Rest … Why Not Bother?

Matthew_1128cwScripture: Jesus said, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away
with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real
rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:28-29, The MESSAGE).  Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30, NRSV).

Also consider the following:

  • "Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail. By
    the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested
    from all his work. God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day
    because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had
    done"     (Genesis 2:1-3, The MESSAGE).
  • This [resting in God, see Hebrews 4:1] is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua;
    otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for "today." The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience"     (Hebrews 4:8-11, The MESSAGE).

While on retreat about six weeks ago these words "come unto me and I will give your rest" settled into my being in the midst of a time that did not feel anything like rest.  The word from God that stuck with me is that Jesus promises rest when we bear what God wants us to bear, not what I (or others) might deem important burderns to bear.  The rest that God promises is one that involves wearing a yoke as if we were a beast of burden, but not just any burden – only the God-burden.

I may be making a false distinction today between "Rest" and "the Sabbath" we discussed several weeks ago.  If I am, I pray for God’s forgiveness.  But I am struck that Jesus promises rest by taking on God’s burden for the world, while Sabbath was a reminder that God invited us to stop work.  In the competing versions of the Ten Commandments one reason to stop was to model God and the other was to not fall into the trap of a 400 hundred year of work without a vacation (see Eugene Peterson’s comments in Stop and Go – What Is Sabbath Anyway?).  When I discussed Sabbath I was talking about stopping before you worked a 400 hundred year work-week.  Today I am focusing on resting by sharing the God-burden with Jesus.

Continue reading “Rest … Why Not Bother?” →

5.4 – Assurance of an Answer – 1 John 5:14

Memorize 1 John 5:14

And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (NRSV).

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (NIV).

Reflect on 1 John 5:14

  • Read chapter 5 in John's first letter from the NRSV, the NIV, or The MESSAGE.
  • Someone has suggested that God answers our prayers with a "yes," or a "no," or just "slow."  My hunch is that God is probably not limited to our human conceptions, but how do these three answers align us with what is according to God's will?
  • Can you point to moments in your life when you received each of the above answers?  (Note:  even if you were not a "praying" person our very beings seem to know to call upon the Lord.)  Take a few moments to describe on paper those God moments.  See if God provides you an opportunity to share your wisdom with another person this week.

5.3 – Assurance of an Answer – Jeremiah 33:3

Memorize Jeremiah 33:3

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (NRSV).

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (NIV).

Reflect on Jeremiah 33:3

  • Read chapter 33 in Jeremiah in the NRSV, the NIV, or The MESSAGE.
  • Who is the speaker in verse 3 above?
  • God promises to _____________ when we call him.  What will God tell us?
  • What things are you seeking for that God might provide a greater answer to?

Jesus’ Core Values and Bedrock Beliefs

As we are pursuing and praying through our Core Values, Bedrock Beliefs, Motivating Vision, and Key Mission a colleague asked the following question:

  • What are Jesus' Core Values?
  • What are Jesus' Bedrock Beliefs?
  • What is Jesus' Motivating Vision?
  • What is Jesus' Key Mission?
Our "coach" helped me remember why we are asking the question of or ourselves:

Now here we see the beginning of all Christian theology. There is a point
when the memory of the historical Jesus faded, and became reshaped and
recommunicated through the lives and perspectives and spiritual experiences of
the disciples. At some point, somebody asks these question … the whole history
of theology unfolds. How they answer these questions in Rome is somewhat
different from Antioch, or Alexandria, or Carthage, or Cleveland.

To what extent did the core values of Jesus reflect the behavioral
expectations of the Jewish community? The convictions of the Pharisees? The
political ideals of the Zealots? The insights of Socrates? The organizational
principles of Rome?

And yet, as diverse and complex as the answers to these questions might be,
it is incumbent upon Christian leader to answer them for me, for my context, for
this piece of God's mission that I lead. My values, beliefs, vision and mission
should reasonably and reliably align with Jesus. It is the essence of
"integrity".

Continue reading “Jesus’ Core Values and Bedrock Beliefs” →

SOAP on Matthew 18:15-17 – The Rule of Christ

Colorcover_6Scripture: Jesus said, "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him–work it out between the two of you.  If he listens, you’ve made a friend.  If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.  If he still won’t listen, tell the church.  If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love” (Matthew 18:15-17, The MESSAGE).

Observe the Context: This lesson occurs in a series of teachings about how Christians are to live together in community. It is helpful from time to time to stop and review our Lord’s teaching on community. Why? Because, “Where two or three are gathered together, there is Eris” (the
Greek goddess of discord). The early church lived out these lessons when Antioch and Corinth did not get along, when Paul and Peter were at odds, and when Paul and Barnabas later parted ways.

Continue reading “SOAP on Matthew 18:15-17 – The Rule of Christ” →

5.4 Fill My Cup, Lord

05_3Read Matthew chapter 20.  The “Laborers in the Vineyard” is an easy story to tell, but a more complex parable to unravel. The master hires folks at daybreak, nine o’clock, noon, three o’clock, and even five o’clock and then pays them each the same wage.  This grates on our sensibilities and we are quick to join those last in line to be paid – the ones who showed up first, get paid last, and get paid the same thing – and we want justice! Jesus turns to us and asks,” are you envious because I am  generous?”  Where do you need to practice generosity with another person today?

Following Disney into the Future?

In Leadership Journal Skie Jethani, teaching pastor of Blanchard Road Alliance Church in Wheaton, IL, describes the journey of Walt Disney's Tomorrowland.  50 years ago USAmericans were an optomistic bunch, convinced that technology would solve our problems.  Disney said it this way:

"Tomorrowland is a vista into a world of wondrous ideas, signifying
man's achievements…a step into the future, with predictions of
constructive things to come … and the hope for a peaceful and united
world."

It has proven expensive to keep Tomorrowland ahead of our fast-paced culture (any investment in technology does not stay current for long).  The result, Tomorrowland in recent years portrays "a tongue planted firmly in the cheek" version of the future that mirrors our jaded attitudes.  At least one writer laments Disney's loss of their optimistic prophetic voice.

Continue reading “Following Disney into the Future?” →

Mike Slaughter on “First Doing … then Believing”

"The postmodern apologetic is first doing. . . then believing. It is not 'believing first and then doing.'" So says Mike Slaughter, Lead Pastor at Ginghamsburg United Methodist church in Tipp City, Ohio. To lead from the new apologetic, Slaughter offers several opportunities to show the love of Christ to their community through love and service. During the Christmas season, Slaughter asked those in his congregation to spend on others (in this case the Sudanese refugees) whatever they spend on themselves. "After all," Slaughter says, "it's not your birthday." The result was $300,000 given to the Sudanese. In the same spirit, he put forth an opportunity to help the victims of the tsunami disaster. Another $25,000 came pouring in. "God didn't call us, as pastors, to manage the church, but to be the hands and feet of Christ by winning the lost, healing the hurting and setting the captive free." In that spirit, Ginghamsburg began New Path Outreach ministries. Look at the description from their website:

Continue reading “Mike Slaughter on “First Doing … then Believing”” →

5.2 Fill My Cup, Lord

05Read Matthew chapter 18.  Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).  Take time this week to be in the presence of children.  Play with them, read with them, let them read to you, let them instruct you again about being a child.  Children often ask “why” for what seems like hundreds of times in a day and then later as adults we almost never ask “Why?”  What change is God asking you to make this week in your life?  Why is God asking that of you?