A long passionate obedience in the same direction

There is a book written by Eugene Peterson called, 'a long obedience in the same direction'. I admit to having only read the first couple of chapters. It was written almost 20 years ago and, yet, could have been written yesterday. Here's a favorite exerpt:

It is not difficult in [our] world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terribly difficult to sustain interest... There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness. (pg. 12)

So, life this side of Easter... Take a moment. A deep breath. Let it out slowly. A quick pause. Sit still. A silent minute. Slow your breathing pattern. Close your eyes. Ok, you have to open them the read the rest... No, really, go ahead and practice the last few bold face sentences, you are just sitting in front of a computer screen... capture the space for this to really sink in.

Now, imagine life this side of Easter. Death has lost its sting. Sin has been rendered powerless. Grace flows in huge waves. Faith is sustained by deep wells. Joy is a constant friend. Courage comes quickly and when needed. The new life of resurrection is real, authentic and today. It is a genuine return to the garden scene of Eden. We get to re-live with God the life He originally imagined, created and intended. This is true and a reality promised by God, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit.

What's missing? Is there perhaps a quality of life that is conspicuously absent in your life now? It there perhaps a conspiracy (II do believe a few real ones exist) that is being waged against such a life described above. That's the tension I want to address for the 40 plus days (our Easter 8 are already past). Hint: part of the answer is hidden in the word, "chazown".

Grace and peace,

Troy

The days after Easter

Wow, spring break really go to me. I totally got out of the rhythm of writing. So I'll do two this week. 1) for Easter reflections 2) for this week and the upcoming series. So here's numero uno:

Resurrection Sunday is supposed to be this huge crescendo in our communal celebration of the passion of Christ. I don;t know how many of you saw the movie created by Mel Gibson a number of years ago. I saw it early on in its release to the theaters. I watched with a big crowd of others in silence, tears and sometimes in horror as Jesus of Nazareth was falsely arrested, paraded from crooked politicians to ill-religious leaders for their own agenda. Yet, on this past Good Friday we spent time experiencing the stations of the cross where we take personal responsibility for the sacrificial death of Christ. It may have been the conspiracy of the Romans and Pharisees that in reality put Jesus on that torturous cross, but it was our sin that lead Him and motivated Him to fulfill the law and extend forgiveness and live eternal for a sinner like me.

Back to Resurrection Sunday... According to Biblical scholars Easter was celebrated for another 8 days after Resurrection Sunday. Yet, for most of us we walk through the season of Lent and crescendo with Easter then... nothing. The truth is that we should revel in the amazing new life we are offered in Christ's victory over the grave. Also, after 8 crazy days of Easter, the church continued the festive attitude for another 42 days until the celebration of Pentecost (Acts 1).

I still want and earnestly desire to live not only free from the power of sin, but more radically in newness of life. What does a post resurrection life in Christ really look like, feel like, move like? I think I have touched the hem of His garment at times (a thimble full). But, yet, I have not experienced that consistent and constant, "faucet wide open" flow of the living water from my deepest inner being. My suggestion: let's continue in an attitude of awe and joy through the next 50 days and see if the power and freedom of Easter will soak deep into our hearts and minds. Kind of an Easter marinade (OK that was corny).

That is what I am obsessing about, this side of this particular Easter. That is what I want to investigate and chase after for the next 50 or so days.

Grace and Peace,

Troy

Pain, real pain

Hey All-- I am writing this blog not so much as extras this week but as an apology (if that's appropriate). I spoke this past Sunday on the challenge of suffering, difficulty and pain that we navigate through in life. It was a lot of content and even with the interview with Jess (way to go Jess!), it may have come across too unrealistic. A young woman emailed in response that it had some gaps and missed being real about the grief, loss and emotional pain that can accompany the tragic experiences in this life. I in no way wanted to gloss over and ignore those very real emotions in the midst of loss. I know in my life that depression, guilt and confusion have all been my companions at times. I was concerned that I would not be able to teach the content on the redemptive side of pain and adequately address the sometimes dark journey of pain and loss. I am sorry to not also include that part of the journey. We have spoken about that in the past and will not fail to in the future.

In addition, I know that if any of you need someone to simply share with about the reoccurring and unrelenting pain or sorrow that in a promised part to this life (Ecclesiates 3), that there are those who would lovingly and gently sit with you. Please do not hesitate to call or ask. I also know that Jesus himself cares and can bring comfort when nothing or no one else can. He is available and ready to listen.

Thank you to those of you who honesty and courageously shared the very real pain that you have experienced in this life and how God has held, sustained and even deepened your faith in the midst. Thank you for all the encouraging words and challenge that is a part of being a community of faith together.

Grace and peace,

Troy

Jesus, the Ace

There are always presuppositions in our thinking. We always begin with some sort of data, concept, or opinion. We may hold these loosely at times or they may hold us so strongly we can not even recognize them. The key to wisdom and good scholarship (especially in handling the Bible, accurately) is to be aware of our own and ask for wisdom from God to discern from others, theirs.

For many, statements like these could be a key to understanding their presuppositions (in parenthesis):
• The Bible is the Word of God (to be taken literally at all times)
• The Bible is the Word of God (to be studied and understood in its original authors context)
• The Bible is the Word of God (as a historical document and handled as a literary text)
• The Bible is the Word of God (it is mysterious and holy and can only be understood with divine guidance)
• The Bible is the Word of God (it is God's letter of love to me and the world)

The Bible can be some or most of these things. Yet, I have to admit my particular presupposition. Jesus is the Word of God made visible and real. My own preference to approaching the Bible as God's revelation is that it points to a true north as a compass is designed to do. Jesus becomes the lens or filter through which we understand and interpret scripture. There are many passages to quote for this stance but the first chapter of John is by far my favorite. No matter what I think scripture is teaching I have to first filter it through the life and teaching of Christ. I may not understand a specific teaching or command from Paul until I do the hard work of weighing it upon the very real example that Jesus gave us in his life. Jesus' ace high trumps Paul's king high hand every time (even though when we study Paul, I see more and more how he is just underscoring Jesus ).

Here's the bonus, and very vulnerable confession: I believe a lot of what Jesus was doing in his teaching and embodying the Kingdom of God was unhooking us (and those of his day) from our own finely held presuppositions that did not reflect what He was here to ultimately do. (two examples: Matthew 13:13-16 & Matthew 15:1-20 & Matthew 16:19-30) They had (and we still do) create tidy boxes in which God is to live and operate. Jesus was by far the most extraordinary person to ever live and also the most controversial and dangerous (for our theologies). Jesus was constantly creating discontinuity in the minds of His hearers.

The best I can do is to submit my ideas to Him and His life. "Lord, help me to let go and trust in your manifold wisdom revealed in your Son, was and is the Way, the Truth and the Life." Amen.

Grace and Peace,

Troy