Oh Say Can You See CC?

I've taken vacation this week and have been considering various ways I could spend my time. CC Sabathia was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers a few days ago and pitched for the Crew last night. I made sure I watched that on MLB.TV. I can watch every baseball game on MLB.TV. Every day there are over a dozen games available to watch from noon to midnight. I can watch the Red Sox after lunch, the Indians after dinner, the Brewers of course, and then finish the night out west watching the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now that's day! It could be every day if I wanted it to be.

But of course I can't watch a dozen baseball games everyday because I belong to Netflix. They send me three DVDs in the mail and after I watch it I mail it back so they can send me more. Right now I have The Golden Compass, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and Sweeney Todd just waiting for me.

I would get right on those if it wasn't for the fact that my brother got me the entire collection of the television series Arrested Development on DVD for my birthday. 53 half-hour episodes in all. That would only take a full day, with no breaks, to watch. But when will that day come? It will have to wait because I've been itching to watch the three Lord of the Rings movies, which I own. Add those three director's cut movies together and you're talking a good 11 to 12 hours of viewing pleasure.

This week was not supposed to be about watching things on TV, however, it was to be about doing stuff in Chicago that I hadn't gotten to do before. For weeks I've been thinking about going to the Chicago History Museum, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Sears Tower, the Brookfield Zoo, tour some of the architecture in the Loop, the Frank Lloyd Wright stuff in Oak Park and Hyde Park, Graceland Cemetery, and go for a walk along the lake front. Oh, and there are about 100 restaurants I would like to try and the free concerts at the Chicago Cultural Center and the Grant Park Music Festival.

Man, what a burden to be limited to 24 hours per day. What a burden to have so much stuff available to entertain me. For the past week the Bible lesson from Matthew I mentioned in my last post has been stuck in my head. I keep thinking about my heavy burdens and Christ's light yoke. Some burdens really? Poor Tony. I'm sure you feel sorry for me. The saddest thing about these so called "burdens" of mine is that there have actually been moments when my inability to tackle all this stuff has gotten me down. How pathetic really. Yes Lord, your yoke is easy, your burden is light, and best of all picking up your cross is actually meaningful.

I didn't plan it this way, but I discovered something this past weekend that I have grabbed a hold of for the rest of this week: real joy and refreshment comes when I focus my time on my family instead of the stuff I can do and watch. Yes I did get to the Lincoln Park Zoo and saw WALL-E today, but it was with my wife and son. It's been great: walks to the playground, playing Hot Wheels in the living room, sitting in the backyard watching Preston on his little bike. Now I'm not saying my burdens or my "cross" has been all that amazing... but learning to love and do something for others instead of consuming and do stuff only for myself has been pretty cool.

I still haven't gotten to those Arrest Development shows, and my goodness there are baseball games going on right now that I'm missing as I type this, but that's okay and will stay okay as long as Christ calls me, and his Spirit helps me see that focusing on others is a real joy. You discover something the more you give and the more you serve: his yoke is actually easy and his burden really is light. In Christ you actually do find rest.

Heavy Burdens

God has blessed me with some vacation time this month. My wife and two oldest children are away right now which has left me alone here with my four year old son Preston until Tuesday. He's a cool kid and its great to be able to place all my attention on him. It gives us the opportunity for adventure! Today's adventure led us to worship at a church in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, just a few blocks south of Wrigley Field. First of all, we did worship God and hear Christ's gospel and not the Gospel according to Harry Carey. Second, I'm always amazed by all the life and excitement constantly happening around Chicago, even on a Sunday morning. Throngs of young adults were jogging along Lake Shore Drive. The beaches were filling up. Life was everywhere. Some of that life was even in a church.

The preacher's sermon was based on one of my favorite passages from Matthew: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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)." These are words of refreshment and freedom from Christ, but the pastor reminded me that deep down in our souls we don't want to give up those burdens we carry. We hold on to them, sometimes to our last breath, valuing our so called independence over the rest Christ freely offers through discipleship. On the surface the yoke, or cross, of Christ looks terribly painful; but after some soul searching we realize Christ's cross looks painful because we have made our burdens the center of our existence.

After the service Preston and I played for a while at a school playground across the street of the church and had a picnic lunch. Preston wondered where all the kids were. He was the only one around under the age of 10. That's not to say we were alone there in this small, urban school playground. There were dozens of twenty-somethings sunbathing, playing frisbee, walking their dogs, seeming to have lots of fun. I wondered if any of them were burdened. I wondered if they were curious about the music coming out of the old church across the street.

Yes, today was a good day. My parents celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary with two of my kids. Marriage is a great example of how blessings come to those who let go of their burdens and learn to love selflessly. Fatherhood works that way too. My days would be a whole lot different if Preston was not here with me. They might even be different if I wasn't married. Not that I would be sunbathing... but I might join the dudes who were gathered around the benches watching the show. To the young and single that's what life is all about. Husbands and fathers know better. They have learned through experience that life's greatest blessings come through giving your life to serve and love others. I know I've experienced that and maybe, just maybe, I can indeed see that Christ's yoke is easy and his burden is light. Real freedom and rest comes through faith. I wonder what adventure Preston and I will have tomorrow?

Unjust Hunger

200 campers at Bible Camp learned a powerful lesson tonight. I did as well. We had a little experiential education at dinner in an attempt to teach the campers that we in the United States are among the richest 10% of the world's population. The 200 were divided into five equal groups differentiated by a color sticker. The orange group was allowed to eat all they wanted at dinner. The red group was allowed to eat a smaller portion of everything and no dessert. The blue group got only rice, a dinner roll, lettuce and dressing. The green group received only rice, a roll and water. The yellow group was given only rice and water. Oh boy, you should have heard the cheers and groans. Really, this is an important lesson that all Americans should experience since every 3.6 seconds a person dies of hunger, the majority of those being children.

But I learned something about hunger tonight that the campers might have missed. Now remember the groups were divided equally, but in actuality it didn't work out that way. As I stood and watched the campers come up for food there was easily three campers with orange stickers for every one camper with yellow. I don't know how they did it but many of the campers cheated to make sure they got as much food as they wanted. Lesson: if you are friends with someone "in the know" or someone who has connections you did great because you got you the sticker you wanted. But, if you didn't have such a connection with someone "in power" you were stuck with the sticker you were dealt. Dog eat dog.

It works that way globally as well. If you have connections with those who are powerful and rich you do just fine. Can you believe that for about half of what Americans spend on pet supplies a year we could put an end to hunger areas of severe famine? I guess a lot of us have connections with those who are rich and powerful cause we do just fine. Even though there is an abundance of money and food in the world people in power continue to cheat the system to make sure they have more than the rest.

In Revelation the "black horsemen" reveals a truth about our sinful world by describing such unjust famine. People are starving, not because there's not enough food, but because people cheat the system so food is distributed unfairly. "I looked and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying. 'A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and wine (Rev. 6:5b-6).'" Those with little must pay a day's wages to get enough food for only one person. Those who are rich, the ones who use olive oil and wine, are unharmed. This is not a vision of the future as much as it is a commentary of the way sinful life has always been, certainly is today, and will continue to be until the Kingdom of God is fully realized.

In the Kingdom of God no one goes hungry. As disciples of Christ, agents for his Kingdom, we are called to live that vision right now. It should be the priority of every Christian to fight hunger locally, nationally and globally. It is an abomination that children of God continue to starve to death every 3.6 seconds.

Fight world hunger right now by supporting organizations like Bread for the Word (www.bread.org), World Vision (www.worldvision.org), Church World Service (www.churchworldservice.org), CARE (www.care.org), or Lutheran World Relief (www.lwr.org).

Top 7 Memories of Bible Camp

It's the time of year for Bible Camp. These are my top 7 memories:

7. "Puff the Magic Dragon"
Yes, we sang "Kumbaya" but what sticks in my mind from Bible Camp when I was a kid was singing about that old rascal Puff. I still can't understand why.

6. Hidden Yellow Jackets Nest
In 2001, as a group of us was walking up a trial at dusk, one after another campers cried out "Ouch!" as we stomped on a hidden nest of yellow jackets. Of course I had to become a victim that evening as well. Thankfully, everyone was fine.

5. Oatmeal
You can tell how good a camp's food will be by the way they prepare oatmeal. If they do oatmeal well your in for good stuff all week... if its uneatable... welcome to fat camp because you won't want to eat much all week. At one camp they had a song for oatmeal: "Oaaaatmeal; some like butter. Oaaaatmeal; some like sugar..." I still sing that one to my kids.

4. College-Age Counselors
Yes, sometimes they bring a little modern-day drama with them, but just about always the camp counselors, usually between 18 and 22 years-old, are wonderful witnesses of faith for younger youth. The seeds they sow in the hearts of young people have bore much fruit for Christ.

3. An Eight-Day-Old Camper
In 2004 my wife brought our eight-day old newborn to camp for an afternoon. He still is, unofficially, the youngest person ever to go to Bible Camp.

2. "Sanctuary"
I learned this song at Bible Camp. It always reminds me of God's grace, the blessings of nature, friends, and times of Sabbath... all of which allows me to become a better vessel for God's presence within me.

1. Tearful Goodbyes
You cannot tell me of any other place where adolescents can worship God no less than four times a day, have no access to any modern media, talk about Jesus with others and still feel horrible about leaving when it's over. God created us to desire him and long for healthy friendships. Those are the centerpieces of camp ministry. It's only natural that youth would want to stay.

Truly I Tell You, None of These Will Lose Their Reward

The past couple weeks large areas of the state's of Iowa and Wisconsin have been hit by severe floods. I was born in Wisconsin, and have many friends and family there, and lived in Iowa for four years during the 1990's. It saddens me to see so many who have lost their homes and even lives because of these storms.

This past week I went for a walk along a country road and remembered something about my friends from Iowa. As a car approached me at around 50 miles-per-hour the driver waved at me. Rarely in my walks in suburban Chicago has anyone ever waved at me. But out here, in the country, I got waved at, even as the man drove by so quickly.

When I lived in Iowa a friend of mine, a lifelong Iowan, taught me that whenever you approach a car along a deserted stretch of highway you give a little flick of your finger (No, not that finger! Your pointing finger). It's not quite a wave but still an acknowledgement that says "Hi, nice to see you, have a great day." Over and over during a drive in the country you give that little flick of a finger and receive a greeting back. I thought it was nice. It seemed so civil and friendly.

But what touched me most when I lived in Iowa was the way people responded in 1997 when the Red River flooded in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 70% of that river town was flooded. With little haste churches throughout Sioux City, Iowa collected enough goods to fill a tracker trailer truck full of supplies for the stricken area. They didn't hesitate to help people in need. So when I think of Iowa I never think of corn, pigs, or politics first... but the generous and hospitable people who call that beautiful state home. When Jesus speaks of the struggles and rewards of discipleship in Matthew 10... "whoever gives gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward (Matthew 10:42)" I must think of the people of Iowa.

Now they need our help. Many charities have been on the scene giving aid and providing shelter. In Cedar Rapids the Salvation Army has provided meals to over 47,000 people. Other charities are on the scene as well. I highly recommend supporting the American Red Cross or ELCA Domestic Disaster Response... a charity that uses over 95% of the money they receive to help victims. They will remain on the scene for many months to come. Gifts can be given to ELCA Disaster Response, earmarked for tornado and flood disasters, to P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. Also Lutheran Services in Iowa is receiving donations. Lutheran Services in Iowa, ATTN: Disaster Response, PO Box 848, Waverly, IA 60677.

His Time is Short

I've been leading a Bible study on the Book of Revelation the past couple months. It has been so much fun. Often ignored are the many images within Revelation pure grace for all creation. One of my favorite examples of that comes in Revelation 7:9-10: "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out with a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" What a powerful image of salvation.

But of course Revelation is also filled with images of war, destruction and death. One of the most miserable comes in Revelation 9... the description of scorpion-like locusts coming from the Abyss to torture for five months those who are not sealed. "They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months (9:10)." The sixth trumpet, also called the second woe, gives another ghastly imagine of an army of mounted troops numbering 200,000,000 coming from the east and killing 1/3 of all people.

None of that really scared me though. (I must be heartless.) But something has struck a cord with me now that we've reached the dragon of Revelation 12: the chapter in which John the Seer allegorically describes the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ as a battle between good and evil. A dragon (Satan) wants to kill a woman's (Israel's) child , but the child (Christ) is snatched away (ascension) before he can be killed. A war is waged in heaven and the dragon is defeated (the cross). Through the cross Jesus defeats sin and death forever. The Kingdom of God is at hand. However, sin and death still exist. The dragon lives on, here on earth, causing pain and bringing death... but his time is limited: "He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short (12:12b)."

For some reason this image has scared me. I had a dream about it last night. In plain English we know that we have been saved through Jesus' death on the cross and our faith in him. We also know that we still live in a world where sin and death are present. The way John describes it: evil, personified by the devil, symbolized by the dragon is still on the loose. The devil knows his time is short and is looking to cause as much pain as he can before the Kingdom of God is fully realized on earth.

Like Kathy Bates in the movie Misery... just when you think the devil is defeated, dead and gone, her eyes open and she comes screaming into scene with hellfire on her breath, a knife in her hand and hate in her heart. Until Christ returns and puts that final bullet into the chest of sin and death we still live with the specter of evil surrounding us. Therefore, today "the devil" works to pull us away from faith, foil our plans, dash our hopes, and convince us he is the victor. Through his use of allegory John is explaining why the church of the late first century struggled through persecutions. But naturally, like all of Scripture, Revelation also helps us understand why our own time continues to be painful, especially for those who have faith.

What John writes poetically is really no different than what Paul writes in Romans 8: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us (Romans 8:18)." Paul ends that chapter with a message of hope in the face of "the dragon's" continued persecution. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, [nor the dragon, nor the devil, nor Satan,] nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39... additions are mine)."

Revelation is going the same direction as Paul goes in Romans. God has given John the Seer a vision of hope and encouragement. Yes John is exiled by the Romans to Patmos. Yes John's brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted, arrested and one has even been killed for the faith. But there is hope. This is going to end up being very good! The Kingdom of God is at hand. The time is short for sin and death. Jesus, the Messiah, the Lamb of God has conquered and will welcome "a great multitude" to sing his praises before him in the coming Kingdom.

So sleep well. Persevere. Feel the hand of God upon you this very day!

Taking Time to Hear

I don't know if the term "multitasking" was born in the modern era, but if it wasn't, our modern world sure has taken the idea of doing too many things at one time to the extreme. E-mail, cell phones, text messaging and computers are supposed to exist to help us get through the busyness of our world, but instead they tend to make our lives all the more chaotic. To be good at multitasking means being good at prioritizing... knowing what has to be done now and what can wait. It's the only way we survive this crazy world.

Centuries before the multitasking choices faced by modern people Luke retells a story in his Gospel about Jesus being invited into the home of a woman named Martha. Her sister Mary is also there and sits herself at the feet of Jesus listening intently to every word he says. Martha, following first century custom, is busy making preparations to do all that is necessary to make a guest feel welcome in her home. She is frustrated that Mary is not helping her. After all there is much to be done and a woman's place in a first century home was to do work, not only for guests, but for any male in the home. Martha pushes Jesus to "Tell her to help me."

Surprisingly to Martha, Jesus instead lifts up Mary as being the proper example of doing what is right. Listening to Jesus must be the number one priority and not any other work. Everything society had taught Martha told her that she was in the right, but Jesus points out that even society can be wrong. The number one priority for men and women is to listen to the Word of God. Everything else, even honorable tasks, must come second.

In 2008, when we face daily the difficult task of setting priorities because so much is expected of us, it is tempting allow listening to the Word to slide. There are more pressing matters. There are priorities society has set that are far more important than sitting and listening for God, either in worship, prayer, or both. Like Martha we are convinced we are doing the right thing and that even Jesus would agree.

But Jesus doesn't agree. Instead he offers us grace and rest. Go ahead and take a load off. Don't beat yourself up when you do the opposite of what society says and actually dare to make taking time to listen to God... to worship... to study... to mediate the number one priority of your life. The blessing you receive "will not be taken away (Luke 10:42)."

A Smart Worm Stays in the Dirt

I just got back from spending three days fishing with my dad and brother in Kentucky. What a great time it was. The weather was great, the boat didn't sick, my brother caught 30 largemouth bass (we catch and release), and I had on the end of my line a giant catfish we now refer to as Captain Kirk (he released himself). We were reeling in so many fish we had to take good look around a few times to make sure we actually were on Lake Barkley and not inside the Shedd Aquarium.

There were times on Wednesday I immediately had a nibble on my bait the moment I cast my line out in the water. My bobber would instantly start moving up and down because little bluegills were nibbling on my red worm or nightcrawler. This posed a bit of a challenge because these guys were so tiny that when I pulled on the line I often wasn't able to hook them. All that was left of my bait was either some pieces of worm or just a bare hook. I thought, "it's a good thing worms stay in the dirt, because they sure don't last long in the water."

Being out on the lake for three days reminded me of Jesus' words of wisdom in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life (Matt 6:25-27)?"

On the boat I tried to imagine the scene below the surface of the water. It must have been amazing with fish of all sizes (catfish, bluegills, minnows, sunfish, bass, and many more) all swimming around eating all kinds of stuff... even each other. What I could see above the surface was also quite amazing: geese, turtles, cranes, and even an eagle, never too happy with our presence. But until we arrived next them on our boat they all seemed to stand as still as a statue just waiting to for their chance to pick from the seafood buffet. Not as disturbed by us were the three deer we saw relaxing just before dusk or the pair of foxes walking leisurely near the shore.

I was reminded of two realities about God's creation last week: it outshines anything a human could ever construct and it is a dangerous place. All of the creatures we encountered were involved in trying to survive. The fish took our bait because they were looking for food. The birds waited patiently along the shore waiting for lunch. Only the deer and foxes seemed to be taking life easy, but I'm sure dinner was not too far from their minds.

Things are pretty dangerous for the birds, fish and animals, but our lives are dangerous too. While we may not worry about where our next meal will come from, or whether something wants to eat us, there is plenty to worry about nonetheless. Can I pay all my bills? Are my children safe? Do I need to cancel vacation this summer? Will my loved one beat cancer?

Spending some time in the wild can remind you how pointless it is to worry. The fish, birds and animals work together in a constant give and take of life and death. You would think they would be frozen in fear, but instead they just live. Humans are called to just live as well, but not in a selfish way. A wise person lives life as a refection of faith... the very faith that gives us permission to stop worrying and start living. Jesus tells us to live by striving "first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness." Your food, drink, and clothing will come... therefore spend your time living as a disciple: serving Christ and the kingdom. Instead of worrying, try loving. Instead of living in fear, live in hope. Instead hording, look for opportunities to serve "and all of these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today (Matt 6:33b-34)."

Living in the Spirit

Twice in Revelation John the Seer records that he was "in the spirit" when he received the divine revelation he describes in the last book of the Bible. "I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet... (Rev 1:10)" "At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne (Rev 4:2)!" Make no mistake about it, John did not make this all up in his mind. In some trance-like state God revealed to him amazing things. Using his knowledge of the Old Testament he tried to describe what he saw as best he could.

All people contain God's Spirit within them simply because God created them. God the Creator made this universe and made us as well: in his image. God's hand is written in our hearts and moves us to want to seek him and know him.

The Spirit is within all who belong to Christ through baptism. That Spirit is actually Christ within us. In Matthew 28, Jesus' final words to his disciples are a command to go, baptize and teach. His words are also encouragement that though he will physically leave them he will indeed still be with them "always, to the end of the age (Matt 28:20)." The Spirit of Christ is with us always... leading us, guiding us... giving us hope in the face of sin.

The Holy Spirit, given to the disciples at Pentecost is the same Spirit given to us as well. More than just the presence of God or Christ within us... the Holy Spirit is power to become people we would not otherwise be. The disciples who abandoned Jesus at the cross now become men of courage, speaking new languages and spreading the gospel despite the dangers.

When John the Seer, writer of Revelation, is "in the spirit" on the Lord's Day I believe that he is in the same Spirit as the disciples at Pentecost. It takes over him. It gives him the ability to see things he would not have otherwise seen and do things he would not otherwise have done. This Spirit is within you right now... and I believe it's just waiting to take hold of you.

It's important that John mentions that it was on the Lord's Day when he was in the Spirit. It indicates to me that the fact it was Sunday morning, possibly even in worship, contributed to him being open to the Spirit taking over. When we cut ourselves off from the Scriptures, fail to recognize the Lord's Day, or do not participate in worshiping God, we smother the Spirit just waiting to move us in amazing ways.

Years ago I knew a woman named Lois who couldn't speak enough about being in the Spirit. She knew first hand what it meant to hinder the Spirit from doing its work and essentially spiritually sleepwalking through life. Year after year she went to church, potlucks, and sewing meetings. Year after year she said grace before dinner and sang in the choir. But, as she tells me, "I felt spiritually dead." When she was asked 20 years ago to lead a woman's Bible study for her church she was scared to death. There was no way in a million years she could do that, she thought. But out of some sort of sense of obligation and not finding it easy to say no, she accepted the job. It was like the blanket that was covering the Spirit within her was removed.

Teaching and leading discussions about the Bible lead her to learn more about the Scriptures and God than she ever knew before. It brought her joy, but with disappointment, because she felt as if she has been cheated of decades of chances to learn more about Christ. It was passages in John about "an Advocate" that really caught her eye. She recognized that empowering Advocate insider her. At times it moved her to speak in tongues. At times it moved her to question everything... which can be pretty frightening. Frightening to me as well listening to her. But even so, living the Spirit was something she says she would never give up.

I have to believe that John was shaken to his core by his experience of being "in the spirit," not just because of what he saw, but because of the very fact he was given the chance to experience God in such a powerful way. I'm sure John questioned everything at times too.

The Holy Spirit empowered both John and Lois to live their lives in a new way: a freeing way. They were empowered to live as children of God in a way they never dreamed they could have. John changed people forever by sharing his message of hope to a dangerous and dying world. Lois become a light to many other women who began to recognize the Spirit within them as well, just as the Spirit was present in their friend.

If Jesus has commissioned us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you," then its going to take the Spirit within us to do just that. Empowered by the Spirit you will become a person of courage and strength you never knew you could be. Empowered by the Spirit you will bring the gospel to other people. Empowered by the Spirit you will walk in the presence of Christ every day of your life.

People in Glass Houses

i feel so free
beauty is all around
finally the temperature is right

snow is a memory
puddles have disappeared
green has shown its might

the sun has set
and the sidewalk is begging
for a stroll along the avenues

the breeze is light and calm
a feeling of comfort hangs in the air
nature has accepted God's cues

with the king is my ears
and a smile on my face
i venture out to enjoy creation

but as i glance at the crescent moon
and its reflection on the sparse clouds
something is missing from my sensation

cars wiz by as they always do
planes on their way to o'hare
but there is a void before me

house after house
step after step
tree after tree

where are the people
thousands live here
but they have vanished from this scene

some homes are dark
but some contain a glow
revealing rooms emotionally clean

an eye searches for joy and finds only stuff
a baby swing silent and still
balloons from a party two days prior

the glow from the plasma
reveals cartman and joan rivers
but where is my neighbor

mile after mile no one is here
have they gone to a meeting
are they hiding below

no one told them that God is great
and perfection is found out their door
have they found it inside alone

so used to their castle they do not know what's out there
someone in back of the yards died
they say not me i will stand by my wall

through the windows more light is found
horses on shelves and Sox displayed proudly
a clock from the 60's hangs tall

people in glass houses

are they afraid
of the unknown
of community

uninterrupted i arrive at my home
noise from the traffic surrounds
better lock the door behind me

Looking in the Wrong Direction

Ruby had some problems... of course we all do, but Ruby's seemed pretty awful. No, they were not health problems really, though, she did complain about pains in her sciatic. Her pains were more than physical. She was angry most of the time. Angry at her neighbors, her ex-husband, her community... the whole world really. Nothing was ever the way it was supposed to be. And when it came to church, it was never long before she up and left for a new one. Over her lifetime she had tried all of the churches in her small community.

The pastor was never what she expected in pastor. The ministries of the congregations never matched her idea of what church should be like. "If only it could be the way it was when I was growing up" is a phrase she often used. A smile would come to her face when she thought of her youth and her time in "show business." But that smile would turn upside when Ruby remembered that those days were long gone. When she died three years ago, she died angry and bitter. Oh the wonderful things she missed.

I've been looking closely recently at the Bible text about Jesus' ascension in Acts. The resurrected Jesus reassures his followers they will not be alone. The Spirit will be given to them in a few days and they have a calling to "me my witnesses... to the ends of the earth." But the disciples don't understand what Jesus means. They are still expecting him to establish the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the new King David and certainly he is going to build something great in Israel that will rival the power of Rome. But of course that wasn't the mission of the Messiah at all. (Was Rome really that powerful once?)

The disciples, like Ruby, don't understand what the Kingdom of God means. They cannot grasp the concept that wealth and power are temporary. They cannot understand that the Kingdom is experienced today when someone is helped, when the hungry are fed, when the injured are comforted. They cannot understand how love is the cornerstone of a kingdom.

So they look in the wrong direction. After Jesus is taken away two angels appear with the disciples. They speak loudly and publicly: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" Strange question in light of what just happened. Its a strange question especially if you are convinced the Kingdom of God lies in the future and lies somewhere far from here.

Ahh, but the angels' question is not strange at all if indeed the disciples are looking in the wrong direction. The Kingdom of God is not found in some nostalgic look at the golden age of King David 1000 years ago. The Kingdom of God is not found in space and is not reached in a Space Shuttle. the Kingdom of God is not a promise of the future when Christ will take us away from this lousy place called Earth.

Now is the Kingdom and now is the day. Yes Jesus was taken away at his ascension... but yet we know that Jesus is with us right now. Yes Jesus will return again to establish his kingdom... but at the same time we know Jesus comes to us each time we celebrate Holy Communion and that Jesus is with us now because the assembly of believers is the body of Christ. This is a both/and situation here. We wait for Christ's Kingdom by living for Christ's Kingdom now.

And let me tell you living for Christ's Kingdom is not about being served by your local parish. Living Christ's Kingdom is not about power, wealth, blind ritual and structure. Living Christ's Kingdom today is centered on the main concept of all Jesus' actions and teachings: love. When we love others we are looking in the right direction. When we serve rather than look to be served, we are working for the Kingdom of God.

Before they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost the disciples could not understand this concept of a Kingdom of God powered by God's love. Oh how things changed after Pentecost though. Today I believe that everyone who has been baptized in Christ has been given this same Holy Spirit. But even so, too many people ignore that Spirit convinced that life ought to be found in a different direction. I think this is what happened to Ruby. And because she was looking in the wrong direction she never saw what was around her the whole time: God's Kingdom.

Jesus is with you now. The Kingdom is unfolding above, below, and all around you. Do you see it? Are you serving it? Or are you looking in the wrong direction?

Where Has God Placed You?

There is a point in Acts where Luke describes what happened when Paul witnessed to Christ in the great city of Athens. Now Athens was not quite the place it used to be four or five centuries earlier. The days of Plato, Aristotle and Alexander the Great were behind them. But Athens still held a special place in the hearts of educated people of the time.

Paul took special care in approaching the people of Athens with his gospel of Jesus Christ. These were wisdom loving pagans who were not used to hearing about God made human, dying, and then being raised again to new life. In order to preach to the Athenians Paul needed to think like them, observe their ways, know his story, stay positive, and be clever by using imagery familiar to the Greeks.

While on the Areopogas, Mars Hill just below the great Acropolis in Athens, he spoke as if he were a great Athenian orator of the past. Paul respected the pagan traditions of the people, complemented them, and found his opening through an altar dedicated to an unknown god. The pagans, who had temples and altars dedicated to the whole pantheon of gods, were always careful to include an altar dedicated to any gods they didn't know about. After all, it was not wise to offend any god, even if they were not aware of the god's existence.

Paul proclaimed before these wise Athenians just who this unknown god was: he is the Lord God, the one true God. Paul did not even bring up Jesus in his oration, knowing that his message that day needed to simply deal with the God who is One, who is Creator of heaven and earth. He spoke about God's relationship with his creation and in particular humans. He then lifted up the idea of Christ, without mentioning him by name. "While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

This didn't go over too well for the Athenians. "When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, 'We will hear you again about this.'" (Acts 17:32)

Paul didn't stay long in Athens. He was never in danger there, but felt the need to move on because few were coming to faith in Christ. But that's not to say his work was in vain. Some did join Paul and became believers. Even in the tough crowd gathered at the Areopagus Paul's message was able to bring some to faith.

God has placed every Christian in an "Areopagus" somewhere. In Christian community we gather for worship and service and are surrounded by people who believe in Christ just as we do. However there are many times throughout the week when the crowd we are among is more like the Areopagus than it is of First Christian Church. In our families, our work places, our neighborhoods and places of leisure we encounter men and women who are just as clueless about Christ and the resurrection as the people in first century Athens. How do you share your faith with them? Think about these ideas as you answer your call to witness to Christ.

1. Know Your Faith. Do you know why you worship God faithfully or are part of a church? Think about what your faith in God means to you. How has God touched your life recently? Through prayer and meditation be aware of God's presence in your life.

2. Recognize Your "Areopagus." There are times during your week when you are around other people who are just itching to hear the gospel... desperate to have hope in their life. Can you recognize the "Areopagus" God has either dropped you into, or even sometimes placed in your lap?

3. Observe and Listen. Understand where other people are coming from. Show them respect and affirm the good things happening in their lives. It is more important to be a friend than to be a preacher. Paul was sincere when he affirmed how religious the Athenians were.

4. Share Your Story. Since you know why you have faith, do you know how to share your faith with others? Be true to yourself and your story. Share it in a way that respects others and lifts up the positive aspects of your faith. Remember Paul did not mention Jesus by name on the Areopogus which certainly would not have been Paul's first instinct.

5. Sow the Seeds and Let God do the Rest. Chances are that the sharing of your faith story will not have an immediate effect on those you are speaking to. They may scoff. They may say "I'll get back to you later." But that's alright. The seeds you sow might bear fruit months or years down the line. And then again, there is always a chance the lives of one or two might be changed forever because the light of hope finally shined in their heart. Praise be to God!

10,000 Wins

The Lovable Losers won their 10,000th game last night. That's right, the Chicago Cubs have won 10,000 games in their history... dating back to 1876. During that time they have won 16 National League Championships and 2 World Series titles. Only the New York/San Francisco Giants have won more games as a franchise.

The 2008 Cubs have the best record in all of baseball right now. They are legitimate contenders to win the World Series. But of course to say that is to open yourself up to laughter and scorn... and that's from Cub fans. Sportswriters cannot even write a column in the paper about this very good Cubs team without devoting four paragraphs to goats, black cats, Steve Garvey, Will Clark, and that martyr left on the altar of the so called Cubs myth: Steve Bartman.

Personally, I'm more of a baseball fan in general than I am a Cubs fan. My heart will always belong to the Milwaukee Brewers even though they now play in that monstrosity called Miller Park and somehow ended up in the National League. But I did take in hundreds of Cubs games on WGN as a child. I chose to listen to Harry and watch the beautiful game of baseball played at Wrigley on summer afternoons on television instead of going out and actually playing the game with my friends. No regrets here. So I do understand the Cubs somewhat.

But I will never understand or accept this curse stuff. And quite frankly it makes my stomach turn. The Cubs teams of 1907 and 1908 are worth celebrating. And the history of the team is something to be proud of. I know I wear my replica of a 1908 Cubs hat with pride.

I hope last night's 10,000th win will remind those who love the Cubs of this team's great history and that they should not be afraid to embrace this year's team. Don't say "this could be the year" with a smirk and chuckle. Say it with pride. This team is good!

The world did not implode when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, nor did it happen when the White Sox won in 2005. Neither of those teams are anywhere close to winning 10,000 games (of course the Cubs had a 24 year head start, but let's not go there). The World will not implode when the Cubs win the World Series. It's just going to make the sportswriters' job all the more difficult because they'll have to find something else to say in those 4 paragraphs that always end up in columns about the Cubs.

Now the faith angle to all this. Today is what you make of it. We have been given great freedom and responsibility through Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross. Freedom to embrace the blessings of today and the responsibility to live our life as a response to grace. When we allow the failures of our past to keep us down we miss out on too many of life's blessings and we continue to fail to be the people we can be. That is sin. Sin handcuffs people and even baseball fans. Sin takes innocent men and animals and blames them for 100 years of losing.

10,000 times fans have screamed "Cubs Win! Cubs Win!" There are no curses... only people unwilling to embrace God's grace.

National Start! Walking Day

I read in the paper that today is National Start! Walking Day. Which is pretty cool because it just happens to be the first time in 168 days that the temperature has reached the 70's in Chicagoland. Six months without without ever seeing 70 degrees, except on the thermostat! That's a long time. If ever there was a day to Start! walking it is today.

I Start!ed a routine of walking just about everyday last October. (I know, really smart, right at the beginning of the 70 degree slump.) For a long time I had been thinking about going out and walking a little, either by driving to a park or some other scenic venue. But I never could find the time and was never quite sure where to go. Finally I decided to just go... Start! Walking. My neighborhood is flat and sidewalks abound throughout this suburban paradise. Just do it I thought. It's time to get healthy.

But I still had my doubts. When can I find the time to do it every day? What am I going to do when the snows come? Are there really enough sidewalks? But as I kept on walking those obstacles and fears became minor because I discovered I enjoyed it so much. I have been able to find the time. Some days I'm moved to go for a 5:30 a.m. stroll for an hour. In December I often walked late at night, when the streets were bare, new snow was on the ground and half the homes were decorated for Christmas. It was a Christmas Wonderland. I actually found the cold winds to be quite invigorating.

But more powerful for me than energizing walks at various times of the day was the discovery of how spiritually moving a good walk can be. Since October I have learned to understand 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing," in a new way. A good walk became a time for meditation and prayer. At times my walks have helped me gain fresh insights about myself, the world, people, and God. What started out as just exercise has become part of my soul. I don't know how I find the time, but I do for the most part find an hour a day to walk. I walk for my body and I walk for my soul.

There's a reason they put an exclamation point after the word "start" in National Start! Walking Day. Start! is a command. Its an imperative. Just do it. It doesn't cost a dime. It doesn't take specially designed areas, like you see in the picture of the bridge from Millennium Park I posted with this blog. All it takes is two feet, two legs and one hand to open the door outside. You may be surprised to discover who is walking with you.

By His Wounds You Have Been Healed

A friend mine once went with a tour group to England, Scotland, and Wales. On the day they rural Scotland my friend was shocked to see a man treating the group of sheep he was leading along a road with such contempt. He was trying to get the sheep to move by yelling at them, hitting them with a stick, and even kicking them. My friend was appalled and expressed his displeasure to the man: "Is that any way for a shepherd to treat his sheep?" With a funny look the man responded with gruff voice: "You think I'm a shepherd? I'm not a shepherd. I'm a butcher. These sheep will be dog food soon."

Christians have a soft place in our heart for shepherds and sheep. There are so many images throughout the Bible that compares people to lost sheep and God to a good shepherd who gathers them in his embrace. Jesus calls himself "the good shepherd" in John 10. Even Christians, like myself, with very little knowledge of rural life can understand the beauty of the metaphor.

The shepherd image is used is a powerful way in 1 Peter. Writing to an oppressed people the author compares the suffering that early Christians faced with the suffering Jesus experienced in his life. Christ's suffering was for a purpose... he suffered for us. Christ's suffering allows us to face our suffering with both courage and hope. "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21)."

The type of suffering lifted up in 1 Peter is persecution at the hands of an oppressor. It was dangerous to your health to claim Jesus as your Lord in the first century. But with great courage thousands stood up to the powers and withstood the suffering they encountered, even as some of their brothers and sisters were killed. We are not far removed from such suffering. This past week was the anniversary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's death on April 9. He was a martyr for the faith, being killed because of his opposition to the Nazi regime and their influence on the church in the 1930's and 40's. But as recently as last Saturday a Syrian Orthodox priest, Faiz Abdel, was killed outside his home in Baghdad. He is already being declared a martyr by his friends.

Persecution is not the only suffering one can face in this life, however. Everyday we know loved ones and friends who have suffered. I found out this past week at a colleague of mine, Larry Griffin, died in the end of March at too young an age. I know too many people who have lost their lives at the hands of the monster we call cancer, including my friend Fran who died just before Easter. I also have been thinking about the many people I know who continue to battle this disease, some traveling across the country to get answers. They all know suffering. They have felt the sting of being a sheep led by a butcher.

But of course the butcher does not win. The butcher's wicked tongue and harsh hands are stopped by the blood of the Lamb. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24)."

Three years ago a good friend of mine, Lillian Files, lost her battle with cancer. She was an amazing woman. Soft spoken and frail, but still possessed the strength of 10 bulls, because she simply would not let her cancer take over her faith. She loved God, she loved her church and she was able to see the blessings of every single day. I always think of her when I have some good Yorkshire Pudding with roast beef. But more importantly I think of her when I ponder the power faith has over suffering. The last time I saw her, she was in bed... but not alone. Her 17 year old granddaughter was right there in bed with her. There was no sadness present. Just some giggles, much gratitude, and thick feeling of pure love.

"For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian for your souls (1 Peter 2:25)." Lillian, Fran and so many Children of God have returned to their shepherd and are held tightly in his warm embrace. The Good Shepherd's guidance has the power to give us direction and hope as we live today. No matter what you suffer, know that Christ suffered with you and for you. No matter what you face you can choose to discover the joy and blessings of this day. Allow the Good Shepherd to give you healing and wholeness today. Allow the witness of the saints who have gone before us to point the way to the power of this amazing faith.

God Undoes the Veil

Tonight I led my first Bible study on the Book of Revelation. There is so much I learn in the course of studying and teaching a book of Scripture to a small group. While I do bring important facts and information to the group as the leader, I do not come to the table with the sole purpose of bestowing the answers to others. We journey through the book together. We grow together. They learn from me and I learn from them. Which is why I'm so excited about this new study. I know I will come out of this four month adventure changed. Through God's Spirit truth will be revealed... and that's exciting to anticipate.

The Book of Revelation seems to need a lot of revealing for us to understand. The word revelation comes from the Latin word revelatio which literally means "to undo the veil." What has been hidden is being revealed. Underneath the monsters, beasts, scrolls, and seals of Revelation is truth about God. I can read about the meanings of symbols on my own. I can study about the different ways to interpret Revelation. But something happens when you journey through a book together with ten other people. Insights are gained. People with different points-of-view ask questions you would never have asked and reveal insights you would never have valued on your own. By the end you prayerfully and lovingly grow in faith together. Its an amazing adventure and one of my favorite blessings of Christian community.

Little by little God will undo the veil of Revelation through study, reading, and prayer. The power of God's Spirit will also be expressed through the friends you journey with. Back to back opening days! God is good!

Baseball, Failure & Life

Ahhhh... Opening Day 2008. The Indians beat the Sox in a nail biter. The Crew ruins the Cubs' Wrigley opener by first blowing their lead in the ninth and then taking the "W" in the tenth. The Tigers lost earlier in the day. The Yankees were rained out. The Dodgers shut out their arch rival San Francisco Giants. Boy its good to be seeing all this again.

For seven of the year's twelve months baseball is played on fields from Seattle to Miami. New stars emerge in the clutch. Old heroes retire; unable to get that punch behind their fastball. Dynasties continue when teams make the playoffs for the tenth season in a row. Upstarts show their talent and chemistry by beating out the favorite the final week of the season. And when it's all over one team out of thirty is called the World Series Champion.

But before those bottles of champaign are popped open, 162 games need to be played in the regular season. Day after day after day baseball teams take the field. The very best of them will loose over 60 games. The worst team ever actually won 40 baseball games in 1962.

You win some, you lose some, and along the way you learn a thing or two. Tomorrow is new opportunity to show your stuff. Today you may make three errors, but tomorrow you are right back at shortstop. Today you might hit two homers, but your team still loses. (Sorry Jim Thome.) Baseball is a game. That's true. But it is a whole lot like life in one very important way: no one is perfect for even the MVP of the league fails more often than he succeeds. Last year's MVP Jimmy Rollins reached base only 34.4% of the time.

So make today count. Embrace your God given gifts. Use them. Live life. And when you fail always remember you'll step up to the plate again.

Christ is Risen

I've never been a big fan of Easter in March. Something just doesn't seem right about it. The weather is too cold. The world still seems dark. It moves Lent up too early. I'm never ready for Easter in March.

This year's Easter is the earliest it has been since 1913. And the next time we have Easter on March 23 or earlier will be in 2228. That's right... 2228. Not 2028... Twenty-TWO, twenty-eight!!! Easter is so early this year that the SECOND Sunday of Easter will also be in March. I'm not ready for this.

I bet the first Easter was in March. After all in John's telling of Jesus' Passion Peter warms up at a charcoal fire during the night while Jesus is on trial. Do they have many cold evenings in Jerusalem in April? But the clincher for me that Jesus must have been resurrected in March is the fact that no one is ready for it.

In Matthew's Gospel Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph come to Jesus' tomb the morning after the Sabbath unprepared for what they were going to see. This despite the fact that Jesus foretold his crucifixion and resurrection to his followers. The guards are not prepared either. A good solder is ready for anything... but they sure were not ready for the earth to quake and for an angel to descend from heaven to roll away the stone of the very tomb they were guarding. They were not ready for that. Frozen in fear all the guards could do was shake a little.

Of course these aren't the only people who were not ready for the angel's message. Where are the Twelve? Where are the people who heard the Sermon on the Mount? Where are the 5000 he fed? No one is ready to hear the news that "[Jesus] is not here, for he has been raised (Matthew 28:6)."

And then when Jesus just suddenly appears to Mary and Mary saying "Greetings." Oh boy! They dropped to their knees and worshiped him. Can you imagine? You go to the tomb looking to see a dead body and you end up being greeted by him. And what does Jesus say? Essentially he is saying: "Good morning. Nice to see you. How ya doing?" They weren't ready for that. It must have been March.

So are you ready for Easter... or is it too early? Did you know you were going to be greeted by Jesus this morning? "Hey there. How are you doing? What a beautiful March morning! I need you to do something." Ahh... Jesus wants us to do something. Matthew says that Jesus wanted Mary and Mary to tell his disciples what happened and that he would meet them. And you know, Jesus is still calling his followers to tell others about the good news.

I can hear Jesus calling you right now: "I want you do something for me. Tell people about my resurrection. Tell them about the hope it brings to the world. Tell them that I love them and that their loved ones will live again."

Ahhhh but it's early isn't it? You're not ready for this. You weren't expecting a call to come with your good news and marshmallow Peeps this morning. But here it is, right in your lap. Maybe next week you say? I know what you're thinking: How about next year when things calm down a little at work? I will be ready for Jesus once the kids graduate and I finally have a little more free time. This Easter with a calling from Jesus stuff is just too much too soon.

Yes its March 23 and it seems way too early. But guess what? He is here. The tomb is empty and Jesus has just greeted you with a smile and a hug. Are you ready to worship your Lord? Because tomorrow has just arrived. Believe in the good news and tell the world! Don't wait till 2228.

Christ is Dead

In Luke's Gospel Jesus assures one of the bandits who was crucified next to him that "today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)." Today we both will be taken away from this world. Today we will be dead.

I used to interpret this promise as meaning that Jesus and this bandit will be in heaven that day. But Jesus does not say that the two of them will be in heaven together today, rather "today you will be with me in paradise." The witness of the Gospels and other New Testament texts tell us that Jesus died that day. On the third day, the morning after the Sabbath, Jesus is resurrected. And then forty days later Jesus ascends into heaven. Forty days later! Jesus was not in heaven on that first day, nor was the bandit. However they were in paradise.

If Paul was able to help us understand the tree yesterday there is a good bet he will be helpful in us understanding the "paradise" Jesus and the bandit entered when they died. In 1 Corinthians Paul describes people who have died as having "fallen asleep." When Jesus and the bandit died that day their existence did not end. They did not perish. Instead, they entered a state similar to being in a good heavy sleep. It is paradise because they are in the presence of God. It is paradise because God is holding them in his Almighty arms. Time passes without a care.

Tonight, Holy Saturday, we celebrate that God raised Jesus from the dead. He awakens from this gracious state of sleep to live as a new creation. Paul says that all who are united with Christ will awaken from sleep as well. He explains this in 1 Corinthians 15 by comparing Jesus to Adam again, just as he did in Romans 5. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a human being. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Cor 15:20-22)."

Tonight Jesus beats death forever as he leaves the state of sleep and once again lives. We don't know when. We don't know how. In the first century Jewish world a new day began at sundown. The first Easter Sunday actually began when the sun set the night before. At any time that night God gave Jesus new resurrection life. In a traditional Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday a new paschal candle is lit by the flame of a new fire. It represents the new life given to Christ that first night.

Jesus' resurrection life at Easter is our good news as well. As Paul said in both Romans and 1 Corinthians we all are connected to Jesus' death and resurrection. A promise of resurrection life is given to all of us. Jesus is the first fruits, but the day will come when all who sleep in the arms of God will live again. The day will come when we all will gather together, resurrected children of God, at the great feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus will be there. The bandit will be there. The loved ones you have lost over the years will be there, resurrected from the dead. You will be there too. We who are united with Christ will be given the same resurrection life he lived at Easter.

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:3-5)."

Were You There When They Nailed Him to the Tree?

There is a passage in Acts where Peter gives a speech to Cornelius and those in his home about the gospel. Within the speech Peter describes Jesus' crucifixion this way: "We are witnesses to all that [Jesus] did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree (Acts 10:39)."

Why would Peter say they hanged Jesus on a tree when we know that Jesus was crucified on a cross? Peter knows this. Luke, who wrote Acts, also knows this and describes the crucifixion in great detail in his Gospel. So why bring up "a tree?"

The tree is symbolic of many things in the Scriptures. At times Jesus is described as the the Son of David, a new branch sprouting from the stump of Jesse (David's father). In the Gospels Israel is sometimes compared to an olive tree that is not bearing fruit. Will the olive tree be chopped down if it continues to bear no fruit?

But the most famous tree of all the Scriptures is the Tree of Knowledge between Good and Evil found in the Garden of Eden. God set boundaries in the Garden, allowing the human couple to eat of any fruit in the garden, expect from this special tree. "Nor shall you touch it, or you shall die (Genesis 2:3)." And that, of course, is what happened. Through Adam and Eve's disobedience... through the instrument of a tree... death entered the world.

Jesus changes everything though. Through Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross death no longer has dominion over us. He defeats death on the cross so that the morality we all face will not be the end of our existence. We will live again just as Christ lived again.

So why call the cross a tree? Paul helps us discover an answer. Paul compares Jesus and Adam in his letter to the Romans. Jesus stands in contrast to Adam for it is through Adam that death enters the world for everyone, but it is through Jesus that salvation is now offered to all. "Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all (Romans 5:18)." Poetically we can take that comparison beyond just Adam and Jesus by also comparing the instruments through which this all happened. Through the tree in the Garden mortality raised its ugly head, but through the tree in Golgotha salvation and the promise of eternal life is now available for all God's children.

So on this Good Friday remember how Christ twisted the tree of death into a tree of life by giving up his life upon pieces of wood.

Communion

It is ironic that the meal of remembrance that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper divides those who believe Jesus is Lord. Jesus institutes Holy Communion as a gift of grace. Through the meal you participate in Christ's body and blood. Through this remembrance meal you are united as one. But of course Christians around the world today don't participate as one around the Lord's Table. What a shame.

Only twenty years after that original Last Supper an apostle of Jesus felt the same way I feel right now. He was Paul, and he was disappointed by how the remembrance meal was dividing the church in Corinth. "When you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it (1 Cor 11:18)." He says this is unacceptable. He reminds them of what he was told Jesus said at his Last Supper. He scolds them for turning the remembrance meal into a 1st Century kegger. He scolds them for not waiting for all the believers to be present. And then Paul gives us words that should shame Christians of 2008: "So then, brothers and sisters, when you come together, wait for one another (1 Cor 11:33)." Show hospitality when we gather for this remembrance meal. After all its is more than a remembrance it is a gift. "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ (1 Cor 10:16)?"

Tonight is Maundy Thursday, which means "commandment" Thursday. When John describes the Last Supper in his Gospel he emphasizes Jesus' call for his followers to be servants and to be selfless in showing love. Jesus, the Lord, the Messiah, the Son of God, demonstrates this by washing the feet of the Twelve. He gives them a new commandment at the end of the meal: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (John 13:32)."

Love, service, and hospitality is connected with the Last Supper and consequently connected to Holy Communion. This is why Paul is so flabbergasted by what has happened in Corinth. He writes them in order to set them straight. It's is why it a disgrace that this remembrance meal acts as point of division today in 2008.

Ultimately when I think about Holy Communion, and all those who have gathered at the table throughout the centuries, I cannot help but think of Jesus feeding the crowd of thousands during his ministry. It's an event so important it is described SIX (6) times in the four Gospels. The central message of these mass feedings is that Jesus feeds them all. No one is turned away. No one is forced to go fend for themselves for food. In Holy Communion Jesus tells us to come and eat with him. You are welcome. You are invited to be united with my body and blood. Come... you are welcome. Send no one away! Praise be to God for this amazing meal. I pray I see the day when all Christians will gather together around the table without a thought of turning any of God's children away.

Tears of _____

I've been sick all week. It started Sunday night with a fever and complete exhaustion. I had the flu. Monday and Tuesday I did nothing but sleep, moving occasionally from sofa to bed and back to sofa again. At some point on Tuesday Valerie told me that Brett Favre retired. That didn't help me feel any better.

Packer fans, like myself, knew it was going to happen eventually. But you never really believed it would actually happen. But it did this week. I didn't cry when I heard the news. And as the week went on I didn't pay much attention to the things on the news about Favre. After all he was the source of so much grief at times. All those interceptions, including his last one. The yearly will-he-or-won't-he questions about his retirement the past five years. I came to the conclusion in my mind that its time to move on. At some point during the week I heard that Favre's press conference would be on Thursday to announce his retirement... but I did not see it... nor did I even consider trying to see it.

Something happened to me, though, this morning when I got to the Sports Section of the Chicago Tribune. I was only about 5 sentences into Mike Downey's touching column describing Favre's press conference before I was fighting back tears. A sort of "Field of Dreams" moment right there on my couch. And I felt awful because I should have known better. Brett Favre, the coolest, most sincere, most unpretentious person in all of professional sports was retiring. Yes, I was crying now.

Downey described a Brett Favre looking like a regular ol Joe in an un-tucked shirt and blue jeans breaking down almost at the very start of his announcement. Not looking for praise, not looking to impress, but being himself, Favre told the world he is walking away. He was that way every day in his career. In his victories he was himself, a regular guy. In his losses and interceptions he never made excuses and was always, always genuine. When his father died he let us cry with him. When his wife got cancer he let us cry with him. When his family lost so much in Hurricane Katrina he still was himself. Completely exposed, true, honest, emotional and sincere: that was and is Brett Favre.

So even as I type this I am tearing up. But I do feel joy as well. While I know I wont see any more of his amazing touchdowns, I also wont have to see another of those uniquely Favreian interceptions. And I know he is not going to disappear. I look forward to many decades of Brett Favre, the emotional and sincere regular ol Joe, either working as a broadcaster or a commentator. Fox better sign him NOW.

Will there be any tears when the Packers retire #4? Or how about when Favre ends up in Canton? You bet. I'll have my Kleenex handy.

Motivation

What motivates a heart surgeon to become better at her work? What motivates a Major League pitcher to shave a whole point off his ERA? Why does a man give his co-worker a box of cookies? Why does a Christian support her neighbor?

It's hard to say. But we naturally know what types of motivation are honorable and which ones are a bit disgusting, quite frankly. A heart surgeon might have a natural curiosity for medical science or a calling to help those who are sick. Those would be honorable motivations for a surgeon to become the best. But other motivations might be money, pride, the admiration of her colleagues. Are those what motivate your doctor?

A professional pitcher might work extremely hard in the off-season to improve his pitching so that his team would have a better chance of winning. But unfortunately nothing motivates a ball player more than being in the final year before free-agency, when he can freely offer his services to the highest bidder. A great season can add millions to the payday check. The Indians have a pitcher in that boat in 2008... at least the Tribe will reap the benefits for one season.

Or how about that man who gave the cookies to the woman in the first cubical? We have no idea what motivated him to do that, but I sure can tell you what they're saying around the water cooler. Let's just say most people think he's expecting something from our young co-worker in return for the chocolate chips.

Romans 15:2 says "Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor." When a Christian reaches out to someone else in love, what is the motivation? Is she motivated by the good feeling she receives from doing a good dead? Is the motivation the hope that he will be liked? Maybe, its the idea: If I'm nice to him, he will be nice to me. Paul doesn't see it that way in Romans. Our motivation for loving our neighbor should not be self-centered. Don't love your neighbor so that you can be loved, or so you can feel good, or so they might return the favor some day. And for heavens sake don't EVER love your neighbor so you can go to heaven. That's the most selfish motivation out there.

Love your neighbor just to love them. Help those in need because they need help. Love is our motivation.

If faith is a journey... then loving others for the right reasons is the first exercise we do as we begin training for the journey. It's our core action as people who have said "yes" to Jesus' call to follow him.

The Moon Turned Orange Last Night

The moon turned orange last night.

For the first time in my life I saw the moon turn orange.

I've heard of blue moons and moon's over Miami, but I've never heard of an orange moon.

The moon turned orange last night.

I live 20 miles from Chicago and usually don't see a whole lot of spectacular things in the sky because the city is too bright. The stars are dim here.

The most exciting things in the sky are Southwest Airlines' jets coming in low for a landing at Midway. But yesterday there was something else to look at in the sky.

The moon turned orange last night.

I wondered what it must have been like standing 200 years ago in the spot from which i observed this lunar miracle... before the glow of our mega-city... When the stars were bright and the full moon would illumine your world like a second sun.

How amazing an orange moon would have been. How frightening. Are the gods fighting? Was the moon on fire? Is the world coming to an end?

The moon turned orange last night.

Such an event was probably talked about for many days afterwards. Maybe even years. What great or terrible event happened to cause this? Centuries ago they might have talked about it for generations.

But no one is really talking about the orange moon today. Oh sure it came up at breakfast, somewhere between McCain's affair and the Sox in Spring Training. But otherwise its forgotten.

The moon turned orange last night.

We don't get moved by the spectacular as much as people did years ago. We can pop in the spectacular anytime with DVDs. We can search for the spectacular on YouTube.

But real spectacular things are happening every day. Far more amazing than any movie or video clip. God is on the loose! God is changing the lives of people right now. He touched your life today.

The moon turned orange last night.

Did you see it?

The Simple Big Questions

I was reading from Hebrews 6 today. The author gives this advice: "So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God (Heb 6:1)."

I know where the author is coming from. Can't we stop talking over and over about the basics? Do we need to say "Jesus loves you" again and again? Do we have to stick to the mantra of believing in Jesus... repenting your sins... living your faith... week after week, month after month? Can't we just do it without the reminders? Can't we just love our neighbor without thinking about it, just as we blink without thinking about it?

Hmmmmm... We are all sinners, though. Every day we face an inner conflict between what God is calling us to do through the Spirit and what our human nature is calling us to do. Paul describes that reality so well in Romans 7. Daily we need to repent of our sin and receive the free gift of forgiveness given to us in baptism. Yeah this is basic stuff, but even the most mature Christian must face these questions and issues all the time.

Faithful people never get beyond the basics. They struggle with them every day. Oh sure, our faith does mature. Prayer is a good example of that. A five-year-old is taught to fold his hands and say "Now I lay me..." This is a perfectly good way to pray. But a Christian who's faith has matured understands that prayer can be done in silence, in crowds, with hands in the air, or hands by your side. A mature Christian knows that in its essence prayer is understanding that you are in communication with God always. That's what Paul means by saying "pray without ceasing" in 1 Thessalonians.

A five-year-old might not understand such "mature" concepts so prays the same prayers at the same times. Why? Because Mommy said so! Unfortunately too many Christians never grow up in their understanding of faith. I am convinced that millions of Christian men do not pray regularly because they think they have to pray like they did when they were five. And quite honestly a grown man should not have to pray "Now I lay me..." A Christian who's faith has matured understands that spirituality is far more powerful and amazing than the Romper Room pictures we may have been taught as a kindergartner.

So yes we need to grow up. Yes it is a blessing when our faith matures. But will we ever be able to skip the basics? Not until Christ writes his Word in our hearts completely and reveals to us all the mysteries of God.

The Bright Light of Hope

2008 has begun just about the same way that 2007 ended for me, with my eyes fixed on the difficult stories coming out in the news. Bad news is nothing new, but this past week there have been two stories that have hit close to home. First, there was the story of an apartment fire a week ago that killed three people and displaced dozens more. As the smoke cleared this past week the motives behind the fire became more grizzly. Now an angry grandfather stands accused of purposely starting the fire in order to kill his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. The second story to come out this week involved another fire at a laundromat on Thursday that killed two people. It turned out one of those who died was a man who was often helped out at a local homeless shelter. Good friends of mine knew this man well and are deeply hurt by this tragedy. It is hard to find hope in the news stories that began this year.

Also in the news this week was the Iowa Caucuses. Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee were the winners in the first contest of the 2008 presidential race. I don't bring this up to talk politics, but instead I want to bring up their interesting connection to the word "hope." Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas who wants to become president. Sound familiar? But that's not all that's familiar about him. His hometown is a placed called Hope, Arkansas. Sounds even more familiar. You must be kidding, you ask? I'm not kidding. Look it up. Illinois Senator Barack Obama is also looking to become president. Obama is connected to the word "hope" through his book titled The Audacity of Hope in which he lays out his vision for putting the government back on track: a hopeless task in the eyes of most.

Obama pulled the title for his book from a sermon series his pastor had given years ago. They must have been some good sermons because the title reflects the reality that the world, like politics, seems to be in a hopeless situation. But of course nothing is ever hopeless in Jesus Christ. Faithful people can audaciously hold on to hope even in the face of so much bad news. We find such hope in the lives of people who press ahead even as they are struck time and time again by the pain of sin and death. God gives us such audacious hope through Jesus Christ.

Now the world approaches January 6 and the festival called the Epiphany of Our Lord. We remember the star that stopped above Bethlehem and the wise men who thought it wise to leave their homes and make the journey to pay homage to Jesus. He is Messiah and as such he is born to bring hope to a world that usually only sees hopelessness. When King Herod heard about this so called Messiah "he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him (Matthew 2:3)." Might it be that Herod's power, and the power of others in Jerusalem, was the cause of some of this hopelessness? You bet they were afraid.

Herod is not the sole source of human suffering, however. For as long as there have been humans there have been humans who have fallen into the traps of sin and have felt the sting of mortality. The cold hand of this reality has led too many good people into the pit of despair, convinced there is no hope left in the world. There are those who would say that there is no hope for the world in light all the horrible news of 2008. But let me tell you... There is hope!

The light of Christ's love has stopped over our world and illumines our cold, dark reality with hope. I have seen it so clearly this week. Every family that was displaced by Saturday's fire was placed in at least a temporary home by Monday. The community collected enough clothing by midweek to help the dozens who lost their homes four times over. And our local homeless shelters continue to operate because of the generosity of many, the leadership of staff and countless volunteers doing God's work now, in this place. Yes, there is hope!

But hope only begins with the amazing response of our brothers and sisters. Hope comes fully to light through Jesus Christ. Jesus' hope is audacious hope for the men and women who's lives ended far to early through these tragedies. In Romans Paul recognizes that sin continues and people still fall victim to senseless tragedy. Its not too hard to recognize that. But upon that reality the bright light of hope shines. Paul says in Romans 5:20-21 "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

No sin, no power, no tragedy can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The innocent victims of darkness are promised God's love and the comfort of his embrace. Nothing can extinguish the light of hope that shines on this world. This is good news for 2008. In Christ there is always hope. No wonder the wise men traveled so far to pay homage to Jesus. Wise men and women continue to pay him homage by living their faith every day. In Christ the light of hope shines upon us.