100%

The 'Occupy' movement is gaining momentum by attracting self-proclaimed 1%ers who think they should be taxed more. (Check out tumblr.) Meanwhile, the NBA lockout continues with players and owners arguing about how they can make more money.

Same planet. Two different worlds.

New and Improved?

A generous life flows from a contented life.

Think about it. What keeps you and me from being generous? It's the restlessness, fear, or worry that what we are giving away might result in missing something we think we need. Put another way, generosity is stifled when I am more focused on the thing(s) I lack than on the abundance I possess.

Capitalism, which drives our society, survives on its ability to create need. We're not taught to be greedy. (We all know that would be wrong.) But we are taught that we would be more fulfilled, happier, more efficient, or have a better family life if we had just one more thing. Excess is not cool today. In fact, it's despised. What is cool is upgrading. Upgrading sounds responsible and reasonable. But the 'upgrade' is always predicated on convincing us that the thing we have now is somehow lacking or out of date. It's last year's model, the clunkier operating system, the lower resolution display, the less fuel efficient model.

Perhaps the apostle Paul's words to Timothy some 2,000 plus years ago are not so out-of-date. Paul insists there is richness and wealth apart from the restless desire for the upgrade. Rather, abundance is found in contentment. Paul says, "but godliness with contentment is great gain… if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1Timothy 6:6, 8)

In this year's stewardship journey we'll discover that contentment is grounded in gratitude, revealed in prayer, and lived in faith. For three weeks we'll study Paul's timeless advice in 1Timothy 6:6-19. This series is for anyone who wants to escape the rat race of desire. It's for anyone who longs to live in the wide-open freedom of lavish generosity.

The last Word to Live By of the Ten Commandments is a word about Contentment. It provides the perfect launch point for this three week adventure beginning the last weekend in October. I encourage you to join us for every step along the way.

Song for "10 Words to Live By"

Here are the lyrics for the song we're learning during this series. Start practicing. I can't wait to hear you!

Number one, we’ve just begun, God should be first in your life.
Number two’s the idol rule: those graven images aren’t nice.
Number three, God’s name should be never spoken in jest.
Number four, the Sabbath’s for our worship and for rest.
Number five, we all should strive to honor father and mother.
Number six, don’t get your kicks from killing one another.
Number seven, life is heaven when you’re true to your mate.
Number eight, don’t steal and break this rule for goodness sake!
Number nine, don’t be the kind who goes around telling lies.
Number ten, don’t covet when you see your neighbor’s house or wife.
That’s the list and God insists we stay away from these sins;
That is why we memorize commandments one thru ten.

~ Words & Music by Kathie Hill and Janet McMahan

"Allegiance" message follow-up

We're off to a great start in our study on the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments are God's curriculum for living as truly free people. These are words to live by!

Here are the two quotes I used at the end of the message today. The first is attributed to C.S. Lewis:

"When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. Insofar as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving toward the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased."

The last quote is John Wesley's Covenant Prayer. It appears in the Methodist Hymnal (I did not use the last phrase):

"I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low by thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."

Lastly, be sure to check out my friend's website that has all the study materials for this series (10 Words to Live By). Greg is a special friend of mine and a great Bible scholar. You'll find lots of material to enrich your personal study.

(Tomorrow I'll post the lyrics to the 10 Commandments song that we're singing each week. You may even get a YouTube video out of me. Who knows!?)

I Don't Want to Be Thin

Ever since I began trying to lose a few pounds using the iPhone "Lose-It" app, I've been thinking about our culture's obsession with thin.

In our world, thinner is better.

How do you know the iPhone 4 is better than the iPhone 3? It's thinner. Same with the iPad 2. It's clearly superior because it's thinner than the original iPad. New TV's are better than older TV's because they're thinner. Same goes with computer laptops. We want thinner electronics, appliances, kitchen gadgets, and camping gear because thinner is better.

Or is it?

Our culture's obsession with thin also begs us to live thinly. The "thinner is better" myth stretches our schedules and flattens our lives. We are losing weight and getting thinner but can anyone see us when we turn sideways? Do our lives count for anything that really matters?

In contrast to our thin-obsessed culture, the Scripture invites us to live thick with purpose and meaning. The Apostle Paul invites us to stop "wasting away" (2 Cor 4:16) and begin preparing for "an eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor 4:17).

The Ten Commandments of the Old Testament are a kind of weight-gaining program for life. More than being a mere list of things to not do, the Ten Commandments are live-giving words by which we can learn to really live. Starting this weekend (August 27-28) I'll be leading us through a 10-week series on these "Ten Words to Live By." My hope and prayer is that we'll all gain some weight ("weight of glory") as we make these words our own.

Check out clpc.org for more information.

Throwing Stones at Casey

USA Today reports that Judge Belvin Perry will sentence Casey Antony today at 9:00 a.m. Her conviction is for lying to police, not for murdering her daughter. The majority of the nation would very much like to have had the latter. Over the last several months we have become experts in the psychology of the criminal mind and are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that she is guilty. So if the jury and Judge Perry won't do it, we will – we will do the sentencing. Some have taken this more literally than others. Only moments after her acquittal, Antony began receiving death threats. NBA basketball star Vince Carter offered advice on his Twitter account that Casey "might want to move out of Florida like ASAP!!!" We just can't grasp how in the world this lying, conniving, and self-centered young woman can get off so easy.

Casey reminds me of another woman discovered clearly in her guilt. She was brought before the jury and tried for her crime – only this time they got the verdict right. But when it came time for sentencing, a different ethic ruled. A woman caught in adultery deserved to be stoned to death. But Jesus invited the one without sin to go first. One by one her accusers dropped their stones and walked away leaving Jesus alone with the guilty woman. "Neither do I condemn you," Jesus said; "go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11).

I started this blog in the morning and by now we all know that Casey will stay in jail until next Wednesday. Conversation on the TV news and at the company water cooler is all about what she'll do when she gets out. Perhaps we could use the time between now and next Wednesday to pray for Casey and to interject a different voice to these conversations. Perhaps we could talk about a God who offers grace and forgiveness no matter how big the crime and who invites his followers to do the same.

Our Citizenship

Here's a touching story from Kay Warren to reflect on as we celebrate our Nation's independence this July:

Heading home to California … a friend and I passed through the Dallas–Fort Worth airport. On the way to the connecting gate, we heard loud patriotic music playing and saw a group, mostly women, wearing colorful hats, cheering, and waving American flags. The troops were coming home, and here was their welcoming committee.

Two women encouraged us to grab flags and join in. We were early for our next flight, so we took places in the makeshift greeting line. At first, a few soldiers just dribbled by. We whooped and waved our flags furiously. Then the pace picked up as dozens of men and women in uniform came barreling through. We kept repeating: "Welcome home! We're glad you're back! We appreciate you!" Some soldiers wiped away tears, while others displayed huge, self-conscious smiles...

After 45 minutes, it was time to catch our flight. We hugged the organizers and thanked the vets who had come to honor this generation of soldiers. As we sank into our seats for the flight, we felt humbled by participating in this sweet moment of coming home. It was impossible not to draw the obvious spiritual parallels. These men and women had taken oaths of faithfulness and service. They had fought courageously, lived with deprivation, danger, and disease, and took unbelievable risks, all for the good of our nation.

But as great as America is, it is a temporary place. No nation lives forever. As believers in Christ, we are all soldiers in the Lord's army. We, too, take oaths of fidelity, sacrifice, and service. Our oaths of allegiance are to a kingdom that shall never end—a country where there is never a mistake in leadership, where justice flows down like a river, where poverty, disease, terror, hunger, and greed hold no power.

Scripture teaches us about the welcome and rewards we will receive when our battle on earth is over. Artists, writers, and theologians have all taken stabs at imagining what those moments of heavenly welcome will look like. … That afternoon … we were visualizing the very moment when we would step into eternity.

As my friend Elizabeth and I looked at each other, the same thought crossed our minds. Through misty eyes, she said, "If I get there first, I'll be on your welcoming committee. I'll be jumping up and down, screaming, 'You made it! I'm so proud of you!'"

I laughed and said, "Oh, you're not going to beat me. I'll be there before you. I'm older. I'll be at the head of the line to greet you!" In that moment, heaven was more real than the smell of the stale coffee in our foam cups.

What I'm really wondering about is this: Will we be surprised at who gets the biggest welcome? I'm not coveting more high-fives, but I am dimly aware of something so profound and holy that I can barely put it into words.

All of us fight unseen battles every day, each believer a secret soldier locked in battle with forces no one else can see. The bravest among us are not necessarily those who fight with guns or tanks. The bravest person you know might be your husband or wife or neighbor or coworker who goes on living one more day when every bone in his or her body says it's no use...http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

How much could we lighten the load for another just by telling him how brave we think he is? Oh, to be so merciful with fellow soldiers fighting their personal, hidden wars.

Best of all, how much better when we bring undisclosed struggles into community, where victories can be celebrated together, great losses mourned together, and where whoops of encouragement can provide even the most weary soldier the courage it takes to keep on keeping on, one more day.

Kay's husband is Rick Warren, the senior pastor of Saddleback Community Church in California. She shared this story in a 5-28-09 article on www.christianitytoday.com. May we all cherish and celebrate our earthly and heavenly citizenship well this Fourth of July.

ESV Bibles in the Pews

CLPC has new bibles in our pews. Several months ago the session and I began exploring replacing our New International Version (NIV) bibles with the English Standard Version (ESV). There are many fine bible versions on the market today and our corporate study of the scripture is enhanced by using a variety of translations. With that said, here are a few reasons why the session concurred with my recommendation to update our pew bibles.

First, the ESV, first published in 2001, takes a more literal approach to translation than the NIV. While the NIV seeks to translate thought-for-thought, the ESV translates the original Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) more closely word-for-word. An essentially literal translation, like the ESV, allows students of the scripture to draw conclusions independent of the bias of the translators. For instance, in Romans chapter eight the NIV translators consistently use the English phrase "sinful nature" to translate the single Greek word sarx,which literally means "flesh." While the NIV draws the interpretive conclusion that sarx (flesh) means "sinful nature," the ESV allows readers to draw their own conclusions by translating the word as simply "flesh."

Secondly, the ESV cleans up some of the unnecessary male gender bias reflected in the NIV. For instance, compare the way each bible version translates 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

(NIV) ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

(ESV) ¹²Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

At other points, the ESV intentionally maintains the male language of the original languages so the reader, again, is invited to take Scripture on its own terms rather than depending on the assumptions of the translators.

Lastly, the ESV is widely available in a variety of platforms and study bible formats. You can easily find the ESV for your iPhone, iPad, smart phone and Kindle. The ESV Study Bible (which I personally use on my Kindle) is a solid resource for bible students.

You can find other resources and read more about the translation philosophy of the ESV on their website at www.esv.org.

Houston Chronicle Ad

If I were going to pay $8,000-$12,000^* for a half page ad in the Houston Chronicle I think I'd want to talk about something else; like maybe the hundreds of people suffering tonight in Joplin in the wake of this nation's deadliest tornado in 50 years; or those still recovering in Arkansas; or Haiti; or Japan. I think I'd use my advertising power to communicate a different kind of message to a world, that sadly, cares less and less what the church has to say about anything let alone what the latest revision to our church constitution is.

I'm not very proud tonight to be a Houstonian Presbyterian follower of Jesus Christ. I may just stay home tomorrow and hope than none of my non-church going friends read the newspaper today. How in the world is that newspaper ad a conversation starter about the good news of Jesus Christ?

I'm not very proud tonight be a conservative evangelical follower of Jesus Christ. The real kicker is, I agree theologically with the Layman. I agree that God's design for human sexual intimacy is in the context of a lifelong covenant of marriage between a man and woman. I believe that our culture is tremendously confused when it comes to what constitutes good and beautiful sexual relationships. I believe there are a myriad of ways sin leads us away from God's good and beautiful design. And I believe that Jesus Christ purchased redemption from each and every one of those ways on the cross.

But I would much rather others be confused about my stance on homosexuality than that they would be confused about my love for Jesus Christ. In fact, I really don't think God is sitting in heaven right now wringing his hands over lifelong monogamous relationships just because they happen to be homosexual. I gotta believe there are other concerns topping God's list. Perhaps one of them is how irrelevant the world perceives the church? Perhaps one of them is why the church is squabbling using the world's language of power and politics rather than communicating with the language of love, mercy and grace?

"All to Jesus I surrender. All to Him I freely give."

 

^*I have no idea how much the Layman paid for the ad. I just read on "Yahoo! Answers" somewhere that a half-page ad in the Sun Times is about $9,000.

little hassles and eternal glory

All I wanted to do was pick up my laundry and head home for lunch.

Simple. Right?

It wasn't until I was parked in front of Don's Cleaners that I realized I had used the last check in the checkbook yesterday for my haircut. 'No problem,' I thought, 'I'll just run over to the ATM and pick up some cash.' (My wallet was empty too and Don does not take plastic.) I get to the ATM and the guy in front of me is doing his semi-annual banking. When he was finally finished and it was my turn, the ATM didn't work anymore. I tried to get my $20 but whatever the guy in front of me had done broke the ATM!!! How does that even happen??? 'No problem,' I told myself again. 'I'll just go inside to the teller and get my cash,' except there's only one teller and the couple in front me is from some business and their transactions are also taking forever! Finally, the teller from the drive through came over and at last I got my Andrew Jackson.

Then it was back to the cleaners.

I picked up my laundry.

By now I'm twenty minutes past when I told my wife I'd be home for lunch.

As I was driving home, now thoroughly irritated my mind flashed to the passage I'd read this morning: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17). Now, I'm pretty sure that Paul is talking about things bigger than empty checkbooks and mal-functioning ATM's. But what if it includes this stuff? What if in the minor irritations and little hassles of the day God is actually preparing us for an eternal weight of glory? What if what seem to us like moments of disruption and chaos in our day are really God-events training our spiritual beings for eternity?

Youth Sunday Bragging

May I brag for a moment about my congregation? Today was Clear Lake Presbyterian Church's annual "Youth Sunday." This is the weekend that youth take over and lead all the parts of the worship service. This includes the call to worship, offering, sermon, and of course, the music. I have to admit, I always sort of hold my breath when it comes to youth Sunday, especially at our traditional 11:15 worship service. Our 11:15 worshippers are used to organ, choir, hymns, and clergy robes. But on youth Sunday they get drums, guitar praise choruses, and jeans!

Once again, my congregation proved no reason to hold my breath. When the youth band started into their second song ("Marvelous Light" by Charlie Hall) I could hear the eighty-five year old gentleman behind me singing along. It was obvious he'd never heard the song before – but he was sure giving it his best shot, singing as loud as he knew how; "Your love it beckons deeply, a call to come and die. By grace now I will come And take this life, take your life…"

I began to weep.

The more he sang the more I could not.

I was too choked up.

You see, somewhere lodged deep in the DNA of the oldest members of this precious congregation is an awareness that faith is to be passed on. Our faith in Christ only makes sense if it is given away to the next generation just like it was given away to us. Our oldest members are pleased to have teenagers leading worship because they recognize in these kids' newfangled songs and unfamiliar music is the same old familiar gospel. Faith is being passed on. It's taking root. Jesus is changing lives. Still. And that's something worth bragging about.

FAQ Regarding Yesterday's Vote in the PCUSA

Here is a FAQ sheet distributed by the Presbytery of New Covenant regarding the change to our denomination's constitution:

Frequently Asked Questions
The Change in Ordination Standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

1. How is the change in ordination standards happening?
It appears likely that during the week of May 8 a majority of the 173 presbyteries will have approved a change in language for ordination standards recommended by The General Assembly in 2010. In all, since the General Assembly meeting, 55% of the total number of commissioners voting in presbyteries is approving the amendment.

2. Specifically, what language is being changed?
The following old language will be replaced by new language:
Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W‐4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self‐acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
The new language (Amendment 10-A):
Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G‐1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G‐ 14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W‐4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.

3. What does the change in ordination standards mean?
The ordination standards have changed from “living in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” to “joyfully submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.” This removes a national standard categorically prohibiting the ordination of persons in sexual relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

4. What does the change in ordination standards represent?
The Presbyterian Church (USA) has shifted the authority for applying its ordination standards from the national level to the local presbytery and session level. This represents a de-centralization of the church and puts more discernment in the hands of people at the local level.

5. May congregations now ordain people who are openly gay?
The previous standards were never based on a person’s orientation, but on their behavior. The new standards do not list specific behaviors that automatically exclude someone for consideration for ordination. Each examining body is responsible to look at all possible factors to determine if someone is being called into ordained ministry.

6. Specifically, what was changed?
The primary change is the removal of language requiring those ordained “to live either in fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” It also adds language referring to obedience to Christ, and indicates that fidelity to church standards is judged case by case by the examining body.

7. What practical changes will we see?
If pastors, elders, and deacons who are ordained in one area move to another location, they shall be examined by that ordaining body before being able to take up their office. That body may choose to apply ordination standards differently from the officer’s previous body.

8. Is the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians mandated?
No, it is not required, but it is no longer prohibited by specific Constitutional language.

9. Will a congregation be required to change anything?
A congregation cannot be forced to ordain or receive pastors or elders or deacons of whom they do not approve. The congregation retains the right to determine who will serve as officers.

10. May a congregation continue to consider sexual activity outside marriage between a man and a woman as impermissible for its officers?
Yes, as long as the application is on a case by case basis. The authority for ordaining elders and deacons is fully vested in the local congregation. The new language calls the ordaining body to be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying ordination standards to individual candidates.

11. May a congregation or presbytery now ordain or install a sexually active homosexual?
Yes, if after a thorough examination, the congregation or presbytery believes the person to be called by God to serve as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament, elder or deacon and not to be living in violation of the church’s ordination standard, its Confessions, or Scripture.

12. Does the new language give candidates who are sexually active outside the covenant of marriage between a woman and a man the “right” to be ordained?
Nobody has a “right” to be ordained. Ordination is based on a sense of God’s call as confirmed by the ordaining body.

13. May a presbytery continue to function with the standard of “fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” when examining candidates for ordination?
Yes, as long as the application is on a case by case basis. The new language calls the ordaining body to be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying ordination standards to each candidate.

14. Is a presbytery required to receive, by transfer of membership, an ordained sexually active gay or lesbian minister?
No, each presbytery determines which ministers to receive into its membership.

15. May questions about a candidate’s sexuality be asked or are such questions forbidden?
All questions are allowed during an examination. The acknowledgment of being sexually active outside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman does not automatically disqualify a person from being ordained.

16. Is a congregation required to call a pastor who is openly gay or lesbian?
No.

Changes in the PCUSA

Sometime this month the newspapers will be reporting on an important change to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Amendment 10-A replaces language that to this point expressly excluded from ordination those sexually active outside the covenant of marriage. Whereas the previous constitutional standard for ordination was “living faithfully within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” the new language calls for “joyfully submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.” The amendment seeks to broaden the call for obedience beyond the arena of sexuality and to allow individual ordaining bodies greater freedom in interpreting specific standards.

As for Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, nothing much will change in our life and ministry because of this. We’ll continue to reach out into our community with the good news of Jesus Christ, inviting others into personal relationship with him, seeking corporately and individually to grow in Christ’s grace and Lordship as we visibly demonstrate the Kingdom of God.

In my own preaching and teaching, I will continue to affirm God’s design for human sexual intimacy within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. And, even more important, I will continue to preach and teach God’s amazing forgiveness and life-changing grace which free us from all kinds of sexual anarchy.

Undoubtedly, some sessions and Presbyteries will welcome this constitutional change as opportunity to ordain practicing gays and lesbians. However, it is important to understand that the new wording actually underscores the right and responsibility of each ordaining body to thoughtfully and prayerfully examine every candidate for ordination. This means CLPC has autonomy to define and maintain our particular standards according to Scripture for ordained pastors, elders, and deacons.

I welcome your comments and questions here and for others to join in on the conversation. In subsequent posts I will offer some more thoughts and resources on the topic.

End of Lent

Well, Lenten experiment of ironing my own shirts and praying for the countries on the tags has ended. Next week I'll start taking my shirts to the cleaners... whew!

The experiment has been interesting. I had no idea that my clothing came from so many places around the world. And I couldn't help but think about what a luxury it is for me to even have the option of having someone else wash and iron my shirts. I would sort of grouse to myself every time the stack of clean un-ironed shirts started piling up. It felt like such an inconvenience to have to break out the iron and ironing board... Until I remembered that surely most of the people making the shirts I whining about would not have that option.

As you'll recall, part of my commitment was to save up the money I would have normally spent on laundering and give it away. I had imagined giving it to some particular ministry in one of the countries of my shirts. I haven't exactly decided where to send my meager contribution (I'm open to suggestions!) but I am intrigued by Kelsey Timmerman's blog. Kelsey is the author of a book entitled "Where Am I Wearing" in which he chronicles his travels to the countries where his clothes were made.

Thanks to all of you who are following my blog. I really am trying to do a better job of keeping it up! Stay tuned for some posts about the upcoming change to the PCUSA's Book of Order regarding ordination standards.

Join the "Rat Race"

Our North American culture is a "context of persistent denial of grace" (Peterson) and sadly the church is often the biggest culprit. As I was driving this morning I passed a large electronic marquee in front of a church that read: "Hard work brings prosperity and success." This is the North American gospel, isn't it? "Join the rat race!" Is that the best we can offer? Never mind the implication that if you are poor or homeless you are basically lazy. How about Jesus followers offering some alternative definition for what constitutes "prosperity and success?" Anyone care for a cross instead?

Swimming by Grace

In his recent work Practice Resurrection, Eugene Peterson captures a wonderful analogy about the relationship between the believer in Christ and grace. He borrows the analogy from William Stafford's book on creative writing (William Stafford, Writing the Australian Crawl [Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1978], pp. 23-25).

Stafford observed that any reasonable person who looks at water [grace], and passes a hand through it, can see that it would not hold a person up.... But swimmers [followers of Jesus] know that if they relax on the water [grace] it will prove to be miraculously buoyant; and writers [followers of Jesus] know that a succession of little strokes on the material nearest them - without any prejudgments about the specific gravity of the topic or the reasonableness of their expectations -will result in creative progress [growing up in Christ: maturity]. Writers are persons who write; swimmers [believers] are ... persons who relax in the water, let their heads go down, and reach out with ease and confidence.... Just as the swimmer [believer] does not have a succession of handholds hidden in the water, but instead simply sweeps that yielding medium and finds it hurrying him along, so the swimmer and writer [follower of Jesus] passes his attention through what is at hand, and is propelled by a medium [grace] too thin and all-pervasive for the perceptions of nonbelievers who try to stay on the bank and fathom his accomplishment. (Kindle loc. 1070)

This is helpful because most of us tend to treat grace as something of a commodity dispensed by God to the believer through faith, rather than a realm in which we live (abide) through faith. Peterson calls for a "willed passivity" in order to embrace grace. "Faith in Christ is an act of abandoning the shores of self, where we think we know where we stand and where if we just try hard enough we can be in control. Faith in Christ is a plunge into grace." (Kindle loc. 1081).

Lenten Ironing #2

Sorry, guys, this isn't too exciting so far. I ironed Honduras, two Egypts and then a shirt I didn't iron on the first go-round. This one is from a country called "Maubitius." Never heard of it. A Google search turned up "Mauritius" which makes me wonder if the tag on the shirt is misspelled. I need to do some more research.

As I was ironing this morning and thinking about how *inconvenient* this is, I found myself wondering about the lives of the people who make the shirts that I wear. I wonder what inconvenience looks like for them?

Lenten Ironing - Session #1

If my shirts look a little wrinkled over the next several weeks, here's why. I decided after Pastor Rachel's sermon series on Amos to iron my own shirts during Lent. (Usually I just drop my shirts off at the dry-cleaners and a few days later, voilà! - they're washed and neatly pressed.) I'm combining my desire to slow down during Lent with the hope of learning more about the "vulnerable" in our world. So as I iron each shirt I'll take a peek at the tag and see what country it was made in. I'll make my ironing time prayer time for each of those countries.

I decided to get started last night after the Ash Wednesday service. (If I didn't start right away I could easily let this one slide.) So here's what I discovered.

The eight shirts I ironed were made in six different countries. The green dress shirt was from Egypt. (Egypt was easy to pray for since it was in the news recently... at least until the titillating street fighting subsided.) But then came the brown shirt from Indonesia, the green striped one from Sri Lanka and the orange checkered shirt from Malaysia. I'm embarrassed to say I only know vaguely where these country are on the map. The last two countries, Korea and China, were obviously more familiar. But, I had no idea my meager wardrobe was so international!

As I pray my way through Lent, ironing and asking God for more of his heart for the world, I'll keep you posted on my blog. Perhaps you'll want to also share how God is leading you this Lenten season.

It's about the training (not the trying)

For any college basketball fan this month means “March Madness”! On March 15 sixty-eight college basketball teams will begin their quest for a National Championship. This year’s “Final Four” will be played right here in Houston.

Of course no one knows yet for sure who will be in the Final Four, but I do have a prediction. (In fact, if I were a betting man I’d be willing to put money on it!) I predict every Final Four team will know how to practice. Raw talent, strategy and a bit of ‘luck’ will come into play, but each team appearing at Houston’s Final Four will be deeply committed to rigorous practice. Relentless practice enables each player to perform naturally and easily in the field of play.

The church season of Lent is all about practice. During Lent we practice our way toward the cross and in doing so take on the life of Christ for ourselves. During Lent we practice the ‘small’ things like prayer, fasting, reading Scripture in order to become champions in Christ.

As Lent begins, we are again encouraging everyone to join a “Lent in the Living Room” group. This year’s all church study will be The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith. This first book in a series of three introduces the concept of soul training exercises which are ways you and I practice our way into new life in Christ. To complement the Good and Beautiful Life study, we’ll be studying the book of Ephesians during worship. As we dig into the epistle we’ll see Paul untangling false narratives about our relationship with God. Ephesians invites us into a life of soul practice as we “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called.” (Ephesians 4:1) Lastly, Ephesians presents a compelling view of the community in Christ called the church.

So, stretch your arms and legs, put on those warm-ups and get ready to practice! Lent begins with Ash Wednesday worship on March 9.

Facebook instead

I've decided I'm more of a Facebook guy than I am a blogger guy. I'll still keep this blog active and will post to it from time to time. When I do, I'll be sure and add a link at the bottom of my emails to let you know in case you'd like to see what I've written.

What I've realized, aside from the time involved in keeping a blog effectively updated, is that philosophically I'm more interested in sharing my person than I am my thoughts. I know those two things are closely related. But I do think one of the fascinating things about Facebook is the ability to understand more of who a person is. Obviously, it's just as easy to "pose" on Facebook as it is in real life. But Facebook at least gives the ability to share more dimensions of person's life.

Besides, in another year or two Facebook will be so 10's and we'll be on to something else. That's okay. Jesus will still be the same, right?