Parties, Pagans and Possibilities
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Thursday, May 25, 2017 | |
With graduation and wedding seasons upon us, my wife and I have lately been to more than our share of parties. Sprinkled into that mix: three funerals. Recently, Diana and I attended a gathering that stretched our comfort zone.
He clutched secrets of his own... For example, there was the newly married couple, both at least in their sixties or maybe seventies. Theirs was not a wedding that we attended, but mixing with them was easy. She blabbed effortlessly—unendingly. He was as silent as drying paint.
Still, the white-haired groom clutched secrets of his own. A financial analyst by day, he was an artist by night. We were informed he would soon be creating a charcoal drawing of his new wife—sans clothing. Talk about too much information!
Say what?! Also seated at our table was a lady who proudly told us she was a belly dancer. Her hair weavings, jewelry and makeup all gave powerful evidence to back up her claim. With due respect to the physical fitness and coordination such a dance requires, she was definitely a bit old for such a hobby. Likewise, her husband, who plays in a rock band.
This gathering also brought us rollicking recollections of memories drenched in too much alcohol, the stories punctuated with bawdy laughter. We were way outside our normal social circle.
How much of Jesus did they see? But isn’t this the type of setting in which Jesus would have been found? Aren’t these the very kinds of people He made a priority? Surely a crowd like this was what the Pharisees had in mind when they accused Jesus of hanging out with “tax collectors and ‘sinners’.
Here’s what I think the Holy Spirit might be trying to teach me (and maybe you). The fact that I might have been uncomfortable was less important than the need these people had for an encounter with an authentic Jesus-loving person. The real issue was not my personal comfort, but what they personally took away from our encounter. Exactly how much of Jesus did they see? Did I put the spotlight on Him?
Parties…pagans…and possibilities. They are all a great reminder of Christ’s words in Luke 5:32: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
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Death Made Stranger
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Thursday, May 04, 2017 | |
Death is a strange thing. But some have made it even stranger by preserving body parts of the deceased. I am completely serious. Following are eight examples from an article in The Ultimate Book of Randomly Awesome Facts, published by Scholastic.
Creepy, huh? I once walked past the heavily waxed body of Mao Zedong in China. And in Hanoi, we gawked at the preserved remains of Ho Chi Minh. What is it with Communists preserving corpses? Biblically speaking, the treatment of a dead body ought to evoke respect—hence the custom of anointing bodies with spices. Our souls, of course, represent incomparable worth. But in the Scriptures, our bodies are treated with regard, as well. 1 Corinthians 15:52,53 assures us, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I doubt that after I'm gone anyone will have the slightest interest in the tiniest slice of my brain. But all joking aside, I shall be eternally grateful to have been “raised imperishable.” What will it be like to “put on immortality?” Given our proneness to sickness, suffering, and death, aren’t you looking forward to finding out? |
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Ultimate Gift
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Thursday, April 27, 2017 | |
It's one of my least favorite parts of travel: car rental. It begins with a wrestling match online, where it is nearly impossible to gauge the total price of your car before you hit the “Purchase Now” button. Airport surcharges, city taxes, “recovery fees” and other cash-snatching schemes pile on to the price. Forget about "naming your own price!" That's why I make it a point to low-ball any offer I make online. Contrary to the ad campaigns, they really don't want you to “name your own price.” Evidence? They nearly always discourage me from making my bid, while very “helpfully” suggesting a much higher figure. Anyway, your plane lands and there you are ready to pick up your vehicle at the rental counter. That's when they begin the heavy hustle for add-ons and extras...along with the threat of charging you $10 per drop of gas (or something close to that), should you fail to return the tank full. Was this a mistake? But there I was earlier this week in Denver, having reserved a car online for $21/day. I'd successfully evaded the airport money monsters and proceeded to my assigned slot. There it was: a stunning black Mercedes Benz. Leather seats, digital-everything--this car was loaded. And the keys were in my hand. Was this a mistake? Had I somehow won the car rental lottery? What had I done to earn this sweet ride? Answer: nothing.
Forgive me for making a hairpin turn here, but isn't that somehow an image of the kindness and grace of our God? He loves to give good gifts just because He's kind. For no apparent reason other than He likes to bless us, He gives us the best gifts. Sometimes those gifts are as simple as a plate of hot toast. Sometimes they're as enduring as a kiss on the cheek. And then there's God's ultimate gift—the gift of being “saved by grace through faith,” also known in Ephesians 2:8, 9 as “the gift of God.” It’s the gift of being forgiven of our long list of offenses (sins), the gift of restoration with God. It’s the gift of God’s personal guide, the Holy Spirit. And—it’s the gift of eternal life in heaven. Have you received this gift—the gift of Jesus? |
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From Churches to Champing
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Thursday, April 20, 2017 | |
Everyone knows about camping. And most of us who camp know all about “glamping.” It's a marriage between glamour and camping. Think upscale trailers with luxurious amenities. Trust me—if you haven't been to an RV dealer recently, you have no idea how cushy camping can be. Yet an English charity, Britain's “Churches Conservation Trust,” now makes it possible to fall asleep in church—and not get hassled. The Trust, which preserves some 350 “disused” churches, is a creative fundraising scheme to provide for their maintenance. With no congregants to supply funds, it's tourism that now helps finance roof repairs, tuck-pointing and other maintenance. Sleeping in an Abandoned Church... For about $50 per person, you get the unique experience of sleeping overnight in an abandoned church. Launched in 2014, they call it “champing.” But there's little luxury to be found here. Think basic necessities, not flat-panel TVs. An article in the April American Way Magazine points out, “You may find yourself sleeping in a pew, or using bathroom facilities that seem to predate Christ.” Nevertheless, the idea has been gathering momentum. I Have a Better Idea! There are now 12 of these “converted” churches available from Scotland to England's deep south. And more bookings were reserved in the first few days of the new season than all of last year. Sadly, there seems to be more emotion invested in the preservation of the brick and stone, than any effort at ascertaining what went so wrong inside the walls that these houses or worship are now pseudo hotels. I have a better idea. Let's fill them up again—with worshippers! Let's preach the Word with Holy Spirit Fire. Let's fill these churches with people who will pray to God and “give Him no rest.” Let's blast the ancient walls and the timbered ceilings with such a sound of praise, the very idea of dust settling anywhere is simply impossible because of all the Christ-honoring commotion. By all means, let's abandon the “champing”--but not the churches! |
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Easter Too Soon
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Thursday, April 13, 2017 | |
Easter is in the air, which means there's a spring in our step. Enough spring that many evangelicals are prepared to hop right over Good Friday. Again. We love to celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death—as we should. But is it possible we shortchange the sufferings of Christ on Good Friday? Wouldn't you agree there is no point to the victory party, if you don't—or won't—embrace the struggle that came before? Not Good at Doing Somber It's a peculiar observation of mine that we evangelicals, for the most part, are just not good at doing somber. Or pensive. Look at the category of songs we call Contemporary Christian Music. Most of all these tunes involve boosting our hands, thwopping our drums and surging up and down whilst holding a guitar or bass. Thoughtful music lacks the bubble gum snap of “Praise and Worship.” We are postiviely uncomfortable with pauses and silence in group prayer. For the most part, we just don't do somber. Introspection lacks the sizzle needed for digital billboards and PowerPoint transitions. Of course, much of this is driven by our culture. Chocolate eggs and pastel bunnies are the distilled essence of our secularized celebration of Easter. Culture Trumping the Church? We buy Easter candy, not Maundy Thursday bitter herbs. We buy Easter dresses, not Good Friday sackcloth. But since when does the culture trump the church? When Jesus said, “Remember me,” He intended a whole lot more than plastic cups and grape juice and factory-perfect bread chiclets. He meant every staggered step of His cross bearing walk. He meant every swing of the executioner's hammer. He meant every ghastly cry from the cross. And yes, He meant the brilliance of the angel sitting at the entrance of His empty tomb. I am all for a raucous, rollicking shout of joyful worship this Easter Sunday. But we dare not shrink or trivialize that glory by avoiding the agony of Good Friday. For Jesus—and His followers—there has never been a crown without a cross. And that is why we must linger over Good Friday.
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