Light spilled onto the bed from the early morning sun. The woman thought she heard voices… “It’s just a beggar…” the man whispered, pulling her face back to his. But the voices grew louder and angrier… Her heart that was racing with passion was now breaking through her chest with fear. Was it her husband? Had he found her? The door flew open, anger entered, her lover dove seeking his own protection, leaving her naked and vulnerable. She grabbed her garment just as arms closed around her and dragged her from the bed. “What do you want? Who are you?” The woman struggled to break free, her cries hung in the air, ignored and neglected. As the tangled group broke out into the streets, her dignity was dashed upon the pavement that rushed beneath her feet that clawed for resistance, a foothold. A way to stop this madness. She shouldn’t have listened to his pretty speech, responded to his tender touch, ventured through the morning twilight, knocked on his door… She knew death awaited. They saw everything… and she couldn’t deny it. Those carrying her stopped suddenly and threw her before a man. He was familiar, but this was not where she thought they were taking her. They were not in court. The angry mob, some she recognised, had brought her before the rebel Rabbi Jesus, the dangerous teacher, the one people couldn’t help but talk about. How could he help her? What did they hope he would do? At his feet, she looked down to the ground, dust filled her nose, and an awareness rose up from the darkness within her. Where was her lover and partner in crime? Or her husband? She began to see what was taking place. This was a setup. She was a pawn in the schemes of men to be used up and thrown away. They were making a point, and she was the collateral damage. Accusations, descriptions of her crime began to fill the air around her, taunting and threatening her life. Her sins on show. Her soul for all to see. The man who had grabbed her so tightly that blackness was already peeking through her skin yelled to Jesus: “The law demands it. What do you say?” His question went unanswered. Slowly and silently, Jesus knelt to the ground only inches from the woman and began to write with his finger in the naked, raw dirt. Through her fear, the woman suddenly thought of the stories she had heard as little girl from times past, where another revolutionary, Moses, had walked down Mt Zion carrying earthen stones carved upon by the hands of God. Perhaps these hands. Could these be new commands he authored in the ground? After what seemed like an age, Jesus rose and said “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Silence. Not even the birds or the wind uttered voice. Jesus returned to the dust right next to the quivering woman and continued his earthen text. One by one, every accuser, every man, every member of that angry crowd, turned and walked away. Only Jesus and the tear-stained, barely dressed, battered woman remained. Smiling softly, Jesus lifted the woman’s face gently by her chin and asked, “Does no one condemn you?” Bewildered and mystified, she gazed into eyes of hope, the face of grace. A portrait like none she had ever seen. “No.” She stammered. More tears fell, but this time they were tears of hopeful relief. “Neither do I condemn you.” John 8:11-12 The Passion Translation, "Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.” Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness."
Light spilled onto the bed from the early morning sun. The woman thought she heard voices… “It’s just a beggar…” the man whispered, pulling her face back to his. But the voices grew louder and angrier… Her heart that was racing with passion was now breaking through her chest with fear. Was it her husband? Had he found her? The door flew open, anger entered, her lover dove seeking his own protection, leaving her naked and vulnerable. She grabbed her garment just as arms closed around her and dragged her from the bed. “What do you want? Who are you?” The woman struggled to break free, her cries hung in the air, ignored and neglected. As the tangled group broke out into the streets, her dignity was dashed upon the pavement that rushed beneath her feet that clawed for resistance, a foothold. A way to stop this madness. She shouldn’t have listened to his pretty speech, responded to his tender touch, ventured through the morning twilight, knocked on his door… She knew death awaited. They saw everything… and she couldn’t deny it. Those carrying her stopped suddenly and threw her before a man. He was familiar, but this was not where she thought they were taking her. They were not in court. The angry mob, some she recognised, had brought her before the rebel Rabbi Jesus, the dangerous teacher, the one people couldn’t help but talk about. How could he help her? What did they hope he would do? At his feet, she looked down to the ground, dust filled her nose, and an awareness rose up from the darkness within her. Where was her lover and partner in crime? Or her husband? She began to see what was taking place. This was a setup. She was a pawn in the schemes of men to be used up and thrown away. They were making a point, and she was the collateral damage. Accusations, descriptions of her crime began to fill the air around her, taunting and threatening her life. Her sins on show. Her soul for all to see. The man who had grabbed her so tightly that blackness was already peeking through her skin yelled to Jesus: “The law demands it. What do you say?” His question went unanswered. Slowly and silently, Jesus knelt to the ground only inches from the woman and began to write with his finger in the naked, raw dirt. Through her fear, the woman suddenly thought of the stories she had heard as little girl from times past, where another revolutionary, Moses, had walked down Mt Zion carrying earthen stones carved upon by the hands of God. Perhaps these hands. Could these be new commands he authored in the ground? After what seemed like an age, Jesus rose and said “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Silence. Not even the birds or the wind uttered voice. Jesus returned to the dust right next to the quivering woman and continued his earthen text. One by one, every accuser, every man, every member of that angry crowd, turned and walked away. Only Jesus and the tear-stained, barely dressed, battered woman remained. Smiling softly, Jesus lifted the woman’s face gently by her chin and asked, “Does no one condemn you?” Bewildered and mystified, she gazed into eyes of hope, the face of grace. A portrait like none she had ever seen. “No.” She stammered. More tears fell, but this time they were tears of hopeful relief. “Neither do I condemn you.” John 8:11-12 The Passion Translation, "Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.” Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness."
Micah was a prophet during the crazy years surrounding the fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (720ish BC). Israel was filled with corruption and social unrest. There was external and internal pressure within the nation and the people were feeling it within their relationships and families. Micah starts off this chapter lamenting about the state of things relationally and politically, saying that no one could be trusted... “The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns.” (V3-4 NLT). Leadership that’s used for personal gain is not a modern concept. Betrayal is ancient, it has been around since the beginning. The earth is infected with it, tainted by it... And all through history there are stories and testimonies of hardship, dictatorship, injustice and just downright evil. Stories that seem so untrue because of how incredibly horrific they are. And they are happening still today. Conspiracy theories are rampant, and the question, “who can we really trust?” rings loud and true in our hearts. And it's not just governments and kings we’re afraid of. We’re scared of our neighbours, of street corners and dark alleyways. Our fences are high and strong, everything we own is insured, and still we sleep with one eye open. And after all that, sometimes trouble comes from the most unexpected places - your closest friend could turn out to be your greatest enemy. That's pretty dramatic and pessimistic, but this is what Micah was saying was happening in his nation and amongst his people. I think we can relate to it in varying degrees. Micah made a choice about how he would respond to the hard times happening all around him. He decided to pray and trust. He believed that the sorrow and upheaval they were experiencing would eventually give way to peace and restoration. He was not going to give up just because things were tough, rather he knew that God heard his every plea and cry and would lead him, and the nations, beyond these times. And they same goes for us. How will you respond to the political and social unrest around the world and within your neighbourhood? Or even within your own home? Don’t give up, don’t stop caring, and don’t stop engaging in your community. Stick around to see what God will do. Now is the time that your faith and hope are needed. You have a voice - use it to bring peace. You have resources, use them to spread hope. And our infinite God, who is in all things and through all things, wants to give you peace and joy even in the midst of turmoil and hopelessness. And for you to be that peace and hope for others. Pray, listen, trust. When trouble is thick and harm is close by,s stick around, keep on going; don't get bogged down in hatred and despair, but stand in faith, hope and love... you never know how God will use you to be a part of the answer.
Micah was a prophet during the crazy years surrounding the fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (720ish BC). Israel was filled with corruption and social unrest. There was external and internal pressure within the nation and the people were feeling it within their relationships and families. Micah starts off this chapter lamenting about the state of things relationally and politically, saying that no one could be trusted... “The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns.” (V3-4 NLT). Leadership that’s used for personal gain is not a modern concept. Betrayal is ancient, it has been around since the beginning. The earth is infected with it, tainted by it... And all through history there are stories and testimonies of hardship, dictatorship, injustice and just downright evil. Stories that seem so untrue because of how incredibly horrific they are. And they are happening still today. Conspiracy theories are rampant, and the question, “who can we really trust?” rings loud and true in our hearts. And it's not just governments and kings we’re afraid of. We’re scared of our neighbours, of street corners and dark alleyways. Our fences are high and strong, everything we own is insured, and still we sleep with one eye open. And after all that, sometimes trouble comes from the most unexpected places - your closest friend could turn out to be your greatest enemy. That's pretty dramatic and pessimistic, but this is what Micah was saying was happening in his nation and amongst his people. I think we can relate to it in varying degrees. Micah made a choice about how he would respond to the hard times happening all around him. He decided to pray and trust. He believed that the sorrow and upheaval they were experiencing would eventually give way to peace and restoration. He was not going to give up just because things were tough, rather he knew that God heard his every plea and cry and would lead him, and the nations, beyond these times. And they same goes for us. How will you respond to the political and social unrest around the world and within your neighbourhood? Or even within your own home? Don’t give up, don’t stop caring, and don’t stop engaging in your community. Stick around to see what God will do. Now is the time that your faith and hope are needed. You have a voice - use it to bring peace. You have resources, use them to spread hope. And our infinite God, who is in all things and through all things, wants to give you peace and joy even in the midst of turmoil and hopelessness. And for you to be that peace and hope for others. Pray, listen, trust. When trouble is thick and harm is close by,s stick around, keep on going; don't get bogged down in hatred and despair, but stand in faith, hope and love... you never know how God will use you to be a part of the answer.
This verse used to make me feel small and insignificant. “I must decrease because I am useless, sin-ridden, incapable and inherently bad. Jesus must increase because He is good." I was weighed down with the burden of having to “do better” to be acceptable and always fearful that I would never be enough. "I am lowly and unworthy, but he is holy and righteous..." The view that God takes pity on us and saves us because he can’t stand the state we are in has done so much damage to people's hearts. God LOVES us that’s why he saves us. While we were still sinners, covered in shame, unworthy and not asking for forgiveness, Christ died for us. In the words of Jerry McGuire (from the movie), God “completes” us... This verse isn’t about you being diminished so that God can be exalted. One day, Jesus and John the Baptist were baptising people in the same lake. More people were flocking to Jesus than were congregating around John. John’s disciples were getting jealous of Jesus’s larger crowd and popularity. They complained, but John remained calm and confident. He explained to them that his purpose was to herald Jesus, to make a way, prepare the people for what would come next… And here on the shores of the lake, he could see that his job, this part of the journey was coming to an end. He explained that it was now Jesus’ time to baptise and teach and fulfil the prophecies of old. John was passing the baton – “He must increase, I must decrease…” It was like he was saying “I must step aside as I have fulfilled this part of my destiny, and it's time for Jesus to fulfil his." He says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.” John is talking about comparison and significance. His disciples were jealous that Jesus was attracting a greater crowd. It’s not about who gets the biggest crowd, who has more influence, who's popular and known, famous or not… It’s about being authentic, true to your calling and finding great joy in being empowered by Jesus. Then watching others do the same. Don't be intimated by someone's moment in the spotlight. Just keep on doing what you were put on this earth for, what resonates deep within your bones. That is how you find true fulfillment. Vulnerable, humble, honest and confident. John knew when to speak and when to let someone else take over. And that these changes in his vocation did not affect his value or impact in the Kingdom of God. Don’t delete yourself to fit Jesus in. Gather all that you are, every nook and cranny of your life and fill it with him. Overflow it with faith, hope and love. He fulfils you, not subtracts you. It’s been his plan all along that the beautiful collision of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the natural and supernatural would be the grandest, most glorious miracle of all. Let Jesus be Jesus and you be you. Don't try to play his part, just fulfill yours. You do your bit and let Jesus do his. Side by side, in divine partnership as it should be.
This verse used to make me feel small and insignificant. “I must decrease because I am useless, sin-ridden, incapable and inherently bad. Jesus must increase because He is good." I was weighed down with the burden of having to “do better” to be acceptable and always fearful that I would never be enough. "I am lowly and unworthy, but he is holy and righteous..." The view that God takes pity on us and saves us because he can’t stand the state we are in has done so much damage to people's hearts. God LOVES us that’s why he saves us. While we were still sinners, covered in shame, unworthy and not asking for forgiveness, Christ died for us. In the words of Jerry McGuire (from the movie), God “completes” us... This verse isn’t about you being diminished so that God can be exalted. One day, Jesus and John the Baptist were baptising people in the same lake. More people were flocking to Jesus than were congregating around John. John’s disciples were getting jealous of Jesus’s larger crowd and popularity. They complained, but John remained calm and confident. He explained to them that his purpose was to herald Jesus, to make a way, prepare the people for what would come next… And here on the shores of the lake, he could see that his job, this part of the journey was coming to an end. He explained that it was now Jesus’ time to baptise and teach and fulfil the prophecies of old. John was passing the baton – “He must increase, I must decrease…” It was like he was saying “I must step aside as I have fulfilled this part of my destiny, and it's time for Jesus to fulfil his." He says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.” John is talking about comparison and significance. His disciples were jealous that Jesus was attracting a greater crowd. It’s not about who gets the biggest crowd, who has more influence, who's popular and known, famous or not… It’s about being authentic, true to your calling and finding great joy in being empowered by Jesus. Then watching others do the same. Don't be intimated by someone's moment in the spotlight. Just keep on doing what you were put on this earth for, what resonates deep within your bones. That is how you find true fulfillment. Vulnerable, humble, honest and confident. John knew when to speak and when to let someone else take over. And that these changes in his vocation did not affect his value or impact in the Kingdom of God. Don’t delete yourself to fit Jesus in. Gather all that you are, every nook and cranny of your life and fill it with him. Overflow it with faith, hope and love. He fulfils you, not subtracts you. It’s been his plan all along that the beautiful collision of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the natural and supernatural would be the grandest, most glorious miracle of all. Let Jesus be Jesus and you be you. Don't try to play his part, just fulfill yours. You do your bit and let Jesus do his. Side by side, in divine partnership as it should be.
It’s easy in our working, paying bills, mowing lawns, shopping, school fees, going to and fro, TV watching, magazine and blog reading, sports, trying to afford holidays, mortgaging for that dream house - all the normal stuff - to allow our focus to fall on accumulating wealth and material possessions. We’ve all been there: we’ve all wished for better circumstances, hoped for a nicer house, prayed for a full bank account when the bills arrive, dreamt of exotic holidays and desired high paying, satisfying vocations. It's pretty normal to want to have these things and dream and plan for them. Who wouldn’t want to go on a month-long tour of Italy just for fun!! But when the desire for more wealth, more anything, starts to impact your moral decisions in a negative sense, you know you’ve gone too far. Putting money over morality is never the right choice. And it means that you’ve entered into a space where money is your master - it controls your decisions, what you say and what you do to amass ‘greater riches.’ The deceptive thing about money is that it looks like you can buy everything you’ve ever wanted with it. But as the bank account grows, the ‘want’ and ‘need’ list grows also… Buying more and more will never fill your life with the things that matter. Jim Carrey has said, “I wish everyone would get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” I find in my own life that every time I reach a goal, every time I pay off a loan, or a bill, or start that new job, or get back from that holiday, new challenges arrive with the new territory. Reaching the goal doesn’t cure need. It just creates more of them. Living to get more creates a shallow existence based on exteriors and image; things that can be wiped away in a moment. Who are you when all your stuff disappears? When you finish that job? When you’re at home with your family or out with friends? When your designer clothes get ruined and you crash your expensive car? A certain type of wealth resides in silver and gold, your material possessions and ‘stuff’, but to be truly rich is a matter of the heart. To have a reputation of authenticity, love and joy, of things that hold true beyond money and glitz and glamour is a treasure to spend your life in its pursuit. "Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” Brene Brown. Be responsible, pay your bills, go on holidays, save up for things that you like... but don’t be fooled into thinking that things and stuff make your life meaningful. Life is so much more than things. The Minimalists (www.theminimalists.com) say, "You are so much more than your stuff. Even in an empty room, the value is within you, not your things.”
It’s easy in our working, paying bills, mowing lawns, shopping, school fees, going to and fro, TV watching, magazine and blog reading, sports, trying to afford holidays, mortgaging for that dream house - all the normal stuff - to allow our focus to fall on accumulating wealth and material possessions. We’ve all been there: we’ve all wished for better circumstances, hoped for a nicer house, prayed for a full bank account when the bills arrive, dreamt of exotic holidays and desired high paying, satisfying vocations. It's pretty normal to want to have these things and dream and plan for them. Who wouldn’t want to go on a month-long tour of Italy just for fun!! But when the desire for more wealth, more anything, starts to impact your moral decisions in a negative sense, you know you’ve gone too far. Putting money over morality is never the right choice. And it means that you’ve entered into a space where money is your master - it controls your decisions, what you say and what you do to amass ‘greater riches.’ The deceptive thing about money is that it looks like you can buy everything you’ve ever wanted with it. But as the bank account grows, the ‘want’ and ‘need’ list grows also… Buying more and more will never fill your life with the things that matter. Jim Carrey has said, “I wish everyone would get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” I find in my own life that every time I reach a goal, every time I pay off a loan, or a bill, or start that new job, or get back from that holiday, new challenges arrive with the new territory. Reaching the goal doesn’t cure need. It just creates more of them. Living to get more creates a shallow existence based on exteriors and image; things that can be wiped away in a moment. Who are you when all your stuff disappears? When you finish that job? When you’re at home with your family or out with friends? When your designer clothes get ruined and you crash your expensive car? A certain type of wealth resides in silver and gold, your material possessions and ‘stuff’, but to be truly rich is a matter of the heart. To have a reputation of authenticity, love and joy, of things that hold true beyond money and glitz and glamour is a treasure to spend your life in its pursuit. "Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” Brene Brown. Be responsible, pay your bills, go on holidays, save up for things that you like... but don’t be fooled into thinking that things and stuff make your life meaningful. Life is so much more than things. The Minimalists (www.theminimalists.com) say, "You are so much more than your stuff. Even in an empty room, the value is within you, not your things.”
As I talk to people and overhear conversations happening around me, the talk sometimes ends up being about how we/they (in general) don't have enough. Not enough money to buy this new gadget, or upgrade the car, or add on more rooms, buy those designer shoes. We often fall into complaints about the cost of electricity and medical care and school and food. The thing is, we all have homes, clothes, cars, shoes. We all have enough, but the insatiable desire for more is always lurking close by. It grips us with the fear of missing out, often causing us to value THINGS above PEOPLE. And it leads us to derive our worth from the accumulation of 'things’ and ’stuff’. This stronghold takes root in our hearts and is often perpetuated by our western-culture lifestyles. Marketing, media, and competition drive us to want what we don’t have, promising that those things beyond our reach will make us feel more successful, more together... more secure. Society is not to blame though. Our behaviour is our choice, as is what we do with and how we treat our resources; financially, physically, mentally and emotionally. A lesson I’ve learned of late is to let go of material stuff. Often, when I drive down the street, I find myself internally envying those living in big houses and driving fancy cars. Being a father and husband of our household, I feel this instinctive desire to provide the best I can for my family. If I was honest, in the past it has caused me an amount of quiet anxiety. Wanting the best for those you love is honourable. But it can get unhealthy if left unchecked. If the pursuit of material things becomes more important than the emotional and spiritual health of your friendships and family, you know you’re heading into dangerous territory. What does a man's stuff say about him anyway? Does it confess the love he has for his wife and kids? How he cares for his parents and siblings? How he mows the lawn for the neighbours once a week and drives Mr Evans to lawn bowls on Thursday? How he sits on the phone every few days talking with his best friend John whose wife has just been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer? Can it tell stories of the tales he tells to his 5-year-old at night and how he dances with his daughter every morning? How when he looks into the night sky filled with an infinite spray of stars, he can feel the presence of the divine as close as his own skin? Stuff and things help, they serve a purpose, there is a certain amount of joy in them. And we need them to assist us in living. But they are NOT what life is all about. And your accumulation of them, or lack of them, do not define you, or your worth. So relax. Slow down, smell the roses and live fully in this moment. Not living in fear that you’ll miss out, but being aware and grateful for every good thing you have. What's right in front of you right now. Carpe Diem! I’ve discovered there’s a bounty of treasure available in this moment. When we live for tomorrow’s pleasure, we miss the abundance and richness of today. When I bring my attention to the NOW moment, I notice little details and subtleties in my kids I’ve never seen before; my small house becomes my home full of wonderful memories and love soaked walls; and I see a beauty and grace in my wife that goes beyond her natural beauty. I don’t know the answer to happiness. But, I have found that when I slow down and stress less about what I don’t have, I feel happier and more thankful for what I do have… and really, what I have is more than enough.
As I talk to people and overhear conversations happening around me, the talk sometimes ends up being about how we/they (in general) don't have enough. Not enough money to buy this new gadget, or upgrade the car, or add on more rooms, buy those designer shoes. We often fall into complaints about the cost of electricity and medical care and school and food. The thing is, we all have homes, clothes, cars, shoes. We all have enough, but the insatiable desire for more is always lurking close by. It grips us with the fear of missing out, often causing us to value THINGS above PEOPLE. And it leads us to derive our worth from the accumulation of 'things’ and ’stuff’. This stronghold takes root in our hearts and is often perpetuated by our western-culture lifestyles. Marketing, media, and competition drive us to want what we don’t have, promising that those things beyond our reach will make us feel more successful, more together... more secure. Society is not to blame though. Our behaviour is our choice, as is what we do with and how we treat our resources; financially, physically, mentally and emotionally. A lesson I’ve learned of late is to let go of material stuff. Often, when I drive down the street, I find myself internally envying those living in big houses and driving fancy cars. Being a father and husband of our household, I feel this instinctive desire to provide the best I can for my family. If I was honest, in the past it has caused me an amount of quiet anxiety. Wanting the best for those you love is honourable. But it can get unhealthy if left unchecked. If the pursuit of material things becomes more important than the emotional and spiritual health of your friendships and family, you know you’re heading into dangerous territory. What does a man's stuff say about him anyway? Does it confess the love he has for his wife and kids? How he cares for his parents and siblings? How he mows the lawn for the neighbours once a week and drives Mr Evans to lawn bowls on Thursday? How he sits on the phone every few days talking with his best friend John whose wife has just been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer? Can it tell stories of the tales he tells to his 5-year-old at night and how he dances with his daughter every morning? How when he looks into the night sky filled with an infinite spray of stars, he can feel the presence of the divine as close as his own skin? Stuff and things help, they serve a purpose, there is a certain amount of joy in them. And we need them to assist us in living. But they are NOT what life is all about. And your accumulation of them, or lack of them, do not define you, or your worth. So relax. Slow down, smell the roses and live fully in this moment. Not living in fear that you’ll miss out, but being aware and grateful for every good thing you have. What's right in front of you right now. Carpe Diem! I’ve discovered there’s a bounty of treasure available in this moment. When we live for tomorrow’s pleasure, we miss the abundance and richness of today. When I bring my attention to the NOW moment, I notice little details and subtleties in my kids I’ve never seen before; my small house becomes my home full of wonderful memories and love soaked walls; and I see a beauty and grace in my wife that goes beyond her natural beauty. I don’t know the answer to happiness. But, I have found that when I slow down and stress less about what I don’t have, I feel happier and more thankful for what I do have… and really, what I have is more than enough.
Paul was talking about how to live “at home in the body [but] absent from the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6). Absent from his bodily presence. Jesus had walked, talked, and lived with many of them - they still had a visceral memory of Jesus and all that he had done. But Jesus had ascended into heaven, his physical form leaving the earth. For those of us reading this story hundreds of years on, and for some there at the time, it seems that there was once again a separation between God and man. The teaching and understanding around Jesus living in hearts was still very new. Paul was encouraging those gathered at Corinth to walk out this New Way by faith - believing that while Jesus was not physically and tangibly with them, he was still very present and at work in their lives. They didn’t need to sacrifice or perform, but they were at one with Christ. It's a grand mystery. After his ascension, Jesus was still present in the earth. Perhaps even more so. As his blood trickled down that cross, and his sweat and tears fell to the ground and mingled with the dirt, he was once again sown into the earth. Buried like a seed. Wrapped and placed in a tomb, left to decay and return to dust. John 1, in the Passion Translation, says, "In the very beginning God was already there. And before his face was his Living Expression. And this “Living Expression” was with God, yet fully God. They were together — face to face, in the very beginning. And through his creative inspiration this “Living Expression” made all things. For nothing has existence apart from him! Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity... And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us!” (verses 1-14) To dust, he did not return; he drank it in and rose from it, overcoming the laws and reality of this physical and natural world; breathing in death, exhaling life. Rising from it, into and above it. Permeating all things with himself, as he did in the beginning. Paul had never seen or spoken with human Jesus, but he knew him, he walked with him. They were joined by something more real than the dust on his feet; faith. Although Jesus is not with us in body, he is more present here on earth than ever. He is the dirt under our feet, the wind that sways and surrounds us, the air in our lungs, the oceans deep, the sands on the shore, the sun's warmth and the winters crisp cold... he is music, he is poetry, he is the newborn's first breath and the final sigh of a dying soul. He is in all things and through all things - he created it all and holds it all together. We look beyond the material and into the heart of life and by faith find Jesus right there in the thick of it. Not through ritual, not through perfection or performance. Faith. It's this faith; the spiritual vibration felt in the undertones of living, which connects us all… that crimson thread weaved through lives built on Jesus across all times past, present and future. Walk out your life step by step, day by day, by faith; the conviction that your hope lies not in what is seen with the human eye, but in the power of Jesus. And allow your faith to take you deeper, through challenging terrain, mountain top precipices, the hard spaces and beautiful views of life. Ask questions, dig deep, let faith drive you into the heart and soul of this beautiful, crazy God-soaked life.
Paul was talking about how to live “at home in the body [but] absent from the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6). Absent from his bodily presence. Jesus had walked, talked, and lived with many of them - they still had a visceral memory of Jesus and all that he had done. But Jesus had ascended into heaven, his physical form leaving the earth. For those of us reading this story hundreds of years on, and for some there at the time, it seems that there was once again a separation between God and man. The teaching and understanding around Jesus living in hearts was still very new. Paul was encouraging those gathered at Corinth to walk out this New Way by faith - believing that while Jesus was not physically and tangibly with them, he was still very present and at work in their lives. They didn’t need to sacrifice or perform, but they were at one with Christ. It's a grand mystery. After his ascension, Jesus was still present in the earth. Perhaps even more so. As his blood trickled down that cross, and his sweat and tears fell to the ground and mingled with the dirt, he was once again sown into the earth. Buried like a seed. Wrapped and placed in a tomb, left to decay and return to dust. John 1, in the Passion Translation, says, "In the very beginning God was already there. And before his face was his Living Expression. And this “Living Expression” was with God, yet fully God. They were together — face to face, in the very beginning. And through his creative inspiration this “Living Expression” made all things. For nothing has existence apart from him! Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity... And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us!” (verses 1-14) To dust, he did not return; he drank it in and rose from it, overcoming the laws and reality of this physical and natural world; breathing in death, exhaling life. Rising from it, into and above it. Permeating all things with himself, as he did in the beginning. Paul had never seen or spoken with human Jesus, but he knew him, he walked with him. They were joined by something more real than the dust on his feet; faith. Although Jesus is not with us in body, he is more present here on earth than ever. He is the dirt under our feet, the wind that sways and surrounds us, the air in our lungs, the oceans deep, the sands on the shore, the sun's warmth and the winters crisp cold... he is music, he is poetry, he is the newborn's first breath and the final sigh of a dying soul. He is in all things and through all things - he created it all and holds it all together. We look beyond the material and into the heart of life and by faith find Jesus right there in the thick of it. Not through ritual, not through perfection or performance. Faith. It's this faith; the spiritual vibration felt in the undertones of living, which connects us all… that crimson thread weaved through lives built on Jesus across all times past, present and future. Walk out your life step by step, day by day, by faith; the conviction that your hope lies not in what is seen with the human eye, but in the power of Jesus. And allow your faith to take you deeper, through challenging terrain, mountain top precipices, the hard spaces and beautiful views of life. Ask questions, dig deep, let faith drive you into the heart and soul of this beautiful, crazy God-soaked life.
RECEIVE - Part 3 Receive help. Are you guilty of saying, ‘No thanks, I’ve got this” a million times? I am. Even during times of immense stress and pressure, I have a hard time accepting help. "I can do it all and on my own, thank you!” I really enjoy being the helper, but I have a hard time accepting help. Here’s the thing: helping each other is how this whole thing works. God designed us, and everything, to exist by working together. Not one thing on this created earth can exist in isolation. Community and togetherness foster life and progress. And helping each other out, both giving and receiving it, is how it’s done. I’m not sure why and how receiving help became such a shameful thing in our society. It’s a deeply spiritual and sacred practice that we need to reclaim. "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” Gal 6:2-3 (MSG). The opposite is also true: Allow others to share your burden. Let them creatively restore you. Whether it’s with the washing, dishes after dinner, a project, an illness, a tragedy, a correction. If you think you are too good (or too bad) to be helped, you are "badly deceived." PRACTICE: Receive help. Say yes to the very next person who offers you help. We need each other, you and I. There’s nothing shameful about that. In fact, it is good (Tôv... from yesterday), and how it’s supposed to be.
RECEIVE - Part 3 Receive help. Are you guilty of saying, ‘No thanks, I’ve got this” a million times? I am. Even during times of immense stress and pressure, I have a hard time accepting help. "I can do it all and on my own, thank you!” I really enjoy being the helper, but I have a hard time accepting help. Here’s the thing: helping each other is how this whole thing works. God designed us, and everything, to exist by working together. Not one thing on this created earth can exist in isolation. Community and togetherness foster life and progress. And helping each other out, both giving and receiving it, is how it’s done. I’m not sure why and how receiving help became such a shameful thing in our society. It’s a deeply spiritual and sacred practice that we need to reclaim. "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” Gal 6:2-3 (MSG). The opposite is also true: Allow others to share your burden. Let them creatively restore you. Whether it’s with the washing, dishes after dinner, a project, an illness, a tragedy, a correction. If you think you are too good (or too bad) to be helped, you are "badly deceived." PRACTICE: Receive help. Say yes to the very next person who offers you help. We need each other, you and I. There’s nothing shameful about that. In fact, it is good (Tôv... from yesterday), and how it’s supposed to be.