Spirit Ache

There's not a whole lot of usage of the book of Job these days, other than veiled attempts to explain teen acne.  Ya know, Job's 3 buddies come visit him after his calamity, and they all essentially say, "what did you do to deserve this?"  The disciples ask Jesus the same thing in John 9 when they encounter a blind guy on the side of the road (as if the blind guy couldn't hear them...cuz I assume he had really cool Bible-era super hearing to compensate for his blindness!).  What do we suppose Jesus said when He slapped his own forehead?  "OMG!" would be redundant, so maybe He just said, "Oi."  It's not always bad choices that cause our problems.  Sometimes, life is just hard because this world is jacked up!

And that's really the point of Job, as I see it recently.  Job may be the oldest piece of human literature in existence.  I mean, it was ancient when Paul was making friends on a deserted island in the middle of the Med (Acts 27).  Yet, here's Job, a guy who, at least 4,000 years ago yearned for something else...something more.  Listen to him in Job 19:27 I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Job's luxury is that he at least understood why.  Most of us don't; we're just restless.  Of course, Augustine says that we will be because God made us for Himself and we will be like that until we find ourselves in Him.  As the song says, there's a God-shaped hole in all of us.  And it aches.  It aches in a way that we can't understand because it's a spirit ache.  No aspirin for that.  I think my favorite song writer and lyricist ever is Andrew Peterson.  If you don't already own & listen to everything he has ever produced, well you're just a terrible person.  Listen to how he describes the yearn:

These many days of waiting will only be a sentence in the story.

This long day will come to an end, and I believe it will end in glory, when we will shine like suns and stride the green hills with those we love and the One who loves.

We will look with our new eyes and speak with our new tongues and turn to each other and say, "Do you remember the waiting?  The long years, the bitter pain, the gnawing doubt, the relentless ache?"

And like Mary at the tomb we will say: "I remember only the light, and the voice calling my name, and the overwhelming joy that the waiting was finally over."

The stone will be rolled away for each of us.

May we wait with faithful hearts.

     -Andrew Peterson

He's coming, but for now it hurts.  But it's a good hurt.  Romans 8:22-23 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  Oooouuuuuwwwww...

TLDR

I sent someone a message not too long ago, and back came their response:  "TLDR."  My first assumption that they wanted me to "take long dirt road" didn't work out too well.  I got creative and started thinking about all the things it could mean.  "toes like dead raccoon," "teeth lost during reconnaissance," and "two leprechauns dis Roseanne" didn't seem to effectively capture the sentiment either.

So I broke down & hit Wikpedia.  I figure, if it's on the internet, it MUST be true...  It is here that I discovered that "TLDR" actually is a universally-accepted text abbreviation for "Too Long Didn't Read."  If you've gotten this far in this post, you didn't know that either because if you DID know, you wouldn't still be reading, because, like me, you have the attention span of a gnat on Red Bull & Skittles.

So here's where I had what I call a very minor epiphany.  For most of us, any printed material results in the knee-jerk reaction of, "too long didn't read."  We just want someone to tell us what it means...so that we don't have to actually invest any of our own time & energy & thought capital on anything.  "Yeah yeah yeah, just tell me quickly cuz I have more important things to do...like watching episode 19 of 'Deadliest Catch' (& someone might catch a crab this time!)"

And so Scripture doesn't get read, and no one knows who God is or what He wants, and we rely on other people to tell us what they think God means.  Yikes!  It has been said that men would rather die than think.  I think that similarly, most of us would rather just not know than have to seek out the truth.  Ignorance is bliss?  Um, ignorance is... ignorance!

Have you gotten this far?  How 'bout His story.  I'm pretty sure that when we stand before Him He will not accept TLDR when we're asked if we read His book.  Or are the answers we want in the ready-to-order stars, internet, or new age gibberish?  1 Timothy 4:7 But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.

Read.  It's disciplined training.  It's worth it!

Ages

So, you think your home town is old? Archaeologists think they found a place in southeast Turkey that is a temple of worship from 11,500 years ago. They found evidence that they've tried to date, but some of these techniques are a little inaccurate. It might be 11,500 years old...or it may be 115 years old and the site of the first and most unsuccessful Turkish game show...

But it raises a question.  What is old, and how do we really know?  Most "scholars" today hold that the earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.  That's old.  All sorts of "factual" and "scientific" evidence is used to prove the assertion.  And, in fairness, if the rules we're playing by affirm these dating techniques as 100% flawless AND consistent with the physical laws of the universe, then it's hard to dispute.  But, what if we don't really understand everything we think we understand?  Is there a chance that stuff we take for granted was never really granted by anyone except...us?

And that's the problem.  Most of us are so anthropocentric (man-centered) that we forget to be theocentric (God-centered).  We mistakenly assume that if we figure something out, we own & control it.  But that would make us God, and He won't have that.  There's a charming little interplay in Job chapters 38-31 in which God unloads His perspective on things.  I'm betting that after Job stood there & took it, he didn't care nearly as much about the age of stuff as he did about the glory of God.

This new discovery may indeed be 11,500 years old.  Or maybe not.  The earth may be 4.5 billion years old.  Or maybe not (I personally think it's about 10,000 years old...).  This much I know, though, eternity is a lot longer than either one, and that's what matters most.  Find it.

Ethnic Food

If you've ever gone into an ethnic food restaurant, you have probably been susceptible to a wide variety of awkward feelings.  A friend of mine recently chose to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant.  I'm no cosmopolitan globe-trotter, but I've never known the Ethiopians to be renowned for their culinary conquests.  He was brought some "chicken stuff" which he ate & enjoyed, but not until after he made the choice to accept his surroundings...and the potential of some later lower g.i. rebellion.  I recently got a beef burrito at Taco bell, and was served at the drive-thru by a young lady who was clearly sub-continental in origin.  I felt guilty at the implication of what she was being forced to serve me.

So, we're left with a choice:  Do we go to an ethnic eatery where the food is truly ethnic, or do we "settle" with going to restaurants that claim to be ethnic but are really Americanized versions of reality?  What are we trying to prove by going to a sushi restaurant and ordering California rolls?  A buddy of mine has this rule: "If you walk into a Chinese restaurant and everybody there is a white anglo-saxon protestant (W.A.S.P.) hammering spring-rolls the size of travel pillows, turn and politely leave cuz it ain't the real deal."

What about missions?  Are we content to Americanize the world so that we feel good about our awareness of and assistance to the heathen?  Or, do we go and become like that which we want to save.  It might be awkward, and it might include some lower g.i. rebellion.  But it's worth it.  Paul (1 Corinthians 9:22) put it all out there, and I'm pretty sure he believed in what he was doing...and he made a difference.  Let's go.

OK, seriously!?

About a year or so ago, the president of Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad... or, let's just refer to him as 'Tim') was invited to speak in New York.  Amazingly, he accepted the invitation, and was subsequently skewered in public based on his human rights record.  Specifically, when challenged on his treatment of homosexuals, he simply offered this gem: "There are no homosexuals in Iran."  Following the uproarious laughter from the attendees (and the cancelation of San Francisco's bid to become Tehran's "sister city"), I found myself thinking, "he's really convinced himself of this!"

As ludicrous as that sounds, I recently met with a pastor who told me that, "we don't have any lost people in our church."  He wasn't referring to their exquisite skills with MapQuest. Rather, there was an assumption that all who had entered this "wide gate" were believers.  That would be nice except for that whole Matthew 7:14 thing...   No, there are lost people.  And there are lost people in our church.  I think the hardest thing to do is to give someone a drink who is convinced that they're already water-logged.

Here's to making folks thirsty.

Directional Pots

Jeremiah 1:13 has the charming visage of a boiling pot being poured out from the North.  May God be praised!  Not exactly the most straight-forward of passages, unless of course all you ever watch is the Food Network, and if that's the case, I doubt there's any danger that you're reading this...

The point is, God was telling Jeremiah precisely where the destruction of his nation was going to originate.  So!?  Well, his leaders didn't listen.  "Good" King Josiah ignored this counsel and decided to step in the way of Pharaoh Neco as he marched north (from Egypt...in the SOUTH) in an attempt to donkey slap the Assyrians.  Neco shot several arrow-shaped holes in Josiah because of this.

So!?!?  Don't go preparing for wars that God hasn't told you to fight; you won't like the outcome.  Most of us have this "axis complex" in which we believe we are the center of the earth's rotation (forgetting that God has existed before, during, and outside of time...and that it's all about Him!).  And so we have a tendency to believe that our area of life & influence is always what God is talking about.  "Well of course the end-times will include America and of course the Anti-Christ will be American..."  Really?  How come?  Where's THAT said in Scripture!?

Stretch The Kingdom.  America is great, but it's not the Millennial Kingdom, so don't start trying to defend it as such.  God will have His way!  Now, when the pot starts to pour from the north...

Decision Day

Yes yes yes, today is November 4th, and that means it's the election day for the good old U. S. of A.  Right wing conservatives are convinced that the end is near; left wing liberals firmly believe that the beginning is at hand, and the other 300 million Americans just want a cheaper tank of gas and to not be lied to by their officials.  Still, the election matters.

Serious issues are in view, not the least of which is abortion.  Near to the heart of God is justice and protection for those who cannot protect themselves.  Clearly, an unborn baby has absolutely no ability to defend itself.  The issue, however, is not as much political as it is spiritual.  Much has been made, stated, and written about it already, but the point I believe God wants us to understand is that life matters, and He is moved to action when the defenseless are victimized.

Obviously, every bit of legislation is an attempt at some level to try and formalize morality.  That's tough to do in the absence of spirituality rooted in truth.  It's disastrous, though, when a governmental system formalizes the abolition of personal choice and consequence.  Deuteronomy 28 and the "minor" prophet Joel speak out very forcefully about this.

Ultimately, though, the election doesn't change The Kingdom.  John Piper (a hero of mine...which I'm sure makes his day...) put it best when he stated that as Christians, we already know that we lose in the short-term but win in the long-run (Revelation 21-22).  Let's live like it.  Yes, vote.  But don't bank your eternity on the butt occupying the chair in the oval office.  God is still sovereign...

Tingly Forearms

I have noticed that every now and then, I experience something euphoric, and when I do, my forearms feel light & tingly.  Now, I have been accused of being a closet leprechaun before, but that's not what's in play.  No, instead, it's that the spirit and the body are undeniably bound.  When we have an intense emotional experience or we worship in a really focused manner, sometimes our spirits erupt and the only physical release mechanism our bodies can employ is crying.  In the same way, sometimes I experience a peace that passes understanding from having come through a spiritually grueling situation, and on the back side of it, my forearms tingle...almost like they've been lifting a heavy weight for a prolonged amount of time and then suddenly been relieved of the burden.  It's already plain where I'm going with this:  Handing off a burden to the One that is equipped and willing to carry it is euphoric, and I'm wondering why I don't do it more often.  Maybe because somewhere down deep, I believe that I can do a better job of carrying the weight than He can...so I clutch.

Augustine said that, "God has made us for Himself, and we are restless until we find ourselves in Him."  I would modernize that slightly and say that, "God has made my forearms weak, and they will not be tingly until I hand Him all my stuff."  Euphoric.

Room For Teeth & The End Times

At least once or twice a week, I somehow manage to bite the inside of my own mouth.  How does this still regularly happen in 2008?  Clearly, I am not a proponent or believer in evolution between the species, but you would think that enough time has passed that a being with opposable thumbs and the creativity required to develop TiVo would be able to suck on a pear-flavored jelly bean without molar-grinding the back of his tongue.  I suppose that's one of the early and frequent indicators that we are still a flawed species in desperate need of redemption.  If people didn't bite their own tongues, would they still realize their fallen state?  I mean, every time I'm in a public place and I gnaw myself and my head shoots up in pain like somebody tazed me in the neck, I think, "this is NEVER going to happen when I get my resurrection body!"

Now, speaking of that, I've been preaching through Revelation 2-3 for the last several weeks.  Apparently, it's a popular text in light of what's going on in the world.  One of my heroes, David Jeremiah, has even recently published a book on the topic and has gone so far as to say that he believes the end times will culminate in his lifetime.  Obviously, no one knows because Scripture says so.  But, there is no question that Christ could come back at any moment, and recent events seem to be pointing in that direction.  I mean, the United States banking system has essentially been nationalized & I almost bit through my left cheek today while savoring a Memphian sandwich at McAllister's.  Oh yeah, interesting times, they are-a-comin'... 

Sunday Morning Locker Room

I love Sunday mornings.  I mean I LOVE Sunday mornings.  Now, before you think I'm getting all Hallmark-ish about seeing sweet people in lace collars, that's not what I'm getting at (as lovely as that is).  I love the routine of getting up earlier than any other day of the week.  I love driving to Starbucks with my moon roof open so that I can see the stars overhead.  I love the cool air whipping in.  I love listening to Eddie Kirkland's "Lift Up Your Heads" and Todd Fields' "Let Me Sing" so loudly that it affects my ability to make clear decisions.  I love worshipping.  I mean I love having palms open & crying like a 7th-grade break-up victim and then trying to look cool to the barista with my red eyes and crackly voice. "Uh, yeah, I'd like a really strong straight black coffee cuz I'm a stud American male who doesn't cry or anything like that so...um, where's the cinnamon?"

I guess this is what professional athletes experience in their pre-game.  This is euphoria.  I can't wait to do what I've been called to do.  Can you imagine that level of fulfillment?  God doesn't have to allow me this level of joy, and yet He does.  He's good.  It's a simple blessing, but it strokes my core.  I get to go to church having already experienced Him in joy.  Then, I can focus on loving others and not what "church can do for me."  Ironically, I get more out of church that way!

Can't type anymore; "Bless The Lord" by Laura Story is confusing my keystrokes.  I love Sundays.

Garage Sale Ethics

So I just spend the better part of the day trying to convince people that they couldn't live without stuff that I no longer needed or wanted.  And so I ask myself, "is that ethical?"  I mean, it's easy to justify with the whole "one man's garbage is another man's treasure" thing.  But, I mean some of the folks who moseyed down my driveway had more need of a sandwich than a sand wedge.

I happen to be fluent in Spanish, so inevitably, some of our more brunette customers would engage with me in conversation.  After I failed to convince them that they needed a cordless phone that wouldn't hold a charge, they would ask why I spoke Spanish.  I'd explain & then they'd ask me what I did (presumably for a living, not when Tony Romo throws an interception...).  I'd say "pastor" & they'd kinda look at me with this blinking furrowed brow about why I tried to sell them tile remnants.  That's instant cred.

I think the whole garage sale culture is fascinating.  We had the obligatory dealers show up at 5:00 AM (armed with flashlights) and the occasional guy who just happened to be in need of a frayed piece of coax cable.  Maybe this is the last vestige of the village barter system.  Maybe this is why cultures that still have it (including skinned bats strung upside down) have yet to be economic powers.  I'm just sayin'...

I just haggled the sale of a painted white rock.  Made this lady's day.  Another lady brought 722 pound of stuff to the table and it cost her $6.25.  What a deal.  It probably cost me $14,300 new.  What an idiot.

Greek Cuz

So that.

See, there are these great little Greek words that always answer the question "why?"  I love these.  Somewhere in every human (with the exception of that weird guy who plays the villain in Stephen Segal's 'Hard To Kill') is the child-like question "how come?"  The writers of Scripture loved to answer this question.  The words "hina" and "hopose" are awesome because they always explain stuff.  I don't care nearly as much about "what" as I do "why."

OK, like, "why do bad things happen to good people?"  In order that (hina)... stay tuned.

BTW:  This may be the greatest weather of all time ever.  If East Texas keeps this up we'll rival Bangladesh in population.  And we all know how good that would smell.

Starting Out

One of the greatest and most effective spiritual disciplines is journaling.  Spiritual disciplines are not liturgical regulations that you follow so that God is more pleased with your effort.  Spiritual disciplines are practical measures that we can take to place our lives on the proverbial "tee" so that God can stripe us down the fairway toward our destination & purpose.  Any attempt at purpose-driven anything outside the guidance and mystical direction of God will be fraught with frustration & an infuriating lack of fulfillment.

So, this is an attempt at journaling.  In a public sense, because that's where we've come as a culture.  "Hey, look!  An open kimono!"  I'm not a writer, my wife is.  She rolls here eyes at my insistence on using semi-colons when I should probably employ commas.  But, the beauty of this forum is that the grammar police are forever stuck in the linguistic donut shop of futility.  Journaling (now blogging) I believe is a powerful tool for aligning and clarifying the clutter of the mind, and then sharing that experience with someone else who has likely experienced the same foibles in their journey.  That's called community, and done well, it can be very healthy.

Off we go... (somewhere a hairy-footed Sean Aston grabs an equally follicle-blessed Elijah Wood and they set off on their journey).

A new friend named Kem told me yesterday that people no longer ask "what is truth?"  Instead, they ask "what's the point?"  I would agree that our culture has moved in that direction, but would amplify it by saying that we also are most prone to ask, "what will work?"  That drives most of our decisions:  "What's the point; & what will work?"

This is my journey into exploring the Word & mind of an infinite God in an attempt to answer the question "How come!?" with an emphatic and celebratory "So that!"

Giddy up.