Breathe | planet earth

In the expanse of the cosmos lies a unique planet; one that was precisely positioned and tilted just enough to sustain life; Planet Earth.

Some say coincidence and others say design; it's your choice. But, let's stop and take a look at what one of God's spoke persons says about it?

Isaiah 45:18-19


The point: this earth, with all creatures’ great and small, was hand crafted by God and was given to us as a gift...

o A gift to enjoy; this speaks to pausing long enough to enjoy his handiwork

o A gift to cherish; this speaks to the duty we have to be good stewards of our planet

o A gift to explore; this speaks to discovering the thumbprint of God in creation and his word


So, slow down this summer and breathe. While you're at it look for the fingerprints of God; you might be surprised where you find them.

Let me know what you discover this summer.

Peace.

The Cosmos...

It’s no secret anymore; what was once considered secure is now shaky at best and what we once viewed as a pillar of certainty seems to be falling apart. Just read the headlines. The questions is; to what or to whom does one turn in times like these?

Isaiah 40:21-31


Something to consider:

Beyond the vastness of the cosmos you discover a sovereign and powerful God; one who offers security/stability in the midst of uncertainty.

So, look around this summer; gaze into the heavens; it’s the canvas of an incredible God. If there is anyplace we can rest secure in these uncertain times, it is here.

• In your observation of the cosmos do you see the handiwork of God? Look deeper.
• Does it give you any sense of comfort, or does it just conjure up more doubt? Why or why not?
• Do the "mysteries" of the universe push you to explore further? Press on.
• Do you believe that some qualitative aspects of God can be clearly seen by examining the heavens? Keep looking.

Stand in awe of God's creative power and simply breathe; Lord knows we need it...

Ron...

What happened?

I wonder when Christianity managed to reduce itself to just another world religion? No doubt it didn't happened overnight, but it has happened. Maybe this is why people are still curious about Jesus, but fed-up with church (and most Christians)?

The other day I was reading Luke 19:10 (some curious words of Jesus when he was at the home of a religious leader). Apparently, Jesus' mission was to seek and save those who were lost, and yet for the most part he wasn't welcomed by those with a religious ilk. He was welcomed, however, by those furthest from it. So, I guess you could conclude that Jesus came to seek and save the religiously messed up as well as the irreligiously forgotten. Doesn't look like a religion to me, it looks like a contagion; a contagion for good, of grace, of peace and of compassion.

When I explain to people what I do for a living (pastor a church), then next questions is automatic; where is you church? In Dexter I guess, is my usual not-so-clever response. What they are really asking is, where is your building? Here's one, where do you go to church?

So, it has come this; church is a building, thousands of them all over the world with real zip codes; places where people can come and hear things, grip about the outsiders and then go home; nothing changes. It's true; we must be a religion!

Maybe we followers of Jesus should just start being the church, loving Jesus and those who need him, caring for those who are unable to care for themselves, setting aside our petty differences, busting out of our judgemental clicks, confessing our sin of moral superiority, indifference and apathy.

Maybe then we can become a contagion for good again; one where people will take notice and discover the real Jesus.

Peace.

Conflicted...

There isn't a week that goes by that I'm not in some way conflicted. As one who loves to "help" it's easy to get up and go; to be "out there" helping those on the fringes of life. To load up my tools and team up with a group to rebuild someones home gives me great pleasure (it's why I buy new power tools). To load box after box of food for the food bank does the same for my spirit. My soul is overwhelmed knowing that I get to go back to Kenya in October. Yes, the list goes on and on...

Here's the internal confliction; has my service to the poor, the homeless, the thirsty, the sick and the hungry become a fun religious activity, or does it come from a deeper place; a heart that has been touched by God?

Don't get me wrong, confliction can be good. Being at odds with our self can keep us centered as it helps us check our motives. Sometimes my heart gets a bit upside down and my motives are self-centered. At other times, my heart is just fine. I think this is the essence of our journey with Christ in that his deepest desire is to restore our hearts, and in doing so we can be his hands and feet in a hurting world. This is not a linear issue, it's an organic one. Figure this one out for yourself :^)

As I promised at our Sunday service yesterday (April 19th), listed below are a few simple prayers that I use to keep me centered which usually eases the confliction...

Dear God, restore my heart this day. Renew it that I may see the world as you see the world. Breathe a fresh breathe into the depths of my heart that my eyes will be opened that I too may see and serve the least of these…

Dear God, refresh my heart each day that I may continue my a quest; a quest of getting to know you. Help me read when I should read, fast when I should fast, pray when I should pray, and help me fight off the urge to make this a solo journey…

Dear God, my heart is yours. I give you all I can give you at this moment. I still have questions, I still have doubts, I still have a long way to go, but this day I give you my heart, as is…

Need some inspiration? Read Psalm 51.

Peace out...

Rise...

Easter is a celebration of the final step Jesus took on this earth validating his claim to be the living God of the cosmos; his miraculous resurrection after death. This incredible step, however, was simply the culminating step; one that was preceded by many others (healing the sick, calming the storms, feeding the thousands, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, casting out demons and touching the hungry souls of those who were living in the margins).

To get at the heart of the Easter message, we must go back to the first public speech given by Christ.

Luke 4:16-22

Read it a few times and then work through the following questions:

1. What was Jesus saying in this first public address?
2. Why did he need to say it?
3. What is the Good News anyway?
4. What do you now believe?
5. How shall you now live?
6. Where is our hope?

At the heart of the Easter message is a call to "rise up" and "be the miracle" in lives of those in our world who need a helping hand (the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the orphaned, the widowed and those who live the margins). This is the Good News; Jesus came offering a living and tangible hope that more often than not comes with a cold cup of clean water, a bed to sleep in, food for a family and a safe place to live for HIV/AIDS orphans.

Easter, along with one's faith, was never meant to remain a corporate private affair; it's a celebration meant to be lived in community; side by side as we serve the least of these.

Rise up my friends and be the miracle. There are people next door and around the world counting on you.

If, however, you think that I'm off base or missing the point, then feel free to comment.

Shalom...

www.leadwithcompassion.org

Tilling...

The other day while in the produce section at my local Kroger, I thought to myself, "Now this is the way to have a garden! Get in the car, go the store, buy some really nice fruit, go home, make a fruit salad and pig out - how cool."

In Luke chapter one we're introduced to some folks who set the stage for us; they did the work of preparing the way. If you think about it, their interaction with the living God was life-changing for them as well as life-changing for us. Their story is only one chapter in God's story; and each chapter "tills the ground" for another.

We are sometimes frozen in time; thinking that unlike those who came before us, we're finally getting it right (a bit arrogant don't you think). In truth we're actually in Kroger; enjoying what others have made possible. Don't get me wrong, this is very cool. It's funny, each generation thinks they're finally getting it right, and maybe in some ways it's true.

However, when I pause long enough to listen to my mom's stories (which I've a lot of lately), I realize that she has spent her entire life preparing the ground for others (and me). Her life has been one of sacrifice after sacrifice as she humbly follows the call of Christ without fanfare.

In church today fruit pickers get all the glory, but the life-long and often overlooked hard work is in tilling the ground.

Thanks mom...

1. Who has made it possible for you to do what you do?
2. What ground are you tilling for others?
3. What happens when tilling ceases?

I think back to all who have made my fruit picking possible - it's a long list and I'm grateful...

Peace out.

I'm back...

The blog-o-spheric pressure has got to me. Actually, the other day I went to a large group meeting in Ann Arbor and Shane Claiborne was the main speaker (if you don't know who he is then google his name). It was very very cool. One of his answers during the Q&A was most insightful and yet I have a hunch it will be grossly overlooked or ignored. Question: The issues you raise are so overwhelming, but where do we start? Answer: I suggest you start by spending significant time with Jesus and let him lead you (loosely paraphrased).

I thought to myself, Wow, that's not what we want to hear. But, it got me to thinking; Ron, get the blog back up and running so you can share a few thoughts as you read through the book of Luke. It's the best way to listen to what Jesus is trying to say.

So, over the course of the next few months we'll work through Luke and together simply listen to what God has to say. Why Luke? It is often referred to as The Gospel of Compassion, and as we all know, Compassion Rules!

There you have it. I know, it's not rocket science, but let's give it a shot. After each section, which I'll pick as we move along, I'll pose a few thoughts and a few questions to get you going.

That's all for now - see you later this week. Oh, you might want to start reading he book of Luke. Read slow, pray hard, listen long.

Peace out...