My kids will likely need therapy...

Week 27:

Genesis 4:1-17; 25-26 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”  While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.  ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  ¹⁰ The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”  ¹³ Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. ¹⁴ Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”  ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. ¹⁶ So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  ¹⁷ Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.  ²⁵ Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”²⁶ Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.  At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.

We recently took a vacation with our kids that was the most days and longest distance we have ever taken.  We drove…2500 miles…five of us together for eight days.  Many can relate to this type of trip.  When there are five family members together in that type of situation for very long, conflict is inevitable.  I know that as we reflect back on this trip, even this close to its end, we will have nothing but fond memories.  However, during those times where somebody was on somebody else’s nerves, I began to realize that my kids are likely going to need therapy at some point in their lives…and it is because of me.

My wife and I have been intentional in raising our kids.  They have known nothing but a Church life.  We have limited what they can view on TV and listen to music wise.  I work at a Christian School and my kids have known nothing but a Christian education.  We have prayed for them and with them.  We really have put a lot of effort into being involved in our kid’s lives at the same time, giving them some space.  Even after all that effort, I know that I personally have missed some things.  I have projected my wounds, my faults, my emotional imbalance, etc. onto my kids. 

One thing I have said many times is that no one hands new parents a manual on how to raise children the day that child is born.  And, truthfully, there is very little about raising children in the Bible.  There are some general thoughts and words around how you show God to our children, but so much is left out.  My wife and I have done the best we can to apply the Psalms, Proverbs, human stories of Biblical characters where ever and whenever we could. 

So, why did I choose this passage for this article?  Because the first recorded parent didn’t necessarily get it right either.  Adam and Eve had direct access to God.  Yet, Cain still killed Abel.  In fact, God talked directly to Cain prior to his act and still Cain followed through.  There are other examples of kids as well…David, Aaron, Eli. 

I don’t want to give myself a pass here, but I take comfort in knowing I am not alone in my mistakes in raising my kids.  Overall, they are good kids.  They follow God, or strive to anyway.  However, they will need help and guidance emotionally from someone else at some point in life.  I realize that fact, accept that fact, and hope that when they look back on life, they realize I did the best I knew how.  I hope they are aware of the fall of humankind beginning in the Garden of Eden.  I hope that they see that although we are responsible for ourselves and our choices; there is something not quite right in this world until Jesus returns to make all things new.  That is the hope I have to rest in when I look at what I have done with my kids.

Questions/challenges:

1.      As a parent, how has this landed with you?

2.      If you are not a parent, what can you draw from this as you reflect on your parents?

3.      What action is God calling you to do from what you have read today?

4.      What conversation do you need to have with your kids/parents?

5.      Pay attention to what God is asking you to do around this this week.  Is it to forgive, make amends, have a conversation, explain, and/or ask forgiveness of someone?  Take action.

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Majesty...

Week 26:

This week, spend time in meditation over this passage.  Follow the instructions below the passage as your guide.

Job 37:19-34

¹⁹ “Tell us what we should say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
²⁰ Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
²¹ Now no one can look at the sun,
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
²² Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
    God comes in awesome majesty.
²³ The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
    in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
²⁴ Therefore, people revere him,
    for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”

You will be reading this passage three times following the guidelines below:

1.  First reading.  Read the passage through, one time, slowly.  Pause between each clause.  After you finish this first reading, be silent for a minute or two.

2.  Second reading.  Read the text slowly once again, pausing between phrases.  But this time pause even longer and be aware if any of the words or phrases that catch your attention, or seem to stand out in some way.  Make a mental note of those.  After you finish the second reading, write down those special words or phrases.

3.  Third reading.  Reread the passage up to the word or phrase that touched you in some way.  When you reach that word or phrase, stop and repeat it a few times.

4.  Pondering.  Reflect for a while on the phrase that moved you.  Repeat it a few more times.  Let the words interact with your thoughts, your memories or any other Bible passages that come to mind.  Let it touch your heart, desires and fears.  Begin to wonder, “What might God want to say to me specifically”?

5.  Prayer.  Turn that last question into a prayer, asking God, “What is the word you have for me in this passage, God?  Is there anything you want to say to me today?”  Listen.  Write down anything you sense God might be saying to you.

6.  Rest.  Be still and silent for a while.  Enjoy being in the presence of God.  In this step you move from doing to being.  Simply be for a while.

7.  Response.  Ask yourself and God, “What am I being called to do as a result of the word I have been given?”  Perhaps you are feeling challenged to love God more, or to accept some aspect of who you are, or to serve someone you know or to begin changing some aspect of your character.  Whatever it is, write it out.  “Today God is calling me to be a more ______ person.  Be with me God and teach me how.”   Thank God for the word and the calling you have been given.

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Where am I exposed...?

Week 25:

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

This week I am re-using a passage that I have blogged on before in the article titled:  Shield of Faith…  I am constantly amazed how God can use just a few words and still tell me so much about myself, my life, and how He is working on my heart and soul.  I have mentioned before several times that I have been on this transformational journey over the last several years.  During this journey, this passage has been speaking to me in several ways and over a long period.  One of those ways has shown up for me in the form of how I am exposed to the “flaming arrows of the evil one.” 

There have been three points of revelation where this passage has shown up for me.  One of those areas of transformation work for me has been my involvement with The Crucible Project.  As I have mentioned before, The Crucible Project is a ministry dedicated to helping men live lives of authenticity, integrity, power, purpose, and passion within their Christian journey.  Through participating and staffing in this work, I have found a group of men who hold me accountable in my life and help point out places where I need to putting up my Shield of Faith in order to extinguish the flaming arrows.

Another area of transformation work for me has been the study of Theophostic Prayer.  In a nutshell, this work helps one replace the lies that he/she believes about himself/herself with the truth that Jesus know about him/her.  One of the things that Dr. Ed Smith points out is that reactions to life are a form of exposure or uncovering of lies we believe about ourselves.  When I read this, I immediately thought of the above passage.  The evil one is shooting flaming arrows in places where the shield is not covering. 

I third area of study for me has been around how I view God.  There have been three sources of revelation for me around this part of my journey:  First has been mentioned in the form of my continual work with The Crucible Project.  The second has been a book that helped me see the narrative that I project onto God.  This book is The Good and Beautiful God.   Third, an area of work I have been experiencing with Dmitri Bilgere and his idol-breaking work from his book Gateways to God.  These three sources have helped me to see how I view God vs. how He really is character-wise.

The three of these transformational guides have helped me to begin looking into my heart and my soul to discover where I am exposed.  When I think of a shield that a soldier might use, I notice how it does not cover every part of his body.  From this, I see that he has to be constantly paying attention to where the enemy may strike next.  When I have a reaction to life that is out of balance emotionally, I need to ask myself, “Where am I exposed?  What has caused this reaction?  What lie might I believe about myself?  What idol may I be exalting up in the place of God?”   

By being exposed, I am able to move the Shield of Faith into the position(s) it needs to be in order to protect my heart and soul.  Instead of looking at blaming others for my reaction to life, I need to look at where I am exposed and where my shield needs to be placed.  When I am overwhelmed with bitterness, where am I exposed?  When I am judgmental of others, where am I exposed?  When I fly off the handle with unbalanced anger or rage, where am I exposed?  When I am blaming others for my circumstances, where am I exposed?  When I am caught up in gossip, where am I exposed?  The list can go on.

My challenge is to recognize what is going on and to ask God to reveal to me what is the source of my exposure?  What transformational work do I need to be doing now?  Where do I need to strengthen my faith and place the shield?

Questions/challenges:

1.      After reading this article, where do you sense you may be exposed?

2.      What indicators are telling you that you are exposed?

3.      Where are you out of balance emotionally?

4.      Where in your life right now do you suppose you need soul work?

5.      Pay attention this week to where you react to life in an unbalanced way.  Ask God to reveal to you where you need to place your Shield of Faith.

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Welcome to the Table...

Week 24:

Note:  This week’s Devotional Thought is written by guest writer Ryan Lassiter.  Ryan is the Director of Children and Young Families Ministry at Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland, TX.  Ryan authors his own blog titled: My Missional Journey.  Be sure to visit his site.  One of Ryan’s passions is to teach others to look at the Bible from a narrative point of view.  I am honored that he agreed to author this post.

Luke 24: 15-16 – “¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”

Luke 24: 30-35 – “³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.  ³² They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”  ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.  ³⁴ They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”  ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

I have learned lately that when we read Scripture, maybe our first question ought to be, “What does this tell us about God?”  So often we read and immediately ask, “How does this apply to me?”  The more I learn about Scripture, the more I believe the underlying story is always God.  It is His story that testifies to His faithfulness.  Luke 24 reveals something profound to me about the way in which God works.

This is an interesting story.  We have two of Jesus’ disciples on the road headed to Emmaus.  They are perplexed by what just happened.  They have spent a considerable amount of time following this man they thought was the Messiah, and now he has suffered and died.  Then we see Jesus come alongside their journey and interject himself into their conversation.  Verses 15 and 16 are very interesting because while Jesus is present with them in body and conversation, the text says their eyes could not recognize who he was.  So Jesus walks with these men and explains to them about the suffering ways of the Messiah.  The story then reaches a climax in verses 30 and 31.  Jesus gathers these two men around a table, breaks bread with them, and it is in this moment that their eyes are opened and they recognize Jesus.

It is fascinating to me how God reveals himself.  It is the announcement of a king, but not an announcement from the palaces of Rome or even from the temple in Jerusalem.  God announces his kingdom coming to shepherds in a field.  It is an announcement of a king that has been born in a backwater village in the tiny insignificant town of Bethlehem.  And on top of that, this king of the world has been placed in a feeding trough.  God has finally come and established his dwelling among humans, and he has done it in the form of a human.  It is simple.  It appears foolish in some regards.  However, it is the simplicity of the coming of God that is so complex and profound.  God reveals himself through the form of a human, born of a teenage virgin outside of the realm of significance in the ancient world, and placed in a cow’s drinking dish.

So, at the end of Luke’s story, it is fitting that it is in the simple and yet so complex setting of table fellowship that Jesus reveals himself to his disciples.  These two disciples struggle to see Jesus for who he is.  They struggle to recognize a suffering Messiah who has been crucified like a criminal outside of the city gates and placed in a borrowed tomb.  And to reveal himself, Jesus does not invite these two to see him on his throne.  Rather, he invites them to gather around his table.  When he breaks bread with them, their eyes are opened.  It is in the simple act of table fellowship and bread breaking that the disciples see the Lord. 

This, I believe is why we commune.  This is why gathering around the Lord’s Table every week is so important to me.  Sometimes it seems rote and emotionless.  Other times the moment swims with meaning and feelings.  Every time, Jesus meets us in that moment.  God is revealed to us.  We look around while we eat the bread and drink the cup and we see a diverse group of people gathered around one table.  Everyone has enough.  No one goes in need.  All are welcomed and all have their fill.  No one is greater or lesser than another.  We gather around the table and get a glimpse of what it looks like when God’s future becomes a present reality.

So, we come to the Lord’s Table in a seemingly simple act of breaking bread and Christ is revealed to us.  We are shaped a bit more into his image to better live into his mission.  We are filled with his presence.  We then leave that table with a picture of what it looks like to welcome, to share, to be hospitable, and to love.  We leave filled with Christ in order to go and be Christ.  As the men in this story, we go and tell how God’s world has been made known to us in the breaking of the bread.

Questions/challenges:

1.      Where has God revealed Himself in way you did not expect?

2.      How do you normally approach the table of communion?

3.      In what ways have your eyes been opened around the breaking of bread; like the two disciples with Jesus?

4.      Next time you gather around the table, pay attention to how God shows up.  Look at how Christ reveals himself to you. 

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Beginning with the oldest...

Week 23:

John 8:7-9 ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.  ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

The older I get, the wiser I become.  It is not because of age necessarily, but because of the experiences I have gained during my aging.  What does this have to do with the chosen passage?  Well, in a training recently, this passage was used as the basis.  While the group being trained discussed aspects for the passage, one man repeated “…the older ones first…”  And it was repeated by yet another in the group.  At this moment, I thought to myself, “There is something in that.” 

This passage has a focus on both the faults of the Pharisees and the grace and mercy of Jesus.  And it should be.  My pulling this piece out and going somewhere different than the story is sometimes where God speaks loudest to me.  I am continually amazed from where He speaks to me so unexpected.   To me, as long as a passage is not going against the character of God, it is useful for building me further and deeper into the man He intends me to be. 

With that being said…notice how the Pharisees, men full of themselves and self-righteous have no answer for Jesus.  And, the ones who notice first are the oldest.  These men lead the way.  Life experience has told them that this is not the hill they are willing to die on.  Jesus has them and they know it.  Even in self-righteousness, the Pharisees see their own sin and cannot argue against Jesus’ reasoning.

One of our former preachers once said, “When I was young I sinned all I want.  Now that I am older, I sin more than I want.”  The experience of living a number of years has told me much the same.  Three things come up for me as this passage finds it’s landing on my heart.

First, the wisdom of the advanced aged person is not so silly and binding as it once was when I was younger.  I am now beginning to see why patience is a virtue.  I was frustrated by how the older generation would “wait and see” how situations would unfold before making a decision.  Now, I am beginning to learn how valuable “wait and see” is in life.

Second, “older ones” still lead, and lead well.  Yes, there is a large subset of the current young generation that looks upon the “older ones” as silly…and even holds contempt toward them.  Yet, as I see life unfolding and how God works, I notice how the younger generation still follows the “older ones” just like in this passage.  I could imagine the conversation between the two generations after they walked away.  I bet there was even some divisive talk.

Third, I am finding myself growing more and more fond of the “older ones.”  I have learned much even when I disagreed with those ahead of me.  And now that I am on the cusp of that next tier of life, I am beginning to see the wisdom of what I used to think were questionable decisions.  There is just no replacement for wisdom and experience.  It is a great tool in replacing youthfulness. 

The challenge for me…and you is to look to the “older ones.”  Even among the self-righteous, they showed true wisdom.

Questions/challenges:

1.      When this article drilled down to the thought around the “older ones”, what did you think and/or feel?

2.      What other thoughts did you have as you read both the passage and this article?

3.      Where have you discounted the “older ones” in your life?

4.      What have you learned since then?

5.      This week, find one “older one” in your life and bless him/her for his/her life, experience, guidance, and wisdom.

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Agreements vs. promises...

Week 22:

Matthew 5:33-37 ³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

In my first year of this blog, I wrote some similar thoughts on this passage in Yes be yes, and no, no…  It’s also a chapter in my Devotional Book.   Today, I would like to look at the difference between agreements and promises. 

When I was in my high school and early college years I would often tell people that if I said, “I promise…” then you could count on me following through with my commitment.  As I have grown older, I have learned better how to just make a commitment without any extra promises to keep that commitment.  Reflecting back on those years, I must have lived in such a way that I could not be counted on at my initial word.  It took a promise or an oath to bind me to an agreement or commitment.  I might as well have written out a contract. 

I used to teach students from this passage that they should live their life in such a way that no promise is needed in order to be trustworthy.  I even have it written under the passage in one of my Bibles.  It was in this early teaching time of my life that I began to look at how I made promises/oaths in order to keep my word.  Subconsciously, I began to realize that to teach it, I must live it.  I’m not perfect at keeping my word, but I cannot remember the last time I had to say, “I promise.”  I think the difference lies in agreement vs. promise.

Simply defined, a promise is an oath.  It is an oath, declaration, pledge, or a vow to fulfill something I will or will not do.  To me, to use the words, “I promise” means I have somehow been untrustworthy before.  The promise is something extra to keep me in integrity and to assure the other party that I will keep my word.  Even then, there is no guarantee the promise will be fulfilled.

The agreement is simpler and lines up with truth an authenticity more than the promise.  When I agree, I have given my word that within my power, I will fulfill my commitment.  If I have lived in such a way that I keep my agreements, then my agreement is all I need.  My “yes” means yes, and my “no” means no.  If I break my agreement, I deal with less shame and am freed up more to take responsibility for breaking an agreement. 

In other words, the oath/promise feels like bondage.  The agreement is the way I should live.  When I break a promise, I have created a poor situation by going against an oath, which seems more binding.  When I break an agreement, and I normally do not, I can rest on the fact that I can make this up in some way because I am not characterized by breaking agreements.  It is not a pattern for me.  An agreement also frees me up to change the agreement in the future.  I can get in touch with the person I have a commitment to and re-negotiate the agreement. 

Breaking agreements in the past has also helped me to look at not making as many agreements with others.  I have come realize, that most of the agreements I have broken are because I have committed to too many things and people.  I have had to take a step back and look where in my life I need to say “no”. 

As I look at this passage, I believe that Jesus is helping me simplify my life.  He is helping me to shape my character in such a way that I can say a word, and that word would be my word.  As I continue this journey of life, the more authentic and truthful I can live, make me more trustworthy. 

Questions/challenges:

1.      What would be your differing definitions of promise and agreement?

2.      Have you lived in such a way that your “yes” means yes and your “no” means no?

3.      What needs to change for you to live in this way?

4.      Are you overloaded with your agreements?  Why do you think you are?  What do you gain out of saying “yes” when it is hard to keep that agreement?

5.      Pay attention this week to how you keep your word.  Let God show you some things around that as you take note.

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Pay attention...

Week 21:

I Samuel 3:8-10 ⁸ A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  ¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Over the last few years I have been seeking and listening for God’s voice.  One of the things I have had to do is to find some discipline in order to hear from God.  I’ve said this many times before, but I have never heard the audible voice of God.  In fact, no on I currently know has reported they have either.  However, in my search I have run across several instances with God as He has revealed Himself.

Many times, I catch myself ending my questions and challenges list with a “pay attention” passage.  Apparently, I am practicing this discipline.  I wrote an article on my former blog titled Random Ramblings, where I had been introduced to the thought of paying attention to random thoughts.  I furthered my quest with the reading of several books around spiritual disciplines, silence, and simplicity:  Celebration of Discipline, The Good and Beautiful God, Experiencing God, and 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. Each of these has helped me look for God in other places besides what I think would be ideal. 

One over-looked area for me has still been in the area of paying attention.  So much of my time, I want to talk to God, talk about God, work for God, serve God, worship God…all the while expecting to hear God.  While all of these are good and important, I do not do enough paying attention to God.  I do not do enough paying attention to what is going on around me and noticing how God is working.  I am getting better, but not consistent.  It’s funny, as a teacher, coach, and now principal, paying attention is a large part of my job. 

Last year, I wrote blog articles about loving God with all our Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength.  Three of these especially relate closely to paying attention.  With my heart, I am to pay attention to my emotions.  Where do they come from?  Where are they leading me?  What is God telling me as I experience my emotions? 

With my soul, I am to pay attention to how my spirit relates with the Holy Spirit.  What is God leading me to know and do?  Where is His Spirit soothing, healing, guiding, building, and/or filling my soul?  What do I learn about the character of God as He relates to me through His Spirit?

With my mind, I am to pay attention to thoughts.  Which thoughts are mine?  Which thoughts are coming from God?  Why do I have thoughts that seem random?  I believe that this is where I am to start when it comes to listening for God’s voice and following His direction.  In 2 Peter 1:5-9, Peter lists several character traits.  Within that list is knowledge which seems to tie closely together with the rest. 

Working through some of the disciplines in order to begin to pay attention to thought has allowed me to begin to notice God at work more frequently.  I said, “…begin to notice”.  God has been working all along, I just now am beginning to notice and recognize Him at work.  This recognition has also allowed me a ticket into my emotional world where God also resides.  I have begun to feel His presence in different ways than just joy.  And, I have been prompted by His Spirit in many ways to see Him at work in supernatural ways.  Ways that can only be explained by God. 

It is early in this journey.  The continual challenge for me is to pay attention. 

Questions/challenges:

1.      When it comes to the Kingdom of God, what comes to mind when I say, “Pay attention?”

2.      In quiet times, what have you noticed as random thoughts?

3.      Upon reflecting on those thoughts, could some of those been planted by God?

4.      What message do you suppose God is sending you?

5.      What action do you suppose God is calling you to take in relation to those thoughts?

6.      This week, pay attention to your random thoughts.  When you experience them, stop and ask God for more guidance.  Then read His word and share with others your thoughts.  Watch what happens next.

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