losing what is good for something new

In some ways change doesn’t bother me. It is after all a part of life. We think about it especially when our children are growing up. We say they are growing up too fast. Soon that baby, that cute little boy or girl, that delightful child will be pushing out more and more on their own, and at last they’ll be gone. All too soon, for sure. So we get used to change, even if we don’t like it.

There are changes though that challenge us nearly, if not completely to the core of our being. Perhaps something which we may end up changing after years and even decades of practice. This is especially hard, and we need special grace for it, each step of the way.

Changes that are peripheral to me, I mean circumstantial, even to the point of vocational, probably don’t bother me that much, not to deny that they may bring significant and even great challenges themselves. Yet they aren’t to be compared to changes which come close to my heart. Perhaps a certain way the Lord has led one, which now seems open to change. Losing someone, though that’s another subject altogether. I’m thinking here more in terms of losing something which in and through God in Jesus, we’ve come to depend on.

What we can count on is that through all the changes of life, God will be present with us in Jesus. And God will help us through. Even when such change brings great weakness to ourselves, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, in and through his sufficient grace in Jesus.

I am challenged today over a major change in my life, even if it’s only in the thinking, theoretical stage at this point. I am not even sure how to look at it. It seems to touch the core of my being, but in a certain sense it does not do that at all, nor change anything. I have to remember the constant we have in the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And in the good news of King Jesus for us, for the world, and for all creation.

God is faithful. We may not want to go where it seems we have to, but God will be with us each step of the way in and through Jesus by the Holy Spirit. That is the constant our faith must hold on to. And the grace that God gives. Through this life, together in Jesus in and for the world.

in this world, in this life

At the nursing home on Sunday, I was reminded of just how broken life is in this world and in this life. But I was also reminded of Christ’s encouraging and empowering presence in the midst of that brokenness. A dear brother in Jesus who I visited afterward, when he heard that my wife had recently got out of the hospital, he grabbed my hand and asked me to pray since I know the situation firsthand, and that he’d be agreeing, and then said he would be praying for her. This brother has been weak and racked in pain off and on (mostly on, it seems) for what seems to be unending months piled up into years. And yet his life was not dictated by that today, when he found an opportunity to serve.

In this world and in this life we can expect trouble. I once heard of a plan to make a community out somewhere (maybe “in the sticks”?) free from trouble. As I recall it would be expensive, but insofar as this world is concerned I suppose, it was to be trouble free. Of course that’s really a pipe dream. There is no escape of trouble in this word and life in one way or another.

The question becomes how do we live in the midst of that? In and through Jesus we are to live in the faith with a trusting faith in our heavenly Father. Remembering also that nothing at all in this world and life can separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore we in Jesus need to go on humbly bold, or humbly faithful, knowing that God is faithful. We want to grow in obedience to Christ’s commands in and through him. We want to be those who are truly alive in him in this world and present life. Our lives are to be different, indeed graced by Jesus’ life through the Spirit.

As Jesus told his disciples, “I have told you these things so that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! Be encouraged! I have overcome the world.”

And so only because of Jesus may our lives be a witness come what may, individually and together in him before and for the world.

looking back, looking ahead

As we approach a new year on our calendars, I think it’s appropriate and good to look back on the past year, 2011, as well as looking ahead to 2012. When Paul said forgetting what was behind, he was thinking in terms of the old life he had left behind with all its accoutrements, or what was held dear in the old life. As Paul pressed ahead in the new life in Christ.

Looking back on 2011, I have to say I am amazed it’s over. When beginning to write this post I first thought of 2010, then 2011. Had to bump myself up a year! The year goes fast, time flies. In fact the older one gets, the more this seems to be true. Even for scientific, psychological reasons, it’s been said. And also as a matter of perspective (related to the psychological). On the other hand we can learn to treasure what time we have with God, loved ones, ourselves, and creation.

2011 I see as a year of growth spiritually for me, and out from that in probably every other way that is important. Speaking here only of ways I’m aware of. There are certainly other areas untouched, which the Lord in due time will bring to light. But I’m thankful for the growth, and for experiencing the Lord’s faithfulness throughout. Both in times of need, as well as simply overall. In some ways, as I remember 2011, I think it was an important year for me. The beginning one might say, of a kind of breakthrough.

Without the faithful pastors I have, Jack and Sharon Brown, I don’t think this would have occurred. I’m thankful too for my faithful, sweet wife, who helps me much more than I help her, I’m afraid. And for true friends along the way. And above all the God from whom all blessings flow: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to whom be all glory and praise forevermore. Amen.

For some reason a sense of dread has hit me, not really about the future as much as the present, but that is where I live, in and out, so I’m more or less used to what is hard to get used to. But I’ve learned through life that God is faithful in just the ways we need to help us along in the way of Jesus. Of course we need to be in scripture daily, or regularly and significantly. And learn to depend on the Spirit to give us a sense of what that means, and how we are to live out the way in Jesus day to day. Through trials, in blessings and everything in between.

Looking forward to 2012 I have my own hopes along with the fears. But one thing I can count on for sure: God will be faithful. It is like a blank sheet ahead. We don’t know what a day may bring forth, for that matter. On the other hand, we can think ahead with some imagination what we’d like to see in God’s will in Jesus. For the world, in our world, in our hearts, for our loved ones, for family and friends. And pray along those lines.

As we turn the calendars (some already have!) I will continue to pray with others in and through Jesus, this prayer:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one,
for yours is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory
forever.
Amen.

God is faithful in Jesus

God is faithful, period. But his faithfulness to his people and through them to the world is in and through Jesus.

I have seen God’s faithfulness over and over again, in and through Jesus. Coming through during difficult times, by faith. And especially in the context of being blessed to be a blessing to others.

God is faithful through his covenant, called the new covenant made in and through Jesus. We humans are needy, not only doing well to have a sense of belonging, but in need of belonging to God in this covenantal way through faith and baptism, in and through Jesus.

We then need to hold on to this truth of God’s ongoing faithfulness in Jesus, because the road is sure to get hard and seem long and winding. What God is doing in Jesus is no Sunday School picnic. He works in our lives in Jesus to be making us individually and together to become more and more like his Son. And that will be an affront to the world at times, bringing our kingdom of God in Jesus calling and values into conflict with the world’s calling and values.

How do I better live in and out of God’s faithfulness in Jesus? It’s a matter of remaining true to that calling in all our weakness and even sin–yes, in and through Jesus. God will remain true to his covenant promises in and through Jesus. We need to be engaged so as to receive the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls. And more than that, that we would fulfill God’s calling to us here and now.

Everything depends on God and his faithfulness in and through Jesus. We are sure to be victorious in and through Jesus, in the way of Jesus if we live in dependence on this sure promise of God in Jesus. A faithfulness in Jesus for us and through us for the world.

wondering

Usually I have dark times everyday or many days, but light comes in sooner or later during the day. But lately I just can’t seem to shake a kind of dread darkness that has settled over me.

That doesn’t mean I can’t function, nor that God can’t use me. Both have happened during this time. It was suggested to me by a pastor and spiritual director that what kept coming back to them about my trial was Paul’s gift of the thorn in his flesh, even a messenger of Satan to torment him. So that God’s purposes could be fulfilled through his life. Precisely, to keep him from becoming conceited over the surpassingly great revelations he had received from God. In my case there are no such revelations. And what I’m going through is like a low grade fever compared to a full blown illness, in Paul’s case.

So I wonder and wait. Believing in God and God’s salvation and deliverance in and through Jesus. Believing that God is greater than any problem, than any circumstance. That just as God has done the impossible, at least impossible for me, more than once in my life, he’ll do the same again. But maybe the way he does it, and the outcome will somehow be different.

be still and know

If there’s one posture that I likely have the most trouble maintaining unless I am asleep, it is the posture of being still. Being still has with it the idea in scripture of being open to correction, even rebuke, remaining open to God to hear his voice, to sense the Spirit’s moving–what God is doing.

“Be still and know that I am God” is found in a psalm in which God is addressing those who are in rebellion and enamored with power. God is stopping them in their tracks, and ending their march. At the same time this is a word of encouragement to us who are God’s people. Sometimes even a direct word, as we too can often be pursuing our own agenda, which is not God’s agenda for us. Or we can be overcome with evil so that we’re reacting in like manner.

No. We’re to be still and know, along with everyone else, that he is God. That God in Jesus is indeed Lord of all. Unlike the enemies of God who are struck with terror over this, we as God’s people can take comfort in the truth that God in Jesus is indeed the King, and that all other kingdoms are destined to bow to his authority.

Regular times away in solitude, in secret, as Jesus did and taught are necessary if we’re to live out who we are as God’s people. And regular times with God’s people, committed to each other over the long haul, to live together in seeking to follow Jesus. What we need is the assurance that God is in charge no matter what, that his good will will be done on earth as in heaven.

Be still and know that he is God. Which is what I want to do today. And everyday. As we continue to pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, and look for its fulfillment in the present, as well as in the future.

the death of loved ones

It has been awhile since my father died, four years ago this Spring. Even though he was not in good health for some time, so that we were not surprised when it came, it was somewhat of a revelation to me- just how hard it was to say goodbye to him in this present time. There was certainly a sense of finality for us all, that in this life our communion with him was ended.

Though I see no such promise in scripture, I hope for chances beyond the grave for those who did not profess faith in Jesus, and perhaps even opposed the gospel. And I actually like the traditions of praying to God in committing the deceased to him. Those prayers I think are actually for the faithful. But like the thief on the cross, we never know for sure what may have happened between a loved one and God before the time of their death. We entrust them into the hands of a loving and faithful Creator.

There is such a tear in our hearts and lives when this happens. And the older we get, the more tears there are in our heart. Some healing to be sure over time, but scars, and easily opened wounds again. We look forward more and more to the day when in Jesus we will be reunited with loved ones.

What can we do for friends whose loved ones have died? Simply be present for them. First in love and prayers. And in whatever tokens of love we can send their way. And not thinking when in their presence that we have to say anything. Weeping with them, or wanting to help bear their burden during such a troubled time. In spirit and heart. And in practical matters such as providing meals. Or meeting any needs they bring to our attention. I’m sure you know this, but I am simply thinking through this on this post.

And this helps us think about a subject that is sadly pushed to the side, and all but forgotten in our day: death. I am beginning to see that my life at present, now at the age of 55, is in part, a preparation for the inevitable. It could happen soon for any of us, but whether now or later, we do well to think on it some, and live in the light of that reality. Of course Jesus could return any day as well, and we in him are to live in the light of that “hope”, called such only because we await God’s fulfillment of it.

Perhaps above all in considering death, and our own experience of it, we should think more and more in terms of living in the love of God, and in that love expressing complete love for God and love for our neighbor as we love ourselves. A holy love to be sure, or a loving holiness if you prefer. But really thinking of the best for others in terms of God’s Best, which we can only know and understand in part, but which begins in and through Jesus. Praying for God’s grace in their lives along with us, in Jesus.

May the Lord comfort all who mourn! We commit the souls of our loved ones into the care of our loving, faithful Creator. To whom be the glory through our Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

does God cause everything?

There is a minority tradition in Christianity which insists that God causes everything: rapes, murders, tsunamis, and so on. That God even creates some to condemn them forever. And that in all of this, God is glorified. And what this tradition then suggests is that’s it’s all mystery. We don’t know why God does it, but he does.

May I suggest for a good number of reasons based on scripture that this is a tragic error. It is a misreading of scripture, and like all wrong teachings, is not helpful at all in one’s view of God or truth. At the same time, most of these people have a good enough hold on scripture and the gospel- with much other teaching as a result, that I judge their lives and ministries as good in the kingdom. But I think their answer concerning tragedy gives people false comfort, an easy answer in a way, but a mistake just the same. One that does more harm than good.

The teaching in the Hebrew Bible that God causes everything is simply a bowing to God’s sovereignty. And yet God is not implicated at all in the evil people do. The Book of James makes that clear. God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. Each one is carried away by their own lust which when it conceives, gives birth to sin, which in turn gives birth to death. Then James makes it clear that every good and perfect gift comes from God. Evil does not. In fact the entire biblical narrative and teaching, from Genesis to Revelation holds this as true.

If God does not control everything, is he in control or not? Of course God can intervene and protect and stop anything evil from happening either suddenly or over time. We believe sometimes he does, surely oftentimes. In ways we’re mostly unaware of, probably often through angels, as well as directly by the Spirit, etc. Theologians and biblical teachers have talked about God’s permissive will. Not that God condones what is done, but God allows people to make choices in their sin, which can harm others. Or God does not intervene to prevent tragedy when we believe he could. Just recently a most terrible tragedy happened in our area over which we are praying.

We must hold on to the reality that while God does not control everything, he is always in control in everything. Which means he could have prevented any tragedy from happening, but did not. And it also means that God is at work in everything for good. Not everything is good that happens, certainly not the recent tragedy. Yes, the father, and infant son are with Jesus now. So we can find good in it, and that’s important. But we must not minimize the tragedy, or blunt the sorrow. We have hope beyond this, that God will indeed work out everything for good, and yet the sorrow and scarring over the tragedy will remain. The mother and two young daughters will ever miss their husband/father, and son/brother. We remember the story of Job.

The Lord’s Prayer helps us, as we keep praying it, and according to it. The Amish strongly hold to this practice and theology, so that through their acceptance of God’s sovereignty, they tend to accept disaster and evil done to them better than most Christians, it seems. Even while having to work through it, which they generally seem to do better than most of the rest of us, through their community. We need each other in Jesus, as well as God’s help by the Spirit.

In the end we do indeed have to bow to God and his sovereignty, and trust in his greatness and goodness. That God is indeed in control in his love, through Jesus. That God is at work to bring good out of evil.

In the meantime we do well not to quote Romans 8:28 to the grieving. Let them grieve deeply and well, in fact they need to for a time. Simply be with them in their grief, simply praying for them. Without trying to soothe them with some talk of God’s sovereignty. Jesus empathizes and prays, and that is what we need to do at this time.

is God really sovereign?

I’ve been reminded recently of the difference Christians have in understanding God’s sovereignty, or just how he rules over all. Our Calvinist friends in various ways see God as somehow in his decree in mystery causing all things. Sin and all that is involved in that: murder, rapes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear radiation leaks, etc. Recently I read a book which shared the Amish belief in God’s sovereignty, worked out in the Amish school shooting in which a man killed five Amish school girls, and wounded five others before taking his own life.They bow before mystery, I think believing that at least God allows it, so that they accept is as his will (maybe his permissive will?). It seems as though, while they are not Calvinist, they radically seek to accept everything from God’s hand, without trying to understand, possibly believing that all our why questions are not answered, at least not in this life.

I have reasoned from scripture that God is sovereign over all, in control always, though he does not control everything. God chooses to allow a measure of freedom and is not responsible for human sin, or for any bad choices we make. But in everything God is at work. This still leaves plenty of mystery. If God is all good and all powerful, then what happens often makes little sense to us. God may be good, but can’t be all powerful for such terrible things to happen. Or God may be all powerful, but not good, since such bad things do happen.

Enter the biblical picture and story of God creating everything, though everything destined to perish, and perhaps the entire universe to collapse back on itself (not sure what the latest theory, or actually theories on that is). Our sun is middle aged, and many years from now would explode into a larger star, before imploding(?) toward its death. So this existence carries with it an inherent temporariness. Time as we understand it, has its limits. Although I’m certainly getting into things I have read next to nothing on, which like so much else in God’s world, is really over my head.

I agree with those who insist that God does not control everything, and yet God is always in control in everything. God’s will in Jesus will be completely carried out. What place we each have in that will is in some measure and sense actually determined by us. Of course any good moves on our part in that regard are due to what theologians call God’s prevenient grace. This is a grace which is from God given to us, so that we can respond to God’s offer of salvation through Jesus. And then grace in Jesus is present for us by the Spirit, so that we can walk in God’s ways in and through Jesus.

God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, but God has left some of the details of that in human hands, I believe. God works in all things for good, though God does not cause all things. God is at work in the world, even in the evil and error of humanity, as well as the trauma of a sin cursed earth and world. We can’t understand that now, or can little if at all understand its outworking, but we can count on it, that God is doing this, and that there is an outcome for good. Although good Christians disagree on that as well. Some insist that some things don’t work out for good. In some sense I probably agree with that, though it is certainly true that God works in everything for the good of those who love him. And God works in all things in accordance with the purpose of his will. What is certain is that in the end through God’s good judgment and mercy, we will see complete salvation in all things. The wrongs made right, as well as the old made new in Jesus, in the new creation.

In the mean time, I can put my complete confidence in God, that yes–God is great and God is good–in the words of a prayer I was taught as a child. That my trust in him, our trust in him through Jesus indeed must go beyond circumstances. That we can have peace in a troubled world, a peace the world cannot give, the peace of God in Jesus which passes all understanding. As we learn to put our hope more and more completely in God. And together do this not only for ourselves, but for the blessing of the world through Jesus.

upheaval

This morning I was getting around a bit early only to end up behind due to technological issues well beyond my knowledge, though not beyond my hopefully not too destructive patchwork. It reminded me of how life seems increasingly to be, as I get older. I live in routine more than ever, but life all around me, including parts of it which affect what I have to, or end up doing, seems often to be in upheaval.

Those are the times in which we live, times of upheaval, so that one will ordinarily have many different jobs in the course of their career. On top of that reality, we run into changes due to health or personal or family crisis. Sometimes we think we are on the edge of something not so good, in fact oftentimes that can be the case. Change of any kind can seem ominous, especially when we are settled into a comfortable, or what we consider good routine.

So life in this world has a certain element of uncertainty, indeed instability. In fact I find it amazing just how stable life actually ends up being, at least in my case.

I think amidst all the unpredictability and upheaval of life, we need to set our sights on what is stable, fixed and sure, even within its dynamic quality. Things will change, people come and go, etc., but one truth remains constant: God in Jesus is faithful and at work in our world, and through us in the world by the Spirit.

We have to get more or less used to the surprises, indeed disappointments, as well as unexpected joys which come our way. Life by nature is changing. But we also need to become more and more fixed and indeed rooted like a tree in streams of water. Unmoved from God’s word, from his revelation to us in scripture and in Jesus. Indeed rooted in God’s himself.

So that while we may be battered from time to time, we will end up standing firm in our Lord, together for the world.