Whose Right?

I often hear people comment that you should never talk about politics or religion. My great-grandmother was a circuit clerk and because of her job, she often suggested that her children and grandchildren refrain from these topics. Nevertheless, there were often conversations at Sunday lunch about one of the two – which usually led to my Grandmother Jones’ famous snapping of her fingers while exclaiming, “boys, boys, boys!” when the conversation got a little too loud or the language a little too colorful. Topics surrounding religion and politics tend to be things people are passionate about and something about that makes you just want to talk about it. I usually try to stay clear of such topics, but occasionally, things happen that either cause me to think or bring out passion in me and I just want to share. Such an event occurred this past week.

I usually glance over news articles, or listen to highlights as I am getting ready for work in the mornings – not really paying much attention to the details. Recently, however, the ongoing saga of a Muslim mosque in lower Manhattan has caught my attention.

The issue – as I know it, and I’m sure, as usual, I don’t have all the facts – is a Muslim group that has been located in lower Manhattan for years, wants to build a mosque on private property near Ground Zero. Since this is the location where members of an Islamic terrorist group (Al Qaeda) destroyed America’s sense of security when they flew airplanes into the World Trade Centers, many believe this to be an inappropriate place for a Muslim mosque.

While this topic was already being discussed in the media, it seemed to have exploded last week when the president decided to make a comment on it. President Obama stated, “As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances, This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."

Many people criticized the president for supporting this venture. Others pressured him to be more specific about his support. While we all know that they have a right to build there, many still want the president to give his opinion: should they or shouldn’t they. President Obama clarified that he had not and would not state whether he believed they should build in the spot, just they had the right to do so.

So….Whose first amendment right is Obama protecting? Muslims? Well, yes…and but not just theirs.

On this topic, I agree with President Obama. If I’m correct, most of his criticism is coming from right-winged, conservative Republicans – those who often pride themselves on being “evangelical Christians.” I don’t fully understand why this group is being so critical on this issue. Perhaps, I just have a different method of thinking – as I will admit, my thought process has not been mentioned in any of the discussions I have heard on the topic.

It is my understanding that one of the founding principles on which our country was built is the freedom of religion. I believe people have the right to practice whatever religion they choose, wherever and however they choose, as long as it does not infringe upon my rights (I could go on here, but that’s another topic). America is NOT a “Christian Nation” – I don’t believe it was intended to be. (Yet another topic, and yes, I hear some of you yelling that I am wrong!) I understand America to be a place where I have the freedom to be a Christian, but others have the freedom to be Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, or any other religion - including “non-religious” or atheist. Yes, I can share my religion, and I can attempt to convince others that my God is the only real God, but they have the freedom to not believe me and worship in any way they choose.

Back to the mosque – what’s wrong with the president or anyone else for that matter, telling this group of Muslims they can not – or at least should not – build where they want to build? In my opinion, it’s about fairness. It’s about the freedom of religion. It’s about the future of the relationship between the church and the state. If the government tells this group of Muslims where they can/should build a place to worship, what’s to keep them from later excluding a Christian church from building in any location. The government was not meant to dictate religion. Allowing the president, or any other governing body to tell this group they can not – or even should not – build near the Ground Zero, would be giving the government authority to dictate where any place of worship is built from here on out. And if we give them authority to dictate where, what’s to keep it from becoming when/how/WHO we are to worship? I think, as Christians, we should be encouraged that our leader states we have the right to worship WHO, when, where, how we want. We should not encourage him to tell this Muslim group that they should not build near Ground Zero. Instead, we should simply remember he is protecting OUR RIGHT to worship as we please.

Would love to hear the thoughts of my readers….if you dare ;-)

Extremists

Extremist – it’s a word we hear a lot in today’s society. But what does it mean? Based on our current culture, we tend to think of an extremist as someone who is going to blow up our airplane – a terrorist. Don’t believe me? Check the thesaurus in a Microsoft Word document and you’ll find terrorist as a synonym for extremist. But is that really what the word implies? According to the dictionary.com app on my blackberry, an extremist is “a person who goes to extremes, especially in political matters.” Well, that definition tells me nothing. Did their English teacher not teach them you can’t define a word with part of the word? Extreme, according to the same source, is “going well beyond the moderate or ordinary, outermost, very great or intense.” So an extremist is someone who goes beyond the moderate or ordinary, especially in political, or as we’ve come to know it, religious matters.

Ah, the “r” word. Most of the times I hear the word “extremist,” it is immediately preceded by the name of a particular religious group. Daily, news is reported about Islamic Extremists and their attempts to bomb an airplane or shoot up a military base. The term is used to stress that these people are going to the extreme – beyond the ordinary. They do not represent most people who practice the religion of Islam. Mainstream media tries to emphasize that most people who practice Islam do not condone this type of violence. Sadly, I’m afraid many people refuse to listen to these messages. They don’t hear the word extremist and make a judgment of others based on the word “Islamic.”

I suppose all groups have their extremists. In fact, based on the definition of the word, I don’t guess there could be an average without extremes. Unfortunately, the extremists seem to be the ones who stand out and create a negative identity for the entire group. This week, an extremist of another religion made a comment that did just that. Christian Extremist, Pat Robertson, made some idiotic comments that, in the words of a friend, “embarrassed Christians and people named Pat everywhere.” (Pat Ward's Facebook status)

The comments made by Robertson were the opinion of ONE person who goes to the EXTREME in his religious beliefs. Unfortunately, this one person has a public platform in which he proudly claims the Christian religion. When you hear comments such as the one by Robertson or news of extreme acts done in the name of Christianity, please don’t judge us all by these extremists. Shepard Smith commented on this “We're in the middle of a crisis that the western hemisphere has not seen in my lifetime. And 700 miles east of Miami, hundreds of thousands of desperate human beings need our help, our support, our money, and our love. And they don't need that (Robertson's comments).” I can't help but to believe the average Christian's belief stands more in line with Smith's comments than Robertson's.

Maybe Microsoft’s thesaurus has it right. Maybe “terrorist” is a synonym for extremist, at least when defined in terms of Islamic or Christian extremist. Both groups destroy those whose opinions differ from their own. Islamic Extremists threaten and destroy physical lives when carrying out their missions. Christian Extremists threaten and destroy souls. I wonder which is worse.

Beginning of a Journey

My last revealed my intentions to take a journey of self-discovery. I promised the internet world that I would share some of what I learned. It's been almost a month since that post, and I've learned a few things about myself and have remembered a few others. So here's the first entry. I'll start with the easy: television.

I like the “figure it out” kind of television shows. Of course, there's usually some sort of drama throughout these shows too, which of course I get caught up in. I'll watch almost any of the crime dramas, but Criminal Minds and NCIS are my favorites – and I don't really like Law and Order, except SVU. I also love the medical dramas. I'm addicted to Grey's Anatomy, but I only watch Private Practice when there are “crossover events.” Thanks to tivo, I'm a fan of Mercy - I would have never had a chance to actually watch last season without tivo. Although I don't record it, I watch House any time I catch it on.

The “figure it out” theme fits the paranormal dramas of Ghost Whisperer and Medium as well. I was recently introduced to a few paranormal reality shows – for lack of a better description. I liked Ghost Hunters (Scyfy) from the first time I saw it. These former plumbers spend their nights investigating reportedly haunted buildings. In addition to seeking paranormal activity, they use scientific observation and sometimes plain ole common sense to debunk reports of such activity. Ghost Lab is a similar show on the Discovery Channel, which follows brothers whose team works out of a mobile lab. I was also introduced to Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. The concept of this show is similar to the other two, but the primary investigator is very dramatic and, in my opinion, annoying. Now that I think about it, there is an element of figure it out in these shows as well.

I'm also a fan of a good comedy. It's nice to sometimes sit in front of the television and just be entertained, not having to think. CBS Monday nights are some of my favorites – Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and Accidentally on Purpose. The New Adventures of Old Christine on Wednesday night is pretty good too. A few weeks ago, I discovered that I actually get more channels through my cable than I thought, including Comedy Central. I've liked to watch stand-up comedy for as long as I can remember, so I was excited about that discovery. There was a time when I wouldn't watch various television shows because of “offensive” language or topics – because others told me there was “offensive” language or topics. (There's another discovery there, but that's another post.) I have been surprised to discover that I really like South Park. It's funny. I've also been known to watch Sit Down Shut Up on Fox late on Saturday nights.

So television is easy and maybe a bit superficial, but it's a start at self-discovery. More findings to come soon.

Getting to Know Me

Getting to know me

There's a scene in the movie, “The Runaway Bride” where Ike the reporter confronts Maggie, the bride who keeps running from commitment. Ike has been trying to find out why Maggie runs every time she gets to the alter. After observing Maggie and questioning her grooms, he confronts her with the following conversation.

IKE (cont'd)
-- Tell me something, do you really care about Mount Everest?

MAGGIE
It's fun! It's high.

IKE
Or the sexual habits of locusts?

MAGGIE
That was very interesting research George was doing!

IKE
What kind of Dead Head gets a temporary tattoo?

MAGGIE
I already explained about that.

IKE
And where you ever really going to run the leper colony in Molokai?

MAGGIE
(wincing)Brian told you that?

IKE
Or maybe you just wanted to wear the headdress.

MAGGIE
Every one of those times I was being supportive. Something you won't understand.

IKE
Supportive? You weren't being supportive. You were being scared.
Just like now. You are the most lost woman I have ever laid eyes on.

MAGGIE
Lost!

IKE
That's right. You're so lost you don't even know how you like your eggs.

MAGGIE
What!?

IKE
With the priest, you liked them scrambled. With the Dead Head, fried. With the bug guy, poached. Now it's egg whites only, thank you very much.

MAGGIE
That's called changing your mind.

IKE
No, that's called not having a mind of your own.

I don't know how Maggie got lost. Did she know herself at one time and lose her identity somewhere along the way? Or did she never take the opportunity to figure out who she really was? Whatever the case, she couldn't be truly happy and couldn't make a commitment to anyone else until she discovered her own identity – and how she liked her eggs.

Sometimes, I feel a little like Maggie. I know how I like my eggs (scrambled – done but not too hard, with salt and pepper, and not made with powder like those at work), but I'm not sure I know much else about myself. My preferred method of dealing with conflict in my life is avoidance. In order to avoid conflict, I tend to allow others to make decisions – where to eat, what to watch on television, what to do, small things, and large things. I like to think I'm just trying to make other people happy, which in some ways is true. However in the process of avoiding conflict and making others happy, I fear I've lost touch with my own ideas and opinions.

I have recently downloaded a horoscope application on my blackberry. I don't really believe what they have to say, but I think they are fun to read. Today, my horoscope said 2010 will offer opportunities for re-inventing myself. I don't know about re-inventing, but I'm hoping to rediscover myself. I want to try new things, various foods, watch different television shows – figure out what I like and what I don't. I think I'll try to keep up with me this time – and maybe I'll share some of what I find with the internet world.

Searching for God

Sermon from laity Sunday at First United Methodist Church, Pontotoc, MS on 10/18/09:

A friend emailed me the following story several weeks ago:

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.
The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.
The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.
Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?
"He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."

If we were to set out looking for God, I wonder if we would know where to find him? Maybe Joan Osborne asked it best, “What if God was one of us?” What if Jesus were here? Would you want to meet him? How would you treat him?

In the scripture you heard this morning, Jesus said whatever you did to the least of these, you did to me. Tony Campolo, professor at Eastern College refers to this as Jesus in disguises. Shane Claiborne, in his book Irresistible Revolution, quotes Tony, “Jesus never says to the poor, ‘Come find the church,’ but he says to those of us in the church, ‘Go into the world and find the poor, hungry, homeless, imprisoned,’ Jesus in disguises” (102)

Seeking a real Christian – someone who really lived like Christ – Shane went to India and spent time working with Mother Theresa in the House of the Dying and a leper colony. While there, he learned to see those he served as Jesus. He tells of volunteers being scolded for not putting enough gravy on rice, since the plate was being served to Jesus himself. (Irresistible Revolution, 78)

He tells of his time at the House for the dying:

As I looked into the eyes of the dying, I felt like I was meeting God. It was as if I were entering the Holy of Holies of the temple – sacred, mystical. I felt like I should take off my shoes. . . The reality that God’s Spirit dwells in each of us began to sink in. I had sung the old worship songs in youth group like “Sanctuary” but I don’t think I every realized that we really are the sanctuaries where the Spirit dwells. Our bodies are the temples of God and that’s not just a reason to eat less cholesterol. WE are the body of Christ, not in some figurative sense, but we are the flesh and blood of Jesus alive in the world through the Holy Spirit – God’s hands, feet, ears” (78-80)

Acts 17:24 reminds us that God “does not live in temples built by hands.” We are temples and the Spirit lives in us. God is one of us. He is EACH one of us. And in a very special way, as Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, in the least of these, we find Jesus in disguise. Perhaps we are just as likely to encounter Jesus over the dinner table, in the slums, in the streets, in our schools, or even in our prisons as we are in a giant auditorium or church sanctuary. (323)

Claudia Mair Burney illustrates this in a meditation published in Will and Lisa Samson's book Justice in the Burbs

Jesus lives next door. He's an eight year old girl and her three year old brother. The Son of Man looks like those starving Ethiopian children. He only gets breakfast and lunch at school, when he makes it. His mama is a crack whore. Nobody knows where his daddy is. I heard his mama lets her “Johns” do things to him.
Poor King of Kings.
Jesus is two houses down and has six children. Now he's pregnant with the seventh. I don't know if he hasn't figured out what birth control is, or what, but how does he expect his husband to feed all those babies on that salary? And you know with all those kids the Lord of Lord's can't work. That means hard working taxpayers' money has to go for Christ's food stamps!
He needs to get fixed!
The Lord is a crazy man – paranoid schizophrenic. If he doesn't take his medication, he walks up and down the street cussing and spitting on everybody he passes. He's homeless. Nobody knows where his family is – if he's got one. Digs out of the trash can for food. Somebody ought to get him off the street.
Jesus is nothing but a nuisance.
I'm starting to see the Son of God everywhere I go. He's always crying or begging or looking pitiful. Why doesn't he pull himself up by his bootstraps? This is America! Makes me mad. He's ruining our neighborhood.
Somebody ought to do something about him.
Somebody.

Have you seen Jesus? What can we do? How do we go about doing something about this Jesus? The Jesus that is in the least of these. Maybe the Beatles answered that question best: “All you need is love.” Mother Theresa is quoted as saying, “We can do no great things, just small things with great love. It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing it.” See Jesus in everyone you meet and love them.

The scripture we read this morning says in the kingdom of God, we will be separated based on how we cared for the least among us – how we treated Jesus in these disguises. Shane Claiborne says that he is just not convinced that Jesus is going to say, ‘When I was hungry, you gave a check to the United Way and they fed me,’ or ‘When I was naked you donated clothes to the Salvation Army and they clothed me.’” Don't hear me saying these organizations aren’t good or that you should not donate to them. I think they are very beneficial to our society, but as Shane states “Jesus is not seeking distant acts of charity. He seeks concrete acts of love: ‘you fed me…you visited me in prison…you welcomed me into your home…you clothed me.’” (158) It's about love. When you love others, you begin to become more and more like Jesus.

Shane says:

Over and over, the dying and the lepers would whisper the mystical word namaste (nuh muh stey) in my ear. . . They explained to me that namaste means “I honor the Holy One who lives in you.” I knew I could see God in their eyes. Was it possible that I was becoming a Christian, that in my eyes they could catch a glimpse of the image of my Lover?

Shane went to India in search of a true Christian – someone who lived like Christ. He found that not only in Mother Theresa and those who served with her. He also learned to see Jesus in those they served. By serving those in need, he found he was becoming more like Jesus himself. Todd Agnew expresses the same desire in his song “My Jesus”

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like you Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Can we be like Jesus? I think we can. How do we become like Jesus? By seeing and serving the Jesus in disguise that is in everyone we meet – especially the least of these: the poor, sick, homeless, imprisoned; by seeing and serving the Jesus in disguise, we can become more like our Jesus.

Asbury seminary sends a daily reader to students each semester. This semester's reader focuses on the Kingdom of Heaven. Included in the reader are suggested application ideas: ways to love Jesus in the least of these. The suggestions range from easy to very radical, difficult things to do. They are suggestions of ways to love your neighbor as yourself – ways to serve the Jesus disguised in the least of these. Not all are possible for everyone, but the may spark ideas of things you can do for the least of these in our community. These are a few that have been listed up to this point in the semester.

Fast one meal each week until Christmas for the two billion people who live on less than a dollar a day.
Contact your local crisis pregnancy center and invite a pregnant woman to live with your family.
Ask your pastor if someone on your church's sick list would like a visit.
Join an open Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and befriend someone there.
Adopt a child.
Mow your neighbor's grass.
Volunteer to tutor a child at your local elementary school – try to get to know their family.
Grow your own tomatoes – and share them.
Ask a small group in your community to meet regularly for intercessory prayer.
Build a wheelchair ramp for someone who is homebound.
Read the newspaper to someone at your local nursing home.
Plant a tree.
Look up the closest registered sex offender in your neighborhood and try to befriend them.
When you pay your water bill, pay your neighbor's too.
Give your winter coat away to someone who is colder than you and go to a thrift store to get a new one.
Laugh at advertisements, especially ones that teach you that you can buy happiness.
Go to an elderly home and get a list of those who don't get any visitors. Visit them each week and tell stories, read the Bible together, or play board games.
Create a Jubilee fund in your Church congregation, matching dollar for dollar every dollar you spend internally with a dollar spent externally. If you have a building fund, create a fund to match it to give away by buying mosquito nets or wells for those dying in poverty.
Become a pen pal with someone in prison.
Wash your clothes by hand, or dry them by hanging to remember the 1.6 billion people without electricity or running water.
Begin creating a scholarship fund so that, for every one of your own children you send to college, you can give a scholarship to an at risk youth. Get to know their family and learn from each other.
Eat with someone who does not look like you. Learn from them.

What if God was one of us? Would you want to meet him? Would you invite him over for dinner and let him stay as a guest in your home? Or would you avoid eye contact? Would you cross the street or take the long road home so you didn’t have to be bothered by him? Would you share your Twinkees and Root Beer with him, or would you keep them to yourself? God is one of us. God is EACH one of us. Jesus is disguised in the people you meet each day. How do you treat him?

The final word I have for you this morning is NAMASTE (nuh muh stey): I honor the Holy One I see in you. See and honor Him as in those you encounter this week.

Have I Told You Lately?

It was a common occurrence when she was little. We'd be riding in the car, my mother and I in the front seat and 3 year old Brianna in her car-seat in the back. Mom and I having a conversation in the front seat when:

Brianna: Mimi
Mom and I continue to talk.
Brianna: Mimi
Mom and I continue.
Brianna (a little louder): Mimi
Mom: What, Brianna?
Brianna: I love you
Mom: I love you too, Brianna.

Mom and I would continue our conversation, and about two minutes later:

Brianna: Aunt Mandi
Mom and I continue to talk.
Brianna: Aunt Mandi
Mom and I continue.
Brianna (a little louder): Aunt Mandi
Me: What, Brianna?
Brianna: I love you
Me: I love you too, Brianna.

Somewhere along the way, this scenario stopped, but every time I see her, she still runs up to me with a hug (and sometimes a kiss) saying “Aunt Mandi! I love you.”

When we were children, we said what we felt, with no inhibition. At least in my case, there was no shortage of “I love you”s in my life. There was no social code saying it was not appropriate. Sometime around puberty, things seemed to change. It was no longer cool to tell your dad you love him or kiss your mom goodnight. Those three words became a phrase reserved for that “special someone” in your life – and that person didn't always stay after those words were said. Many times they were used inappropriately and became the catalyst for disaster.

So we grow up thinking the only love that exists is that between two people who are romantically involved. We believe the only people appropriate to hear those words from us are those with whom we are in a romantic relationship – and our children because they need to be taught love. And many of us who are not in married, engaged, or dating relationships may go days, weeks, months, even years without hearing the words, “I love you.” Some people go so long without hearing those words that they begin to think something is wrong with them – that they are unlovable or that they don't deserve to be loved.

I'm lucky enough that I still have plenty of people in my life who will say the words. My parents and grandparents still tell me they love me each time I see them. My nieces tell me they love me frequently, and I tell them the same. I'm also lucky enough to have some awesome friends who share “I love you”s with me.

There are others in my life that I love deeply. It's not romantic love, but true love. A love which I cannot explain except to say, I love because Christ first loved me. And sometimes this love fills up so much inside of me that I feel I have to let it out regardless of societal norms. Yet, there are many whom I haven't told how I feel. I'm not sure why I haven't. Maybe I'm afraid they won't understand or will think I'm a freak because I say it. But maybe, just maybe, they need to know that they are loved, that they deserve to be loved.

So I want to take a chance and say the words that may be uncool. If I haven't told you lately, I love you. And if I tell you again soon, please don't think I'm a freak, just know that I'm full of love and I need you to know not only that I love you, but that you deserve to be loved!

Open the Door

In 2001, the United Methodist Church began a national television campaign, running commercials during the Easter, Christmas, and Back to School periods of the year. These commercials branded the United Methodist Church with the slogan “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.” This year, the church is beginning a new campaign known as 10,000 doors. This weekend, many churches from around the state decorated doors and sent them to annual conference.

Doors have many functions. They allow people to come in or go out. They can be opened, closed, or even locked.

Thursday night, when Ginger brought me the programs for this morning, she knocked on my door and announced “It's Ginger!” I went and opened the door and stood at the door to talk to her. Because I am not the best housekeeper and was embarrassed to let her see my house, I did not invite her in. The theme verse for this year's annual conference is Revelations 3:20, God says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” I'm afraid too often we try the same tactic with God that I tried with Ginger. We may crack the door or even open it and let God see the living room, but we don't want to invite him in to the mess of our lives. We are embarrassed and ashamed, and what's more, we are comfortable in our mess. We are afraid God will say, “This place is a pigsty, I can't stay here,” but that's not what God promises. He stands at the door and knocks. When we open the door, he comes in and eats with us and joins us in our everyday messy lives. Sure, he'll eventually help us out and pick up some of the trash that's on the floor, because he knows it's not good for us and we don't really like it there, and mostly just because He loves you and He really just wants to be with you. So the first and most important function of the door of your life is to allow Jesus in.

In addition to allowing Jesus in our lives, we as the church have to be willing to allow others in. We can't be an exclusive club that doesn't let anyone else join. Are we really willing to let ANYONE come in the door of our church. Sure we may open the door and let them come worship with us, much like I let Ginger see my living room, but are we willing to let them become a part and get involved in our everyday lives with us? Sometimes we don't want to let others in because we don't want them to see what our lives really look like. The outside is pretty and we look like we have everything all together, so it is okay for them to come to worship and see us there, but we don't want to let them involved in our everyday stuff. The inside is a mess and we don't want anyone getting to know us because they may find out that we are messy people, not the “perfect Christians” we try to pretend to be.
Jesus tells a parable that demonstrates another reason we may not want to let people into our lives—or our church.

"There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. '
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31 " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " (Luk 15:11-32 NIV)

Just before telling this story, the Pharisees were complaining about the type of people Jesus received, welcomed and even ate with. Jesus was accepting sinners for who they are and the Pharisees didn't like it. The older brother in this story came home from working in the fields and about the time he got to the door he heard a party going on. When he found out this party was for his brother, he did not approve. He was angry and when asked, he let his dad know. His brother didn't deserve this after what he had done. It wasn't fair, he had never gotten to have a party with his friends and he done everything he was supposed to do. Sometimes grace doesn't seem fair. We are not always happy when others are receiving grace and we aren't. Sometimes we think “I do what I'm supposed to and I come to church every Sunday, I deserve grace, but her...well, I know where she was last night.” We get angry when we try do do right and others receive grace rather than getting what we think they deserve. We have the same response as the older brother said, “If he's in there, I'm not going in.” Or worse, we ask, “What is he doing at my church?” It's not YOUR church, it's GOD'S church, and he'll welcome WHOSOEVER will come and ANYONE who will open the door. John 14:2 says “In my Father's house are many rooms...” There is enough room for everyone.

There is only on door to the kingdom of God. Jesus said in John 10:9, “I AM the door,” and in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” There is only one door to the kingdom and that's Jesus, but there are many doors to the church. Each of you is a door. You have to open up and let people in so they can see Jesus and walk through THE door to the kingdom.

Doors aren't just for going in; they are also for going out. We cannot sit her all comfortable in our pews and say, “well, if someone wants to come visit, we'll open the door.” That's not what Jesus told us to do. The last time Jesus saw his disciples, he gave them directions to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Mat 28:19 RSV)” You have to go out of the doors of the church and tell people about Christ and invite them to come meet him. Invite them into your life—even if it's messy—let them see you and what Jesus has done for you. GO OUT and shout to the world that Jesus loves them.

Finally, I was reading on the conference web page about the doors that were brought to annual conference. More than 150 doors were brought to Annual Conference symbolizing various churches and how they were welcoming newcomers in and going out into the world. Two pastors
volunteered to put the doors on stands. They quickly ran out of wood and turned to connecting doors with hinges so two doors held up each other. What an awesome example of how we should be as Christians. We can't do it on our own, we must help each other out and hold each other up. Together, we can welcome even “the least of these” and in doing so, welcome Christ into our lives.

Visions of Church

During a required teacher's in-service today, the speaker made a joke that we, the audience, were staying with him pretty good. "It's like I'm a Baptist preacher and it's 12:30" he said, implying that he was boring, but we were trying to listen. He stated that there are a few places that you sit quietly facing forward including church and presentations. He also commented that we knew we weren't at church, therefore didn't bring our Bibles and have them opened.

Church - a place where you go sing boring old songs and try to stay awake while you sit still facing the preacher (a man who may or may not be wearing a costume) who talks about all the things you do wrong and why you are going to hell if you don't get saved/do the right things/go to church (all three of which sometimes seem to be synonymous). Oh yeah, and it usually starts around 10 or 11 on Sunday morning and better not go past 12 or people will be angry because the neighboring church people are getting all the cheese dip at the Mexican restaurant.

How close am I? Did I forget to mention the part after church where you go out to eat and talk about what everyone was wearing and/or what you (and other's in the church including the preacher, his wife, and/or kids) did on Saturday night -- the very things that were probably part of the sermon things you do wrong and you would have known that had you been awake?

This seems to be church for a lot of people. And if it's not quite accurate, it is at least the perception some people have of church. While church has been a place where 'Christians' gathered and sat to listen to the preacher for years, I'm not convinced this is what church should look like.

What if church was a 'place' you wanted to be, not somewhere you felt obligated to be? What if when you went to church, you sat facing each other, or you didn't sit at all because you were doing something for others? What if church was really a place where you felt like you could be yourself and not have to fake behaviors or emotions? What if during church, you didn't just listen to the preacher, but participated in a discussion?

I have a "vision" of sorts of church as a group of people participating in service ministry (cooking for homeless, packaging stuff for hurricane victims or soldiers, writing cards to homebound, etc.) and discussing the sermon of the day. I recall a conversation during a recent Bible Study group (details sketchy and may not be completely accurate, but point is the same): one member shared that her sons worked in restaurants and cooked on Sundays therefore didn't go to church. She also mentioned that they volunteered at the local soup kitchen. Our pastor mentioned why couldn't that cooking be part of worship.

I shared this with a few coworkers this week and each time I wonder, "could this be church? would it 'work'?" I don't know if it can or will. I know it won't without the Spirit of God guiding it, but neither will the way we do church now.

What do you think church should look like?

Costumes

I never was much on Halloween. I guess I liked it okay when I was little, but just for the candy. I don't really remember enjoying “dressing up” or wearing costumes. I know, strange to be talking about Halloween in March. Let me explain:

I attended the memorial service of a friend/coworker Monday night. Because such things are never fun, I went with several friends from work. The service was beautiful, but surprisingly (to me) formal. The speakers at the service were the Sr. Pastor, two associate pastors, and the youth minister. The three ordained ministers wore white robes.

At the end of the service, I looked up to see one of my friends (who is unfamiliar with Methodist traditions) rubbing her hands together. I gathered from the look on her face she had a profound question—well a question anyway, and one she was dying to ask. “What?” I asked. “Why did the one guy not get to wear a costume?” I giggled a bit and attempted to explain that he didn't get a 'costume' because he wasn't an ordained minister, which she understood, but still thought he should go buy himself a costume.

This conversation reminded me of another conversation that had taken place recently. It seems a local pastor's wife had found herself in the unfortunate situation of being caught “fraternizing with another man.” After a brief discussion of the fairness of preachers and their wives being held to higher standards (a topic for another day), the conversation led to the inevitable statement that churches are full of hypocrites.

Typically, the word hypocrite is thought of as someone who pretends to have morals, and beliefs but their actions contradict stated beliefs. Hypocrite comes from the Greek meaning a stage actor. Someone playing a part—pretending to be something they are not. And yes, the church, and the world, is full of people who pretend to be something they are not. However, I don't think it's always intentional—yes sometimes, maybe many times, it is, but not always. Some people don't know who they are—they want to be all things to all people. Some people rather than hypocrites, are chameleons. It's not that they are trying to be something they aren't, they just take on the characteristics and actions of those around them so as to blend in. Others, are trying to be true to who they are, but find themselves pressured to put on a mask in certain situations.
Debbie, from my experiences, was one person who was not a hypocrite. She was true to herself and her God and was the same no matter where she was or who she was around. This was obvious from the attendance at her service on Monday night—and the amount of laughter at a shared experience about a voice mail. In addition to being true to herself, Debbie did not judge others for being themselves. She was friends with a great number of people from many backgrounds and lifestyles. She accepted people for who they were—without question. For that, she was loved.

As I look at my life, I hope I can be more like Debbie. I don't want to live as a hypocrite—intentionally or not. I want to take off whatever costumes I might be wearing and be myself in all places around all people. I want to honor Christ by letting the world see me as I become the person he created me to be.

And on that note, I wonder what my readers think (both of you). Should preachers/ministers wear “costumes”, or should they dress in the same manner as their congregation?

WAKE UP!!

I was informed last week that I haven't written a blog in over a month (actually, it's been 2). And since only one person reads my blog anyway, what does it matter huh? I guess it matters to her, and honestly, it matters to me a little too. I want to write more, just never find the time to do it, or topic to write about.

But today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I recieved an email through my seminary email about the Asbury Lent/Easter reader and asked them to send me one. In reading today's reading and watching the little video (www.asburyreader.com), I learned that "Lent is a fire alarm, a wake up call, a closer brush with the death that leads to life." It is designed to interrupt our normal patterns of daily life in a way to allow us to focus on the sacrifice Christ made for us.

I have a diagnosis of narcolepsy--a sleep disorder characterized by "excessive daytime sleepiness." This week has been an especially sleepy one for me (probably would help if I'd work on getting my bedtime earlier again). Today, I had the thought that I really want to wake up! I'm tired of being tired. One characteristic of narcolepsy is the ability to go on "autopilot" and still do routine activities even though in sleeplike states. I miss things when I'm sleepy (as evidenced by the stack of reports I turned in with corrections today).

Too often, I go on autopilot in my spiritual life too. I get into a routine and I miss stuff. I miss out on things God is trying to tell me through nature, through people/events around me, through his Word, or through that still small voice. I don't want to miss God. I need to WAKE UP! Lent is designed to get Christian's off autopilot and out of their sleeplike state by breaking routines--doing something different--getting to know God better and seeing what He has to say to us.

It is common to hear people talk of fasting or "what they are giving up for Lent." Fasting is meant to be a way to deny ourselves things of the world in order to identify with Christ's suffering and develop an appetite for God.

In addition to (or instead of) "giving up" something for Lent, Christians may add something to thier daily routine that will enhance their spiritual life. This is one reason I requested the Lent/Easter reader. I have thought and considered various things I might "give up" this year for Lent. Typically, I say I'm giving up something and I don't do very well keeping it. Hopefully, with this blog, I will stay accountable by letting you know the progress--and what I am learning.

So, my plan for Lent this year (for the next 40 days, not counting Sundays as they are "little easters"):

1) to give up dessert -- I like my dessert, especially at NMRC cafeteria, but this is something I think I can do
2) to fast during lunch on Fridays -- i would like to get to where I can fast 24 hours at a time, but I am not sure I will be able to do that yet. I am going to try to start small so I don't get frustrated. And fasting lunch will be difficult for me--missing the social time will be as difficult if not moreso than missing the food.
3) to read the Asbury reader every day -- you can too, if you'd like to read online www.asburyreader.com
4) to read the daily Bible readings our church is reading at least 3 days a week--I really should do this everyday, but I'm shooting for at least 3 days a week.
5) to blog at least once a week and let you in cyberworld know what I'm learning.

WoW that's a lot!! Especially along with the class I'm taking this semester. I look at it now and think I can't do all of that! If I don't, I won't beat myself up about it, but I'm gonna try, and I trust that I will see God!!

Fictional Account of Luke 2:22-40

Mary bundled up the precious child. Today they would journey to Jerusalem to the temple. It was time for Jesus, her first born son to be dedicated. Since the first Passover, so many years ago, God has required the first born son of Jewish families to be redeemed, dedicated to him as a reminder of how he saved them from slavery in Egypt. Since they were a poor family, Mary would take two doves to be sacrificed. One for the dedication of the baby and the other for her own purification.

As they walked along, Mary carried the little one who slept in her arms. He was just five weeks old, yet she couldn't imagine her life without him. She thought about all the events of the last year: her time with Elizabeth, returning to Nazareth, her family's reactions, Joseph's reaction, the decree from Caesar, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth, the shepherd's visit, and the last month with her baby boy. So much had happened, she was not the same young woman who received the promise of an angel just a year ago. She had no idea what would happen in their lives as the baby grew up, but she knew Yahweh would continue to watch over them and protect him. She had doubts in her own abilities as a mother, but she trusted His father to lead her in the direction she should go.

There was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. Simeon was a righteous and devout man. He observed the law of the Lord with caution and care. Simeon eagerly waited for the promised Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. This morning, the Spirit led Simeon to the temple. He wasn't sure why, but somehow, Simeon knew today was a special day. Could it be that today was the day he would see the Lord? In the temple courts, Simeon looked up and knew. That young couple, that baby, here was the Messiah. The Lord's promise was fulfilled that very moment in a tiny infant.

Before they could even get into the temple, Simeon came up to the new family. “Do you mind?” he asked, reaching for the baby. Mary gently handed him baby Jesus. The baby raised his head and looked around. Simeon began to praise God saying "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Mary and Joseph looked at each other. It was amazing what this man was saying about their son. It was obvious to the couple that he knew who he was holding. He was proclaiming the very things Mary had been treasuring in her heart. Simeon handed the baby back to his parents and blessed them. Then turning to Mary, he said of the child, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” What did this mean? Yes, she knew Jesus was to be the ruler of Israel, but what was a sign that will be spoken against? And what did he mean a sword will pierce her soul?

She didn't have long to ponder the questions, they would have to wait. Soon after Simeon finished talking, Anna walked over. Anna had been just a young woman when her husband died 84 years earlier. She was devastated and didn't know where to turn, so she went to the temple to fast and pray. Soon she began to serve others and discovered the joy of serving God. She found her comfort in the temple. By this time, a crowd had gathered around the small family. Anna turned to the people who had looked forward to the redemption of Jerusalem for such a long time. She began to talk of the child in front of them.

Soon, the people dispersed and the couple took their child to the priest and fulfilled the requirements of the law. As they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee, Mary and Joseph talked of the things they had heard today. They discussed what Simeon may have meant and all the things Anna said. Mostly they adored the baby boy and talked about how he had changed their life and all the lives he would change. Truly she was blessed among women.

Battle of the Will

One of the best parts of my job is assisting with therapeutic horseback riding. While I know a little about horses, I don't even begin to consider myself a "horse person." My job during therapeutic riding usually deals with keeping clients in one place and encouraging communication.

This morning, as we were preparing for clients to arrive at the arena, one horse was being particularly obstinant. Our volunteer was working him in the round pin (again I don't pretend to be a horse person and have no clue exactly what she was doing except making him run around in circles.) Periodically, the horse would decide he was going to stop or turn around and go the other way. When he did this, the volunteer would make a particular movement and he would turn back the way she wanted him to be going. Brian, the social worker who helps, was sitting at the table watching. He commented "He thinks he's going to do it his way and she is not going to let him." Life lesson?

Tonight, I attended a Beth Moore Bible Study (Jesus the One and Only) session. Tonight's lesson was on Luke 22:39-46. Jesus time of prayer in the Garden was a similar battle of will. The will of His flesh wanted to turn and run the other way. He begged for God to "let this cup to pass over me," but the Son of God said "No, whatever you require of me, I will do."

Here's the cool part of the whole story. Just before we had the conversation about the strong willed horse, Brian asked if I had done anything else with that "internet thing." (That would be applying to Seminary.) He also said he had two papers to write for admission to graduate school, but he seemed to be procrastinating--possibly a subliminal message that he didn't want to do it. My quick response was "Maybe it's not about what Brian wants." Yeah, I turned it all around on Brian, in reality, I was probably saying "Maybe it's not about what Mandi wants."

Teach me to follow. Not my will but Yours.

Employee of the Year and So Much More

I work at an Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR) in Mississippi. Today we had our annual "Oktoberfest" celebration complete with carnival games, dancing, and staff gymnastics. The day concluded with our director awarding two Employees of the Year with money and a plaque from the facility's FRIENDS organization. Both the direct care staff and the professional staff that received these awards treat the clients as if they are family. They go out of their way to do whatever is needed and are often at the center even when they aren't on duty. When Dr. Rogers announced the names of the two Employees of the Year, the clients who they work closely with leapt with excitement. That moment told me that those two men deserved Employee of the Year and so much more.

"The king will answer, 'Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.'" Matthew 25:40 CEV

Hidden Treasures

Joshua 7

God specifically said everything in Jericho must be destroyed except for the gold, silver, bronze and iron, and that is to be given to the Tabernacle. But Achan wasn't listening.

After the fall of Jericho, Joshua sent spies to Ai. The spies came back saying 'No problem. There aren't very many people there, just a few thousand of us can take them.' So he sent those few thousand men to Ai and they became afraid. Thirty-six men were killed and the Isrealites lost their faith.

Now even Joshua began to blame God. 'Why did you have to bring us here, to kill us? We were just fine on the other side of the Jordan. It was nice enough. Now all the Amorites and Canaanites will hear this and they will come kill us.'

Wow, how many times, when things get hard, do I do the same thing? God wins a battle with Satan and I'm feeling good and suddenly something tries to kill me and all faith is lost. I begin to whine to God. "Now look. Everyone's going to see what happened and they're gonna start talking..."

God quickly called Joshua out of this despair. "Isreal sinned", God reveals, "they are cursed because they took what didn't belong to them--after I told them to destroy it." He continues to tell Joshua to get up and find out who did it and destroy those things or else they are on their own. Following God's commands, Joshua brough the people before him tribe by tribe, family by family, household by household, person by person. Finally, Achan was taken and when asked, confessed to taking silver and gold and hiding them beneath his tent. Everything that belonged to Achan, including his wife and children, were taken to the Valley of Achor, and they were stoned and burned. Destroying Achan and his property was the only way to destroy the sin in the tribe. Removing the sin was the only way for the people to be redeemed. Fortunately for us, Christ made that redemption possible for us. Through His death, our sin has been removed.

Notice that Achan hid the treasure? He wanted it so badly that he stole it, yet when it was his, he couldn't even enjoy it because he had to hide it to keep from being found out. I frequently read the blog Encouragement for Today by Proverbs 31 Ministries. In today's entry, Lisa Whittle talks about the secret thins in our heart--"those secret places that reside deep within our soul that we keep hidden from others and even try to hide from God?" She notes "The crafty, conniving one knows that if he can get us to continue to bury our secret places deep within our heart, we can’t be effective for God. He knows that thoughts of our private sins will eventually eat away at us, causing us to feel fraudulent and unworthy of the love and acceptance of others, and most of all, our Heavenly Father." Whittle goes on to remind us of the redemption we have in Jesus Christ and gives practical ways of combating those secret-keeping habits.

The people then built a memorial of stones in the Valley of Achor. This memorial reminded them that disobedience brings destruction, but also repentence brings redemption. In my Memorials post, I mentioned memorial stones in our spiritual lives. Brian commented, "...Some remind us of times when we were just plain stupid and others are very painful...." The memorial built in the Valley of Achor is one such set of stones. They remind Isreal of a time when they messed up and found themselves on their face in destruction. But when we look back on these stones, they also remind us of the forgiveness and mercy of Christ and what He brought us from.

Oh be careful little mouths what you shout (and when you shout it)

Joshua 6
All the Canaanites who lived in Jericho went inside the city walls and locked the gates because they were afraid of the Isrealites. God told Joshua to take all the men of war and march around the city once a day for 6 days and seven times on the seventh day. The priests were to take trumpets before the ark and play and on the seventh round on the seventh day, when the trumpets played a long blast, the people were to shout and the wall would fall. Joshua did as he was told and gathered the people. He told them "You should not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!" (6:10)

I can imagine the tendency of the Isrealites. Maybe they were thinking, in the words of one of my all-time favorite Camp Lake Stephens campers, "My feet hurt. Bugs be bitin me. All we ever do here is walk. I'm tired of walkin. There ain't no roller-coasters here." Okay, maybe they weren't lookin for roller-coasters, but I can see a tendency to complain none-the-less. And Joshua knew them, he knew this tendency and he knew that there was no room for doubt. So he told them to be quiet until it was time to shout.

We can learn from Joshua's command. When you're facing challenges and trials, do not allow your lips to speak unbelieving words. When we refuse to speak doubt and fear, it keeps our heart more inclined to see what God can do rather than what we cannot.


Everyone and everything in Jericho was to be destroyed except that of Rahab and her family in her home. The only items that were not to be destroyed were the silver, gold, bronze, and iron which were to go to the treasury of the Lord's house. The Isrealites were to abstain from the accursed things because they were associated with pagan practices. After the walls fell, the Isrealites killed every person inside (except Rahabs family) and they burned the city.

Rahab's life and the lives of her family were spared because she spared the spies. She was adopted in to God's family, the Isrealites, and became a decendant of David and Jesus.

An Outward Sign

Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you."
(Genesis 17: 9-11)

Circumcision was a sign -- an outward, physical sign of a covenant between God and Abraham. God promised to bless Abraham, to make him the father of many nations, to be his God and the God of His decendants, and to give Abraham's decendants everlasting possession of Canaan. Abraham's part? Abraham was to trust God as his God--to follow and obey Him in trust to care for His every need. And, Abraham was to circumcise himself and every male in his family or possession, and every child born to his family when he turns 8 days old.

There was rules to partaking in the Passover. When God gave Moses and Aaron the regulations for the Passover, every male in the household must have been circumcized (Exodus 12). Now, Joshua is leading the Isrealites and it's time for the Passover, but none of the Isrealites had been circumcised since they left Egypt and all those who left Egypt had died in the wilderness. So Joshua circumcised this generation. That day, when the Isrealites performed the outward sign that they were children of God, God removed the shame of slavery from them. Then, on the fourteenth day of the month, in the plains of Jericho, the Isrealites celebrated Passover. As they entered into the Promised Land, they were reminded that this inheritance was because of their simple faith in the blood of the Lamb.

That day, the Isrealites ate food from the land and the manna stopped. In the Promised Land, God provided food from crops. The Isrealites no longer needed manna, but they would have to assume some responsibility to working the land to get their food.

"In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:11-12)

We no longer have to be circumcised, but we do have to realize that we are free from the shame of sin. We need to realize that we are free and will receive the promises of God simply because of the blood of the Lamb.

Memorials

When all the people had crossed the Jordan, God had Joshua get 12 men to gather stones from the middle of the river to take with them when they camped that night. These stones were to be built into a memorial so the people had something physical to remind them about the wonders God had done that day. When their children saw these stones and ask what they mean, the people were to tell them of the time God stopped the waters of the Jordan river. (Joshua 4)

We too, put up stones as memorials. Cemetaries are full of them. Stones put up where we bury our loved ones and something is usually etched on these stones in order to remind us what they meant to us. Just as the Isrealites were told to remember and pass along to future generations what God did, we are to pass along to future generations what God has done for us--and we have memorials to remind us.

I recently went on a couple of memorial tours with my grandparents. The days were filled with cemetary tours (complete with my taking photos), but we did more than just look at peices of stone. At each stop, my grandparents would tell me stories of those whose names we read on the stones. "Grandmother was a lady. She always sat up straight and only crossed her legs at the ankles. The only negative comment I ever heard her make was if she was really frustrated, she would sometimes say 'well dog my cats." Not only were there scores of stories of people, which I only pray I remember long enough to write some of them down (really need to go on another trip so I can get these down), but there were stories of places. "I used to ride my bike down this road to school. My old girlfriend lived there. That's where my grandmother went to church." My grandparents made sure I knew that our family was made of believers. They weren't all happy stories, but they reminded me how Christ was always there for them. "That's the graves of your great-grandmother's sisters. They were killed in the tornado in 1936. That's where my brother and his fiance' died the day before they got married."

We also have memorials in our spiritual lives. People, places, dates, and things that remind us of significant events on our Spiritual journey. They aren't always happy memories, but they tell of a time when we experienced the move of God. I was going to list mine here, but I think that's another post. What's the purpose of these memorials? Theres two: 1) to remind you what God did for you and 2) so when your children ask "what's that?," you can tell them what God did for you and they too will know God is real and His hand is mighty.

You want me to go where?

I often wonder about the thoughts of people in the Bible. We get the facts, what people said or did, but many times the thoughts and attitudes are left to our own interpretations.

I think it's safe to say that the Isrealites were initially excited and releived when Moses led them out of Egypt. We are told that it wasn't long after they are travelling through the desert that they began to complain and grumble. It's pretty safe to say they quickly became tired, frstrated, anxious, bewildered. They finally reach the promised land and Moses sends spies in. At hearing the report of these spies, the are afraid and unbelieving. Because of these attitudes, we are told, that generation was not allowed to enter the Promised land. So they wondered and walked and got old and had children and traveled. I wonder if they regretted their unbleif. The first generation died and their children finally reached Canaan again. Moses had died and Joshua was in charge. Joshua sends in tow spies who return stating the people in the land are afraid of them.

Here we find the Isrealites in Joshua chapter 3. Camped on the eastern side of the flooding Jordan river, waiting. I wonder what they were thinking. "So, this is the land mom and dad told us about. It really is beautiful. I don't see any giants yet? Do you really think we can take them? How long are we going to be here? It's going to be months before that river goes down enough that we can cross."

Three days later, just as they are settling in, Joshua comes around saying "When you see the priests come by with the ark of the covenant of the Lord (God's house), get up and follow it. Make sure you stay behind a ways so you can see where it's going. You haven't gone this way before. Oh, and sanctify yourselves so you can see His miracles tomorrow." Were the Isrealites excited, thrilled, anxious? I wonder if they were thinking, "We haven't been this way before? We've walked all over this desert. The only place we haven't been is across that river and it's flooding. Oooh, wait, who does he think he is, Moses?" And the ark starts moving. No cloud, no fire, just priests carrying the ark toward the river. By now, I'm sure the people are thinking, "really, he's really going to do it. Has he lost his mind? What happened to that cloud we used to follow?" But they can't help but follow. Partly because they were told to, partly because they don't want to be left alone in the wilderness, but I wonder if it wasn't mostly because they wondered what was going to happen when those priests stepped in the water.

Just as the priests step into the water carrying the ark of the covenant, the water stopped. Suddenly, 15 or 20 miles up the road in the city of Adam, something happened that caused the water to dam up. Amazed, the people of God, walked across the dry riverbed into the land of Promise, no doubt thinking, "hmm, maybe he is Moses. He certainly is favored by God. God is real. God is good. Better hurry across before that dam breaks." The priests stood there until the entire nation crossed over the river Jordan.

Sometimes I feel like the Isrealites. I feel like I've wandered around not exactly sure where I'm going for some time. Then God passes by in a way I don't expect. I follow, not really sure where He's going or what He's going to do. Then He walks toward the water and for a moment I'm frozen in my tracks. "The river? But it's flooding. There's no way I can cross that. What are you thinking?" But He assures me He'll go before me and He'll stay in that river with me until I'm safely across. Then, He'll lead me onward. But the wonders can't begin until I'm willing to step into the and get my soul wet.

You're Spying on Us? We know about you...

Joshua 2

News travels fast. Especially in the information and technology driven world we live in today. It's easy to understand how news travels so quickly today. In fact, it would be more difficult today, to understand how someone would not know pertinent news. Media is everywhere and you only have to go as far as your cell phone (which is probably in your pocket, if not your hand), to connect to the Internet and know what is happening anywhere in the world. It's not difficult to understand even, how news traveled in the past century with television and newspapers so readily available. I never had considered how news traveled, though, in Biblical times.

I'm reading the book of Joshua. I find it interesting in Joshua chapter 2 that the inhabitants of Jericho not only knew the Isrealites were coming to spy on the land, but they also knew that God had dried up the Red Sea for them and completely destroyed the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, east of the Jordan river. For some reason I find it especially interesting that Rahab knew of the crossing of the Red Sea, some 40 years before. I wonder, was Rahab alive then or did she learn about it from “world history.” I digress.

Rahab was not a Jew. She did not have to believe in the God of the Israelites. She believed because she had heard what God did. As she begged the spies to spare her life, she confessed the God of the Israelites, “the Lord, your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Now, Rahab was part of a multi-theistic society; they believed in many gods. So, it is possible that while Rahab believed in the God of the Israelites, she also believed in other gods, we don't know. Nevertheless, God used this prostitute to serve His ultimate purposes and ultimately allowed her to become part of His family. In fact, she even was a descendant to the King of Kings.
So these spies came into Rahab's house and she hid them from the king's officials, then sent them on their way. As they left, the spies told Rahab that anyone in her house would be safe as long as she tied a scarlet cord in the window of her home. The spies followed advice given to them by Rahab to hide in the woods for three days before returning to their camp. Rahab didn't know when the Israelites would be back, but she knew they would return—and she knew she had only 3 days to get her family and provisions for her family into her home.

Just as the scarlet cord in Rahab's window saved her family from a gruesome death, Jesus Christ shed his blood to save His family from eternal death. The hearts of those who have accepted Him are marked with His blood. When Jesus was crucified, he was dead for 3 days then he rose and went to be with Our Father in Heaven. We don't know when He will return, but I KNOW He will. Like the Israelite spies promised Rahab, my Jesus promised me that he will spare me from death as long as I have the scarlet mark of His blood on my heart.

Have you heard what God has done? God used the prostitute, Rahab, and blessed her because she heard and believed. Won't you trust Him to protect you? He can do so much more than you can imagine.

Be of good courage

Thoughts from Joshua chapter 1

When God calls you to a job, it's common to be afraid. Afraid of what people might say. Afraid of failure. Afraid of success. It's common to be afraid, because God doesn't call us to do jobs that we, as humans, can do easily. God calls us to God sized jobs.

Joshua had been Moses's assistant, he knew the job. He had been in the desert with the people God called him to lead (okay, so maybe that's why he was afraid). He had seen the land God had promised and he knew that, with God's help, it could be conquered. (Numbers 14:6-9) The job wasn't completely unknown to him. Yet, he must have been afraid. Four times in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, God tells him to "Be strong and of good courage." God assured Joshua that He was with him wherever he goes and reminded him to remember what Moses taught him and to meditate in the law day and night. Joshua was tho have courage, so he could encourage the Hebrew people.

When God calls us to lead, it's natural for us to be afraid. We are to have courage and know God is with us, leading us. When we follow Him and keep His Word on our heart, mind, and lips, we can have the courage to do whatever it is He calls us to do. Then, we can encourage those He puts under our influence.

Joshua encouraged the people that they were about to see God's greatness. He gave them three days to prepare the provisions they needed to cross the Jordan and take the land God promised them. What is that you need to do to prepare yourself to take God's promise? Have courage. Meditate on His Word and prepare yourself for God to pass by. He'll do more than you ever could.