Ears to hear

If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.  Mark 4:23 (NASB)

First I dial the switchboard number and listened to the obligatory phone tree.  No ears.  Took my best guess, which must have been the popular bet because I found they were experiencing unusually heavy call volume and was unceremoniously dumped into voice mail.  No ears at all.  Got frustrated and hung up.

Took a deep breath and called back.  Same phone tree, but took another guess and got a live person, I presume with ears.  But she didn’t have time or interest to hear.  She transferred me to another line, which led to, you guessed it, another voice mail.  Back to no ears.

Made third attempt.  Was able to navigate phone tree a little quicker and I had at least eliminated two unproductive options, so I tried door number three.  Actual human being answers the phone and listens to my request.  Nice lady.  I am sure she had lovely ears, and I think I was speaking clearly, but she had trouble hearing.  My question was how to get approval for something their web site didn’t allow.  She told me the computer didn’t allow me to do that. 

Me:  ”I know.  Now I want a person to help me.” 

Nice lady: “But the computer doesn’t allow us to go against policy and sell you that service.”

Me: “Well, could anyone allow it?” I ventured. 

NL: “I guess, theoretically, it could be done (ears begining to hear?) but what if the service fails?” 

Me: “Ma’am, that’s a chance I’m willing to take and gladly pay for!” 

NL: “Let me connect you to Miss X.  Hold one moment.”

And the next thing I heard?

“I’m either on the phone or away from my desk right now……” 

Knees first

I just finished a book (I’m a reader if you’re wondering) by Bill Hybels called JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM.  The author is the pastor of a humongus church near Chicago called Willow Creek that is both very influential and very controversial for their emphasis on “seeker” events and services.  Their mindset is very evangelistic, but then Jesus seemed to be interested in people coming to know God, too.  The book is about being open and available and active in engaging with people at every opportunity, with the ultimate object of pointing them towards God somehow.  It’s intentional, lifestyle evangelism and Hybels says it’s something we all can and should do if we really believe Jesus was all that.  Cool book and I recommend it.

Fooled you.  Touting evangelism is not the point of the post.  What struck me most in the book was what Hybels calls a “silly spiritual discipline” that I think I badly need and I’m gonna try.  From the book:

Some of you may know that a few years back I started a rather silly spiritual discipline in order to balance the activist side of my personality.  The commitment was this: every morning, the first part of my body to hit the floor would be, without fail, my knees.  This may sound easy but I dare you to try it.  It takes a little finagling to get your hips and legs to swing just right so that your knees come down before your feet.  Before making that commitment, I had learned that if my feet hit the floor first, I was off to the races….. So to right my Type-A tendencies, I decided to roll out of bed each day and, as a representation of my submitted spirit, will and attitude, adopt a posture of prayer.  It’s of symbolic import to me because it sends a message to me and to all of heaven that I’m in this thing – this life, this ministry, this day – soli Deo gloria, for God’s glory.

How can you NOT love that?!

Confused?

Many of His disciples said, “This is hard to understand.  How can anyone accept it?”  John 6:60 (NLT)

If you read the gospel of John, you’ll find Jesus saying things that are really hard and some of it is pretty far out there, frankly.  We tend to look down on the Jews of the day, especially the bad ol’ Pharisees because they were hyper-religeous hypocrits.  But they were three-dimensional people, not cardboard cutouts and Jesus just didn’t quite fit their conrete concept of what their Messiah was supposed to say and do, and yet He did all these miraculous things that they evidently couldn’t deny.  The were confused and didn’t like it.

But if you actually take the time to read the gospels for yourself, you might find that what Jesus said and did are not necessarily the kinds of things YOU or I expect either!  To a degree, maybe were supposed to be a little confused?  I struggle with what it all means…..yet I believe He did these miraculous things (the resurrection bit was the topper, of course) and I know I feel His presence in my life.  Jesus was and is Someone different from anyone or anything ever.  If and when you think you’ve got Him all figured out and nothing about God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit amazes and confuses you, I think you can be pretty sure you’ve lost sight of the reality of who He is and what He’s up to and substituted something of your own making in His place.

To my kids

And now a word to you fathers.  Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them.  Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.   Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)

Chris, Patrick & Shelby -

I feel like this is my biggest downfall as your father and I’m sorry for the anger I bring into my parenting, and for the response that sometimes brings out in you.  I’m pleased with and proud of you all, and I couldn’t ask for a better threesome. 

You are, however, like your father, prone to sin and rebellion and that leads to death.  My job as “Dad” is to provide discipline and warning when I see things in your life that will take you down a path that will be harmful to you.  Whether you like it or not, and whether you like me or not in the process, I’m gonna do that because I love you and it’s my job. 

The problem for me comes in when I mix that Godly conviction with the ungodly impatience and frustration that is part of my character.  I really am working on it whether it seems that way or not.  My intent is always for your good, but my technique is really flawed a lot of the time and I’m sorry.

One day you’ll have kids of your own.  I suspect they will be very different from you, and they will have tremendous God-given potential, and you will love them like crazy, and they will drive you up the wall sometimes.  They will think you are ridiculous and way too picky and strict.  And you will bring them to visit your mom and I and we’ll spoil then.  When they complain about you we’ll tell them just to be patient with you, that they’re lucky you aren’t any more screwed up than you are….given the father that tried to raise you.

Dad

 

Mostly smoke….

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Romans 12:1 (NIV)

The idea of our worship and our lives being a sacrifice to God has been on my mind lately and our pastor taught from this verse Sunday.  (Boy’s good, by the way…)

I found this poem that I think speaks to that subject  by a 19th century Scotish poet.  If it improves your opinion of me to think I’m a literary scholar, feel free, but that’s really not me.  The following is by George McDonald, who C. S. Lewis claimed as an important influence.  Since I’m a huge Lewis fan, I’ve been reading this book by McDonald and found this poem between chapter.  I just absolutely love this because it describes what my sacrifice to God feels like most of the time.

 

SMOKE (George McDonald)

Lord, I have laid my heart upon Thy altar

But cannot get the wood to burn;

It hardly flames ere it begins to falter

And to the dark return.

 

Old sap, or night-fallen dew, makes damp the fuel;

In vain my breath would flame provoke;

Yet see – at every poor attempt’s renewal

To Thee ascends the smoke!

 

‘Tis all I have – smoke, failure, foiled endeavour,

Coldness and doubt and palsied lack:

Such as I have I send Thee – perfect Giver,

Send Thou Thy lightening back.

 

Ask one more time

I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  John 16:23 (NIV)

Last one on this topic.  I promise.  Maybe this is the most important one?  Parable follows…..

I grew up near a small town with a farm supply store where my Dad did business.  He would make purchases and ask them to put it on his bill, which he settled every month or so.  And this is the amazing thing….I could go in and get things “in his name!”  I was recognized and my request was granted not on my own merit, but because of my relationship with my dad and because what I got were the same things he would have bought.  I was acting on and in his authority to accomplish his purposes, which I understood and also wanted to pursue.  They never told me “no,” but then again I bought nuts and bolts….not toys and candy.  And if I asked for the wrong parts, I wasn’t punished for taking initiative, my dad and the store owner helped me and corrected me along the way until I got it right.  It was all under and within Dad’s authority.  And the more I understood him and his purposes and grew and learned how things worked, the more I was able to accomplish….because I asked in my dad’s name.

Asking in Jesus’ name is a whole lot more than making our own requests and tagging “in Jesus’ name” on the end as some kind of mantra.  When we ask and expect to receive ”in Jesus’ name,” I think it means we’re in intimate relationship with God and that His thoughts and purposes are expressed in us in some small way.  When a Christian is in a position approaching total submission to God’s will and we make a request acknowledging the ultimate lordship of Jesus, then we’re beginning to share the mind of Christ under the instruction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Then what we’re humbly asking often IS the will of God and God grants such requests because He’s a loving Father and it honors and brings glory to His Son.

Of course, i could be wrong….

Ask #4

I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  John 16:23 (NIV)

Sorry.  Posting on this shocking command from Jesus is taking me places I didn’t intend when I started out.  Bible by blog ain’t easy. 

In my previous post, I noted several verses in John where Jesus deferred to God the Father, saying that all He did and said was at the Father’s leading.  And there was one verse that said the Holy Spirit would do the same when He came.   It seems that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit act and speak within the context of relationship with each other and their wills are unified.  I’m no theologian and can’t offer much in the way of informed explanations of the Trinity, but I think unity of thought and purpose within a holy, sinless love relationship is at least part of what Jesus was modeling for us and explaining in these verses. 

“Great…..but what about me?” you ask.  What does this have to do with the verse?   I think we’re only in position to ask and receive of God in this way when we’re active, submissive participants in this relationship with God.  And we can only enter and remain in the place where our will is becoming the same as God’s will by repentence, submission, and obediance to God the Father through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Then and only then will I want the same thing God wants.  That’s how I can participate in changing the world and yet God is still sovereign God.

Pretty heavy for a Thursday morning, huh?  I’ve asked God to please forgive me if I’m misrepresenting Him and what He meant.

Ask #3

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  John 15:7 (NIV)

I am, I think, about 3/4 of my way through posting thoughts on Jesus’ teaching that we can “ask anything” or “ask whatever you wish” in Jesus name and it will be given to us.  This idea is mentioned at least three times in John’s gospel, so I’m guessing it’s important when God repeats Himself. 

As Christians, if we can agree we’re to emulate Christ, let’s look at some quotes John records from Jesus so this might inform our thinking.  I’ll throw some verses your way and just leave them hanging til next time.  Considering the source, I think you’ll notice an amazing theme.

…the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing… 5:19

By myself I can do nothing….. I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.  5:30

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  6:38

My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.  7:16

…I am not here on my own…  7:28

…he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.  8:26

I have not come on my own; but he sent me.  8:42

For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.  12:49

These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  14:24

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears.   16:13

Ask #2

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:14 (NIV)

We have permission to ask.  There’s a big difference between “ask” and “tell.”   Some of us Christians seem to believe that if we can work up enough faith (often we’ll quote James 1:6-7 (But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord)……so we’ll grit our teeth and really try not to doubt and then “claim” some verses as a promise.  Then if we’ve gotten it all done exactly right, well then God HAS to do what we ask Him to do. 

My problem here is that if we think we’ve put God in a position where He HAS to do what we ask then we’re not really asking anymore, are we?  And if a god can be manipulated by people, like putting the change in a vending machine in just the right order and combination before we pull the lever to get our wish, then I’m sorry, that’s not really much of a god is it? 

I think sometimes we can unwittingly find ourselves in the position of trying to “tell” God what to do.  It would be like if my daughter comes to me and says, “You said last week that if I kept my room clean you would let me have friends come over and visit.  Just so you don’t try and weasel out, you should know I’ve got a recording of you saying it.  Well, Pops, I just cleaned my room.  Here’s the phone.  Get Sally over here to play with me.  Now.”  At this point, I’m not exactly receiving a request from a humble, obedient child, am I?  I doubt I would react at all positively.  God is much more patient and forgiving than I am as a father, but I still think we need to be really careful about the way we approach our Heavenly Father with our requests.  It’s personal; not a system.  He’s God; we’re not.  Ask; don’t tell.

Ask Anything

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:14 (NIV)

Jesus tells his disciples this.  In fact he says something similar many times in the space of a couple of chapters.  What does this mean for us?  I feel a long post coming on and I don’t have time for that this morning.  I’ll probably space it out over several days.  There are some things I’m pretty sure it does mean.  There are some things I’m confident it does not mean.  And I’m confused about the rest

It does mean this.  Jesus wants us to go to God and ask Him to do stuff.  This is a part of prayer.  We aren’t supposed to live our daily lives as if He doesn’t exist.  As a father, I’m always pleased when my children talk to me.  I miss them when they are disconnnected from me, and it honors and gives me pleasure for them to make requests of me.  And even if they are really dumb requests, I want them to ask me rather than just try and do it or get it on their own.  I think our Heavenly Father wants the same from us and loves it when we ask Him.