On Goat-Intestines and Being Offensive

In light of last week's Jesus-Be-Jesus-In-Me post, an additional thought for this week...

During one of our midterm breaks at Rift Valley Academy (while our children were off on a little trip with their peers), Bay and I gathered several high school students and drove North to visit the family of a young man who was in our dorm. This family lived and served in quite a remote area; but had won the respect of the villagers, developed a great ministry with the people, and had started a little church.

This precious church actually met in a river bed, which was quite an adventure, in itself, with cows, goats, sheep, and their herders passing by throughout the worship and the word being preached. That, too, was a great experience for Bay and I. As folks crossed the river bed (which seemed quite the thoroughfare), they’d stop to listen to the worship, and more importantly, the gospel! It was obvious this was a normal occurrence and all the church members simply took it in stride.

Another first for us was staying in a little rondavel hut (a round house) built with mud and local materials. The top of the hut is cone shaped and thatched and was a typical home for the local folks. This one happened to be smaller, and the bedroom of our dorm son. We were comfortable (well, the bed wasn't quite long enough for Bay at 6'10," but we made do), and considered ourselves blessed with a roof over our heads (all the kids were sleeping outside next to the fire).

BUT...the one thing that sticks in my memory from that trip was our first meal together with our host family and many of the church members. They planned and celebrated our visit with a traditional goat roast.

As we all sat around on the ground, the men and women of the church, served us our meal on a simple torn piece of newsprint. Because we were special guests and they wanted to honor us, they gave Bay and I the prime part of the goat: intestine.

Somewhere I have tucked away a photo of me "enjoying" this meal (sure wish I could put my hands on it).

I'm not sure that the word, enjoy, defines that dinner correctly.

In the photo, you can clearly see that I'm carefully eating this exclusive delicacy.

With the first bite, I recognized I was in trouble. The squiggly, snake-like piece of meat on my "plate" was as tough as could be and the texture rubbery (to say the least). No matter how much I chewed, the meat didn't break down, but descended into my stomach in whole pieces, landing with a thud (at least I'm pretty sure I heard a thud).

More the problem, however, as I took my first bite, I couldn't help notice that the intestines still had remnants of manure.

😜

What I did not want to do was offend our hosts, who had gone to so much trouble and expense to serve us their very best.

So, I offered up a prayer for protection over my intestines and ate.

All of it.

Other than Bay, I don’t think anyone was any wiser to what was playing around in my head.

As I’ve contemplated this story over the course of the years that have passed by, the key sentence that pops out at me is this: I did not want to offend…

Word-Nerd Moment: 

To offend (Greek: proskopen) - an obstacle, a hindrance, a stumbling block that might anger someone, vex them, or turn them away. 

As one who felt called, sent by the Lord, to serve Him and His gospel, I never wanted to do anything in anyway to anyone that might offend and keep them from being open to TRUTH.

Before I finish, I do know this: Jesus offended people. Truth, even spoken with gentleness and kindness, will offend those who don’t want to hear it. Just a couple examples. Jesus offended by challenging the traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducees (He healed on the Sabbath, He let His disciples pick grain on the Sabbath), and, He confronted their hypocrisy.

However, of this I am certain, Jesus never offended someone because He was trying to exercise His rights or to promote Himself.

In fact, Jesus gave up all His rights and emptied Himself when He came to earth to serve others. He lived the definition of humility.

Back to my point. I think the question I’ve been asking MYSELF is this: 

Do I continue to eat goat-intestines-laced-with-manure and remain unoffensive for open dialogue about Scripture and gospel truth? 

Do I follow these admonitions from the Apostle Paul?

We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:3, TLB)

So, let’s stop condemning one another. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble or fall (Romans 14:13, NLT).

For you were called to freedom, brother. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13-14, ESV).

In this day and age, where social media gives us permission to say things that are probably more divisive than I might say to someone in person; and, in order to show love, look out for others interests, and give the benefit of the doubt, perhaps I need to go back to eating more intestines!

Jesus, Be Jesus in Me!

You?

The Jesus I Want to Be

Shortly after we arrived in Kenya, one of the high school classes hosted a talent show in which the student body was invited to participate. So, the dorms emptied, and we all gathered in the auditorium for a night of fun, laughter, and a variety of entertainment. As the evening ticked by, the emcee opened the microphone for anyone in the audience who didn’t sign up to join in the evening’s events. You could hear a pin drop. Didn’t seem that anyone was interested; but, sitting next to me, my six year old, Mandy, started to wiggle. Before I knew what was happening, up she popped, and there she stood on stage with microphone in hand. The class president residing over the evening asked her to share what she would perform. 

“Jesus, Be Jesus In Me,” piped up my precious daughter. This was her go-to, most favorite chorus that she always picked during our family worship nights. 

With boldness, she stood in front of an auditorium packed with between 200-300 staff, students, and visiting parents, and sang the chorus two times with all her heart:

Jesus, be Jesus in me…

No longer me, but Thee.

Resurrection power, fill me this hour.

Jesus, be Jesus in me…

As she finished, the audience sat quietly for about one whole minute, then everyone rose to their feet, cheered and applauded my little cutie, who simply handed the mic to the emcee and quickly walked back to her seat. 

That concluded the evening. 

I ran across the picture that someone from the yearbook staff took that night and scanned it for you. 

When I discovered it, I sat basking in the nostalgia of that evening’s surprise performance. However, more than enjoying Mandy’s participation, I pondered those words - what a prayer!

There is one more verse in the song that Mandy didn’t know:

I empty my cup of all that I hold

And I lay it at Your feet

My life is Yours, please take control

Fill me, and make me complete.

Again, what a great prayer, which has been the cry of many a disciple’s heart…to be like Jesus.

Even the Apostle Paul said in Colossians:

For this I labor, struggling with all His energy that He works powerfully within me (Colossians 1:29, emphasis mine)…

And, just two verses prior, he wrote:

...God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)

Paul also stated as a personal goal that it was his desire to "imitate Christ," whose Spirit resided in him, and he prayed others would do the same (1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1). 

But, as I pondered the lyrics to this little chorus, the question came to mind, “Which Jesus do you want to live in you and through you?”

I certainly hadn’t expected that question. 

“Well, the Jesus of the Gospels, of course!”

While the answer to this random question seems obvious, I recognize that in the world in which we live today, the personality of Jesus is becoming more and more obscured. 

To some, the Jesus of the Gospels is being maligned and misunderstood according to the perspective through which we view Him. 

We have a tendency to recreate Jesus according to our own desires, politics, whims, and opinions.

Some want a lenient, loving, inclusive Jesus who affirms and agrees. 

Some want a political Jesus, who leans “red or blue,” depending on their personal flavor of politics. 

However, the Jesus I want living through me, doesn’t vary from the portrait Matthew, Mark, Luke and John painted for us. This is the Jesus, I long to have shine His light in me, through me, and out of me. The Jesus I pray will daily transform me so I look and act in similar vein. 

Oh, that He will conform me to His image (Romans 8:28). 

The Jesus of the Gospels:

Led with humility, always serving. 

Lived love through sacrificial giving.

Never demanded His own rights, but sought to uplift “the other.”

Cared for the “least of these” through meeting needs. He healed the sick, fed the hungry (all out of His own resources), welcomed children…

Didn’t ever attempt to transform culture (“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”), but desired, above all, to transform hearts (think how culture shifted after His death).

Spoke truth boldly, confronted sin with love, respect and gentleness.

Resisted personal temptations and honored His Father’s will, even when it was a difficult ask (think “cross”).

Detested hypocrisy…especially within the “church” (the temple) - "Woe to you, hypocrites..."

Unpacked Scripture so that all men could understand, find their way to the Father, and the eternal home He is preparing for them.

Knew His purpose and never deviated.

Always, always showed us the heart of the Father. 

These are just a few of the things that come to mind, when I pray, “Jesus, be Jesus in me…” This is the Jesus I desire to be, not a recreated Jesus that agrees with me, but the Jesus who is bold, Biblical, compassionate, and sacrificial. 

So, I pray, singing, “Jesus, be Jesus, in me…”

Colossians 1:27

Pushing Pause

If you know music, you know what these are symbolic of, right? 

The most commonly used (of the above) is this sign:

If you read sheet music, you know that each of these indicates what is commonly known as a rest. 

A "rest" represents a period of silence within music, and, indicates to the musician how long to hold silence.

The most common "rest" is the quarter rest (above), which is equal to one beat of music.

A rest is used for many reasons - here are a few:

To create an effective rhythm for expression...

To give emotional impact (tension, anticipation, release) and a change in the mood (attitude) of the music...

To mark natural pauses for instrumentalists and vocalists needing to catch their breath...

This morning's blog IS NOT about music theory.

Yet, a little music theory filtered through my quiet time this past week as I sat pondering the busy-ness of the coming summer months, and a recent conviction the Lord began stirring in my soul.

As I reflected on each individual concept: (The rests that are necessary for the kind of music I enjoy, the upcoming busy-ness, and a deeply planted seed of conviction) -- I knew without question what those three things tied together represented for me, and I'll take just a moment to share that with you.

This upcoming summer has presented to me two fairly good-sized, time-consuming projects I've agreed to work on before the fall hits.

In order to do so, I need to take a break from something; I am aware that I can't add without taking away.

As well, there's a conviction stirring inside of me, which lands me in the arena of social media. Lately, any time I've taken, especially Facebook, has left me with a heaviness in spirit regarding the always-prevalent self-promotion (I'm talking my own as much as anyone else's); it's caused me to grieve deeply and lament the loss of basic kindness, gentleness and goodness (human decency); and, there are days I walk away from checking any one particular outlet and am thoroughly agitated in spirit.  Besides, which, it is an absolute time-sucker.

Not good. 

I recognize the Lord is not a God of confusion or agitation...His lovingkindness (HESED) is always good...and, will settle our hearts, above all, in hope, joy, and, peace! 

Put these things together from this past week and I have one, great big, God-given sense of direction that will last me one-quarter (a simple beat) of this year (and then I'll re-evaluate).

I'm going to take this gift of rest, a Sabbath-of-sorts, from all social media, which will include this weekly blog, to pour my time into some other projects; and, I will push pause (selah) for a while: 

My prayer as I enter into this time is: 

May the Lord - the Creator of the Universe, the Author of Time - establish in me a new rhythm for creative expression; restore the priority of pursuing all the Lord wants from me daily with a peace-filled-spirit (un-needful of any pats on the back); give my attitude a course correction; and, simply, allow me to catch my breath in the midst of it all. 

To be honest, I'm excited for all the Lord may have in mind for this season...

...and, I fully believe, each of us need this kind of Selah from time to time for the same purpose. That timing, for you, as for me, should certainly be God-directed.

XXXXXXX

P.S. As one final thought on God's Great, Inexpressible Love (HESED) that is truly "BEYOND WORDS" (no matter how hard one may attempt to describe it), there is one final question and response to summarize all the blogs of the past weeks.

The question: In light of HESED, how, then, should I live?

The response: I, too, HESED because He first "HESED-ed" me (1 John 4:19). What does that look like? 

Go - and wash some feet (serve "the other")... see John 13.

XXXXXXX

Enjoy your summer!

What God Does With Trash

This morning, as per my usual routine, I went for a walk outside, in order to get in my 10k steps for the day. 

Someone has said something to the effect that if you are in need of creativity, you should go out for a walk; "angels whisper to a man (or old woman, in this case) when he goes out walking."

(discovered the author and full quote on Pinterest)

I can't speak as to hearing the voice of angels, but I can speak to the fact that I seem to have thoughts that often remind me of something the Lord might say to me. 

That kinda-sorta happened today.

As I walked, I began picking up trash alongside the road.

I gathered a substantial amount and wished I had brought a trash bag to hold it all. 

This morning's haul consisted of cans, a little wheel (like might be on a suitcase), several pieces of wire (barbed and non), a dime, a piece of bone picked clean and whitened from the sunshine, two pieces of a straw, a glittery bow from off some gift at some time, a few pieces of glass... I left the banana peel 🤣😌😳

Tomorrow I need to go back with a trash bag, I couldn't carry it all. 

I found myself talking to myself (should I be worried?) as I journeyed home "full-of-hands" (as our son, Adam, used to say when he was a small child). 

It went something like this:

"Whatcha gonna do with all this trash you've collected."

"Well, duh, throw it in the rubbish bin."

"Maybe you could create something out of all this garbage. There are people who take trash and turn it into art."

I knew that. 

I've seen one such structure created out of items that have washed ashore in my hometown of Bandon, OR.

In DIA, Terminal B, there is a hanging art sculpture made out of lost luggage and other lost items (picture courtesy of "tomtom303,"who created this structure).

I, however, am no artist, and do not have ANY creativity; yet, I'm feeling a tug to do something with this discarded junk. 

Here's why...

Sometimes, we can feel discarded, of little value, worthless, like "junk..."

Yet, the Lord, who created us, loves us, treasures us, doesn't just gather us up from the side of the road and throw us away. He still has a plan for us when we surrender ourselves into His creative hands.

The Lord is good at "taking trash and turning it into a treasure."

With that, I remembered, again, the Hosea and Gomer love-story from last week.

She definitely had to feel the way I just described. 

If you recall, Gomer walked away from her loving husband to chase other "lovers." She is an allegorical figure who reminds us that we do the same to the Lord - we look to "other things" to fulfill, satisfy, bring contentment, and pleasure.

As I continued the story, I discover Gomer's lovers got tired of her, and placed her up on an auction block to be sold as a slave (naked and ashamed).

There's a lesson to be learned here:

Whatever we turn to besides the Lord will make slaves of us all...and strip us bare, leaving us in shame.

There stands Gomer waiting to be sold, no doubt feeling like trash, certainly discarded, used-up, and of little value (the best price a female slave (in her prime) might be sold for according to Leviticus 27 is 30-shekels. 

BUT GOD...the two most hopeful words in the entire Bible!

Do you know what Homer (her prophet husband) is told to do? Here it is....

"The Lord said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who has been loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves Israel, though they turn to other gods...' (Hosea 3:1)."

Buy her back. Redeem her.

Thus, Homer does, for the whopping price of 15 shekels of silver, with a little barley thrown in, as well (commentaries I've looked at said the 15 shekels of silver, plus the barley may have been worth the full price of 30-pieces of silver). 

In the midst of all the back and forth conversations between Homer and God and Gomer...we learn this truth from the Lord: 

"I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness, justice, steadfast love (HESED), and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness...and you will know the Lord. And, in that day, you will call me, 'My Husband' (Hosea 2:16, 19)."

In spite of us. In spite of how we turn away. In spite of the slavery we fall into when we turn our eyes. In spite of our prone-to-wander-hearts, God loves us with steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice and mercy.  He woos us to Himself. He draws near to us. He speaks tenderly to us (Hosea 2:14-15). 

God masterfully turns ashes into beauty.

He turns slaves into brides.

He takes us from the land of trouble (the Valley of Achor in Hosea 2:15) to a place of triumphant victory.

He removes us from despair and opens for us a door of hope (Hosea 2:15). 

He picks up the garbage and creates a new creation glory-worthy.

What a story!!!

Hmmmm.....someday maybe I'll make that creation of art out of all that rubbish I picked up today, if for no other reason that to let this message be driven home into my heart day in and day out. 

XXXXXXX

PS. Remember the price Judas betrayed Jesus for? Yes, that's right, 30 pieces of silver! Jesus' life (to Judas) was worth the same price Hosea paid for Gomer, BUT...that price meant redemption for all of us...

NOT JUST REDEMPTION, RESTORATION 

(something new birthed out of the old!)

Hallelujah!

We are, truly, an Easter people and Hallelujah is our song!

-Augustine-

What God Says About His Love & Spiritual Adultery

Earlier this week, Bay and I met up with friends in Moab, Utah for some light hiking and sight-seeing (BTW, the pictures sprinkled throughout this blog do not do the beauty of Moab and the Canyonlands justice).

With the handiwork of God everywhere, and, recognizing He created all this for our enjoyment, I delighted in this evidence of His great love. 

The Lord shows off His love for His children in splendor, yet we often ignore it. 

More likely, we take it for granted...

...and, this led me to contemplate what is probably, the oddest of love stories in Scripture: that of Hosea and Gomer.

The book of Hosea is an allegory, a novel, poetry, narrative prose, and prophecy all wrapped into one short story.

It is often confusing, deeply theological, and, like the word, HESED, mysterious (it's also a little bit off-the-charts hard to fully comprehend). I know, 'cause I'm wading through a study of Hosea right now. 

Hosea, the husband in the story, represents God. In life, he's called to be a prophet of the Most High God. He's faithful, selfless, compassionate, and deeply in love with Gomer. Considering he represents the Lord, we are assured that Hosea is a kind, gentle, protective, generous, encouraging husband, who honors and cherishes her well.

Gomer represents Israel, God's bride. She also represents the Church of today...thus, I (!) am (!), often (!), Gomer (!). All that Hosea is, she is not. Gomer's whoredom leads her to a promiscuous lifestyle, turning often to other lovers. She's faithless, self-centered, unkind, and deeply in love with her own wants and chosen-lifestyle. 

Remember: this is an allegory...and, the book reminds us that while the Lord is slow-to-anger, He is still a righteous judge. He is quite jealous for His bride. He will do whatever it takes to get her back home. 

I read the book and wonder over and over again, what is Gomer's problem? She has a loving husband who adores her, three beautiful children, and a life a lot of folks might covet. 

AND YET...

Look at these thoughts running through her mind:

"I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink (Hosea 2:5b)."

Hosea provides all this for Gomer. Don't think for a moment that he held back. It's clear throughout the book, Hosea is over-the-top-generous to his bride. 

Bread and water - these things are symbolic of Gomer's daily need for food and drink.

Wool and flax - important necessities for weaving the fabric from which she'd make her clothes (she's kept warm, for sure, but more important to Gomer, apparently, is how she looks). 

Oil and drink - from what I read these represent the things that brought pleasure and "sweetness" to life. Hosea appears to be no slave-driver-of-a-husband with unrealistic expectations. 

I see two problems so far in my study on Hosea and Gomer. 

1) For some reason, Gomer can't seem to identify as a "beloved bride." Hosea chose her, in spite of her prostitution; He loved her with his whole being, and saw her as a pure, spotless, beloved bride; He provided well for her. Yet, it would appear, Gomer only saw herself as she once was, not as she had become. So, she continued to live the same way. 

We do, this, too. It's so easy to slip back into old patterns, and, just live as the "old creation" we once were;  not as "the new creation" God has redeemed us to become. It's no wonder, the enemy does his best to obscure our identity in Christ and cause us to look inward, not upward. As we believe we are, so we live. It's easy then to turn to other idols...

2) Gomer had a deadly case of FOMO (just like the Prodigal Son, what led her astray was a "fear of missing out"). Going back to the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve planted in our DNA, the notion that there is always MORE somewhere else. 

So, we take our eyes off of the good around us, the signs of the beauty of God's great and amazing HESED, and chase after something else that will give us MORE... We are never satisfied, never truly content; and, we turn to other lovers. 

I turn to other lovers. 

More of all that's good. More of all I WANT. Making my life more about ME, what I can get; and, less about the Lord and His goodness, His faithfulness, His HESED.

My self-centeredness leads me on a dead-end journey right back to me. 

James, the brother of our Lord, calls this "spiritual adultery." Here's exactly what he says:

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your own passions. You adulterous people! Don't you know that friendship with the world, makes you an enemy of God (James 4:3-4)?

He's talking about those things we chase after far more than we chase after the Lord. 

So far, the story of Hosea and Gomer has been more convicting than anything...and, that is what is worth my pondering this week. 

However, I, also, know the story has a hopeful ending.

It's hopeful, because the beauty of HESED shown to me, all about me, reminds me that no matter what, God sees me where I am, loves me faithfully, grieves over my prone-to-wandering-heart, and will do anything to bring me home again.

Ultimately, His unfailing love (HESED) changes everything.