We Live In the Saturdays

Yesterday for Good Friday, I saw a lot of Facebook friends posting a very famous quote from an equally famous sermon that Tony Campolo shared many years ago:  "It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'!"

While Campolo is one of my favorite people, this morning something new was impressed upon me that maybe you've already realized, but was profound for me.

We live in the Saturdays.

On Friday, He left. 

On Sunday, He returned.

What did His followers do on Saturday? We aren't told.

I guess we have some advantages over the early disciples. 

• He left, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we're not alone.
• We know He's coming back. Jesus told them, but it seems they either didn't listen, didn't understand or didn't believe.

So what did they do with their Saturday?

And what will we do with ours?

Looking Out For Each Other

One of the perks of serving with Mission Year is their emphasis on building community with your neighbors. I've been delighted to hear Abbey's stories of getting to know Miss Dottie and Miss Debbie and others. During last weekend's visit, I enjoyed participating in neighborhood day, which happens every Saturday.

What if each of us took out one day a week from our busy lives, spent it in our neighborhood, walking around, meeting neighbors, only shopping close to home, and investing in our own communities? [That wouldn't work in most of our suburban isolation. How many of us even have a grocery store that we can walk or ride the bus to?] Just think about the implications of investing one whole day each week of time, energy and resources back into your neighborhood.

For me, it was a day of swelling pride and a heart growing bigger with love when I met two of the ladies that are "looking out for" my kid. They both sang the praises to the moms that were visiting for how wonderful our children are and how grateful they are to have them nearby.

What a blessing!

These sweet ladies took a risk letting their young neighbors into their lives. Miss Dottie exclaimed, "I've never let anybody else around here in my house!" These wonderful grandmas have driven the kids to church when it's raining, given them canned food they won't need for themselves, and even let them use their wash machines a few times. As wonderful as these have been, the most profound gift for all has been companionship and another friend to love.

WIJD

What Would (Is) Jesus Do-ing?

Most of us have heard the phrase "What would Jesus Do?" Some of us probably even still have a plastic bracelet bearing the initials WWJD thrown into the back of a junk drawer somewhere.

While the question has merit, this year I want to ask WIJD...What Is Jesus Doing? I want 2015 to be the year where God's Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven" becomes a reality that I see daily.

This Spirit-inspired task is a daunting one, it will take more discipline than I can muster in my own power, and it will challenge and perhaps shake the very core of my American-church faith.

Shane Claiborne writes, "Few things have more transformative power than people and stories." (Irresistible Revolution). If you'll join me as I dig into God's Story, read the stories of God's faithful and interview those who are already on the frontlines of His Kingdom work, and begin to join God in places where He is already working, I promise you will be transformed too. (12/24/14)

Today as I reflect on these words that poured out of me as I sat in my car and waited for Abbey to complete her gift shopping in Target on Christmas Eve, I cannot begin to relay to you all of the various affirmations that God has used to confirm that this is the theme for me in 2015. I haven't made a New Year's resolution in a few decades...and I've never kept one...but God's Holy Spirit is faithful to often direct me into themes that He wants to explore in my heart, mind, body and soul.

2014 was a year of attempting to become chemical free and I think I'm about 75%+ there. It's involved making homemade alternatives to shampoo, conditioners, toothpastes and using essential oils, herbs and teas for stress and pain relief. Did it take time? Yes. Did it take effort? Yes. Did it cost additional money? Sometimes yes...but often it was less expensive or free.

Wouldn't it be amazing if at this time next year I could share with you that I see God actively working in 75%+ of each and every day? Call it a resolution, a goal, a theme or the impossible...but He has me chomping at the bit...ready for the challenge.

While I can't possibly convey every situation that has brought me to this place...because some of them extend back in time over a decade...I can share a few highlights that I hope encourage you to join me on this leg of the Journey:

• Our church (2000+ members) is presently reading through The Story together. This version of the Bible tells God's Story and how it has prevailed throughout history.
• In a series of meetings with our Serve Ministry Leader at First Church of Christ, I had the "idea" that people learn best through and are inspired by the stories of others, so why don't we create short videos showing where God is already working and trust Him to inspire others to join in.
• During this same set of meetings, we chose to begin reading Irresistible Revolution as a Serve Team to dig into a narrative of how Jesus is fleshing out His work in others.
• While contemplating how to educate people in our congregation about needs in our community and how we can meet those needs, this idea of sharing a book discussion to the whole church arose and we began sifting through a lengthy list of what book to start with because Irresistible Revolution might be too challenging for most...yet this book rose to the surface and that's where we'll begin.
• The paragraphs at the beginning of this post poured out of me on Christmas Eve, because I read that amazing quote from Shane Claiborne while I waited.
• What is the title of my blog for pete's sake?
• Too many more to relate here.

So we're diving in...we've created a private Facebook group for church and online participants who want to read Irresistible Revolution and join in the conversation. I'll also be posting quotes from books, sharing videos of God's Kingdom work and trying to engage you in this Journey. Follow me on Twitter (link above), find me on Facebook, come to our Sunday morning book discussions (message me for details), join us in our LifeGroup or at Thursday morning Bible study at FCC, message me to meet for coffee, join us in serving at Tent Day, the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, homeless hosting this winter at FCC or any of the other possibilities that will arise throughout the year...but most of all fall on your knees and implore the Almighty, the Savior of your soul and His Holy Spirit that is alive, active and living in you to show you where He is already bringing His Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven."

I am so ready! Aren't you??

p.s. I almost forgot!! We'll be using the hashtag #FCCGodStories for Kingdom-work inspiration. What better way to show how God is "trending" everyday??!

He'll Wreck Your Life!

I'm beginning to think that every potential Christian should receive this word of caution: Watch Out! He'll wreck your life!

I have been deeply reminded of this in the last few days. This morning the Holy Spirit drove it home with a line from a book I began reading, Kisses From Katie. In the introduction she writes these few small words that are jam-packed with a lifetime of adventure: "You see, Jesus wrecked my life."

Not 20 minutes later I stood in my kitchen preparing my morning juice and the quiet in our place was too much for the spinning wheels of my mind. I turned on a Christmas CD from a group that my now-grown Abbey listened to in her pre-adolescent years...Jump 5. Their rendition of "Joy to the World" has always hit me in the right place, but today...it flat-out made me cry.

Why?

Because Jesus doesn't just want to "wreck your life"...He came, lived and died so that He could wreck the whole world!

He brought His Kingdom come on "Earth and it is in Heaven." And He has never looked back. 

He wrecked the places where we find our security. He wrecked the notion of who is strong and who is weak. He wrecked the attitudes toward "the least of these". He wrecked deeply-ingrained notions of gender importance. He wrecked who is embraced by the King. He wrecked our hope in the world systems that keep us enslaved. He wrecked the perceptions of why people are poor and just exactly who is poor. And He called His followers to voluntarily let Him wreck their lives...sometimes to the point of death.

So this year, amidst the gifts, the lights, the music, the laughter, the contentment of having our oldest home, and the beauty of a world that at least seems peaceful for a brief season, I will be looking for the Savior that came to wreck my world...my life...what I actually find contentment in...and in where I place my hope.

My Christmas prayer for you is that His Presence, His Emmanuel (God with us!) will wreck your world too!

Making Mediocre Art

I was chatting with a friend yesterday about this list I recently came across in Emily P. Freeman's A Million Little Ways. Freeman's entire book is about living out the art that God created you to make. It may be literal art, or it may be serving the poor, compassion for the mentally ill, interior design, teaching, nursing or "just" being a momma. Whatever the "art", God created you specifically to live it out in this time and in the place where you are.

I have now posted about or referred to this book several times because I've been reading and digesting it since December.  [See Pride,  and Living the Vision part 5] I was still mulling over this recently discovered list when I met with my friend yesterday. We were discussing a life lived without fear, or more importantly overcoming the fear that our Enemy is hell-bent (literally) on throwing into our paths.

Worry, doubt and fear are paralyzing...not can be...are! I know. They've been my modus operandi for far too long. When I wrote about my personal Independence Day, I meant it. Do I naively think that I will never struggle with these three nemeses again? Hardly. In fact, I think they will attempt to be my daily companions for the rest of my life. That's why it's extremely important to stay connected and surrendered to the Holy Spirit. His power, wisdom, encouragement and discernment are vital to living a life free of condemnation, judgment, ridicule, doubt, worry and fear. [Okay, the list just expanded to six companions!]

This is perhaps why Freeman's list struck a chord with me. Number one...I love lists. If it's a checklist...all the better. Number two...I really think the Holy Spirit could use this is a guideline for me to gauge my motives and actions. (i.e. Am I operating out of fear when I do ______________?)

So here's the list. I share it because my friend wanted it, I need it and I can just bet there is someone else out there that needs it to.

"Fear drives out the love. When you work from fear, there is no love in your work. And we don't want your loveless art.

So give the world and yourself a gift, and stop.

You are the beloved. So take some time to be the loved.

The fact that you need time to be the loved means you are human. And we want art that comes from human hands inspired by a capable God. Otherwise you will make mediocre art at best.

If mediocre art is your goal, here are fourteen ways to achieve it:

• Make love to fear
• Apologize a lot
• Try to measure your impact
• Wait to feel qualified
• Compare yourself
• Fear the success of others
• Stay comfortable
• Have imaginary conversations with your critics
• Hold on to regret
• Keep impossible standards for perfection
• Demand appreciation
• Be easily offended
• Think there is only one right way to do it
• And by all means, don't take a risk

Wow. More than a few of these hit way too close to home.

And I don't want to be a "mediocre" artist...do you? I want to fly the way I was created to, with the Creator who made me to. I am exhaustingly tired of wanting a passionate life, sold out and surrendered to whatever exciting adventure God has planned for me. It's time to live it out and more importantly, show my kids it is possible to go for the ride of a lifetime with Jesus.

So it's time to take myself of the throne of my tiny kingdom...which is really what each of these 14 friends of mediocrity point to...and surrender my pride, my longing for appreciation and my desire to always be right and understood...and just let the King open up His HUGE Kingdom before my very eyes.

The Kingdom is already here...and I don't want to miss it!

One Week in Joel

No book of the Bible can be studied in only one week...even if it is only three chapters long. Although time was short, I learned quite a bit with the help of my commentary about this tiny prophetic book named Joel.

Joel was prompted to call Israel back from its wicked ways as the result of a devastating drought and attack by locusts. Things were so bad, that the daily offerings in the temple had ceased. (see Joel 1:9) Although we don't know exactly when Joel was written, or by whom, we do know that the remnant had returned to Jerusalem, built the walls and the temple was again central to daily living. 

Where Joel first challenged me was a reminder that God reveals Himself to His people not for selfish gain, but to share the revelation with others. [The New Bible Commentary: Revised, reprint 1984] God doesn't meet with me so I can hoard away the blessings of what He teaches...we are always designed to be living communally. That includes sharing His teaching with others.

When I first read this idea of sharing the revelations, I realized that's why I blog. Yes, you can find reviews of restaurants, books, products and gardening tips on here too, but four years ago when I started this blog, it was because my journal just wasn't enough anymore. The pages of my writings could not contain all that God was doing in me. I had to share it with others. At the time, I didn't have anyone that could sit with me for hours and listen to me pour out all the wonder and beauty of what was happening. You...dear reader...became the outlet for me to share what this great God was doing in me and through me.

Four years later, I know He was preparing me for things that are still to come.

How do I know?

Because of this passage in Chapter 2. 

Strangely enough, I used this exact same passage when I spoke (and then wrote) in February about living the vision God has for our lives...now. Peter uses this same prophecy on the day of Pentecost to lead 3000 people to a relationship with their Savior, Jesus. 

What is the prophecy?

That there would be a time when we would have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

Ohhh...this is just getting better and better!

There is a lot more in Joel. I encourage you to read it and study it for yourself. Sadly, my friends and I had a limited amount of time to dig in. I leave you with this wonderful quote from my commentary, that gives you some indication of where God is leading me personally:  "If Israel's history had been 'Paradise lost' then the Messianic age is 'Paradise regained." [The New Bible Commentary:Revised p. 723]

This is what God's Spirit is calling me to...a radical devotion that doesn't worry about appearances, comfort, convenience or even my wants or desires. This is why I've been avoiding Him for many months too. Then today...I sat in a worship celebration where He unequivocally confirmed everything He has been calling me to. And the beautiful thing is...I know He was calling others right along with me!

I hope to share more in the next day or two, but for now I leave you with something I said to my friend Julie yesterday as I sat in her kitchen: I don't know what He's doing...but He's doing something.

Finishing Up Hosea

As my friends and I took a couple of weeks off for vacations, this past Tuesday meant a hurried conclusion to Hosea. There is no way to plumb the depths of this book in only three to four weeks. Yet, the summer is flying away and here are the last few thoughts I had regarding this wonderful book of God's redeeming love.

In Hosea 12, we are told that Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom remnant of Israel) "feeds on wind, and pursues the east wind continually..." (verse 1) I've been refreshing my memory work of the book of James and the cross references in my Bible for this passage brought to mind a few correlations that I needed to see.

In Genesis 41:6 Pharaoh tells his dream to Joseph of an "east wind" that scorches the corn. James 1:9-11 plainly speaks of how the poor man "should glory in his high position and the rich man should glory in his humiliation". Why? Because just like the withering grass that the sun shrivels up with a scorching wind, "the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away". (see Flowering Grass, January 2013)

What am I chasing that when the chaff is all burned away, simply won't exist anymore? What treasure am I hoarding and where is it being stored? (see Matthew 6:20)

Hosea, for me, has been all about exposing the subtle idols that come between me and the radical, boundless, passionate pursuit of the Holy Creator who loves me. I am sad to say, there have been a lot that have risen to the surface. Just a few examples include pride, self-image, perception others have of me, media, use of time and the list goes on.

There has been a theme running through my life for the last eight or nine months and I chose to tune it out for most of those. Mark Batterson's All In deeply challenged me to dig in and find out why I've been in a season of hesitation. I've been getting some answers and the more days that pass, the message is getting clearer and much more difficult to ignore. Most of it comes back to my idols of comfort, self-image and fear of the unknown (aka lack of control). I can't keep pushing this aside though and today brought some very vivid clarification of what God's Spirit is calling me to. I'm not certain how much time I'll have to post over the next few days, so just know that I'm not trying to delay any sort of "big reveal".

No...He's showing me repeatedly, through multiple books, songs, sermons, and conversations that it's the little things that He's calling me to. I just need to take myself off the throne of my kingdom and let the King bring His Kingdom into my home, my neighborhood, my relationships and my heart...one moment...one action...one expression of obedient love at a time.

I guess you could say God is preparing me to be a "fool for Jesus". Radically following Him always looks foolish. I won't do it if I'm consumed with the opinions of others. Stop worrying what people think of me is a huge hurdle to overcome. I know it's only the beginning. And in the End, I have a man who married a prostitute and pursued her obediently, faithfully and passionately and didn't worry about what others thought of his reputation or how it "looked" to thank when I meet him someday.

Hosea 4

 

 

I realized at this, the start of my third post on the book of Hosea, that I have yet to recommend that you read it. Here is a link to do so. The book is not very long and since I'm not commenting on each chapter, I don't want you to miss anything that God's Spirit may want to whisper to your heart.

 

 

In Hosea chapter 4, I found a few verses that may sound like someplace we all know:

 

"Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel,

For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land,

Because there is no faithfulness or kindness

Or knowledge of God in the land.

There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.

They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Therefore the land mourns,

And everyone who lives in it languishes..." (Hosea 4:1-3)

 

 

Hmmm? Sounds familiar if you live in the U.S., doesn't it? Again, as I said in my post on Hosea 2, there 'is nothing new under the sun'. But aside from all of the deception that people and businesses work out everyday and as horrific as the next story of a middle schooler attempting to kill someone is and even as unbelievable inane as the proposition that somehow more bloodshed will stymie bloodshed rather than producing more...the land mourns.

 

If you've been hanging out with me on here very long, you know my love for God's Creation. It doesn't take a climatologist, meteorologist or seismologist to educate you...if you just look...our land is mourning.

 

Sadly, this is not the worst of it though. No..."everyone who lives in it languishes."

 

We are a languishing people.

 

Why?

 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6a)

 

He's not talking Common Core or algebra in 4th grade or becoming a neuroscientist here. No...God goes on to say in that same verse that His people "have forgotten the law of your God."

 

Since I first read this a few days ago, my thoughts keep returning to Martin Luther and the Reformation away from the Catholic church. What started it? If you don't know this part of history, the "nutshell" version is that the church only allowed Holy Scriptures written in Latin which only some priests could read and comprehend. Luther translated the Bible into German, the common language of his people and when they read it for themselves, they discovered a personal God who loved them deeply and with a passionate fervor that they could not ignore.

 

Here's what this naturally leads me conclude...when we meet God's Spirit regularly over His Word and open our hearts and minds without reservation to what He wants to teach us...He just might begin a little reformation (aka revolution) in the midst of us.

 

If not...I know that at the very least...we won't be languishing. Any. More!

All In by Mark Batterson- a Book Review

I had the pleasure in April and May to participate in a four week study of All In by Mark Batterson, with some of the ladies in our church. Anytime you gather 40-50 women who know going into it the radical nature of a study and they share their passion to live wholly surrendered lives for Jesus...you know good things are going to happen.

God does not disappoint.

I'm familiar with Batterson's first book, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. It was the impetus to the Holy Spirit's vision for our family participating in an event where we fasted for famine victims in 2011. I've heard of The Circle Maker and am presently reading (and being greatly challenged by) the 40 day devotional that goes along with the book. My copy of The Circle Maker just arrived today.

I'm not one to jump on the latest Christian "hot ticket" item. I am a skeptic at heart. Fads and tricks to perform in order to get God to perform the way I want Him to are usually exactly the sort of book I keep my distance from.

But here's the thing...when an author says our desire to do big things for God is backwards because He is the One who will do big things...our only "job" is to be consecrated (set apart) for Him...I will sit up and listen!

This is no fad. It's as old as the Scriptures themselves (and even before they were written). This is why in the labels I tagged the Shane Claiborne/Tony Campolo phrase of "Red Letter Living". Since the dawn of time, God has been drawing all men to Him. Once Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit, He has been the one calling us...drawing us...asking us to set ourselves aside, and as Batterson puts it frequently throughout the book, 'go All In and All Out for the All in All.'

I was deeply challenged by this book at precisely the right time when my apathy was beginning to scare me. I knew He was drawing me deeper...and I knew I was resisting it. Quite frankly...fear was keeping me captive. 

I'm thankful for Holy Spirit to lead Batterson to write a book that would ask me to "lay down my Isaacs" (my fears, failures, future and doubts) and to remind myself (as my friend Becky says) "live what I say I believe". Anything less and there are some idols that need to be purged.

The purging has begun, physically, spiritually and mentally and as I dive into The Circle Maker to learn more about fervent prayer for the dreams God gives and against the fears my enemy creates, I just keep repeating the same phrase that began the first day of the All In study: "I'm all in God, whatever that means and wherever it leads...I'm all in!"

Provoking Jealousy

When I started studying Hosea last week with some ladies at my local coffee shop, we talked a lot about harlotry/idolatry as God depicts our sin in Hosea 1. As I'm finishing up Mark Batterson's book, All In, (review soon!) the chapter entitled "The Idol that Provokes to Jealousy" resonated deeply with me. Batterson's referring to Ezekial 8:3 where he sees an idol that provokes jealousy in God.

We are taught to hate that word jealousy, aren't we? After all, we aren't supposed to be jealous of anything right? Batterson writes that God isn't jealous of anything...He's jealous for everything. It's all His to begin with.

Including me.

And you.

He created us for relationship with Him and He jealously protects that relationship to the point that He wants absolutely nothing to stand between He and I. (or you.)

"The idol that provokes to jealousy is anything that diverts our attention from God, our affection for God, or our reliance on God. It's anything that consumes more time or more money than our pursuit of God."

And this:

"Identifying your idols starts with looking at the way you spend your time and spend your money. I can tell you what my priorities are, but if you really want to know what is most important to me, all you have to do is look at my calendar and my checkbook. They don't lie. They reveal what my true priorities are. They will also reveal the idol that provokes to jealousy."

Batterson goes on to write about the hidden rooms of our hearts and what would others see if they could peer inside? Then this is what stopped me up short this morning when I read it:

"If you want to identify your idols, you need to reverse engineer your emotions. Trace the trail of your tears or fears, your cheers or jeers. If you follow it all the way to the trailhead, you'll come face-to-face with the idols in your life." 

Ouch!

What makes or ruins my day?

What produces the strongest emotions in me?

It's not wrong to cheer on my favorite team, or laugh at something I watch...but if those are producing more emotion in me than the things that break the heart of my Savior...then I need to start asking myself some tough questions.

What moves the heart of God is a good place to start.

Internal vs. External

It seems everywhere I turn there is this running theme: God is not concerned with what I do but He is very interested in who I am.

I shared my friend Chandra's powerful words. Yet, too many times to count, I have struggled with this overwhelming desire to do something for Jesus...and not just something...but something HUGE. I have wrestled with the passion to serve vs. being in the limelight. I want everyone to know this amazing Abba (Daddy) that consumes so much of my life. In all honesty, at times I have to adamantly sift through whether this is because of Him drawing me to this or my "need" to be noticed.

I sat through one of the most profound Beth Moore sessions I've ever watched or listened to yesterday at the Believing God Bible study I attend. The insight she taught regarding God's priority of the internal over the external was a resounding affirmation to what He has already been teaching me. I sat there with all of my accompanying "Amens!", oohs, aahs, moans and sighs as God's Spirit challenged me to take my eyes off of this big, unknown "something" out there in the vast expanse of Christendom and to instead refocus with laser-like precision on what He longs to do inside of me.

This morning as I was doing my ritual morning catch-up on Twitter and Facebook, God decided to sum it all very concisely for me...just in case I'd missed it so far. And the quote came from Gregory Boyd.

"If you think you're going to DO something that will give your life more significance than it already has, you are in deceptive bondage."

When I want to proclaim to the nations all that I think my Abba would love for me to share, I lose sight of the harvest He's already procuring in me and the lives of those immediately surrounding me. This is a constant struggle for me and has been for many, many years. I know we all long for significance and apparently my Enemy knows this is particular weakness of mine. Seeing this "longing" described as bondage was the proverbial "slap in the face" I needed. In fact, I think the quote is going up on my mirror.

Jesus left us with the the command to go into all the world and make disciples (see Matthew 28:19-20) but He never left it entirely on my shoulders. He is the One that is drawing all men to Himself, not me. And when I forget that I'm one of those that needs to be made a disciple, I'm putting myself in the wrong place...Teacher instead of the Student I was designed to be. 

This Beautiful Mess- A Book Review

Rick McKinley's This Beautiful Mess is just the book I didn't know I was looking for. What does a life of Kingdom living look like as lived out daily in our personal journey and with other believers? McKinley gives profound insight not only into how to live out a Kingdom-focused life, but raises some reasons as to why we have fallen short and are content to repeatedly do so.

Jesus said, 'Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.' He invited His followers to not just dream of the eternal hereafter, but to embrace what God, through His Holy Spirit is already doing in the here and now.

Drawing from examples of his faith community, Imago Dei, in Portland, Oregon, and presenting challenging references to other authors I hold dear (like Shane Claiborne and Randy Alcorn), McKinley's book has compelled me to no longer just ask the tough questions about how to think outside the box, but to actively look for how to participate with God in bringing His Kingdom to those who seek Him.

While the message may seem simple, I often found myself limited to reading a few pages at a time in order to digest and process through McKinley's writing. That's when I know a book has the fingerprints of God upon it.

If, like me, you are no longer content with the "American Dream" and you long for a life of Kingdom living...sit down (preferably with other Kingdom seekers), crack open your Bible, and using this book and the discussion questions as a guide, prayerfully allow the Holy Spirit to begin painting the picture of how you can participate in living out His Kingdom "on earth as it is in Heaven."

I Am Sad. I Am Sad. I Am Sad.

If you say it three times, people know you mean it, right? So why the sadness?

Am I really the only person that when a few months ago the U.S. came out in support of one side and Russia came out in favor of the opposition and both started supplying their respective sides in this Syrian mess...thought, "Oh, crap...this is the next place we're going in!"??? Did no one else see the proverbial handwriting on the wall?

We are supposed to be pulling out of other places where we've been far too long, so we have to find another, right? And what better place than a powder keg that's ready to explode? Iran has already warned the world that this entire region has a shaky peace at best and that we all need to stay out before it implodes. I would like to point out that they have made that warning to all...not just the U.S.

And yet, here we are once again throwing our weight around...telling the world we're ready to strike...and we're not listening to the U.N.saying, "Let the inspectors at least finish their job." Meanwhile, Russia is sending two warships to the Mediterranean Sea. Anyone else out there concerned by this?

While I am grieved at over 100,000 Syrians killed in the last two years and about 2 million forced from their homes into refugee camps and the chemical weapons being used...what will us dropping bombs accomplish? Don't we risk killing more innocent people...like the over 1 million Iraqis that have died at the hands of the U.S.? I know, I know...you can choose to naively believe that your government will only target military arsenals for dropping bombs. Anyone old enough to remember Bill Clinton and the Sudanese aspirin factory bombing? Are we just supposed to say, "Oops...my bad...sorry for blowing up the your source of pain relief when our intel told us you where making chemical weapons."

Have we truly not learned from Iraq and Afghanistan that the police can come in and dictate how you're supposed to live, but if the family in the domestic dispute don't want a better, more peaceful life...no amount of force will change the overall outcome? And just exactly who are we to tell them what "a better life" entails? The arrogance to presume that everyone is miserable if they don't exactly mirror the white man's world is repugnant at best.

I used to reserve my comments like these for private conversations from fear of being placed on some government watch list as subversive. I also used to tell myself I was being a paranoid conspiracy theorist. [Can anyone say Edward Snowden?] So yes, I am taking a risk by publicly asking us to take a step back and think about what we're doing.

But the bigger risk is in the Christian circles I rub elbows with. To proclaim the peacemaking of the Kingdom of God over the patriotism of the U.S. is tantamount to heresy in some hearts and minds. Here again, I've already been deemed a dreaded "Liberal" by the conservatives and a narrow-minded "Conservative" by liberals. So really...do I have anything to lose?

Well, actually I do have a lot to lose. You see, I have a son...a 15 year old son to be exact. And a few years ago as God was walking me through my biggest fears and teaching me to lay them at His feet, I had to reconcile myself that in my lifetime it is a very real possibility that compulsory service in the armed services will begin again. The day I first saw that momma collapse on her front porch in Saving Private Ryan, I knew that could one day be me. Even though my baby boy was only two months old when the movie was released, for the first time...I understood the sting of what mommas like her all over the world have felt when their little boys fight far from home in a war not of their own making.

And we're still losing sons and daughters in far off places that don't really want us there to "help" them. Is Syria yet one more? I really think some of us need to stop and look at the map and remind ourselves where it's located. Do you see the close proximity to Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the small leap over to Egypt. Yeah...Egypt...there's no instability there. Um, Turkey has seen better days too. Many of these countries are overwhelmed caring for the Syrian refugees. Are we prepared to support them and prop them up as their already tenuous resources are tapped by the inevitable influx of more?

So here's what it all comes down to: You have every right to disagree with me and believe that we should run swiftly to save the Syrian people. I am asking you to at least take a moment to stop and think about the consequences. That is something I didn't do with Afghanistan or Iraq and I deeply wish I had.

But for Christians, I am asking you to go one step further. Not only should we stop and think about the consequences, we are called to ask what Jesus (yes, God Incarnate) would say about warring nations. Surprisingly, we don't have to look very far. When Jesus began teaching, one of His first lessons was taught in what we have dubbed, The Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:9 He simply stated, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." 

You see, that's the other loss I don't want to experience...my "sonship" with God. If I am truly a child of the King, I cannot get around the fact that my Daddy (aka Abba) has told me that to be called His I must live as a peacemaker. God's Kingdom doesn't look like any on earth, yet Jesus told us the Kingdom was here AND not yet. My first allegiance is to Him and no matter how it may offend or perturb others, I am first and foremost to speak as a Daughter of the King.

So go ahead, call me Liberal or call me Conservative and I'll be honest to admit that not pleasing people is greatly disturbing to me. Worrying about what others think of me consumes too much of my time and energy. But I also recognize that God is striving to bring me to a place where no matter the outcome I must "Repent!" or turn away from, the thinking and teaching of this age and embrace the 'Kingdom that is at hand.' (see Matthew 3:2)

If you are a Jesus follower, I am imploring you when all of this brew-ha-ha is spinning and broiling and whirring about and you have to make a choice in the cloud of confusion on exactly which side of the fence you hope to land when the dust settles around our feet, ask yourself where Jesus said we should stand. Personally, I'm being drawn to the Peacemaker's Camp...there seems to be a lot of extra room there. Wanna join me?

I Dare You to Do This and...

not be humbled.

The folks over at A Heart for Korah posted a very eye-opening link on their Facebook page. It's called Global Rich List. It will ask you your location and then all you do is type in your annual income and it instantly evaluates your percentage of wealthiest people position. It also gives you the data in real number of people.

For instance, I put in our last year gross income and believe it or not, even with living 1.5 times below the poverty level for a family of 6 in the U.S., we were still in the top 1.10% of wealthiest people in the world.

Yikes!

That makes me about the 73.6 millionth richest person out of a world population of around 7 billion. Can you say the word shame? Not shame at what we have been blessed with...but my stupid whining at how little I have!

So I crunched a few numbers...just because I'm a little weird like that. Dale's had a lot of extra work this year, so our income has gone up considerably...still below poverty level, mind you. Yet, by my estimation we will have finished the year in the 0.51% or the 33.9 millionth richest person.

Oh yeah...you know I went further. I put in our income the last year that Dale worked in banking. Twice what we earned last year, but still only about $14,000 above poverty level for a family of 6. Here's the stats: 0.15% or about the 10 millionth richest person in the world. Can it be possible that that woman of five years ago actually thought she barely had enough to get by? Yes...double shame.

And then this is the last one...I promise...I put in $100,000. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a lot of money to me. But I know people that live in that pay range and even above. In fact, it's not that uncommon in the area where we live in Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. Here are the final figures. If you make $100,000 you are in the top 0.08% of the wealthiest people in the world! That also makes you about the 5 millionth richest person.

So here's the question that now has to be asked: If we are living as Red Letter Christians, and really, truly say we believe the teachings of Jesus...when He says, "From everyone who has been given much, much is required." (see Luke 12:48 in its context here) exactly to whom do we think He was talking? And what are we...myself at the forefront...going to do about it?

By the way...I lied when I said $100,000 was the last one. I want you to go over to Global Rich List right now and plug in your numbers. Then ask God what He wants you to do too.

Just How Deep is His Mercy?

I'm continuing through the red letter words of Jesus, slowly but surely. Yesterday, something fell together that reminded me exactly how much God loves each and every one of us. It also spoke to the depth of His Mercy for all.

In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus tells us that we should "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Why? "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." But in case that isn't reason enough, Jesus gives us the example of how far His Father will go to care for (aka love) His enemies. "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Did you notice that it's His sun? Or had you ever considered that He is the one who sends the rain? He doesn't have to share His sun. And He doesn't have to give us rain. Don't believe me? James 5:17 reminds us that there was a man, just like us, who prayed for God to shut up the heavens because of the wickedness of a generation...and God granted Elijah's prayer for three and a half years! One dry year in some parts of Africa creates a famine. Can you imagine what the famine of Elijah's day was like?

He prayed again and God sent rain to everyone. (The full story begins at 1 Kings 17) These weren't spotty showers only on the repentant ones. God, in His unlimited depth of mercy, sent rain to all. There is so much contained in these verses that I could ramble at great length. It's taken me two days to get this far. I've had much difficulty thinking how I should conclude this post. 95% of the time, my writing just pours out. It's very rare that after two days I still have no direction, summary, outline or conclusion.

I think the point is, that it (His mercy) never ends. I'm not sure that it can be "summed up".

Have you ever doubted that God would forgive what you have done? Do you sometimes feel like you have gone so far from Him that He would never take you back?

Did the sun come up today? Then His mercy continues on and He's ready to wash away the grit and grime too. Whether you ask for it or not, the rain is coming! You can choose to remain blind to the One who shares these gifts with you or you can open up your heart to the cleansing promise of another day to (with His help) get it right.

"Blessed are Those Who Mourn...

for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4, NASB)

Jesus just confounds me. And maybe it's only me, but somehow I doubt it. How can those who mourn possibly be "blessed"?

First of all, I think I have to overcome my American preconceived notion of what blessed means. I should have posted this link with my previous post Blessed are the Poor... Reading Ann Voscamp's take on who really is poor... puts into perspective that what we in the U.S. call blessed quite possibly isn't.

The Amplified Version of this word helps me understand what biblical blessing may include: "a happiness produced by God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace." 

My favorite version was from The Message though: "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you." I like that.

Once again I believe Jesus was extending an invitation to reach the end of ourselves for that is where His embrace is most dear. But in a culture that believes you should "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and it takes great tragedy to reveal our weakness, how do we daily live as one "who mourns" so that we can find our comfort only in Him? That's a good question for me.

Acknowledging that I don't have a clue how I'm supposed to live this life and at the same time asking Him to draw me closer to His heart so that I am broken by the things that break His is the only place I know to start.

Blessed Are the Poor...

It's going to be a very slow process, but I am continuing to pick through the red letter teachings of Jesus. I can already foresee that in many places I will have to ruminate line by line in an attempt to grasp even a small portion of the feast He has invited each one of us to enjoy.

Today, is one of those days as I found myself unable to get beyond one verse, Matthew 5:3. This begins the portion of Scripture we call The Sermon on the Mount and encompasses chapters 5 through 7 of the first Gospel of the New Testament. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God." (NASB)

What struck me initially, was that I knew this verse and could have quoted it to you verbatim, but the words "in spirit" had never impacted me before today. I have immersed myself in the book of James for so long that I have been putting more emphasis on the word poor and completely neglecting "the spirit". James tells us we should never dishonor the Poor and that God specifically chose the Poor to be rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom He has promised them. (see James 2)

So there I was asking the question for the first time: What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Do you think that it's pure coincidence that when I asked What IF He REALLY Meant It? I posed the additional question:   "But when you live among people that may not be experiencing as much financial poverty as they are deep poverty of the soul...how do I speak into their lives the Love of Jesus?" To me, this is not coincidence.

Sorting through the question, I looked up numerous references that reiterate how and whom will "inherit the kingdom". (Matthew 5:10; 19:14; 25:34; Mark 10:14; Luke 6:20; 22:29) and a recurring theme seems to be utter dependence on God...like a child or because you are persecuted. When I looked up the word poor, the definition that applies the most to me is "deficient or lacking in something specified". Spirit is described as my "conscious, incorporeal being" or the "vital principle in humans" that animates the body or "mediates between body and soul".

Even with all of this, I was still chewing.

What I realized I was stumbling over was one word...the one that starts each of the nine sentences from verses 3 and 11...blessed. Why am I blessed if I am deficient in the vital conscious being that defines and animates who I am? Perhaps, when I'm at the end of myself...I am ready to see, feel, taste and experience Who He is and what His kingdom contains...utter, complete, boundless dependence on Him and His Love.

Wow...that would be great! But then the next question that immediately comes stampeding on the heels of the first is: I'm pretty sure given the lavish Love of Jesus, He never intended for this blessing to be a one-time-deal. So how do I live in such a way that I am always poor in spirit?

There's the crux of it for me. I am being asked to always live at the end of my ability...the end of who I am and what I am able to do. That's a call for me to live in such a way that (as Frances Chan says) "If God doesn't come through, I'm screwed." It is radically living sacrificially and without reserve so that who I am and what I am able to do can only be explained by a supernatural God, the Love of His Son and the Spirit that empowers us beyond our limits. It is a call to be a Red Letter Radical!

What IF He REALLY Meant It?

I recently shared that this month our pastor started a new sermon series about living our lives as Red Letter Radicals and that the timing could not have been more perfect because we were going to be spending part of our vacation visiting a place where people actually believe and live like this is possible. Since the day we arrived in Philadelphia, I've been ready to return, but I do not feel called to live in Philadelphia...I know the calling is to live out the lifestyle here. So for the last week, I've been asking the same question that I expressed in my post regarding The Simple Way:  How did Jesus do it...and what's stopping me from doing that now?

Whether I live in Hebron or Covington, Kentucky...South Carolina, South America or South Africa...how do I live out the life Jesus has called me to and His Spirit enables me to live? I've been grappling with this a lot since we arrived in Philly. When poverty is everywhere it seems obvious what needs to be done...every thing, in fact. But when you live among people that may not be experiencing as much financial poverty as they are a deep poverty of the soul...how do I speak into their lives with the Love of Jesus?

Yesterday, His Spirit challenged me to follow the advice of my pastor, Shane Claiborne's book, Irresistible Revolution and also one I hope to read soon that he wrote with Tony Campolo, Red Letter Revolution...I should start by reading precisely what Jesus said...and simply live it out.

I don't want this to become a legalistic checklist that somehow makes me feel more spiritual or superior. But if I want to get to the heart of the Man that has asserted Himself as Lord of my life...His teachings are the perfect place to start.

Last night, I started doing just that. Here's what I learned in just the third and fourth chapters of Matthew where Jesus only speaks a mere six lines of dialogue. And while I've heard a multitude of sermons about the baptism of Jesus and his temptations from the devil and how He overcame them...I'm not certain I've ever heard anyone share what struck me as so peculiar in Chapter 4:

• When Jesus called Simon (aka Peter) and his brother Andrew to follow Him, He told these fishermen that they would fish for men from now on...and they dropped everything and went.
• James and John (also brothers) were sitting with their dad, Zebedee, heard the call from Jesus...stopped mending their nets and walked away.
• Imagine just for a moment the bewildered look on Zebedee's face. Or did he too, realize the Messiah of Israel had just called his sons? Verse 22 specifically says, "And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him."

In awe of their instant obedience, I wrote in my journal last night these notes:

• no prayer for discernment
• no committee to run it by
• Peter was married and didn't even go tell his wife he was leaving.
• What if...we all lived in such breathless anticipation of the Spirit that when he spoke, we would just pick up and do what He asked?

Funny enough, for the last two days as I pondered our trip to Philadelphia and what God might be teaching me, I had this recurring thought before I had ever even read this passage in Matthew: There have been too many times to count that I have been "gung ho" about diving into a ministry, a service opportunity, a new adventure and what if...all of those times instead of pulling back and thinking, "Oh that must have just been my wild imagination" that was actually God's Spirit calling...beckoning me...to instantly obey? What if when I've thought about it later and convinced myself or listened to someone else tell me that "God wouldn't ask you to do that without giving you more guidance or confirmation from another source"...What if every time I've allowed the excitement to wane and I've believed that I must have heard Him wrong...it really was Him saying, "I'm running and I want you to run with Me!" What if I could have been flying with/following Him all of this time and have deceived myself into thinking that it has just been my rampantly wild imagination?

Honestly...it scares me more than a little that I may have been rationalizing away the Life God's had for me all along. Yes, I believe He gives us discernment so that we can be certain we are in His Will. But Beth Moore's Bible study, Living Beyond Yourself, is all about living filled with the guidance of the Spirit so we can know in the moment exactly what He wants of us.

My prayer is that as I search the red-lettered words of Christ I will begin to reflect His character, goodness and Love as He calls...instantly!

The Simple Way, Philadelphia PA

For a few days now, I've been mulling over what to write about this group of people that want to live "simply" but whose impact has such significance that it reaches around the globe and even right into my life.

The first time I ever read anything about The Simple Way, I think it was in Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. But I can't be certain now without skimming the entire book (which honestly, at this late hour I don't want to do). I know I once read an article about "New Monasticism" in Christianity Today and TSW was a central focus. Thanks to the internet, I even found the 2005 article available online.

The thought always intrigued me...what if we could live like the early church fathers (and mothers) taught us...collectively...taking care of each other, so that no one who called God "Abba" would go without food, clothing, water or shelter. This particularly hit close to home in 2009 when my husband lost his job. I remember frequently suggesting (half serious/half joking...but mostly serious), that the five or so families that were then unemployed in our church of about 75, should try to pool together with others to form a commune. [Yeah, that idea didn't go very far!]

When it was very real to me that in a few months time we may not have a place to live, I remember conversations with my "brothers and sisters" that often ended with one of them saying something like 'well, I don't think I could ever take someone into my home...but I could put them up in a hotel for awhile.' I do not speak of everyone I knew during that time, but this was a prevailing theme in conversation after conversation about poverty and what God may ask of any Christ follower.

Fast forward to a few months ago when I finally read Irresistible Revolution. I wasn't blogging much at the time, so I didn't review it. But right before we left for Philadelphia I wrote a post about the book and how it tied into some of the current sermon series our pastor had begun. Needless to say, the book impacted me enough that I wanted to "come and see" as the author puts it. And so I dreamed that some day we would...and this vacation was partly that: an opportunity to "come and see".

TSW asks that when you visit you be mindful of the delicate balance of the neighborhood and that they not become a place for "poverty tourism". I wanted to respect what they do and the people they serve, so we took no photos of the neighborhood or the different locations TSW now maintains in the Kensington section of North Philly. But you can take a virtual tour of the neighborhood online.

There are a few ways to connect with TSW that they open up to everyone...8 a.m. morning prayer and if there is a Thursday evening "Midrash", anyone is invited. I attended morning prayer twice. Dale, Noah and Leah went with me the second time. It was definitely different from anything I have ever experienced...and in a good way. As we were driving home, I was reminded that any Monday through Friday at 8 a.m., I know I can pray for them as they are praying with each other. That bedrock of prayer is obviously important to them.

Since I knew going into our visit that I might not get to see all that I wanted, I was looking forward to chatting with Coe from The Simple Way. He's the Office Manager, but also lives in and cares for The Hospitality House where we stayed. Coe was gracious and kind to have six people invade his space and I did enjoy the time we had to talk with him. Sometimes we feel like the oddball couple with a different set of priorities and resources than most people we know. To hear Coe speaking aloud some of the very same things our hearts have expressed was a beautiful gift of peace and grace that we are not alone.

One thing I really, really wanted to see was their new aquaponics green house. Dan kindly took some time out of his busy day to show us and it was pretty cool. Coe said the afterschool kids on Thursday of our trip had a chance to eat some of the produce growing there. The disconnect between nature and the inner city is huge...this is one small way to bridge the gap. That and the green spaces that TSW maintains in the neighborhood.

I left Philadelphia ready to return. It's not only a city with more venues and historical sites to see...but I know I could learn a lot from the people of The Simple Way. I've already been asking God, "How do we implement the principles of what I did see and I know they are living where you have us placed for now?" It looks easy when you're surrounded by intense poverty. I know it's not easy...but when you can see the needs everywhere, it seems you can just dig in and go. In the places where we are...home, church, work, neighborhood...how do we, The Barthauers, live out the Love we know He wants us to share?

I don't need to look to The Simple Way...I just need to start where they did...asking the question: How did Jesus do it...and what's stopping me from doing that now?

Amen!