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The Wisdom of Celebrity

November 28, 2007 in Hope, Purpose with 0 Comments

In the December issue of InStyle, actress Natalie Portman shared, “If we can find ways to love life and by joyful without being wasteful or destructive that’s what’s important .” As a frequent reader of celebrity magazines, I know that inane comments by famous people are not entirely uncommon. What struck me about this particular comment is how difficult it is to argue against. After all, loving life and being joyful sounds good. And who among us wants to be wasteful and destructive? The edict from Miss Portman seems like a fine one except for one thing – she says unequivocally that these things are what’s important. Not that these things are important, but that they are the important things. And therein lies the problem. It assumes that what is important is our feelings and experiences and that’s just not the case. What’s important is whether our lives are adding or detracting from the glory of our Father. What’s important is whether our lives are properly aligned with His will. What’s important are matters of eternity.

I fear that wisdom like Miss Portman shares would be agreed to by many these days. And I fear that many would concede this point without recognizing the potential problems – both outside of the Church – and within.


The Inheritance of a Princess

November 18, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

One of the common refrains in my life is a reminder that I am the Daughter of a King. My point of reference was when I visited Buckingham Palace and saw the flag indicating that the Queen was in residence. Not having been raised in a monarchy, I don’t have the same frame of reference as Englanders do when we call Christ our King. In the shadows of Buckingham Palace though, I imagined what it would be like if the Queen stepped off her throne and bore the punishment of a common criminal. The magnitude of this substitution weighed heavy upon me, and ever since I’ve been in greater awe of the sacrifice of Creation’s King.

Sometimes, God uses these points of reference to teach us other truths about Him. For me, the analogy of the King took on a whole new meeting in light of Ephesians 1:3-14. The passage isn’t the easiest to parse, but what caught my attention were two words “predestined” and “inheritance.” Rather than getting caught up in the predestined vs. free will debate, I took these words in light of a monarchy. A princess doesn’t choose to be born into the royal family, she just is. That is her destiny. Her rightful place is as the King’s kid. In the same way, God choose to create a royal heritage. Some abdicate their rightful position, but it is His desire that we wouldn’t. And as the King’s children, we have a guaranteed inheritance, a bestowment of the Father’s riches. Sunday school graduates may be so used to this terminology that they breeze right through it, but think about it – we are to be given Kingly riches, the best of the best, because we are part of His family. How majestic His mercy! How wonderful His love!


Found

November 18, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

One of my favorite things to share with people is that, growing up, I got in more trouble at church than I did anywhere else. It wasn’t because I was doing things that were necessarily bad – as my friends can attest I’m pretty compliant and tend to follow the rules. It was because I had no problem questioning what my youth pastors said. Looking back, I’m sure I was their worse nightmare. Most of the them were probably younger than I am now, and I was this junior high kid who wanted to debate their biblical interpretation (or lack thereof.) Not a one of them saw this as an opportunity; they all just wanted me to get with the program, their program. Somehow I don’t think my unwillingness to do so won me any friends (and despite my self-righteousness, I’m thinking I didn’t win too many heavenly jewels either.) Hence, the rather frequent lectures and reprimands.

The follies of our youth can sometimes follow us into adulthood, and I found myself in a similar situation recently. In an after-Bible study discussion, we were talking about the parables of the “lost” – the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son. Our pastor made the point that the story wasn’t about the lost ones finding their protector, it was about the protector finding the lost. Hence, the refrain “I found God” isn’t accurate; more aptly “God found me.” Although the debate was minimal (I don’t like to think I was ever lost to God), I think his point is probably the right one (and even if I didn’t, he has two master’s degrees to back it up.) Our Father is actively seeking our restoration. He’s removing barriers, overturning lampstands, and celebrating our admittance into His kingdom. He’s orchestrating ways for us to experience His grace. His greatest act of pursuit was sending His Son to bring the lost ones home. As with the coin, sheep, and prodigal son, there is nothing that we did to precipitate this. The action rests with Another.

The good news is that in each of the parables, that which was lost was being restored to its proper position. In the same way, our heavenly Father desires us to be restored into right relationship with Him. And even today, all the lost still has to do is to accept the restoration.


No Judgment

November 18, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

I have a friend with whom I have a common refrain “no judgment.” It came about as way to express that whatever happened, we could always talk about it. Regardless of what choices that were made, or the consequences that would be suffered, it was my way of saying that I wouldn’t make a value assessment. I would show love and leave the judgment to someone else. As a result my friend remarked to me once that he knew regardless of what happened or what was said, we’d be friends. Even though we didn’t state it explicitly, we both knew that the choice to love trumped any unforeseen circumstance.

What works on Earth in terms of this one friendship, has application on the other side of glory too. As Christians we know that everyone will be judged. God is very clear on that. Whether its giving an account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36) or the revelation of that which was hidden (I Cor. 4:4-6) we know that there is an appointed time for each to stand before the throne and review our life deeds. Much like the defendant giving his allocution, we will have to confess that for which we should be condemned and announce our guilt.

However, there is one thing that we have that a plea-bargained defendant doesn’t. The justice that judgment demands has already been satisfied. Not only are we saved from having to undergo the punishment of our sin, Someone else has suffered on our behalf. For those of us who have grown up in the church, its sometimes easy to think to we’ve escaped punishment, but we haven’t. No condemnation doesn’t mean no consequences. Someone else has chosen to accept our condemnation instead; the punishment has still been merited out, but on the innocent rather than the guilty. We are not condemned, but the demands of justice must be satisfied.

The lack of judgment in my friendship doesn’t mean that the bonds aren’t tested when wrongs are committed. But it does mean that regardless of what happens, we have committed to remain friends. In a similar way, for those of who have accepted Christ, it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t acknowledge our acts as right or wrong, but is does mean that regardless we’re proclaimed innocent in His perfection, and holy before His throne.


The Reservation Book of Zion

November 17, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

I’ve been to my fair share of hotels. Although I don’t qualify as a road warrior, my work calls me to different cities on a somewhat regular basis and I like to travel. Funnily, I rarely seem to go to the same place twice, which means I get to experience a variety of different hotel environments. Each one has its own character and its own sense of purpose.

In all my travels there has only been one time when I’ve had a problem with my reservation. It was at a conference and the hotel clerk shared that the person who had previously occupied my room was still there and so there were no room available. Apparently, they weren’t allowed to tell the first occupier that the room was no longer theirs, instead I had to move to a hotel down the street. Just as in the classic Seinfeld episode, it made me question the power of the reservation. After all, if the reservation was quickly overturned by another guest’s extended visit, it didn’t do me a whole lot of good.

All of this was brought to mind recently when my pastor preached on Hebrews 12:18-24. The passage contrasts the Israelites experience on Mount Sinai with the place of our future God encounter – Mount Zion. As my pastor articulated unlike Mount Sinai, Mount Zion is a place where we can interact with God. It’s a place of community – a city is being built there. It’s a place of celebration – reconciliation is complete. And the wonderful thing about Zion is that God has His very own reservation book. All who believed have a confirmed booking, “their names are written in heaven” (vs. 23). And the best part is, we aren’t registered as visitors, spectators who are passing through. We become Zion’s citizens with all the rights and privileges therein.

Both Seinfeld and I may know what its like to have a worthless reservation. I’m glad that my final reservation is secured.


God’s Busy

November 15, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

When I first heard “God Must Be Busy” by Brooks and Dunn I changed the channel. I take my faith pretty seriously and the fact that God answers prayer is a cornerstone of that belief. The song implies that God’s seeming lack of answer to a specific prayer is due to the fact that He is otherwise engaged. The artists sing:

And I know in the big picture
I’m just a speck of sand
and God’s got better things to do
than look out for one man.
I know he’s heard my prayers
cause he hears everything,
he just ain’t answered back
or he’d bring you back to me.
God must be busy.

Because I considered it an affront that the song implied that God was ignoring the prayer because He was paying attention to something else, I turned the dial and listened to another, hopefully more uplifting country tune (and for those of you who haven’t discovered the beauty of country music, that is not an oxymoron.) I don’t like the implication that God ignores any prayer – let alone the prayer of a heart that is broken.

The second time I heard the song though, I realized that the artists were, quite unintentionally, kind of right. The song implied that God was busy and that therefore He hadn’t responded. While I don’t think God’s busyness prevents His response, God is busy.When you think about how big this world is, and how much time God spends showering us each with His grace, you have to believe that He has the world’s best Palm Pilot. Otherwise, there would be no time to get all of those blessings in. Whether He’s preventing harm or delivering good, He is busy demonstrating His love – often to people who will never reciprocate. Even holding back the gates of Hell is a demonstration of His magnanimousness. And holding back the gates of Hell must be a pretty consuming task. We think that God is too busy for us, but the truth is, He’s busy with us – constantly working for our good. After all, “God works all things for the good of those who love Him” (Ro. 8:28) and that’s got to take some time and resources.

When Daniel prayed and didn’t receive an answer, it wasn’t because God hadn’t responded. He had sent His angel and the angel had to battle to get there (See Daniel 10.) If we call on God and think we’ve got a busy signal, the chance is its because He’s calling His angels on our behalf.


A story about a friend

September 25, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

Most of the time this space is filled with my musings on life and the life hereafter. Today, I wanted to share with you an e-mail from my friend Juli who writes about her friend Hannah. Although the purpose of Juli’s e-mail was to share the strength and hope that she found in Hannah’s countenance, a part of the story that Juli left untold is the integral part that she plays in this process. Juli is a nurse ministering to AIDS patients in Kenya. She is amazing and I’m privileged to call her my friend.

Please pray. Not only for Hannah and her family, but for my friend Juli who is doing the work that so many of us are unable to do.

Juli’s E-mail:

I went this afternoon to sit with my friend named Hannah. She is 51 years old. She is married and has nine children. By the standards of the world, Hannah is poor. Over the past four years, a tumor has overtaken her face and parts of her brain leaving her body wasted and her face greatly disfigured. Her situation is full of loss and intense suffering. But this is not the whole story.

As I walked into her mud hut, I heard her voice saying: “Mtoto wangu, karibu sana.” meaning “My child, welcome so much”. I sat at Hannah’s bedside and saw how, even in the past five days, the tumor had grown noticeably larger around her eye and further into her mouth. Her speech was slurred but her spirit was full of life. She talked about how God continues to take care of her and then she waved her arms as she sang “Mungu yu mwema”- God is so good. She praised her daughters for the ongoing care they are providing to her as she is bedridden and dependent upon them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is hard for me to imagine talking about God’s goodness when faced with such pain; and yet her words are not a cliché, they are her hope.

I went to encourage Hannah; but I also went because she has something I long for. Hannah is beautiful. If you saw a picture of her, it would be impossible to see it; but there is a beauty that transcends and overshadows her appearance. Hannah knows the love of God, and it has cast out her fears. She is living in freedom and nothing in this world can take it away- not even death.

More than once, I have been humbled by the sweetness of God’s presence that rests upon this home. It causes me to be still and reminds me that God has not changed. Although questions remain unanswered, His faithfulness and love are not lessened by these struggles. In multiple languages, Hannah’s family and I have recited Psalm 23 together bringing life to these often quoted verses:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

This afternoon, God used Hannah to speak His word to me. As I shared within my last update, I have recently been discouraged and overwhelmed by the challenges that surround. The weight feels so heavy; but this dear mama, on her deathbed, looked into my eyes and saw the burdens that I have been carrying. She said, “Juli, uko na wasi wasi. Usiwe na wasi wasi. Mungu anakulinda;” which means “Juli, you have worries- don’t worry. God is taking care of you”. As she spoke truth into my life, I grabbed her feeble hand, leaned forward and listened.

I pray that Hannah’s testimony will be an encouragement to you this day. I ask that as Hannah and her family come to your mind, please pray on their behalf. With much love, Juli


Mindful of Heaven

September 11, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

My pastor is fond of sharing a quotation by CS Lewis regarding how some people feel that Christians are so heavenly-minded that they won’t do any Earthly good. CS Lewis retorted that it was only when we are heavenly minded that we do any Earthly good. Thoughts of heaven are like the scoreboard at the football game. It reminds us of our ultimate satisfaction and encourages us to strive for victory. Heaven can seem to have little to do with Earth until we remember that the whole purpose of this life is to prepare us for the next.

Thoughts of heaven serve another purpose too. They remind us of what we are giving up when we walk contrary to what God desires. If every good and perfect gift is from above (see James 1) than everything that we are made for, everything our heart seeks, is to be found in heaven. Poor substitutes are found here on Earth and yet sometimes we settle for the also-runs. Thoughts of heaven remind us of what we are actually giving up in order to take advantage of those temporary pleasures. As Frederick Ward Kates reminds us, “The purpose of religion–at any rate, the Christian religion–is not to get you into heaven, but to get heaven into you.” Our walk of faith is designed so that more and more we seek the same things that God desires so that we are better prepared for the fullness of satisfaction that comes when we finally join Him.

A song that we use to sing as Sunday Schoolers sums it up nicely:

Heaven is a wonderful place
Full of mercy and grace
I want to see my Savior’s face
And heaven is a wonderful place
I want to go there.

Lord, let it be.


A Matter of Perspective

August 27, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

We all have heard stories of heroes. Oftentimes what defines a hero is that they continue on in face of unimaginable circumstances. If we’re blessed we know someone who not only preserves in horrible circumstances, but who looks at them as opportunities to be grown by Christ. This is not merely an acceptance of a tough time; this is someone who recognizes that while the mountaintops are nice, the valleys are what define us. They realize that they can’t ever really experience the Father of Lights unless they’ve held His hand in the darkness. Just as trials show you who your friends are, they also reveal your faith. The fire burns; what is genuine remains.

Kierkegaard suggested that every circumstance, whether good or bad, was a gift from God. The good times are reminders of God’s bountiful blessings. the bad times are a reminder of His faithfulness. Each type of circumstance reveals something how God is, and who were are in Christ that would never be demonstrated otherwise. It is easy to see the good times as beneficial because they are by definition “good”. If we could view the hard times in the same way, it would probably chance our perspective on both.

“O Lord, let thyself be found with a good gift to everyone who needs it, that the happy may find courage to accept thy good gifts, that the sorrowful may find courage to accept thy perfect gifts. For to men there is a difference of joy and of sorrow, but for thee, O Lord, there is no difference in these things; everything that comes from thee is a good and perfect gift.”
… Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)


Mountain Climbing

July 26, 2007 in Hope with 0 Comments

Its hard to see the pasture when the mountain looms in front of us. In the past year, I’ve had people in my life who have gone through some terrible things. For them, the promise of better things ahead, at least in the immediate future, rings false. They are not experiencing restoration of their soul (Psalm 23). Instead, they are poised for danger, ready to defend themselves against attack.

Interestingly, most of the time when people climb to the tops of these mountains, they are the loudest proclaimers of God’s faithfulness. It’s like the mountaintop view allows them to see more clearly, both where they are going and where they’ve been. They still might have unanswered questions about the experience they’ve been through, most of us do, but God’s grace has been demonstrated unequivocally in their life, and they know for certain that the One who formed the mountain will guide them to the other side. Remarkably, oftentimes the more they’ve had to climb, the greater their trust in God is. As Franics Shaeffer wrote, “The higher the mountains, the more understandable is the glory of Him who made them and who holds them in His hand.”

What heights of love, and what depths of peace we can see from a mountaintop view!


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