Jesus' Feasting . . . Our Feasting

These are the words of Jean Vanier from his and Stanley Hauerwas' book, Living Gently in a Violent World (IVP 2008):

"I want to begin by saying something about knowing and not knowing. I love chapter two of the Gospel of John when Jesus brings the disciples to a wedding feast. It is a wonderful moment of celebration and relaxation, showing us that our life is to be enjoyed and that we are all called to feast. At the wedding feast of unity, people drink lots and laugh and have fun. It is a time of togetherness and friendliness. And I imagine that Jesus came to this feast to have fun. I don't think he looked at his watch (which he didn't have) and said, 'I must hurry and do a miracle there because they need me!' No, Jesus at Cana was having fun. Mary saw that the wine was running out, knew that the family would be humiliated, and asked Jesus to do something about it. There's something profoundly human about Jesus--the first thing he does in John's Gospel is to turn water into wine so a bride's father won't be embarrassed." p. 22

Jesus' Way. The Way of the Cross.

A repost from August 2009.

This is from David Hansen's book the Art of Pastoring. It's one of my favorite books. If you are a vocational pastor, it is a must read, and even if you aren't, like me, you'll enjoy it.

"Jesus' life has a general narrative direction. We call this general direction the Way of the Cross. Jesus understood from the beginning that his was a life of sacrifice. His life flowed toward the cross at all times. He never climbed any first century ladders of success. The devil showed him plenty. The people begged him to climb them. Jesus rejected ladders and consistently chose the downward road of sacrifice."

In Search of Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 

Do the waters of your soul continue to be choppy and churning all about? Do you simply wish for peace and rest on every side? Are you battered and bruised? A war-torn soul?

It is possible to experience internal peace while there's a vortex of unrest outside of you. Think of Jesus. He knew he was going to the cross. Why don't you think he was in the pit of despair, as he was at Gethsemane, throughout his entire life? After all, if he really knew what was coming--the brutal death, the burden of sin, and incomprehensible rejection he would face--how could he go on from day to day? How could he be at peace?

Yet he says, "My peace I leave you...do not be troubled . . . do not be afraid." How could he tell his disciples not to be troubled nor afraid, knowing full well the everyday trials and even persecutions they'd endure? Was he out of his mind? Is it really possible to have peace? I ask again. Or is that some nice saying of Jesus' that he can't follow through on?

Let me answer. Peace is possible in the midst of difficult circumstances. Peace is possible even if you're in the pit of depression (he can pull you out). It is a gift of God, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, that he delights to offer us. At the same time, do you know how it most often comes? Isaiah 26:3 tells us, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on you." In the Message translation, Eugene Peterson  puts it this way:

People with their minds set on you,
you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
because they keep at it and don't quit.
Depend on God and keep at it
because in the Lord God you have a sure thing

Jesus had his mind set on the Father and His ways. It is true. The Holy Spirit brought things to Jesus' mind and the Holy Spirit assisted him and ministered to him. The Spirit does the same for us. Our minds cannot be set on the problems or obstacles. How many nights do we stay awake mulling over the issues and nursing our doubts and fears instead of mulling over God and over his power in our situations?

So as we have our minds set, stayed on God, as we mull over him and his ways, slowly but surely we'll start thinking about our lives the way Jesus would think about them if he were us. His attitudes, behaviors, and ways of being will slowly but surely start to become ours. For we become like the object that we love, the object our minds or affections are focused on. When anything that is anti-God--anti-Christ comes to us, we shift our gaze to God and destroy anything that raises itself up against the knowledge of God--by finding God's perspective on the matter. That is how we use Scripture as a sword (Hebrews 4:16).
 
As God's ways of being become our ways (as much as is humanly possible), we will have peace. Our lives will be marked (characterized) by peace instead of turmoil. Of course, it doesn't happen in an instant. But you will see that you have grown in peace. As you reflect, you find that you are not disturbed as you once were. 

Shalom invades your life. You are now becoming the way you were supposed to be, as you have your mind stayed on God. A mind stayed on God, influences the will to obey. Soon obedience is the norm. And peace accompanies obedience. Sure, it won't happen perfectly. There will be times that you are in despair--perhaps over a death or hard life circumstance. I am not denying those realities. But even in those, a peace will reign, peace will influence even how you react to such things. God's peace, his gift to us often despite us, but also as we keep our minds focused on him.

Peace comes as we pay attention to God and as we obey him. As we pay attention to him and obey him, he will deliver us from ourselves...often the cause of much internal strife.

The difference between a true and false person.

My friends, this is so well said by Father Stephen at the Glory To God For All Things blog that I wanted to link to it for your spiritual nourishment: http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/risking-everything/

Do We Leave Casualties?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Some of us have suffered tremendously. Others not so much, at least not comparably. But do we ever ask ourselves how much suffering we've caused others? Have we left a trail of casualties littering the landscape behind us as we move forward? Though many speak well of us, are there some who think we are one of the cruelest people in the world, negligent, naive, or else one of the biggest hypocrites?

Biting remarks, lack of sensitivity, failure to seek forgiveness, neglect of those closest to us, an over-arching blindness to our own sins and the ability to point them out in others, are all examples of things that induce suffering.

Life is hard, even for believers. Jesus said that we have trouble in this world. The thing is, for those of us who seek to follow on the heels of Jesus, we need to take care that we are not adding to the trouble. We must overcome evil with good and reconcile with those we hurt--if possible.

May we not add to the evil or trouble already in the world. May we not be stubborn or hard hearted, or as the Exodus says, "stiff-necked."  Let us stop blaming others and accept responsiblity for our part in others' suffering.

Though I Walk Through The Valley . . . .

An excerpt from Phillip Keller's book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23:

"I recall one year when an enormous flock of over 10,000 sheep was being taken through our courntry en route to their summer range. The owners came asking permission to water their sheep at the river that flowed by our ranch. Their thirsty flocks literally ran to the water's edge to quench their burning thirst under the blazing summer sun. Only in our valley was there water for their parched flesh. How glad we were to share with them.

As Christians we will sooner or later discover that it is in the valleys of our lives that we find refreshment from God himself. It is not until we have walked with him through some very deep troubles that we discover he can lead us to find our refreshment in him right there in the midst of our difficulty. We are thrilled beyond words when there comes restoration to our souls and spirits from his own gracious Spirit . . . .

Often we pray or sing the hymn requesting God to make us an inspiration to someone else. We want, instinctively, to be a channel of blessing to other lives. The simple fact is that just as water can only flow in a ditch or channel or valley--so in the Christian's career, the life of God can only flow in blessing through valleys that have been carved and cut into our lives by excruciating experiences."

Do We See How It Is?

Some think that we've moved beyond racism and the ills of MLK's day. They suppose that this is a day of reconciliation. We no longer have separate water fountains or schools or seats. But for those who would seek to follow Jesus, especially, and really anyone who seeks justice, we need to realize that we've only taken a few incremental steps in the marathon of reconciliation. And most of us are too comfortable with those steps. We give off an air that says we've arrived. But minorities know that isn't so. In fact, studies show that white evangelicals' attitudes are worse toward African-Americans than even non-Christians' attitude
(see http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/september/33.83.html .)

I wonder if the same is true of their attitude toward Hispanics, especially those from Mexico, and other minorities like American Indians whose land we took and against whom we committed genocide? Witness the rancor over the last presidential election (in just Christian circles) and over the immigration debate.

The thing is, we don't know what we don't know. And sometimes we assume that we know what we have no clue about. I've been guilty of this before. God forgive me.

As I think about this day, celebrating the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, and  how at the same time, white evangelicals were often on what we today would certainly say was the wrong side of the Civil Rights Movement (the side opposing change), I have to think, "Jesus, could you change my attitude? Jesus could you help me to love those who oppress others? Jesus could you show me if I am the oppressor?"

Not all white evangelicals and all whites are to blame. Certainly not. But many are for their silence and inaction. We have to remember that if a majority culture is not suffering or being oppressed, they have no reason to question the status quo or help those who are oppressed. They are often blind to it. But God tells us to look out for the alien and the oppressed and the widows. That's part of what those who follow Jesus do, or should do (and not just talk about). That is what the church has done for centuries. Hats off to Roman Catholic brothers and sisters and those of the Eastern Orthodox Church who have known and practiced this for millenia. Thank you for being examples to contemporary evangelical Protestants.

So what's with this post Marlena? Oh it's a reminder to us to examine ourselves, and convince ourselves that some of our attitudes and beliefs and therefore behaviors or lack of behaviors are probably anti-Christ in this realm.

*If you would like to hear, as near as I can tell, a biblical view of the immigration debate, please go to http://undocumented.tv/

Blessings to you my brothers and sisters.