John 2:1-12
It's been awhile, but the Lord has brought me back to this project. His word is blameless, and blessed are they who walk according to it. May such blessing through obedience fall upon every eye that rests here.
Jesus' first recorded hand-made miracle during his ministry on earth was not planned.
Understand this: Jesus was fully man and fully God. And, in being fully man, he had plans for the future that did not always come to pass. However, being without sin, he always made plans with the Father--rather than himself--central, and so when his plans needed to change he was happy to roll with the will of the Father.
- - -
The story goes like this: Jesus and his growing crew of disciples were at a wedding, and so was his mother. But the wedding feast was running out of wine, and Mary went to tell her son.
Jesus spoke to his mother like this: "Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come."
Why did you talk to her like that, Jesus? I do not understand. Were you asking rhetorically? Of course you know why she involves you--you're the Son of God, and she knows that somehow you can make the bad situation good. She has taken pity on her hosts, who are in an embarrassing situation, and she has turned to God in the flesh for help. She is praying on their behalf, to you.
And yet you tell her that this is not according to your timing.
And yet again she responds, somehow getting an affirmative that to me your words do not communicate, by telling the servants to do whatever you tell them to.
It seems that, against your will, Mary assumed you would meet the needs of these people.
- - -
Perhaps infinitely perplexing is the situation between you and our Father. His will reigns supreme, and yet you were with him from the beginning and he delights in you being glorified. This instant in your life is truly a time of friction between your split nature of man and God. Though your plan is going to be changed by the needs of these people, God's plan was not changed here. There is a tension here that I cannot see into, Jesus. Will you teach me?
- - -
I can picture you thinking about your earthly mother's words and your carefully-thought plans. Surely you, who prayed constantly and often spent hours in prayer alone, made the most careful of plans. And yet here you saw clearly that your plans would need to be modified, that even though your time had not yet come, you would have to begin your work anyways.
Perhaps you felt nervous in that moment about what to do. Perhaps you were simply taking a minute to process the change, to consider those around you and how they would respond to what you were about to do.
But after what I can only imagine was a brief moment, you gave the servants simple instructions (fill the jars with water, then draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet). The master of the banquet tasted the drawn out liquid, only to find that it was a wine better-tasting than any thus far served at the banquet.
- - -
Your small group of disciples at the time, already pretty amazed by the short time they'd spent with you, were amazed at what you did. You revealed your glory--a major event--earlier than YOU, the Son of God, had planned. And your disciples, perhaps unsure before that, put their faith in you.
- - -
I wonder how often your disciples "put their faith in you." We haven't gotten there yet, but moments in your life come to mind where your disciples were dismayed by a situation and again shocked at how you came through. Perhaps this is a part of the nature of faith, that it must be continually renewed and relaid at your feet.
If this is the case, Jesus, please help me, for my faith is weak and my ways are impure. And yet, somehow, your Father doesn't see this, but rather sees You in me.
I am confounded by these great mysteries and wait for the right time when they will be revealed to me.
I want to be Your servant,
David
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Jesus clears the temple
John 2:12-25
After the wedding banquet, Jesus and his mom and his disciples went to Capernaum. I'm not sure what they did there, because it doesn't say.
- - -
Jesus, you were so bold when you cast out the moneychangers and chased away their animals with a whip. You were a warrior. You knew that what you were doing was right. Did you doubt it, though, being man? Did you ever feel doubtful about the scene that you were causing, or about where your authority came from?
Do we who believe have this same authority as your siblings and co-heirs? If I do, I am afraid of it.
I don't want that kind of authority--I only want you. Not your authority, not your power, just you for you. I want to be witness of your authority, just not in charge of it. This is the coward in me. I can't bear the thought of possessing such noble authority with such wayward eyes, ears, and hands.
But then, there my faith is lacking, perhaps, because maybe I do not trust your ability to make such impossibly inept hands capable of doing your work.
God, my pride has made me make such a mess of so many situations. I went into Meghan's life like Christ went into the temple courts, with a whip and strong words--yet I lacked all authority to do such a thing. There was no wisdom in it, only blind zeal. And yet, somehow, I have faith that you can turn the scars I've left on her soul into flowers.
This ability of yours to bring beauty out of the pain caused by the bumblings of my hands is a glue that keeps me clinging to you, Jesus. Thank you Father. Reveal your acts, Holy Spirit.
I love you,
Dave
After the wedding banquet, Jesus and his mom and his disciples went to Capernaum. I'm not sure what they did there, because it doesn't say.
- - -
Jesus, you were so bold when you cast out the moneychangers and chased away their animals with a whip. You were a warrior. You knew that what you were doing was right. Did you doubt it, though, being man? Did you ever feel doubtful about the scene that you were causing, or about where your authority came from?
Do we who believe have this same authority as your siblings and co-heirs? If I do, I am afraid of it.
I don't want that kind of authority--I only want you. Not your authority, not your power, just you for you. I want to be witness of your authority, just not in charge of it. This is the coward in me. I can't bear the thought of possessing such noble authority with such wayward eyes, ears, and hands.
But then, there my faith is lacking, perhaps, because maybe I do not trust your ability to make such impossibly inept hands capable of doing your work.
God, my pride has made me make such a mess of so many situations. I went into Meghan's life like Christ went into the temple courts, with a whip and strong words--yet I lacked all authority to do such a thing. There was no wisdom in it, only blind zeal. And yet, somehow, I have faith that you can turn the scars I've left on her soul into flowers.
This ability of yours to bring beauty out of the pain caused by the bumblings of my hands is a glue that keeps me clinging to you, Jesus. Thank you Father. Reveal your acts, Holy Spirit.
I love you,
Dave
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The first disciples follow Jesus
John 1:35-51
This is probably one of the coolest passages in the bible.
The day after John the Baptist (or, as he might be called today, J the B) declares Jesus the Messiah, J the B and two of his disciples (everyone who was anyone had disciples back then) were chilling. Along comes Jesus, just "passing by."1 J, still chilling, points and says, "Look, the Lamb of God!,"2 almost like he just saw a rare butterfly flying by or something.
J the B's two disciples hear their master say this. They look at John, look at Jesus (who's still strolling along), look back and John, then wave and follow Jesus.
Jesus turns around after a minute, sees them following him, and says, "What do you want?" (And I'm sure that it sounded welcoming coming from those lips and that face.)
The two guys are kind of shy, so they don't come out and ask. Instead of calling him the Lamb of God, they call him Rabbi. Instead of telling him what they want, they ask where he's staying.
Jesus skips an awkward conversation and simply uses the language of invitation that He invented: "Come," he says, "and you will see."3
- - -
Imagine going up to the President of the United States, or to Oprah, or to Tom Hanks, or to Don Miller, and asking, "Hey, where are you staying Mr. President / Ms. Oprah / Mr. Hanks / Don?" And then, in response, they say, "Well, come along with me and see."
Imagine that. Seriously. That's what it felt like for these guys. They definitely did one of those looks between each other that says I'm-holding-it-in-but-I'm-screaming-inside-because-this-is-awesome.
- - -
Andrew (one of those two guys who Jesus invited to come with him) and his friend spent that afternoon with Jesus, seeing where he stayed and probably enjoying an adrenaline rush the entire time.
When 4pm came around, Andrew broke away and sprinted to his brother Simon's house. "We've found the Messiah!" He tells him. He brings him to Jesus.
Simon's probably like, "Alright, whatever dude," but because his brother is hysterical, he comes, likely annoyed at being taken from his work. Andrew leads him up to a regular-looking guy. Before Andrew can introduce Simon to Jesus, Jesus looks over at him.
"You're Simon," Jesus says. "You're gonna be called Rocky."4
- - -
The first time you meet this guy, he looks at you, tells you your name (without being told), then says, "We're gonna call you Rocky."
Imagine that. That's funny. And kind of shivery.
- - -
Now, meanwhile, Philip (Andrew's counterpart, the other guy who has spent the afternoon with Jesus) has run over to find his friend Nathanael. He tells Nate, "We've found the Christ that Moses wrote about--it's Jesus of Nazareth!"
Nate probably has no idea who Jesus is at this point (few people probably do), but he is familiar with Nazareth, and he scoffs.
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"
Philip ignores the comment and pulls on Nathanael's wrist.
"Just come and see," he says.
When they reach Jesus, He says, "Now here's a guy you can trust."
Nate probably looks at him a little funny, maybe a bit unnerved by a smile so wide and genuine that it looks alien.
"How do you know me?" Nate asks, a little incredulously.
"I saw you before Philip even reached you--you were sitting under a fig tree."
- - -
This was before cell phones. Philip didn't call Jesus on his way back, Nate in tow, and give him the scoop about what Nate had been doing when Philip found him. Philip, like Andrew, probably hadn't mentioned a thing to Jesus about who He was going to find.
But as soon as you walk up to this alleged Messiah that your friend is going crazy about and who you're nothing but skeptical about, he says, "Hey, you're an honest guy."
You know that about yourself, but hey, anyone could guess that.
Then the guy says, "Dude, I saw you before Philip did, sitting right where I'm sitting now. You were sitting under a fig tree, right?"
For master skeptics, this wouldn't have worked--but for Nathanael, it was enough.
- - -
"Boss, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Mind you, Israel hasn't had a king in probably a thousand years or so and calling someone the Son of God could get you ostracized.
Jesus had to laugh at Nate's quick faith--especially since He knew how terribly it would be tested once things really got going and the arrows started flying.
Imagine these words as the background music rising-action music continues to mount:
"Oh, my friend, you shall see greater things that that." He stops for a minute as they begin walking to their nights lodging. "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."5
1. John 1:35
2. John 1:36
3. John 1:39
4. Jesus gave Simon the name Cephas, which, when translated, means Peter, which, when translated in Greek, means rock. That phrase, "You're gonna be Rocky" came from a message given by Mark Scott at Calvary Community Church in Columbia, MD. He spoke on this whole passage in a message on discipleship. He is also the origin (to my knowledge) of the notion of Jesus' "language of invitation."
5. John 1:50-51
This is probably one of the coolest passages in the bible.
The day after John the Baptist (or, as he might be called today, J the B) declares Jesus the Messiah, J the B and two of his disciples (everyone who was anyone had disciples back then) were chilling. Along comes Jesus, just "passing by."1 J, still chilling, points and says, "Look, the Lamb of God!,"2 almost like he just saw a rare butterfly flying by or something.
J the B's two disciples hear their master say this. They look at John, look at Jesus (who's still strolling along), look back and John, then wave and follow Jesus.
Jesus turns around after a minute, sees them following him, and says, "What do you want?" (And I'm sure that it sounded welcoming coming from those lips and that face.)
The two guys are kind of shy, so they don't come out and ask. Instead of calling him the Lamb of God, they call him Rabbi. Instead of telling him what they want, they ask where he's staying.
Jesus skips an awkward conversation and simply uses the language of invitation that He invented: "Come," he says, "and you will see."3
- - -
Imagine going up to the President of the United States, or to Oprah, or to Tom Hanks, or to Don Miller, and asking, "Hey, where are you staying Mr. President / Ms. Oprah / Mr. Hanks / Don?" And then, in response, they say, "Well, come along with me and see."
Imagine that. Seriously. That's what it felt like for these guys. They definitely did one of those looks between each other that says I'm-holding-it-in-but-I'm-screaming-inside-because-this-is-awesome.
- - -
Andrew (one of those two guys who Jesus invited to come with him) and his friend spent that afternoon with Jesus, seeing where he stayed and probably enjoying an adrenaline rush the entire time.
When 4pm came around, Andrew broke away and sprinted to his brother Simon's house. "We've found the Messiah!" He tells him. He brings him to Jesus.
Simon's probably like, "Alright, whatever dude," but because his brother is hysterical, he comes, likely annoyed at being taken from his work. Andrew leads him up to a regular-looking guy. Before Andrew can introduce Simon to Jesus, Jesus looks over at him.
"You're Simon," Jesus says. "You're gonna be called Rocky."4
- - -
The first time you meet this guy, he looks at you, tells you your name (without being told), then says, "We're gonna call you Rocky."
Imagine that. That's funny. And kind of shivery.
- - -
Now, meanwhile, Philip (Andrew's counterpart, the other guy who has spent the afternoon with Jesus) has run over to find his friend Nathanael. He tells Nate, "We've found the Christ that Moses wrote about--it's Jesus of Nazareth!"
Nate probably has no idea who Jesus is at this point (few people probably do), but he is familiar with Nazareth, and he scoffs.
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"
Philip ignores the comment and pulls on Nathanael's wrist.
"Just come and see," he says.
When they reach Jesus, He says, "Now here's a guy you can trust."
Nate probably looks at him a little funny, maybe a bit unnerved by a smile so wide and genuine that it looks alien.
"How do you know me?" Nate asks, a little incredulously.
"I saw you before Philip even reached you--you were sitting under a fig tree."
- - -
This was before cell phones. Philip didn't call Jesus on his way back, Nate in tow, and give him the scoop about what Nate had been doing when Philip found him. Philip, like Andrew, probably hadn't mentioned a thing to Jesus about who He was going to find.
But as soon as you walk up to this alleged Messiah that your friend is going crazy about and who you're nothing but skeptical about, he says, "Hey, you're an honest guy."
You know that about yourself, but hey, anyone could guess that.
Then the guy says, "Dude, I saw you before Philip did, sitting right where I'm sitting now. You were sitting under a fig tree, right?"
For master skeptics, this wouldn't have worked--but for Nathanael, it was enough.
- - -
"Boss, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Mind you, Israel hasn't had a king in probably a thousand years or so and calling someone the Son of God could get you ostracized.
Jesus had to laugh at Nate's quick faith--especially since He knew how terribly it would be tested once things really got going and the arrows started flying.
Imagine these words as the background music rising-action music continues to mount:
"Oh, my friend, you shall see greater things that that." He stops for a minute as they begin walking to their nights lodging. "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."5
1. John 1:35
2. John 1:36
3. John 1:39
4. Jesus gave Simon the name Cephas, which, when translated, means Peter, which, when translated in Greek, means rock. That phrase, "You're gonna be Rocky" came from a message given by Mark Scott at Calvary Community Church in Columbia, MD. He spoke on this whole passage in a message on discipleship. He is also the origin (to my knowledge) of the notion of Jesus' "language of invitation."
5. John 1:50-51
Monday, May 21, 2007
John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as the Messiah
John 1:29-34
Though Christ's ministry was effectively inaugurated when John baptized him more than forty days before, this is the moment when the heavy cords start buzzing and the percussion starts mounting. This is when John, the most exciting and genuine and godly religious figure Israel has seen in four hundred years, points to Jesus and says, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"1
All this time, likely for months on end, John has been urging the masses who came to see him, "Turn away! Turn away from your sins!" John's reputation has grown so big that religious bigwigs have rolled up their tunics and trekked out into the desert to speak to him.
And now, the climax! Now, the person who can take away the sins of the past and the future! The sacrifice for all men--the Lamb of God.
John doesn't miss a chance to be humble here. He's one of the most famous people in his country, and without missing a beat he declares that the whole point of what he's been doing, the whole point of his life basically, has been to reveal this normal-looking Jesus guy to Israel.
This is the beginning of an extraordinary, epic adventure. The introduction to the story is finished--the action has officially begun.
1. John 1:29
Though Christ's ministry was effectively inaugurated when John baptized him more than forty days before, this is the moment when the heavy cords start buzzing and the percussion starts mounting. This is when John, the most exciting and genuine and godly religious figure Israel has seen in four hundred years, points to Jesus and says, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"1
All this time, likely for months on end, John has been urging the masses who came to see him, "Turn away! Turn away from your sins!" John's reputation has grown so big that religious bigwigs have rolled up their tunics and trekked out into the desert to speak to him.
And now, the climax! Now, the person who can take away the sins of the past and the future! The sacrifice for all men--the Lamb of God.
John doesn't miss a chance to be humble here. He's one of the most famous people in his country, and without missing a beat he declares that the whole point of what he's been doing, the whole point of his life basically, has been to reveal this normal-looking Jesus guy to Israel.
This is the beginning of an extraordinary, epic adventure. The introduction to the story is finished--the action has officially begun.
1. John 1:29
Sunday, May 20, 2007
John the Baptist declares his mission
John 1:19-28
Jesus said of John, "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John."1
Nobody greater than John. Hold on to that.
Now, in this passage, John is interrogated by religion-types interested in learning who exactly this guy was. Was the eagerly anticipated Messiah finally come?
"I am not the Christ," John freely confesses, "...but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."2
My question is this: if there is no one person born on this earth that is greater than John, and John is unworthy of untying Jesus' sandals, where does that leave us?
Father, breathe humility into our hearts, letting your breath, like fire, burn away the pride and pretense.
1. Luke 7:28a
2. John 1:20b, 26b, 27
Jesus said of John, "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John."1
Nobody greater than John. Hold on to that.
Now, in this passage, John is interrogated by religion-types interested in learning who exactly this guy was. Was the eagerly anticipated Messiah finally come?
"I am not the Christ," John freely confesses, "...but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."2
My question is this: if there is no one person born on this earth that is greater than John, and John is unworthy of untying Jesus' sandals, where does that leave us?
Father, breathe humility into our hearts, letting your breath, like fire, burn away the pride and pretense.
1. Luke 7:28a
2. John 1:20b, 26b, 27
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Satan tempts Jesus in the desert
Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13
These accounts of Jesus' first recorded battle with the enemy remind me of a verse I recently hid in my heart as part of the Spirit's arsenal in protecting from the enemy's attacks:
Hebrews 2:18
Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
I'm convinced that Christ went through more pain and agony and doubt and weakness in this desert than we'll ever know, and that it probably only became more intense over the course of the remaining three years of His life.
Christ is our warrior poet--He shows us that we can be certain of our identity as God's warriors, never doubting despite the tempters "If you are who you say you are..." questions.
Satan used scripture to tempt Christ away from truth and righteousness. If Satan can use the bible to support His motives, what motives cannot be justified with the misuse of God's holy word?
Check out what happens when Jesus finally gets fed up with Satan. He says, "Away from me, Satan!" And then He stabs Satan with a final piece of scripture, and Satan leaves Him, and angels attend Him, dressing their valiant master's wounds.1
- - -
Mark's brief account of this event is interesting in this detail: it says, "[Jesus] was with the wild animals."2 Jesus was a wild guy, I think.
- - -
Luke's account ends on a much more sinister note. Instead of Satan fleeing at Jesus' command, it says, "When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time."3
Satan's not going to give up attacking any of us until we give up fighting--and in that is a freedom to fight to the death.
1. Matthew 4:10-11
2. Mark 1:13
3. Luke 4:13
These accounts of Jesus' first recorded battle with the enemy remind me of a verse I recently hid in my heart as part of the Spirit's arsenal in protecting from the enemy's attacks:
Hebrews 2:18
Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
I'm convinced that Christ went through more pain and agony and doubt and weakness in this desert than we'll ever know, and that it probably only became more intense over the course of the remaining three years of His life.
Christ is our warrior poet--He shows us that we can be certain of our identity as God's warriors, never doubting despite the tempters "If you are who you say you are..." questions.
Satan used scripture to tempt Christ away from truth and righteousness. If Satan can use the bible to support His motives, what motives cannot be justified with the misuse of God's holy word?
Check out what happens when Jesus finally gets fed up with Satan. He says, "Away from me, Satan!" And then He stabs Satan with a final piece of scripture, and Satan leaves Him, and angels attend Him, dressing their valiant master's wounds.1
- - -
Mark's brief account of this event is interesting in this detail: it says, "[Jesus] was with the wild animals."2 Jesus was a wild guy, I think.
- - -
Luke's account ends on a much more sinister note. Instead of Satan fleeing at Jesus' command, it says, "When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time."3
Satan's not going to give up attacking any of us until we give up fighting--and in that is a freedom to fight to the death.
1. Matthew 4:10-11
2. Mark 1:13
3. Luke 4:13
Friday, May 18, 2007
John baptizes Jesus
Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22
All three accounts of this event record these exact words of God.
You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.1
As God's children, does He not speak these words to all of us who are baptized and believe? I think He does--and, as soon as He does, battle lines are drawn. Get ready for Satan.
- - -
As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.2
God doesn't spare anything in showing His love for His children. Seek Him, and you will find Him. You'll be dumbstruck by what you find, as I'm sure the man part of Jesus was when He came out of the water to see this.
- - -
Matthew's is the only account that shows John's humility upon meeting Jesus for the first time.
"I need to be baptized by you," John says, "and do you come to me?"
John was right--Jesus, completely blameless before God and men, didn't need baptism for the forgiveness of sins. But Jesus wasn't one to set Himself above anyone else, and so He did what the masses were doing, what all His followers would do: He got baptized.
1. Luke 3:22; Mark 1:11;
2. Mark 1:10
All three accounts of this event record these exact words of God.
You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.1
As God's children, does He not speak these words to all of us who are baptized and believe? I think He does--and, as soon as He does, battle lines are drawn. Get ready for Satan.
- - -
As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.2
God doesn't spare anything in showing His love for His children. Seek Him, and you will find Him. You'll be dumbstruck by what you find, as I'm sure the man part of Jesus was when He came out of the water to see this.
- - -
Matthew's is the only account that shows John's humility upon meeting Jesus for the first time.
"I need to be baptized by you," John says, "and do you come to me?"
John was right--Jesus, completely blameless before God and men, didn't need baptism for the forgiveness of sins. But Jesus wasn't one to set Himself above anyone else, and so He did what the masses were doing, what all His followers would do: He got baptized.
1. Luke 3:22; Mark 1:11;
2. Mark 1:10
Thursday, May 17, 2007
John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus
Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18
I love Luke's description of John's ministry of baptism and repentance for it's inclusion of this dialogue:
John: Produce fruit... do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Time out: Ouch. Descending from Abraham was a prerequisite for inclusion in Israel's chosen people. John said God could turn some rocks into chosen people.
Crowd (dismayed): What should we do then?
John: The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
A tax collector, later on: Teacher, what should we do?
John: Don't collect any more than you are required to.
Some soldiers, still later: And what should we do?
John: Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay.
Summary of the Holy Spirit's commands, as spoken through John:
-Keep only what possessions you need.
-Give anything you can spare to those in need of that thing.
-Do your job honestly and with integrity.
-Live honestly and with integrity.
-Be content with the money you're currently earning. If your current salary isn't enough, the money you're dreaming of making won't be. Sorry, it's true.
God, defend me from the enemy's lies that try to convince me I don't have enough in You, that you can't provide for me and my desires in my current job.
God, protect me with the breastplate of righteousness from living apart from your honesty and integrity.
God, release the shackles of materialism that keep my apartment cluttered and the world deprived.
I love Luke's description of John's ministry of baptism and repentance for it's inclusion of this dialogue:
John: Produce fruit... do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Time out: Ouch. Descending from Abraham was a prerequisite for inclusion in Israel's chosen people. John said God could turn some rocks into chosen people.
Crowd (dismayed): What should we do then?
John: The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
A tax collector, later on: Teacher, what should we do?
John: Don't collect any more than you are required to.
Some soldiers, still later: And what should we do?
John: Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay.
Summary of the Holy Spirit's commands, as spoken through John:
-Keep only what possessions you need.
-Give anything you can spare to those in need of that thing.
-Do your job honestly and with integrity.
-Live honestly and with integrity.
-Be content with the money you're currently earning. If your current salary isn't enough, the money you're dreaming of making won't be. Sorry, it's true.
God, defend me from the enemy's lies that try to convince me I don't have enough in You, that you can't provide for me and my desires in my current job.
God, protect me with the breastplate of righteousness from living apart from your honesty and integrity.
God, release the shackles of materialism that keep my apartment cluttered and the world deprived.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Jesus speaks with the religious teachers
Luke 2:41-52
As far as I can tell, this is what Jesus did as a kid:
-He grew.
-He became strong.
-He was filled with wisdom.
-The grace of God was upon Him.
-He grew in wisdom.
-He grew in stature.
-He grew in favor with God.
-He grew in favor with men.1
- - -
Imagine being parents to a kid who sneaks into church and starts holding intellectual conversations with adults with doctorates in doctrine and theology--that's basically what Jesus does in this story, at the ripe age of twelve.
A sixth grader amazing intellectual giants with his understanding and his answers. Jesus was a genius, simply put.
- - -
Jesus took care of his body--you don't grow strong and grow in stature if you don't. Now, as a kid, this responsibly to keep his body growing stronger of course didn't rest on him--it was up to his parents too.
- - -
Jesus took care of his mind--you don't grow in wisdom without being inquisitive. But you don't grow in favor with men if you ask a lot of annoying questions--so his questions must have always been piercing, yet pleasantly so. And he must never have asked a question unless he was sure it was a good one. He must have really used his words carefully to grow in favor with men as a twelve year old kid.
And he must have talked to and trusted God a lot--that's how you grow in favor with Him.
Abraham believed God--God called Abraham His friend.
Moses believed God--God put Him at the head of countless miracles.
Noah believed God--God spared him and his family from the end of all of Earth's living creatures.
- - -
Jesus just talked to God, like a son talks to his father or a friend talks to his friend or a student talks to her mentor. That's how God wants us to talk to him--not ornately, but as a son or a daughter. As a friend.
Let God's grace fall upon you, and talk to Him today.
1. Luke 2:40, 52
As far as I can tell, this is what Jesus did as a kid:
-He grew.
-He became strong.
-He was filled with wisdom.
-The grace of God was upon Him.
-He grew in wisdom.
-He grew in stature.
-He grew in favor with God.
-He grew in favor with men.1
- - -
Imagine being parents to a kid who sneaks into church and starts holding intellectual conversations with adults with doctorates in doctrine and theology--that's basically what Jesus does in this story, at the ripe age of twelve.
A sixth grader amazing intellectual giants with his understanding and his answers. Jesus was a genius, simply put.
- - -
Jesus took care of his body--you don't grow strong and grow in stature if you don't. Now, as a kid, this responsibly to keep his body growing stronger of course didn't rest on him--it was up to his parents too.
- - -
Jesus took care of his mind--you don't grow in wisdom without being inquisitive. But you don't grow in favor with men if you ask a lot of annoying questions--so his questions must have always been piercing, yet pleasantly so. And he must never have asked a question unless he was sure it was a good one. He must have really used his words carefully to grow in favor with men as a twelve year old kid.
And he must have talked to and trusted God a lot--that's how you grow in favor with Him.
Abraham believed God--God called Abraham His friend.
Moses believed God--God put Him at the head of countless miracles.
Noah believed God--God spared him and his family from the end of all of Earth's living creatures.
- - -
Jesus just talked to God, like a son talks to his father or a friend talks to his friend or a student talks to her mentor. That's how God wants us to talk to him--not ornately, but as a son or a daughter. As a friend.
Let God's grace fall upon you, and talk to Him today.
1. Luke 2:40, 52
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
The return to Nazareth
Matthew 2:19-23
It's gotta feel good to have God come to you in a dream and say, "Hey, the people who were trying to kill you are dead. I killed 'em. Get up and go home."
I'd be like, "Wow... that's awesome, God. Thanks."
- - -
In yet another dream, God told Joseph to go to a different town than the one Mary and he lived in before escaping to Egypt. So Joseph goes there.
Meanwhile, Mary's not having any of these dreams--she's just trusting that her husband has:
1. really been having the dreams, and
2. really been having God visit Him in His dreams and not some bad anchovies from last night's pizza.
A lot of trust going on here with the parents of Jesus.
Lord, give us trust in place of our disbelief. Thank you, Father. Thank you.
It's gotta feel good to have God come to you in a dream and say, "Hey, the people who were trying to kill you are dead. I killed 'em. Get up and go home."
I'd be like, "Wow... that's awesome, God. Thanks."
- - -
In yet another dream, God told Joseph to go to a different town than the one Mary and he lived in before escaping to Egypt. So Joseph goes there.
Meanwhile, Mary's not having any of these dreams--she's just trusting that her husband has:
1. really been having the dreams, and
2. really been having God visit Him in His dreams and not some bad anchovies from last night's pizza.
A lot of trust going on here with the parents of Jesus.
Lord, give us trust in place of our disbelief. Thank you, Father. Thank you.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The escape to Egypt
Matthew 2:13-18
How can a good God let hundreds of babies and toddlers be killed by sword, spear, and brutality? An entire towns new young boys, slaughtered at the angry whim of a despot.
We know that nothing occurs outside of God's will--Jesus says not even a sparrow falls from the sky "apart from the will of your Father."1 And Paul writes that God's will is "good, pleasing and perfect."2
So, again, how can a good God will for such atrocity as Herod's infanticide, which Jesus and His family narrowly escaped at the behest of an angel? How can a good God let 100,000,000 homeless kids be homeless? How can he let so many innocent kids become slaves in the sex trade industry? How can he let massacres like Virginia Tech happen?
Let me take a whack at this. God desired a loving relationship with man, so, despite making man perfectly, God also gave man the choice to accept or reject God. Man chose rejection, and one consequence of this was evil. God's solution (since His desire hadn't changed) was to substitute Himself for man on the cross, but each person must still choose to accept or reject God's free offer of salvation. In essence, a lot of time has passed since Adam, but the choice remains the same, and it's gotta be made by all: to accept God, or not to accept Him? That is the question.
But I'm still wondering why God doesn't just get rid of evil, despite man's choice. Why doesn't God, who is greater than evil, do away with evil? Why let little kids suffer like that? And I guess the answer to that is summed up by Peter in his second letter:
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow... as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."3
I guess (and this is just a guess, because even though God blesses me with friendship, I do not know His mind) God's letting this mess continue out of patience for us--He just wants us all to come back to Him, and so He's waiting, hard as it must be, through all the brutal killing and harsh conditions suffered by so many of His sheep.
Father, give us patience like yours, and give us the wisdom to see its goodness. Thank you, my friend.
1. Matthew 10:29
2. Romans 12:2
3. 2 Peter 3:7-9
How can a good God let hundreds of babies and toddlers be killed by sword, spear, and brutality? An entire towns new young boys, slaughtered at the angry whim of a despot.
We know that nothing occurs outside of God's will--Jesus says not even a sparrow falls from the sky "apart from the will of your Father."1 And Paul writes that God's will is "good, pleasing and perfect."2
So, again, how can a good God will for such atrocity as Herod's infanticide, which Jesus and His family narrowly escaped at the behest of an angel? How can a good God let 100,000,000 homeless kids be homeless? How can he let so many innocent kids become slaves in the sex trade industry? How can he let massacres like Virginia Tech happen?
Let me take a whack at this. God desired a loving relationship with man, so, despite making man perfectly, God also gave man the choice to accept or reject God. Man chose rejection, and one consequence of this was evil. God's solution (since His desire hadn't changed) was to substitute Himself for man on the cross, but each person must still choose to accept or reject God's free offer of salvation. In essence, a lot of time has passed since Adam, but the choice remains the same, and it's gotta be made by all: to accept God, or not to accept Him? That is the question.
But I'm still wondering why God doesn't just get rid of evil, despite man's choice. Why doesn't God, who is greater than evil, do away with evil? Why let little kids suffer like that? And I guess the answer to that is summed up by Peter in his second letter:
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow... as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."3
I guess (and this is just a guess, because even though God blesses me with friendship, I do not know His mind) God's letting this mess continue out of patience for us--He just wants us all to come back to Him, and so He's waiting, hard as it must be, through all the brutal killing and harsh conditions suffered by so many of His sheep.
Father, give us patience like yours, and give us the wisdom to see its goodness. Thank you, my friend.
1. Matthew 10:29
2. Romans 12:2
3. 2 Peter 3:7-9
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Visitors arrive from eastern lands
Matthew 2:1-12
When you come to worship, what do you bring? The Magi brought their finest gifts. What have you given to the Lord lately?
When I give to God in worship, I always get in return. Since I've started giving the tithe, I've never run low on money. Whenever I give to charities benefiting "the least of these," I don't feel the transfer of funds. When I give, my senses sharpen, intensifying my intake of life.
Giving is part of trusting God. It is a part of worship (which is trusting God). God desires our trust, and He makes Himself vulnerable by allowing us to choose whether or not we'll offer up to Him His desire.
Lord, give us love in place of self-serving manipulation. Give us patience in place of short temper, humility in place of pride, wisdom in place of know-it-all-ness. Thank you, Friend.
When you come to worship, what do you bring? The Magi brought their finest gifts. What have you given to the Lord lately?
When I give to God in worship, I always get in return. Since I've started giving the tithe, I've never run low on money. Whenever I give to charities benefiting "the least of these," I don't feel the transfer of funds. When I give, my senses sharpen, intensifying my intake of life.
Giving is part of trusting God. It is a part of worship (which is trusting God). God desires our trust, and He makes Himself vulnerable by allowing us to choose whether or not we'll offer up to Him His desire.
Lord, give us love in place of self-serving manipulation. Give us patience in place of short temper, humility in place of pride, wisdom in place of know-it-all-ness. Thank you, Friend.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple
Luke 2:21-40
Listen to Simeon's words and hear the divine justice in them:
"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel..."
How true this prophecy was proven. Jesus either caused people to fall or to rise; He was either a stumbling block or a cornerstone. His role in the lives of His contemporaries, and in the lives of everyone since, depended on whether or not one chose to follow Him.
When we don't follow Him, we stumble; when we do, we rise on unshakable support.
"...and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.."
Truth: the thoughts of our hearts are revealed by what we speak against. When we gossip irresponsibly, the low stature that the object of our gossip has in our hearts is revealed. Just about anyone can act passably nice to someone's face--but how do you talk about people when they're not around?
What do you speak against? Do you speak against Jesus? Do you speak against love? Courage and bravery? Note what you speak against and use it to diagnose the condition of your heart.
Lord, give us wisdom in place of foolish complacency; humility in place of blinding, numbing pride; truth in place of self-serving lies. Thank you, Friend.
Listen to Simeon's words and hear the divine justice in them:
"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel..."
How true this prophecy was proven. Jesus either caused people to fall or to rise; He was either a stumbling block or a cornerstone. His role in the lives of His contemporaries, and in the lives of everyone since, depended on whether or not one chose to follow Him.
When we don't follow Him, we stumble; when we do, we rise on unshakable support.
"...and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.."
Truth: the thoughts of our hearts are revealed by what we speak against. When we gossip irresponsibly, the low stature that the object of our gossip has in our hearts is revealed. Just about anyone can act passably nice to someone's face--but how do you talk about people when they're not around?
What do you speak against? Do you speak against Jesus? Do you speak against love? Courage and bravery? Note what you speak against and use it to diagnose the condition of your heart.
Lord, give us wisdom in place of foolish complacency; humility in place of blinding, numbing pride; truth in place of self-serving lies. Thank you, Friend.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Shepherds visit Jesus
Luke 2:8-20
Jesus' first worshipers were lowly shepherds--again defying Jewish expectations for their Messiah. But just as God once made from a lowly shepherd Israel's most noble king David, so again did He prove with His son that only He knows perfection.
Only God knows good--so doesn't it make sense that He'd be the only one to know perfect? We prove we don't know good every time we look at someone and see a sinner or an idiot or a jerk or an annoyance or a prostitute or a porn star or a crooked cop while what He sees is good enough for salvation at greatest expense.
Further, since His will is "good, pleasing, and perfect,"1 perhaps only God knows what His will is. Yet He hears our prayers and He tells us whoever asks, receives.2
Lord, give us eyes that see you, ears that hear you, hands that feel you, noses that smell you, and fingers that touch you. Thank you, dear Friend.
- - -
When worshipping the Lord, bring something to Him--even if it's only all of you. That's what the shepherds did, and He loved it.
1. Romans 12:2
2. Matthew 7:7
Jesus' first worshipers were lowly shepherds--again defying Jewish expectations for their Messiah. But just as God once made from a lowly shepherd Israel's most noble king David, so again did He prove with His son that only He knows perfection.
Only God knows good--so doesn't it make sense that He'd be the only one to know perfect? We prove we don't know good every time we look at someone and see a sinner or an idiot or a jerk or an annoyance or a prostitute or a porn star or a crooked cop while what He sees is good enough for salvation at greatest expense.
Further, since His will is "good, pleasing, and perfect,"1 perhaps only God knows what His will is. Yet He hears our prayers and He tells us whoever asks, receives.2
Lord, give us eyes that see you, ears that hear you, hands that feel you, noses that smell you, and fingers that touch you. Thank you, dear Friend.
- - -
When worshipping the Lord, bring something to Him--even if it's only all of you. That's what the shepherds did, and He loved it.
1. Romans 12:2
2. Matthew 7:7
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Jesus is born in Bethlehem
Luke 2:1-7
Jesus was born in dirt and poverty. Jews expected their Messiah to be born into royalty and earthly power. Thus, with His debut, Jesus was doing what He did for the rest of His life--getting people to see that God doesn't fit into boxes, that human expectations are far too puny for His grandeur.
Lord, give us wisdom in place of our foolish expectations of you. Give us humility in place of our prideful definitions of who you are and how you do things. Grant us, your wayward friends, peace and grace.
Jesus was born in dirt and poverty. Jews expected their Messiah to be born into royalty and earthly power. Thus, with His debut, Jesus was doing what He did for the rest of His life--getting people to see that God doesn't fit into boxes, that human expectations are far too puny for His grandeur.
Lord, give us wisdom in place of our foolish expectations of you. Give us humility in place of our prideful definitions of who you are and how you do things. Grant us, your wayward friends, peace and grace.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
An angel appears to Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
Imagine having a dream where an angel told you to stay with your pregnant fiance (whom you've never touched, because you're a friend of God, described by people who know you as "righteous") and marry her.
Imagine telling your family, "Hey, I'm staying with Mary--God came to me in a dream and told me to. And you won't believe what else He said..."
Imagine telling your friends the same thing.
My friends would look at me with pity--not because they're bad guys, but because they want the best for me and nowadays following God like that is quickly labeled any number of foul things.
Despite others surely disapproving of his decision, Joseph did what he knew was right. My hat is off to him and to the God who never doubted him.
Imagine having a dream where an angel told you to stay with your pregnant fiance (whom you've never touched, because you're a friend of God, described by people who know you as "righteous") and marry her.
Imagine telling your family, "Hey, I'm staying with Mary--God came to me in a dream and told me to. And you won't believe what else He said..."
Imagine telling your friends the same thing.
My friends would look at me with pity--not because they're bad guys, but because they want the best for me and nowadays following God like that is quickly labeled any number of foul things.
Despite others surely disapproving of his decision, Joseph did what he knew was right. My hat is off to him and to the God who never doubted him.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
John the Baptist is born
Luke 1:57-80
John's role, according to his prophesying dad, was "to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins."1
And this was, according to Zechariah, Jesus' role: "To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."2
He came to shine on all of us living in darkness--for He was the Light. He came to free us from the shadow of death--for He was the Life. He came to guide our feet towards the path of peace--for He was the Way.
1. Luke 1:77
2. Luke 1:79
John's role, according to his prophesying dad, was "to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins."1
And this was, according to Zechariah, Jesus' role: "To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."2
He came to shine on all of us living in darkness--for He was the Light. He came to free us from the shadow of death--for He was the Life. He came to guide our feet towards the path of peace--for He was the Way.
1. Luke 1:77
2. Luke 1:79
Monday, May 7, 2007
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Luke 1:39-56
After reading Mary's song of rejoicing, how can we so fiercely desire control? Control is something I noticed today that I thirst for: in my classroom, in our school, in this bike trip, in my relationship with my love, Crystal. I claim to yield control to my best friend Jesus, and yet look at how greedily I clutch at control?
In the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, Bagger Vance says, "A man's grip on his club is like his grip on his world." Lord, let my grip be loose and natural. Let me play life like Bagger says about golf: "It can't be won, but can only be played."
Mary just played life, loving the Lord, not looking to win anything. She didn't plan any crazy gifts for the Lord, like a bike trip across the country of the United States of America. I want to do this bike trip for you, Jesus, and to do it with you. I want to tell people that we ride together for the enslaved little ones of the world.
If Mary were riding a bike across the country, she'd have Jesus riding on the handlebars. No, that's not right--she'd be riding on the handlebars while Jesus pedaled.
Read Mary's song The Magnificat--about how holy and merciful and mighty and just and provident our God is!
Thank you for reteaching me romance, Jesus, through life and through Mary's song.
After reading Mary's song of rejoicing, how can we so fiercely desire control? Control is something I noticed today that I thirst for: in my classroom, in our school, in this bike trip, in my relationship with my love, Crystal. I claim to yield control to my best friend Jesus, and yet look at how greedily I clutch at control?
In the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, Bagger Vance says, "A man's grip on his club is like his grip on his world." Lord, let my grip be loose and natural. Let me play life like Bagger says about golf: "It can't be won, but can only be played."
Mary just played life, loving the Lord, not looking to win anything. She didn't plan any crazy gifts for the Lord, like a bike trip across the country of the United States of America. I want to do this bike trip for you, Jesus, and to do it with you. I want to tell people that we ride together for the enslaved little ones of the world.
If Mary were riding a bike across the country, she'd have Jesus riding on the handlebars. No, that's not right--she'd be riding on the handlebars while Jesus pedaled.
Read Mary's song The Magnificat--about how holy and merciful and mighty and just and provident our God is!
Thank you for reteaching me romance, Jesus, through life and through Mary's song.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
An angel promises the birth of Jesus to Mary
Luke 1:26-38
For nothing is impossible with God.1
When I'm with my best friend in what I'm doing, when He's the center of what I'm doing, when He's the center of my thoughts and hearts and action, then absolutely nothing is impossible. Now, when I'm with my best friend, I don't feel like it's necessary to jump over a building or flip over a car (even though I sometimes get the urge)--but I do feel like loving people who are difficult to love, giving them grace instead of my puny, self-centered judgment.
Father, build in my students and my loved ones a heart for you. Eliminate the lies in them and replace them with Truth; eliminate the darkness around them and replace it with Light; eliminate the pride in them and replace it with Humility; eliminate the foolishness in them and replace it with Wisdom.
And all of these replacements can be replaced with the word "Jesus."
God, I believe you can do what I've asked. I know you're going to do it. I don't know when, but I know it's coming, and I thank you because then they'll have Life itself, and I want the people I love to live real Life.
God, be with Meghan--do not leave her side. Give her every ounce of your grace and your peace, my Friend.
- - -
When Gabriel told Mary what the deal was with the son she was to have, he revealed a lot about what this kid would be like.
He would be great. He would be called the Son of the Most High. He would be given the throne of David, his father. He would reign forever over the house of Jacob. His kingdom would never end. He would be a holy one. He would be called the Son of God.
He would be given the name Jesus.
The rest is history.
- - -
Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's message was different from Zechariah's. Mary was "greatly troubled" by the Gabriel's greeting.2 The Gabriel called her one highly favored, whom the Lord was with.3 Mary was a humble girl, and this kind of attention from God was unexpected--so much so that it scared her.4
Gabriel tells her not to be scared, and then he tells her about Jesus.
Mary doesn't scoff, laugh, or remark at the impossibility of what the angel proposes--instead, she asks, "How will this be?" She doesn't say it's impossible, she just wonders what she needs to do to become pregnant, since she's a virgin right now. Mary believes in God's power to do anything--she simply wonders if she's got to do anything to help.
- - -
Our best friend wants to be believed like that. It's only polite and loyal and true and trusting to believe what your best friend tells you!
- - -
Finally, despite the consequences of this impossible situation (you could get stoned for being pregnant outside of wedlock), Mary agrees to do whatever Gabe asks, saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
Perhaps ironically, her son, who was completely God and completely man, turned out to be the servant of humanity.
- - -
Am I prepared similarly to ask my best friend to fulfill his Word in me? Are you?
Father, you are my constant companion, my best friend, and my light in the darkness. Make me aware of these constantly for the rest of my life, please. Thank you. For in being aware of you, all else falls into place--I am humbled, I am made wise, I am staring at the infinity of Truth.
- - -
1. Luke 1:37, emphasis mine
2. Luke 1:29
3. Luke 1:28
4. Luke 1:30
5. Luke 1:34, emphasis mine
For nothing is impossible with God.1
When I'm with my best friend in what I'm doing, when He's the center of what I'm doing, when He's the center of my thoughts and hearts and action, then absolutely nothing is impossible. Now, when I'm with my best friend, I don't feel like it's necessary to jump over a building or flip over a car (even though I sometimes get the urge)--but I do feel like loving people who are difficult to love, giving them grace instead of my puny, self-centered judgment.
Father, build in my students and my loved ones a heart for you. Eliminate the lies in them and replace them with Truth; eliminate the darkness around them and replace it with Light; eliminate the pride in them and replace it with Humility; eliminate the foolishness in them and replace it with Wisdom.
And all of these replacements can be replaced with the word "Jesus."
God, I believe you can do what I've asked. I know you're going to do it. I don't know when, but I know it's coming, and I thank you because then they'll have Life itself, and I want the people I love to live real Life.
God, be with Meghan--do not leave her side. Give her every ounce of your grace and your peace, my Friend.
- - -
When Gabriel told Mary what the deal was with the son she was to have, he revealed a lot about what this kid would be like.
He would be great. He would be called the Son of the Most High. He would be given the throne of David, his father. He would reign forever over the house of Jacob. His kingdom would never end. He would be a holy one. He would be called the Son of God.
He would be given the name Jesus.
The rest is history.
- - -
Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's message was different from Zechariah's. Mary was "greatly troubled" by the Gabriel's greeting.2 The Gabriel called her one highly favored, whom the Lord was with.3 Mary was a humble girl, and this kind of attention from God was unexpected--so much so that it scared her.4
Gabriel tells her not to be scared, and then he tells her about Jesus.
Mary doesn't scoff, laugh, or remark at the impossibility of what the angel proposes--instead, she asks, "How will this be?" She doesn't say it's impossible, she just wonders what she needs to do to become pregnant, since she's a virgin right now. Mary believes in God's power to do anything--she simply wonders if she's got to do anything to help.
- - -
Our best friend wants to be believed like that. It's only polite and loyal and true and trusting to believe what your best friend tells you!
- - -
Finally, despite the consequences of this impossible situation (you could get stoned for being pregnant outside of wedlock), Mary agrees to do whatever Gabe asks, saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
Perhaps ironically, her son, who was completely God and completely man, turned out to be the servant of humanity.
- - -
Am I prepared similarly to ask my best friend to fulfill his Word in me? Are you?
Father, you are my constant companion, my best friend, and my light in the darkness. Make me aware of these constantly for the rest of my life, please. Thank you. For in being aware of you, all else falls into place--I am humbled, I am made wise, I am staring at the infinity of Truth.
- - -
1. Luke 1:37, emphasis mine
2. Luke 1:29
3. Luke 1:28
4. Luke 1:30
5. Luke 1:34, emphasis mine
Saturday, May 5, 2007
An angel promises the birth of John to Zechariah
Luke 1:5-25
Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, and Elizabeth's womb had always been barren. An angel dropped in on Z during work, Z was startled, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard."
Sometimes--no, a lot of the times--these are the exact words our souls long to hear.
1. Don't be afraid.
2. Your prayer has been heard.
Z and his wife had probably been praying for kids since they were young and first married. Decades later, it obviously seemed too much to believe that God was finally delivering what they had asked for, because Zechariah said, "How can I be sure of this?" His disbelief earned him mutedness until the birth of his son.
What is the cost of our disbelief? What price do we pay when we don't believe our best friend? Not believing your best friend naturally erodes your friendship. Trust shrivels up and dies. You stop talking and seeing your friend as much. And of course, your best friend's feelings are hurt!
I don't think our friendship with God is so much different from the earthly friendships we're familiar with. God has made Himself vulnerable to us from the get-go--that's why He gave us the choice to want Him or not. Every good friend has to do that--no good friend is controlling.
I don't think God is controlling at all. I think we have a greater tendency towards demanding control. If God demanded control of us, He'd just take it. He doesn't want to control us--he just wants our friendship.
- - -
Though Zechariah's disbelief did leave him disabled, it couldn't do away with the gift God intended to give him. Elizabeth became pregnant, exactly at the "proper time."1
A lot of time God's timing seems whack to us. I think that's because the things He does affect so delicate a tapestry. Had Zechariah and Elizabeth been given another child earlier, the wonder of Elizabeth's first pregnancy at so late an age would not have been as great. Had John been born at an earlier or later time, he would not have been who he was when He met Jesus in a river--he would have been an older or a younger John, not John the Baptist of Jesus John.
Basically, your best friend is a good guy and he's really not trying to be mean with late gifts. Just trust Him.
Lord, give us grace in place of judgment, humility in place of pride, wisdom in place of foolishness, and truth in place of lies.
1. Luke 1:20
Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, and Elizabeth's womb had always been barren. An angel dropped in on Z during work, Z was startled, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard."
Sometimes--no, a lot of the times--these are the exact words our souls long to hear.
1. Don't be afraid.
2. Your prayer has been heard.
Z and his wife had probably been praying for kids since they were young and first married. Decades later, it obviously seemed too much to believe that God was finally delivering what they had asked for, because Zechariah said, "How can I be sure of this?" His disbelief earned him mutedness until the birth of his son.
What is the cost of our disbelief? What price do we pay when we don't believe our best friend? Not believing your best friend naturally erodes your friendship. Trust shrivels up and dies. You stop talking and seeing your friend as much. And of course, your best friend's feelings are hurt!
I don't think our friendship with God is so much different from the earthly friendships we're familiar with. God has made Himself vulnerable to us from the get-go--that's why He gave us the choice to want Him or not. Every good friend has to do that--no good friend is controlling.
I don't think God is controlling at all. I think we have a greater tendency towards demanding control. If God demanded control of us, He'd just take it. He doesn't want to control us--he just wants our friendship.
- - -
Though Zechariah's disbelief did leave him disabled, it couldn't do away with the gift God intended to give him. Elizabeth became pregnant, exactly at the "proper time."1
A lot of time God's timing seems whack to us. I think that's because the things He does affect so delicate a tapestry. Had Zechariah and Elizabeth been given another child earlier, the wonder of Elizabeth's first pregnancy at so late an age would not have been as great. Had John been born at an earlier or later time, he would not have been who he was when He met Jesus in a river--he would have been an older or a younger John, not John the Baptist of Jesus John.
Basically, your best friend is a good guy and he's really not trying to be mean with late gifts. Just trust Him.
Lord, give us grace in place of judgment, humility in place of pride, wisdom in place of foolishness, and truth in place of lies.
1. Luke 1:20
Friday, May 4, 2007
The Ancestors of Jesus
Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38
My ancestors are David Ralph Stuart, Dean Lewis Stuart, and all the way back to maybe a king in Scotland and way beyond that to people who came from Rome and way beyond that to people who came from someplace else. I don't know if the king of Scotland part is true and I don't know where the Garden of Eden was but that's my basic ancestry.
Matthew and Luke both felt led to include in the beginnings of their gospels a genealogy of Jesus. The both kind of made a point with their genealogies. Matthew said Jesus was related to all Jews by tracing his ancestry back to Abe, and Luke said Jesus was related to all people by tracing his ancestry back to Adam and his dad, God.
Here are some people Jesus came from (in chronological order):
God: This guy made everything, and He's been around forever. He's perfect. He's my best friend.
Adam: He's the apple of God's eye: his first kid, the first person. Unfortunately, Adam just sat there and watched his lady Eve get deceived. He didn't stand up and speak when He knew He should of, and it's safe to say He regretted it for a long time.
Noah: He was the only guy in the whole world who walked with God, and he did a remarkable thing: he built an enormous ship in the middle of dry ground. Imagine being the only person in the world who knew God as a friend, and then spending a year building a huge boat in the middle of dry ground, no water for miles and miles. That would be a year of mocking and scoffing. No imagine that after that one year you kept on working for 119 more. That was Noah's faith.
Shem: When his dad got drunk and fell asleep naked in a tent, Shem and his brother Japheth walked into the tent backwards and laid a cloak on their father. He honored his father even when his father didn't honor himself.
Abraham: "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."1 So anyone walking around in self-righteousness, they're confused. There are a lot of confused people walking around--I'm one of them half the time. But it is only in believing the stuff our best friend tells us that we're considered righteous--and wouldn't you consider a best friendship that didn't have trust and belief at its core a pretty messed up relationship? Righteous is just a "right" with God.
In the sight of God, Abraham is the father of all who believe God.2 And to God, Abraham was more than a creation--he was a friend.3
Isaac: Isaac was born to a mom who was 90 and a dad who was 100--he was a miracle kid.
Jacob: From Jacob's loins came the 12 tribes of Israel. He was a determined lover, working 14 years just for the right to marry his beloved. Jacob's life can best be described as stressful--he was constantly struggling for something. Finally, his stress peaked when he met a stranger near a riverbank and wrestled him all night. Did you ever get the urge as a kid to just wrestle your best friend? That's what Jacob was doing when he wrestled the stranger, who turned out to be God.
Jacob showed us that God is always up for a good wrestling match with a buddy.
Judah: He was one of Jacob's kids. He slept with his own daughter-in-law, thinking she was a prostitute.
Tamar: She slept with her father-in-law, pretending she was a prostitute. She wanted to seduce Judah so she could mother his oldest line. Judah wanted to have sex with the prostitute because he was lustful.
Rahab: She was a full-time prostitute living on the edge of a city that Israel was about to destroy. We love to look down on those who are homeless, who are prostitutes or porn stars or homosexuals. Rahab ended up fearlessly saving lives, and she's the second prostitute in Jesus' lineage.
Lord, may we never look down on anyone again.
Boaz: This guy's words to anyone were imbued with kindness. He had a strong tendency to do the right thing, thinking of others before himself. God, please give me that tendency. He was a man of his word, with a sharp sense of integrity.
King David: God described David as a man after His own heart. That's awesome, to have a heart after God's. Awesome. David was the man, a passionate lover of God; his love poetry to the Lord stands fresh after millennia.
Bathsheba: David had a great friend named Uriah--he was part of David's posse, the Mighty Men. One time David's army was out fighting a war someplace, and David was chilling in the palace. He went up to the roof and saw a beautiful woman bathing through a window. Had he been of a decent mind, the king would have simply looked away, embarrassed. But David was bored, his boredom led to lust, his lust led to having the woman (Bathsheba) brought to him, and the rest was history. Bathsheba got pregnant, and David, unwilling to own up to his immoral choice, instead had Uriah come home from the war, lay with Bathsheba, and then go back to a war with a message telling his commander to have Uriah killed on the front lines.
Bathsheba was the mistake of David's life--and yet, even after making himself an adulterer, a liar, and a murderer, God described David as a man after His own heart.
Solomon: When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon, just a kid, asked God to give him wisdom so he'd know how to govern God's people. This pleased God. Unfortunately, Solomon showed us that wisdom from God and having the will to apply that wisdom are two separate things.
Rehoboam: He was the son of Solomon and a fluctuator between following God and abandoning Him. He refused wise counsel, seeking instead counsel that agreed with him. Bad idea, Reho. He was the last king of united Israel.
Asa: He was so money until he made one mistake (bribing another king for allegiance rather than trusting God), which he stubbornly held onto until his death. He is a cautionary tale to all of us who pridefully rationalize our mistakes instead humbly confessing our error.
Jehoshaphat: Asa's kid turned to God for the tough stuff but trusted in himself on the stuff that seemed easy. That "easy" stuff turned out to be the root of his ruin.
Zerubbabel: He had the gusto that many of us feel at the start of something big, but, like many of us, a few setbacks or doubters built a fear and a hopeless in him that derailed the project. For 16 years Z didn't do a thing on his project--then, once he was encouraged by a couple great dudes, he went to town and finished the project in a four quick years.
Mary: She was an ordinary person who made herself available to God. Once God told her what He wanted to do through her, she said, "I'm your servant--may it be to me as you have said."4
Lord, give us wisdom in place of foolishness, humility in place of pride, truth in place of lies, vision in place of blindness and hearing in place of deafness.
Thank you, God.
- - -
1. Genesis 15:6
2. Romans 4:16-17
3. 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23
4. Luke 1:38
My ancestors are David Ralph Stuart, Dean Lewis Stuart, and all the way back to maybe a king in Scotland and way beyond that to people who came from Rome and way beyond that to people who came from someplace else. I don't know if the king of Scotland part is true and I don't know where the Garden of Eden was but that's my basic ancestry.
Matthew and Luke both felt led to include in the beginnings of their gospels a genealogy of Jesus. The both kind of made a point with their genealogies. Matthew said Jesus was related to all Jews by tracing his ancestry back to Abe, and Luke said Jesus was related to all people by tracing his ancestry back to Adam and his dad, God.
Here are some people Jesus came from (in chronological order):
God: This guy made everything, and He's been around forever. He's perfect. He's my best friend.
Adam: He's the apple of God's eye: his first kid, the first person. Unfortunately, Adam just sat there and watched his lady Eve get deceived. He didn't stand up and speak when He knew He should of, and it's safe to say He regretted it for a long time.
Noah: He was the only guy in the whole world who walked with God, and he did a remarkable thing: he built an enormous ship in the middle of dry ground. Imagine being the only person in the world who knew God as a friend, and then spending a year building a huge boat in the middle of dry ground, no water for miles and miles. That would be a year of mocking and scoffing. No imagine that after that one year you kept on working for 119 more. That was Noah's faith.
Shem: When his dad got drunk and fell asleep naked in a tent, Shem and his brother Japheth walked into the tent backwards and laid a cloak on their father. He honored his father even when his father didn't honor himself.
Abraham: "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."1 So anyone walking around in self-righteousness, they're confused. There are a lot of confused people walking around--I'm one of them half the time. But it is only in believing the stuff our best friend tells us that we're considered righteous--and wouldn't you consider a best friendship that didn't have trust and belief at its core a pretty messed up relationship? Righteous is just a "right" with God.
In the sight of God, Abraham is the father of all who believe God.2 And to God, Abraham was more than a creation--he was a friend.3
Isaac: Isaac was born to a mom who was 90 and a dad who was 100--he was a miracle kid.
Jacob: From Jacob's loins came the 12 tribes of Israel. He was a determined lover, working 14 years just for the right to marry his beloved. Jacob's life can best be described as stressful--he was constantly struggling for something. Finally, his stress peaked when he met a stranger near a riverbank and wrestled him all night. Did you ever get the urge as a kid to just wrestle your best friend? That's what Jacob was doing when he wrestled the stranger, who turned out to be God.
Jacob showed us that God is always up for a good wrestling match with a buddy.
Judah: He was one of Jacob's kids. He slept with his own daughter-in-law, thinking she was a prostitute.
Tamar: She slept with her father-in-law, pretending she was a prostitute. She wanted to seduce Judah so she could mother his oldest line. Judah wanted to have sex with the prostitute because he was lustful.
Rahab: She was a full-time prostitute living on the edge of a city that Israel was about to destroy. We love to look down on those who are homeless, who are prostitutes or porn stars or homosexuals. Rahab ended up fearlessly saving lives, and she's the second prostitute in Jesus' lineage.
Lord, may we never look down on anyone again.
Boaz: This guy's words to anyone were imbued with kindness. He had a strong tendency to do the right thing, thinking of others before himself. God, please give me that tendency. He was a man of his word, with a sharp sense of integrity.
King David: God described David as a man after His own heart. That's awesome, to have a heart after God's. Awesome. David was the man, a passionate lover of God; his love poetry to the Lord stands fresh after millennia.
Bathsheba: David had a great friend named Uriah--he was part of David's posse, the Mighty Men. One time David's army was out fighting a war someplace, and David was chilling in the palace. He went up to the roof and saw a beautiful woman bathing through a window. Had he been of a decent mind, the king would have simply looked away, embarrassed. But David was bored, his boredom led to lust, his lust led to having the woman (Bathsheba) brought to him, and the rest was history. Bathsheba got pregnant, and David, unwilling to own up to his immoral choice, instead had Uriah come home from the war, lay with Bathsheba, and then go back to a war with a message telling his commander to have Uriah killed on the front lines.
Bathsheba was the mistake of David's life--and yet, even after making himself an adulterer, a liar, and a murderer, God described David as a man after His own heart.
Solomon: When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon, just a kid, asked God to give him wisdom so he'd know how to govern God's people. This pleased God. Unfortunately, Solomon showed us that wisdom from God and having the will to apply that wisdom are two separate things.
Rehoboam: He was the son of Solomon and a fluctuator between following God and abandoning Him. He refused wise counsel, seeking instead counsel that agreed with him. Bad idea, Reho. He was the last king of united Israel.
Asa: He was so money until he made one mistake (bribing another king for allegiance rather than trusting God), which he stubbornly held onto until his death. He is a cautionary tale to all of us who pridefully rationalize our mistakes instead humbly confessing our error.
Jehoshaphat: Asa's kid turned to God for the tough stuff but trusted in himself on the stuff that seemed easy. That "easy" stuff turned out to be the root of his ruin.
Zerubbabel: He had the gusto that many of us feel at the start of something big, but, like many of us, a few setbacks or doubters built a fear and a hopeless in him that derailed the project. For 16 years Z didn't do a thing on his project--then, once he was encouraged by a couple great dudes, he went to town and finished the project in a four quick years.
Mary: She was an ordinary person who made herself available to God. Once God told her what He wanted to do through her, she said, "I'm your servant--may it be to me as you have said."4
Lord, give us wisdom in place of foolishness, humility in place of pride, truth in place of lies, vision in place of blindness and hearing in place of deafness.
Thank you, God.
- - -
1. Genesis 15:6
2. Romans 4:16-17
3. 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23
4. Luke 1:38
Thursday, May 3, 2007
God Became Human
John 1:1-18
John calls Jesus "the Word"--kind of brings a new meaning to phrases I've used all my life, like "word to your mother." Word to your mother changes from being something that means general agreement to something that means, Hey, I wish your mom nothing left than the best friend ever.
Jesus was with God in the beginning, John says. So Jesus has been best friends with God from the start--which for God was forever ago.
John goes on: in Jesus was life. We get confused and say that the teachings of Christ (you know, loving your enemies, treating others as you'd be treated, giving a cloak away when you have two, etc) only apply to a certain extent in the real world. "Well, that's true," we say, "but... ." We love to add that "but." We are but masters. Masters of but. But according to John, in Jesus is life--so whatever we label life outside of friendship with Him is... well, not life! In other words, when we try to rationalize away the teachings of the best guy who ever lived by saying, well, He didn't entirely mean that, or He didn't mean that that way... I think John would take issue with that, and I think my best friend, who wrote the Bible as an autobiography, would also take issue with that.
This life is also light. As a guy who often feels like he's in fog, that sounds beautiful when I meditate on it. I often despair at the general feeling of apathetic confusion that surrounds me and fills me. Have you ever been apathetic or confused about the government? Or the reports of the media? Or the behavior of friends, children, or relatives? Jesus' light is so fierce that it burns away the dark fogs of apathy and confusion.
The light can shine into anything in the darkness, John says, but the darkness cannot darken into the light. The darkness just kind of sits there when the light shows up and hangs its jaw open and says, "Du-huh?" The darkness can't understand the light. The light is a superior force. It is only the absence of light--it is a non-thing. The light is dominant. It is an energy that moves inexplicably through the universe. Physicists don't fully understand what it is. And the Light gives eyes that really see and ears that really hear and hands that really feel.
Lord, give us ears that hear, eyes that see, and hands that feel.
- - -
In high school I was taught that dramatic irony was when romeo took the poison over Juliet's sleeping body, thinking she was dead, only to then have her wake up, see her lover's dead body, and stab herself with a knife to end her life. I once heard on a documentary that Shakespeare wrote all the world's stories, and then anything written after that was simply a rewrite. But look at this: Jesus, who passionately loved the world, was not recognized by his lover. His lover killed him.
Time out: that's like if Romeo was, unbeknown to Juliet, diminished from rich prince to pauper. The pauper Romeo came to Juliet declaring his real identity to her, but though he told her he was Romeo, she killed him just for saying it.
But Shakespeare could have made it a step more dramatic if he really wanted to follow the story he stole R+J from: he could have somehow had Romeo make Juliet (and the whole world), and then he could have had Romeo rise from the dead and tell her that he still loved her despite what she'd done. Now that would have made a play.
- - -
There's a transformation, a surreal mutation that takes place when we receive our friend Jesus. We become unnatural. No longer are we the product of our genes. No longer are we the product of a bad choice between two horny adolescents, or an "accident," or a "surprise," or the product of rape.
No. According to God, we've completely transformed into His kids, born straight out of His womb. We're not just his best friends--we're literally His flesh and blood.
- - -
My dad had a best friendship with my grandpa, and he has always wanted that same friendship with me. I've despaired about it at times, because sometimes my dad and I haven't seen eye to eye, and sometimes I'm living on another side of the state or another part of the country.
But I now I count it little wonder that God tells me I should honor my dad. The longing that my dad has is the same longing that Christ has. Jesus was best friends with his father, and now he wants to be best friends with his sons and daughters. God, through my dad, has shown me in my dad's dream a glimpse into how He feels when I don't treat Him like a best friend or even show an interest.
Wow.
Suddenly, when I see this, my love for my dad grows to new fruition, and I love him and the emails he sends me and his views on politics and these United States of America. I love him ferociously, like the Lion of Judah has taught me to.
- - -
The bible is a book written by my best friend, and it's about my best friend. It's kind of an autobiography that He wrote, but He got artistic and used different voice and genres and hundreds of characters.
My best friend is a really wild guy, but he's such a good guy, too. You really should read His book, you'd start to love Him.
- - -
God, give us grace and truth; fill us with it, like milk, every day for the rest of our lives. Thank you.
- - -
John writes that no one has ever seen you, my best friend--yet you, my best friend, have made yourself known.
John calls Jesus "the Word"--kind of brings a new meaning to phrases I've used all my life, like "word to your mother." Word to your mother changes from being something that means general agreement to something that means, Hey, I wish your mom nothing left than the best friend ever.
Jesus was with God in the beginning, John says. So Jesus has been best friends with God from the start--which for God was forever ago.
John goes on: in Jesus was life. We get confused and say that the teachings of Christ (you know, loving your enemies, treating others as you'd be treated, giving a cloak away when you have two, etc) only apply to a certain extent in the real world. "Well, that's true," we say, "but... ." We love to add that "but." We are but masters. Masters of but. But according to John, in Jesus is life--so whatever we label life outside of friendship with Him is... well, not life! In other words, when we try to rationalize away the teachings of the best guy who ever lived by saying, well, He didn't entirely mean that, or He didn't mean that that way... I think John would take issue with that, and I think my best friend, who wrote the Bible as an autobiography, would also take issue with that.
This life is also light. As a guy who often feels like he's in fog, that sounds beautiful when I meditate on it. I often despair at the general feeling of apathetic confusion that surrounds me and fills me. Have you ever been apathetic or confused about the government? Or the reports of the media? Or the behavior of friends, children, or relatives? Jesus' light is so fierce that it burns away the dark fogs of apathy and confusion.
The light can shine into anything in the darkness, John says, but the darkness cannot darken into the light. The darkness just kind of sits there when the light shows up and hangs its jaw open and says, "Du-huh?" The darkness can't understand the light. The light is a superior force. It is only the absence of light--it is a non-thing. The light is dominant. It is an energy that moves inexplicably through the universe. Physicists don't fully understand what it is. And the Light gives eyes that really see and ears that really hear and hands that really feel.
Lord, give us ears that hear, eyes that see, and hands that feel.
- - -
In high school I was taught that dramatic irony was when romeo took the poison over Juliet's sleeping body, thinking she was dead, only to then have her wake up, see her lover's dead body, and stab herself with a knife to end her life. I once heard on a documentary that Shakespeare wrote all the world's stories, and then anything written after that was simply a rewrite. But look at this: Jesus, who passionately loved the world, was not recognized by his lover. His lover killed him.
Time out: that's like if Romeo was, unbeknown to Juliet, diminished from rich prince to pauper. The pauper Romeo came to Juliet declaring his real identity to her, but though he told her he was Romeo, she killed him just for saying it.
But Shakespeare could have made it a step more dramatic if he really wanted to follow the story he stole R+J from: he could have somehow had Romeo make Juliet (and the whole world), and then he could have had Romeo rise from the dead and tell her that he still loved her despite what she'd done. Now that would have made a play.
- - -
There's a transformation, a surreal mutation that takes place when we receive our friend Jesus. We become unnatural. No longer are we the product of our genes. No longer are we the product of a bad choice between two horny adolescents, or an "accident," or a "surprise," or the product of rape.
No. According to God, we've completely transformed into His kids, born straight out of His womb. We're not just his best friends--we're literally His flesh and blood.
- - -
My dad had a best friendship with my grandpa, and he has always wanted that same friendship with me. I've despaired about it at times, because sometimes my dad and I haven't seen eye to eye, and sometimes I'm living on another side of the state or another part of the country.
But I now I count it little wonder that God tells me I should honor my dad. The longing that my dad has is the same longing that Christ has. Jesus was best friends with his father, and now he wants to be best friends with his sons and daughters. God, through my dad, has shown me in my dad's dream a glimpse into how He feels when I don't treat Him like a best friend or even show an interest.
Wow.
Suddenly, when I see this, my love for my dad grows to new fruition, and I love him and the emails he sends me and his views on politics and these United States of America. I love him ferociously, like the Lion of Judah has taught me to.
- - -
The bible is a book written by my best friend, and it's about my best friend. It's kind of an autobiography that He wrote, but He got artistic and used different voice and genres and hundreds of characters.
My best friend is a really wild guy, but he's such a good guy, too. You really should read His book, you'd start to love Him.
- - -
God, give us grace and truth; fill us with it, like milk, every day for the rest of our lives. Thank you.
- - -
John writes that no one has ever seen you, my best friend--yet you, my best friend, have made yourself known.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Luke's Purpose in Writing
Luke 1:1-4
When Luke sat down to write his book, all kinds of people were already doing the same exact thing. It wasn't a new idea. It was something he planned to do differently that it had already been done--just like others, he planned to use eyewitness reports and careful investigation. He writes of no high hopes for his book, no visions of fame or fortune--he just wants to help his friend Theophilus be certain of the truth of what he'd been taught.
Luke was willing to sit down and write a whole book for the good of one friend.
A whole book written for one person.
Sure, God ended up taking that book and making it a part of the most-published book in history--but Luke didn't ever intend for that. He intended to help Theophilus so he could be certain of the truth of everything he was taught.
This speaks to me.
Awhile ago, during spring break, I got this weird itch--I wanted to ride a bike across the country all of a sudden. Then Crystal said, Hey, you should raise money for your field trip this summer (at the time I badly wanted to take my students on a cross-country road trip next spring break, an endeavor that would take nearly $100,000). And I said, Hey, I think I might ride a bike across the country to raise money for our field trip. And she said, Okay, Honey.
And I thought, Man, that might really show the kids how much I love them--that I'd be willing to ride a bike across the country to raise money for our field trip.
When we got back from spring break, I went to town trying to get this field trip approved. It was hard, because no one in our school had ever done a cross-country field trip before. All I could see was red tape. So I had another itch: maybe if I started a nonprofit for my kids, I could eliminate some middle men. I started looking into nonprofits.
About two days later I started to get overwhelmed. I had always kind of wanted to have a nonprofit for my classroom, because that's what a guy named Rafe Esquith in Los Angeles does, and he does some really neat things with his kids. But once I starting reading all the work that went into making one, I decided to look for a nonprofit that already did what I was trying to do with my kids. Why reinvent the wheel, I thought.
And that's how I found the Esperanza Movement Foundation--a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a revolution of hope for the homeless children of the world. It broke into my heart, and before an hour had passed I realized that this was what my kids needed to be plugged in to, the reality that there are 100,000,000 homeless kids in the world going through all this terrible stuff and there aren't anywhere near enough shelters and education centers for them. These kids are hurting bad, and next to my kids who just haven't had a chance to drive across the country to San Francisco... well, they made the apathy of my kids towards school and teachers and helping people was straight from hell.
So the next day I told the kids about the problem of homeless kids in our world. I told them about prostitution and slavery and military service and incestuous abuse and industrial glue sniffing--all of it involving kids their age or younger.
The next day we were talking about it again, because again I saw their apathy, and I told them there were two ways we were going to do something about the problem: raising awareness and raising money. I told Destiney to make a collection jar out of a box of highlighters. I'll never forget the miracle of seeing that classroom of children emptying their pockets. That day we raised $10.42 for the homeless kids.
Or the next day when I got the mike in the cafeteria. The kids were not all quieting down (again, that apathy), and I was unwilling to yell at them. I went back to my seat saying after saying they were missing out. A lot of kids were disappointed in me for that, because a lot of the kids were being quiet for me. Terrence passed the jar around the lunchroom and I passed it around my classes. That day we raised $12.91 for homeless kids.
The next day I decided no matter what I was going to say what was going on when I had that microphone, and whoever wasn't listening, oh well. Ms Maul got the whole cafeteria quieted down this time, and I started by telling them that 1 in 4 kids lives in absolute poverty in our world, and 100,000,000 kids in the world are homeless. I told them, as I looked around that packed cafeteria and hundreds of attentive eyes, that it's easy for us to say our cafeteria food is gross when we don't have to pick through a landfill to find dinner, and I told them it's easy for us to say school sucks when we don't have to be out on the streets doing God knows what instead of having the chance to go to it, and I told them it's easy for us to laugh at words like prostitute and sex when many of us have never been forced to do them before we learned what they were. And I ended by saying that if any of them could spare some change for the homeless kids, my students and I would really appreciate it.
The caf erupted in applause. I'll never forget that--it felt like something out of a movie, even though at the same time I knew most of them were just doing it because sixth graders like being loud.
We raised $17.10 that day for homeless kids. It seemed like a million dollars.
The next day, we raised $18.57 for homeless kids. It seemed like a million and ten dollars.
As of today, we've raised $69.40 for homeless kids. We've been at it for six days.
Meanwhile, I started telling a few kids about what I wanted to do this summer--ride a bike across the country to raise money for homeless kids. I think I told Rashad first. I was dropping him off at his house, and when I was finished telling him what I wanted to do, we just sat there in front of his house. He kind of stared at me with his mouth agape, and then he said I was crazy. Every minute he would ask me, Mr Stuart, are you really going to do that? You are crazy, Mr Stuart.
I started telling my classes. Each class I told, I started when I saw apathy. I talked about the 100,000,000 homeless kids who would probably like to be sitting in Mr or Ms Apathy's seat, and then, once again, I said we each can do something about this. Kid's would say, Well why doesn't George Bush do something for those homeless kids? What's Donald Trump doing with all this money? And I told them that we always have a choice, and that in this case we could point fingers at people who aren't doing helping the homeless kids, or we can worry about what we're doing for the homeless kids, trusting that God will be faithful in helping us do it if we ask Him.
For example, I said, I think I'm going to ride a bike across the country this summer to raise money and awareness for the homeless kids.
Haha, if only I could have recorded the questions and the disbelief of those kids. You'd have sworn I was in a room of 80 year-old know-it-alls! They scoffed. They guffawed. They mocked. It was beautiful! Again, like a scene out of a movie. My adrenaline pumped each time this happened in a class. I had some of the biggest scoffers write how far they thought I would get--had them sign and date their predictions.
Those are hanging above my dresser now.
- - -
When this all started, I only wanted to help my kids and do something I thought I'd enjoy. It turned into wanting to help the 100,000,000 homeless kids in the world, but, in a way, I think now it's even more of a love song to my students that before. This trip is about more than 100,000,000 homeless kids--it's about a couple classes of American kids seeing that there really are huge things that small people can do when they trust in God, that there really are things outside of ourselves worth giving more than our all for, that we really can create ripples on our walk with God through this vast universe.
And so, in a small, humble way, my soul resonates with Luke's when he sat down to write a book, a whole book, for the sake of his one buddy, completely content in doing something that all kinds of people were already doing. He didn't care that it wasn't a unique idea, that it wasn't going to be known by anyone other than Theophilas. He didn't have any big vision.
And God turned it into the Book of Luke.
Father, build in each my students a heart for you. Build in them humility, taking out pride. Build in them wisdom, taking out foolishness. Build in them truth, taking out lies. Build in them grace, taking out vindictiveness. Build in them a heart for you. Thank you, my God, my rock, my deliver.
Amen.
When Luke sat down to write his book, all kinds of people were already doing the same exact thing. It wasn't a new idea. It was something he planned to do differently that it had already been done--just like others, he planned to use eyewitness reports and careful investigation. He writes of no high hopes for his book, no visions of fame or fortune--he just wants to help his friend Theophilus be certain of the truth of what he'd been taught.
Luke was willing to sit down and write a whole book for the good of one friend.
A whole book written for one person.
Sure, God ended up taking that book and making it a part of the most-published book in history--but Luke didn't ever intend for that. He intended to help Theophilus so he could be certain of the truth of everything he was taught.
This speaks to me.
Awhile ago, during spring break, I got this weird itch--I wanted to ride a bike across the country all of a sudden. Then Crystal said, Hey, you should raise money for your field trip this summer (at the time I badly wanted to take my students on a cross-country road trip next spring break, an endeavor that would take nearly $100,000). And I said, Hey, I think I might ride a bike across the country to raise money for our field trip. And she said, Okay, Honey.
And I thought, Man, that might really show the kids how much I love them--that I'd be willing to ride a bike across the country to raise money for our field trip.
When we got back from spring break, I went to town trying to get this field trip approved. It was hard, because no one in our school had ever done a cross-country field trip before. All I could see was red tape. So I had another itch: maybe if I started a nonprofit for my kids, I could eliminate some middle men. I started looking into nonprofits.
About two days later I started to get overwhelmed. I had always kind of wanted to have a nonprofit for my classroom, because that's what a guy named Rafe Esquith in Los Angeles does, and he does some really neat things with his kids. But once I starting reading all the work that went into making one, I decided to look for a nonprofit that already did what I was trying to do with my kids. Why reinvent the wheel, I thought.
And that's how I found the Esperanza Movement Foundation--a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a revolution of hope for the homeless children of the world. It broke into my heart, and before an hour had passed I realized that this was what my kids needed to be plugged in to, the reality that there are 100,000,000 homeless kids in the world going through all this terrible stuff and there aren't anywhere near enough shelters and education centers for them. These kids are hurting bad, and next to my kids who just haven't had a chance to drive across the country to San Francisco... well, they made the apathy of my kids towards school and teachers and helping people was straight from hell.
So the next day I told the kids about the problem of homeless kids in our world. I told them about prostitution and slavery and military service and incestuous abuse and industrial glue sniffing--all of it involving kids their age or younger.
The next day we were talking about it again, because again I saw their apathy, and I told them there were two ways we were going to do something about the problem: raising awareness and raising money. I told Destiney to make a collection jar out of a box of highlighters. I'll never forget the miracle of seeing that classroom of children emptying their pockets. That day we raised $10.42 for the homeless kids.
Or the next day when I got the mike in the cafeteria. The kids were not all quieting down (again, that apathy), and I was unwilling to yell at them. I went back to my seat saying after saying they were missing out. A lot of kids were disappointed in me for that, because a lot of the kids were being quiet for me. Terrence passed the jar around the lunchroom and I passed it around my classes. That day we raised $12.91 for homeless kids.
The next day I decided no matter what I was going to say what was going on when I had that microphone, and whoever wasn't listening, oh well. Ms Maul got the whole cafeteria quieted down this time, and I started by telling them that 1 in 4 kids lives in absolute poverty in our world, and 100,000,000 kids in the world are homeless. I told them, as I looked around that packed cafeteria and hundreds of attentive eyes, that it's easy for us to say our cafeteria food is gross when we don't have to pick through a landfill to find dinner, and I told them it's easy for us to say school sucks when we don't have to be out on the streets doing God knows what instead of having the chance to go to it, and I told them it's easy for us to laugh at words like prostitute and sex when many of us have never been forced to do them before we learned what they were. And I ended by saying that if any of them could spare some change for the homeless kids, my students and I would really appreciate it.
The caf erupted in applause. I'll never forget that--it felt like something out of a movie, even though at the same time I knew most of them were just doing it because sixth graders like being loud.
We raised $17.10 that day for homeless kids. It seemed like a million dollars.
The next day, we raised $18.57 for homeless kids. It seemed like a million and ten dollars.
As of today, we've raised $69.40 for homeless kids. We've been at it for six days.
Meanwhile, I started telling a few kids about what I wanted to do this summer--ride a bike across the country to raise money for homeless kids. I think I told Rashad first. I was dropping him off at his house, and when I was finished telling him what I wanted to do, we just sat there in front of his house. He kind of stared at me with his mouth agape, and then he said I was crazy. Every minute he would ask me, Mr Stuart, are you really going to do that? You are crazy, Mr Stuart.
I started telling my classes. Each class I told, I started when I saw apathy. I talked about the 100,000,000 homeless kids who would probably like to be sitting in Mr or Ms Apathy's seat, and then, once again, I said we each can do something about this. Kid's would say, Well why doesn't George Bush do something for those homeless kids? What's Donald Trump doing with all this money? And I told them that we always have a choice, and that in this case we could point fingers at people who aren't doing helping the homeless kids, or we can worry about what we're doing for the homeless kids, trusting that God will be faithful in helping us do it if we ask Him.
For example, I said, I think I'm going to ride a bike across the country this summer to raise money and awareness for the homeless kids.
Haha, if only I could have recorded the questions and the disbelief of those kids. You'd have sworn I was in a room of 80 year-old know-it-alls! They scoffed. They guffawed. They mocked. It was beautiful! Again, like a scene out of a movie. My adrenaline pumped each time this happened in a class. I had some of the biggest scoffers write how far they thought I would get--had them sign and date their predictions.
Those are hanging above my dresser now.
- - -
When this all started, I only wanted to help my kids and do something I thought I'd enjoy. It turned into wanting to help the 100,000,000 homeless kids in the world, but, in a way, I think now it's even more of a love song to my students that before. This trip is about more than 100,000,000 homeless kids--it's about a couple classes of American kids seeing that there really are huge things that small people can do when they trust in God, that there really are things outside of ourselves worth giving more than our all for, that we really can create ripples on our walk with God through this vast universe.
And so, in a small, humble way, my soul resonates with Luke's when he sat down to write a book, a whole book, for the sake of his one buddy, completely content in doing something that all kinds of people were already doing. He didn't care that it wasn't a unique idea, that it wasn't going to be known by anyone other than Theophilas. He didn't have any big vision.
And God turned it into the Book of Luke.
Father, build in each my students a heart for you. Build in them humility, taking out pride. Build in them wisdom, taking out foolishness. Build in them truth, taking out lies. Build in them grace, taking out vindictiveness. Build in them a heart for you. Thank you, my God, my rock, my deliver.
Amen.
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