A Stumbler's Walk | TGIF!... or WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT FRIDAY?

I'm not sure which title I like better. So I used them both. Today is Friday. More than that - today is Good Friday.

A couple days ago, I saw a talking head on TV miss the point. (That's not too uncommon. I guess I miss the point a lot too.) What snapped my face toward the flat screen though was how close and yet far off the man was in his eloquence. I really don't remember if the news story was about the tragic fire at Notre Dame or if it was about political unrest in the U.S. I believe it was the former, which actually makes his near-miss more palatable at face-value, and more tragic at its core.

The newsman-come-theologian made a statement akin to: "...and after all, this Easter season is all about rebuilding and renewal. Let us remember and take comfort in that."

Sounds good. But nope.

REbuilding and REnewal are good things. They are wonderful in fact. And necessary. But they are not the focus of the Easter season. One might make the case they are aspects of it's REsult. They are products of the main RE. But neither is the main RE. The RE that is Easter's heart. (I know you're way ahead of me.)

What is dead cannot be REbuilt. What is dead cannot be REnewed. What is dead cannot be REenergized, REvitalized, REstored, REanythingized. What is dead must be made alive. What is dead must be...

 REsurrected!

What is good about Good Friday actually lies in it's terribleness. Good Friday is about death. Good Friday is sacrifice. Good Friday is Perfection ripped to shreds, bleeding, gasping, (forgiving), and dying. Good Friday is dark and hopeless. Good Friday finds its end in a velvet-black tomb. Good Friday is only good because Sunday comes.

What is dead is buried. What was buried is no longer in the tomb. What was murdered is alive. REsurrection!

Before there can be REbuilding and REnewal - or any other RE - there must be REsurrection.

So today is Good Friday. The sun is shining outside, and a light shines within. Because Good Friday, with all it's horror and agony, is not the end of the story. If it were, we would not call it Good Friday. We'd just call it Friday.

Today is Good Friday. And Sunday is coming.

God, Thank you for your resurrection power. There are so many things that need to be resurrected in me by that same power and love. 

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | THE LONELY ARROGANT

"This knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.

-- 1 Corinthians 8:1

Any time I have attempted to prove myself the smartest person in the room I've failed. On many fronts. First, I seldom have the highest IQ in any setting - even when alone. (I've known of an Ikea chair or two that have me beat.) Second, even if one were to prove to be smartest, he or she has still failed. The failure comes in simply having to prove it. In other words, winning the IQ competition usually goes hand in hand with losing the relationship opportunity.

The issue is not IQ, it is arrogance. Notice that Paul writes, (This) "knowledge" puffs up...; and not knowledge puffs up... There is a significant difference. 

The Apostle Paul is not against knowledge. He is not belittling education and understanding. As a matter of fact, Paul most certainly had an incredible intellect. He was in line to be High Priest of Israel and had an incredible grasp of the Old Testament. He confounded Greek philosophers with his wise arguments. And at one point, was even accused by a king of being driven mad by his "great learning."

Scripture repeatedly states that God's desire is that we have wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He is the author of all of the above.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...     

-- Proverbs 2:6

Here is the point: Arrogance is a disease. It is a sickness of the soul. And it is an infection that affects every relationship. (Chosen ignorance is also a disease - and often a religious one. But that is for another post.)

Arrogance is self-serving / Love serves others

Arrogance stands alone / Love exists in community

Arrogance tears down / Love builds up

Arrogance leads to failure / Love always wins

Given time, the arrogant person will prove to be the smartest in the room - because he will be alone. 

God, help me to be humble and to love...

For now...

D 

A Stumbler's Walk | BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!

(I'm working on the final part of HOW?, but in the meantime, here is a redo/rerun.)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. -- 1 Corinthians 10:13

Star Trek ran for 79 episodes. Not once did a character say, "Beam me up, Scotty." Nor did Humphrey Bogart's Rick ever say, "Play it again, Sam," in Casablanca. Both are commonly attributed to the originals. But they are not there.

Nowhere in scripture is it written that God will never give you (or allow) more that you can handle. We hear it all the time. And it is as cliche as Beam me up Scotty.

The fact is God will again and again allow us more than we can handle. (Stay with me, it get's worse... then better!)

Paul wrote of his struggles: For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). David writes much the same: I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart (Psalm 38:8).

Ultimately, 11 of the 12 disciples were martyred for their faith. The twelfth, John, was boiled alive in oil (and lived), and then exiled - where by the way, he had the incredible Revelation of Christ and wrote the letter of the same name.

I often face circumstances, burdens and pain beyond what I can bear. Please re-read the very last part of that statement.

... beyond what I can bear. 

There are two lies born out of the statement, God will not give you (or allow) more than you can handle. The first is that YOU can handle it. You. By yourself. You can and must be strong. 

The truth is, eventually you can't. There must be WE. The life of faith cannot be lived in isolation. Paul writes that we are to, bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). When we cannot lift another's burdens, then we must lift the person who carries the burden. Christianity is lived in community; never in isolation. 

The second lie is much like the first. It centers in the bearing of burdens. We are not human pack-mules destined to trudge through life weighted down. That is not the joy inexpressible and full of glory Peter writes of (1 Peter 1:8); or the fullness of joy Jesus speaks of (John 15:11). 

As a matter of fact it was Jesus who said:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest... you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

-- Matthew 11:28-30

(I told you it would get better!) 

I've often heard well-intentioned people say, "That's just my cross to bear," in speaking of a struggle or burden. But crosses are not for carrying. They are for dying. And when we are daily, crucified with Christ, as Paul wrote, we are also daily resurrected with him. It is only the pains, the struggles, the burdens, and the sin that remained nailed to the cross. 

God, because you are with me I can walk through any valley...

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | HOW? (Pt 3)

So straight to it. This is part three after all - so limited preamble. (Though you might want to read parts 1 & 2 to get up to speed.)

There are two how? questions asked in Luke's first chapter. At first glance they seem similar. First glances can be deceiving; or at least limited. There is a subtle difference in the questions. Maybe better stated, there is a difference in the belief behind the questions.

So it's taken three posts to finally point out the difference in the two questions - the two hows?. Here it is (and this is very much my interpretation. Feel free to disagree.): One how? is a question of doubt. The other how? is a question of amazement and wonder. (Yep, you read three posts to get to that.)

How? can reveal a heart of doubt.

How? can express faithful wonder. 

Zechariah asks how? when told by God, through an angel that his wife Elizabeth is going to bear a son.* In his how? we hear doubt and disbelief. Now I don't want to be too hard on old Z. First, he's faithfully served God and the people his entire life. Secondly, I can be the king of DOUBTING HOW? and don't have quite enough hypocrite in me to point the finger.

Gabriel confirms Zechariah's how? is a doubting how?: "You will be silent and unable to speak until the time... because you did not believe my words..." (v10). It is easy to read right through that. I wonder why God, via Gabriel, shut down Zechariah's ability to speak. (And this thought just came to me. It's not where I planned to go, but I'm going to see where it leads. Meaning... I don't think we'll wrap this up in part 3.)

The angel's response to Z's how? seems a little harsh. "You won't be able to speak until this promise is fulfilled; until your son is born." Every time I've read this I thought: "Dang, a bit much." Mute for at least nine months. (Who knows, maybe this was a literal God-send to his wife Elizabeth.)

Is this punishment? Maybe. But I don't think that's really it. The writer of Hebrews tells us God lovingly disciplines his children. It can be unpleasant and confusing. But our Father is purposeful in carving our character and shaping us more into the image of Jesus.**

However, I think there is more going on. Zechariah is given an incredible promise. He can't wrap his mind around it. He can't wrap his faith around it. And his words verbalize his doubt. More than that - his words betray the heart of faith he has always had.

Remember, Gabriel confirms that Zechariah has been praying for this very thing - a son. God has heard and answered. Jesus said, "Ask... Seek... Knock..." Too often, this is where I fail (you?). I don't ask enough. I don't seek relentlessly. I don't knock until my knuckles hurt. But apparently Zechariah has.

So I have this question: Though Zechariah has served his God faithfully; though Zechariah has asked his God specifically; has Zechariah forgotten that his God loves him personally?

I am too old... Not, "God, you can't pull it off." Not, "God this is over even you're powerfully-exalted head."

I am the problem... I am the weak variable in this equation. 

It is almost as if God answers: "Yes, you are correct. Yes, you are weak. Yes, you are too old. Yes, you are a faithful waverer... a Stumbler Walking. Shush now. Silence. Quiet yourself. And watch this..."

You are too weak... But I am powerful.

You are too old... But I am the Ancient of Days.

You are not... But I Am!

Now be quiet. Be quiet and know that I am God.

Your words are betraying you. 

They are falsely making your doubts to be bigger than your faith.

The last words you spoke were words of doubt.

With your next words you will name a son!

Zechariah's words reflect my heart. God's response overwhelms my spirit. 

Here is some good news: Even in Zechariah's doubt, God fulfilled his promise.

A reminder: God is not bound by our doubts. He is bigger.

God, I am all the things that make it impossible. You are the One who makes all things possible. As a father once responded to Jesus, "I believe. Please help me in my unbelief!"

For now,
D



*Angel in the original Greek writing is translated simply as messenger. Here it is the angel Gabriel, who, according to his proclamation in verse 19 stands in the heavenly presence of God and was sent specifically to Zechariah specifically with this good-news message.

**The purpose of this post is not to detail a theology of discipline or suffering. However, you might read Hebrews 12. As you do, allow the words of Paul to ring true: "...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ...; For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil 1:6; 2:13) 

A Stumbler's Walk | HOW...? (pt2)

How...?

-- Luke 1:18,34

(Some part twos are not dependent on part ones. Jaws 2 for example, stands alone - albeit very poorly. The Godfather Part II or Rocky II, on the other hand, very much rely on their respective One. This Part 2 is like that. Take a look at part one of How...? in the prior post. I'll try to not repeat and rewrite too much.)

HOW...?

In the first chapter of Luke's Gospel we come across two hows...?. Both are asked after an angel's declaration. (I'd like to think the awesome-light-being-appearance-do-not-be-afraid!-thing would be enough for me. I want to believe that how...? would be out of the equation...

I'd like to think BELIEF would be BIGGER than HOW...? But my belief is often (usually?) swallowed by my hows...? 

Zechariah asks how...? when Gabriel announces his wife Elizabeth is pregnant. And no, it is not a case of Zechariah being naive. More so, Zechariah is being a realist. He is old. Elizabeth is old.

They are too old.

There is a lot in that last statement. (Maybe for you; I know there is for me. And in writing it, and re-reading it, I just came to realize that HOW...? is not going to wrap up in part two.)

They are too old. A brief four word sentence that carries SO much weight. So much baggage. So much loss. So much dream-death. As I think about it, we bring our dream-death baggage constantly into the present. Our belief is blocked by it. Our vision is skewed.

I am too old... We can replace old with so many other toos: 

I am too young... 

I am too poor... 

I am too unimportant... 

I am too messed up...

I am too _____________

Before Zechariah's response that he and his wife are too old, he asks a question: "How will I know this?" What we will see in the next post (or the next?), is though Zechariah and Mary ask the same basic question - How...?, their hows...? are fundamentally different. (But we'll save that for later.)

Zechariah's how...? is a statement of disbelief. His how...? is an indication of his heart. Remember, Zechariah is a Temple priest. He is a faithful guy. We never read that he is crooked or that he is stealing doves from the alter to make hat bands for sale. Luke writes that he and Elizabeth were, "... righteous before God, walking blamelessly in the commandments and statutes of the Lord." 

And yet Zechariah can't see it. The angel speaks: "Your prayer has been heard..."  In essence, Zechariah answers: "There is too much past for that to be my future." 

THERE IS TOO MUCH PAST FOR THAT TO BE MY FUTURE...

I'm going to wrap up here for now. This is the how...? with which many of us struggle. How can that promise be for me? How can it be my future? I have too much past for that to be real. 

I wish I had the eloquence to state this in a way that could really connect with your heart (and mine). All that I can do is write it and pray God drills it home: Your future is in no way dependent on your past!

YOUR FUTURE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON YOUR PAST

I am too __________

However you filled in the blank - No your are not! Nor am I.

God, overcome my I am toos... Overpower my hows...?!

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | HOW...?

How...? 

- Luke 1:18, 34

I have a lot of questions. I'm guessing you do too. 

For children the most asked question is, Why? As in... Parent: "It's time to go to bed." Child: "Why?" Followed by whys? to every ensuing answer. 

Why questions remain into our adulthood. They usually center around difficulties, tragedies. The problem with deep why questions is this, they are seldom answered. And too often pat answers are offered up that make little sense and provide even less comfort. (Religion's version of, "Because I'm the parent and I say so...")

Maybe we'll come back to Why? in another post. But it is another question that leapt from the pages of my Bible this morning.

HOW?

How? is a faith question. How? is a control question. And just like Why?, God is not obligated to answer. Though sometimes he does.

The first chapter of Luke is rich. In it the author explains his perspective and motive for the account to follow.* Luke is a man of medicine by trade and a disciple-historian by calling. Though he was not an original disciple (as in Jesus' twelve, not the rap group), he did walk among the disciples after Jesus' resurrection and ascension. He was a traveling companion to Paul in his journeys. His account(s) is chalked full of historical names, dates and references that make it easily refutable... if it weren't accurate and true.

Enough for the history lesson. Sorry... it's the preacher in me and like a gopher, pops its head out from time to time. Back to the question: HOW?

How? shows up twice in Luke's first chapter. Both Hows? spring up around birth announcements. These announcements were not mailed or sent via Facebook. They were hand-delivered by an angel named Gabriel.

One day a old priest named Zechariah was doing his duty in the temple. Zechariah was a faithful man. His wife Elizabeth, a faith-filled woman. And in their old age, they had no children. An angel, Gabriel, suddenly shows up. Luke writes, "...and Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him." The angel says, "Don't be afraid." (Angels always say that... they must be some frighteningly glorious beings.)

Gabriel goes on to tell Zechariah that, "...your prayer has been heard..." I'd like to think that if a 10-foot light being showed up and said that to me it would be enough. No more whys?. No more hows?. 

"Your prayer has been heard."

I'm good.

Not so with Zechariah.

Well, this post just became a two-parter; it could even be three. We have another how? to go. And then we can dive into what jumped out at me as I read the account. I realize I haven't gotten to THE point. I really haven't gotten to ANY point yet. Since this is a bit of a devotion I will make A point to leave you.

YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN HEARD.

There may be no angelic announcement. Better - there is a Jesus-promise:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,

and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened... 

how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

-- Matthew 7:7-11

God, I'm knocking.

For now...
D



*Actually Luke and Acts are two parts of the same narrative by Luke. In reading them together we get a feel for the consistency of faith and Spirit-driven desire that carried a ragged group of followers to become The Church; and The Church to become a force that changed the known world.

A Stumbler's Walk | THE POWER OF STORY (part 3)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us -- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. -- 1 John 1-4

Our stories are individual. They are unique. They are OURS. But they are not isolated (even though we, at times, may feel we are). 

Each of our stories is interwoven into those of others. Ultimately we notice a common thread running throughout the tapestry. This thread ties our stories into THE story - into His story (HIStory). 

The Apostle John, in both his gospel and epistle, begins with, well... the beginning. He begins with a story that predates dates. It is the eternal story; the story of The Word. This forever-living Word is a person - in the personal sense; though for a short time in the flesh-and-blood sense also. 

There is deep theology in John's words about The Word (especially in John 1). But for now I will (try to) skip the theology. What has been whispering in my soul is this motif of story. And more to the point, the interweaving of our stories into this Word of Life made manifest story. 

I began this post (which grew into posts) after watching several I AM SECOND stories. Even at 30,000 feet breathing stale air, eating my three peanut allotment and elbow fighting with my neighbor over the armrest, I felt a connection. Though each story was unique, in a sense their stories were my story (and yours). 

They were stories of broken people meeting The Word of Life. Theirs were narratives being interwoven into the grand God story - and in a way, into mine (and mine into theirs, though we've never met). 

They were stories about seeing, hearing, looking upon, and touching The Word of Life. They were stories of impact. They were stories of the change that occurs when we realize His thread running through our lives - when we wake up and become aware of the work of the Great Weaver. 

(Well, I realize part 3 isn't going to get it done. I'm nowhere near finishing my thought, but I'm out of time... off to church and then the gym. I'll leave it here for now.)

God, write my story...

For now...

D