Brian and Mabel recently received the great news that their adoption of Mehret is all set. They leave in the middle of April for Ethiopia to pick up their 5 year-old daughter. Praise God.
Mehret knows she has a family in Michigan that wants to adopt her. She’s received cards and pictures of her new family. She even has a few pictures of her room, her new house, and the community of Charlevoix. She knows that is where she is headed to live with her new family, the Carsons.
Imagine for a moment what is going on inside her head. She doesn’t really know the Carsons. She’s never been to Charlevoix or Michigan or the United States. She’s seen pictures, but pictures are a far cry from the actual experience – of being in the place you see in the pictures.
Her life is different today because of what she anticipates in the future. She knows she’s leaving, so I’m sure there are a lot of mixed feelings. “Do I really want to leave? I’ll miss this or that or him or her. But I have a new family who says they love me and has a room for me and new stuff.” Because of where she is going, it affects how she views her life today. We experience this same thing when we have a vacation coming or we’re pregnant or about to get married. We look at our life today differently because of what is coming in our future.
As you consider this journey you're on with Jesus, what is the destination? What does the future hold for you? These are important questions and how you answer these questions affects how you live today. Is there a better place, a better day, a better life coming? Or is this the best there is? Can you affirm the song that says, “This world is not my home”?
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world – the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches – comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.
1 John 2:15-17
“It’s summit day.”
I clearly remember those words coming from the mouth of our guide. It was the day we were going up to the top of the mountain. We were going to climb up to 14,000 feet. It was an exhilarating experience. The oxygen got quite a bit thinner. The effort it took to climb was more intense. All of us kept looking up to see if we could see where we were headed. The summit was never easy to see until you reached to top.
What a view. It was worth all the effort, all the struggles, all the pain and hunger and discouragement. To see from the top was more satisfying than any of us imagined. We took pictures. We gave hugs and high fives. We sat and enjoyed the view. It was glorious. You could see all around you. You could see further than you’d ever seen before. What a joy.
But sooner than anyone wanted it was time to climb down. We couldn’t stay or live on the summit. We had to head back down into the valleys.
But there is a day coming when we will stay on the summit. We won’t climb down. We won’t live in the valleys any longer. We will enjoy the mountain top eternally. There will be no letdowns, no suffering, no brokenness, no discouragement. We will be home because home is on the summit with the guide who has brought us here. We will not know what it all looks like until we get there. We have a few pictures and glimpses like Mehret but we won’t really KNOW until we are there. That will be home. That is home. Everything else is just what we see in a mirror dimly.
Live for the summit.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Grafting and Pain
It is just a little ironic that the day after I spoke on “Grafting,” I actually had a tissue graft done in my mouth. (Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?) This past Monday, they sliced out a chunk of gums from the top of my mouth and attached it to the front of my mouth. It took about an hour. I experienced no pain. I did close my eyes the entire time so I couldn’t see any of the instruments going in or stuff coming out. Yet, there was no pain. Even as I write this article today (the afternoon of the procedure), I’m experiencing no discomfort. I have some wads of silly putty in my mouth to protect the areas that were worked on, but so far no pain. I just can’t eat much and can’t speak. Thank goodness for shakes.
What a gift it is that technology and medicine have advanced to the place where these procedures can be done quickly and with little (if any) discomfort. The ability to numb is quite remarkable. It definitely leads to some funny feelings and awkward moments, but it also keeps the nerves from sending the PAIN message to your brain.
We can’t say the same thing about being grafted into Christ. With grafting comes pain. If we are to remain connected to the vine and bear fruit, we can’t avoid pain. The “dying” to self that the Bible talks about is not an easy process. It is hard to experience and it is hard work to let our “self’s” die.
It is interesting how many opportunities there are in our lives to pursue numbness. Our world offers all sorts of opportunities to avoid and deaden pain. The obvious ones are drugs and alcohol, but other common numbing agents are busyness, entertainment, avoidance, denial, distractions, etc. We are good at avoiding pain. In fact, for some it seems to be the purpose of our existence. If the number one desire is pleasure it makes sense that what we seek to avoid (at all costs) is pain.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am not promoting a masochistic approach to life where we define success based on the amount of pain. Instead, I am acknowledging that the primary purpose of the Christian life is not the avoidance of pain and would add that being grafted into Jesus inevitably means suffering and pain. That’s why it’s not the easy path. That’s why Paul promised persecution and Jesus promised that we’d be hated by the world. That’s why rejection cannot be avoided or “tickling” the ears of men embraced.
You might argue, “Well, of course, suffering and pain are inevitable. We all live in a broken world.” I would agree, but also add, imagine the choice the disciples had following Jesus’ death and resurrection. They could have chosen to stop risking their lives for his sake. Yes, their lives would have some experience of suffering due to the brokenness of this world, but do you think it would have cost them their lives? Would they have been martyred if they had rejected Jesus and stopped following? I doubt it.
Do you think our friend and his family in Nigeria would experience the same level of suffering if they chose not to obey God’s commands to reach the Muslim world for Christ? Do you think our friends in Nepal would experience the same level of persecution if they chose to reject God’s call to reach the lost in Nepal? Do you think your middle class, American life will be the same if you fully commit yourself to following Jesus Christ? Do you think it will be just like your non-Christian neighbors?
But what’s interesting about this discussion is that it really is not about the pain or suffering. Those are natural consequences to denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Jesus. They are not the focus. He is. His life is. The experience of purpose and hope that His life brings far outweighs the costs, even when the cost is your life. I know that few of us have ever been in a situation where our faith might cost us our lives, but whether we’ve experienced it or not doesn’t mean it isn’t true. How far do you take it when Jesus says, “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life”? (John 12:25) Is there anything that God could ask you to give up that would cause you to reject Him and say, No? Your health, family, possessions, job, house, life?
What a gift it is that technology and medicine have advanced to the place where these procedures can be done quickly and with little (if any) discomfort. The ability to numb is quite remarkable. It definitely leads to some funny feelings and awkward moments, but it also keeps the nerves from sending the PAIN message to your brain.
We can’t say the same thing about being grafted into Christ. With grafting comes pain. If we are to remain connected to the vine and bear fruit, we can’t avoid pain. The “dying” to self that the Bible talks about is not an easy process. It is hard to experience and it is hard work to let our “self’s” die.
It is interesting how many opportunities there are in our lives to pursue numbness. Our world offers all sorts of opportunities to avoid and deaden pain. The obvious ones are drugs and alcohol, but other common numbing agents are busyness, entertainment, avoidance, denial, distractions, etc. We are good at avoiding pain. In fact, for some it seems to be the purpose of our existence. If the number one desire is pleasure it makes sense that what we seek to avoid (at all costs) is pain.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am not promoting a masochistic approach to life where we define success based on the amount of pain. Instead, I am acknowledging that the primary purpose of the Christian life is not the avoidance of pain and would add that being grafted into Jesus inevitably means suffering and pain. That’s why it’s not the easy path. That’s why Paul promised persecution and Jesus promised that we’d be hated by the world. That’s why rejection cannot be avoided or “tickling” the ears of men embraced.
You might argue, “Well, of course, suffering and pain are inevitable. We all live in a broken world.” I would agree, but also add, imagine the choice the disciples had following Jesus’ death and resurrection. They could have chosen to stop risking their lives for his sake. Yes, their lives would have some experience of suffering due to the brokenness of this world, but do you think it would have cost them their lives? Would they have been martyred if they had rejected Jesus and stopped following? I doubt it.
Do you think our friend and his family in Nigeria would experience the same level of suffering if they chose not to obey God’s commands to reach the Muslim world for Christ? Do you think our friends in Nepal would experience the same level of persecution if they chose to reject God’s call to reach the lost in Nepal? Do you think your middle class, American life will be the same if you fully commit yourself to following Jesus Christ? Do you think it will be just like your non-Christian neighbors?
But what’s interesting about this discussion is that it really is not about the pain or suffering. Those are natural consequences to denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Jesus. They are not the focus. He is. His life is. The experience of purpose and hope that His life brings far outweighs the costs, even when the cost is your life. I know that few of us have ever been in a situation where our faith might cost us our lives, but whether we’ve experienced it or not doesn’t mean it isn’t true. How far do you take it when Jesus says, “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life”? (John 12:25) Is there anything that God could ask you to give up that would cause you to reject Him and say, No? Your health, family, possessions, job, house, life?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Life on the Trail - Suffering
I played soccer in high school. Soccer in Fergus Falls, MN, was a new sport and did not necessarily receive a lot of support from the school system. But slowly but surely we made progress. My senior year, we actually had a new practice field, yet it was so poorly constructed and cared for, it was more like farmland that is mowed really short. One day while playing, I slid for a ball. It was a bad idea now that I have the chance to look back. I stripped off the skin on my entire shin because the ground was dry and hard. It didn’t bleed. It seeped. I won’t go into any more detail, except to say that it took a long time to heal. I went and visited my Young Life leader a few days after the accident. He took one look at my leg, went into their house, and came back with a bottle of peroxide. His plan was to pour peroxide all over my leg. I wasn’t so fond of the idea, because I thought it would include a great deal of pain. He agreed that pain would be part of this experience, so I wondered out loud why I would choose to experience pain. He smiled and poured the bottle on my leg. Yep, sure enough, there was pain. It actually bubbled on my leg. Fun.
My friend told me that the peroxide would help the wound to heal and make sure it didn’t get infected. It made sense, but I sure wasn’t a fan of the pain.
I see pain pretty frequently. I was going to say because of my job, which is true, but I bet you, too, see pain around you. I see it in the physical challenges that people face whether because of old age or cancer or injury. I see pain in the emotional turmoil of broken relationships and the hurts that have happened. I see the pain that is caused by fear and anxiety which often hinders people experiencing joy and peace in their lives. I see pain as I read about some of the tragedies and turmoil that are taking place around this globe (Haiti, Chile, Kenya, Nigeria, etc.).
Suffering just happens. It is unavoidable. It is not fair or equal. Some seem to suffer so much more than others. Suffering happens to kids and adults. There is often little explanation as to why certain things happen to certain people. God just doesn’t seem interested in telling us why suffering happens. That is more than a little frustrating at times.
The Bible says a few things about suffering:
Here’s what Job said to God about his suffering:
I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked? Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as humans see? Are you days like the days of mortals, or your years like human years, that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although you know that I am not guilty, and there is no one to deliver out of your hand?
Job 10:1-7
Paul’s take is quite a bit different:
. . . we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Here is what Joseph (thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, spent years in the Egyptian prison, falsely accused) said to his brothers who sold him into slavery:
Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.
Genesis 50:20
It is tempting to blame God for the suffering and stay focused on being a victim. Yet, it seems that based on these Scriptures and the multitude of examples of suffering in the Bible, that is not what God desires. He gives us freedom to tell him how we feel, but I also believe He really longs to do a “good” work in us through these challenges. Please understand I am in no way minimizing the pain or struggle that comes with it, but I also am learning that God promises to help us grow and it is often in these experiences where growth happens.
If I believed God caused Jeff Bakker or Jack Balchik to get cancer, then I would really wonder about what kind of God we worship. But what I see God doing, although very difficult for the families directly involved, is good. It’s hard, but good. I’m sure if you asked them if every moment is good, they would say, No. Suffering is suffering and no one wishes that upon themselves or anyone.
I hope and pray that God will heal their cancer. I pray for that. But I also trust God to do (or not do) what is best, even though He may not do what I want.
Editor's note: Jeff passed away last night (Thursday, March 11th around 1:30am). God answered our prayers for healing - not necessarily the healing we wanted, but God has healed Jeff more fully than we know. Jeff is home - praise God.
Please keep praying for these families and others, too, who we know are facing very difficult roads.
My friend told me that the peroxide would help the wound to heal and make sure it didn’t get infected. It made sense, but I sure wasn’t a fan of the pain.
I see pain pretty frequently. I was going to say because of my job, which is true, but I bet you, too, see pain around you. I see it in the physical challenges that people face whether because of old age or cancer or injury. I see pain in the emotional turmoil of broken relationships and the hurts that have happened. I see the pain that is caused by fear and anxiety which often hinders people experiencing joy and peace in their lives. I see pain as I read about some of the tragedies and turmoil that are taking place around this globe (Haiti, Chile, Kenya, Nigeria, etc.).
Suffering just happens. It is unavoidable. It is not fair or equal. Some seem to suffer so much more than others. Suffering happens to kids and adults. There is often little explanation as to why certain things happen to certain people. God just doesn’t seem interested in telling us why suffering happens. That is more than a little frustrating at times.
The Bible says a few things about suffering:
Here’s what Job said to God about his suffering:
I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked? Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as humans see? Are you days like the days of mortals, or your years like human years, that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although you know that I am not guilty, and there is no one to deliver out of your hand?
Job 10:1-7
Paul’s take is quite a bit different:
. . . we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Here is what Joseph (thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, spent years in the Egyptian prison, falsely accused) said to his brothers who sold him into slavery:
Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.
Genesis 50:20
It is tempting to blame God for the suffering and stay focused on being a victim. Yet, it seems that based on these Scriptures and the multitude of examples of suffering in the Bible, that is not what God desires. He gives us freedom to tell him how we feel, but I also believe He really longs to do a “good” work in us through these challenges. Please understand I am in no way minimizing the pain or struggle that comes with it, but I also am learning that God promises to help us grow and it is often in these experiences where growth happens.
If I believed God caused Jeff Bakker or Jack Balchik to get cancer, then I would really wonder about what kind of God we worship. But what I see God doing, although very difficult for the families directly involved, is good. It’s hard, but good. I’m sure if you asked them if every moment is good, they would say, No. Suffering is suffering and no one wishes that upon themselves or anyone.
I hope and pray that God will heal their cancer. I pray for that. But I also trust God to do (or not do) what is best, even though He may not do what I want.
Editor's note: Jeff passed away last night (Thursday, March 11th around 1:30am). God answered our prayers for healing - not necessarily the healing we wanted, but God has healed Jeff more fully than we know. Jeff is home - praise God.
Please keep praying for these families and others, too, who we know are facing very difficult roads.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Doctrine
This quote struck me today. It comes from John Piper.
"Doctrine is humankind's feeble attempt to comprehend an incomprehensible God."
"Doctrine is humankind's feeble attempt to comprehend an incomprehensible God."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Life on the Trail - Integrity
Just as a week backpacking in the wilderness causes one to be ‘authentic’, it definitely also brings to the surface your true values. It tests your integrity. Will I do what I’ve committed to doing as a Christian and will I be who I claim to be as a follower of Jesus Christ? (This is also strongly tested in marriage by the way and in family life overall.)
Here are a few scenarios:
Scenario #1: Tonight, the crew on the trail is going to use the meal you’ve been carrying the past three days. This is good news, because it means that tomorrow you’re pack will be significantly lighter. That’s easier on your shoulders and your back. Less pain for you. But, you are well aware that a few of the folks you are backpacking with are struggling with the weight of their packs. Will you offer to carry some of their load?
Scenario #2: It’s your turn to help cook the evening meal. Tonight, you get to have GORP, which is a mixture of granola, oatmeal, raisins, peanuts, and M&M’s. After four hard days on the trail, this is like an ice cream sundae. You can’t wait. As you are divvying up the GORP among the group, do you take more for yourself? Do you pick out a few extra M&M’s for your cup? Do you even eat a little now while everyone else is off setting up camp? No one would know.
Scenario #3: It’s sharing time, and you’ve been encouraged by how people are really encountering God and experiencing His presence and strength. You haven’t been experiencing that at all. You’ve felt selfish, overwhelmed, and even discouraged as you’ve been seeing the truth of yourself come to the surface. Do you tell the truth or make up some story about how you also have been overwhelmed by God’s presence? People have also shared how they’ve been praying for you. You haven’t been praying for them, but is that what you say?
Scenario #4: One of the members of the team has been really struggling. They’ve complained about injuries, needed extra help, and have generally been very hard to be around. As you are walking with one of your friends, he/she begins to complain about this other person and even questions whether this person’s injuries are real. Do you join in? Do you spend time criticizing this person who has been struggling or do you lead the conversation in a more appropriate direction?
Scenario #5: Someone needs to go dig the community BIFF (bathroom in forest floor). You are tired from a day of hiking. Do you volunteer?
Scenario #6: You’ve committed to no impact hiking, and as you are walking along you see some trash – definitely not yours. Do you stop and pick it up?
Scenario #7: Someone asks if anyone has an extra pad to help with their blisters. You have one left. Do you give up your last one? Do you keep it in case you need it?
Consider how easy it is on the trail to let our Biblical values be trumped by worldly (selfish) values. Take a look at the following lists. Which values tend to have more of an impact on your life?
Biblical values / Worldly values
Serve / Be served
Give / Take
Suffering leading to growth / Suffering leading to bitterness
Humility / Pride
Compassion / Judgment
Least of these / Seat of honor at banquet table
Dying to self / Worshiping self
Looking for God’s approval in secret / Pleasing people in public
Storing up treasures in heaven / Storing up treasures on earth
Are you doing what you said you'd do as a follower of Jesus Christ?
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
Here are a few scenarios:
Scenario #1: Tonight, the crew on the trail is going to use the meal you’ve been carrying the past three days. This is good news, because it means that tomorrow you’re pack will be significantly lighter. That’s easier on your shoulders and your back. Less pain for you. But, you are well aware that a few of the folks you are backpacking with are struggling with the weight of their packs. Will you offer to carry some of their load?
Scenario #2: It’s your turn to help cook the evening meal. Tonight, you get to have GORP, which is a mixture of granola, oatmeal, raisins, peanuts, and M&M’s. After four hard days on the trail, this is like an ice cream sundae. You can’t wait. As you are divvying up the GORP among the group, do you take more for yourself? Do you pick out a few extra M&M’s for your cup? Do you even eat a little now while everyone else is off setting up camp? No one would know.
Scenario #3: It’s sharing time, and you’ve been encouraged by how people are really encountering God and experiencing His presence and strength. You haven’t been experiencing that at all. You’ve felt selfish, overwhelmed, and even discouraged as you’ve been seeing the truth of yourself come to the surface. Do you tell the truth or make up some story about how you also have been overwhelmed by God’s presence? People have also shared how they’ve been praying for you. You haven’t been praying for them, but is that what you say?
Scenario #4: One of the members of the team has been really struggling. They’ve complained about injuries, needed extra help, and have generally been very hard to be around. As you are walking with one of your friends, he/she begins to complain about this other person and even questions whether this person’s injuries are real. Do you join in? Do you spend time criticizing this person who has been struggling or do you lead the conversation in a more appropriate direction?
Scenario #5: Someone needs to go dig the community BIFF (bathroom in forest floor). You are tired from a day of hiking. Do you volunteer?
Scenario #6: You’ve committed to no impact hiking, and as you are walking along you see some trash – definitely not yours. Do you stop and pick it up?
Scenario #7: Someone asks if anyone has an extra pad to help with their blisters. You have one left. Do you give up your last one? Do you keep it in case you need it?
Consider how easy it is on the trail to let our Biblical values be trumped by worldly (selfish) values. Take a look at the following lists. Which values tend to have more of an impact on your life?
Biblical values / Worldly values
Serve / Be served
Give / Take
Suffering leading to growth / Suffering leading to bitterness
Humility / Pride
Compassion / Judgment
Least of these / Seat of honor at banquet table
Dying to self / Worshiping self
Looking for God’s approval in secret / Pleasing people in public
Storing up treasures in heaven / Storing up treasures on earth
Are you doing what you said you'd do as a follower of Jesus Christ?
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
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