Ashes

All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. (Ecclesiastes 3:20)

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a period of prayer, fasting, and giving for Christ-followers.  During Lent, we are called to contemplate our need for Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf.  The placing of ashes on the skin signifies our mortality as human beings, mourning for our sinfulness, and repentence unto God.

Ashes really are the perfect substance to associate with Lent, for three reasons (at least):
1.  They represent death, the charred remains of what once lived.  No matter how vital we may be right now, eventually our mortal bodies will be dust. 
2.  They also symbolize the death of the things within us that need to die, namely sin.
3.  They are the perfect incubator for new life.  Want to know the best way to grow a glorious garden?  Spread ashes in the soil.  Only by dying to sin and adhering to Christ do we find new and glorious life.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenheated, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  (Isaiah 61:1-3)

We shall wear a crown of beauty and become oaks of righteousness - but only by first acknowledging our ashes and repenting to the Lord who loves us so.  Stayed tuned for an opportunity to share your Lenten journey here!

Our Young Disciples

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.  (1 Timothy 4:12)

I was sitting in an office on Thursday afternoon and overheard a conversation between two women who had just returned from giving a presentation at a high school.  Both were lamenting about the sad state of our youth.  This is a conversation that's been had many times in various places, and it goes something like this: The youth today are more disrespectful, less disciplined, and not the critical thinkers that their preceeding generations were.  If all we do is watch the news, then this certainly would ring true.  In reality, I think the youth of every generation are not given nearly enough credit for being the thoughtful, intelligent, passionate, and resilient masterpieces they are.

Just look at the youth at Christ Church: could there be a more promising, more amazing group of young people?

It's useful to have a conversation about how we, the body of Christ, can do more to reach the youth in our midst.  But for today, let's celebrate the youth who are already impacting the community for Christ.  Let's give a much-deserved shout out to the amazing young people at Christ Church and beyond.  These wonderful young people are not just the future of our church and our society; they are also shining examples of the Gospel of Christ in action!

Please consider leaving a comment here or on Facebook celebrating our wonderful youth!

Superpowers

For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.  For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.  (2 Corinthians 13:4)

A few days ago on this blog, readers were challenged to choose among many "just do it" options in terms of something to focus on in exercising faith in Christ.  Here were the list of options:

Which option did you choose, or (if this is your first time seeing it), which appeals to you most?  Why?  How did, or might, you go about exercising that particular expression of faith in your daily life?

What's interesting about the above list is that they are all related (some are nearly identical), but they call upon our specific talents as individuals and as followers of Christ.  For example, we know some great preachers and teachers - perhaps you are one yourself - but preaching and teaching is definitely not my greatest talent.  Yet aren't there other methods of preaching than standing before a congregation on Sunday morining, and aren't there opportunities for teaching outside a formal educational setting?  Similarly, "telling," "proclaiming," and even "singing" suggest a need for gifted vocal chords, but aren't there other ways of proclaiming the Gospel?  Do not the great art forms of painting, photography, sculpting, and poetry (among many others) have the capacity to convey the love and truth of Christ?

Not only do the particular modes of expressing our faith differ based on our particular God-given talents, but so too do the methods of receiving what is shared.  A good sermon can reignite the Holy Spirit in one who readily absorbs the spoken word.  Another person can be moved to tears by an artist's rendering of Christ.  And still another person can be spurred to action by witnessing the actions of a believer.  Variety is not just the spice of life in general, but also the spice of life in Christ!

Every talent, every power we possess is so because of Christ alone.  In sharing Christ through our talents, and in experiencing Christ through the talents of others, we celebrate His power and His immense love for us.  So, whether it is from the list above, or something more specific or intimate, what superpower do you have in Christ?  What superpower in others impacts you the most?  Tell us about it!  Let's share our faith in the best way possible - as God intended for each of us to share it.  By sharing the love and power of Jesus through our own "just do it" talents, His love and power is spread ever-wider.

Just Do It

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10)

The above verse is among my favorites because it is such a simple challenge to the many ways in which I manage to complicate God and my relationship with Him.  A few years ago, one of my Bible study sisters slyly claimed that she was having a hard time coming up with her own favorite verse and wanted to know what ours were.  Little did we know that she was stitching each of those verses on our own personal framed canvases.  Mine still hangs near my fireplace.

This past Sunday, Pastor Norm recited the Nike slogan, that of course being "Just do it."  When it comes to faith, what holds us back from "just doing it?"  There are many reasons, ranging from pure laziness to abject fear.  I have visited both extremes and numerous posts in between, but no matter what mile marker I find myself at, there is one antidote (being still) and one truth (He is God).  At its most basic level, just doing it requires stilling and quieting ourselves from the chaos in which we dabble, and remembering what our hearts, minds and souls have always known: He is God.  Even before we knew Christ, the deepest part of us yearned for Him.  He has always been, is now, and will forever be the Great I Am.  We need only be still, know that, and just do it.

The picture below is of the front of a t-shirt I bought at a dingy souvenir shop on Hollywood Boulevard.  Among the hundreds of cheesy, cheaply-made shirts in this shop, this one was the only one that lacked mention of the surrounding landmarks.  It also happened to be the shirt that found me at the exact moment I was thinking that the broken, voyeuristic souls on this street were exactly the kind of people Jesus would've chosen to hang out with - and so should I.  It's two sizes too large and has a small grease stain below the wording, but I still bought it.  I then stilled my considerable fear and hung out for a while with the broken souls outside the souvenir shop.  Sure enough, He is God, and I found Him right there on Hollywood Boulevard.

Look at the list of "just do it's" on this shirt and choose which one stands out for you as something to focus on this week.  Then, share it with others by commenting in the comment section of this blog and/or on the Facebook post.  Later this week, look for another blog post with a follow-up opportunity to upstage Nike in the just do it department!

Super Bowl of God's Love

You do not need anyone to write to you about loving your Christian brothers.  God has taught you to love each other.  (Thessalonians 4:9)

This past Sunday, we learned about the return on your investment in Christ Church.  We learned how our collective investment of time, talents, money, and prayer have impacted the world, our local community, and individuals.  Without a doubt, Christ Church is impacting the community for Christ, and as our numbers and influence increase, so too will His glory.

I left worship thinking about all the many ways I have been blessed by being a part of this amazing church family.  There are the larger events and initiatives of the church in which I've been blessed to be involved.  But there are also the little moments, the laughs, the prayers and relationships that have touched me and nurtured my family and me in immeasurable ways.

I think it's these so-called "small" things that foster the depth of love for God through which the "big" things happen.  So, let's celebrate our love for each other through a special, social media "Super Bowl of God's Love."

Here's what you do:
1.  Think of one thing that someone at Christ Church has done within the past year to make you feel loved, supported, and/or nurtured in your faith.  No thing is too small when it's an expression of God's great love.

2.  Type this one thing (with as much or little detail as you feel comfortable) in the comment section of the Facebook posting of this blog.  (See my comment for an example)

3.  When you type your one thing in the comment section on Facebook, be sure to include which service you attend (8:30 or 11:00).  If you have never been to worship at Christ Church, plan to come on Sunday, February 2nd and let me know in the comment section whether you'll be coming at 8:30 or 11:00.

Here's what will happen next:
1.  The first person to respond on Facebook from each service time will receive a special gift when attending worship on Sunday, February 2nd (one person from the 8:30 service and one from the 11:00 service).

2.  The first visitor to respond on Facebook (i.e. someone who does not currently attend worship at Church Church) will also receive a special gift by attending worship on Sunday, February 2nd.

3.  Everyone who responds will receive a special blessing (even if you don't attend worship on February 2nd - but we hope you will!).

Let's celebrate God's great love for us by sharing that love with each other.  Go Team!!

 

 

The Star

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  (Matthew 2:10)

When I was little, I engaged in two rituals every Christmas Eve night.  One was conspiring with my brother to determine the most effective and stealth way to catch Santa Claus in the act of descending our chimney.  The other was peering out my bedroom window at approximately midnight to glimpse the star that marked the birthplace of Jesus.  My window faced the east, and it seemed perfectly reasonable that a large, bright star should appear in the distance to mark the celebration of Jesus' birthday.  I fell asleep disappointed each year, having failed to espy either Santa or the star of stars.

Although I'm now an adult, I still love to imagine the size, shape, and brilliance of the star that appeared over Bethlehem, leading the Magi to the humble birthplace of our Lord.  Was it a bright, round orb, or did it have intricate protrusions, like a magnified snowflake?  Was it symetrical, or was part of it longer than another part of it - like a cross, perhaps?  I also love to picture the Magi making their way to Bethlehem.  Did they watch where they were going, or were they unable to take their eyes off that stunning star?  Did their pace increase as the star appeared closer and brighter, or did they slow down, humbled and perhaps weakened by the reality of encountering the Son of God?

Perhaps it's because I've given birth to a baby, held her in my arms and appreciated how precious and how helpless she was.  Maybe it's because I'm a simple woman whose feeble mind is easily overwhelmed.  I know it's because I'm a sinner in need of a savior.  I just can't fathom the depth of love God has for you and me that He would cause His flesh to be born as our flesh, that He would sacrifice His utter perfection in order to save us from our horrid sinfulness, that He would watch the love and kindness and healing His Son showed us, knowing that we would mock and slaughter Him like a common criminal.  That's a love that no human is capable of understanding fully, but it's a love every human desparately needs.

Luckily, I don't need to fall asleep Christmas Eve night with disappointment at not seeing a star in the eastern sky.  The light from that star lives within you and me through the brilliance of the Holy Spirit, and it can never be extinguished.  A Star was born in Bethlehem and He lives in the heart of every believer, two thousand and thirteen years later.  No greater gift has ever been given or received.

Merry Christmas, friends!  Celebrate the birth of Jesus, the depth of God's love for you, and the gift that lives within your very heart.  May God richly bless you today and in the year to come.

Abounding

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  (2 Corinthians 9:8)

There is a man I know quite well, named Robert, who speaks very little about God, but nonetheless exudes kindness, mercy, and forgiveness.  As a young child, he lost his mother and sister within a two-year period to a disease that antibiotics would now easily cure.  His father, feeling that the young boy needed a mother to care for him, quickly married a widow with two children of her own.  But this newfound stepmother treated Robert as a burden rather than a son, and his father was too honorable a man to divorce the woman. On his 18th birthday, Robert's stepmother kicked him out of the house, forcing him to fend for himself.  Not long after, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam, a scared and lonely kid whose country blamed him for being involved in something he never had a desire to be part of.

Robert had every reason to be bitter.  Life had dealt him a cruel hand.  But instead, he chose to embrace the strength and generosity God had given him through the spirit of the living Christ.  He studied diligently and earned a steady job as a machinist.  He met and married a vibrant, loving woman, and started a family of his own.  He was determined to raise his children to be strong, loving, and most importantly to know they were loved.  All the while, he regularly welcomed his father, stepmother, and step-siblings into his life and home for holidays and family events, and he tended to them and their homes as best he could when they required care.  Regardless of the past, he believed in honoring his parents and showing them hospitality and grace.  Sometimes it was uncomfortable, difficult even, but he always met them with patience, humility, and warmth.  Today, Robert is enjoying hard-earned retirement as he joyfully dotes on his children and grandchild.

Robert, like all men, is imperfect.  He, like all men, is in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  But he never fails to remind me that when you have God, you have all you need to make a way in this life.  When you choose to follow God's path, you will in all things, at all times, have all that you need to abound in every good work.  When you choose to follow God's path, every day is Thanksgiving, no matter your circumstances.  When you choose to follow God's path, love abounds.

Robert speaks very little about God.  Instead, he allows his life and his actions to do the talking.  This Thanksgiving, as always, I have the privilege of sharing a meal with him and immersing myself in his humble example of love.  I have the honor and privilege of calling him Dad.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.  Remember that with Christ at the head of the table, you are part of a family unlike any other.  Eat, remember Him, and be filled with His abounding love.