Promises to Keep

Have you ever found yourself feeling a bit hypocritical while singing a song or hymn in a time of worship?  Maybe it was during a phrase like, “all to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give” or “take my life and let it be consecrated”, “take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold, or “break my heart for what breaks yours.”  If you are anything like me, these invitations to God’s activity in our lives can feel pretty drastic, if not downright impossible to live up to.  I give ALL to Jesus?  Really?  Has that ever been true?  Even within a 24 hour day? 

So what do we do with this language of ours?  What can we rightfully say in times of worship that won’t discredit us right out of the gate before an all-knowing God?  Think of the words to this familiar contemporary worship song, From the Inside Out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ-fghqc8Oo

A thousand times I've failed, still Your mercy remains

And should I stumble again still I'm caught in Your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades 

Never-ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else my purpose remains

The art of losing myself in bringing You praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades

Never-ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart in my soul, Lord I give You control

Consume me from the inside out, Lord

Let justice and praise become my embrace 

To love You from the inside out

Joel Houston (© 2005 Hillsong Music Publishing Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

We are drawn in by the utter honesty of the opening verse:  God, I’ve failed you a thousand times, only to run headlong into your mercy.  And when I stumble again, Your arms of grace are sure to catch me. Who wouldn’t want to worship this God?  But then it begins to get a bit more dicey.  My highest purpose remains to do your will; to lose myself in living a life of worship.  And then, as any good prayer will do, it takes us still deeper:  From the deepest place and part of me, God, I relinquish control of my life.  Do whatever it takes, to the point of consuming whatever remains impure or ill-conceived in me.

Is what we say and sing in worship really such a big deal?  After all, aren’t they just songs? Centuries ago, King Solomon wrote this caution when contemplating the discourse of our worship:

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.  Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.  As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.  When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.  It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.  Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.  Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.   Ecclesiastes 5

Solomon is not saying never make a vow.  He is saying weigh what you say.  God takes it seriously.  Whether you’re praying or singing, say what you mean.  Mean what you say.  But sometimes when responding to the virtues of God, we are tempted to quickly rush in with promises, using words to write checks that our hearts can’t cash, so to speak.  This is a natural part of falling deeper in love with someone.  As feelings intensify, so does our love language.  But vows move us beyond contemplation or even good intentions.  They are a commitment to action.  Solomon’s caution: less is more.

The business world, in fact, prods us to move from theory and idea to an action step or a business plan.  Peter Drucker said it this way:  “There is no correlation between potential and performance.”  In other words, what we are capable of doing and what we actually do are not the same thing.  That may be true in the marketplace, but when it comes to the interactions between fallen sinners and a Holy God in worship, God starts with the heart.  Thank God!  The Psalmist says, “The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. He knows how we are formed and remembers that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:13, 14) 

When we offer ourselves to God, we are stating our great desire to give ourselves completely.  And we ask for His help in fulfilling those vows.  Our Maker knows that every habit we develop began with an action, and every action began with an intention, and every intention began with a conviction.  So long before our making a vow, the Holy Spirit is at work to inspire or convict us to want to change and then to help us begin taking steps along that journey.

At the end of the day, the heart of worship is not our passion, not our music, not even what we promise to do. The heart of our worship is also the Object of our worship—Jesus, our great Redeemer. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”(1 Jn 4) May you love God publically this week as you sing, and pray, and vow to give yourself completely to Him.  “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24) Now that’s a promise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   tad

Kids say the darndest things…so listen to them

Who knows what lurks in these little minds?  Recently, my wife Debby had a conversation with one of our grandchildren.  Because of a severe disability, Debby’s speech is impaired to the point that it is often difficult to understand her.  My young granddaughter, not knowing that this had nothing to do with grandma’s ability to think or reason, asked her very simply:  “You’re not very smart, are you, Mimi?”  My wife painstakingly attempted to reassure her that though she had speech problems, her mind was otherwise still quite sharp.  “OK”, retorted the child, “What’s a 100 plus a 100?!??

I recently came across some equally funny interactions from kids with some standard test questions. Check out these Children's Science Exam responses. I did not make these up. These are real answers given by children.  I should be so creative…

Q:           Name the four seasons.

A:           Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q:           Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.

A:           Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants                  like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q:           How is dew formed? 

A:           The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q:           How can you delay milk turning sour?

A:           Keep it in the cow.

Q:           What are steroids?

A:           Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q:           What happens to your body as you age?

A:           When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q:           What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?

A:           He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Q:           Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.

A:           Premature death.

Q:           How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.g., abdomen.)

A:           The body is consisted into three parts—the brainium, the borax and the                  abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains                    the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels,                  A, E, I, O, and U.

Q:           What is the fibula?

A:           A small lie.

Q:           What does "varicose" mean?

A:           Nearby.

Q:           Give the meaning of the term "Caesarean Section" 

A:           The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome.

Q:           What does the word "benign" mean?'

A:           Benign is what you will be after you be eight.

Make some time this week to truly listen to a child…anyone’s child.  You’ll be surprised what you might learn, and they, in turn, will know that they matter to someone.  In doing this, you might just be following in Jesus’ footsteps.  The Gospel Matthew includes this short, but significant incident when Jesus had opportunity to listen or ignore some little ones.  Chapter 19: 13-15 records this:

One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.

What little ones will you “lay hands on” this week?  Who will encounter the grace of God through you?  Don’t let a busy schedule or dismissive attitude “shoo them off.”  Where God reigns, these little people are kind of a big deal.

tad

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican

Luke 18:9-14 NIV (New International Version)

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

The Parable of the Phari-Sing and the Probably-Can 

(Loosely based on) Luke 18:9-14 and I Corinthians 13:1

To some who were confident of their own artistic pedigree and overall superiority in all things artsy-fartsy and who looked down on everybody else, a parable was told: “Two men went up to the temple to sing, one an arrogant musician and the other a simple mirth-maker. The Phari-sing stood up and prayed about himself:

 'God (actually GAWD), I thank thee that I am not like other people—you know, the little people, the “no-counts,” the ones I must endure sitting next to in choir—those of untrained ear, those whose vowels bespeak a dialect formed in southern Georgia or, perhaps, Arkansas; men and women who mistake a Coda for a common illness and a crescendo for a large butter roll; those of squeaky voice, shallow air supply and ill-placed diphthongs—or even like this lowly choir wannabe, who sings through the repeat signs and believes fine is an editorial comment on his performance thus far. 

Unlike him, I attend every rehearsal (including the monthly fellowship meals), arrive having vocalized in my car for the twenty minute drive to church, then carefully arrange my music in its proper order, scan any new music or worship materials for repeats, alternate endings, editor’s comments or anything else which might give me a “leg up” when the actual rehearsal begins.  I remain properly hydrated throughout the entire rehearsal or worship service, keep my sharpened number two pencil at the ready and vigorously mark my score as directed by the conductor, making sure to press lightly in the unlikely, but occasional, event of his changing his mind.

I stay seated in an “upright and locked position” throughout the duration of the rehearsal (even, and most importantly, during the ritualistic prayer time so as to leave no doubt as to just how upright and Godly I am); I never forget my music and encourage others to do the same. I do this by refusing to share my score with them or, God forbid, my plethora of musical knowledge.  As we enter the sanctuary prior to the Sunday service, I always make sure to place my offering in one of the little boxes located in the lobby. Inside my clearly marked envelope is a check for at least a tenth of all I get (gross, not net).’

But the lowly Probably-Can sat slumped in his chair at a distance. He did not have proper singing posture.  He had no water bottle, and had left some of his music in his car.  What music he had remembered to bring had coffee stains on it and pages stuck together from an encounter with a jelly donut he was eating in the car on the way to practice.

He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'It’s me again, God, HELP!  I admit it, Lord, I love to sing and I love to worship, but after all these years I still don’t know the difference between a descant and a dischord, D. S. al fine or day-old linguine.  I am tired and don’t bring much to this choir, but what I have, I give to you.  With enough patience and a supportive, safe environment, I’d like to hang in there and try to make a difference in some small way.  With Your help, I probably can encourage someone else.  Please use me.'

I tell you that the prayer of the simple Probably-Can was like music to God’s ears, while the ramblings of the Phari-Sing were like fingernails on a chalkboard—audible but not very edifying. The moral of the story: "Though I [sing] with the tongue of men and of angels, but have not love, I am like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

tad

Moving beyond our own little world…

The famed confessional booth.  If you haven’t experienced it as a Roman Catholic, you have certainly seen it in a myriad of movies, TV shows, or read about it in the print media.  In this tight little space designed to protect one’s privacy, the priest sits on one side and the confessor on the other, separated only by a screen.  This allows the particular confession and words of pardon to be shared back and forth without the awkward aspect of face to face dialogue or direct eye contact.  The liturgy of this interaction usually begins with the congregant saying, “Bless me Father, for I have sinned.” The first confession is generally an admission of how many days (weeks, months) it has been since one’s last confession.  This is then followed by a list of transgressions, including remembered sins of thought, word, and deed. 

I recently was reacquainted with songwriter Matthew West’s incredible sung confession articulated in the song “My Own Little World” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Yasgzjc0w.  I wondered how often priests hear admissions like this:

In my own little world it hardly ever rains

I've never gone hungry, always felt safe 

I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet

 In my own little world: population -- ME

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church

I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts

 And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see

 It's easy to do when its population -- ME

What if there's a bigger picture? What if I'm missing out?

What if there's a greater purpose I could be living right now

Outside my own little world?

Stopped at a red light, looked out my window I saw a cardboard sign said, 

 "Help this homeless widow"

 And just above that sign was the face of a human I thought to myself,

 "God, what have I been doing?"

So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye

Oh, how many times have I just passed her by? 

 I gave her some money then I drove on through

 And my own little world reached population TWO

What if there's a bigger picture? What if I'm missing out?

What if there's a greater purpose I could be living right now

Outside my own little world?

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours

Give me open hands and open doors

 Put Your light in my eyes and let me see

That my own little world is not about me.

Speaking for myself, when my prayers include confession, I often lead with what the church calls sins of commission, that is, things I’ve done wrong—at least if memory serves.  Remembering what I have omitted or neglected to do is usually further down the list, if at all.  That’s why I think a lyric like West’s can be helpful.  It reminds me that while God wants me to be on the watch for sin in my life, He is equally if not more concerned, that people who don’t yet know Him are on my radar.  Perhaps God is trying to reorient our thinking.  If we are to allow God to “break our heart for what breaks His“, we have to know that as much as our doing bad things hurts Him (and us), so does ignoring or overlooking people He died to save.  And like Jesus himself, we must be willing to enter their world by embracing them where they are, as they are.

This is a clearly taught value throughout scripture, both for us individually and as local communities of faith.  The apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the church at Corinth that “though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I become like a Jew, to win the Jews.  To those under the law, I become like one under the law, so as to win those under the law.”  (1 Cor. 9:19, 20)

Twenty years ago, your idea of how to introduce a lost person to Christ might have been to share the “four spiritual laws” with anyone and everyone who would give you the time.  Or maybe you were encouraged to ask a couple of probing questions, like “If you died tonight, where do you think you would go?” and “If God were to ask you, ’why should I let you into my heaven,’ what would you say?” With our post modern culture becoming more and more secularized and increasingly skeptical of authority, biblical or otherwise, we followers are being forced to look at different entry points to the discussion. 

Rather than the approach of “I know something you don’t” being the opening salvo to a total stranger, Paul suggests we start by identifying empathetically with the culture in which we find ourselves.  For some that could be your work culture, your neighborhood, your family, even your recreational buddies.  But the bottom line—start with something you share in common, NOT what separates you.  Jesus did it constantly in his ministry.  He hung out with sinners, told stories to which they could easily relate, asked lots of questions, and demonstrated that he understood their inner longings before trying to meet them. 

A perfect example was his conversation with the woman at the well in John 4.  He could have begun with, “What’s a (bad) girl like you doing in a place like this? Don’t you know that you’re talking to the holy Son of God?”  My guess is the temple scribes were not into publishing religious tracts back then, but even so I doubt that would have been Jesus’ method of choice in this encounter either.  Instead, He found the common ground.  Not of ethnicity, not of age, not even of religious pedigree. He started with what unites us all—we get thirsty.  “Will you give me a drink?”  He started by admitting He needed something from her!  Simple, but it provided Him entry into her world.  And he took time to listen.

When the word confession among Jesus followers refers as much to telling others of God’s goodness as it does us telling Him of our badness, we just may be getting somewhere.  Beyond our own little world. 

tad

A New Spin on an Old Sonnet

In her Sonnet 43, famed poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning penned these immortal words.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

 my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 

for the ends of being and ideal grace. 

I love thee to the level of every day’s 

 most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. 

I love thee freely, as men strive for right. 

 I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

 I love thee with the passion put to use

 in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

 I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 

with my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

 smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

 I shall but love thee better after death.

I’ve always been intrigued by the first line: “How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.”  Call it “a love inventory,” the writer finds it helpful to make a list of the “hows” of the relationship, rather than the “whys”.   She chooses not to focus on the qualities of the object of her love, but rather the many ways she expresses her devotion.  I find that interesting.  If I’ve learned anything in 40 plus years of marriage to the same person, it’s that what really matters is if she feels loved, not merely that I’ve made an attempt. 

To put it into the context of the Body of Christ, it is vastly more important that our love languages toward one another be both understood and mutually appreciated.  For me to think I’ve loved you by giving you a hug or a handshake instead of a listening ear might allow me to check a box for connection with you, but can leave you feeling unheard or uncared for.  So where do we start? 

How about me being a bit self-disclosing with you about how you can love me?  Call it good old fashioned 21st century narcissism or, hopefully, more accurately a genuine attempt to begin the discussion of how we can, as Peter writes in the New Testament, “love each other deeply.” Since I can’t speak for you, let me initiate the deepening of our relationship by letting you know how best to communicate that I matter to you.  In my own spin on Ms. Browning’s famous sonnet (14 line poem, remember), here’s a quick list off the top of my head. Hopefully, some of my ideas may have universal resonance, but others may just be what is helpful to me.  I like to call it, “How do you love me?”  Here goes:

You know my name. 

 You are present in my life.

You are for me. 

You want me to succeed.

You care about what is going on in the world behind my public presentation. 

 You listen to me. 

 You look for Jesus in me. 

You seek to protect me (physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, even my reputation). 

You really care. 

You point me to Christ. 

You speak truth into my life.

You forgive me when I’m wrong—even if it takes me awhile to figure it out. 

What you say about me to others (in my absence) enlarges their view of me rather than diminishing it. 

You pray for me.

Not exactly “sonnet quality” to be sure, but I think you get the point.  To love each other deeply in the body of Christ sometimes expresses itself in encouragement, in really listening to each other, or in seeking to genuinely empathize with another’s situation or journey.  At other times, though, it moves beyond just trying to make someone feel better for a moment and actually requires speaking hard words or expressing tough love.  Proverbs 27: 6 says: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” 

As a community, let’s resolve to discovering what best communicates love and affection for one another, using as our model and source of power the’ Friend who sticks closer than a brother.’  Jesus was the quintessential friend and could only love one way—deeply and to the uttermost.  Let’s follow Him.  Let others count the ways.

tad