Why do I stand,
stay?
Why not with whims
blow away?
Dissolved resolve
scattered like dust.
The rust grows,
pushing,
tilting,
slipping,
making many messes for maids to mull;
sucked away before inspected,
invested gators,
twisting traitors.
Teeth of a warm
menacing my skin.
The ache of a brake
deeper presses in.
Statistics gauge the revolt
accounting casually the casualties
like lifeless hope:
‘One here, one there . . .
No, he is gone.
Move along.’
Pale as pastels,
chalk another for reason
without conclusion,
logical confusion.
Desperate streams
sharing the razor road
rending the accident
a hypothetical code.
‘Ride out to see,
yes with only me,
what we could be!’
Potential diseased,
frightened to displease.
Plead with the wall,
willing its fall
to draw the curtain
full.
Hide the stage,
feel the sage
sure as steel.
‘Score, score and four.’
The star has ceased,
felt like a crease.
In time, when time
gives up.
The steps were kept
as we stood,
one beside the next,
existing.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday is for Morons
I have forgotten the Gospel again. I have forgotten that I do not have to sin anymore. I have forgotten that Jesus was forgotten so that I could be remembered by the Father.
Maybe you found yourself this weekend in places where sin seemed to be all you knew. Friend, Jesus died for you.
Did your football team blow it so you blew up at everyone? Were you the one who had the opportunity to forgive someone else but instead you chose to make them feel as bad as they made you feel? Did you say something that you feel unraveled everything you tried to teach your own, little, impressionable kids? Did you lose hope this week? Were you the one who knew you were going to sin, had time to not sin, yet continued on ignoring the EXIT sign? Maybe you said to yourself, 'I just do not care enough.' Maybe you said, 'I don't think God exists anymore.' . . .
Maybe you cheated on your spouse. Maybe you cheated on your taxes. Maybe you killed someone in your heart; maybe you killed someone and are going to be in prison the rest of your life. You looked at porn again. You got that abortion this week. You told your best friend she could 'go to Hell' then sounded happy and laughed the very next minute on the phone.
Friend, Jesus knows. Jesus knows and that is precisely why he died. Jesus did not die for the 'polite' social sins; Jesus did not die for certain kinds of sin; Jesus died to experience God's wrath on your behalf for each and every individual sin you will ever commit from lying to lynching. You cannot outrun God's grace, it is a tsunami, a treaty of kindness, a promise that will not be annulled or void, it is your shadow.
Mondays typically suck. I typically forget how present and persistent the Gospel is. I typically emphasize sorrow and not Jesus' success. Well Jesus died for our doubts too.
He tells us all our sins our forgiven . . . yup, even that one he has fully placed on his tab and paid for already.
Maybe you found yourself this weekend in places where sin seemed to be all you knew. Friend, Jesus died for you.
Did your football team blow it so you blew up at everyone? Were you the one who had the opportunity to forgive someone else but instead you chose to make them feel as bad as they made you feel? Did you say something that you feel unraveled everything you tried to teach your own, little, impressionable kids? Did you lose hope this week? Were you the one who knew you were going to sin, had time to not sin, yet continued on ignoring the EXIT sign? Maybe you said to yourself, 'I just do not care enough.' Maybe you said, 'I don't think God exists anymore.' . . .
Maybe you cheated on your spouse. Maybe you cheated on your taxes. Maybe you killed someone in your heart; maybe you killed someone and are going to be in prison the rest of your life. You looked at porn again. You got that abortion this week. You told your best friend she could 'go to Hell' then sounded happy and laughed the very next minute on the phone.
Friend, Jesus knows. Jesus knows and that is precisely why he died. Jesus did not die for the 'polite' social sins; Jesus did not die for certain kinds of sin; Jesus died to experience God's wrath on your behalf for each and every individual sin you will ever commit from lying to lynching. You cannot outrun God's grace, it is a tsunami, a treaty of kindness, a promise that will not be annulled or void, it is your shadow.
Mondays typically suck. I typically forget how present and persistent the Gospel is. I typically emphasize sorrow and not Jesus' success. Well Jesus died for our doubts too.
He tells us all our sins our forgiven . . . yup, even that one he has fully placed on his tab and paid for already.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday is for Morons
God told Jonah, 'Hey, go here.' Jonah said, 'Okay God.' and then immediately went the complete opposite direction.
Later on Jonah was swallowed whole by a sea creature. He was fermenting in the belly of some beast. Though I like any proof, I'm convinced Jonah was swallowed on a Monday. It smelled, it was dark, it was like a roller coaster that would not end--he probably threw up--, maybe his skin was being destroyed by acid . . . it was unpleasant, like Monday's can be.
We can learn from Jonah. He cried out to God, the God who made the beast swallow him, the God of Mondays. I read a quote last week: 'There is nothing we can do to make God love us more' so stop pounding coffee and 5-hour energy drinks babbling to yourself, 'I'm a winner; I'm a winner.' You're sins are forgiven by Jesus.
The quote goes on to say, 'There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.' If you are a follower of Jesus this is true. Sin as you might, God's love still lingers like a groupie to her band.
We know that even after Jonah was spewed on the beach he still whined and complained and assuredly sinned. You may feel like Hell today, that is okay; God's love and grace and promise of the hope of Heaven, hope of perfection in his presence still exists for you.
Later on Jonah was swallowed whole by a sea creature. He was fermenting in the belly of some beast. Though I like any proof, I'm convinced Jonah was swallowed on a Monday. It smelled, it was dark, it was like a roller coaster that would not end--he probably threw up--, maybe his skin was being destroyed by acid . . . it was unpleasant, like Monday's can be.
We can learn from Jonah. He cried out to God, the God who made the beast swallow him, the God of Mondays. I read a quote last week: 'There is nothing we can do to make God love us more' so stop pounding coffee and 5-hour energy drinks babbling to yourself, 'I'm a winner; I'm a winner.' You're sins are forgiven by Jesus.
The quote goes on to say, 'There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.' If you are a follower of Jesus this is true. Sin as you might, God's love still lingers like a groupie to her band.
We know that even after Jonah was spewed on the beach he still whined and complained and assuredly sinned. You may feel like Hell today, that is okay; God's love and grace and promise of the hope of Heaven, hope of perfection in his presence still exists for you.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
7 is the Kicker
When we think of sin, things such as murder, pride, and even lying are conceivable. And so starts a saying in the Bible's Old Testament book of Proverbs, the sixth chapter, starting in 16:
'
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies. . .'
Now the Proverb describes these things as something God hates and you can see why. God hates these things because they are not things that he exhibits: he does not lie, he is not unjust, he cannot be proud or boastful or haughty, and he is not wicked. God hates these things in man because man was to reflect his image and his character and these attributes and activities are the opposite of him.
But we know this, right? We know it is ultimately not good to be arrogant and thinking you're better than everyone else. We know it is bad to bring about injustice because of your testimony; we know it is bad and wrong and evil to be quick to kill and destroy or ruin instead of having patience and compassion. But do we know that God hates discord among brothers?
The end of verse 19 goes like this, ' . . . and one who sows discord among brothers.'Discord? Discord. God is much more concerned with the way we interact with one another than we often think. Jesus prayed one time that his followers would be unified in loving one another and that very solidarity would be a symbol to the world that they followed Jesus.
Discord is an evil and wicked thing, something the Lord, the God of the universe and our souls makes clear that he hates. Have you been one who sows the seed of discord? Have you been one who would rather schism than reconciliation? Remember what Jesus said in his first sermon, 'happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.'
Jesus, for those who follow him, is our older brother. And for the Christian, the follower of Jesus, every other follower of Jesus is our brother or sister. Friend, if you are one who who thinks arrogance or shedding innocent blood is worse than sowing discord, take heed what God has said.
'
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies. . .'
Now the Proverb describes these things as something God hates and you can see why. God hates these things because they are not things that he exhibits: he does not lie, he is not unjust, he cannot be proud or boastful or haughty, and he is not wicked. God hates these things in man because man was to reflect his image and his character and these attributes and activities are the opposite of him.
But we know this, right? We know it is ultimately not good to be arrogant and thinking you're better than everyone else. We know it is bad to bring about injustice because of your testimony; we know it is bad and wrong and evil to be quick to kill and destroy or ruin instead of having patience and compassion. But do we know that God hates discord among brothers?
The end of verse 19 goes like this, ' . . . and one who sows discord among brothers.'Discord? Discord. God is much more concerned with the way we interact with one another than we often think. Jesus prayed one time that his followers would be unified in loving one another and that very solidarity would be a symbol to the world that they followed Jesus.
Discord is an evil and wicked thing, something the Lord, the God of the universe and our souls makes clear that he hates. Have you been one who sows the seed of discord? Have you been one who would rather schism than reconciliation? Remember what Jesus said in his first sermon, 'happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.'
Jesus, for those who follow him, is our older brother. And for the Christian, the follower of Jesus, every other follower of Jesus is our brother or sister. Friend, if you are one who who thinks arrogance or shedding innocent blood is worse than sowing discord, take heed what God has said.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday is for Morons 09.12.2011
Well it is that day again, the day which all bad things seem to have been building up only to all explode on again: Monday.
As it is Monday and we are forgetful and often silly creatures, here is a reminder of God's grace and power in addition to the hope he gives us to keep on keepin on:
'Christ Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am the foremost.' (1 Timothy 1.16).
This is the Apostle Paul talking here and he is not producing some false humility either--saying he is bad but really thinking he is not--no, he realizes he is woefully sinful and in need of some serious and drastic help from God! The Apostle Paul has no boot strap sufficient to pull himself up by; his friends who probably have way more obvious sins than he are not enough to make him good enough, his past accomplishments are simply not enough to mend a ripped relationship with the God of the universe . . but Christ was enough for Paul and Christ is enough for you and me!
Friend, are you doubting? Are you in depression? Do you feel that you are sinful before God? Do you sense guilt and hopelessness within you? Are you afraid? Do you know you are inadequate? Then you are in a good place, now good to Jesus Christ who died for each and every one of your sins; go to him and find your forgiveness. Nothing you could do will forever separate you from God's love, save that you do not go him through Jesus'.
We can be forgiven our sin and also have our guilt taken away because Jesus Christ died on your behalf. Believe it. Believe him. Follow him.
As it is Monday and we are forgetful and often silly creatures, here is a reminder of God's grace and power in addition to the hope he gives us to keep on keepin on:
'Christ Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am the foremost.' (1 Timothy 1.16).
This is the Apostle Paul talking here and he is not producing some false humility either--saying he is bad but really thinking he is not--no, he realizes he is woefully sinful and in need of some serious and drastic help from God! The Apostle Paul has no boot strap sufficient to pull himself up by; his friends who probably have way more obvious sins than he are not enough to make him good enough, his past accomplishments are simply not enough to mend a ripped relationship with the God of the universe . . but Christ was enough for Paul and Christ is enough for you and me!
Friend, are you doubting? Are you in depression? Do you feel that you are sinful before God? Do you sense guilt and hopelessness within you? Are you afraid? Do you know you are inadequate? Then you are in a good place, now good to Jesus Christ who died for each and every one of your sins; go to him and find your forgiveness. Nothing you could do will forever separate you from God's love, save that you do not go him through Jesus'.
We can be forgiven our sin and also have our guilt taken away because Jesus Christ died on your behalf. Believe it. Believe him. Follow him.
Friday, September 9, 2011
A Happy Hope
We cannot exist if hope is absent. As someone once put it, 'suicide is not motivated by selfishness or irrationality, but a complete and total loss of all hope.' Presidents campaign on hope; we continue working because of some hope that we will continue to be employed; we dream because we hope there can be a different outcome; we live because we have been convinced, by one thing or another, that there is something still worth living for. We all need hope.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to his friend Titus, gives a swift sketch of the hope Christians have. In the New Testament book of Titus, the Second chapter, verse 13, Paul says that Christians are 'waiting for our blessed hope.' Blessed is a translation from the common Greek Paul wrote in, it is a word that is worth understanding.
We can think of a ton of things when we here blessed, from license plates to a pro athlete in a post-game interview; but here, in this context, with this particular word the Apostle uses, blessed means 'happy.' It is not some secret or mystical happiness, nope, just the real, genuine, smile-on-the-face, I feel good happiness.
Why should the Christian hope be a happy one? Paul goes on to say that the hope is the appearing of Jesus Christ--remember Jesus lived on earth, was murdered, but then killed death itself and rose back to life and is in Heaven until he comes back. When Jesus comes all the promises in the Bible for the followers of Jesus will be fulfilled; when Jesus comes all the wrong and injustice will be corrected and be brought aright. The Christian has a hope that is eternal, a hope that is already fulfilled yet it is not fully realized yet, it is still in queue. A Christian does not have to wait for the full fulfillment of his or her hope to presently be satisfied and gratified. The Christian, in the hope we have in Jesus, is already on the boat and sees the end only a mile or two away and the joy in the realization, the happiness, compels us to keep going now, to love when revenge would be normal now; to give when saving would be acceptable now; to hope when all other hopes falter like a wet piece of tissue paper trying to hold a bowling ball.
We Christians have a happy hope that we want and beg all the world to know and to posses. We hope in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to his friend Titus, gives a swift sketch of the hope Christians have. In the New Testament book of Titus, the Second chapter, verse 13, Paul says that Christians are 'waiting for our blessed hope.' Blessed is a translation from the common Greek Paul wrote in, it is a word that is worth understanding.
We can think of a ton of things when we here blessed, from license plates to a pro athlete in a post-game interview; but here, in this context, with this particular word the Apostle uses, blessed means 'happy.' It is not some secret or mystical happiness, nope, just the real, genuine, smile-on-the-face, I feel good happiness.
Why should the Christian hope be a happy one? Paul goes on to say that the hope is the appearing of Jesus Christ--remember Jesus lived on earth, was murdered, but then killed death itself and rose back to life and is in Heaven until he comes back. When Jesus comes all the promises in the Bible for the followers of Jesus will be fulfilled; when Jesus comes all the wrong and injustice will be corrected and be brought aright. The Christian has a hope that is eternal, a hope that is already fulfilled yet it is not fully realized yet, it is still in queue. A Christian does not have to wait for the full fulfillment of his or her hope to presently be satisfied and gratified. The Christian, in the hope we have in Jesus, is already on the boat and sees the end only a mile or two away and the joy in the realization, the happiness, compels us to keep going now, to love when revenge would be normal now; to give when saving would be acceptable now; to hope when all other hopes falter like a wet piece of tissue paper trying to hold a bowling ball.
We Christians have a happy hope that we want and beg all the world to know and to posses. We hope in Jesus Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)