayed.   Mark 1:35

In the Name of Jesus, 
Soli Deo Gloria