"I Laugh, 'Ha, Ha!' at Adversity"

Okay, so this week I have failed to post regularly. In fact, for the past couple of weeks I've not done very well and I am sorry. The good news is as we have established the beginnings of a whole church blogging community (and with the thoughtful and exciting posts of Aaron and Kendra), you have had something good to read every day. Therefore you might not have had time for mine anyway. (although I know some of you still look for it daily and for that I am grateful.)

So, I'll do my best to post daily, to provide some thought on the daily readings, to share from the sometimes confusing things that happen in my own mind and heart. Don't give up on me, for I sure haven't given up on you.

The week has been rather filled with interesting events and activities. It was a week that found me in Crown Point, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Epworth Forest and eventually, back home. That's a lot of driving, but well worth the effort. I was able to be with some of our members who were preparing for serious surgeries and life changes. I was able to share with those going through some adversity. I was able to experience and help in final preparations for Senior High Institute (camp) that begins this Sunday. (and somewhere finish a sermon, notes for the bulletin and still take most of a day off, although it's still early, I'm still working, and the phone hasn't stopped ringing since I got up!)

We all have weeks like this. Sometimes it is we who are experiencing the life-changing events and adversities through which we must find some measure of faith just to get through. Yet most of us not only experience these things periodically (some more than others), but are able to find the joy of God's presence in them. We have experienced the true nature of faith that provides hope even when it looks like the walls are tumbling down around us. Sometimes we are able to laugh, "ha, ha!" in the face of adversity.

"Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion." (Hebrews 10:32-36, The Message).

That is the nature of faith to which we must mature. It's not that God is waiting on us to achieve it, but that is the type of faith which our soul desires, to be able to look at every circumstance as an opportunity to look to God and say, "big deal, my hope is in you!" "I have cancer, so what, health and eternity await me." "My new car is totalled, but my real treasure is with you." Regardless what happens, we can praise God, trust God, hope in God's promises.

We've all heard that it is good to laugh. I love good jokes, good comedians, and throw-your-head-back-and-laugh (or for the internet saavy, rotflol) experiences. Now if we can just learn to do that more often, at more than jokes, but at life. Laugh at what God is doing, not to make fun of it, but to truly find the joy in it, and laugh out loud.

Some days my prayers are simple, I say "bring it on, God!" because I'm ready to experience something new and that I know that whatever it is I can laugh because God is with me and I can handle anything with Him.

So can you!

So get ready for the day and laugh. God is at work with you.

Peace ><>
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"Duck" Tape Use #000001

I now know the proper use of "duck" tape. In fact, I thought that it was called duct tape and it was used in the heating and airconditioning business for keeping the duct work leak free so the air would circulate in the designed pattern. My dad was in the business and I had seen him use it on many occasion when I went to work with him. He taught me how to appropriately tear and stick in a professional manner.

He also taught me that because of its extra sticking-power this specialized industry tool had literally thousands of other uses outside the business. Actually, I believe it has become a univeral tool that simply must appear in every home, automobile, workplace, etc. It can fix almost anything.

I've tried many of them, and thought that I had seen just about every application until Monday, when I spotted a plastic duck affixed to the hood of a pick-up truck using what else but...duck tape.

Finally, I know the proper use of this tool.

Now, I don't know his name. I don't know where he lives. What I do know is that this person knows how to live life unapologetically. He lives on the edge. He lives his beliefs. He's not ashamed of who he is or what people say. If he wants a plastic duck on his truck then so be it. He sure doesn't care what you or I say. He just lives life on his terms.

Oh to have that resolve, that boldness, that confidence.

Isn't that the Christian life?

Some of us won't even put any Christian symbol on our vehicles or on our bodies (clothing/jewelry. I wasn't thinking tattoos). To know we are Christians is difficult because we don't stand out very much. While our actions may be biblical and Christ-like most of the time, our lives don't always shout, "Christian!"

Maybe we need duck-taped ducks on our vehicles? (or whatever the equivalent might be.)

This life Christ gave to us is supposed to be lived in such a way that others see us and know not only what we are, but who we are. Paul told the Galatian Church, "I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (2:19-20)

Life is to be lived in Christ, with Christ, revealing Christ. It's not as simple as responding to "What would Jesus do?" Rather it is being who Jesus is...

...without regard for others' feelings or thoughts or words.

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:19-21

It's like driving a duck-truck.

Live boldly for Jesus Christ.

Peace ><>
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The Power of Response

I can't help but marvel at how God works in people's lives. It's not that I doubt that God will act, but that when God does act, it's always amazing and impactful and makes me want to shout myself! It's our simple faith in the hands of God that can produce unimaginable fruit. And it's always way-more than we could ever expect.

This is the wonder that struck me about Aaron's blog post today. His experience in worship with others who have given themselves so completely to the work of God and with the people they have all been sent to care for and love with Christ's love has forever imprinted him. And how that will work into the rest of his life can only be known by God, whether it means his work back in Indiana will change, his passion for leading worship will change or if it means giving up all that he knows and moving to the far reaches of the world to follow Christ's leading. What matters most is that he and Kendra follow the direction of God. (Which they obviously have at this moment!)

This is the passion that brought the Gospel to us! Men and women who have been impacted by Christ, his touch, his words, his presence, giving themselves wholeheartedly to the work of God. That's the truth about which I spoke yesterday. The impact of the resurrected Christ upon a life is what's really truth, not the "facts" of history or of speculation or even of theology. The Council of Nicea could not even begin to explain it. Dan Brown's novel cannot undo it or even the church cannot contain it. It's the very power of God upon people of faith.

Paul described it like this, "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." (Galatians 6:4-5, The Message)

The very thing that The Da Vinci Code left out is the very thing that makes all the difference, the very presence of God in Yeshua Natzereth, in the people who followed him throughout the Galilee and Judea, in the Apostles, in the Bishops that gathered at the Councils of Churches, in the missionaries around the world still today, in you and me.

The power of that presence on us will be known by the fruit produce in us and through us.

Sink your teeth into that...

...and your life into "the work you have been given."

Peace ><>
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