I have not blogged in three years. Traffic was a nightmare.
I have experimented with Substack. A post or two (or three) have slipped out over there from time to time. But tumblr was my home, my space for years. I would often begin my Sunday mornings at a Starbucks with a Mocha Frappuccino and cheese danish. I would let my mind wander for a couple of hours at my laptop before getting on with my day. And then I stopped.
As I write this it is 11:05 PM on January 1, 2024. I just took some time to my write my hopes and goals for the year. I wrote down my hopes, my INs and OUTs, three goals, and some far-reaching fitness goals. I think I'll keep those close to my chest for now.
I guess I didn't want the first day of a new year to slip by without returning to a familiar place. A lot has happened since 2020. I tried journaling daily but that didn't last long. Blogging has never been a daily thing for me. I have always been a spur of the moment writer when it came to my thoughts or times when I post. I guess that is who I am.
I hope to come back here often. If I don't, I hope I am taking care of myself. I hope I am enjoying friendship, a good book, a lunch group with students, continuing to fall in love, and entering deeper into the Kingdom of God. If I can come back here in a week or another three years and find my hopes to be my reality...well, here's too many happy returns!
Stephen was a good man. According to Acts 6:8, he was “a man full of God’s grace and power” (NLT). He performed many signs and miracles. The Bible does not list or elaborate on those miracles. All we have of Stephen is his final sermon, a sort of Bible study where he sought to point his oppressors to Jesus.
In his words of warning and encouragement, Stephen recalled God’s promise to Abraham. A promise that “eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet” (Acts 7:5). God also told Abraham that “his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years” (Acts 7:6).
That little detail is true. We find it first in Genesis 15:13.This prolonged stay in Egypt is later hinted at in Genesis 50:25, where a dying Joseph asks his brothers to take his bones with them when God leads them to the land He promised to Abraham. Joseph tells his brothers more than once that God will surely come to help them (Genesis 50:24-25).
These are difficult texts to read. God did not give Abraham the promised land. God did not spare Abraham’s descendants from being oppressed as slaves. God did not rescue Stephen from being stoned, nor did He raise him back to life. And God did not spare us the hardships of 2020.
It is interesting how when God did make good on His promise to deliver Abraham’s descendants from Egypt, all they could ever see were the challenges that came their way. They complained when the Egyptians had them pinned against the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-12). They complained when they ran out of food (Exodus 16:1-3). They protested on the doorstep of the Promised Land when they heard the reports of giants in the land (Numbers 14:1-4). They spoke against God and Moses when the journey to the Promised Land ran long (Numbers 21:4-5). In each case they either wanted to die, return to Egypt, or establish a new leader. Basically, when the going got tough God’s people lost their minds.
2020 probably had a lot of you feeling like you were losing your mind. I know I did. But here we are at its close and I have to say I am over being frustrated with 2020. Is wearing a mask annoying? Sure. Were the early months of the pandemic maddening with all of us at home? You bet! Is it difficult, heartbreaking, sickening, to hear the death count continue to rise as it relates to racism and COVID-19? Without question! But we have to be mindful that our response to 2020 will shape our future, both collectively and individually. Who are we going to be following a difficult year? Who are you going to be when 2021, 2022, 2038 gets tough?
I am not saying it is wrong to be tired. I am not telling you to bottle up your pain. I am not asking you to deny reality. But we have a choice to make in our pain: we can come out stronger, or we can let our hardships overpower us. You can step into the darkness with God, or you can ask Him to let you go back to Egypt. The journey may be long, but God will surely come to help.
My dad introduced me to Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life when I was a kid. I was immediately a fan! So much so that, save for a few years here and there, I have watched the 1946 classic almost every Christmas Eve. And what I found in my late twenties, and now first few months of my 30s, is that my appreciation for the story of George Bailey has only deepened.
Now to be clear, my life has not mirrored George Bailey’s. I’ve never danced over a swimming pool. I did not give up a dream of going to college to work for my dad. I have never been shown by an angel what my life would look like if I had never been born. And I have never hit rock bottom as a result of scandal and criminal charges. Still, each of us knows hardship.
This year of hardship is met with relief in that it has reached its end, or at least the end of that kitten calendar hanging in your kitchen. It may be rather Debbie Downer of me to point out that no challenge will magically disappear at midnight on January 1st, 2021. What is really going on is that we are hoping, praying, for a year that takes away some of the pressure we have been feeling; and rightly so. But I think it would be a mistake if we did not pause to find some good, something wonderful, in 2020.
For starters, I ended up with a new job placement this year. While I had hoped to continue with my previous school from last year, I can thankfully say that this change was not the result of a resignation or termination. Even better, hindsight has shown me how much this change, this opportunity for growth, was necessary.
Sometimes all we want to do is look at the bad, the disappointment, the pain, and frustration. We only want to talk about what a difficult year it has been. That makes sense! And there is a time and place for that. We must acknowledge and process what we feel. Only we cannot allow ourselves to dwell in the not-so-wonderful.
Think of it like this: what good can be found in the fall of man in Genesis 3? When Adam and Eve sinned against God, the world around them was cursed. Miraculously, because of God’s mercy and love, what was a dark day for the two was not their last day. They still had their life. They still had each other. They still had God watching over them.
Adam and Eve knew regret. They knew pain. They knew fear and shame, but they also knew forgiveness. They knew reconciliation. They knew what it was like to bring life into the world. And while we can point out where everything eventually went wrong (again) in their story, there remained something wonderful about life on earth.
I have more to say but that can wait. For now, take some time to reflect a little more on what has been most difficult for you in 2020. Identify what made those challenges so challenging. Consider what coping skills you could have used. Once you have done that, list 1-3 highlights from your journey through 2020.
Looking for a Savior and Space Station in All the Wrong Places
Quick! Grab a piece of paper and something to draw with. Maybe find some crayons or markers. I want you to embrace your inner child by drawing a picture of Jesus. That’s it. Just Jesus. Give yourself a couple of minutes. Enough time for a quick doodle.
TIME!
Did you do it? No? Come on, Karen!
I did this activity with my Sabbath School class this morning. One of the boys drew two pictures of Jesus. He included a Second Coming-type picture, clouds with rays of light, to highlight that Jesus wasn’t just a man, but that He was also from Heaven. That was brilliant! I loved it.
In my quick sketch Jesus started off looking a little perturbed. I had to get that smile out of Him. The reason for this is that I wanted us to have a conversation with how we think about Jesus - how we view Him. Do we picture Him smiling or frowning? Is He angry or caring?
I then asked the kids to share what they think Jesus would say if their pictures of Him came alive. “I think He would say He liked my drawing even though it isn’t very good,” said one. Were they being a little hard on themselves? Sure. I do the same. But notice how they perceived Jesus as someone who is gentle, accepting, and friendly.
Our view, our understanding of Jesus matters - maybe even more so in 2020. Think about how Jesus has been portrayed this year. Can you even do it? I’m not sure I can. So much has happened this year that I think I have failed to recognize who Jesus is in all the chaos. Have I been studying my Bible? Yes. Have I been active in church even though we’re meeting online? Yes. But I am wondering what kind of Jesus has been presented in 2020. Have we introduced Jesus in a way that would lead someone to want to have a relationship with Him?
There were two opportunities this week, two 5-minute windows, to see the International Space Station passing overhead in the night sky. Both times I went out, looked up, and saw nothing. There were plenty of celestial candidates shining brightly, but none of them were the space station. And the first time I went out to try and see the ISS, I thought about looking up and expecting the Second Coming. And that little thought hit me in a way that was somewhat life-altering.
The Second Coming of Jesus has most definitely been a part of conversations that have taken place in 2020. As a Christian I believe Jesus will return one day. But actually looking up, taking some time to look for a space station in the sky...it was like I was seeing a side of Jesus I had not seen in a long time.
A part of what made it difficult to spot the ISS at night was my neighbor’s porch light. The extra light interfered with my ability to see a tiny moving object zipping through space. And I think that 2020 has affected my view of Jesus in the same way. It is not that I have been close to losing faith in God, no. It is not that I am desiring to leave the Adventist Church either. It is not that I believe that people have been talking about Jesus less. I just wonder if we are talking about Jesus in a way that would keep us looking up in the night sky.
We live in a world that is waiting for a vaccine for COVID-19. Institutions are debating (if at all) what movements they will support. Confederate statues are being torn down. Organizations are changing their name, branding and mascots to be considerate (respectful?) of the times and culture. And I’m wondering where Jesus is in all of it, because honestly, it is all too easy to leave Him out of it.
How as Christians are we responding to the events of 2020 that will lead others to continue or begin their relationship with Christ? How are you viewing or presenting Jesus?? How are you processing 2020 in a way that will keep you rooted in Christ? When was the last time you looked up to the sky to remind yourself that you are anticipating the return of Jesus?
Are we looking up? Or are we looking for a Savior and space station in all the wrong places?
2020 has not been superb. It has not been easy to process or endure. It is hard to believe that we began the year with wildfires in Australia and the impeachment of President Trump; only to crescendo into the arrival of COVID-19, an economic crisis, and the continuing horror that is racism and police brutality. Yes, 2020 has not been great.
Looking to the Bible for some relief, a glimmer of hope and comfort, I was reminded of a sermon I preached four years ago in July 2016. Those were simpler times. The only stressor I faced personally was whether or not I would be able to continue in my job at the time. A one year contract can leave a person a little rattled. But in that time of uncertainty, I was drawn to the Book of Ruth.
Quick! What is the Book of Ruth about? A woman who does not leave her mother-in-law? A woman who spends the night at the feet of a man?
When you read Ruth 1 it gives off some serious Book of Job vibes. It begins with Naomi and her family having to leave their home in Bethlehem as a result of a famine. Sometime after moving to Moab, Naomi’s husband dies. Years later, her sons who married two Moabite women also died. So while Naomi’s tragedies may not have taken place in a span of six months, days, or weeks (like Job or 2020), she was well-versed in the experience of pain.
You might consider yourself an expert in hardship. You may know someone who succumbed to the coronavirus. Maybe you have lost a loved one or your job. Maybe you are depleted of all sense of peace and hope as a result of how exhausting the events of 2020 have been. It could be that you are in place right now where your faith is in crisis.
Naomi was in crisis. In Ruth 1:20-21, having returned with Ruth to Bethlehem, she asked her neighbors not to call her Naomi. “Call me Mara,” she said, “because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Imagine posting on Instagram or Facebook that you no longer wanted to go by your given name because of the hardships you were experiencing. Imagine wanting to change your name because of the challenges you credited God with bringing upon your life. You might think this a tad overdramatic, but is it? In our world of instant gratification could it not be all that much easier to turn on God? This is a faith in crisis. This is where we choose how we will respond when trouble comes our way.
Right now, as far as Ruth 1 is concerned, hope seems impossible or of no use to Naomi. She is in the mud. She is well-settled in her grief and misery. No prayer or perfectly worded Instagram caption was going to be of help. And I think that is okay. Sometimes what a person needs is not the right words. Sometimes what a person in crisis, in pain, needs is the right person.
We find that right person, that needed character, in Ruth. On the road to Bethlehem, she begged her mother-in-law not to send her back to her immediate family. Ruth did not want to abandon Naomi (Ruth 1:14-18, NLT).
“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.” says Ruth. “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Ruth was just as in much crisis as Naomi. She too was in mourning, having lost her husband. And here Naomi was telling her to go back home, a place where her needs would be met. But instead of running back to where she would be taken care of, instead of taking that “get out of trouble card”, Ruth pushes further into the uncertainty. She takes a leap of faith. She goes all in on trusting the God of Naomi. Ultimately, Ruth’s faith is what saves both Naomi and herself. Ruth, whose name means friend, chooses to follow God and help Naomi, whose name means pleasant.
How are you managing 2020? What has been your experience of faith this year? Are you ready to change your name or run fully into the unknown with God? Life may not be pleasant right now, but I hope you have a friend to get you through this hard time. Even more, I hope you will find a friend in Jesus when life is unpleasant.
It is easier to believe that there is an angel at your door than the possibility that God has worked a miracle in your life.
My church has started a brand new sermon series: “Faith By Design: Design Thinking for Your Faith.” Our pastor will be taking us through the Book of James for the next 14 weeks - and I am here for it! Maybe that is rather Bible nerdy-ish of me to say, but I don’t care. I am all for deep conversations about complex issues or deep conversations about seemingly simple issues.
Take my chat with my tween Sabbath School class this morning. We began by defining faith as stated in Hebrews 11:1 (NLT):
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Then we moved to James 1:1-12, focusing primarily on verses 1-4 (NLT):
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
We defined endure, meaning “to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.” You endure when the dental hygienist picks at your teeth. You endure while waiting to find out who the Bachelor or Bachelorette will give a rose to. On a more serious note, we are enduring a global pandemic. We are enduring an economic crisis. We are enduring social injustice, fighting for change.
Building on that foundation of James 1:1-4 and Hebrews 11:1, I directed the kids in my online class to Acts 12:1-17. This is where we read that King Herod Agrippa has the Apostle James executed and the Apostle Peter imprisoned. In verse 5 we read that while Peter was in prison “the church prayed very earnestly for him.”
I asked my tween fam what they thought the church prayed for. “Faith?” “To endure?” “A miraculous escape?” All interesting answers that prove that they were listening. Thank goodness!
What would you have prayed for? If your pastor was arrested, what would you ask God for? If your church was under attack, how would your faith be of use or comfort?
In verse 6, the night before his trial, Peter was asleep while “fastened with two chains between two soldiers.” Suddenly, an angel appears! He strikes Peter on the side to wake him up. The chains fall off his wrists. The angel then leads Peter out of the prison.
Something I had never noticed in this story is that Peter could not believe what was happening to him. Actually, he didn’t think it was happening at all. He thought it was a vision (Acts 12:9, 11).
When Peter gets to the house where some believers were gathered for prayer, he knocks at the gate. A servant girl comes to open the door, but when she recognizes Peter’s voice, instead of letting him in she runs back inside to tell everyone. The church members could not believe it, literally!
“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
It must be his angel? How often were angels stopping by? Evidence of a miracle was standing right outside, and yet no one could consider the possibility that it was actually Peter. If the church was not expecting God to work a miracle, what were they praying for?
It is easier to believe that there is an angel at your door than the possibility that God has worked a miracle in your life.
As I have been wrestling with Acts 12:1-17 and the definition of endure, I think about the Second Coming. I think about how when times are tough we shake our head and invite Jesus to return quickly. “Lord, get us out of here!” Totally understandable. Completely innocent. But I wonder just how much we are willing to endure until that end - until the return of Jesus. I wonder if we are settling for an angel at our door, looking to the Second Coming (a.k.a. The Great Fix to All Our Problems), instead of believing that God can work a miracle in the midst of our crisis right now.
You see, Peter was arrested during Passover (Acts 12:3). And following the death of James, could it be that the church was praying that Peter would endure until Herod had him killed? Could it be that the church was praying, not for Peter’s release, but that he would stay faithful to God just as Jesus did when He was arrested and killed at Passover?
It is easier to believe that there is an angel at your door than the possibility that God has worked a miracle in your life.
It is easier to believe that Jesus will eradicate all viruses when He returns, than heal the senior citizen on a ventilator. It is easier to believe that our financial worries will disappear at the Second Coming, than to believe God will provide for the single mother who lost her job. It is easier to believe that social injustice will be ultimately dealt with at the world’s end, than to believe God will empower the church to address the matter right now.
What are you praying for? What is God asking you to endure? What miracle could He work right now? What have you been settling for? Who is the angel at your door?
What’s your pleasure? What are you lovin’ right now?
The list is endless. It could be a new pet, brewing the perfect cup of coffee, acai bowls, or essential oils. Maybe you are crushing it at work. Maybe you are running more, reading more, or making S’mores. It could be anything and everything! But how do you feel when it comes to the stuff you love?
In Ecclesiastes 2:2, the Teacher (who we are assuming to be King Solomon) seeks to understand what is accomplished through pleasure. “I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.” He decides to test himself to find out what is good. And he goes big!
The Teacher builds houses, plants vineyards, gardens and parks. All relatable endeavors, right? He buys slaves, amasses silver and gold, acquires male and female singers, and a harem - “the delights of a man’s heart” (Ecc. 2:4-8). The Teacher denies himself nothing.
Solomon then becomes upset with all that he has obtained and indulged in. He realizes that no matter what he has achieved or acquired, at some point he is going to be replaced. The king wonders if his successor will be wise or a fool. But even that doesn’t matter because the same fate comes for everyone in the end. Everyone will be forgotten. Everyone, foolish or wise, will die. “So I hated life,” says Solomon, “because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me.”
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil.” says the Teacher. “This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Wait, what? I thought everything was meaningless. This guy has been bumming out his audience, but then says that enjoyment comes from the hand of God. What gives?
Recently, I rewatched all of the James Bond movies starring Daniel Craig. His fourth film, Spectre, was supposed to be his last. This version of Bond even gets a sort of happy ending. And this matters because throughout every Bond film we watch as 007 hooks up with countless women, drinks excessively, and wrecks one Aston Martin after another. You start to wonder if James Bond can ever be professionally, socially, and emotionally satisfied.
As readers of Ecclesaistes, what would it mean for us to be professionally, socially, and emotionally satisfied? Does your satisfaction, that which you enjoy in life, come from God? Do you want it to?
In her book LIVE, Sadie Robertson encourages her readers to keep a log of the ways they spend their time. For each item on your list you are to ask yourself these two questions: “Is this helping me live the life I want to live? Is this helping me grow?”
We can live our life like King Solomon or James Bond. We can deny ourselves nothing. We can purchase every item on every Amazon wishlist. We can pick up our next mission as soon as the previous one ends. We can jump from relationship to relationship. We can do all of it looking great, but to what end? What is it that we really want?
Pleasure is not the problem. Spending money is not a crime. Having a nice car, a big house, an annual pass to Disney World is not the issue. The question is whether our enjoyment is found in or apart from God.
Friends. The Office. Parks & Recreation. These are the sitcom favorites listed in countless Twitter and Instagram bios. Me? I’m more of a Home Improvement, guy. I never tire of Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor. Sorry, Jim.
Tim Taylor was always frustrating his wife Jill, teasing his assistant Al, or giving everyday appliances “more power.” This usually led to a blow up, figuratively and often literally. Tim would then seek the advice of his neighbor, Wilson - Mr. “Hidey ho, neighbor!”
Imagine living next door to someone who was always coming to you for help. At some point you’d probably stop spending time in your yard. Maybe you’d cut off communication with that person all together. You don’t want to be bothered. After all, it is not your problem.
As humans, each of us has our own fair share of problems, fears and concerns. We have a good deal of baggage. Sometimes we share the same problem. But if this week has taught us anything, it is that many are carrying a weight we cannot even begin to imagine. A burden they have been forced to carry. And for too long, the majority has been silent on the other side of the fence.
In Luke 10:25-37, an expert in the law stands up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he says, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” says Jesus. “How do you read it?”
Seems like a strange question for Jesus to ask.
The expert replies, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” says Jesus. “Do this and you will live.”
What the man had actually done was piece together two separate pieces of the Law, specifically Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Again, the Bible says this dude was testing Jesus, so you know he has an agenda.
“And who is my neighbor?” asks the expert.
See.
Jesus tells the expert what we call The Parable of the Good Samaritan. A man is travelling from Jerusalem, is attacked by robbers, and is left for dead. At two different points he is ignored by a priest and a Levite. Let’s think of them as a church elder and pastor. They’re employed to do God’s work full-time. “But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.”
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” asks Jesus.
“The one who had mercy on him,” says the expert.
Do you see what Jesus has done here? Mr. Know-It-All had asked who his neighbor was. He really just wanted to know who it was okay for him to ignore. He wanted Jesus to say it was okay to not care about certain people (like Samaritans).
Jesus instead tells the man to be a neighbor. To show mercy like the Samaritan. To show mercy to everyone. To take care of everyone.
Jesus is telling us to be a neighbor for eternity. We’re not supposed to ignore our neighbor on the other side of the fence. We’re not supposed to ignore someone in need because it is inconvenient or is in conflict with some fundamental belief. We’re not patting ourselves on the back because we attended one protest that one time, went dark for social justice on Instagram, or wrote about The Good Samaritan in a blog post. When you are a neighbor like Jesus is to us, you are always on the clock. And the work of a neighbor does not stop until Jesus returns to receive all who have shown mercy in His name.
So how are you a neighbor to your friends? How are you a neighbor at the office? How are you a neighbor to the people you don’t know at the park? What heavenly improvement does Christ need to do in you so that you might have “more power” to be a neighbor to those in need?
“Since you’ve been president, have you grown in your faith?”
That was the question posed to President Trump by his former press secretary Sean Spicer. The interview was a part of a Newsmax TV exclusive, airing on the ninth day of protests following the killing of George Floyd. This came two days after the president visited St. John’s Episcopal Church on June 1st where he posed with a Bible. Rioters had started a fire in the basement of the church the previous night.
“Do you pray? Do you pray often?” added Spicer. “You talked a lot about religion this week. What does it mean to you?”
“I’ve done so much for religion,” said Mr. Trump. He mentioned getting rid of the Johnson amendment (which prohibits non-profits from endorsing or opposing political candidates), Mexico City, and two Supreme Court Justices. What he did not say was anything pertaining to Sean Spicer’s questions. And FYI: the Johnson amendment has not been repealed.
What about you? Have you grown in your faith? Do you pray? Do you pray often? What does religion mean to you?
Try to relax if you’re starting to sweat a little. Believers can feel pressured to offer perfect answers. I’m not sure why, though. The disciples, adult men who believed in God, asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus didn’t reprimand them for their question. He taught them.
Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). My guess is that his prayers were not limited to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Actually, in a moment of crisis, Daniel’s enemies found him praying to God for help (verse 11). And while prayer got Daniel thrown into the lions’ den; don’t let that discourage you from doing the same - dens filled with lions are hard to find.
I think the real question is whether we are intentional as Christians. Do you want to grow as a believer? Why are you a believer?
Daniel is an example of not only being in service to God, but placing one’s trust in Him. The disciples had a religion that was burdensome, but Jesus showed them how they could have a personal relationship with the Father. They wanted that relationship with God. What about you?
Can you say it is not about you but God? Cool, then grow. Get to know Jesus better. Talk with Him more. Set aside some time for the two of you to chat. Ask God what He would like from you. If you want to have a relationship with Jesus, go to Him. He has made that relationship possible.
Two years ago, I spent a part of my summer studying Ecclesiastes. I’ve decided to read it again. Upon first glance you’ll find it is not the most uplifting of reads. “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher. Right away you can see that the words of this ancient Debbie Downer are somewhat upsetting.
Maybe you have a 5 year plan. There is a promotion you want, a career move you’re looking to make, or a city you’re hoping to call home. Perhaps you have the perfect Instagram account. Your followers are in the tens of thousands. You have the baby, the dog, the significant other, and coffee addiction with just the right caption to earn those likes. Ecclesiastes 1 would say, “Who cares?”
What if we cast a wider net with this question of whether everything is meaningless? Is the search for a vaccine for COVID-19 meaningless? Is the presidential election meaningless? Is there any point toward fighting for social justice, equal rights, or religious liberty? Does any of it matter if everything is meaningless?
“What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” asks the Teacher. “Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.” He goes on to add that the eye never sees enough, and the ear never hears enough. Complete satisfaction always seems to be out of reach.
Let’s go back to Genesis 3 for a moment. Verse 5 is the serpent’s final pitch to the woman to take the forbidden fruit. “God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it (Verse 6).
Wisdom pops up a lot in Ecclesiastes. We would say that Adam and Eve did not make a wise decision in Genesis 3. They reached for that which was pleasing...and it left them empty. Their eyes were opened. They realized they were naked. They lost more than just their appetite.
What are you hungry for? What is it that you want professionally, socially, emotionally, or spiritually? We all want something, but maybe you’re asking yourself whether any of that matters. Trust me. It does.
When God created the world He gave Adam and Eve a profession (Genesis 1:26, 28; 2:15). He cared about their social and emotional well-being (Genesis 2:18). God provided a job, a helper, a spouse, and a purpose. Does this mean that all of it was meaningless?
At church we studied Luke 1-2 this Christmas season. We compared and contrasted the experiences of Mary and Zechariah when the angel Gabriel appeared to them both separately. We challenged our understanding of Mary and Joseph’s time in Bethlehem before Christ’s birth. We recognized the importance of context and culture. And through it all we found ourselves in the presence of God.
Yesterday, we concluded our Christmas study with Luke 2:22-38. This is where Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to be dedicated. While they were there they encountered a man named Simeon who was waiting for the Messiah. The Bible even says that God promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Savior. There was also Anna, a prophetess. She never left the temple. When she encountered the Baby Jesus she went about telling everyone how the one who would rescue Jerusalem had arrived.
At the temple you had people who were not expecting the Savior (an infant for that matter) to make a public appearance that day. The majority thought that the Messiah was a promise still years, centuries, away. Still, they continued to offer the various sacrifices and offerings. They continued to serve God while holding on to the promise of the Savior.
It is not a situation all that different from our own. We serve and follow God. We have our traditions, practices, and rituals. And we await the return of our Savior. But how many of us are waiting for God rather than with God?
I asked the kids in my Sabbath School class this question: In 2020, how will you wait with God? “What do you mean by wait with God?” one of the boys asked. “How will you have a relationship with Him?” explained another. Yes, what do you want your relationship with God to look like in the New Year?
Maybe the wording is a bit bizarre (sorry, not sorry), but I wanted to highlight the importance of us waiting with God for God. We could be like Simeon, constantly in communication with the Holy Spirit regarding when the Messiah would arrive. We could be an Anna, never leaving God’s presence. Or we could be like the other devout worshippers that day who were just carrying out the requirements of the law – with God, serving God, but not really expecting anything from God.
Remember, the stories surrounding the births of John the Baptist and Jesus took place at a time when God’s people had not heard from Him for 400 years. No prophets. No visions. No miracles. And I think it would be fair to say that to grow up at a time when God is silent can have an effect on one’s faith. Think about what your relationship with others would be like if you never said anything to your family, BFF, spouse, or boo.
Am I trying to criticize the other individuals who were at the temple when Jesus was dedicated? Not at all. But I know that I am not a Simeon. I am not an Anna. So who am I? Am I someone just going about life until Jesus returns? Or am I someone waiting with God for Christ’s return?
One of the biggest personal stories for me in 2019 was resigning from one job for another. The former was awful. I prayed for God to provide a way out for almost a year. Now I can look back and say that God’s silence was the best thing He could have done for me, but at the time it felt like the worst thing ever. Again, can have an effect on a person’s faith. It can have an impact on our relationship with God.
So here we are at the end of another year. Maybe you are a Zechariah, a Mary, a Simeon, an Anna, or a face in the crowd at the temple. But where would you like to go with God in 2020? We have to ask ourselves this question because when God is silent the world will fill the quiet with so much noise.
Where are you with God when politicians trash each other over impeachment? Where are you with God when work becomes more demanding or toxic? Where are you with God when your Instagram is on fire? Where are you with God when your family is hurting? Where are you with God when the doctor has bad news? Where are you with God when everything is going great?
“Do not be afraid,” said the angel. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Imagine an other-worldly being shows up in front of you, telling you not to be afraid. Sure, okay? Fear would be a natural response when someone or something that seems to possess a level of power that far exceeds your own abilities suddenly appears before you. And yet these are the words of the angel to the shepherds recorded in Luke 2:10 (NIV).
My church has been studying the first two chapters of Luke’s gospel this Christmas season. This past week we focused on the experience of the shepherds on that not-so silent night. We recognized their lowly status on a socioeconomic level. Our pastor pointed how they rushed to find the newborn king, and how they shared the good news with everyone in before returning to their sheep. In the story of the shepherds the good news was truly for everyone no matter their social standing.
The good news was for Caesar Augustus, emperor of the entire Roman world. The good news was for an old Jewish priest who did not believe the words of the angel who appeared to him in the temple. The good news was for a young woman (most likely a teenager) who was chosen to birth the Savior of the world.
The good news had no limits, no exceptions, for who could be recipients of the message. But for Mary, the good news was not without its own challenges. Tasked with carrying the Savior in her womb, Mary and Joseph found themselves in the midst of a scandal.
When you read Luke 2:4-7, it says that Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem because she was “pledged to be married to him.” Pledged, meaning they were still engaged when they made the trek. Mary was pregnant and still engaged to a man who was not the biological father of the child she was carrying. This was an uncomfortable situation for the two. So much so that Joseph had once considered divorcing Mary after they were married.
The gossip and rumor-mill that most likely surrounded Mary was the result of her being chosen by God, but was not a punishment from God. The story of Mary and Joseph reminds us that following God is not always easy. To obey God can result in misunderstanding or rejection by the people around us – the people close to us. Following God could mean disappointing others. Service to God could lead to criticism. Faithfulness to God could mean not being accepted by your own community, even your own church.
When the angel told the shepherds he had good news for all people, he meant it. It was good news for our enemies. Good news for those who feel excluded. Good news for those at the bottom of the totem pole. Good news for those caught up in scandal. Good news for those struggling with their faith. Good news for those in a relationship in crisis. Good news for those who remain faithful even when it comes at a high cost. Good news for those who have yet to hear it.
The good news shared that night in Bethlehem did not come with a list of requirements or prevention. No hoops to jump through. No membership to be purchased. Just an ear willing to listen and a heart open to believing.
The good news is for you, whoever you are. The good news is for you, wherever you are. Rich or poor. Caught up in a scandal or at peace. Faithful or unsure in your beliefs. Struggling or somehow making it. Jesus is for all people.
This week began with news of the passing of a former coworker of mine, and ended with me leaving my job. The former came with horrific shock. The latter was prearranged, what with me having already accepted a school counselor position elsewhere. But both events leave me thinking about our place in the world.
I won’t pretend to suggest that my former coworker and I were close. We were colleagues. Our professional relationship extended as far as following each other on Facebook and Instagram. And while we may not have known each other well, I see no reason for me not to acknowledge his passing.
It is strange to see local news reports on the tragic passing of someone I knew. We are accustomed to these unfortunate soundbites. Every day, every hour, a life is lost. A life we did not know. It can almost feel no different than watching a police crime drama. Think about how many fictional lives are killed off Monday through Friday between 8 and 11 PM. Then factor in the fatal car accidents and mass shootings that plague us in the real world. Are we fascinated with death? Or do we fear it more than anything else?
My late coworker’s passing is a mystery, but this tragedy has not silenced those who knew him well – those who celebrate his life. They knew him as an activist and a hard worker. He cared deeply about those around him. He was passionate, a man of faith. And he will be missed.
I experienced a different sort of loss in leaving my job this past Friday. At the end of the school day, the assistant principal announced my exit. The news was not well-received by the students. “No!” they shouted in unison. “Where are you going?” “Why are you leaving us?”
I told them it was time for me to go and help another school. I wasn’t trying to be self-righteous. I couldn’t share with them the full details of my reason for leaving. All I could say was that I would indeed miss them.
And I will miss them. I will miss the friends I made there. I will miss the laughter these kids brought me. Our time together mattered. It was special. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
We live in a world where relationships are harder to form, perhaps more difficult to maintain, and possibly even paid less attention to. The kids at my school, often referred to as scholars, are numbers in a system driven to crank out high test scores. Their misbehavior, while a threat to their personal success, is even more a danger to the success of the school.
I believe a similar problem exists in the church. I am aware that church members can be seen as nothing more than numbers that determine whether or not church leaders are successful. And I get it. Numbers help us keep our jobs. Numbers help pay the bills. Numbers help us make a difference in the community. But at the end of the day you and I are living, breathing individuals.
You know, there were kids at my school whose names I could never remember. I hope to change that at my next school. There are kids at my church who only have access to a Bible when they go to church. I hope to change that.
What am I getting at? I don’t know. I guess what I am trying to say is that I want us to take better care of each other. I am still trying to figure out what that looks like though. Maybe it starts with asking how we can pray for each other. Maybe it is as simple as remembering someone’s name. Maybe it is asking someone how they are doing or inviting them to church. Too many lives pass us by without us paying them any attention.
True, we can’t be best friends with everybody. And yes, we won’t get along with everybody we meet. But doesn’t God call us to be something better? Isn’t life more than just going to a job and collecting a paycheck? Isn’t the life of a Christian about doing our part to usher in God’s kingdom?
We’re not building a life that may or may not make the evening news. We’re building a life to share with others for eternity. In God’s kingdom everyone matters, and everyone cares.
Spider-Man is back in the MCU! Yes, Marvel’s web-slinger will continue to be featured in the expansive Disney-owned franchise. He will not be left to suffer the consequences of whatever sort of entertainment Sony believed it could produce on its own. A decent story is now guaranteed. And isn’t that what we all want? A story worth telling. A life worth living.
There was this fear that a fictional character’s storyline would not be allowed to reach its full potential. It is a concern that mirrors the worries of many living in the real world - those who hold the belief that the human race will not be allowed to reach its full potential as a result of climate change. The expectations and hoped for experiences in life have been replaced with the fear of our extinction.
Maybe you heard 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg’s address the U.N.’s Climate Action Summit this week. She was direct. She was passionate. She did not hold back.
“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words...We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”
I read Greta’s words and think to myself: what is the Christian response to climate change? No, let’s not debate the evidence for climate change and whether you believe it or not. Let’s consider what God’s people might be called to believe. What type of life would we be called to live in view of such a threat?
Christians believe that God created the world and everything in it. We believe that He looked upon His creation and saw that everything was good (Genesis 1:25). And when God made humans He commanded them to fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). “Be fruitful and multiply,” He said. “Fill the earth and govern it.” God placed us in charge.
The second thing God instructed humans to do was to take care of the earth. The Bible says that He placed the first man in the garden to “tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:18). And when God saw that it was not good for the man to be alone, He made him the perfect helper. The man and the woman were then partnered together to take care of their home.
Following their sin, the man and the woman were cast out of that which was good and into exile. A life outside of paradise gave birth to fear, poverty, and loss. But when Jesus stepped down onto the earth, He commanded His followers not to worry about everyday life. He says in Matthew 6:30, “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”
Jesus said not to worry about whether you have enough to eat or drink. He told us not to worry about whether we would have enough clothes to wear. So do we expect God to only care about our bank account and a roof over our head but not the planet beneath our feet? “Why do you have so little faith?”
Lastly, God promised in Genesis 9:15 to never destroy all life on earth by means of a flood. Now you might say that this verse doesn’t rule out other extreme acts, but remember that God was confirming His covenant with those who had placed their faith in Him. God didn’t wipe out all life on earth. He saved those who not only entered the ark, but those who helped build it. Our future depends not only on the faith we enter into but the life we build.
To be clear, the world is going to end, but then God is going to make it new (Revelation 21:3-5). He will wipe away every tear, and He will put an end to sorrow and death and pain. It is an ending, a story He wants us to be a part of. But to be a part of that storyline, to reach our full potential, comes down to the life we build with or without Him.
In view of whatever problems we may face, God tells us to have faith. Don’t stop living because of fear. Don’t put your social life on hold. Do not be afraid to make a life with someone or to have a family. And do not think that just because God is going to make the earth new that we don’t have to do our part to take care of it. God put us on this planet to make a life out of it. So have faith and make it a story worth telling.
What is holding you back? No seriously, what is getting in the way of you accomplishing your goals or having the life you dream of? Are you simply making no effort whatsoever? Or are you too caught up in a safe, comfortable, and possibly life-crippling way? Which is it, Lazybones?
Now don’t go beating yourself up, Lazybones. I think it is safe to say that we have all been there. The Bible even talks about it in Proverbs 6. Yeah, it is this chapter all about lessons for daily life.
You will read warnings about mishandling your money, putting off work that needs to be done, and the lifestyle of the wicked and other not-so-nice individuals. Proverbs 6 even talks about the seven things God hates. Seven! Seven things God hates. It sounds a little weird, right? God hating something?
God hates lying. He hates arrogant eyes. He hates hands that kill the innocent. He hates a heart that plots evil. He hates feet that run toward evil. He hates false witnesses. And He hates an individual who stirs up trouble.
God’s hatred is a little more understandable now, isn’t it?
Think about the opposite of everything God hates: truth, respect for life, kindness, charity, and love. Choosing between good and evil begins with becoming wise, Lazybones. The kind of life we live is based on choice.
I have had plenty of comfortable days and years. And while I had my dreams, bucket list, and hopes for my life; I noticed those things were hard to accomplish when I stayed in my comfort zone. Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying that hesitance or comfort is a sin. I think there is a time and a place for a little comfort. But a life that stays in that place is not much of a life at all.
You see, recently, I was having a conversation with a friend about the areas in my life that I’m just not satisfied with. You know why I wasn’t satisfied? Because I had been giving into fear. I had led laziness slip in. Was I comfortable? Yes. Was I happy? Not so much.
So are you satisfied, Lazybones? If not, what is holding you back? Have you made some financial blunders? Are you not working to accomplish your goals? Is it a little more serious? Have we ventured into the territory of things God hates?
Don’t freak out, there is still hope. There is still an opportunity to hear God’s word and become wise. Is it quick? No. Is it painless? No. But do you know what it will be? It will all be worth it, Lazybones.
Bobby Vinton’s “Over and Over” is the song of a man who, if presented with the opportunity to live his life over again, would choose the same woman as his love. Pure and simple in its wording, you get a sense of commitment in between the lines. There is no one else for the man. He sees no reason if given the chance for starting over with someone new. What kind of love is that?
Love is not exactly the message of Proverbs 4. No, obtaining wisdom is at the core of its instruction. But you could say that it is a father’s love for his children that fuels his hope that they will choose wisdom. “Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go,” he says. “Guard them, for they are the key to life.”
“Don’t do as the wicked do…(v. 14)”
“My child, pay attention to what I say…(v. 20)”
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (v. 23).”
“Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil (v. 27).”
Proverbs 4:7 says that getting wisdom is the wisest thing that any of us can do. But that is not a message we hear a lot. No one is remixing a song about wisdom. Few blockbusters, if any, focus on sound teaching and good judgment. Even our culture of “Love is Love” and “Love is Why” is in conflict with reality shows and dramas that survive on betrayal, cheating, objectification, and selfishness.
But let’s broaden our perspective on society. Is wisdom at the heart of our political debates? Does wisdom drive corporate America? Is wisdom the foundation of our education system? Is wisdom doing enough for social justice? Is wisdom leading the church? Why is obtaining wisdom the greatest choice we can make?
Proverbs 4 presents the need for wisdom by contrasting the way of the righteous and the wicked. The wicked are not concerned with the well-being of others. They are violent. They are misleading. Their way of the wicked is a threat to life itself.
“If you prize wisdom,” says the father in Proverbs 4:8, “she will make you great.” Wisdom will honor you. Wisdom will protect you. Wisdom will guard you. Wisdom will place a beautiful crown on your head. What if it is wisdom, and not love, that makes life worth living? What if you can’t have love, true love, without wisdom?
I’m thinking of the big picture here. I’m thinking of the Christian journey - the way to eternal life. Because if you and I were to live our life over and over, if we desire to live for eternity with God; that would be the result of our love for God through our commitment to obtaining wisdom.
So let’s rewrite the song. Let’s change the focus. If we were to live our life over and over, would we choose God every time? What about yesterday? Did you choose God? What about today?
We choose God for a reason. We love God for a reason. We commit ourselves to Him again and again. When we choose God, when wisdom fuels our love for Him, that commitment affects how we live our lives.
“Guard your heart above all else,” says the father, “for it determines the course of your life.”
“Guard your heart,” says the Father. It will determine whether or not we will have eternal life.
God has never knocked on the door to my apartment. He has never visited me at work, met me at Starbucks, or messaged me on Facebook. I’m guessing He hasn’t done any of those things for you either. He has probably never even appeared to you in one of your dreams.
Maybe dream visits from Heaven are old school. In 1 Kings 3, God checks in on King Solomon during the unholy hours of the night. “Ask,” says God. “What should I give you?”
Solomon, asleep in his royal pjs, mulls it over. “...I am just a youth with no experience in leadership,” he says. “Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
Typical. An obvious request, right?
Alright, Gestalt, here we are in the present moment. What would you ask for? God appears to you, saying, “What should I give you?” How do you respond?
“Lord, help me find a job?”
“Save my marriage.”
“Help me pay my bills.”
“Lead someone to Swipe Right on me.”
“I want to graduate on time.”
“Part this traffic like you did for the Israelites at the Red Sea.”
How many of us would ask for wisdom?
Now don’t go feeling guilty if wisdom was not one of your Top 10 requests. God did not say to Solomon, “What should I give? You better say wisdom.” No, the Bible is filled with examples of God answering all sort of requests (prayers) from His people.
Abraham had a servant who prayed that God would help him find a wife for his master’s son. Samson prayed that God would restore his strength so that he could defeat the Philistines one last time. Hannah prayed that God would give her a son. And Elisha prayed that God would bring a child back to life.
God’s interest in your life is not restricted to particular requests. But you may be wondering why a God who can answer any request sometimes chooses to wait or remain silent. I don’t know the answer to that one. I just know that I have been in that situation on more than one occasion.
So back to our big question: what are you asking God for? What was Solomon asking God for and why? Maybe it had something to do with the history of Israel’s first kings. Saul disobeyed God’s commands. David committed murder and adultery. David had a son who committed rape, and another son who led a rebellion against him.
The first royal families of Israel were made up of individuals who used their power and influence to violently get what they wanted. It could be that by the time Solomon ascended to the throne he had all of this in mind and decided it was time for it to stop.
“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Bible says that Solomon’s request pleased God. “I will give you what you asked for!” says God. “And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame!
So is the takeaway to ask God for the right things so that He will give us the fun stuff? No. Is the point to only ask for wisdom because God doesn’t care about anything else? No.
We are a people who were meant to rule as kings and queens of Eden. The kings and queens before us took the forbidden fruit, and then we went and did the same. But instead of leaving us to our misfortune, God says, “Ask. What should I give you?” And in view of eternal life we are left with a choice that will impact every area of our life that God cares about- every single one.
Maybe don’t ask for a pony (not that I’m bitter about that one), but let God know what is going on with you. Invite God to guide you in a way that will lead to a long life with Him.
