The Divine Requirements

And what does the Lord require of you?

This is the million dollar question, isn't it?

Listen to what Scripture says in Micah 6:6-8:

" 'With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?'

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Like the inquisitor, I want to know what it is that I can bring before the Lord to please God. 

What sacrifice can I offer? 

What prized possession can I give? 

What pain can I inflict upon myself to honor God?

What does God want? 

What does God require?

God wants me.  God desires me to be a partner in God's kingdom work in the here and now. 

God wants me...

To do justice...

It is much easier to talk about it.  It is much less of a hassle to seek revenge or vengeance, rather than to do justice. 

Justice requires thought not just emotion. 

Justice requires action not reaction. 

Justice requires goodness not repaying evil with evil. 

Justice requires prayer not self-reliance. 

Justice requires me.

To love kindness...

It is much easier to be nice than to be kind. 

Kindness requires me to join in the human race. 

Kindness requires me to not just look another in the eye, but to see the person. 

Kindness requires me to not just listen to the words of another, but to hear the overflow of their heart that spills from their lips. 

Kindness requires me to not just cordially shake a hand, but to reach out beyond myself into the life of another. 

Kindness requires more than convenient acts. 

Kindness requires the work of calloused hands, tear filled eyes and open hearts.

Kindness requires me.

To walk humbly with your God...

This is not about the busy-ness of being a Christian.  This is about living life as a Child of God. 

This is not about rules and laws.  This is about allowing the living God to be ALIVE! 

This is not about me, so I must get out of the way.  Allow God to be God.  Allow God to use the me God created me to be. 

This is not just about doing.  This is about being still.  This is about the hard work of waiting on the Lord.  This is about spending time in prayer, learning the pulse of God's heart and listening to the rhythms of God's love; then walking where God leads.

What does the Lord require of me?

I can think of no better question to ask during the season of Lent.

Let us have the courage to join in the business of doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with your God.  This is the work of the kingdom of God.  This is what the Lord requires of me.

Lent - Listening for a Whisper in the Silence

How he longed for release from the pressure. 

How he wanted all of the madness to cease.

Everyone wanted a piece of him.  It seemed as though everyone and everything wanted to destroy him. 

Wallowing in the mud of self-doubt and stuck in the mire of self-pity, he retreated from life; from true self; from the divine call. 

A move that he thought would lead to his ultimate freedom brought him into a deep cavernous prison instead.  There he sat in the recesses of his personal darkness with head in hands.  The shadows were so thick, so ravenous they threatened to swallow his very soul.  He was certain that he would never again see the light of day.  He knew this is how it would be and how it would end.

Abruptly, Light beckoned him to the mouth of the cave of self-abasement.  Walking out of the cave, he stood in the clearing completely vulnerable.  He blinked back the pain as his eyes adjusted to his new surroundings. 

At that moment, a violent wind, ripped through the mountain stripping the land bare.  Following the wind came a mighty earthquake tearing his entire world open to its core.  Then a raging fire scorched the old landscape making it ready for new growth.

After all of this, the man heard a gentle whisper.  This wasn't just any whisper.  This was a holy whisper; a whisper he heard resounding in the depths of his being. 

The Whisperer said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Gently, the Voice spoke his name and gave this man life.  With this most profound word, Elijah was reminded that God is in control.  Upon hearing his name drip from the lips of the Almighty like honey, he reclaimed his birthright as a child of God.

That day, the man walked away from the cave of fear and trembling into a life of passion and holy confidence.  It would not be easy.  The road before him would have many unexpected bumps and curves, but he knew that he did not walk alone.  And it all began with a gentle whisper in the silence.

What are the noises that you hear?  What are the noises with which you intentionally fill your life?  In the midst of the cacophony, can you hear the gentle whisper of the Divine calling out your name…giving you life? 

This season of Lent, take the time to strip away all of the noise of your life.  There in the silence of your life, you may just hear the divine whisper speak your name and remind you of who you are.

This Lent take the time to Listen for the whisper in the silence.

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  Psalm 46:10

Lent as a time for worship

In a staff meeting last week one of my colleagues said, "It's not always easy to practice."  He was talking about our amazing Sanctuary Choir's commitment to practicing their craft even when they do not much feel like doing so.  Their practice shows in the manner in which they offer their gifts and talents each week as a part of the worship life of the congregation.  It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live into this kind of commitment. 

Even though my colleague's words were geared toward those who are practicing crescendos and dissonant chords, they are also meaningful for faith practices.  It is indeed not always easy to practice the faith.  This is especially true when you do not feel much like doing so.

Getting up and going to worship is a difficult thing when you are in college.  Early classes throughout the week and late nights on the weekends make it incredibly tough.  And you lose even more of your motivation when you do go and feel as though you don't get anything out of it.

Have you ever been sitting in the pew or padded chair on Sunday morning or Sunday night when you found yourself wishing you were somewhere else?  Have you ever wished that you could nonchalantly slide off the pew, down the aisle and out the door because you feel guilty for even being there?  Have you ever had your mind drift away onto some project, assignment or random to do list just as the sermon was about to start? 

Maybe it is just me...

It is not always easy to practice the faith.  This is especially true when you do not feel much like doing so.

Worship is the center of our faith life.  It is what we are to be about as people.  Worship is our opportunity to offer ourselves to God and give God glory and praise.  In worship God is both the subject and the object.  Worship is to be a selfless act where we as people offer ourselves to the Divine.  As a result of this offering our lives are indeed transformed. 

During this season of Lent, try renewing your commitment to worship.  Here are some suggestions that may help you and your friends as you worship...
1. Make a commitment to sit with someone new in the sanctuary; someone you do not know.  It is a beautiful thing to sit next to people of all ages as they express themselves in worship and experience the power and presence of the divine.
2. Take time before you enter the sanctuary or just before the service begins to center yourself and open your heart and mind to the movement of the Holy Spirit.  Say a brief prayer.  Have a moment of silence with your friends or family before you get out of the car or enter the building.
3. Don't panic if you or someone near you makes a random noise or gets a case of the giggles.  It happens to all of us.  Relax.  Worship isn't about perfection.  It is about presence and practice.  Be patient.  Enjoy yourself.
4. Allow space to wonder about what is going on in the service both in its liturgy and inside you. 
5. Take some time to reflect on or write about what you experience in worship.  What was most meaningful?  What are your questions?  Where did you sense the presence of God during the service of worship?
6. Practice worship throughout your life.  Worship can happen in many settings. Sing hymns, songs and psalms (sometimes at the top of your lungs in the car).  Sit together outside and experience nature's song of joy.  Read Scripture aloud and listen to the words. 
7. Allow all you do to be a grateful response of worship; your work, your play, your studying, your life. 

Corporate worship is an integral part of our life as the Body of Christ.  Enjoy it.  Remember, it isn't what you get out of worship that is the most important thing.  Worship is about us offering ourselves to God and giving God the praise that is due.

Ash Wednesday - A Prayer Exercise

All around the world Christians from every walk of life went on a pilgrimage to their church or cathedral to walk down the aisle at the appointed time, wait in line near the front of the sanctuary and receive the imposition of ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross.  What a wonderfully odd act of faith.  Perhaps you stood among those who made such a pilgrimage on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a time when we focus on our sinfulness.  It is a season when we are reminded of our brokenness and frailty.  It is an opportunity for us to remember that we are formed out of dust and it is to dust that we will one day return.

Now before you quickly close this depressing page, consider that it is only in light of God’s incredible faithfulness and grace that we consider our sin and brokenness as well as the fragility of life.  It is God’s ineffable love and unending mercy that provide us with the backdrop before which we can safely come to grips with our own tattered and scarred lives.

This Lenten Season, take some time to consider those things in your life that seem to pull you away from your core identity as a child of God. 

Think about doing this simple exercise.  On an index card or Post-it Note write down one or two of the things you struggle with the most in your life. Fold the paper several times.  Hold it between your clasped hands.  Pray over the things written on the paper.  Ask for God to give you the strength to let go of those things. Open your hands.  Slowly tear the paper into tiny pieces. Dispose of the remnants in your favorite way (HAVE FUN WITH THIS! Use them as confetti, scatter them in different trash cans around campus, dramatically throw them in a lit fireplace, or sprinkle them like pixie dust down the hall as you run to your next class).

This may seem like a ridiculous exercise.  However, it truly can be a tangible way to get a grip on your own sin and brokenness and dwell in the incredible blessing of God’s forgiveness and grace.

Psalm 103:8-14
“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

LET GO!

You are FORGIVEN!

Be at PEACE!

Mardi Gras and Giving Something Up for Lent

In case you haven't been paying attention, Mardi Gras is this Tuesday.  There will be a myriad of celebrations throughout North America and most likely in your own town.  Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, is the traditional day to eat rich and fatty foods before the fast of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.  It has given birth to the magnificent and wild festivals we now associate with this day. 

Quick digression - this year, Second Presbyterian Church is hosting a Shrove Tuesday (another name for Mardi Gras) jazz concert.  If you are in town, you should definitely check it out.  It is guaranteed to be an amazing concert and fantastic way to commemorate the beginning of Lent (see the ad below). 

As I am sure you are more than painfully aware, Mardi Gras also marks the last day to enjoy whatever activity, food or drink you have decided to "give up" for Lent.  Giving something up for Lent has taken the place of what used to be a complete fast in preparation for Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday (when the fast was traditionally broken). 

In recent years, I have decided not to give something up for Lent.  I confess that I am horrible at keeping my "fasts" when I do decide to give something up.  I inevitably eat the chocolate, drink the caffeine, or quickly jump on Facebook "just this once".  Then I place some wacky guilt trip on myself because of my weak will power. 

I know.  It all sounds rather pathetic, but it is true.  Maybe you can relate. 

In light of my inability to follow through on my fasts, I decided instead of giving something up for Lent I would follow the advice of others by adding something to my spiritual disciplines during Lent's 40 days.  I must say that I have found a tremendous amount of joy in this practice.  It has helped me focus on the meaning of the season of Lent and prepare my spirit for Holy Week.  I am not suggesting that everyone give this a try.  I am simply providing an alternative to those who, like me, have a proclivity for breaking fasts before their time.

Beginning Ash Wednesday and continuing throughout the season of Lent, the blogs on this page will be focused on the season and will include something you might consider adding to your own journey toward the cross.  Have an amazing Mardi Gras and hope to see you at the Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, March 9, 7-8 p.m. in the sanctuary (if you aren't around Indy, find a service close to you).

Poured Out

Look up Luke 7:36-50 (Or click here to read it online).  

In this text, Luke has painted quite a scene.  Jesus has been invited to come dine at a Pharisee's home (a Pharisee was a Jewish religious leader in the first century).  While he was dining a woman came to Jesus and acted in a rather peculiar fashion.  This was a woman of bad reputation.  Apparently, everyone knew.  We are not told what her sins were.  That isn’t point.  What is important is that this unnamed woman came to Jesus immediately upon learning that he was in her town.  She had the audacity to enter into the house of a Pharisee.  She had the veracity to come to Jesus just as she was.  She came to him, but did not approach him in conversation.  Instead, when she was in the presence of Jesus, she wept. 

She wept.  Her tears weren’t any ordinary tears.  No, these tears contained the entirety of her mistake-filled life.  Each salty drop was a new tale of bad choices and soul scars.  Each drop from her downcast eyes traced the lines on her checks that had been left there by her hard life.  And then they fell.  Her tears of lament fell not to the floor, but onto the feet of Jesus.  And Jesus heard the story that each tear carried. 

This courageous woman then opened her jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet.  This jar and the perfume it contained were quite possibly her most prized possession.  This perfume represented who she was in this world, and she chose to empty it on the feet of a man who was called teacher, prophet and miracle worker.

She gave Jesus everything she was and all that she possessed.  She bared her soul and her life to him without even saying a word. 

Now go back to the passage and read it once more.

Notice that there were two responses to the woman’s actions.  The first was the unspoken response of the host.  Under his breath, he condemns the woman and questions Jesus.  “How could he allow this sinful woman to touch him?  How could he allow a woman with that kind of reputation to even get close to him?  Just think of the rumors.  If he only knew.  What kind of prophet could he possibly be?” 

Yet, Jesus knew.  Jesus knew much more than the host of the dinner party could have ever imagined.  Oh, if only the host could have known what was really going on.  Oh, that his heart could have been as open as hers.

The second response is Jesus’.  His focus and his heart-felt, grace-filled response is aimed directly at the beautiful woman kneeling at his feet and collects all of those gathered in its redeeming wake.  Jesus takes this woman of bad reputation and elevates her.  He makes her the example to be followed: her honesty, her sorrow, her brokenness, and her willingness to pour out her life and her soul at the feet of the Master.  Her sins were forgiven because of these things, not just because of her actions.  It was her faith that allowed room for grace and renewal to enter her life.  She had the courage to pour out her life and empty her soul to Jesus, and her sins were forgiven.   

Do we have the courage to follow the example of this unnamed woman?  Can we bring our authentic selves to Jesus?  Can we allow the room to hear and receive Jesus' words, “Your sins are forgiven.  Your faith has saved you, go in peace”?