The Persecuted

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" ~ Jesus

(This is a continuation of posts on the Beatitudes starting on January 20th.)  

Jesus had begun his ministry teaching that the Kingdom of God had arrived. News of his healing power had spread and large crowds began to gather.  The people were hoping, He was the promised King who would deliver them. And so Jesus begins teaching about this Kingdom.  The whole sermon on the mount is about the reality of this coming kingdom and how we should live.  Even these first little verses (Matthew 5:3-10) bookend with the promise of the Kingdom of God.  But really its all about His Kingdom.

The Persecuted

Persecution seems to be something we think of that happens somewhere else.... in some closed land to a few.  Yet Jesus teaches that persecution (for righteousness sake) would go hand and hand with following Jesus.  It is not if but when.   If the world persecuted Jesus, the world will persecute his followers.  

I can't say I have faced major persecution.  Okay I got knock down a grade in college in one history class for standing up for my faith.  (At least that how I saw it).  It cost me graduating cum laude.  But so what?   Once our ministry almost got kicked of campus at University of Northern Colorado and another time we were stopped from passing out surveys..  But I went through the proper channels even visiting the President of the University and nothing really happened.  I had to leave a country were I was serving early because we heard they were going to call our disciples in for questioning.  But really it was our students we were trying to protect not me.  And I got home and saw my girlfriend (now wife) sooner.   So actually I should have thanked the PSB.

None of these are anything like losing your life or being imprisoned.  Just inconvenienced.

Yesterday I heard of two of our teams that are facing  potential situations of visas being revoked or not being allowed on campus.  In another country where we hope to send people, I read all they are cracking down more severely on believers coming into the country.  I shook my head.  But shouldn't we expect it?  Is this in fact, the norm for a person living in the Kingdom of God?   

Should my response be to shrink back or rejoice?

Blessed..  Rejoice... Be Glad

I don't want to discount our brothers and sisters who are facing persecution.  It's real.  Millions are facing persecution for their faith around the globe.  It's serious.   But here we have an encouragement from the One who would face the ultimate persecution to rejoice.   

I think of Paul and Barnabas being kicked out of on town and rejoicing they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ.   I can see them skipping down the road to Iconium not fully knowing what lay ahead.  They would be kicked out of another town and then on to Lystra where Paul would be stoned and thought dead.   Of the 12 cities where Paul ministered in the first 3 journeys, he would be forced out of 6 and face huge trials a 7th (Ephesus.)   And then of course after those journeys involving various intense persecutions, Paul would spend years imprisoned in Rome. And yet from there he writes a letter on joy and rejoicing always.   Earlier he writes that he delights in persecutions.  Strange.   I don't get it.

Reward in Heaven

If something comes with a reward, you'd think we would want it.  I get the treasure in the field parable.  At least I like the treasure part of it.  But does the cost come with this?  I want to flee persecution and certainly don't celebrate its coming.  And there's a basis for some of this since Jesus told us to flee.    

But Jesus says it comes with a reward.  Really?   A reward?  How would believing this change how I live?  Would we hesitant to go to certain places?  Would we hesitant sending others... our own children?  

Lord, I don't know if I can honestly pray for persecution.  But I pray for perspective.  I pray that when it happens I will by faith rejoice and be glad.  i will rest in the hope that I have a reward that awaits me.  I will know that the Kingdom of God is mine.

New Recruits

Seems like for the fall, the Dawgs have found a new cheerleader, Right Tackle and a QB who likes to be in charge.

As long as they can put up with that assistant coach who has nicknames for all the players, they should be okay.

45

Just call me Nostradamus

I am like 5 for 5.   

Okay maybe I missed on the Mr. Rourke and Tatoo appearance.   

Wait a minute didn't they said, "Namaste" when people came to Fantasy Island?  

Shifting Demographic of Center of Christianity

Steve Addison has a post on the shifting composition of Christianity over the last 2000 years (as well as the future trend).  

Interesting how the trend is moving South and back East.  You can read the full report from a link on his post.

 Okay, be honest.  How many of you thought the center of Christianity crossed over to the US?   When you think of a Christian do you think of a West African woman living in poverty?

Who are Our Neighbors

 This morning I read to my boys a story in the bible that is all too familiar: the Good Samaritan 

But rereading it again in a simple terms for them, it helped me see it afresh.

In this story, we see a man who was a religious leader tried to trick Jesus.  (Bad move.)  He asked how good he could receive eternal life.  Now this guy should have had all the answers.  He was an expert in the law.  Maybe he had studied for all his life.  He had the theology down.  Maybe he was one of those guys who liked to argue theology.

  And while yes, while yes the path to beginning a relationship with God is something as simple as this, Jesus breaks it down another way.  (He lets the expert tell us but he agrees.) We are to love God with everything we have: all of our heart, soul, strength and mind.  Hold nothing back!  We love him because he first loved us.  We love because He gave himself for us.  We love him as a Father and because He is God.  This kind of love is like my sons' love for me - simply trusting him and enjoying His love for us. 

But Jesus goes a step further, this life eternal is about loving our neighbor as yourself.  Ouch! Notice this religious dude wanted to justify himself so he asks 'who is my neighbor?'   I asked my boys who are neighbor is and they answered with, "Ben and Ellie", "Susan", "Casey", "Lava..."  All correct.  Luke added that some of our neighbors we don't know like the guy with the perfect yard catty-cornered from us.   Again that's a neighbor.

But Jesus tells a story about a neighbor being someone one you would not expect.  In this story the bad guys (I guess save the bandits) are the religious people who think they have it all together.  They walk by - too busy, too much trouble, its dangerous, job for someone else, not my calling....  (You should have seen the confusion in Drew's face as to how someone could not stop and help.)  But the neighbor is someone who doesn't have it all together in fact we could say his theology is all twisted.  He is someone of a different race - in fact an enemy.  He stops, he gives.  He shows compassion.  He loves to the extreme.   He loves with a God-shaped love.He gives more than what is even required.   That's loving your neighbor!  That's following Jesus!  

(Jack & Drew liked the story so much, I had to read it twice.)

Loving God and loving our neighbor.   That's the journey He is calling us to.  May every day we seek to love God more deeply, more completely.  May every day we seek to love our neighbor who is in need - whether on the way, across the tracks or across the ocean.  May we love not just in word but in deed! 

Why is it Wrong to Honk Your Horn?

This morning a guy almost pulled out in front me.  He was leaving the parking lot of the Catholic church as we were heading to church.  It was obvoius he was not going to stop and it wasn't looking at us.  I honked my horn,  just letting him know I was there.  He stopped in time and as I went by, he laid on his horn back at me.

Okay if a horn is wrong to use, why do they put one in every car?   I don't get it.  Like if say he was about to walk out in the street and a car was coming and someone yelled, 'look out', would he have yelled back at them 'look out yourself'?   

What's up with people being upset with someone honks?  Usually people honk not to point out they are stupid but to warn them, 'hey I am here and you don't look like you are gonna stop'.  Or 'hey put down the cell phone and notice that the light changed like a half a minute ago'.   Or 'I must be in your blind spot because why else would you be coming into my lane.'   It's not like I honk because someone is going too slow in the fast lane.  (I just blink my lights at those times.)

When did using a horn suddenly mean you were the one being rude?

Like is it a sin to honk?  And if it is, I won.   I was going to church.  He was leaving so he's gotta wait a whole week to see his priest again to deal with that one.  

I say: "Let's bring back the use of the horn".   Let's make it friendly.   "Hey, buddy, just letting you know I am here."   A gentle wake-up call.  A neighborly greeting.  And if you are reading this while driving, I hope someone is laying down on the horn at you right now.

A Father's Prayer

"Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless! Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, 'God will never call us to account.' But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans *. 

"Break the arms of these wicked, evil people! Go after them until the last one is destroyed. The Lord is king forever and ever! The godless nations will vanish from the land. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,so mere people can no longer terrify them."

                                                                                                                        ~ Psalm 10:12-18 NLT

* Since the vast majority of abuse to children happens by men and within the family, maybe we should redefine 'orphans'.    Of course I don't want to negate the vulnerability of those who are truly orphaned - abuse among orphans and foster kids is astronomical - but perhaps any child not raised in a home where there is a dad who truly loves and protects them then maybe these children are in fact fatherless.

Protecting the Innocent

Last night I went to a parents meeting at Luke's school.  Today and tomorrow the kindergarten classes had (will have) talks presented by folks from CAP.  I am glad his school is doing these presentations to help Luke and other kids be safe, and learn to steps to empower themselves against bullies and predators.  But I am disturbed that he needs this because our world is such as it is.

Last night, sitting with 6 other parents.  (There are about 40 Kindergartners so not sure what happened to the rest of the parents.), I fought back tears and anger as the presenter shared stories and sobering statistics.  

What kind of world do we live in where 1 out of every 3-4 girls and 1 out of every 4-6 boys will be sexually assaulted by their 18th birthday?  Or where 90% of these assaults will be perpetrated by someone known or trusted person?  Or that almost 83% of victims are abused by their own parent either alone or with someone else?

I want this to stop!  This is not the way it should be.  The innocent should be the ones we protect the most.  Millions of kids innocence are being stripped at the perverted pleasure of others.  It's sick.  It's wrong.   And its common in every nation and among every race and among every social-economic status.

I don't want my sons to be a statistic, to be victimized, to have their innocence stripped.  I don't want this for any child.  

"Lord, may you protect the innocent.  May you crush the oppressors.  May it your justice reign.  May we see an end to the innocent being exploited.  May your kingdom come, your will be done.  May it be on earth as it is in heaven...  where there is no pain, suffering, abuse."

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The Monkey and The Fish

Dave Gibbons begins the Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church with an eastern parable.  A well-meaning monkey sees a fish struggling in the water after a typhoon.  Having a kind heart, the monkey with considerable risk to himself reaches down precariously from a limb of a tree to save the fish snatching him up from the water.  The monkey lies the fish on dry land.  For a few minutes the fish showed excitement but soon it settled into a peaceful sleep.

Translation: it died. Relevance to the 21st Century church: everything.  

Gibbons is the founding pastor of Newsong, a multi-site international third-culture church.  Years ago, Gibbons was building his megachurch and was struck with the thought of building a big box that would not be used most of the week to entertain people who for the most part would not change the world.  He was a well-meaning monkey thinking he was saving a fish.

God took Dave Gibbons down a journey that has huge implications for us today.   What he came to embrace is that the world is changing to a third-culture were we need to be willing to cross lines to reach people where they are.     

Love your neighbor

If we take the parable of the Good Samaritan to heart, we see that our neighbor is someone not like us.  It is someone of a different race.  Someone who with different beliefs.  We are called to love, to act, to serve.   To be Christ rather than just talk about Him.

Be Liquid

When you pour water into a glass, it takes the shape of the glass.  Pour it into a teapot and it takes the shape of the teapot.  Water can flow.  Be water.  Be Liquid.  

Our message remains the same but our forms must change.  And our conflicts should not be about forms.  it's a waste of energy.  Third-culture is about being water to a thirsty world.  It's being adaptive.  It's being willing to change.  It's reading the culture.  It's being a Jew to reach Jews.  It's being poor to reach the poor.  It's being liquid

Three questions

1.  Where is Nazareth?  Who are the people on the margins of life?  Who are the outsiders?  Who are suffering the most?   Instead of looking for the leaders who can offer the most to our churches/movements/organizations/own kingdoms, Gibbons teaches us to look for who are the most in need.   It is the model of Christ.   It is how God operates. God's power is most perfected in weakness.  

2.  What is my pain?  Instead of always looking for our own spiritual gifts/talents/resources, Gibbons encourages us to identify with our greatest pain.  It is through our pain that the world can relate to.  It is our pain that shows the power of Christ.

3. What is in my hand?  What has God given me?  Use that.  Stop focusing on what we do not have or comparing ourselves to some myth.  Stop trying to become something we are not.  

I highly recommend this book!  it spoke to my soul.  It gave me hope and that we can adapt to help change the world.

The Unreached

After almost 2000 years since Christ’s mandate to make disciples of all nations (ethnos, peoples), more than 40% of the world lives among people groups that are unreached or least reached.  

Did you catch that?   We have been at this for 2 millennia and 2/5 of the world is still beyond easy access to the gospel in their culture or language.  Almost 3 billion souls are considered unreached because there is no known indigenous community of believers with enough numbers or resources to take Jesus in word and deed to them.

And yet there is a great promise in Rev 7:9-11 that there will be a great multitude that no one will be able to count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.  this mosaic of people and ethnic groups will stand before the Lamb worshipping the One on the throne who with His own blood has purchased people from every ethnos on earth. (Rev. 5:9). 

This month, Robin and I share about two efforts to reach unreached peoples.  One is in Russia and the other is in a closed country in Southeast Asia.   In Russia we are sending a team to travel from city to city reaching students from various unreached people groups.  We also share some stories of changed lives among unreached peoples in Southeast Asia.

You can either download PDF copy or read on-line by going on-line to our box.net account.

The Peacemakers

(Sorry I have been so negligent to post in the past month.)

War

Since the first two brothers, our human race is one that by nature reverts to conflict.  We just can't get along.  As I type there are about 40 known conflicts or wars going in the world.  The longest and bloodiest?  Burma or Myanmar.   War breeds orphans, widows, poverty, famine, misery, hopelessness and more war.  

Yes, I do believe war can be just and right like stopping a Hitler or ending slavery.  Just wars are usually in response to a conflict or injustice already going on.  Too often though I think we are quick to justify war especially if we are confident we are the ones on the side of right.  This is not just some anti-war post.  In fact, some of the most angry people I have ever met are anti-war protesters.  It is about another way, a kingdom way.

The Peacemakers

The apostle Paul wrote that some of the acts of the sinful nature are things like hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy.   But peace is a fruit of life under control of His Spirit.  It is peace that Jesus came to give.  In fact, the first thing he said to his followers who he appeared after his resurrection was "Peace be with you."  James tells us that peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

I wonder if peacemaking come from a root of a heart at rest.  What causes me to be angry or jealous or to have selfish ambitions?  It is when my rest is not at peace.   I respond rather than trust.  I become quick to defend my rights rather than sacrifice and surrender.  

Sons of God 

Perhaps if my heart was truly at rest, I would be a person of peace.  I would learn to make peace.  I would live, as far as its possible with me, to be at peace with others.

I recall token phrases that have been uttered from my foolish mouth.   In speaking of present wars, "peace will only come when the Prince of Peace comes."  I was talking about some distant day of his return.  But did He not tell me to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?"  Why would a peacemaker be blessed if there is no calling to make peace now?

What if my life was not characterized by something who had fits of rage or hatred or discord?  What if our homes not no discord or jealousy?   What if our churches had no factions or dissensions?  What if our communities had no selfish ambition or envy?  What if it was on earth as it is in heaven?

What if I made peace and in doing so I would be called a son of God?

Luke and Jump Rope for the Heart

On March 6th, Luke is participating in the 30th anniversary of Jump Rope for the Heart.  If you would like to sponsor him as he raises money for the American Heart Association, you can go to his AHA Jump Rope for Heart page.

It Must Be Spring

Well technically its still winter but it feels like spring here.  But the reason it must be spring is that its Spring Training and I think the Braves have a chance.  Yes, I know they stunk last year and its been 3 years since they have made the playoffs.  But I have had the same thoughts since childhood when we dwelt in the NL West and our only hope was everyone on the Big Red Machine going on the DL and the Dodgers, Giants, Padres all choking.  

I guess that's why we are called fans.

Hey, if they can keep their rotation healthy, the hitters have career years, the Mets choke as usual and the Phillies do what all reining World Champs do and struggle, then there is hope.

Alexander Pope once wrote that "Hope springs eternal."  But for me and Braves baseball Spring hopes are eternal...  summer brings reality.  

Go Braves!