Let God in Front

Many of the Psalms encourage the anxious and doubtful to let God take charge, let him work things out. “Wait,” the Psalmist writes. But how difficult is that?

When doubts arise, when drama ensues and when fear sets in, the natural reaction is to handle it, and quickly. We often respond in haste to keep things in our control.

I love to ride four-wheelers if I’m driving them. I can’t stand being on the back. You know, a lot of my relationship with God is similar to my discomfort with going along for the ride. I want to sit up front and cut the path, and I don’t always let God get involved and take over. But true trust in him realizes that he can drive the trail much better than me.

“Wait,” the Psalmist writes, “wait.”

Dazed and Confused

Overwhelming circumstances have flooded my life. Like waves crashing against a hapless boat, events have transpired that have sent me adrift. I haven’t lost anyone close to me. My children have their health. As far as my health goes, it’s intact. But the spiritual peace within those closest to me has seen brighter days. The storm clouds swallow the horizon and the thunder rumbles in the distance. The big one swiftly approaches; I can smell it on the air.

What happens when God allows one of his own to face the storm? How is one supposed to respond?

The blows have come in rapid succession, without warning, and I’ve been left dazed and confused. In raw confession I told a dear friend, “I don’t know how to feel; what am I to think?” Times like these occur for all of us. They happen. God lets them.

Do we pull up our anchor and give up? Do we seek shelter? Here’s a word from God that gave me direction.

Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to you, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I –Psalm 61

A Long Break

Yes, I took a long break from writing, well...doing much of anything. It served a wonderful purpose as I spent time with my family and away.

Jesus often had to get away. He valued time spent apart from the crowd focused on those most important to him. Downtime should be scheduled into our busy lives, in my opinion. No rest drives the spirit of enthusiasm out of us. A walking zombie isn't good for much. Get away once in awhile. Relax. Take a deep breath.

As for me now, back to work.

Hurting Youth with Sports

Our youth have ample adult-driven and adult-organized programs in which they can participate. They’re dragged all over the country to sporting events, hurried off to the next competition and pressured into hours of practice and preparation for…well, take your pick.

Many adults feel as though providing adolescents with non-stop activity serves to build trust and relationship between the two. Adults couldn’t be more wrong according to several experts on this subject. Chap Clark PhD., in his groundbreaking study, Hurt (2004), in which he immersed himself in the lives of hundreds of adolescents, concluded—“these activities are no longer for or about the students; they are for and about the adults in charge.” And, of course, our adolescents aren’t dumb; they pick up on the self-service of the adults. What follows is a widening of the gap between adult and teen relationships and an essential abandonment of the adolescent culture.

Sports aren’t bad. In fact, playing sports can provide a positive and extremely fun experience. Athletics can bring life to a child’s heart. But organized sports have in essence murdered the fun. The adults and parents who run and facilitate little league and high school athletics have increasingly created an atmosphere of intense competition relegating the fun to winning and out-doing others despite the costs. Practice times have increased. The stakes are higher. Kids face rejection and scorn for not performing. They’re hurt and tired. Striking out or missing a free-throw have become genuine fears. Adolescents feel like pawns in an adult chess match for the Little League title, in which the winning adult will find glory.

We, the adults, should be ashamed of ourselves. We’ve got to do something about this tragedy. What happened to the joy of playing sports? Why do we subject eight-year old boys to the humiliation of riding the pine because they’re not good enough?

Christians should lead the way in the fight to reclaim the joy of sports and the spirit of healthy competition. We should war against the self-centered and ego-driven forces behind too many of our sports organizations and public school athletics. No longer should we stand by and allow arrogant little league coaches to maneuver and position for the championship at the expense of our kid’s self-worth (example: I’m afraid you won’t play today Billy. This game is too important!).

To be fair, many Christians coach, and they do a wonderful job maintaining the proper perspective in athletics. I hope God continues to bless them and we continue to support them as they truly love our kids. May they increase!

I leave you with the real words of a former high school girl. Let it sink in.

I always played sports until I blew out my ankle and had reconstructive surgery. At that point I went from JV volleyball, varsity basketball, and varsity softball to the girl with the blown ankle. The remainder of my high school career I played only volleyball, when I could fit my foot in my shoe. So everything I once identified myself with was gone. I slipped into a depression. I started doing drugs and skipping school.

God's Youth Ministry

Last post, I asked about a belief in God’s youth ministry. I’m convicted that God still actively seeks to reconcile the world, including our youth. What did Paul say? “God gives the increase” and “we are fellow laborers with God.”

God pursues relationship. He deeply desires that his children rest in his arms and not rebel against him. Sometimes we act as if God is merely letting things play out. “It’s all up to us,” we mutter in despair. But I refuse to see it that way. In fact, taking such a perspective becomes a barrier to God’s outreach. And when this attitude arises it becomes about us and not God.

From my current perspective, we should aim to acknowledge God’s work, pointing others to the God trying to reach them and ready to accept them. As far as our young generation, they need to see God’s relevance in real life. Our actions toward the youth must relay a message that emphasizes that God seeks the them, now, where they’re at—not some distant mirage of who they think they should be. Ah…plant and water as Paul put it.

As I see it, our ministry, in conjunction with God, involves planting seeds of the Father’s love and acceptance through expressing the redemptive work of Christ in our lives to others. But through this labor, we must realize God craves a relationship with every person we encounter; he’s active in pursuing reconciliation. Let’s trust in that—he can make it happen if we’ll step aside and let him.

Gripped by Jesus

What do we really want to happen among our young people? Why a youth ministry? What is the goal for our youth? These questions have gripped my mind over the last month—more than usual.

I know, from comfort-shattering conversations I’ve had with my son about his experiences at school, that our kids face unnerving challenges to their faith and innocence. What can we do to stop the madness? How can we fight off the tide? Haunting, isn’t it?

In wrestling, fighting and struggling with these doubts, I’ve failed to produce a program, a secret or a formula to insure a positive outcome. But here’s the answer I’ve settled on. I’m not supposed to…yes, I know, it was hard for me to swallow. But think about it. Unless our kids are gripped by Jesus nothing I do, or anyone else does, will matter.

We simply must turn it over to him, join him and participate in his work to reclaim the hearts of our youth. God wants to envelope our kids in his love. Do we believe that? Do we truly acknowledge that God has a youth ministry too? May we have the strength and courage to trust him and get out of the way!

Now, how do we do that? Well, I’m still engaging that question. Want to talk?

Enjoying God

Do you ever feel stressed out feeling your way through life? Do you ever struggle to focus on what life is all about? Do you ever fade into a hopeless exhaustion, wondering "when can I catch my breath?"

Does religion ever feel more like a strenuous work-out than a releasing break-through?

Here's what I think. We have suffered a derailing in our thoughts. Have we bought into the idea that productivity, busyness, activity and efficiency constitute what life's about? Or what church is about for that matter? Where's the rest in God? Where are the Sabbaths moments? Have we forsaken the art of enjoying God? Have we grown insensitive to the moments when God is present through the unanticipated and subtle episodes in life?

The other night a few of my buddies got together for a guys support group. The idea is to enjoy each other, to share our struggles and experience God's power through our unity. One of the guys, however, turned to the leader and boldly asked about our times together, "So what are we going to do with this night? Do we have a plan...do we have a plan?" he insistently asked.

It ripped the heart out of the reason for being together. "No!", I wanted to scream. "We don't have a plan! We don't have an agenda! We have each other!" But I didn't. I think now maybe I should have spoken up a little more about it.

Will we die chasing our tails never to enjoy God and his family? Must there be a reason for every second we spend together? Or can the reason be to simply enjoy each other? No plan, no agenda and no purpose other than to witness the power of God in belonging and acceptance.

Slow down. Take a moment to become aware of God's presence in the small things. He's everywhere we look. He's in the face of a sleeping baby. He's at the ladies night out when they've been waiting to eat for 45 minutes and must continue to converse with each other. He's present in the small "I love you!" note posted on the bathroom mirror. He's in the silence before Bible class kicks off on Sunday morning. He's in the arms of the teenager whose helping up someone who has fallen at school.

Slow down, take a look. You won't regret it.

When Jesus got angry...

The Bible says Jesus became angry (Mark 3:5). But at what was he angry?

Did he get mad at people for not agreeing with him? Did he get upset at people for not catching on to his message fast enough? Did he throw a tantrum when others didn't go about things his way?

Ask these questions. Ponder them, deeply.

Ask these questions too. Have professed Jesus-followers ran off not-yet-Christians because they have failed to converse about Jesus without anger, sarcasm or intimidation? How has anger over matters intended for the realm of humble conversation affected the Christian witness?

In my estimation, it appears that Jesus grew angry at those who "knew better" and refused to bend in humiliation. His scathing rebukes were directed at those who suppressed people with self-righteous bullying.

I know these thoughts seem random...maybe so, but perhaps something to think about.

Let God Love

The unwillingness to accept God's love stands in the way as a staunch barrier to a lot of Christians trying to navigate their way through life.

Joe knows the thoughts he has on occasion about women and the disrespect those thoughts represent. Mary recognizes her lack of love for her sisters at times, and the rudeness she can portray. "How can God love me?" she asks. While Joe weeps inwardly, "I'm just not good enough for God's love."

Wrong. God loves me...and this fact has often suffered rejection from my mind... no matter what. That's right. I'm not saying that sin carries with it no consequences. It does. I'm not saying God isn't heart-broken when we hurt others and ourselves with sin. He is. But these things exist as results, evidence, of his unfading love. "For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines" writes the author of Hebrews.

Wrap your mind around this main thought. God loves you. He wants the best for you. It matters to him how you turn out. He hurts when you hurt. He cringes when you suffer. He sheds tears when he sees sin chipping away at your soul. But he doesn't stop his love.

Sometimes we want to cut him out of the picture. We don't believe it...we can't imagine someone who accepts us unconditionally. God will. He'll stick with you through struggles. He'll back you up through injustice. He'll strengthen you during weak moments. Trust him by letting him love you.

Knowing Jesus

A quest...that's what you could call it. I've embarked on a journey, though it may take the rest of my life, to know Jesus. Yes, yes, I know, it sounds trite. "Aren't we all wanting to know Jesus?", you ask. Sure. But how far are you willing to take it?

I'm finding out more and more that investigating the real Jesus poses a significant threat to my comfort. You can't know him and not get sucked in. You can't admire him and not change. You can't get a grip on what he was about and feel secure.

He endured the cross for a reason. "For sins!", you say. Ok, yes, for sins. But don't forget that his condemnation to a cross resulted from his actions as a man. He had an agenda. He exposed people. He walked the talk. He enraged many. Still want to follow him? Still want to risk safety and security to follow his steps?

The more I see Jesus, the more I see danger ahead. The more I see rejection. The more I see...that I've got along way to go.

Making it a Habit

I have committed to posting something, anything on my blog at least five times a week (Monday through Friday). Now that something might consist of a mere sentence or something greater in size. But I will post something.

Today, well, time slips away. And I guess that's the thought...time slips away. What will you do with it?

I'll Start Here

I increasingly hurt at how people simply can't get along. And over the silliest things... To many unity and harmony demands conformity. But I won't buy that assumption. We can disagree and remain bonded.

My dearest friends and I have engaged some knock down, drag out fights with each other...then hugged and told each other how much we love the other. We left the ordeal still in disagreement but still wholly committed to each other. And that's where it has to start...with a commitment to unity and harmony with a foundation of humility and meekness supporting our relational commitments. Or...they won't work.

People, if they fail to start at commitment and humility, will botch their relationships, get mad, blow up and annihilate relationships that meant so much to them and those involved. It truly hurts to see us supplant and uproot human dignity and integrity because we can't simply say "I'll start here...I'm committed to this relationship. I know we'll disagree and I will often be wrong. No matter what...I love you."

It's Quick

I ponder a lot about what happens behind the scenes. You know, I don't know the ins and outs of it all. But Satan exists. He doesn't like us. Evil often prevails.

What gets to me on occasion is the swiftness with which things can go the way of hell. It's quick. Out of nowhere, events transpire that chalk another one up for team evil. They've scored again. Like a trick play, a fake punt, they've slapped on 62 yards in one play for a touchdown. What?!

Ok, perhaps we bring some of the drama on ourselves. But I'm convinced other forces scrap together new game plans every day. So in the words of Peter..."Be on alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."