Monday is for Morons: 12-12-2001

I woke up to the insistent dribbles of rain forcing their way to ground. Not only was it raining, but it is almost cold enough to make snow. What a lousy combo. I don't know about you but on a day like this I'd rather sit around a fire and drink something hot as I engulf myself into a great read... NOT go outside and do something.

Remember John in the New Testament? Not Jesus' brother who probably wrote 5 books of the Bible; the other one, the one who dressed like Tarzan mixed with an Eskimo and baptized people. Well he was put into prison and knew things would probably not end terribly well for him. I imagine him in some feces infested cell, darkened by some Mid-Eastern night, wondering about that guy everyone was calling Jesus: 'I wonder if he really is it; I wonder if he really is the one we have all been waiting for.'

Maybe you are wondering the same thing. Maybe you you're just feeling . . . bleh. On a cold, raining day it is easy to feel blasé. Well John, instead of wondering until his head fell off, sent some of his dudes to go ask Jesus if he was 'it,' the Messiah Israel was waiting for. Jesus answered them by telling the messengers, 'Report back to John what you yourself are seeing. I heal the corrupted and I preach good news to the poor.'

Jesus is the Messiah not only Israel, but the whole world, YOU, have been waiting for. It is okay to have blasé Mondays because Jesus is come. And for those who would come to HIM with their broken-down lives full of disgusting and many sins he will forgive. He has footed the bill already. And he will continue to do so for all time.

Don't let the day moderate your heart, go to Jesus who is full of mercy.

Was Jesus Serious?

I was able to attend a thrilling college football game a few years ago. The home team was down all game long. It was now the fourth quarter and the home team was still down by four points with only 3 minutes left. The home team had the ball. They were driving down the field. The suspense was building. The whole stadium was willing a win. The quarterback dropped back and in an instant released the ball. Into the receivers hands the ball fell and into the end zone went the receiver. Touchdown. For a brief moment there was so much unhindered emotion that sound itself disappeared. Everyone had their mouth open; veins were bulging; I had not an atom of oxygen remaining in my body, but no noise. The sound was so loud that for that moment our ears could not handle it. Everyone in the stadium immediately went hoarse. The whole game we were waiting for this!

Could you imagine in this moment that I turned and looked at my friend next to me, one who I know breathes this same team, who lives and dies by the success of this home team, could you imagine if I saw my friend with both arms extended with thumbs pointing down booing the success of his team? Confusing? Shocking? Angering?

In Jesus’ parable of two brothers found in the Gospel of Luke, the 15th chapter, verses 11-32, the young, foolish, sinful, bad, rebellious brother was considered dead; literally gone and done with were the thoughts regarding this young man. As it ends up he is alive and comes home and as any loving father would do, once he found out his boy was alive and well the father kissed him, accepted him back in to the family, made it clear that he loved his son by throwing an over lavish and expensive party. Jesus says that this is the kind of rejoicing that goes on in heaven when a sinner comes home—when one realizes he is never going to make it, that he needs God and the grace and comfort his love brings. The stadium is erupting with joy. The cheering so loud you cannot hear. Everyone is cheering. Everyone one, except . . .

The religious elite in Jesus’ day were not happy with how gracious Jesus was portraying God to be. ‘Of course we are only saved by God’s mercy alone’ they would say—and believe!—‘but you must also be good.’ They are the fan booing when the whole Kingdom of God is beside themselves in happiness. They are booing because they are not satisfied. They think that if God’s grace is for the prostitute, the drunk, the homeless guy who doesn’t take showers, the one who killed another, the single mom, the . . . ugh . . . ordinary; if God’s grace is for THEM than it is not special, they think.

God’s grace is shocking. God chooses to love those who are the social outcasts, the failures in life. He is not just for the rich, not just the blue collared but the bottom of the barrels. Not only does God love those but he loves those who already had their moment of realization, who already spent their first chance . . . and the 17 that came after. He keeps loving them. God’s love is for all. You cannot win it. You cannot outgrow it. You cannot earn it. You cannot lose it. You cannot expand it. You cannot detract it.

The Pharisees did not like what Jesus was saying about the Father’s mercy because they suddenly realized that they had absolutely nothing to do with it. They saw their hierarchy was a farce. They saw that in God’s eyes a king was just the same as a poor, homeless Jew who was called a bastard his whole life. They were booing God.

Impudent Praying: thoughts from Jesus’ words in Luke 11.8

Here is Jesus with his disciples, they ask of him, ‘teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ Jesus replies, when you pray say . . .‘ and he gives what history has named The Lord’s Prayer.

In Luke’s book Jesus goes on teaching about prayer: he tells the story of a rude neighbor who comes banging on his friend’s door at 2am going on about how he needs some bread because another rude friend came and wanted to crash at his place. The man who had the neighbor at his door was already in bed wearing his boxers catching some Zzz so he could function the next day; being rightly annoyed he says, ‘hey, I’m sleeping, you schlub; go away, I’m not getting up for your friend who doesn’t know how to plan ahead of time!’ But the man at the door persists: ‘Hey man, I need some bread!’ ‘Get lost you turtle-neck wearer!’ ‘Come on! I need some bread for this guy!’

Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that the man who was sleeping eventually gets up, gets bread, and gives it to his annoying neighbor NOT because they were friends but because the guy was, impudent.

I had no clue what impudent meant so I looked it up: essentially it is not being respectful by following what is the norm based on society or tradition. So the guy is a little unorthodoxed in his approach but he gets his bread. So what is Jesus trying to convey to his guys who are following him? It seems that Jesus is saying, ‘God is your Father and He loves you and nothing is too hard for Him. There may be some traditions and rules about how you should approach Him, but remember to approach Him; you needn’t go to a temple or wear certain clothes or say specific things, but ask HIM!’ This is along the same lines as the writer of Hebrews who says we can go confidently to the ‘throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’

The Creator of all things, while wild and subservient to no one, is our Father who loves us. When we pray we are banging on His door, we are calling on Him, we are, in a sense, becoming a welcome nuisance to Him. No liturgy, no heartless quotes, no muttering of the same phrase over and over will help, only coming to God because of what Jesus has done will do; because Jesus gave us a voice with God. God does not care for fancy phrases and perfect theology; He wants those broken enough to know they are in need of Him. You’re never too sinful; you’re never too messed up; you don’t need to get things right before going to God; you dont need to have some feeling or sign and you’re never going TO BE good enough to go to God: Jesus fills that place for us.