DON'T wait for it.

Tomorrow we get a teaser.

Temps are projected to hit the mid-60's. Who knew 60* something  could feel so deliciously warm, so "right."

We haven't been set free from the clutches of "Old Man Winter," but we can see the day looming fast on the snow framed horizon. Spring is just 4 weeks away--March 21, 2018..liberation day in Northern Indiana.

We just "wait for it." Now, much sooner than later, it will happen.

Life is like this too, isn't it. We wait. It happens; life, happens. If we aren't attentive to this cycle-of-reality we wake up one day and realize, life passed us by while we waited.

That's why now is important. It's really all we have. It's all we need. Now.

"Now" gives us time to live fully in this moment...with certainty, confidence; live now with no regrets. Ah, but tomorrow, tomorrow will be a better day--but what if tomorrow never comes?

Don't wait for it. Life is fast.

Live it well...M6.8 bN

Better than Beethoven.

Many of my friends express concern about the fact that "God is being forced out of the public square." It's become a favorite pastime for People of Faith (yes I'm guilty); lamenting the "sorry state" of the Nation.

What concerns ME?  It's this: People of Faith have come to embrace the notion that the symbolic presence of God is the same thing as the authentic presence of God.   Here is a short list of hot-buttons, not intended to be exhaustive--but illustrative.

• Do we want God in our schools--disciple your children to know and love Jesus. 
• Do we want our Nation to understand that marriage is a beautiful metaphor, designed by God, of a much bigger relationship--and for this reason it is a sacred estate? Love your wife selflessly and trust your husband implicitly.
• Do we want values to govern our economy, greed to be disdained--choose simplicity and invest our resources on behalf of the poor, widows, orphans; be seekers of justice for all the disenfranchised.  
• Are we befuddled by the National obsession with abortion-rights, perplexed by the disdain modern cultures have for human life, and high regard they show for endangered species?  Find your voice and speak passionately-forcefully for the little Ones, consider...adoption, Foster parenting, Mentoring programs.

For too long, too many of us who profess to be followers of Jesus have routinely phoned it in.

• We've been content to build private school sanctuaries, teaching Bible courses, that will disciple our children for us.
• We've turned a blind eye to the failure rate of marriages in our churches.
• We've justified selfish ambition and the boastful pride of life as "what's ours is ours" and left justice to government inefficiency and the dehumanizing impact of its one-size fits all insanity.
• We've ceded the heavy lifting for protecting the lives of unborn-children, the quality of life for born-children to others "called" to missional living.

Consider this: God's plan has always been to show-up via the beautiful music being played through lives well-lived by those who are His devoted followers--the Scripture makes clear that no law can stand against such purposeful, selfless living, "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5.22,23 NASB

Lives lived this way will produce a breathtaking symphony that will bring relevance back to our Mission as His Church--no longer engaged in managing the kingdom (small ''k") but compelled to build HIS Kingdom (big "K"). 

WHEN we take seriously our empowerment, from God, to add value to the lives of people, to make hard lives easier, to speak the truth of the Gospel into the brokenness of life without Christ, to model the transformational reality of the Gospel through the choices and investments we make--with our lives and resources, THEN they won't be able lock God out of the public square. There is no law that can stand against this kind of authenticity.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3.20,21 NASB

I hear a symphony.  Through Jesus Messiah, let it be.

Do. Love. Wak.

Live it well...M6.8 bN

Cracked Pots. We are.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection and preparation for Resurrection Day--coming this year on April 1.  I'm reposting a blog I shared three years ago, today.  At that time it had been just a few months since one of the Rocks-of-my-life passed into the presence of God.

Gene Cherrie was my father-in-law.  He was an extraordinary man. I'm hoping these words will help those looking forward to Resurrection Day expand their appreciation for what God in Christ did for humankind at the Cross. That said, reflect and prepare;  Sunday's com'n.

Gene's Repurposed Scissors--Our life in Christ

"The family gathered in November 2014 to say our final farewells and remember Gene in a memorial tribute to his the life and legacy.  At that time I ran across a pair of scissors that belonged to him. My first response--I laughed out loud! Then my heart was warmed as I realized they were metaphor for Gene's life--his legacy, and God's amazing grace.

They are an ordinary three-dollar pair, with customized handle--the one that your middle finger slips into. It's been very skillfully fashioned from a one-inch piece of ply-wood. It's clear that Gene had created a jig from the broken handle; carefully cut the wood using the jig, then shaped it with a grinder to fit precisely the targeted finger; sanded to be smooth and pose no splinter threat to the user.

The stub of plastic it has been attached to was skillfully reshaped to be the base for the new wood-extension. The extension has been precisely measured so that the fabrication slips tightly over the stub with one end slightly longer than the other to provide the proper leverage as the scissors are opened and closed (Physics matter). The extension has been glued to the stub and secured with three very intentionally placed wood screws, two on the long end, one on the short to complete the revision. The screw on the short end has been ground down just enough to allow the scissors to close precisely as they did when they were new just coming off the shelf at Staples.

I immediately asked Betsey, Laura's step-mom, if I could have them--she very graciously said 'Of course, take them.' As I've used these scissors, and yes--reflected on them--over the past several months, I realize they say as much about God, as they do about Gene.

This came clearly into focus for me just this week as I had breakfast with a dear brother-in-Christ and our conversation turned to the impact, the life-long impact, of sin on our lives. There isn't a re-set button for the bad choices we make. The grooves sin cuts into our lives are deep and stubborn, they don't simply disappear when we confess our sin and seek God's forgiveness. The consequences of our willful choices and bad decisions are still part of our daily experience. If it ended there it would be a difficult load to bear. But, thanks be to God, it doesn't.

When we come to Christ through effective faith, God takes us as we are, then carefully, lovingly and skillfully refabricates our lives. The scars are there, still visible--painful--but He restores us. Like Gene's re-visioned pair of scissors, we become fully-functional again. He never throws us away; He picks us up, dusts us off and empowers us to carry on. The scars, the memories, they serve to instruct us each day about His gracious provision, His empowering desire and His loving redemption.

Paul writing to the Church in Corinth (4.1,2...7-10) instructs us...

'4 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods...7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.'

Did you see that? We are cracked pots; pressed not crushed. Perplexed not confused. Pursued not abandoned. Pushed down not destroyed. Suffering, but fully ALIVE in Christ! The scars that remain serve as a map pointing others to Jesus. It is our weakness that serves as such a remarkable witness to the power of God--choosing the weakness of the human condition to transform our spheres of influence one person, one family, one neighborhood, one community, one nation at time. This humble path-to-power is, in fact, the real road less traveled. 

I thank God every day for that pair of scissors. They have an honored place in a simple container, with other tools we use on a daily basis, on one of the counters in our kitchen. Each time my gaze falls on them, I remember Gene--and in that moment, the legacy of his life points me to God's grace, power and love. He takes the total-loss that was our lives and transforms it to treasure...'all I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful out of my life.'"  

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Sunday's Com'n.




Life is fast.
Live it well...M6.8 bN

Oh SO Super.

America is unique.

It's amazing what people can do when given the freedom to succeed AND to fail. Our "Super Bowl" has become a metaphor.

Back in July, each team started at the same place, 0-0, as every other franchise in the NFL. Now, 106 young men, two teams remain standing; black, white, brown...not all born equally, privleged start and not. All shapes, sizes...some more talented than others. All making the most of what they've been given, working hard and sacrificing for a dream. Working together to create synergy. All competing on a level playing field, and yet, a few with a clear advantage over others, not all endowed equally--size, strength, speed. All paid, what the market will bear for their service--some much more than others.

That said, each strives to overcome, to elevate their game and maximize their opportunity, against all odds. The underdog can prevail, because "heart" can't be measured. Mistakes will be made, injuries will occur that force a change to the gameplan and the unexpected, will be the norm. Bad calls? No doubt; someone is going to feel like it wasn't fair. Most will perform up to standard, a few will be disappointed--and not play well at all. The ball will be dropped and it will take some bad bounces. But there won't be any do-overs. One performance will be judged most outstanding of all...and propel that player to a new level of achievement and noteriety.

At the end of the day, some will win, others will lose; and Monday morning? Each will crawl out of bed, and begin again, in an attempt to make the ascent to the top of their profession; each sore, tired, some beaten, all driven by conviction: it's a new day, it's a new opportunity, "I believe 'it' can happen, if I work hard, stay focused and apply myself."

This hope compels them to bear down, start over and try again. They will take what they learned (the good, the bad and the ugly), winners and losers, and use that as leverage to get better and they will--because they see the future is filled with open doors.

I believe this is why this night, this event, is more celebrated, anticipated and watched than any other event on the calendar in America. It reflects our hopes and dreams, our core values as a nation, at so many levels. We watch these young men compete and we are reminded, dreams come true here; hard work pays here, the hope of success far outweighs the risk of failure. Bottom line: "It can happen, it does happen." If it doesn't? Failure isn't the end of the world, it's the begining of a new cycle.

Everyone has to play by the rules, but the rules aren't designed to produce pre-determined outcomes. So, many compete; some win, some lose; some never win or lose, because they never try, that's ok too. America is a place where dreaming is a part of our culture, where we, as free people, set the bar; where people can "do better" and to no one's surprise, we do.

America, "we hold these truths..."



Live it well...M6.8 bN

Why Jewish people?

Just last week the world observed "International Holocaust Remembrance Day." Any time this subject comes up it often leads to a question most of us have heard or have ourselves asked: "Why does the world hate Jewish people?"

It is quite simple.

First, their story is a testament about God; as in, the God who created the universe and everything in it. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6.4,5 NKJV. 

Their history declares this about God: we can run but we cannot hide. He pursues us with a redemptive purpose, loves us with an unconditional love, rescues us with an amazing grace.

Second, they are a repudiation to those who, once victimized, choose to remain victims. 

Jewish people endured slavery in in Egypt for 400 years; they were crushed by Babylon, Persia and Rome. Marginalized and reviled in the diaspora, enslaved again by the Russians, slaughtered by the Nazi's, only to be treated with disdain by ALL of Europe, finally to emerge triumphantly to bless the Nations; Science, Medicine, Technology, Literature, Law, the Arts...using Jewish intellect, talent and gifts.

The crown jewel, of course, was the rebirth of ISRAEL--an event without precedent, and quite frankly, of gargantuan significance.  The subsequent ascendence of this tiny Mid-East Nation gives testimony to the mighty hand of God. Indeed, never again.  Chazak u'varuch--Be Strong and Have Courage. 


Do. Love. Walk.
Live it well...M6.8 bN

Link to WSJ "The Return of Anti-Semitism"
http://www.wsj.com/a…/the-return-of-anti-semitism-1422638910

Beautiful Music.

These are difficult days...yet not unlike the climate-of-culture in the first Century before the ascendance of the Gospel.  As the Scriptures predicted, culture has again devolved to a post-christian paganism where pre-born children are targets of infanticide, gender is a mythic construct, love is whatever we declare it to be and values are defined by those who wield the most persistent, cynical and compelling narrative.

Yet this remains: People on the Way have been given a mandate to declare this Truth, "For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life." John 3.16

It seems, too often, that some within the Faith Community would be content to simply shout it from the rooftops with conviction, yet absent compassion. This loveless approach FEELS like these zealots are bent on brandishing the sword of truth to "cut others down to size" in the name of fidelity to the Gospel--the good news.  According to these, to do otherwise amounts to a compromise of Truth...indeed it is to preach "another gospel."  What tragic irony.  This amounts to a christianized version of Jihad. 

One need not compromise the message to deliver it in a fashion that communicates truth, urgency, conviction, exclusivity in its truth claims--in a context of grace, love, mercy and civility. The Gospel is inclusive AND EXCLUSIVE at the same time--God's Word is unique and powerful in this way.

He has called us to proclaim the Gospel in a context of suffering for a choice to live our lives based on the Truth of God's Word-- IN the world but not OF the world--that His Will might be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Peter touches on this in his second letter, vv.14-16...

"14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."  ESV

We NEVER compromise Truth. We never accommodate culture. We never embrace human wisdom as a lens through which we selectively apply God's Word. This praxis will certainly lead, has led, to suffering, persecution and aggressive steps to marginalize us and God's Message. That said, WE ALWAYS deliver that message with gentleness and respect born from our life-altering encounter with God's grace and mercy.  

When God's people, empowered by God's Spirit, in submission to God's Son, live transformed lives...it is breathtakingly beautiful and powerful at the same time; beautiful music that the Holy Spirit uses to impel people to effective faith "...Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead." Romans 10.5-13

Life is fast. Play on.



Do.Love.Walk.
Live it well...M6.8 bN

Flesh it out.

The so-called culture-war strides forward--taking America by storm. But nothing has changed. Nothing.

As believers we have been "gifted" to add value to the lives of people, with an eye toward making disciples. We've been called to love people--the best and the worst--with a love that looks past what they are and sees WHOSE they are.

Whether or not they come to effective-faith in Christ is not my responsibility, this is the work of God. He uses me (it's not a head thing, it's a heart thing) when I selflessly serve people in a way that adds value to their lives, I reflect Christ--no, I flesh-out Christ--and they wonder, "Why, what's in this for you?" This testimony is powerful becasue the reality of Christ in me, has manifested itself in an "incarnational" way; they have seen Christ through me. That reflected image is intense and compelling. God uses this kind of "vision" to transform hearts, minds and lives.

This needs to inform our outreach effort, the way we see people, the way we see their sin. When our efforts at outreach do not wholistically address the felt-needs of people and work toward their spiritual need (it's not either/or, it's both/and) we diminish the Gospel at best, and erect substantial barriers to effective-faith for people without hope.

This is especially relevant given the the world we live in today. God does not need us to defend Godly values. They stand on their own. What He desires from us is to love "the lost sheep, the lost coin" the Way He does. He isn't finished yet, Matthew 25.34-40 makes this point very clear...

"34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’"

Believing friends, the Word is still becoming flesh--through us.

Life is fast. Flesh it out.



Do. Love. Walk
Live it well...M6.8 bN

Run Hard. Finish Well.

Life is hard. Age diminishes us. Disease ravages us. Then, we die.

Or...

Life is hard and softens our hearts. Age diminishes us and equips us with wisdom. Disease ravages us and empowers us to embrace hope. Then we die and pass into eternity.

What happens to us, all of us, in the course of a lifetime is simply a variation on the same theme. What sets apart those not beaten, from those that are? It is what that "lifetime process" produces in us.

I've been reminded recently, we are fragile and our bodies will eventually fail--some sooner than others, but for all of us life ends in one final breath. The ability to see our sojourn as a prelude to "something more" is the key to empowering us to embrace all we experience in time, with wonder; while anticipating what we glimpse of eternity with hope.

Yes, I'm talking about faith. A specific "effective-faith" we are given instruction about in the Scriptures; the Second letter to the church in Corinth, written by the Apostle Paul (5.1-5):

"For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit."

Over the past several years I've invested time in some weary people...all filled with hope. They are fragile over-comers. Their lives are a tapestry illustrating God's grace, love, presence and power. Paul acknowleges this later in chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians 5.17-19, 21...

"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them...21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

Thanks be to God for our blessed hope in Jesus Messiah. Life is fast.  I'm ready.  Are you?

Maranatha.

Do. Love. Walk.

Live it well...M6.8 bN

Amazing Grace.

Rose from my slumber to discover redemption.
Not earned, not deserved, not asked for; 
Generous, vast resolve so effective.
Graciously given, Freely received.

Perspective transformed, purpose revealed
Hope a reality, thirsty no more.
Graciously given, Freely received.

Remembers no chapter,
holds hostage no person
Not a place or thing, not a judgement; a gift.
Graciously given, Freely received.

New every morning.
Pure like dew, refreshing, free.
Unbounded, complete, matter settled: 
NOT guilty. Set free from my prison.
Graciously given, Freely received.

Mercy, a flood.
Graciously given, Freely received.
Now,  freely give.




Do. Love. Walk.
Live it well...M6.8 bN

Where can I run?

Can swift water outrun its flow?
Can darkness swallow the sun?

Where can I run…
His lovingkindness not transform?
His watchcare not attend?
His provision not sustain?
His strength not carry?

Can swift water outrun its flow,
Can darkness swallow the sun?

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
the godly run to Him and are safe.
Lay your burden down,
Run, to the Everlasting arms.

Do. Love. Walk.
Live it well...M6.8 bN