press on

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things....put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
(Phil. 4:8-9)

General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was immensely fond of pushing his troops into the fray of battle by encouraging them with cries of "Press on! Press on!" And indeed, the call of action we read in this letter to the church at Philippi by Paul is his own proclamation of "Press on!"

Pressing on into the battle is something that cannot be taken lightly. Casualties are just as sure to happen as are moments of confusion, doubt, and surprise attacks. To say that we are not actively in a state of war would only be defending your position with lies. The words of Paul cannot be ignored: "The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. (2 Cor. 10.3-5)" We will suffer for Christ. We will take hits for him. We will bleed. Knowing that then, what must our attitude be?

Our attitude must be a proactive want that God bless our lives so much people will talk about what He is doing. That means we must actively give Him our best in every area. If we are successful in the fruits of our labor, we praise Him. And if our fruits turn more to raisins, we praise Him. Either way we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes. So what then do we do to make our life on the battlefield worth living - and possibly dying - for? It is a conscious resolution to give God everything we have, then leave all the results up to Him.

Winning a battle here and there and only living for the momentary may have won an occasional campaign or two - but that attitude has never won a war. And pressing on in such a spiritual war must have the latter tactical option than the former. Anything less that seeking overall total victory is too small a thing to live for. 

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

(Eph. 5:15-16) 

faith of our fathers

Many know the verse from Hebrews like they know the parable of the Prodigal Son - "Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see. (Heb. 11.1)" And how often do we skip over those lines without much thought - just like our readings of the Prodigal Son.

It's time that changed.

How easy is it to live life according to our wants and needs. It is our idea of heaven to do what we want, when we want, and how we want it. To have the ability to set our own schedules, sleep in as late as we want, eat out whenever and whatever we like, come late into work and leave early and take a long break in the middle of the day is everyone's dream. To put ourselves into the leadership role of our own lives has the hope of ending all of our problems and leaving us fat and happy when retirement rolls around.

But it is a false hope. For it is not what we want, when we want, and how we want it but what He wants for us, when He wants it, and how He wants it. We move not on our time but on His. What we see as our major life choices and decisions are only ours because He allows it. For some, especially those who take comfort on being in total control, the risk of letting someone else take the helm - especially a powerful man we cannot even see - can be more than daunting. But isn't faith just that - daunting? It forces us to surrender to the unknown. It forces us to truly let go and truly let God. How easy that is to write but how hard it is to actually let your guard down and let it happen. 

Faith not put into action is a faith that could potentially go stale. We must not only completely surrender ourselves up to Christ and by extension faith itself, but in putting the latter into action we must call upon the Lord with the firm reliance and assurance that He will not only hear but listen and act. The Compline Psalm (Chapter 4) makes it clear that we must all know for a fact "that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me."

Faith is integral to the life of a Christian. Living out that faith in our daily lives - especially when we are hard-pressed - creates for God the avenue to set us free. With that strong faith we come to God with our favors, call on him, and dutifully wait for his action. Though shadows may increase, uncertainties abound, and hard, hard days loom with great potential on the horizon, doubting that faith and the possibility of God not responding to those favors asked by his faithful is a bad slope to traverse down that will only lead to more disaster and difficulty.

To truly seek and serve Christ through faithfulness we must remember to go forth in confidence, seek the intercessions of the Saints, personify Acts 1:8, and constantly hunger for the body and blood of Jesus Christ - not just simple symbolic bread and wine. How easy it is to write - how harder it is to live - but we must risk the hardships of our present and have faith that God will hear our call and respond to our requests for any of our hardships at the end of the day "are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Rom. 8.18b)"

he is risen

He is risen, he is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice:
he has burst his three days' prison;
let the whole wide earth rejoice:
death is conquered, man is free,
Christ has won the victory.

Come, ye sad and fearful-hearted,
with glad smile and radiant brow!
Lent's long shadows have departed;
Jesus' woes are over now,
and the passion that he bore--
sin and pain can vex no more.

Come, with high and holy hymning,
hail our Lord's triumphant day;
not one darksome cloud is dimming
yonder glorious morning ray,
breaking o'er the purple east,
symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen, he is risen!
He hath opened heaven's gate:
we are free from sin's dark prison,
risen to a holier state;
and a brighter Easter beam
on our longing eyes shall stream.

 ___________________

Almighty God, who through your only Son Jesus Christ, overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

the great vigil of easter

Dear friends in Christ: On this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word and celebrating his Sacraments, we share in his victory over death.

O God, through your Son you have bestowed upon your people the brightness of your light: Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King. Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth, bright with a glorious splendor, for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King. Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church, and let your holy courts, in radiant light, resound with the praises of your people.All you who stand near this marvelous and holy flame, pray with me to God the Almighty for the grace to sing the worthy praise of this great light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

It is truly right and good, always and everywhere, with our whole heart and mind and voice, to praise you, the invisible, almighty, and eternal God, and your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who at the feast of the Passover paid for us the debt of Adam's sin, and by his blood delivered your faithful people. This is the night, when you brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea on dry land. This is the night, when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life. This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave. How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God, is your mercy and loving-kindness to us, that to redeem a slave, you gave a Son. How holy is this night, when wickedness is put to flight, and sin is washed away. It restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to those who mourn. It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord. How blessed is this night, when earth and heaven are joined and man is reconciled to God. Holy Father, accept our evening sacrifice, the offering of this candle in your honor. May it shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find it ever burning--he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us go forth in the name of Christ, alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

the passion of our lord jesus christ

john 18:1 - 19:24

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want? “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.

With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about one hundred pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

ecce homo

"ut cognoscatis quia in eo nullam causam invenio et purpureum vestimentum et dicit eis  
ecce homo."

"Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! (John 19.4-5 KJV)"

It is that time of the week once more. While we have not yet made it to Good Friday, I have watched The Passion of the Christ this year already. And the above scene is poignantly demonstrated: Christ has been scourged nearly to death (39 times exactly - because it was said 40 would kill a man), a crown of thorns has been rammed down upon his head, a itchy red robe now sticks at his clotting blood, and a layer of Roman soldier spit mixed with cheap wine covers his face. In the midst of all this, he is presented to Pontius Pilate (who for one quick moment, looks in absolute disbelief at this man's appearance). An audible, collective shocked gasp resonates throughout the Praetorium as Pilate brings Christ before the crowd. For one brief moment, the entire mass is shocked by the state of the man before them. And in this fervor, Pilate yells out the words that will go down in history - Ecce homo!

But wait.

This truly is the PG version of this story - at least when it comes to the appearance of Christ. The Passion of the Christ does one thing very well - it makes the Passion very uncomfortable. It leads us on a total departure from the pure icons of Catholic and Orthodox traditions and lack-of-blood films such as King of Kings and Jesus of Nazareth. Even so, and director Mel Gibson will attest to this, The Passion doesn't truly grasp the appearance of Jesus Christ as the Bible described. Isaiah 52.14 describes His appearance during this time as one that "many were astonished at...his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." The newer Message translation says it like this: "At first everyone was appalled. He didn't even look human—a ruined face, disfigured past recognition." 

Think about that.

Jesus Christ's appearance was so grotesque and horrific that He did not look like a human - and yet He survived for hours after this point. He was so badly beaten, whipped, and bloodied that there was nothing left of Him that resembled a male human being - at all. What did Pilate's face look like when he gazed upon the truly scourged Christ for the first time? What was the original crowd's reaction to seeing this Man for the first time? 

How pertinent then, during this Holy Week and especially on Good Friday that we keep that idea at the forefront of our minds. Christ endured this to set us free. He endured this so that we can live forever. While the thought of what His true appearance may have looked like over 2,000 years ago may never be grasped, the outcome of His death sends shockwaves of conscious repercussions into our lives each and every day. For because of the resurrection we can turn anger into joy through our rejoicing proclamation - Ecce homo!

patience

The risk has been accepted. As we begin to travel down the pathway of our relationship with Christ, we must be prepared for the stumbling blocks that lay in our way. The risk of walking with Christ is that it won't be easy - our life will be beautiful, but it will never be easy. Anyone that says differently is trying to sell you something. But even at our worst, we can take comfort that Job has made it through arguably worse circumstances than we ever will as a follower of Christ.

To understand Job we must understand that he is much more than myth. As columnist Jason Jackson notes, "It is not accurate to say: 'The book of Job contains miraculous components; therefore, it is not historical in nature.' The same reasoning would demand that the record of Christ’s resurrection is not historically accurate — simply because it is miraculous." And to discount the resurrection as occurring means all of Christianity is useless and so is your faith. Even more so, both Ezekiel (Ezk. 14:14,20) and James (Jas. 5:11) refer to Job as an historical person. While there are definitely figurative passages throughout Job, there is a big difference between figurative-ness and saying that something totally untrue (mythological) can be represented as the literal history of the Bible.

As we press on as disciples in the faith, we know that we must strive to break through terrible and painful situations because a real man has been through worse. Indeed two if you bring Christ into the equation - for he was totally human as well. There will always be pain in the world. There will always been hardship, struggle, and ultimate hurt - we have our fallen nature to thank for that. We pray for God to make the hurt stop, wait, slow down, go away and too often we expect God to answer in the affirmative. But just as often, we forget God is also able to say "Wait" or "No". 

Is God uncaring because of that? Absolutely not. In fact, he is more loving because of it. He loves us so much that he will do anything he can to show us that we cannot get through the pain and hurt by ourselves - we must lean on Him. We must put away our humanistic pride and be wrapped in His arms and carried by Him. Throughout this all, we may not feel we can handle one single gram of more hurt but we must never forget that God has promised us that he will never allow the sin that drives that hurt to be beyond what we can bear. He will always be there to be our ultimate shield when the Enemy crouches to attack. Because Job is real, we have real hope. We have hope as modern day Christians that while there may be darkness and weeping now, joy will come in the morning. 

During this journey through Holy Week, this is beautifully demonstrated and is a constant yearly reminder of our life as Christians. We are triumphant at our first belief in Christ (the festive entrance into Jerusalem), we learn and take in as much as possible (his preaching and teaching in the City), and we become more reverent, holy, and (sadly) comfortable in that. But soon, in the midst of our growing life with Christ we see dark clouds on the horizon (the Last Supper) and soon betrayal (The Garden of Gethsemane), rejection, mocking, and questioning can occur (Judas' betrayal and Christ before Pilate). Soon, no way seems to be out as we reach barriers that seem to bad, scary, hard, and tall for even Jesus himself to ascend and break through (The Crucifixion). But through the example of Job and Christ himself, we can take solace in the fact that if we find even an ounce of strength to propel ourselves forward through prayer, faith, hope, and love, Christ will carry us through (The Resurrection) and "refine you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Isa. 48.10)

the triumphal entry

When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: "Go over to the village across from you. You'll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you're doing, say, 'The Master needs them!' He will send them with you."

This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:

   Tell Zion's daughter,
   "Look, your king's on his way,
      poised and ready, mounted
   On a donkey, on a colt,
      foal of a pack animal." 

The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, "Hosanna to David's son!" "Blessed is he who comes in God's name!" "Hosanna in highest heaven!" 

As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, "What's going on here? Who is this?"

The parade crowd answered, "This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee." 

Matthew 21:1-11 (MSG)

dare i live

The torches are in hand.

                                                       time for FIRE.

That fire emits from our conscious desire to move away from the status quo of what the world wants to where God wants us to be. We move into that position only by risk - and that type of movement isn't comfortable. We are confronted by looming barriers of risks everyday - from walking into the boss's office to responsibly demand the raise that was promised and conveniently forgotten - to moving forward with a promising relationship that is unlike any you've ever had. Not taking risks ensures absolute defeat - crashing through the barrier of risks ensures CEO positions and strong, happy couples.

Remember, risks are uncomfortable. They etch against our very human psyche. When we see uncertainty looming, blind curves of misunderstanding, or derelict bridges spanning the unknown - how easy is it to simply say, "Let's tackle this issue next week." And next week becomes later this month, later becomes next month, and soon - next month becomes next year. Putting the risks off only send us deeper into a hole that provides a more, seemingly impossible climb out, as our digging progresses. Easy is easy. Uncertainty adds spice to the Gospel and brings about Truth. 

In 2005 I traveled with some friends to St. Simons, GA to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Camp. The guest speaker was a man named Gary Taylor. The last day of camp, he read to us out of his journal. This is what he said---

"Though there is a sense of wonder in visually soaking up the spectacular--there is potential danger in touching it. Poison ivy, stinging insects, biting ants--all this and more lurks mid itchy grass. I'll walk near it, I'll gladly sit back and observe it, but I won't risk rolling through it--bare-back touching--I want nothing uncomfortable.

"The love of the Father is fresh and growing. It to is beautiful, but it's a love that carries potential danger. It stings my self-sufficiency; it causes my faith to itch in places that I can't comfortably itch to scratch. I'll walk as near to his love as possible but often I don't want it to touch my bear skin. I like seeing God safely...from afar. I enjoy catching a whiff of his freshness, as a gentle breeze blows favorably in my direction---but touching God involves nearness--nearness requires risk--dare I live willing to risk.

"I must step out of comfort zones and get up from cushioned chairs and venture outside of rooms with picture windows and roll in His grassy love. I don't want to but I must. I'm embarrassed that I love nature from the air-conditioned side of a sliding glass door. I'm even more ashamed that I love God in much the same way: in climate-controlled, Gary-controlled sanctuaries.

"So Father, this is my prayer-- 'Nudge me, send me--rolling, tumbling down a hill of waist deep, beautiful, itchy, fresh, stinging Creation-infested love, life near You--more than I even realize I need that touching contact with You. But touching you involves nearness--nearness requires risk--dare I live willing to risk....' How about you?"

holding it back

For those of you happy few observing Lent by taking on a more intense immersion into the Word, today's Lenten collect will hold a special meaning ---

O Lord, you relieve our necessity out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

How easy that seems and yet there is danger in it. Great risk. 

      Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,

      Nor speak anymore in His name.”

      But His word was in my heart like a burning fire

      Shut up in my bones;

      I was weary of holding it back,

      And I could not.

We love to simply forget we're Christians - at least for a little bit. From time to time it does feel wonderfully convenient. Perhaps we've met a beautiful woman whose heart we discover finds that Hume is beautiful. Perhaps we find ourselves only too happy to skip a Sunday morning because we just had to had that extra shot of Jäger at the bar to impress the guys. Perhaps one little click of the mouse on that seductive pop-up isn't all that bad - its a slow day and the wife is staying late at the office. Or perhaps we "lose" that annoying and frumpy job applicant's resume in File #13 (don't you just hate it when that happens?!)

It is so easy to become comfortable in living without the risk. It is easy to get by without speaking His name in public (and let alone, privately). In our politically correct world where sex, drugs, and rock n' roll are all the gospel most need, it is nice to view God from inside a small, airtight, locked, glass observatory space where, when we are personally good and ready, we can unlock the box and grab Him and His Word up.

But let me tell you - I would rather sacrifice a few good feelings at the cusps than the deep pitted feelings that creep up in the wake of that false good. But we are a proud people and even when our transgressions convict us and blare like an airhorn three inches from our face, we put our heads on, offer a half-hearted "Sorry, Lord" and repeat within two weeks. It's time to do more.

It's embarrassing and this Lent, we must move ourselves to change. It is time to become uncomfortable, take risks, and live like men. Become dangerous. Feed upon the risk.  Just as Jeremiah says if we bottle up the Word in our hearts It "rages like a burning fire...", so John Wesley challenges us that if we live for the passion of the Gospel, "people will come to watch you burn."

GET THE TORCHES.

definitions

this blog has its foundation in ubuntu and the competitor's creed.

through both our faith walk will begin to grow exponentially.

the soil has been planted.

             add water.

UBUNTU

to live and care for others

to act kindly towards others

to be hospitable

to be just and fair

to the compassionate

to assist those in distress

to be trustworthy and honest

to have good morals

South Africa

___

THE COMPETITOR'S CREED

I am a Christian first and last.
I am created in the likeness of
God Almighty to bring Him glory.
I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.
I wear the colors of the cross. 

 

I am a Competitor now and forever.
I am made to strive, to strain,
to stretch and to succeed
in the arena of competition.
I am a Christian Competitor
and as such, I face my challenger
with the face of Christ. 

 

I do not trust in myself.
I do not boast in my abilities
or believe in my own strength.
I rely solely on the power of God.
I compete for the pleasure of
my Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ
and the reputation of the Holy Spirit. 

 

My attitude on and off
the field is above reproach -
my conduct beyond criticism.
Whether I am preparing,
practicing or playing;
I submit to God's authority
and those He has put over me.
I respect my coaches, officials,
teammates and competitors
out of respect for the Lord. 

 

My body is the temple of Jesus Christ.
I protect it from within and without.
Nothing enters my body that
does not honor the Living God.
My sweat is an offering to my Master.
My soreness is a sacrifice to my Savior. 

 

I give my all - all of the time.
I do not give up. I do not give in.
I do not give out. I am the Lord’s warrior -
a competitor by conviction
and a disciple of determination.
I am confident beyond reason
because my confidence lies in Christ.
The results of my efforts
must result in His glory. 

 

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN.
LET THE GLORY BE GOD'S.