tomclegg

Before Christmas

Is it me or am I the only one who says every year, we’re going to cut back, simplify, and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the season- Jesus? But every year, and I mean, every year, the advertisements beckon, the children plead (well they used to!), the pressure to meet extended family obligations grows, and it just seems so much easier to indulge our wants, whims and cave in under the pressures. Overspending, overeating, materialism, and busyness. Do these really add or do they rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of his rightful role as the center of our celebration?

This Christmas, how can we cut through the hype, hysteria and heartburn that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year? How can we, instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us?

Look back over this past year. Look at all challenging times Jesus has brought you through. Despite the set backs and in light of the triumphs the anchor of our lives has held fast. We have faced death, disappointment, discouragement, we have lost jobs, houses and relationships. But we have also welcomed babies, tasted victory, found new jobs, been married, received promotions and moved into new houses. Through it all He was with us, even, especially, when it didn’t feel like it.

You see, Jesus Christ, is not always apparent but is always present. In the heat of the moment, when things are looking bad it is so easy to think we are all alone. In the same way in the heat of the Christmas season it’s just so hard to lose sight of reason behind it all. Waiting until we are in the heat of it all to decide what to do, to remember He is with us, to stay within the budget, to live our from beneath the crushing weigh of unrealistic expectations is often too late.

So may I take a moment to remind you to decide now, remember now, choose now:

to be thankful,

to be mindful,

to be humble, and,

to be disciplined.

Thanksgiving is not only an obvious time to give thanks but a great time to help your family adjust their expectations and pace, speak to those “traditions” that are meaningful and those that need to be laid aside. Some of those conversations may be difficult, awkward or even painful but you need to ask yourself which is worse a little discomfort now or heartache, headache and heartburn in just 30 days?

When it comes to saying no, waiting till Christmas is just too late.

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

 

I was in New York and I know you know where you were because none of us have forgotten where we were or what we were doing ten years ago on September 11, 2001. when Islam captured world’s attention through the violent terrorist attack.

As we reflect on the tragedy of 9-11 on this tenth anniversary I feel compelled to remind you of the truth beneath the events of that day and to perhaps better equip you to think, pray and discuss Islam in light of Scripture and world affairs. I am grateful to my friend missionary Mark Winston (pseudonym because he works and lives in a Muslim nation) for his help in clarifying many issues to me which I have included here.

It is imperative that Christians understand the Islamic roots for these atrocities. They claim that these terrorists are not true Muslims and only represent a minority of extreme fundamentalists. It seems that this message, expressed in the media, has won the sympathy of many Americans.

Indeed, all Muslims are not terrorists nor do all support violence in the name of Allah. However, many Muslims are not aware of the political agenda of their Muslim leaders who base their views on the Quran, Hadith and Shari’a. It has been observed that many Muslim leaders in the public media hence condemned the late Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist acts. Yet in their speeches in mosques they have condoned the attack on America and have seen it as a victory for Islam.

Concerned Christians who work among Muslims feel the responsibility to respond in a way that communicates God's love without compromising the truth.

 

These are some of the ways we need to respond:

1. Self-examination and Repentance: Whenever we face calamity the Bible instructs us to humble ourselves, repent from our own sins and turn to God (2 Chronicles 7:14.).

2. Compassion and Love: When Jesus saw the crowds in Matthew 9:35-38 he did not condemn them as evil. He had compassion on them because they were "lost and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Likewise we must show compassion toward the Muslims who live in our neighborhoods, work in our places of business and attend our schools. Many Muslims sincerely think that their religion is peaceful. We need to extend hospitality and care to our Muslim neighbors. No innocent Muslims should ever be blamed for the atrocities of Muslim terrorists.

3. Truth in Love: Our love for Muslims is not complete unless we share the truth with them. To claim that there is no connection between violence and Islam is to deny history, Islamic law and even the teachings of the Quran. Many Muslims are not aware of the numerous verses in the Quran and many Hadith narratives which not only encourage but demand that Muslims kill, torture, and harass all Christians, Jews and other infidels.

4. Religious Platform: Muslim activists have been given a platform as high as the White House, as broad as the media, and as deep as many evangelical churches. We urge all leaders in churches and Christian institutions not to give Muslims a platform in their churches or classrooms. If you need a speaker there are many competent scholars of Islam among the thousands of missionaries and Christian workers. Giving Muslims a platform among the Christians is endorsing their religion and giving church members a distorted message about Islam.

With these points in mind carefully consider the following:

Islamic Concept of Peace: Muslims want (more than anything else) us to believe that Islam is a peaceful religion. They base their claim on the Arabic meaning of "Islam." The word for peace in Arabic is Salaam, not Islam. Islam literally means "to surrender." Those who faced Muslim invaders were given two choices "surrender or die."

Those who chose to surrender were given the choice of converting to Islam or paying the Jizya which was a protection tax extracted from those who agreed (by force) to live in submission to Islamic rule. These belonged to the "House of Peace" (Dar-us-Salaam). All others belonged to the "House of War" (Dar-ul-Harb). America and all western countries are in the "House of War" until they are fully under the control of Islam.

Islamic concept of Jihad: Muslim leaders are quick to explain that Jihad does not mean "Holy War." They stress that the word refers to striving for the cause of Allah by study and personal devotion. This may well be true if only the literal meaning of the word in Arabic is considered.

However, Muhammad's exhortation to do Jihad is almost always in the context of fighting the infidels, namely Christians, Jews and pagans, by both military and non-military means. Non-military means of Jihad against non-Muslims include harassment, harsh treatment, extracting protection tax, and compelling non-Muslims to convert to Islam. If all this pressure does not bring them to submission, then death is their destiny.

Muhammad also elevated the value for Jihad above everything else except belief in Allah. He taught that Jihad receives the highest reward and is the surest way to gain access to paradise if the "fighter" dies. Survivors are rewarded with material booty collected from their defeated foes. Islamic tradition records Muhammad saying that he desired to return to life again and again just to do Jihad for the cause of Allah (Hadith Bukhari 1:35 & 4:386).

Islam as more than a religion: Whether Muslims are aware of it or not, Islam is not primarily a religion. By their own teaching deen, (religion) is only one aspect of Islam which refers to the ritualistic practices. Other aspects of Islam are Iman (beliefs,) Shari'a (Islamic law) and Umma (the worldwide community.) These four divisions of Islam are fully intertwined.

In other words, the Islamic world community is a political power that dominates by the exercise of Islamic law that is derived from and founded upon its beliefs. The religious rituals are the external expression of this system that both identifies those who practice them as Muslims and ties them together as a homogenous people regardless of their geographic or racial diversity. This makes Islam a socio-cultural and religio-economic political system. This is where the danger to non-Muslims lies.

Islam's Global Agenda: Muhammad taught his followers that all religions before him, including Judaism and Christianity, were good in their time. Islam, however, is the final and universal religion. Where Islam is dominant, no other religion is tolerated unless it agrees to submit to Islamic rule. This mindset permeates the mind and heart of Muslims. In fact, people and nations who refuse Islam are considered infidels, enemies of Islam. They belong to the "House of War."

Muslim clergy and laymen alike are commanded to engage in Daawa (calling people to Islam) which ultimately aims at establishing a universal political system under Islamic law. Throughout history this command has been carried out time and time again beginning with Muhammad himself who subdued all rival Arab tribes. In the first century following Muhammad's death, his followers stretched the power of Islam far and wide, reaching even India and China.

Today, fifty-six nations have a majority population of Muslims. They all belong to a worldwide alliance of Muslim states. Their major concerns are the consolidation of Islamic power in these nations and global expansion of Islam. Muslim leaders over the last few decades have openly spoken of their goal to spread Islam in the west until Islam becomes the dominant power. It is not surprising that Muslims are politically active on every level, nationally and locally.

Among the most powerful means of expansion have been the large endowments by Arab countries to American universities including prominent institutions such as Harvard University. Not infrequently, American politicians have innocently accepted huge monetary "gifts" to promote Islamic causes. Although we must never deny any religion freedom of expression, we need to beware of political activism that aims at destroying the very freedoms that bring them to power.

Persecution of Christians: It is well-documented that Muslim countries have had a very bad record in regard to violations of human rights. Wherever Islamic law is in effect, we find that many Christians are harassed, persecuted and even killed. From Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, to Egypt and Sudan in North Africa, to Pakistan and Afghanistan, many Muslim countries have created and enforced intolerable conditions for Christians. Converts from Islam have faced even harsher treatment including torture and death.

Muslims typically are not aware of these facts. It is fair to state that not all Muslims have discovered the political dimensions of Islam. It is significant to note here that not one Muslim nation has been able to hold onto a democratic style government. Democracy and Islam are unable to coexist. Many governments such as Turkey and Egypt have been trying to establish themselves as democratic nations.

They are faced with strong opposition by the fundamental Muslim organizations. Some Muslims in defense of their actions refer to the Crusades and other atrocities committed in the name of Christ. What needs to be noted here is that when Christians commit violent acts they do so against the teachings of the Bible. But for Muslims it is part of their religious mandate.

God Loves Muslims: As Christians we believe that God loves sinners though He hates their sins. We too must distinguish between Muslims as people and Islam as a religion. God is love and has clearly manifested his love for us and for all people of the world including Muslims by sending Jesus to save the world from the grip of darkness. During these difficult days, let us reach out to our Muslim neighbors and friends with the love of Christ.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies. Many of them may be struggling with insecurity and mistreatment by nominal Christians. We need to affirm them that we do not hate them and that we understand that they are not personally responsible. However, no love is complete without sharing the truth that Jesus wants to give them a new life.

Call to Action: It is unfortunate that evangelical Christians have been almost totally silent. It is critical that Islamic teachings be known. This will serve both as a warning against what might happen if Islam wins its public relations campaign, and as a challenge for the church to step up to her responsibility to bring the gospel to the millions of Muslims in North America and the one billion world-wide.

We cannot continue to sit on the sidelines while Muslims gain access to our churches and our government as they promote an anti-American stance. Muslims have been thriving in our free democratic system. Yet in their countries they suppress Christian work and deny Christians the right of expression and assembly.

The attack on America ten years ago was a wakeup call for the Church. We Christians must wake up to this opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ toward Muslims who need to hear the message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world.

 

Think about it.

Patrick. 

His name conjures up images of leprechauns, shamrocks, green beer and all things Irish. But the truth is most people have no idea who St. Patrick was and why we celebrate the day that bares his name. And it all started sometime toward the end of the fourth or beginning of the fifth century not with leprechauns or shamrocks but with…pirates!

 

“PIRATES!” the young man screamed in warning to his family farther up the shore. A small fleet of pirate ships made its way toward the beach, where the small family was fishing. Patrick’s heart pounded in his chest, he had heard stories of pirates who captured slaves and took them "to the ends of the world," and as he watched, the sixteen year old imagined the worst.

With no army to protect them (Roman legions had long since deserted Britain to protect Rome from barbarian invasions), Patrick and his town were unprepared for attack. The Irish pirates, wearing nothing but helmets and armed with swords and spears, stormed the rocky beach. The blaring war horns and pounding war drums struck terror into Patrick's heart, and he ran with his family toward town.

 

The warriors quickly destroyed the village. Then as Patrick scrambled among burning houses and screaming women he was captured. The barbarians bound and dragged him aboard a ship bound for of Ireland.

Patrick was sold to a cruel warrior chief and druid priest named Milic Moccu Boin, whose enemies’ heads sat atop sharp poles around the walls of his fortified houses in the rugged country of Ireland. While Patrick minded his master's cattle in the nearby hills, he lived much like an animal himself, enduring long bouts of hunger and thirst. Worst of all, he was isolated from all other human beings for months at a time. Patrick’s grandfather had been a priest, who left him a legacy of Christianity that young Patrick took with him into captivity. He had been a nominal Christian to this point; he now turned to the Christian God of his fathers for comfort.

"I would pray constantly during the daylight hours," he later recalled. "The love of God and the fear of him surrounded me more and more. And faith grew. And the spirit roused so that in one day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and at night only slightly less."

 

After six years of slavery, Patrick received a supernatural message. "You do well to fast," a mysterious voice said to him. "Soon you will return to your homeland."

 

Before long, the voice spoke again: "Come and see, your ship is waiting for you." So Patrick fled 200 miles to the nearest harbor where he boarded a ship of traders, carrying Irish wolfhounds to the European continent.

 

After a three-day journey, the men landed in Gaul (modern France), where they found only devastation. Goths or Vandals had so decimated the land that no food was to be found in the once fertile area.

 

"What have you to say for yourself, Christian?" the ship's captain taunted. "You boast that your God is all powerful. We're starving to death, and we may not survive to see another soul."

 

Patrick answered confidently. "Nothing is impossible to God. Turn to him and he will send us food for our journey."

At that moment, a herd of wild pigs appeared, "seeming to block our path." Though Patrick instantly became "well regarded in their eyes," his companions offered their new-found food in sacrifice to their new found Heavenly Father.

Many historians believe Patrick then spent a period training for ministry in the south of France near Cannes. His autobiographical Confession includes very little after his escape from Ireland. He simply writes, "after a few years," he is back in Britain with his family.

It was there that Patrick received his call to evangelize Ireland—a vision like the apostle Paul's at Troas, when a Macedonian man pleaded, "Help us!"

"I had a vision in my dreams of a man who seemed to come from Ireland," Patrick wrote. "His name was Victoricius, and he carried countless letters, one of which he handed over to me. I read aloud where it began: 'The Voice of the Irish.' And as I began to read these words, I seemed to hear the voice of the same men who lived beside the forest of Foclut and they cried out as with one voice, 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.' I was deeply moved in heart and I could read no further, so I awoke."

Druidism was most dominant when Patrick arrived on the Irish shore once again. "I dwell among gentiles," he wrote, "in the midst of pagan barbarians, worshipers of idols, and of unclean things."

 

Patrick did not require the native Irish to surrender their belief in supernatural beings. They were only to regard these beings in a new light as demons. The fear of the old deities was transformed into hatred of demons. If Christianity had come to Ireland with only theological doctrines, the hope of immortal life, and ethical ideas—without miracles, mysteries, and rites—it could have never wooed the wild Celtic heart.

 

Predictably, Patrick faced the most opposition from the druids, who practiced magic, were skilled in learning (especially law and history) and were advisors to the Irish kings. Biographies of the saint are replete with stories of those who "wished to kill holy Patrick."

 

"Daily I expect murder, fraud or captivity," Patrick wrote, "but I fear none of these things because of the promises of heaven. I have cast myself into the hands of God almighty who rules everywhere."

 

Indeed, Patrick almost delighted in taking risks. "I must take this decision disregarding risks involved and make known the gifts of God and his everlasting consolation. Neither must we fear any such risk in faithfully preaching God's name boldly in every place, so that even after my death, a spiritual legacy may be left for my brethren and my children."

 

Patrick was as fully convinced as the Celts that the power of the druids was real, but he brought news of a stronger power. His most famous writing Lorica, "Patrick's Breastplate", a prayer of protection, expresses perfectly Patrick's confidence in God to protect him, "from every fierce merciless force that may come upon my body and soul; against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of paganism, against false laws of heresy, against deceit of idolatry, against spells of women and smiths and druids."

 

Apparently it worked! King Loiguire set up an ambush to kill Patrick, but as the bishop walked the trap, all the king could see was a deer. Thus the Breastplate is also called the Deer's Cry.

 

There were other confrontations between Patrick and the druids, but scholars wonder if it was as dramatic and magical as later stories recounted. One biographer from the late 600s, Muirchœ, described Patrick challenging (much like Elijah the old testament prophet) druids to contests at Tara, in which each party tried to outdo the other in working wonders before the audience:

 

"The custom was that whoever lit a fire before the king on that night of the year [Easter vigil] would be put to death. Patrick lit the paschal fire before the king on the hill of Slane. The people saw Patrick's fire throughout the plain, and the king ordered 27 chariots to go and seize Patrick .

 

"Seeing that the impious heathen were about to attack him, Patrick rose and said clearly and loudly, 'May God come up to scatter his enemies, and may those who hate him flee from his face.' By this disaster, caused by Patrick's curse in the king's presence because of the king's order, seven times seven men fell. …  And the king, driven by fear, came and bent his knees before the holy man . …

 

"[The next day], in a display of magic, a druid invoked demons and brought about a dark fog over the land. Patrick said to the druid, 'Cause the fog to disperse.' But he was unable to do it. Patrick prayed and gave his blessing, and suddenly the fog cleared and the sun shone. … And through the prayers of Patrick the flames of fire consumed the druid.

 

"And the king was greatly enraged at Patrick because of the death of his druid. Patrick said to the king, 'If you do not believe now, you will die on the spot for the wrath of God descends on your head.'

 

"The king summoned his council and said, 'It is better for me to believe than to die.' And he believe,” as did many others that day!

 

Yet to Patrick, the greatest enemy was one he had been intimately familiar with—slavery. He was, in fact, the first Christian to speak out strongly against the practice. Scholars agree he is the genuine author of a letter excommunicating a British tyrant, Coroticus, who had carried off some of Patrick's converts into slavery.

 

"Ravenous wolves have gulped down the Lord's own flock which was flourishing in Ireland," he wrote, "and the whole church cries out and laments for its sons and daughters." He called Coroticus's deed "wicked, so horrible, so unutterable," and told him to repent and to free the converts.

 

It remains unknown if he was successful in freeing Coroticus's slaves, but within his lifetime (or shortly thereafter), Patrick ended the entire Irish slave trade.

 

Patrick concentrated the bulk of his missionary efforts on the country's one hundred or so tribal kings. If the king became a Christian, he reasoned, the people would too. This strategy was a success.

 

As kings converted, they gave their sons to Patrick in an old Irish custom for educating and "fostering" (Patrick, for his part, held up his end by distributing gifts to these kings). Eventually, the sons and daughters of the Irish became ministers, monks and nuns.

 

From kingdom to kingdom (Ireland did not yet have towns), Patrick worked much the same way. Once he converted a number of pagans, he built a church. One of his new disciples would be ordained as a deacon, priest, or bishop, and left in charge. If the chieftain had been gracious enough to grant a site for a monastery as well as a church, it was built too and functioned as a missionary station.

 

Before departing, Patrick gave the new converts and their new pastors a compendium of the Holy Scriptures.

Despite his success as a missionary, Patrick was self-conscious, especially about his educational background. "I still blush and fear more than anything to have my lack of learning brought out into the open," he wrote in his Confession. "For I am unable to explain my mind to learned people."

 

Nevertheless, he gives thanks to God, "who stirred up me, a fool, from the midst of those who are considered wise and learned in the practice of the law as well as persuasive in their speech and in every other way and ahead of these others, inspired me who is so despised by the world."

 

Over and over again, Patrick wrote that he was not worthy to be a bishop. He wasn't the only one with doubts. At one point, his ecclesiastical elders in Britain sent a deputation to investigate his mission. A number of concerns were brought up, including a rash moment of unspecified sin from his youth.

 

His Confession, in fact, was written in response to this investigation. Reeling from accusations, Patrick drew strength from God: "Indeed he bore me up, though I was trampled underfoot in such a way. For although I was put down and shamed, not too much harm came to me."

 

If Patrick was not confident about his own shortcomings, he held a deep sense of God's intimate involvement in his life. "I have known God as my authority, for he knows all things even before they are done," he wrote. "He would frequently forewarn me of many things by his divine response."

 

Indeed, Patrick recorded many dreams he regarded as personal messages from God. And scattered throughout his Confession are tributes to God's goodness to him: "Tirelessly, I thank my God, who kept me faithful on the day I was tried, so that today I might offer to him, the Lord Jesus Christ, the sacrifice of my soul. He saved me in all dangers and perils . …So, whatever may come my way, good or bad, I equally tackle it, always giving thanks to God."

 

According to the Irish annals, Patrick died in 493, when he would have been in his seventies. But we do not know for sure when, where, or even how he died. His feast day is recorded as early as March 17, 797, with the annotation; "The flame of a splendid sun, the apostle of Ireland, may Patrick with many thousands be the shelter of our wickedness."

 

While it is difficult to separate fact from fiction in the stories of Patrick's biographers. It is historically clear, however, that Patrick was one of the first great missionaries who brought the gospel beyond the boundaries of Roman civilization. According to tradition, he had established bishops throughout Ireland.

 

Patrick was a terrific model for all Christians. He engaged in continuous prayer. He was enraptured by God, nature and loved Scripture. He also had a rich poetic imagination with the openness to hear God in dreams and visions and a love of nature and the created.

He is, then, most worthy of the appellation saint, as one "set apart" for a divine mission. As such, he became an inspiring example. Hundreds of Celtic Christians, in emulation of Patrick, left their homeland to spread the Love of Christ to Scotland, England, and continental Europe.

 

It is a legacy Patrick was proud of: "For God gave me such grace, that many people through me were reborn to God..."

Patrick, is remembered today as the saint who drove the snakes out of Ireland, the teacher who used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and the namesake of annual parades in New York and Boston. What is less well-known is that Patrick was a humble missionary (this saint regularly referred to himself as "a sinner") of tremendous courage. When he evangelized Ireland, he set in motion a series of events that impacted all the world. It all started when he was carried off into slavery around 430 A.D.

 

So today, when people are celebrating with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking much green beer you will know at least in part the great man who’s life we celebrate on this day.

 

Perhaps, the reason St. Patrick's Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.

 

May God richly bless you!

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

 

Tom

Not long ago I was stuck on an airplane, again. This time it started out so promising, "Good news folks," the captain said, "we're away from the gate on time." But then the inevitable, "The bad news is we are 71st in line for take off." A low groan filled the cabin as the pilot taxied us to the waiting area (penalty box) and shut off the engines.  The crew did their best to make the weather, air traffic control, diverted flights delay as bearable as possible.  But three hours later we were still sitting there. The plane got warmer, the passengers got surlier, and my three seat mates and I got to know each other fairly well. Turns out these three guys were all from different states and had different careers: Ohio was an attorney, California had just sold his software company for a bundle and New York was a very nervous financial guy. All had families, all of us had kids pretty close in age. Two were on there second marriages and families and one was on his third.

They were nice guys. Generous, likable, fun and good conversationalists. They were obviously successful and obviously intelligent. When they learned what I do for a living they were intrigued. The amazing thing was none of them could tell me the historical significance of Easter.  One of them could tell me the historical significance of Christmas but could not for his life figure out why the western world would still commemorate the birth of a, listen to this, mythical Jewish carpenter.  When I was able to explain the gospel story to them they were dumbfounded.  One of them got pretty agitated and said, "Look if that was true, tell me why I have never heard this before?"

They were taken with the fact that God had become man, dealt with all the stuff we deal with and then some. And had died for us rather than simply obliterating pain or suffering he endured it to disempower it and one day will return to devour it.  These guys looked at me like i was a caveman.  "Fascinating," one said, "you really believe this." Statement not question.

Astounding? Yes and no.  Yes in the fact that something so familiar to you and me would be so foreign to them and no in the fact that more than 210 million americans are untouched by any church of any kind. Astounding that the one who did know the story a myth and not astounding that the one said, 'if it's true why haven't i heard?'

There is a lot I could write about that encounter but suffice it to say our mission field is ripe and large. The majority of Americans simply are clueless. On another level we are all clueless. While some of us know abou this first arrival, that thing we celebrate called Christmas, none if us know when his second arrival will be.

By far and away the most important and significant event in the whole course of human history will be celebrated, with or without understanding, at the end of this season called Advent. The towering miracle of God's visit to this planet on which we live will be glossed over, brushed aside or rendered impotent by over-familiarity...wrapping paper and egg nog.

So this year, as you daily tread the surface of this planet, reflect with confidence, "my God has been here, here on this earth!"  Rejoice in the fact that God has actually been here -- and that is only one half of the meaning of Advent.

But there is another half. The bible is indeed a book full of hope, but we may search it in vain for any vague humanist optimism.

"The second coming of Christ, the second interruption of eternity into time, will be immediate, violent and conclusive...We celebrate no beautiful myth, no lovely piece of traditional folklore, but a solemn fact. God has been here once historically, but, as millions will testify and millions are yet to hear, he will come again with the same silence and the same devastating humility for any heart ready to receive him."  {J.B. Phillips}

So this week; watch for Him. Watch for God's action, God's presence or for God's instruction.

Is your heart ready to receiving Jesus' first appearing?

How about His second?

Think about it.

This morning I drove by an unfinished construction project. An abandoned commercial building that now stands as a lasting monument to a vision that has died or at least very significantly delayed. It died or was delayed despite obviously significant money, labor and time had been invested, none-the-less something happened that stopped the construction.

Why do projects fail to be completed? There could be a number of reasons. There could have been a failure to raise adequate funds to complete it. There could have been a fall-out among management. The project could have been simply ill-conceived. Whatever the reason it simply wasn’t seen through to the end.

Earlier in the week I read from the new testament: “Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’” (Col 4:17). Runners call it a “kick.” That reserve of energy held for the final leg of a race. Someone wise called it “finishing well.” What does it take to achieve a ‘kick’ or strong finish for you?

How do you help those you are coaching maintain energy through the finish of a project, deadline or other challenge?

First the good news: today two different leaders asked me to become their coach. Now the bad news: neither of them could tell me exactly what it was they wanted me to do for them. Not one of these two could tell me what their goal was or in what they wanted to be coached. They could not answer the simple question, “What do you want me to do for you?” This was astounding. When we break it down to it’s most fundamental level, coaching is about helping someone else become more effective or fruitful at what they do. While I agree both of these individuals will certainly benefit from an intentional coaching relationship but I bring this up for the sake of illustration.

I believe many people are learning or, at least, hearing about the power of coaching and therefore conclude they need a coach but don’t actually know why. Herein is a quality coach’s hard word: to help a person discern what is most important to them, their degree of commitment to that which is most important to them, the nature of the obstacles they are facing, the quality of the resources they have at hand and the beginning of a feasible strategy to act upon that which is most important to them. This is arduous work. And this may be some of the most important and over looked work of quality coaches. To empower someone to discern and act upon what God is calling them to do.

The best maxim for success I've ever heard is, “Find out what God wants you to do and do it.” The problem with many leaders is they simply do not know what it is God want’s them to do. Sometimes they will turn to a coach in hopes that coach can tell them what to do. And, in so many words, look to the coach rather than to God for their direction. A quality coach will keep the individual pointed to God and to inwardly reflect on His direction. Again, this can be very hard work. Especially when God may be silent during a coachee’s desert experience. I’ll save desert experiences for another blog entry so I end with this: what questions do you employ to help the ones you are coaching discern what it is they want to do in the first place? Or how do you help coachees develop goals?

I spend a lot of time traveling.

Mostly by air.

So I read with interest the news article about the flight attendant who had had all he could take: apparently a JetBlue flight attendant flipped out after an argument with an agitated traveler last Monday, cussed the passenger out over the intercom, stole a beverage from the plane’s galley and made a grand exit down the emergency slide at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. He has now been charged with multiple felonies by the authorities and elevated to a kind of folk-hero status by many who shrugged off allegations that Slater endangered others and instead praised him for his standing-up-to-the-man attitude.

Ok first of all, I understand just how frustrating the travel industry has become and how stressed employees and passengers alike has become so I totally believe the story. And that’s really sad when you think about. Not so much that it happened but that someone loosing their cool, endangering the lives of people in his care but worst of all causes them to be a mini-celebrity. Did he do the right things? Of course not. Have you or I ever felt the same way? Absolutely! But worse, his problems and our feelings are really symptoms of a much greater problem: the disappearance of simple kindness and patience from our society. Everything from road-rage to internet assault and more.

This week we’re going to be talking more about love and in particular how patience and kindness are proofs or characteristics of God’s love in our lives and essential to our faith.

Aren’t you glad God is more patient with us than that flight attendant? Don’t you think we’ve all given HIm ample reason to not be?

That’s grace.

Where is all the leisure time they said we would have if we bought their gizmos? You know what Im talking about. All those ways our lives would be easier, simpler and more care free. Has it worked for you? Do you have more ‘free time’ on your hands than you did five or ten years ago? Has all the stuff made our lives better? Has all the busyness made us closer to each other?

I asked a group of young families if they were more or less stressed these days than they were five years ago and they overwhelmingly said, “MORE!” I think I identify with them because all those promises to make life easier just seems to make it more complex and more time crunched.

Work meetings, school meetings, town-hall meetings, politics, soccer games, softball games, piano lessons, ballet lessons, band practice, football practice, clubs, organizations, e-mails, facebook messages, internet updates, chats, instant messages, text messages, skype, Blackberrys, PDAs, laptops, iPads, iPods, iPhones, iTouch, iLostCountALongTimeAgo!

Is it me? Or does the idea of adding one more thing, ANY one more thing just drive you crazy?

This is the primary reason I believe we the church should always strive for the least complex and least busy-making approach to living out Christ in our communities.

This is important to remember as we lean into the future together. We’re going to be talking about upgrades, transitions and changes. We may be doing some things a lit differently. And it is very easy to reject new ideas because we are all just so busy trying to wrestle with the old ones. I suggest we all embrace the opportunity to approach things from the vantage point of simplicity.

Therefore I believe we should promise that we will never add things, develop programs or organize meetings that merely produce religious busyness or in anyway waste your time. Instead we will always strive to make any and all decisions, directions and developments those which will help us live as Jesus did and nothing else.

Jesus said, “Come, my yoke is easy and my burden is light…”

So I don't have all the answers or many answers for that matter. I just don't know.  I do not know why things happen the way they do or how things end up in the shape which they do. I especially don't know all there is to know about people, the universe and God.  I suppose if I did know everything about people I'd be truly disappointed, the universe...bored and God well...he certainly wouldn't be God...anymore.

I am at a loss at being able to completely understand the riddle of another person. The one I live with and experience more than anyone else is my wife. She confounds me in ways I cannot explain much less understand. Just when I think I have her figured out she surprises me with some dimension of her being that is utterly foreign to me. A life time of adventure.

And the universe, what a smug notion to think that I know even something about it's infinite expanse and infinitesimal complexity. I know that I don't know. That I do know. The more I do know the less I am aware I do not know. A life time of exploration.

And God, of course, invites me and defies me. I know He is knowable and unknowable. Like my wife I know I may have a relationship with Him who is unknowable. I may know Him but never possess Him.  I chase He who chases me. A life time of pursuing the pursuer. Seventy times seven.

I don't know....

No doubt you are familiar with this topic...pain. It is our constant companion in life, our greatest teacher, the shaper of our heart, soul, mind, character, integrity and love. Pain forms and molds. It prunes, removes and  orients. It also breaks up hardened places and fertilizes dead places.  Pain gives, believe it or not, far more then it takes away. I say this because, what else can really make the  kind of difference in our lives like pain? Nothing.

In short, they didn't tell us in sunday school or seminary that pain would be the dominant force in shaping life...I wish they had. I also wish they'd told us that the first thing in God's agenda in our life is not alleviating our pain. I think if they had things would have made a lot more sense in life...now at least.  I suppose then I simply would not have believed them.