The With-ness of the Father

Before Jesus ascended to the Father, and after commissioning His disciples, He made them this promise: "Behold, I am with you. Even to the end of the age." This promise would carry them through so many difficulties. It allowed them to endure persecution, rejection, displacement, & even death. This promise would lead to a continual experience of His presence regardless of the circumstances. What about us? Are we experiencing the "With-ness" of the Father?

Being in ministry means that I have experiences with people during the continual swing of the pendulum. Some are having amazing experiences with the Lord, while others feel as though He has left them to their own resources. Some are somewhere in the middle. They have just come out of one or the other & are waiting for the shoe to drop. The challenge is to see the Father WITH us regardless of the situation. It's our awareness of His presence that makes all the difference.

Have you ever stopped to ask the question: Where is the Father in this?
Most people will automatically say that He is in them, but my challenge is to take it a bit further. God can be in you & in the situation. In other words, you can experience the reality of His presence within yourself, and at the same time see what He is doing around you. It's not an either/or experience. He can be doing things in you, and doing things in the people & circumstances that surround you. This is the with-ness of the Father. Always with you. Always for you. Always present. Always working things for your good.

How often do we see prayer become a knee jerk reaction? How often does the Bible get flung open in hopes that the written Word will unveil some secret to my current situation? How quickly do we fall into superstition rather than carrying a real, abiding, faith? I realize that we all have things that happen suddenly. Things that we aren't necessarily prepared to go through. Things we could not predict. However, I'm a believer in the practical nature of our faith that carries us through even the most difficult of things. It's the practice of His presence (His with-ness) in everyday life that will provide the greatest resource for us in the chaos.

We say we believe that God is everywhere present. Why do we rarely carry that mentality into our own personal lives? If HE IS everywhere present then HE IS everywhere present with us. As you practice His presence in everyday life, when the chaos comes, all you need to do is remind yourself of this truth. This is the "Be Still & Know" moment of your faith. It's the reminder that God doesn't need a flurry of activity to reveal Himself to you. He doesn't need you to grab hold of Him like the lucky rabbit's foot. Your stillness is enough for Him to get your attention. Not the other way around.

You do realize that God is not surprised by what you are going through don't you? This is the same Father that spoke through His Son by saying "I AM with you always..." Your situation does not alter His with-ness. Even if what you are experiencing is your fault, it doesn't push God further away. He knows our frame. He recognizes our weakness. His isn't far off, on vacation, or relieving Himself. He is always with you. So intimately acquainted, in fact, that in Him you live & move & have your being. This is the awareness that you need to carry. This is you being fully present with a Father who is always near.

I encourage you to begin this awareness right now. As you read these words, I want you to hear the Father say "I AM with you." I want you to wake up in the morning with this realization. I want you to know Him in every breath you take, every interaction with your family, every conversation with your friends. He may look like laughter. He may be wrapped up in a hug. He could be in the cheerful "Good Morning!" or "How are you?". The challenge is to see Him THERE while recognizing that He is HERE.

The with-ness of the Father does not change. The psalmist would declare "Where can I go from your presence?" If I am experiencing peace & tranquility - He is with me. If all that surrounds me is noise & chaos - He is with me. In the good, the bad, the great, & the not so great - nothing alters the presence of the Father. Be still & know that He is here & He is for you. It's all part of the journey. A journey of with-ness. You are not alone.

The Daily Renewal

Not enough has been written, taught, or spoken concerning the need to renew our minds. There's plenty of material out there that focuses upon behavioral modification, but not enough to deal with what you do mentally. I can honestly say that after years & YEARS of trying to change my behavior (some of it successful - most of it not), the moment I began to change the way I think was the beginning of the greatest transformation in my life.

The verse out of Romans always comes to mind when we start talking about renewing our minds. You will find it in chapter 12 verse 2, "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Renew (to make new again is always how I hear it), actually means to resume (an activity) after an interruption, to re-establish, or to repeat (an action or statement). When you renew a lease, it means to start all over again. The verse from Romans tells to "not be conformed to this world but be transformed..." There is a renewal that needs to continually take place in our lives. The renewal is in our mind.

As I was preaching this Sunday, the Lord reminded of Colossians 3:10. Paul was talking about the believers putting on the "new man" which was a reference to their newly found life in Christ. He said that this new man was being renewed in the knowledge after the image of his Creator. This statement rocked my world. Rather than simply focus on behavioral changes, Paul was focusing on the knowledge of the image. The very image & likeness that we were created in. In other words, if you want to see a true & lasting change in your life, then your knowledge needs to be renewed in the area of image & likeness.

The Father chose, in the beginning, to create humanity with something very distinct & very unique. We would carry His image & likeness. Within the DNA of every human being was the Light of all Lights. There would always be a quality about us that was Divine in nature. Of course, the fall of Adam brought a brief interruption (if can call thousands of years brief) to that. Mankind was lost & their minds were darkened. What was once a very thriving & intimate relationship with the Creator became a religious exercise to appease a God that was distant, estranged, & separated. Jesus came to destroy this notion. He reminded us of what humanity & divinity looked like in bodily form. He came to represent the true nature of the Father & to represent the true nature of man. What was lost was found, redeemed, and we were reconciled. The faith that is called upon in the New Testament is not a faith that makes all of this true, but a faith that firmly accepts this reality.

The struggle that you are experiencing is that you have yet to distance yourself from your past. To be sure, all of us have had our failures. All of us have made our mistakes. All of us have misunderstood the nature of our Father. We lived in ignorance of what the Father has done for us, and our pride just made matters worse. However, if you want to be free from all of that stuff then you need to learn how to get your mind focused. You need to set your thoughts upon the finished work of Christ, God's declarations of who you are, and return them to the image & likeness that you were created to carry. As you begin to believe that you are God's child, your behavior will follow. As you begin to accept that you are loved unconditionally, you will stop trying to earn His love. When you fully accept that God's dealings with humanity are all wrapped up in Christ, you will discover a freedom & acceptance that you have never known. You will also begin to see yourself in a new light.

Image & likeness is not only important for how you see yourself, but how you see others. When I look out into the world now, I don't see people who are different. I see people who bear the image & likeness of our Creator. I see my brothers & sisters who have forgotten who they are or don't know the goodness of our Father. They are trapped in a vicious cycle of trying to gain His attention, failing, creating chaos in their relationships, and falling victim to the patterns of this world. Many of them have never heard the story of Father's love. But there is something deep within them that continues to tell them there is something more.

As sad as all of that sound. What is even more sad is that there are many people who claim to know the Father and yet live like orphans. They may have accepted Christ, but they have yet to repent of their ideas about God. They continue to feel inadequate, separated, and so unlike their Father. They have become the victims of religion. A religion that keeps us guessing. A religion that is wrapped up in insecurity. A mindset that elevates an Old Testament perception of God over the Abba of Jesus. These are the ones that should continually carry the love, joy, & peace of the Father. Many of them attend church every Sunday but it still doesn't ease the pain or answer the questions deep within.

The answer? Be renewed in the knowledge of the image of your Creator. This is the likeness you were meant to carry. This is the key to you being (and feeling) rightly related to the Father. At the core of your being you will discover Him. It may take some time & you will definitely have to renew your thinking over & over again. But you will experience the abundant life that Jesus promised in the process. Enjoy the journey!!!

LIFE IS GOOD

Several years ago, two brothers trying to break into the t-shirt business came up with some artwork & a slogan that radically changed their life. What they did not realize at the time was that they cashed in on something that people desperately wanted to see, convey, & experience.

Maybe you own one of these shirts, a coffee mug, hat, or a wheel cover. Maybe you don't. Regardless of your personal affiliation with this brand, I want you to take in the response of so many others around the world. What is it about this brand that makes it such a huge success? What is it about the simple logo that makes it so appealing? What lesson can we learn from Bert & John Jacobs (don't forget Jake) spread of optimism?

I believe people are tired of negativity. Many of them don't even watch the news because they are done having others prey on their fears. While life is not perfect, I think the majority of people enjoy life. And obviously, based upon the sales of merchandise, LIFE IS GOOD rings true in the hearts of so many.

LIFE IS GOOD should be a message that the church carries. People should hear it from us, experience it through us, and be invited to participate with us. The phenomenon that we have witnessed over the last several years should be a wake up call for us. People want optimism. They want to experience the fullness of life. They want to smile, enjoy relationships, and drink every drop from life. Rather than escape life, they long to embrace it. They want to learn how to smile through the difficulties. They want to be able to sing, dance, & laugh. They should be able to find this kind of life with us.

I want to say that we have what they want. However, I know far too many professing Christians who are not experiencing abundant life. I know far too many who are more concerned with escaping. One of the most valuable aspects of our faith has been lost to the future - a day we hope to experience - causing us to miss out on what the Gospel means for us here & now.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, because I talk about this a lot, but I want the world to know that our faith in Him makes a difference in our everyday lives. I want them to know that it's filled with love, peace, confidence, abundance, grace, mercy, joy, & just about everything else you could ever need. The question is whether or not they will experience this life through us.

Where did we ever get the idea that God doesn't want us to enjoy life? Where did we ever conceive the thought that somehow it's our will to start a family, have relationships, work, have a home, enjoy vacations, have parties, etc., and that somehow this is a bad thing? I believe that YOU living life to the fullest brings God great joy. I believe that YOU enjoying your family, being fully present in their lives, and cultivating a happy home brings Him great pleasure. I believe that YOU having everything that you need, and even things that you want, is not in opposition to the Father's will. Life was/is the gift that He has given us. Relationship with others is something that He created. Fullness is something that He wants us to live in. LIFE IS GOOD was/is the original plan of the Father.

Genesis 1:28 reminds us of the blessing that the Father bestowed upon humanity: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth..." Be fruitful. Grow. Expand. Spread your wings. Increase. Bear the fruit of His image. I cannot help but to imagine the joy in the Father's heart as He blessed His children. I hear these words not as a command but as a blessing (which they are). He is genuinely excited about seeing His creation walk in the freedom He has created for them. He's anticipating all that man will be. He's looking forward to the relationship that we will have together. This IS the meaning of life. This IS where we find our fulfillment. It is IN HIM that we fully discover that LIFE IS GOOD & that it is a good thing to be alive. Therefore, our shared life together should carry this same energy, this same excitement, & this same joy.

Of course, there are some people who do not share in this optimism. There are those who despise the LIFE IS GOOD brand, the lifestyle that would be associated with it, and the idea that faith in Christ would actually produce this kind of enjoyment of life. But this is what you were created for. You were not made for some religious experience but a living, breathing, relationship with the Father. A relationship where everything that is in Him is available. A life that is to be enjoyed in the world that He created. He wanted us to be full of joy. He wanted us to experience relationships. He wanted us to create life out of these relationships. This is what He wanted for us. This was the dream of His heart.

This is one of the reasons I love gatherings of friends/family. I absolutely love getting together with people & enjoying life together. We share stories, we laugh, we cry, we share in the provision of food, we are thankful, & we take it all in. I enjoy these times because I see the Father in them with us. He is not detached from us. In fact, He is in the enjoyment of life. It is our joy to find Him there with us.

So...as the weekend is upon us...and even some possible wintry weather...ENJOY!!! Gather around the fire. Enjoy the laughter of your family. Embrace everyone. Make some soup. Watch a movie, play a game, and/or talk with one another. These are the moments you were created for. Everyday life matters. Every moment you share love matters. Every bit of laughter, every tear, & every kind word matters. This is a part of your fruitfulness in the Earth. It's a part of your design. There's no need to escape. You can embrace this life fully & discover the glory of God in it. LIFE-IS-GOOD. Enjoy the journey!!!

Meditating...

Yesterday I was able to celebrate with a couple the birth of their first child. A son. I looked into the face of innocence & majesty. I beheld one who was created in the image & likeness of His Creator. We congratulated the family, we gave thanks to our Heavenly Father, & our hearts are full.

A saw a child that was born sinless, perfect, and without any separation to the love of God. An infant whose very life, movement, & being is found in Him. He knows nothing of fear. He knows nothing of right or wrong doing. He is a blank slate that awaits the words of his life to be inscribed. What comes next for this little guy is what his parents put into Him. Everything that he will know will need to be taught. In light of the enormous responsibility, I have meditated upon this little guys existence.

This child was born as a part of the New Creation in Christ. The old creation in Adam has been done away with. He can be raised to walk in the fullness of relationship with his Heavenly Father.

There is no Old Covenant to keep & no Law to bear. The Law was fulfilled in Christ for every person. The only "Law" that will be passed on to him is the Law of Liberty in Christ Jesus.

Sin was condemned in the flesh of Christ LONG before this child came into the world. All sin - for all time - for all people - has been dealt with - PERIOD. We cannot read Paul's letter to the church of Rome nor the letter to the Hebrews and come away with a different understanding. There is no other sacrifice for sin, nor does there need to be one.

As I meditate upon the reality that this child was born into, I offer a prayer to the Lord. It is my prayer that this little guy, along with many others, will grow up in this understanding. That they will know they are LOVED by God & never be introduced to (or taught) fear. That they will never be reduced to anything less than their Divine image. I pray that they will grow up into the perfect & unconditional love of the Father. That they will discover their life in Him.

A child has been born. I believe a true son will arise. This is what Jesus came to redeem to us. This is what the Gospel declares.

Far too long we have allowed the dogmas of religion to dictate how we understand the finished work of Christ. We have strayed away from the beautiful Good News that the early church carried. We have struggled under the weight of separation that we carried in our thinking. These children represent the greatest opportunity to change all of that. They won't have to re-learn the Gospel. It will be a part of their lives from Day 1 - considering that they are given this truth from the beginning.

Today I was reminded of 1 John 4:16. I want you to really think upon these words. Allow them to become the mantra of your life.
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us."
WE HAVE COME TO KNOW...
In other words, this was something that they had to learn. This wasn't what they were taught from the beginning. In fact, much of their religious system revolved around SIN. Whenever there was an issue, the question would be asked, "Who sinned?" Coming out from under that culture, these disciples had to learn the love of God. Thankfully for them, there was One they walked with for 3-3 1/2 years who knew it full well.
...AND HAVE BELIEVED...
What they have come to know has now become a part of who they are. Their faith was fully convinced. Their hearts became fully fixed. You could not force John to ever question the love of God for him ever again. It was an experience. It came through relationship with Him who was perfect love.
...THE LOVE WHICH GOD HAS FOR US.
Take it all in. Really meditate in these words. The love which God has for us. It's almost unbelievable. I'm sure we could give God plenty of reasons to not love us. I'm sure we could protest & say we really are not worthy. He loves us nonetheless. It's who He is.

May these children always be persuaded of His love. And may you, the reader, always be enamored with/by His love for you. You will never be the same.

A Forward Vision for the Church

Most of us in the church have heard phrases like "We never did it that way before." It's usually spoken by an older member of a congregation in response to new ideas. While not all new ideas are necessarily better ideas, the reality is that the church needs to adapt. I believe that the greatest challenge in the church is remembering that what we build today is for future generation. In other words, it needs to outlast us & our generation. This requires some forward thinking. It also requires that we not become fixated on what equates worship to us.

If there is one thing that we understand about humans, it's that they struggle to change. Very often, in the church, the "Way" we do things becomes almost as important as the "Why" we do things. This phenomenon is not only present in the church, but it can be found in corporations & political systems. In the church, unfortunately, God gets tied to a "thing." And when you stop doing (or using) a particular "thing" then some people believe that God is no longer a part of the equation.

This means that the church must always have a forward vision. It means that we must understand that the next generation will carry what we have started. It means that our ceiling becomes their floor. It is my hope & desire that the next generation will look back upon our lives & say "Well Done. We will take it from here."

I have some family that are a part of a local congregation. Over the years I have watched this congregation slowly but surely die. One by one. It's sad really. What was once a very active church with a good showing in the community, has been reduced to a very aged congregation that still does church they way they have always done it. Of course young people moving out of the community has helped facilitate this slow fade. However, one of the other problems that exists is that they never considered handing over the reigns to the next generation. It's a common problem. The church desperately needs to father the next generation in the church so that she can continue to grow, advance, and become a lasting fixture in the community.

This isn't a new problem. You can read about this same mindset in the Old & New Testaments. Look at the people that Jesus rubbed the wrong way. It was the religious leaders - the elders who had grown accustomed to the rituals, traditions, and legalities of the faith. They were convinced that they were right & that this rebel who ate with sinners & tax collectors had it all wrong. They would rather go into their Temple & pray for the Messiah to come. They missed their visitation because He came in the wrong kind of package.

There is a story in 2 Kings 18 where you will find Hezekiah cleaning house. Literally. He destroyed all the high places. He cut down the Asherah poles. All things that particular leaders in Israel had done before to help God's people regain their focus upon the Lord. What's interesting about this story is that he took the bronze serpent that Moses had made (remember that story?) and broke it into pieces. Why? He broke it up because people had begun burning incense unto it. They actually worshiped the bronze serpent. Hezekiah decided it need to go.

That story is important for us as a reminder that we can get our focus on the wrong thing(s). We can actually begin to worship the thing that God used rather than worshiping Him. When I think about this, it comes across my mind in this way: The Lord may use a thing, but that thing is never the Lord. What the bronze serpent was in Moses' day was useful for that particular time. However, we never read about it being used at any other time in Israel's history. The only other places where you find it mentioned is here in 2 Kings & Jesus' reference to it in John 3. Why this sudden fascination? I don't know. But why do we have any fixation on what God has done versus what He is doing now?

I grew up in a church where hymns were used for worship. Many of us did. I wonder how many people realize that there was a time when hymns were cutting edge? There were plenty of church leaders who didn't like them at all. Heck...there was even a time when a piano was cutting edge & certain leaders would go to other church buildings where there was a piano & utterly destroy them. Fast forward to today's time & you have some churches still engaged in "Worship Wars" - a term given to the dispute between hymns & modern praise/worship music. The challenge & struggle is real. I wonder if the introduction of the baptistry into a church building was a hard pill to swallow?

Personally, I love the fact that God often says in the Old Testament: "Behold, I am doing a NEW THING..." He knows He has to get our attention. He also knows that for us to move forward requires doing something new. I believe He wants us to discover what He is doing in the next generation. In this way, the church doesn't become a relic or a museum. She is able to be the living, breathing, ever maturing Bride of Christ.

May we honor the past, walk in the present, & build for the future generations.