Something Must be Done About Time

I turn 58 today and some observations seem in order.

Time seems to move faster the older I get. I feel like I enjoy life more but I have less time for it.

People who have always been older than me, pastors, heroes and the like, are now younger.

My children are now the age that I feel I still am, inside.

If I am going to accomplish something more significant than I already have, I better get at it.

I better figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

The blacks and whites of my youth have faded to a more grace-full grey, along with my hair.

Some years ago I wrote a poem about the passing of time. I thought I might repost it here because,    really, “Something Must be Done About Time!”

Something must be done about time.
A day ago I held my baby in my arms.
She was small and needy,
Helpless in fact.
I held her close and kept her warm.

Something must be done about time.
An hour ago I held my little girl's hand.
She was scared and uncertain,
Unsure of herself.
I held it fast and kept her safe.

Something must be done about time.
A minute ago I held my daughter to me.
She was hurt and crying,
Confused by men.
I held her tight and shared my strength.

Something must be done about time.
A second ago I held a young woman's arm.
She was tall and strong,
Full of life.
I let her go and watched her leave.

I let her go and...

I let her go.

Something must be done about time.

Bait and Switch Evangelism

As I have observed us Christ-followers in recent months, personally, on Facebook and on Twitter, I have been interested in the amount of exhortation and evangelism that happens out there. This is a good thing, most likely, but a concern has surfaced in my mind. This concern revolves around obedience and… if you read this blog much…you know that is a near and dear topic (though to be honest, not one I am very good at, personally!).

It seems we need to be careful of giving a message that this is all free. While it is true that salvation is a free gift of God, not attained by working at it, so that no one has a reason to boast; discipleship is not free by any measure. I think this is why we read that anyone who can say, “Christ is Lord” is in The Way. The lordship of Jesus is a surrender of everything to his control. True discipleship costs us all that we are…even to the point of death for the Master. That message is anything but “free.”

However, I get it; if we lead with the, “this will cost you everything you have” line, we may not see as many consider joining the family. I just want us to be careful that we use a both/and approach here. Let’s proclaim that salvation is free through the mercy and grace of God; but along with that, let’s also make sure that the cost of discipleship is clear. I am not talking about a list of “dos and don’ts” here. I am talking about taking steps of obedience as God lays them before us, whatever the cost or consequence.

Maybe part of the issue for us is that the cost of discipleship in the US is, or at least seems, minimal in comparison to some cultures where death may be attached to “coming out” as a believer.

May God direct our hearts and words.

Our Juxtaposition God

It is amazing how we, as finite and flawed “jars of clay,” can hold within us the infinite and perfect God. What is even more amazing…and rather embarrassing… is how we continue to make feeble and inadequate definitions of him, as if trying to somehow contain him in our jar; understand him with our mind
.

In God exist such completely diverse elements (Monty Python reference) as justice and mercy, law and grace, power and meekness…yes, even free will and sovereignty. Our God has commanded the genocide of complete people groups, including women, children and animals, while also sacrificing his only Son to satisfy the judgment commanded by himself for the sin that those people groups committed. Even writing that last sentence is confusing, awesome, difficult and wonderful, all at the same time.

Though we will never reach the end of this because it exists in him and he is infinite, it has helped me to consider it this way. We, on earth, are enveloped by space in a similar way that all things are enveloped and coexist within God. As we look up into the night sky the view is different in each direction, though the essence is the same. Because we are stuck in one place on earth, there remain a vast number of “views” left unseen and guessed at.

Can I serve a God I can neither grasp nor understand completely? Yes, for he has grasped and understands me completely. He is the potter. I am the jar. May I serve him fully as he has designed, with gratitude!

Who moved my fine line?

I am beginning to understand that one of the most frustrating things about my walk is trying to stay on the fine line. Sitting here writing this, I am reminded of a scene streetside in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago. We were enjoying the parking lot that is traffic there when, thankfully, we got a chance to be amused watching a guy taking a sobriety test. He was desperately trying to walk that fine line…to no avail. He was doom-bent for that DUI.

No different than he, I feel completely unable to walk my fine line. First, let me say that the fine line is, I am certain, clearly defined before God. Try as I might, though, it usually eludes me. There seems to be, in fact, nothing more elusive.

Our fine line is not the same line laid out for others. We are called to our fine line. Jesus made that pretty clear to Peter just before he left. “So what if I want him to live until I return? What I want to make clear to you is; you follow me, though I am leading you to your death.” (Jeff’s paraphrase)

Then there is that annoying movement my line does. Just when I think I get it figured out and find my balance, it is no longer underneath my feet and down I go, grasping air as I choke out, “Lord save me!” You know, it seems that this happens just about the time I decide to share my success with those around me.

So, are we doom-bent to be grasping for the mercy of Jesus always, our survival resting solely on his grace and nothing else? Most certainly! He is our only hope!

What, then, is the answer for walking the fine line?

Let him carry you.

When will passion produce?

I was just listening to New Life Worship performing “Great I Am” by Jared Anderson. You can hear it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5CWGi82N7k

This is a wonderful song, full of honor and glory and praise for the King. During the video the camera pans the audience/congregation showing a very passionate group of people pouring themselves out emotionally before the Lord.

As I have the opportunity to travel for work, I am in many worship gatherings and have been privileged to be a part of such worship on occasion. We were visiting a church in the Los Angeles area whose speaking pastor had just returned from a short term mission experience somewhere. He was changed, no doubt, as he could neither really put into words what he had experienced nor what he should now do. At the end of his message he asked his flock how many would follow Jesus to the ends of the earth. The whole place stood to their feet, raising their hands and verbally responding. It was moving.

I found myself sitting there afterward, as everyone returned to their usual, casual selves, thinking, “What now?” Emotions had been high and passions were being poured out like water before the King…but what now? When will our passion produce? When will it spill out of our hallowed halls onto the streets outside?

Passion is so much more easily expressed in community, when expectations mesh and risk is low. Boiling passion down to “doing” in the real world becomes work that requires the commitment of time, energy and money; not a popular topic among too many. Commitment is required, though, for Kingdom growth…commitment that results in action.

Just how far will your passion take you? What if God required of you what you promised him while within the four walls of a church building or while praying quietly, alone. What will your answer be when he whispers, “Who can we send? Who will go for us?” My guess is that you will answer, “Hear am I, send me.” When you do, get ready to put action to your words. Obedience is rarely something that can be accomplished with passion alone.

Taking the Wrong Stand

NPR recently ran a series on “Losing Our Religion.” If you have not given it a listen, it would be worth your time. You can find it at http://www.npr.org/series/169065270/losing-our-religion

In one of the segments a United Methodist pastor, Rev. Mike Baughman, was interviewed. When he was questioned about the challenges posed by young adults in reference to the church taking a stand on social issues, he felt that most people expected the church to take a stand; but that, “they believe that the church has taken a stand on the wrong issues.”

Obviously this is a generalization, but too many times it resonates truthfully with my observations of ourselves. In our attempts to be, or at least appear, “holy” we risk the separation of ourselves from the very people that need us and the hope that we possess and represent. There could be few things more “anti-Christ.” Jesus ignored the “stands” taken by the church of his day and placed himself in the center of the people who needed him, though they were dirty, broken, sick and sinful; outcasts from the society around them.

A personal drive toward Christ-likeness is critical to our spiritual growth, and part of that begs a commitment to personal purity…to the extent that we are able to allow the Holy Spirit to take control of us. If that striving, however, translates into a separation from the needy people around us, the world Jesus sent us to as examples of the gospel; then, we risk taking a stand on the wrong issues.

Lest you think I am not “preaching” to myself in all of this, the following, short poem describes my life-long struggle with this very thing perfectly!

It’s ironic, but my lot,

To discern the fine line

Between right and right,

And there, on that perfect spot,

To take my stand;

Only then to find…

It’s not!

Choosing What's Better

I listened to a message recently on the importance of choosing what is better. I actually like the fact that the focus was not on choosing what is “best” because I think we deceive ourselves if we think we are capable of consistent “best” choosing. Occasionally we may stumble over it but it seems a similar situation as when the Jewish leader came up to Jesus and addressed him as “good teacher.” Jesus’ response was “why do you call be ‘good?’ Only God is good.” God is capable of “best.” So, striving to choose the better is good enough for me.

The points shared by this pastor were good but I found myself wishing he would have gone a little further in this one area…though it would not have been popular. Choosing what is better does not guarantee that better things are going to happen to you! It is possible that they might; but, it is just as possible that things will take, humanly, a turn for the worse (if you haven’t read In His Steps, you should!!

http://www.amazon.com/His-Steps-Charles-M-Sheldon/dp/0800786084 )

Here are a few cases in point. If you choose to give of your resources for the Kingdom, in spite of some of the promises in scripture, you may have to learn to live on less. If you choose to commit yourself to serving others you may have to wait until heaven to be great. If you follow God in obedience to serve him in another country as a missionary, it may cost you your life. Rewards for better choices are rarely instant and seldom make any sense in the world’s economy.

Why choose the better option if it is going to cost you? We choose what is better (you might substitute the word “obey” in there) because it is the better thing to do. It is what our Master would do and aren’t we supposed to be about his business, regardless of the fall out?

With better choices comes peace…both understandable peace and the peace that passes understanding. Have mercy on me, a sinner bent toward choosing what’s better for me, not for you.

Losing Our Faith

NPR has done a series on this topic which I find intriguing. In it they interview several people in reference to a research report that young North Americans are officially or unofficially un-affiliated with a religion. Here is a link if you would like to check it out.

http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169342349/more-young-people-are-moving-away-from-religion-but-why

What I have been pondering in light of the tragic events of recent months is that tragety and grief can either push you into the arms of God or pull you away from him. Though I am a firm believer that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8:39b) it seems that the acknowledgement of that love can wane or grow depending on our current circumstance and emotion. Said in another way, though we may intellectually and, in faith, be assured of God's love for us, we don't always feel it or see evidence of it. Such is the dilemna of our walk with God.

I have been working on a poem since the Sandy Hook shooting and, though it may undergo a change or two in the future, I thought I would share it now, with many blessings...

Hold Me, Jesus

by Jeffrey D Boesel

 

Hold me, Jesus

Closer, tighter

I'm afraid; don't understand

Why a darkness

Clouds my vision of the path

Grasp

Squeeze my hand

 

Hold me, Jesus

Closer, tighter

I have tried, but cannot see

Why you lead so

Down this pathway, sorrow-filled

Deep

Crushing me

 

Hold me, Jesus

Closer, tighter

In life's maze I've lost my way

Crying louder

Don't just listen! Answer me

Please

Lord, I pray

 

I know faith is

The assurance

Of the things by eyes unseen

But my faith is

Small and waning, please reach out

God

Rescue me!

All things are possible, not promised

Yesterday we were visiting a church in SoCal and during the service sang a song that included the lyric, "nothing is impossible" for Jesus. The Bible does tell us this. My favorite is in the Abraham story where Abe doubts the possibility of a son at his and Sarah's age (and they should have because they were ancients by that time!). God's responds, "Is anything too hard for God?"

But we, in our desire to have things go our way, put more into this statement than is there. While all things may be possible, all things are not promised. God's people suffer and die just like everyone else; and, in cases of martyrdom, cruelly for the sake of the gospel. I know for a fact that in most cases of suffering within the family of God, many are praying for God to intervene in a miraculous, or at least a providential, way. Many, and I might be so bold to say...most, times he does not.

This confronts us with a difficult tension. Though God loves us (very clear in scripture) and can do all things (also quite clear), his love and ability does not guarantee a fix for everything, like often we think it should. The Father even said "no" to the Son in the garden before his crucifixion.

There are deeper story lines than our surface ones. Though we want to believe that all things revolved around us, they actually revolve around God. Then there is the mystery that is free will. Not sure we will ever figure that one out. God controls it all but we have choice and can rebel. In the end he brings about redemption anyway, somehow bringing glory to himself in spite of...or even through...our rebellion. Wow.

Where are we left? In the middle of the need for faith. The following poem expresses it well.

Do you trust me?
Do you believe that I love you?
Do you trust me?
Do you believe that in all things
I'm bringing about what is best for you?
Do you trust me?
Do you trust me?