Spring Is Coming

Isaiah 55:10-12

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

   it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

   and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out in joy,

   and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

   shall burst into song,

   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Reflection:

I still remember the massive snowstorm that hit the Midwest 6 years ago this week. I still remember how it felt.

It was hard to see any good in it. Snow was everywhere. We don’t own a snowblower, so it meant hours and hours of shoveling. I was scheduled to leave for a conference out of town, so it meant cancelled flights and non-refundable hotel rooms empty.

And yet, as neighbors emerged from their houses to help one another out, a sense of community developed in my neighborhood like I hadn't seen before that. Everyone was helping everyone else out. My kids were playing in the middle of the street while neighbors talked and joked. It was a blessed, peaceful moment in the midst of an otherwise crazy day.

In the passage linked above, Isaiah is reminding his listeners, and us, that whether we can see past current obstacles or not, God is busy bringing about new life. Isaiah is reminding his listeners, and us, that even when it isn’t obvious, God is weaving all things together to accomplish his purposes.

Isaiah uses the image of snow, which speaks to me today. Just as I felt like Spring was far away that day 6 years ago, so today Spring feels far away. Just as I can’t yet see the new flowers and grass that will sprout in months thanks to the healthy dose of water, so sometimes the “good” in some situations in our lives seems buried beneath a mountain of obstacles.

So I’m rejoicing in Isaiah’s words today -

Don’t forget – Spring is coming!

Don’t forget – Easter is coming!

Don’t forget – Jesus is coming!

Prayer:

God of every good gift, help me to put my trust in you today so that I might not miss the buried blessings springing forth all around me. Amen.

Reframing the Message

Jesus said, “Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Luke 12:33-34

"Where you invest your love, you invest your life." - "Awake My Soul" by Mumford & Sons

REFLECTION:
The Christian Music genre is an interesting one.
Some bands intentionally label themselves "Christian" musicians. They sign on with Christian music labels and play at Christians festivals.

Some of these bands feel as though, for their music to be Christian, every song has to be about Christ.
Sometimes, specifically "Christian" radio stations (like K-LOVE) pop up to give consumers an option if they want to hear only Christian music.

That is one approach, and there is nothing wrong with it. It tends to separate "Christian" music from "secular" music and create a parallel musical world.

The other approach is interesting too...bands whose members are Christian, and who write about everyday life from that perspective, but who don't market themselves as exclusively "Christian."

This means those bands' music is played on all the major radio stations, because they haven't separated themselves out, either by marketing, or by making every song about Jesus.

I was raised on the first kind of Christian music. I was raised on Petra, Michael W. Smith, Rich Mullins, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Newsboys, Jars of Clay, DC Talk, and Jars of Clay. I still love this music.

But I also love bands like Mumford and Sons, whose lyrics are clearly just re-framing Christian principles in a way that is fresh, new, and palatable to a "secular" audience.

The Luke passage above was assigned for today, and has a simple message...but it is one that I think gets lost in the familiarity. So, I also listed a lyric from the song "Awake My Soul" by Mumford & Sons...where they simply re-state the same truth Jesus said in a fresh new way...

Where you invest your love, you invest your life.

So, two things occur to me as I start today...

1. Where am I investing my time today? Because my minutes and hours are like a bank account, and where I choose to invest says something about my priorities. Will there be time for family? For being still in the presence of God? For healthy practices that keep my body and mind strong? Or will I make 100% of my "deposit" of today's hours in the "Work Productivity" bank account?

2. Can I see myself a bit like Mumford & Sons? Do I need to wear my pastor-collar everywhere I go, or wear a big label that says, "This Guy is a Christian!" Of course not. Can I be like this band, who simply live out their faith in the everyday world, making that faith more accessible to those outside the church? Can I look for fresh new ways to communicate Jesus' Truth in everyday ways? Can my life be a "re-framing" of the truths from the Bible for a secular audience?

May we all wrestle with these two questions today...where am I investing my life? And can I invest it in ways that bring the "religious" and "secular" parts of my life together?

PRAYER:
God, give us the courage to set our priorities today in a way that honors you, and your desire for us to be whole, healthy, and grounded people. Show us how our Sunday faith can be real for our Monday-Saturday lives. Amen.

Love Poetry In the Bible?

Song of Solomon 8:5-7 Homecoming

Who is that coming up from the wilderness,

   leaning upon her beloved?

Under the apple tree I awakened you.

There your mother was in labour with you;

   there she who bore you was in labour.

Set me as a seal upon your heart,

   as a seal upon your arm;

for love is strong as death,

   passion fierce as the grave.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

   a raging flame.

Many waters cannot quench love,

   neither can floods drown it.

If one offered for love

   all the wealth of one’s house,

   it would be utterly scorned.

Reflection:

Is the Bible one book, or a collection of many books?

The answer: Yes.

There is a rich story behind every book of the Bible and why it was ultimately included in the collection we now call “The Bible.” Some books were written as moment-by-moment historical accounts. Some were written as biographies (the Gospels). Some songs were included. Some teaching stories, like parables, were included. There was even some love poetry that got included.

The above reading is from the book “Song of Solomon,” which is Hebrew love poetry. It is a love song between two young lovers. At first glance, you might wonder why it is included in a Holy Book.

But…what is human love but an imperfect reflection of the love that spoke the world into existence? What is passion between young lovers but a faint echo of the passion that God felt for us most powerfully on the cross? If human love is powerful, and we know it is…divine love is more powerful still.

So, the people of God have claimed this love poetry as part of their scriptures because it is an example of the love God has for God’s people. And notice it’s not just a warm-fuzzy love, like we often like to think of it…it is as strong as death (and stronger!)…as fierce as the grave (and fiercer!). It is a raging flame.

May you be consumed by that flame today…so much so that you can’t help but go out and set the world ablaze with this fierce, strong love from above.

Prayer: 

Loving God, you are the source and ground of all that is, including the passion and love we feel. Help us to know that we can love because you first loved us…and transform our hearts so that we may more perfectly mirror your divine care. Amen.

I Don't Know...Surprise Me!

Job 40:6-9, 42:1-3

 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

‘Gird up your loins like a man;

   I will question you, and you declare to me.

Will you even put me in the wrong?

   Will you condemn me that you may be justified?

Have you an arm like God,

   and can you thunder with a voice like his? …

Then Job answered the Lord:

‘I know that you can do all things,

   and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

   things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

REFLECTION:

Some of the smartest people I know have also been the first ones to admit they don't know very much. It seems there is a deep and profound truth to be found in genuine humility. Instead of pretending to have the world by the tail, these people admit that every day brings its own lessons, and that the learning won't stop until the day they take their final breath. I have experienced these people to be very peaceful and joy-filled, because rather than thinking they know what to expect, they greet each day with hope and anticipation at what it might teach them. They are ready to be surprised by life.

In the book that bears his name, Job stumbles on to a similar deep truth about God. "I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me…" It seems that no matter how much time we spend reading the Bible, we must always be ready to be surprised by a God who is too wonderful for us to fully explain or understand. So, may we all (myself included) have a healthy dose of humility, and greet this new day with hope and anticipation; maybe God will move through you in unexpected ways today!

PRAYER:
God of surprising grace, open my eyes to your presence in the world today, that I may be taught a little more about who you are and who I am because of you. Amen.

More Than Ideas

Acts 28:23-31 Paul Preaches in Rome

After they had fixed a day to meet him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,

“Go to this people and say,

You will indeed listen, but never understand,

   and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

For this people’s heart has grown dull,

   and their ears are hard of hearing,

     and they have shut their eyes;

     so that they might not look with their eyes,

   and listen with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn—

   and I would heal them.”

Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’

He lived there for two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

REFLECTION:

Christianity is not a set of ideas to be believed, but a deeper reality into which we are invited to live. In the modern world, reason has been hailed as the greatest good. The scientific method, combined with deductive reasoning, tells us “truths” about our world, right? So the most important thing must be thinking the right things about God, right?

But what we must struggle to understand is that our intellect only gives us one set of truths about the world…rational thinking only reveals one aspect of reality. God is not an idea that we have to wrap our minds around, but instead the very source of love and the very source of life.

Paul is right to quote Isaiah…and Isaiah was right to list the challenges to faith like he did. Indeed, faith involves more than just intellectual assent – it involves listening, looking, and a sensitivity of the heart that perceives the goodness of God all around us.

Maybe we have been de-sensitized (literally) into thinking that thinking is all there is. Maybe the Christ child is inviting us out into deeper waters than our intellects can allow. Maybe this Christmas will be about listening, looking, and sensing with our hearts the goodness of God that comes in ways we’ll never figure out.

PRAYER:
God of love, give us the grace to trust you even when, or especially when, our intellects fail us. In that trust, re-sensitize us to your loving presence. Amen.

I Feel Your Pain

Hebrews 2:14-18

Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

REFLECTION:

While it might be easy to get lost in the wordiness of the passage above, the basic point boils down to something that we’ve all heard: “I feel your pain…” Though in the Bible, this phrase takes on a much deeper meaning.

Some might remember that this phrase was a catch phrase in the 90’s. Bill Clinton famously spoke the line at a town-hall style event when he was running for President. An unemployed man stood and gave his testimony, to which Clinton replied, “I feel your pain.”

Now interestingly, because it was associated with a politician, the phrase quickly became meaningless. How can anyone really feel another’s pain anyway? Many thought it was just a ploy to win votes.

Jesus isn’t asking for your vote. Actually, Jesus isn’t asking for anything. To use the words of the passage above, Jesus became our brother, like us in every respect. He experienced the best and worst of what it means to be human, so that there is no experience we can go through that he isn’t leading us through. There is no depth of fear or despair or pain that will ever separate us from him. Because he was tested, he is able to help those who are being tested.

So, the next time you’re going through something difficult, imagine Jesus one step ahead of you, leading the way. Indeed, he’s been there before, and he knows the way out. Follow him, trust that he is with you, and do not be afraid.

PRAYER:
God of all, in the joys and challenges that confront me to today, help me to see you leading me through every step of the way. Amen.

These Are Never Locked

Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. Exodus 34:21

Paul wrote: You were bought by Christ at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 1 Corinthians 7:23

REFLECTION:
It is funny to me how, for a people who would say we value freedom above all else, we willingly allow ourselves to become slaves to our schedules, our jobs, or others' expectations of us.

However, these are shackles that have no key, because they are never locked. Like the play handcuffs you can buy as a gag gift, they easily slip on an off.

Certainly, many of us need to work to help provide for the needs of our families; but do we need to work the amount of hours we do? Or can we be free of the need to over-perform?

Certainly, many of us like keeping busy and feeling productive and active; but do we need to fill every spare second in our schedules with busy-ness? Or can we be free from the need to be on the move always?

Certainly, no one minds the accolades from others when meeting or exceeding their expectations of us; but do we need to drive ourselves crazy making sure that our superiors, or whoever else, say nice things about us?

Certainly...there are many things other than jobs, schedules, and expectations that make us feel trapped...

But the truth of the Gospel is that we are free...and not just in a political sense.

We are free from having to be "good enough" for anyone (including ourselves) because we have already been declared worthy of love.

We are free from having to justify our existence because we have already been declared "good" by the One who spoke the world into existence.

We are free from having to over-perform, because it turns out who we are even when we are not producing anything is still beautiful...

PRAYER:
God, we rarely rest securely in who you made us to be. We rarely live free from all the things that we think hold us bound. Remind us today that there is no key to these shackles we put on ourselves. Free us to live more like Christ lived, and love more like Christ loved. Free us to be who you created us to be. Amen.

Enough.

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Proverbs 15:16

Jesus said, “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” Luke 12:24

...but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

REFLECTION
There is a word we just don't use very often.

I made it the title of today's devotion.

Enough.

In a modern consumer-driven economy, the word "enough" isn't only under-utilized, it is the enemy of a thriving consumerism. We haven't just neglected this word, we have actively avoided it, because at some deep level, we believe it is in our economic self-interest to do so.

"Enough" isn't compatible with Verizon is trying to sell you the latest iPhone. If you think the phone you have is good enough, you aren't playing the culture's game.

"Enough" isn't compatible with a disposable income sufficient to consider owning a second or a third home. If you think the home you have is enough for you, you aren't playing the culture's game.

"Enough" just isn't compatible with every commercial we see...for the point of a consumer-driven society is to convince you that you actually don't have enough, which motivates you to participate in that economy by buying more.

Now, I am not singling out any one individual or group; we all do this. For some, the temptation is the newest phone (that's me)...but for others, the temptations revolve around homes, cars, high-end jewelry, you name it.

The hard reality for us to face is that this thing that is the foundation of our consumer-driven economy is actually not good for us spiritually. The ancient truth captured in the passages above, and throughout the Bible, is that "more" always needs to be tempered with "enough." Those two have to find a balance for us to even have room for the priorities of God.

Today, let us pray that what we have begins to feel like enough. Let us pray for hearts filled with gratitude. Let us pray for wisdom in discerning the balance between "more" and "enough." And let us trust that as we wrestle with that balance, God's grace is always "enough" for us.

PRAYER:
God, give us grateful hearts today. Help us to pause on the incessant drive for more in order to be grateful for what is already ours. Let that gratitude become in us a well of joy today. Amen.

Moving In

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
Revelation 21:3

REFLECTION:
I saw a moving van in our neighborhood the other day.

For most of the last 8 years that we have lived in this neighborhood, there is a house up the street that has been in shambles. Hundreds of broken down toys littering the yard; multiple broken down cars scattered in the front. The garage doors didn't close all the way, revealing a garage so full of items in disarray that it hadn't been used for vehicles in years. The paint was peeling off the siding, and the gutters hung off the roof.

But there's restoration happening there these days. Under new ownership, the house now sparkles with a new paint job, a clean yard, and new windows. It is restored to its former beauty...and someone's moving in.

This is the image in the 21st chapter of Revelation. John, the one who received this brilliant vision and wrote it down for us, sees the "New Jerusalem" descending from heaven and landing on earth. It is Jerusalem, but restored. It is human community, but restored.

The gates are adorned with every imaginable valuable stone. There is no need of temple or even sun, because the Lamb is the light that shines. The river flows from the throne of God through the middle of Main Street, with trees on both sides. This is the Garden of Eden meets the city of Jerusalem...an urban paradise. It is the very presence of God.

And then the shocking part...it's here. This beautiful city, containing the final fulfillment of all the promises of God, descends to earth. And the voice in the reading above says things that are deeply true for us on a daily basis, whether we have a hard time comprehending them or not:

"See...the home of God is among mortals! He will dwell with them! They will be his peoples! And God himself will be with them!"

It always shocks people to know that heaven isn't going to be some far away place we have to earn our way up to...it is going to be here; a renewed and restored Garden of Eden in our cities.

So...fair warning...the down payment has already been paid in Christ's resurrection. The moving vans are already here. God is moving in...through every Sunday morning celebration, through every humble act of service, through every quiet moment of strength-in-the-midst-of-struggle, God is moving in. And restoration is the result!

Wherever you are feeling broken down today, be open to the fact that God is moving in. Wherever you are feeling broken down today, rest in the blessed assurance that "the home of God is among mortals!" May God unlock our hearts and restore our lives in ways great and small today.

PRAYER:
God, we are in need of your healing, your peace, and your restoration. Where the paint is peeling in our lives, restore us. Where we are hurting and broken, restore us. Where we need to shine for others to see, restore us. Welcome home, and thank you for coming. Amen.

Rescued. Included. Valuable.

I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

The eunuch went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:39

REFLECTION:
Joy is one of those words that needs to be reclaimed, I think.

Too often, we talk about joy and happiness in the same breath...like they are the same.

For me, I think about happiness as something that is fleeting because it is situational. An example: I was happy last night when we ended up having dinner at A.J. Bombers downtown, and it was "Totcho Tuesday" (meaning, tater tots like nachos with toppings...mmmmm). That made me happy.

Joy is so much more robust than that. I feel joy in the deep moments. I feel joy when putting my children to bed, and they look up at me and say, "I love you, Daddy." I feel joy when my wife and I finally get a lunch date for just the two of us, or 10 uninterrupted minutes to sit and talk about the day. I feel joy when I see a full sanctuary, and feel the vibrant movement of the Spirit among the people gathered for worship.

This is the kind of rejoicing that comes in the Bible.

Habbakuk rejoices because of salvation, rescue, and love, even in the face of hardship, invasion, and war.

The eunuch in Acts 8 rejoices because of being included, and given an identity other than "servant." Eunuchs were men who had been castrated in order to cement their role as a humble servant. This man wasn't used to being included in religious rites; while he was a Jewish believer, he would not have been allowed into the Temple because his castration would have made him permanently ritually "unclean." Philip opens up the Scriptures to him, explains how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies, and baptizes him in some water they find along the journey. The eunuch is now finally defined by something other than his role as servant...he is called brother in Christ...and at this, he rejoices!

Today, I am going to start my day by taking a moment for rejoicing. What deep and beautiful things do I have to be grateful for and joyful for? Like Habbakuk, I can say that God's promised deliverance from present hardship is something I can trust. That feels like a cause for rejoicing! And like the eunuch, I can say that even though I often let other things define me, indeed the water poured over my head 37 years ago defines me as included, involved, and loved. That also feels like a cause for rejoicing!

The picture above is not a stock image from Google...it is a picture I took years ago at our family's hunting cabin in Michigan. My son was sneaking through my mother's legs, and somehow the camera snapped at precisely the right moment, capturing one of the most beautiful un-staged moments of joy I have ever seen in a snapshot. This was a hard summer. Difficult things were going on in our family. Loss. Illness. You name it. But deep moments of joy break through, even then...the question is simply, can we pause long enough to notice them?

As you read this, I would invite you to pause in your day and simply rest on the two blessed assurances that come from today's Scripture snippets above: your present trial will not have the final say about you...and you are defined by so much more than the labels you yourself or others place on you. God is one who rescues us. God is one who includes us and defines us as loved.

May we rejoice! Life is a gift, and today we receive.

PRAYER:
God, give us the vision to see beyond our current trials, and beyond those forces that seek to define or limit us. We praise you for the ways you rescue us, love us, and call us "included" and "valuable." Help us to live centered in you, so we can be part of your rescue project, calling others "included" and "valuable" as well. Amen.

What Your Pastor's Tattoo Means (and How To Talk To Your Kids About It)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2)

She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’ (John 8:11)

REFLECTION:
This last Sunday, I announced to the congregation that I had gotten a tattoo.

I announced it because I am a public person, and an influence on our young people.
I announced it because I have nothing to hide, and believe it can be a teaching tool in many ways.
I announced it because there is a beautiful story behind it that is rooted in prayer, Scripture, discernment, and struggle.

In this post, I want to tell you the story behind it, how I made my decision, and a few thoughts about how to discuss this with your children if it comes up.

The Meaning Behind the Image
I have found that most tattoos have a deep story behind them. Yes, there are some who get drunk with their friends and decide to get something for fun, but most people seem to have an important story behind their choice of a tattoo. Mine falls in this category.

Self-disclosure: I am a perfectionist when it comes to myself. While I can muster forgiveness and grace and understanding for the failings of others, I am my own harshest critic. This also means that, unconsciously, I define my value through what I produce. This is a trait I share with many, many people...at least half of you reading this can probably relate. I daily run myself ragged trying to be the best husband, father, and pastor I can be.

While this drive certainly has some strengths, the weakness behind it is that I am not terribly good at taking time to rest, renew, or care for my own needs. Combine that with the harsh internal critic, and you get a recipe for burnout.

A Storm
In May of 2016, I began my sabbatical with a week in silence at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN. The monks there have a beautiful guest house that sits near a lake. I read books I have been wanting to read for years. I wrote daily in a personal journal about what I was experiencing. I worshiped three times a day with the monks. I biked, hiked, and prayed. I was silent.

The man who is always producing...was silent. The public figure...was silent. I was forced to rely on a source of strength that had nothing to do with my abilities, or what I produced...and it was like drinking from a deep well. I felt a source of internal strength I hadn't felt in years.

As I prayed and wrote in my journal one night, the thought struck me that this is what Jesus is talking about when he tells the woman at the well, "those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." (John 4:14)

The next day, I decided to hike on the path that bordered the lake out to a distant chapel on the far side of the lake. What I didn't know was that a big storm was coming in. I made it to the chapel, and huddled inside it for a while to ride out the storm...but it was getting close to dinner time (and the dinners at the guest house were fantastic!)...so, motivated by my grumbling stomach and the fear of missing a meal, I braved the fierce wind and rain and ran back to the guest house along the path that bordered the water.

The Trees and Wind
As I ran back, I noticed the trees that were right by the water were bent over from the wind. The wind was so bad at times I thought it might uproot some of the trees. However, they were rooted right by a plentiful source of nutrients, and they were rooted deep. As I ran, the thought occurred to me that I am called to be like one of those trees...planted by a source of living water...and if I stay rooted there, it won't matter how hard the wind blows, I can stand still and strong.

I thought about Revelation 22:1-2, printed above. There, part of the vision of what heaven looks like includes a river that flows from the very throne of God. On either side of the river, there is the tree of life producing fruit each month. And, it says, the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

The Leaves
Then, this powerful thought came...if I stay rooted by the source of strength that flows TO me from God (instead of thinking life is about producing, or having things flow FROM me to others), only then can anything I produce be for others. I can stay rooted by that source of strength, survive any howling wind...then and only then, any leaves I produce can be for the healing of others.

Now look back at the image. You'll notice the two trees, the "Rev. 22:2" on the left one, the river that flows toward my body rather than away from it, and the wind streaks through the branches of the trees. There are random leaves scattered about. Also, in the branches of one tree hangs the square-sided cross of St. John's Abbey, where this revelation came to me.

From my time at St. John's Abbey on, through the rest of the sabbatical, this image was strong in my mind. It centered me. My initial thought was that I might try to find an artist to draw it, and hang it on the wall in my office.

A Revelation in France
About five weeks later, I found myself in "Church of the Reconciliation," a sprawling cavernous space where up to 5,000 young people gather weekly each summer to sing and pray with the brothers of the Taize community. Many churches, including St. Luke, know of this community through their quiet, contemplative music.

The Taize community, however, is much more than music. It is a place of reconciliation; a place where young people from all over the world come to pray together for a world that makes sense. Then, empowered by the experience, they go to help bring that world into existence. It is somewhere I have always wanted to go.

Part of each day is Bible study with one of the brothers. I was in a group of about 70 "older adults" (which in Taize means you are over 25). We were from all over the world, so the brother would speak in short English phrases, and then pause as translators all over the room translated into the language of the group that was huddled around them. It was a beautiful thing to behold.

One day, our Bible study was on the story of the woman who was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The brother described how the Pharisees were ready to stone the woman for her sins until Jesus halted their execution by saying "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." One by one, they all walked away. Alone with the woman, Jesus asks, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She says, "no one, sir." Then Jesus says, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."

The brother from Taize calmly looked out at us and said, "If even Jesus isn't willing to condemn us, why are we so good at doing it ourselves?"

The Rocks
It was at this moment that a new element was added to the image in my mind. By the banks of the river needed to be rocks...the rocks I was laying down, so I wouldn't condemn myself any longer. It was time to begin to silence the relentless inner critic.

The Image Becomes a Tattoo
These lessons are deep for me. They are things that I have been wrestling with for years. They are lessons I need to remember. In much prayer and contemplation the rest of the summer, I began to realize that I wanted this as a tattoo; something in my face, a daily reminder of the lessons of sabbatical.

In the Fall of 2016, I interviewed several tattoo artists. The first two didn't get what I was shooting for. I wanted to be able to tell them my story, and have them turn it into an image. The first two couldn't get over the idea that there was a pastor in their office. They tried to point me toward some of their pre-printed religious art...big gaudy crosses and faces of Jesus. No way.

The third one got it. His listened to my stories. He understood the depth, and the prayer behind them. The image he came up with was even more beautiful than it had been in my head, and he got every detail. I knew this was the right image.

Then, I sat with it for a while. I waited another month, which helped to clarify in my mind that I really did want to go through with it. It now stands as a piece of art on my arm; a virtual stained glass window that shines Christ's light into my soul and gives me the chance to witness to my faith to those in my daily life who are very interested to hear the meaning behind this "faith mark."
Click here to learn about "Faith Marks," an art show I saw at the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, NC this last summer...that helped lead me to this idea.

How To Discuss This With Your Children
While this was the right move for me at age 37, I still believe that the decision to get a tattoo should be undertaken with great care and time. The last thing I want is a young person at our congregation saying, "well, because Pr. Matt has a tattoo that means I can get one!" Although, a really funny and fitting way to de-fuse that would be to just say, "yes, and if you do it like Pr. Matt did, I'm OK with it. That means you have to wait until you are 37, choose favorite Bible passages to put on your body, and then think and pray about it for 8 months."

Past that kind of funny way of encouraging them to wait, here are a few suggestions for how to talk with your kids about this if it comes up.

First of all, emphasize the importance of waiting (something late teens and early twenty-somethings hate to do). The best suggestion I have heard for people in their late teens or early twenties was to mark a day on the calendar when you first started thinking you wanted a tattoo. Maybe even go to a tattoo parlor and get the design. Hang that picture up on the wall. Then, wait a year. Yes, a year. Think about it, pray about it, sit with the image for a year, and if after a year you still want it, go for it. I thought this was really solid advice. There's no judgment from me for those who haven't followed this advice, certainly...but if you are a parent reading this, it might be a good place to start. (Encouraging them to wait a year might at least buy you 6 months!)

Second, emphasize that my tattoo was born of 9 months of prayer, Scripture, and waiting (even at my age). This was not a quick decision, or one taken lightly. It is important for the students to know that.

And last, if you have concerns about this and the example it sets for your kids, please reach out to me. I am happy to explain it to them myself, and encourage them to wait, as I did, until they are old enough to be sure they want this image the rest of their lives.

Puzzles, Genes, and Names

I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Isaiah 44:6

Paul wrote: I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Ephesians 3:14–15

REFLECTION:
One of the most interesting presents given us to us on the day of our wedding was a genealogy, provided by my father's cousins. That genealogy details the Mennonite, Dutch, French, and English roots on my father's side. The names I see in genealogy include Bowles and Short.

While I have never done a genealogy of my mother's side, the stories that are told tell me I have many ancestors from Germany, including one man who made his way into Canada and then swam across the Detroit river to get into the United States illegally. The names I see on this side of my family are Bibb and Hachman.

What's fascinating to me is that if you were to do a DNA test on me, I am actually made up of all these people...there are pieces of them, however small, in me. On a genetic level, I am quite literally a puzzle made up of their pieces. I take my physical traits from them...and I take my name from them.

The passages today remind me that those puzzle pieces all began somewhere else...that if I were able to trace my genealogy back far enough, I would see names like "The Merciful One," "Love," and "Prince of Peace" (all names used for God in the Scriptures).

Today, my simple prayer for all of us is that we may remember where we came from...that we may honor the rich history of our human genealogy, but that we may also live into the divine names we carry. May we be people of Mercy, Love, and Peace.

PRAYER:
God, you created us to be images of you. May that image shine through us today so that it is not us who others see, but your mercy...your love...your peace. Amen.

Come Running

He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Isaiah 30:19

Bartimaeus said, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:47

REFLECTION:
It's instinct.
If you set your hand on a hot stove, you pull it away quickly, without thinking about it.
If someone around you yawns, you find it very difficult not to yawn yourself.
And if a baby is crying, the deep human instinct is to run to that baby and calm it.

These instincts come from somewhere; something deep within us.

I am particularly touched by the thought from the Scriptures above that one of the key sources of this instinct in us...is God.

Isaiah reminds his hearers that even though they have turned away from God (something that is a nearly constant theme in the prophets, and certainly in Isaiah)...even when they turn away, still at the sound of their cry, God comes running like a faithful and loving parent.

We see this on full display in the life of Christ himself, and the snippet above is only one small example. A blind man sits by the road and he cries out, "have mercy on me!"

You know how that story ends. Healing. Wholeness. Inclusion back into the community.

And if Christ is the clearest revelation of God's character, then we can celebrate today that we have a God...

who runs to the untouchables...and runs to us when we are untouchable.
who runs to the outsiders when they are in need...and to us when we feel like outsiders.
who runs to those others have written off...and to us when we have been written off.

So, the next time you hear a baby cry, maybe the tug you feel to help can be a subtle reminder of the faithfulness of God...and the next time you feel like crying out, trust that help is never far away.

PRAYER:
Dearest Father, thank you for your faithfulness to us through all generations, and for answering all of our prayers. May we be granted grateful hearts and lives so that we continue to confess you as Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from Moravian Daily Texts

We Are What We Eat

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8

Paul wrote: The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all. Titus 2:11

REFLECTION:
Psalm 103 hit me square in the chest this morning...

All of Psalm 103 is about God's characteristics...
God forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies, renews, works justice, removes our sin (as far as the east is from the west)...he remembers we are dust. (All of these words are taken directly from Psalm 103).

The Psalm opens and closes with the encouragement, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

And it is striking to me today that the four characteristics in verse 8 describe how I want to walk in the world. Except I am terrible at doing that on my own.

I want to be merciful. But often, the "old Adam" in me holds grudges.
I want to be gracious. But often, exhaustion in me demands my needs be first.
I want to be slow to anger. But often, the schedule I keep has me so frayed at the edges that I react.
I want to be abounding in steadfast love. But often, I haven't taken time to be filled with love enough to offer it as I should.

As I contemplate this morning the remedy for this situation, five words come to mind:
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

Daily, we consume a culture that encourages grudges over mercy.
Daily, we are flooded by a performance-based value system that tells us to work ourselves to the bone, to be exhausted, to work 70 hours a week, to value work over rest at every turn.

It is as though we as a culture are filling up on junk food all the time...
because while choosing work over rest feeds our egos, it has no staying power.
Like a steady diet of junk food, it may taste great at first, but the health effects later are simply not worth it.

Have we spent anywhere near the same amount of time consuming God's Word?
This might explain our condition.
Any doctor will tell you that eating junk food regularly and choosing not to exercise or eat fresh foods is a recipe for ill-health.

If we want to be merciful, we have to fed by mercy.
If we want to be gracious, we have to be fed by grace.
If we want to be slow to anger, we have to be fed by forgiveness.
If we want to be abounding in steadfast love, we have to be fed by steadfast love.

And, as the second verse above makes clear, the table has been set and it is all waiting for us. The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all.

So today, dear reader, I hope you belly up to the table. You've already begun by taking a few moments out of your day for scripture.

Now, may we all have the courage and the drive to set aside time to be in prayer, silence, family, friends, and peace. These are God's gifts to us. May we choose the healthy foods today.

PRAYER:
Faithful and gracious God our Father, thank you for your patience and love when you look upon our daily follies. Give us wisdom to live lives worthy of our calling. In Jesus’ name, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Balance

The righteous know the rights of the poor. Proverbs 29:7

I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14

REFLECTION:
"Balance" is a word that strikes me as deeply necessary in our world, in our faith, and in our budgeting of our time and resources.

I also do not believe perfect balance is ever fully achieved. Just as the quest for perfection brings about much positive change, as long as you can accept that you will never actually achieve perfection, so the quest for balance can be an important impulse as long as we give up the idea that we'll ever achieve it completely.

Think of how a see-saw works. Because real life isn't a science experiment where we can control every variable, the two people are never exactly the same weight. One goes up for a while, and then the other one does. It's incredibly hard to achieve perfect balance, but with tiny constant corrections, you can get close.

I believe that is what we are called to in our faith...and what I am called to today; tiny constant corrections.

A few questions then come to mind:

Are there any corrections needed in the balance between my abundance and others' needs? Because both are constantly changing, I bet there are some corrections needed there.

Are there any corrections needed in the balance between what I "produce" and who I AM?
Yes.
Always.

Are there any corrections needed in the balance between what I know to be right next and the wisdom of others?
Yes.
Always.

Are there any corrections needed in the balance between our two political parties' ideologies and strategies?
Yes.
Always.

It takes humility to admit that we'll never achieve perfect balance, but I believe that's a central part of being a follower of Christ; the humility to re-evaluate each day whether our lives and priorities are in line with who Jesus is and who he is calling us to be.

The questions I asked above no doubt apply to your life, and no doubt you have other balancing acts you are engaged in as well.

My prayer for us today is that we have the confidence in the Gospel, the forgiveness for others, and the mercy toward all (ourselves included) that allows us to make constant, tiny corrections in the quest for a holy balance.

So, dear reader...what corrections are needed for you today? I will pray God gives you the awareness, strength, and courage to make those corrections (as long as you will pray the same for me!)

PRAYER:
God, open our eyes to where we are off-balance. If there is more we can do for those in need, give us the courage to do so. If there is more we need to do to find our strength in you, help us to say no to other things so we can do so. If we need humility, peace, or love for others, grant us those gifts. Give us the blessed assurance that, because your love never ends, we can continue to work toward a holy balance all the days of our life. Amen.

The Grand Paradox

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. Isaiah 5:20

A "paradox" is defined as "a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a truth."

Lutherans love paradoxes. And there's an important reason. Real life, as I have experienced it anyway, exists mostly in the gray area between the black and white extremes.

Our world thrives on black-and-white, either/or thinking...because it is easier to put into a sound byte.

Think about all the ways you hear this on a daily basis:

You are either a Republican or a Democrat.
(If pressed, though, most of us would find we don't fit either extreme on this spectrum)

You are either "for us" or "against us."
(Except...people change. Situations change. And former opponents can become allies...and vice versa).

You are either rich or poor.
(Except most of us are neither).

You get it. We are surrounded by "binary" thinking...and it has dominated the public face of religion as well.

You are either a sinner or a saint.
(Except we are all a messy mix of both).

You are either a churchgoer or "unchurched."
(Except at various points in our lives, we have been both of these).

Here's the point: In his "Heidelberg Disputation" of 1518, Martin Luther dismantled our easy dualistic thinking and reminded us that a theology of glory will call the things we do good, and call suffering evil.

And yet, here's the Grand Paradox:
In real life, it's much messier than that. Many of the things society would want to call "good" lead us to rely on our own strength...while many of the things we say we would want to avoid (failures and sufferings that are just a part of life) actually lead us to find a source of strength in God.

Our good works and attempts to be good people, if seen as an end within themselves, only make us more arrogant and certain we can do this "life" thing without God's help.

At the same time, our performance-driven society would say that "failure" and brokenness are BAD. Except, any time we are reminded that we aren't in control, it leaves room for us to rely on a source of grace bigger than us.

So, paradoxically, our good works ultimately lead us to self-righteousness...meaning they aren't actually good. And our sufferings, simply a part of life that seem bad at first, can actually lead us to rely on grace, mercy and truth in a way that brings us life.

Today, let's not call evil things good and good things evil. May we let go of those easy and lazy categories, recognizing two important paradoxes:

1. What we think is good (money, power, fame, "success," attempts to prove our worth to others) - these things often lead us to despair.

2. What we think is bad (hardship, "failure," mistakes, imperfections) - these things often drive us to the river of life that flows from God alone.

May our day today be rooted in God's strength, not our own; and may we learn to live in the grey area between the easy categories.

PRAYER:
God, help us to let go of the easy labels and call life what it is. Give us the strength each day to do our best to live as your people; and then give us the grace and mercy to accept ourselves and others when we fail to do so perfectly. Amen.

Fear, Gratitude, and Action

Jesus said to the one who had been healed, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” Mark 5:19

REFLECTION:
The passage above is from an encounter in which Jesus heals a man with "an unclean spirit." From the accounts of the story, it seems as though modern people would probably call this unclean spirit some sort of mental health issue. The man lived alone, howling and bruising himself with rocks, and no one could restrain him. Jesus heals the man, and it frightens the townspeople, who want Jesus to leave them. But the man makes the opposite request; as the one who has been healed, he is not afraid but grateful...he wants to stay with Jesus.

But Jesus refuses his request, instead speaking the line above. The message is clear; the man no longer has to be afraid, to be sure, but he also is not allowed to simply sit in the security of his newfound sanity and health. He has been blessed, and so his job is now to live in grateful response. Jesus is turning his gaze from himself to others. There are two steps of growth happening here; the movement from fear to gratitude, and then the movement from gratitude to action.

For those of us who live securely, with enough food, water, and shelter, the difference between fear and gratitude is often a choice. Like this man, we have been richly blessed...but do we see it? Do we choose to ignore the blessings and choose fear like the townspeople? This is the first step for us to consider. Do we count perceived curses instead of blessings? Or do we have a sense of just how blessed we are?

Then, the second step of growth comes...do we have the yearning to just enjoy those blessings for ourselves, as the man's initial impulse? Or are we willing to name those blessings for others, and identify their true source?

So, I'm going to start this day by attempting to listen to the wisdom in Jesus' words. First, I want to contemplate how richly blessed I am...and my blessings will be different from yours, but the this morning, I am grateful for extended family who surprised us with a visit; for healthy children; and for the movement of the Spirit in yesterday's worship services...empowered by dedicated musicians, helpers, and members who came and sang and praised. As I pause to name these gifts, it helps me to step away from fear in any form and toward gratitude.

Then, I want to follow Jesus' command to the man in the passage and tell you what the Lord has done for me. All of those blessings I listed, and thousands more, aren't things I created. They are gifts from God. They are just a small glimpse of all that God has done for me.

So, brothers and sisters reading these words...do you need to move from fear to gratitude? Or from gratitude to action? Begin by counting your blessings...continue by counting them aloud to others. Maybe we'll start a cascade of gratitude today...the world certainly could use that!

PRAYER:
Merciful God, please forgive us for our foolish pride that often blinds us to the blessings you have provided for us. Make us to be faithful witnesses of your love and mercy for all of humankind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Dawn on Us

All the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. Isaiah 9:5

The dawn from on high will guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78–79

REFLECTION:
Today is Epiphany, the day we remember the "Wise Men" (or Magi) following the star to the manger's side.

All throughout the Scriptures, light is used as a sign and a symbol of God's providence, love, and truth. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

I find the passage from Luke 1 (above) to be one of the most beautiful moments of this sign. Here's the entire quote:

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

This is part of Zechariah's song, following his temporarily mute state. He names his son John (John the Baptist, as we call him), and he praises God for the things God will do through this in-breaking Kingdom.

But it's that phrase that touches my heart: "The dawn from on high will break upon us."

Today, that's my prayer for myself, and for you who read these words...that wherever in your life it seems too dark to find the path, the light will dawn, even if it is like the first cracks of dawn, enough to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And more important that this being my prayer for us, it is God's promise to us. The dawn from on high WILL break upon us. The darkness will not overcome it.

The darkness of war will not overcome it (read Isaiah - the boots of the tramping warriors will be burned).
The darkness of personal struggle will not overcome it.
The darkness of pain, or illness, or even death will not overcome it.

Today, I'm going to be watching for the flickers of the dawn in the darkness. And I'm going to do my best to put one foot in front of the other as I am guided in the way of peace.

May we walk this path together.

PRAYER:
Holy God with us, thank you for the light of your love that you cause to live in our hearts. Help us to shine this light into the darkness of the world in which we live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

(Note: The picture above is from the path to Picnic Point at UW-Madison)

Stepping Out of the Bench

Those who counsel peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

"I'm pretty sure when Jesus said 'love your enemies' he meant 'don't kill them.'" - Shane Claiborne

REFLECTION:

If you were appointed a court judge today, would you take the job?

I don't think I would.

I am painfully aware that my judgments are imperfect. People have surprised me too many times. People I thought were trustworthy have had moments of failure. People I thought were trouble have had moments of beauty and grace. The longer I live, the more I am convinced that we are all simply trying to make it the best we know how, and our judgments of each other always end up capturing only part of the story. And what's worse, when I treat them a certain way based on that only-partial story, it further complicates things.

While this might seem a strange direction to go when both of the passages above are about peace, it is the first place my head and heart went this morning when reading those passages...the heart of peace is daily fighting to let go of judgment.

Now, obviously, we will never do this perfectly or completely. New judgments will slip in...it's part of our biological makeup; assess threats and avoid them. But, I believe as Christians, we cannot give up in the daily battle against our imperfect judgments, laying them at the foot of the one perfect judge instead.

I truly believe this is the place to start for peace...

Peace between political movements...
Peace between family members estranged...
Peace between friends separated by disagreements...
Peace that allows us to have compassion and mercy on each other, recognizing that 99% of the people you know are simply trying to do the best they can with the resources they have.

So today, my prayer is for peace...certainly for peace internationally...but I believe that peace begins with an army of people who know how to daily yearn for and ask for peace internally.

So, let's be part of that army. Breathe deep. Ask God to help you let go of any resentments you are carrying. Ask God to remove your judgments of others and see them as fellow people who are doing their best. Ask God to help you lay down the gavel and step out of the bench...let's let God be the perfect judge today, and leave that work to him. It will free up our minds and hearts for the things we know how to do well.

PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, our King, help us to remember that bestowing your peace and love on our enemies is more important than personal vengeance. Strengthen us so that we may truly become your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Enough?

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

The Collection for Christians at Jerusalem

Now it is not necessary for me to write to you about the ministry to the saints, for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—in this undertaking. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,

‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;

   his righteousness endures for ever.’

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

REFLECTION:

When we lived in North Dakota, I learned how to spread grass seed (not a skill often useful growing up in Arizona!) The very first time I did it was when we put more dirt in the front yard of the parsonage, in order to landscape it a bit.

Months later, you could still see the effects of my mistake. I begun spreading seed up against the side of the house, and continued out toward the street from there. Up close to the house, not much grass took root. Reading today’s passage reminds me why…

You see, when I first started scattering seed, I was in a mindset of scarcity. I didn’t know how long the seed would last, so I “sowed sparingly.” As I got further away from the house, I slowly became more confident that we would have enough seed. The further from the house I got, the more “bountifully” I sowed.

As Paul says, “the point is this;” if our eyes are always on the reserve, we will always sow sparingly, never sure there will be enough. Instead, we must make a conscious decision to focus on the goal. 

Today, I am thinking about how God sows…and how we are encouraged to sow in response. (I’ll give you a hint: I bet the grass in the Garden of Eden was lush and full!)

PRAYER:

God of all good gifts, inspire in us the joy that recognizes your blessings and is eager to give so that others might be blessed as well. Amen.