Preventing Stress Fractures

My quest: What it means to "church"...
!!!! Warning !!! (just in case you are joining me on this new journey): The next few weeks may be somewhat random, jumping all over the place. If I were really thorough, I'd study, dig into Scripture, read books, and create a blog that was orderly, thoughtful, and followed some sort of sequence. Sorry, that won't be what you'll get. What you'll get are "thoughts" on the church as I go. So, with that in mind, we take a leap.

I've already downloaded a few books that have been recommended. I've looked at a few passages of Scripture. However, this week, every time I sit with these things, the words to the following old hymn keep popping into my head. Honestly, I can't think of a better place to begin. Here are the words to the melody I've been humming:

The church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord
She is His new creation
By water and the Word
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride
And with His blood He bought her
And for her life He died
(lyrics: Samuel Stone, melody: Samuel Wesley, circa 1866)

Last week's introductory thoughts on the church discussed one of the goals; the pinnacle to the answer of "why" the church: Passing the Baton of AWE.
This week, we lay a foundation for the church.

I'm no builder. But I know a little bit about foundations. A good foundation does more than just hold a house above ground. I know this from experience. My house is built on an experiment. At the time, this type of foundation was a newly formed theory: a floating foundation. The thought was that as the ground shifted, the ability to float would help the house shift along, causing less problems. That hasn't proved itself out in the long term. Because it isn't a SOLID foundation, we often have to repair sheet-rocked walls. They get stress fractures. The more extensive the foundation problems the more costly the fix. Ultimately, though, as one builder has said, "Without a good foundation, well, you're sunk!"

Jesus Christ is the foundation. The church is built on this one premise and this one premise only. It is SOLID. It does not float. It does not shift or change. The truth is that no other theory will do. If the church forgets her foundation, or leaves it out of the equation, when building...look out! There will be stress fractures, or worse!!!  It is best we remember these words that should be written on the doorposts of every church:


13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b]shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16 - emphasis mine)


"YOU are the Christ, the Son of the living God." There is the foundation. On that rock, that solid rock, the church of God has to be built. The church is so much more than a business, buildings, budgets, and my needs. Jesus Christ left heaven to seek a bride, a bride that would reflect the love of her husband. A bride who would live without fear, who would speak often of the price He graciously paid for her, a bride who would faithfully wait for her man to return and take her to her heavenly home.

Got any stress fractures? Is your church sinking? Maybe the foundation needs a little "shoring up." When Jesus is the foundation, the church lives on enduringly...
When Jesus is the foundation, stress fractures can be prevented...
More importantly...
When Jesus is the foundation, the church works...

A New Exploration

I just spent a weekend away in personal retreat. I had an amazing time meeting with my Lord. I prayed, journaled, read slowly, being filled with conviction, through a book with the title of "Awe: Why it Matters for Everything We Think, Say, & Do." Such teaching! It wasn't deep. It wasn't even filled with really new thoughts. It was, however, thought provoking. No one has challenged me so greatly in a long time. Sprinkled throughout different chapters were questions to evaluate. I could have just read through them, nodded my head, agreed that these were questions I ought to ponder at some point down the road, but instead, wrote every question at the top of a new page in my journal and explored my relationship (or lack thereof) to them. As I said - deeply convicting! Here are just a few truths that were hammered into my head and started moving into my heart.

• I was created, hard-wired, for AWE.
• There is a battle raging within me for where to focus my AWE.
• Only AWE of God will satisfy, but I tend to replace vertical AWE with a horizontal addiction. (Most often, I replace AWE of God with awe of self.) 
• When my AWE goes wrong, I will develop AWE amnesia. 
• My emotional life is always a window into what has captured my AWE. (As Yoda might say, "Educators they are...")

Here's the thing. We (meaning Christians, the Bride of Christ, the Church) don't do a very good job of reminding one another about the AWE of God. We have (for various reasons) stopped intentionally "commending [God's] works to one another" (Ps. 145:4). The generations which follow are definitely in need of AWE-reminders. We need to pass the baton of AWE. In fact, "every moment of ministry should inspire our AWE of God." "When our children are blown away by the glory of God, they will be pre-disposed to reach for His grace and submit to His will!" 

This got me thinking about this thing called Church. Does the Lord's Bride really know why she's been chosen, married, and, now, waiting for her bridegroom to come and get her? Do Christians really know how-to-church biblically? Not only are we failing to pass the baton-of-AWE, I fear we're losing our understanding of why we're here, and not "there" with our Savior-God. Maybe what has me thinking so much is an article I read recently on the "Dones."  The Dones are comprised of former church leaders, the "best and the brightest." These are the 20% who used to do 80% of the work. They are just done with church, and more than likely, will not be returning. Their reasons for leaving are varied and personal. Overall, they've just become disillusioned.

However, we desperately need the church being the Church. If we keep seeing church leaders walking out the back doors, who will be left to pass on the baton? Who, then, do the younger generations have to set an example and tell about the wondrous deeds of the glory of the Lord, the God who has been the hero in the midst of their stories? We've got to have story tellers to pass on a heritage of hope, and raise up steadfast faith in the next generation.

So that's my new quest as I begin 2016: A Look at The Church. What does it mean to biblically church? 

First lesson on the church: The church is meant to pass a baton of AWE from one generation to the next.

Ponder out the Old; Pray in the New!

Family members have returned home...
Advent candles have all been lit and extinguished...
Christmas programs are completed...
Christmas decorations packed away for another year...
Leftovers from family meals are all consumed and the fridge is bare... (In fact, I've begun dieting, since all I got for Christmas was fat!)
Presents have found a new home somewhere around the house...
Signs of Christmas-present have become Christmas-past...
But, my heart has been warmed.
Any time I get to spend with these "treasures" is a delight to my soul...

This morning, I start turning my mind toward a new year.  Many have traditions they love for "bringing in the baby..." Some will party until the ball drops in Times Square (or on into the wee hours of the morning), some will plan, some will ponder. In the past, I've just gone to bed. However, before I do, I always have a little tradition of working through a few questions. I've posted them before, but since it was a few years ago, here they are again for "pondering":

Looking back on 2015...

What were some of my personally defining moments of last year? 

What did I learn from someone else that impacted me in a positive way?

Are there some things I neglected - projects, goals, standards that I did not complete? 

How are my relationships?

What do I need to do about these things to bring closure to 2015?

Turning to 2016…

What do I hope to accomplish in this next year? Dreams/Visions/Projects?

How do I personally want to grow?

Are there goals to improve my spiritual health? my emotional health? my physical health? my relationships? my finances?

What actions can I take? What books can I read? Are there mentors I could turn to for advice? Events I can attend? Classes I could take? Podcasts to listen to? 

What one word will summarize my focus for 2016?

What will I do Monday through Friday to intentionally do these things?

This year, after I have pondered out the old, I'm praying in 2016. Along with the above questions (which I will still ponder), I'm intentionally going away to do some strategic battle...just me, along with a friend (a silent retreat of sorts). I sense a lot of change in this coming year, and my heart tells me it is BIG. I want to make sure I'm suited up with the proper armor and that my sword is sharp. To be honest, I've sensed lately that I've lost passion....my cutting edge... I've gotten too comfortable. I've been productive, serving the Lord, doing the "work" for the Kingdom, but somewhere along the way the flame has been dimmed. Prayer revives that passion. I'm not worried about it, even Timothy (Paul's prodigy) needed his flame fanned from time to time. Paul reminded him to be intentional to see to taking care of that little flame regularly (For this reason, I remind you to keep fanning into flame the gift of God...which is in you...2 Timothy 1:6). Neither Tim or I can do anything more about reviving passion than pray (because passion, like faith, is a gift of God). So, pray I will...and lean into this promise through the lips of Hosea, the prophet:

He will come to us like rain, like the spring rain, watering the earth!

Hosea 6:3.

(I'd even take a snow fall on my soul, like the kind we're currently seeing...)

So, whether you are partying, planning, pondering, praying...or doing some of all four...may your Lord come to you in 2016 and water the soil of your soul reaping a fruit of joy that spreads all around. May your passion be fanned into flame and your work for the Kingdom be profitable for all with whom you come in contact! Have a blessed year...

A Great Gift This Christmas

When I got up to write this morning's blog, the timing seemed just right for bringing this whole theme of friendship to a close. I have to say, as I've looked at the number of hits on the blog site over these past few weeks, I've been a bit surprised (and, mostly, humbled) at the high numbers of readers. Overall, since we started digging a little deeper on what friendship looks like through the lens of Scripture, this blog's had a great response, which tells me the topic has resonated. If so, I'm glad. If it's clarified, helped, or brought about some renewed thinking, then I'm grateful. With this in mind, I picked up my Bible to where I'm reading in Colossians, wondering just how I was supposed to bring this to an end.

Paul reminds me how important relationships are. He opened the book of Colossians with a prayer of thanks for the faithful believers at this little church, and he closes the book with a string of greetings to and from specific individuals. Paul makes no bones about it; he considers his wealth to be the friends he has made over the course of his life. We've all heard the phrase "rich in friends." As I sat and contemplated this truth, it dawned on me that if I have just one I call by the title friend (in the Biblical sense of the word), I have found a treasure.

It is the Christmas season, undoubtedly there are a few gifts you've purchased, and a few gifts you'll be given...but, perhaps this Christmas, the best gift you can offer is that of your friendship. I have this problem of looking in the mirror a little too much. It's not because I want to see what I look like, but I want to measure my life, size it up, by what I think I see about me. A part of that measure is scaled (wrongly) on how many friends I have, and wondering, "how do people feel about me?" Instead, I need to look outward, what can I do to authentically be an "if-the-Lord's-the-Lord-of-them friend?" Especially at this time of year, there are many who could use one of those...many who are lonely, many who are in need of comfort and cheer; who could use a warm hug, an encouraging, hope-filled smile, and a meaningful conversation. Who do you know in your world that could use a friend? "If you want to have a friend, be a friend..." (remember it's not easy, but it's so NEEDED!).  There's no better time to start putting into practice a few building blocks.

This Christmas, give the gift of friendship...

AnD tHeN, there's this is JuSt BeCaUsE...so don't forget:

Grace-Remembering-Givers

I don't know who said this first, but I was told at an early age, "If you want to have a friend, you must be a friend." Undoubtedly, you were given the same little adage, as well. For goodness sakes, I've even heard myself spouting it a time or two. We all like pithy statements, but there's nothing pithy about the work involved in being a friend, especially a biblical one.

Three building blocks of friendship have already been identified. Trying to be clever, and perhaps, a bit memorable, I've given them three "C" words. Good friends (if-the-Lord's-the-Lord-of-them friends) will be committed, cautious, and curative. So, in an attempt to keep up with this theme, I've picked a Greek word for the final, and fourth building block. The word is "charis (English transliteration)" and means "grace." The kind of friends who "stick closer than a brother," "love at all times," "know when to speak and to be silent," and offer us "friendly wounds," are also "grace-remembering-givers." They are CHARIS.

Paul David Tripp (one of my new favorite authors), in his devotional New Morning Mercies (which I highly recommend by the way!), said this: "Maybe one of the biggest sins in our relationships with one another is the sin of forgetting. I wish I could say this is not my problem, but it is. It is so easy to forget how profound your need of grace is, and it is equally easy to forget the amazing grace that has been freely showered upon you. And when you forget the grace that you've been given, it becomes very easy to respond to the people around you with non-grace." In other words, our greatest hindrance in building quality relationships is that we are grace amnesiacs. We are! I am!

From time to time I tend to think I'm deserving, that I've earned, or achieved, the spiritual blessings that have been lavished on me. When I get myself out from under the shadow of the cross, that's when my amnesia hits me the hardest. It's absolutely critical I stay there! Because remembering that grace came at such a huge price keeps me grounded and grateful. Remembering my great need and the ONE who "delivered me from the domain of darkness and transformed me into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins," is essential to "putting them all away: anger, malice, slander..." and "putting on the new self...holy and beloved, compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, bearing with one another, forgiving one another..." These are the things that comprise charis...grace-remembering-givers.  

I'll close with one more quote from Tripp's devotional. It's worth the pondering, even if you've read nothing else. It is the bottom line of this essential building block:

For the believer, harsh, critical, impatient, and irritated responses to others are always connected to forgetting or denying who we are and what we have been given in Jesus.

Think on that this week...and stay grounded in the shadow of the cross. It might just change all your relationships...

**Words in red are from: Colossians 1:13, 2:13-14, 3:5-14a.

Building Blocks of Biblical Friendship

Reminder - Public Service Announcement: Advent Devotional based on past blogs, entitled "I Dropped Baby Jesus" available by clicking on the link.

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In an earlier post, I mentioned that friendships are discovered along the pathway of our lives. Yet once they are discovered (and our hearts are connected, in a Jonathan & David sort of way, because we share common beliefs, passions, and, even struggles), friendships take some work to build and keep. Two have been mentioned already...

Last week, we focused on this verse, "A friend loves at all times..." Building Block #1: Commitment. It takes commitment to be that kind of constant friend who still does love when we are at our worst. It's a huge deal to find a friend who is willing to go the distance with us.

The week before, when we zeroed in on Job's three friends, we discovered Building Block #2: Cautious. Good friends are careful and cautious before they speak. They know us so well that they have learned when to hold their tongues, and when to share God-words from their heart that will be for us.

For everything there is a season...a time to keep silence and a time to speak.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7b

They also know when to be there, and when to leave...

Let your foot be seldom in your friend's house, lest he have his fill of you... 

Proverbs 25:17

This week, Building Block #3: Curative. I picked this "c" word because here are some of its synonyms: corrective, beneficial, helpful, insightful, restorative, shot-in-the-arm, therapeutic, and what-the-doctor-ordered. Who better to speak up, when we are in a better place, to help us see things correctly than a good friend, someone we trust? We desperately need truth tellers. While the Lord made us holy at our salvation, we don't always live what we are. We have blind spots. We are often a little too myopic and narrow-minded. (I need to make this personal), I desperately need people who love me enough to speak God-words to me. Proverbs calls them friendly wounds.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, profuse are the kisses of your enemy...

Proverbs 27:6.

In fact, if you are too frightened to speak truth to me, according to the parallel of this passage, you are no friend.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourselves, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law (referring to the "law of love") of Christ. 

Galatians 6:1-2

When God-words are spoken, the following can happen:

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Lessons on Friendship

Biblical friends assist one another to holy living

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Good, Biblical, friends are concerned that we are equipped for Kingdom work as long as our feet are on this planet. 

At. All! Times.

Public Service Announcement: Advent Devotional based on past blogs, entitled "I Dropped Baby Jesus" available by clicking on the link.

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Here's a focal verse for the week. It's found in Proverbs 17:17(a). Ponder it. It's only six words, but packed with a powerful punch. I find it to be the most convicting verse on friendship in the Scriptures. These words are hard to live up to on a daily basis.

The verb "love" is understandable. It's even do-able from time to time. I struggle with the phrase "at all times." Repeat that loudly: at all times! AT. ALL! TIMES.

Think what that means. If you're my friend (an "if-the-Lord's-the-Lord-of-them" friend), you will love me:
When my hair is a mess; and, I have bad breath.

When I stink and am in need of a shower.

When my attitude also stinks and needs cleansing... When I'm grumpy, irritable, resentful,
argumentative, and totally unlovable.

When my theology doesn't match the reality of my life, and I'm hypocritical, forgetful of truth, and judgmental.

When I'm less than patient, kind, compassionate...

When I talk too much, and I'm filled with conceit.

When I don't rejoice with you, or weep with you as I should.

When I keep a record of wrongs and forget to show mercy, canceling your debt against me, with forgiveness.

When I'm greedy, joy-less, and let emotions over-rule my head.

YUCK! An "if-the-Lord's-the-Lord-of-them" friend is ALWAYS loving...by choice!

They are Jesus-with-skin-on.

These friends are RARE! Rare, because at times like I've mentioned, being a friend is messy. It's not easy. They have to hold the pail for the verbal vomit. They have to hand us tissues for snot-runneth-over noses, and river-flowing-teary-eyes. They have to be OK with our skewed momentary perspectives, and able to hold us in their hearts without judgment. They are the settled, wisdom of Jesus; but more importantly, when it is hard for us to find the presence of the Lord (because He just "feels" distant), they are His presence. They help us find JOY...

So, yes, I'm convicted by this difficult-to-do verse. I've had to ask myself the same question I was asked years ago, "Do I even KNOW what a good friend is truly like?" Have I ever been that kind of friend? Certainly in spurts...but, AT. ALL! TIMES? 

OUCH!