Archive for June, 2007

On earth as it is in heaven.

June 23, 2007 at 11:03 am · Filed under Kingdom, Lord's Prayer, Sermon on the Mount, mission

Your will on earth as it is in heaven. 

If we only knew what life in heaven is like then we would know what we’re shooting for here on earth.  Wait a minute; Jesus would know.  He came from heaven.  He’d know what God’s will is for heaven and earth.  And wouldn’t he live his life in full compliance with God’s will?  And wouldn’t he teach others what was important to God?

Then, to get an idea of how to create a bit of heaven on earth, we need only look to Jesus to see what that might look like.  Jesus also said, “Your Kingdom come…”  Seems to me that we who wish to follow Jesus are put here to usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.  (Pardon me, but I don’t think Kingdom and church here are synonymous.  I think the church is chiefly commissioned to announce the Kingdom but Jesus wasn’t praying for the establishment of local congregations throughout the land…the Kingdom is far bigger than that.)

To get an idea of what my role in announcing the Kingdom I need to observe very carefully what Jesus focused on while he was here.  It’s interesting that he didn’t say much about church worship.  Nor about leadership or women’s role, or church music or other issues that church people focus on and argue about.

 

The clearest teachings for me are found in his “sermon on the mount.”  There he talks about our influence (salt and light), relationships (murder, adultery, divorce, keeping your word, revenge, loving enemies, judging), caring for the needy, prayer, fasting, greed (treasures in heaven), worry, choices (narrow/wide gates), hypocrisy, building a strong life (foundations).  And in the description of his own mission, Jesus reveals what kinds of work he must be about in creating “on earth as it is in heaven.”  Remember, he said he is to be about giving hope to the poor, mercy to wrong-doers, relief to the infirmed and comfort to the alienated. 

Again, it seems to me that these are what I’m to be about if God is using me to reveal his Kingdom and will on earth as it is in heaven.

That’s why I’m trying really hard to make every encounter with another person something significant.  And sometimes it seems so silly and trivial.  I carry a big bucket of Double Bubble gum in my truck to give to the men and women at the many security checkpoints I go through each week.  Now, they look forward to my coming by.  Several weeks ago, I heard a warehouse person complain about the huge truck load I brought him and that he wouldn’t have time to study for a test.  I asked what kind of test; he said he was trying to become a firefighter.  Last week, I asked him how his test went.  He didn’t even remember our previous conversation and was amazed that I did.  He was genuinely impressed that I asked.  I look for ways to help other truckers, wave at every kid I see, pick up paper in the parking lots, tip generously, compliment profusely, engage in conversations with service people (janitors, waitresses, cleaning people, etc.), and do the very best I can at work.  In short, what I learned from Jesus is that there are no insignificant people and no insignificant events.  Every encounter has potential to reveal the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

Doesn’t that give new perspective to your day?  Doesn’t that put the power of God in your hands?  Doesn’t that take the edge off of having to win an argument?  Doesn’t that alleviate the stress of having to live up to expectations?  Doesn’t that put the one hour a week or so you spend “at church” in perspective?                                                  

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Father’s Day weekend

June 17, 2007 at 7:11 pm · Filed under Father's Day, contentment, faith, retirement, stress

We had an interesting weekend.  Lynn and I left Friday afternoon for Nashville where we met up with my sister and her husband, had a great dinner together and spent the night.  Next morning, the four of us drove out to Antioch, TN to visit our first cousin, Wayne and his wife, Ouida.  Wayne is in the intermediate stage of Parkinson’s disease and is part of a research project at Vanderbilt looking at various options for treating the disease.  Ouida fixed us a great lunch on Saturday before we all drove an hour east to look at Wayne and Ouida’s retirement property, 30-or-so beautiful wooded acres overlooking a gorgeous lake.  There, we met up with another cousin whom we hadn’t seen in several years.

Wayne has a great attitude about his Parkinson’s.  He sees his life as anything but over.  He remains active, plays golf daily, still rides his horses, still works, still involved in the leadership of his church and still considers all he does as ministry.  He and Ouida have raised three children to be Jesus lovers and productive citizens.  Our time with the Thurmans and Holts was encouraging and renewing.

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One great blessing to my job as a truck driver is the absence of stress.  Unlike most jobs I’ve had over the past 40 years, truck driving is relatively stress free.  Once I make my deliveries each day, I forget about work.  I don’t have committee meeting.  I don’t supervise anyone.  I am not responsible for budgets or productivity goals or customer satisfaction (as long as I make my deliveries on time).  And as a result of no stress, I no longer suffer the physical effects that stress once induced.  I sleep well at night, eat well (too well, at times) and get along better with others.  I no longer run with sissors or cheat at checkers.  Thanks to God, I am as content with day to day living as I have ever been.

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On this Father’s Day, my sons and wife honored me with wonderful gifts and sentiments.  As I read my sons’ carefully composed notes, I kept wondering “who are they talking about?”  Such gestures make all the strains of rearing children worth it.  Watching our sons grow into good men is gratifying beyond words.  Their lives alone are gifts enough to last a lifetime.

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Interruption…

June 12, 2007 at 11:10 am · Filed under church and poor

Please excuse me while I make a quick diversion to my son’s blog at www.harvestboston.net.  He quotes another blog that hits at the issue of “church vs. poor.”  The following thought sums up the writer’s experience.

I guess the poverty and church cultures repel each other. We somehow couldn’t do both. At least not real well.

I encourage to go read the blog then come back here and leave me your thoughts.  How has your church done at connecting with the poor?  What percentage of your church’s membership includes the truly poor?  Do you have any thoughts on why the church hasn’t done a better job at connecting with the poor?

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Time to think

June 5, 2007 at 4:50 pm · Filed under mission, thinking time

I have lots of time to think…while I drive, while I wait for my truck to be unloaded.  In fact, driving a truck probably allows me more thinking time than any job I’ve had.  At least, I’m taking greater advantage of the time to do more thinking.

What do I think about?  Well, there are the usual things of family, sports, weather, etc.  But I also spend a lot of time thinking about God, my purpose, the best use of my talents, and the like.  Several things have dawned on me during these thinking spells.

Most people I know don’t spend much time thinking about the real important things in life.  Most people let life happen to them rather than actively planning what their life will be.  Most people don’t critically think about the dire consequences of following the patterns of this world.  I wonder if people who drive Hummers, for example, really know or care about the problems their vehicles (and others like them) create for our world.  I wonder if those who spend tens of thousands of dollars for home entertainment centers are aware of the people in their city who have barely enough money for only one sparse meal a day.

Most Christians don’t plan their lives around the mission of God; rather, they plan their lives based on their human wants and then work God in where they can.  They choose their neighborhood based on personal likes and dislikes, convenience, comfort or safety, never once considering if this is where God might want them to live.  Consider the number of believers who have chosen to live away from the real needy spots in our city.  This happens because people don’t stop to think about the implications of their choices.  And I can understand that; it’s so much easier to not think about those types of choices.  To be honest, most of my choices are default choices considering only my wishes.

One thing I have been thinking about a lot lately is retirement (not that I’m anywhere near old enough!).  But I have been thinking about where I might want to live when that time comes.  Several options appeal to me.  We could move back to New England where we spent nearly 20 wonderful years of our lives, near one of our children and among people we know and love.  Or we could pick a part of the country known for its cheaper cost of living.  Maybe central Kentucky near fishing lakes and family .  I’d really like to buy a little place up in the Colorado Rockies away from the hustle of city life.  There’s nothing wrong with any of the choices we have for retirement.  But then again, maybe there is.

Perhaps it’s really not our choice as to where we live out our lives; maybe it’s the Father’s choice.  Could it be that he might have a say in where we live our lives?  Maybe it’s God’s will for us to live and die in Midtown Memphis (or some other part of this city) around people who need whatever degree of Godly influence we might offer.  And maybe this principle applies to other ares of life…like how we spend our money, how we treat our bodies (can I really serve him best if I’m overweight or out of shape?), who we befriend or who we don’t.

I know this:  I have lots of time to think, and frankly, sometimes I don’t like it!  It makes me uncomfortable at times.  But I believe God speaks in silence, and that requires I turn off XM, t.v., get alone and listen to the one who wants to direct my life.

Your thoughts?

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