Headwind

One morning, my friend Tara lead our morning chapel time here at Reach Beyond. She made us all go outside and form a line, shoulder to shoulder, in the parking lot. Then she said:

Growing up...
If you had your own room, take a step forward.
If you ever went to bed hungry, take a step backwards.
If you had family traditions, take a step forward. 

If you believed law enforcement was the enemy, take a step backwards.

If you felt protected by your care givers step forward.

If you were ever abused, step backwards. 

She went on and on with her list as we moved forward or backwards in relationship to each other. When she finished, the office staff was scattered around the parking lot, some of us way forwards, others way behind.

Tara asked us to look around and see where we were in relationship with each other. Because, while everyone worked in the same building, we didn't all have the same journey. She explained, some of us have experienced a lot more "headwind" in our lives. Obstacles to success.

Looking at the distance that divided the person in front and the person in back was a powerful and painful illustration.

As we engage with the people around us, we need to realize that. There are people still struggling against the headwind of their past. We all have different levels of it in our present. It is probably something you can't see, so don't judge too quickly. And always try to get their backstory.

I won the game. Well, Tara says it's not something you can win, but I won anyway. I had moved farthest forward. That doesn't say anything about me. It says everything about my parents and the privilege they provided me.

What I also noticed was, the three of us at the front of the group all had something in common; a generational faith. We all came from families with rich faith traditions.

There's a lot of criticism of Christians and of the church. A lot of it is valid. What's also true is there is something about a life lived well, that impacts future generations. When you grow  up in the home with parents who are authentic followers of Christ... there's a lot less headwind. 

Grand Canyon

Nancy and I got to visit the Grand Canyon recently. As we walked and drove along the south rim, we started talking about just how grand it actually is. It's vastness is so overwhelming, it's hard for your brain to process all that your eyes are absorbing.

So we started trying to come up with words to describe it. We decided "big," "really big" and "really, really big" didn't quite do it. At one particular overlook, there was just one other couple when we walked up. As usual, as we got to the edge, a reflexive "Wow" fell out of our mouths.

"Yes," said the lady. "It's inexhaustible."

I was so impressed with her wordsmithing and frustrated mine had been bested by this little old lady. The word that suits the Grand Canyon is inexhaustible.

Except it isn't. It's not even the biggest canyon in our solar system.

This awe-inspiring geologic wonder makes us feel so small and insignificant, we begin to ponder life, creation and God. And it's not even noticeable when we begin to look at the universe. The earth is minuscule compared to the sun, which is a measly little star.

Somehow, I think David understood this. I think, one night, watching sheep, laying on a hilltop outside Bethlehem, he drank in the stars from horizon to horizon, was consumed by wonder and said, "What is man that you are mindful of him? The son of man that you care for him?"

What I love about his words is they speak two fundamental truths. We seem to be frightfully insignificant. God loves us anyway.

The universe is filled with incomprehensible wonders. You are the one God sees. You are the relationship he longs to redeem. You are the one he loves, with a love that is truly inexhaustible. You.

Flashes of Light

I was sitting in an offsite meeting last week, in a room with a huge window. It looked out on the Air Force Academy with Pikes Peak towering behind. As I was soaking in the view I saw a faint flicker.

The weird thing about the flicker was it didn't seem to belong. We're used to lights blinking at the tops of radio towers as they jut into the sky. But this light seemed to be on the side of the hill, in a grove of trees. Slowly, methodically, incessantly blinking.

As I sat there, it started to drive me crazy. What's it doing there? The location doesn't make sense. What purpose could it possibly serve? On a break I started asking people. I showed David. He couldn't figure it out. I told Jon. He said, "Yeah, it's always there. I don't know why."

I couldn't wait until Sunday. Two young men, who attend the Academy, go to our church. I asked them. They didn't know what I was talking about. "You know, we have 18,000 acres, right?"

I STILL don't know why that stinking light is there.

As I watched the light blinking I began to wonder. What if I lived my life that way? What if I lived in a way that flashed light in unexpected places? What if my kindness caused confusion. If my love for people was bewildering. If my actions caused people to ask, "Where does that light come from?"

I'm going to continue to look for the source of the light. The questions it created in me compel me to keep looking. My hope is, my life will do the same for others.

The Sinful Pursuit of Morality

Would anyone read “My Utmost for His Highest,” if we found out some dirt on Oswald Chambers? What if we learned, he was a terrible father, who ignored the rape of his daughter by one of his sons. That he seduced another man’s wife, then had the man killed so he could have her. Then, at the end of his life, he took a count of the number of books he’d sold, to glory in his achievements.

Most of us would disqualify that kind of man and trash his books. Still, we read the Psalms of David. In them we find healing, encouragement, strength and refreshment.

I’m struggling with the pursuit of morality in the evangelical church. Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe Christ calls us to a life of holiness. He says if we love him, we will obey him.

Here’s the thing, he is the one we love, obedience is the product. Not the other way around. Forcing obedience doesn’t create love for God. The difference is subtle. It’s pharisaical. It’s wicked.

It seems, for the past 30 years or so, this is what the church has been trying to do. Organizations were created to lobby and legislate.  Then we wonder why people get upset and call us “judgmental.” We protest and say, “But we preach a gospel of love and grace!”

No. No we don’t. We explain the rules.

Somewhere along the line we started telling people how to live, instead of who to serve. We started telling people what to do, instead of who to follow.

Our Bible is full of screwed up people, with messy stories, who loved God. They blew it in ways we would consider unforgivable. Still, they are forgiven.

I wonder how things would be different if we preached Christ crucified. If we spent time each day reading and wondering what loving him really looks like, then tried it. I wonder if our world would be different. If I would be different.

David had some significant moral failures. And penned the most beautiful words. For some reason, God chose to look past the failure, into his heart and use him anyway. I hope he’ll do that for me. I hope we’ll do it for each other. 

Retail Church

In my early 20's I worked retail for a couple of years. You learn a lot about people when you work retail. I have to say, whoever came up with the slogan, "the customer is always right," was an idiot.

The thing that stuck with me the most was, people who work in the service industry have a hard job, with low pay and, many times, are treated poorly by the people they are trying to serve. I became convinced, everyone, at some point in their life, should spend a year working in service.

Nancy and I have been working cross-culturally for about 17 years. We've had the privilege of visiting churches around the world. As a result I've become convinced, every believer should spend at least a year in a church, in a nation with fewer than 2% evangelical presence.

I worry the number of church options we have in the west has resulted in us treating it more like retail. We shop.

I can go in, sit, get served and walk out. Just like a store. No investment, no engagement, no relationship. If I don't like the preaching, the music or kids program, I'll head down the road. If someone offends me, bail.

As a result, we can treat our pastors like they work in the service industry. Hard job, low pay and many times treated poorly by the people they're trying to serve. We go in with the attitude, "the customer is always right."

The problem is, God never intended for the church to be filled with consumers. In a society driven by capitalism, it's hard to get our head around that.

If you belong to a church body, love it... warts and all. Commit, belong, invest, buy in. God gave you those people, not to use them, but to wash their feet. It's time to quit shopping and go look for a bucket. 

Eucalyptus

When we lived in Ecuador, there was a park behind our house with some tall, beautiful eucalyptus trees. We spent many evenings, walking the dog around the park enjoying their leafy shade.

Until one day, a team from the city showed up. They chopped off all the branches, then topped them. I was horrified. Our once beautiful park was now full of giant barren sticks, 20 to 30 feet high.

I couldn’t understand why they killed these trees and why they didn’t, at least, come harvest the giant stumps sticking up everywhere and plant new ones. 

It was probably a year or more later when I began to notice the tops of the trees sprouting leaves. It was weird, like a little bush had climbed up to the top of the stump. Over time, branches sprouted and grew and they began again, to look like healthy trees. 

There have been times in my life when I’ve felt like those eucalyptus trees. Seemly flourishing, then suddenly stripped and topped, left feeling dry, lifeless and wondering what the heck happened. 

I think we’ve all been there. Sometimes it’s external. Something out of our control crashes into our lives and leaves us reeling. Sometimes it’s because we have made some foolish choices, the consequences of which are devastating. 

In retrospect, I think these trees were pruned for their protection. They had grown too tall too quickly. Their narrow trunks and towering height had left them leaning precariously. 

Likewise, I think, at times, God prunes us to ensure our foundation can support our stature.

But the bottom line is, no matter what has left you feeling barren, you are a eucalyptus tree. It’s in your DNA. No matter how it feels, you were designed to sprout again. No matter the damage you’ve suffered, you can rise. 

Sometimes we need the help of friends who can water and nurture us. Sometimes we may need a professional “horticulturalist” to guide us through the recovery process. 

And as we grow, remember, it may take some time, it may look and feel a little funny, because it's not like it was before. It's OK. Do the hard work of growth. You'll get there. You are a eucalyptus tree. And you will rise. 

Trump

I hate blogging on politics because I really see very little point. Sadly, real hope and change seem unlikely. But as I've watched the campaign of Donald Trump unfold I have been baffled by his appeal. It finally hit me today. It's fear.

We have become addicted to fear.

The Trump campaign seems to know and understand it better than anyone else. Maybe even because they themselves are fearful. I don't know. I know only, it is a drum they, and others, are beating quite effectively.

Any of this sound familiar? Immigrants are going to take our jobs! China is going to take our country! ISIS is going to attack the homeland! They are going to take your guns!

Or how about? Your families will be separated by deportation! Spending limits will shut down the nation! ISIS is going to attack the homeland! They'll let even crazy people have a gun!

It's time to stop living in fear. Stop eating a steady diet of Fox News or MSN. Stop reading email forwards you can't possibly verify, then dutifully pass them along like they're gospel. Stop scowering the internet reading articles that enhance your preconceived preoccupations.

If you are a Christ follower and this has been your life. Stop it! Watch this Bob Newhart video if you're having trouble understanding me.

If the things I've listed are things that preoccupy your day, it's probably because you're consuming the wrong things. I'm not saying we should bury our heads in the sand and not know the facts. I'm saying, a few hours of study each night, about a week before your primary, should probably be enough. Not this hysteria they'll be feeding us for the next year.

We have but one savior. We have but one hope. We have but one promise. Christ, our Hope, eternal. Rest in that. Because no one else can offer anything close.