Scripture Reading: • Romans 8:22-25 NKJV For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. [23] Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. [24] For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. • 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Hope is a difficult concept to define. Just ask someone to define “hope” without using the word hope or any derivative thereof. Many people think of hope as wishful thinking. We wish for a certain outcome in the face of a crisis. We wish for the challenges of life to become less challenging. Sometimes we wish that all of our troubles would simply go away. (Can I get a witness?) But Biblical hope is more than wishful thinking. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the three greatest virtues of the Christian faith are “faith, hope and love;” with love being the greatest of all. This places hope in the middle of some powerful company. Having an understanding concerning hope and hope’s role in our lives is crucial. Let me try to explain my view of hope. Hope is different than faith because faith has substance. (Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen) What is the substance of faith? It is “assurance.” The assurance that the things we hope for “will” come to pass. So…what is hope? In general, hope is desiring a positive outcome—an outcome that is working in our favor. Biblical hope is a step beyond this: Biblical hope is desiring a positive outcome while trusting in the good character of God. Perhaps the greatest hope verse in all of the Bible is Romans 8:28: “All things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose.” According to the words of the Apostle Peter, our hope is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Let me remind you: Jesus Christ, the One who conquered death, hell and the grave. Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life. Even as a young child—as far back as I can remember—I carried with me a sense of well-being. This sense of well-being was based on the goodness of God. For that reason, I was always convinced that life would work out for my good—that even when I lost, or had a setback, I would ultimately end up in the winner’s circle. This hope was not based on my ability to make things work in my favor, it was anchored in the good character of God. My hope can be boiled down to this simple formula: “God loves me, and I love God”—and it has resulted in a life filled with hope!
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My sister had a birthday last week, and she turned (wait for it) 70. You have got to be kidding…70? How is that even possible? It didn’t really bother me when I turned 30, or 40, or 50, or even 60, but since my older sister hit the big seven-zero, I only have a little bit over 2 years before I am facing 70 myself. I remember older people telling me how fast life goes by; since I never thought I’d actually escape from 1st grade (bored out of my mind, I was), I could not relate. However, it is true…life goes by rather and expectedly fast. Now, please note, that I’m not throwing in the towel. I have not even retired. I have ambitions, dreams, plans, and a long list of things that I will probably never get around to doing. I know that it sounds crazy, but I would like to learn how to paint, write a book, take some dancing lessons, turn out an overdue vocal album, do some ocean sailing, climb every 12,000 foot plus peak in Idaho, try out some winter camping in the San Juan mountains, spend a month on a semi-deserted island in the South Pacific… You know what, my list is eclectic and too long to share. I realize that every day needs to be a carpe diem day. I need to live in the moment and make the most out of whatever time is left. I do the calculations: “If I live to be as old as my dad, I have at least 25 years to go and counting…because my dad is still living.” Since there are no guarantees as to the length of my life, I want to make sure that all the loose ends have been tied; I want to make sure that all my friends and family know that I love them; I want to make sure that Jesus remains my first love; I want to leave as much wealth and land to my kids and grandkids as possible (just cause); and I want to act in such a manner as to put a smile on Jody’s face every day. As I approach the last chapter in my life, I am very much aware of the fact that this world is not my home. Although I have a deep love for all things that are beautiful; be it music, a scenic view, a young child’s face, the spark in someone’s eye who just “got it,” or the warm embrace of a friend; there are a lot of things about this world that I am ready to leave behind. Can you say politics? Or a culture that is saturated in darkness? Or escalating violence and boorish behavior? Indeed, there is an over-abundance of foolishness, heartbreak, viciousness, and needless human suffering that I will be glad to leave behind. So, what does that all mean? It means that I love my life in the here and now, but I am convinced that I will love the life to come even more! With all that in mind, I plan to take on the big seven-zero without a whimper or a complaint. If I pass from this world before that time, please know that it was simply the right time to go on to something better! I do not live in the White House. I do not live in Washington D.C. I have no allegiance to any political party. I do not spend much of my time “watching” the news. Some might say that I have buried my head in the sand, but I am not living life vicariously. My life is actually happening in real-time, in my own skin. I empathize with those caught in the grind; I hope for a good outcome in situations beyond my control; I pray for a better future for my children and grandchildren. But I know that my actions will have very little impact on the big picture of what is happening in our world.
On the other hand…I can have a huge impact on “my” world. I happen to live in my own bubble; observing life through my own eyes; making contributions to my community; loving on the friends, neighbors, and family that surround me. This is more than virtual reality—this is “my” reality. This is where I live, and this is where I am trying to make a difference. As a young man, I was fairly idealistic; and I spent a lot of time and effort jousting with windmills. If I was to be truthful and transparent about my attempts of heroic feats, there was a good deal of vanity involved. Perhaps with the wisdom that comes with age, I have grasped a new appreciation of putting effort into the people and causes that “live” in my world. I strive to be a better husband to my wife. I strive to be a better parent to my children. I strive to be a better grandparent to my grandchildren. I strive to be a better friend to my friends. I strive to live by the Christ code of being a good Samaritan. In this place, where I live life in real-time, this is the place where I can be a force for all that is good. While people have arguments over which political party has the moral high ground; I use my time living life on the real ground doing my best to be an ambassador for Christ. Please know that I have opinions concerning Black Lives Matter, White Privilege, Global Warming, the handling of COVID-19, Foreign Affairs, Free Speech, Social Justice, etc. It is overwhelming and there is a lot of work that needs to be done. But before I strap on my armor and charge another windmill, I think that I simply need to represent Christ in my tiny corner of the world. This is where I live; this is where I make a difference; this is where I can let my little light shine; this is where I can speak the truth with a ton of love; this is my mission field. Before you start a quest of changing the world, you should consider giving Christ the opportunity to change you—then, and only then, will you be ready to make a difference in “your” corner of the world. Before you lash me with the criticism of not speaking to the issues happening on the big stage of American Culture, please know that change does not occur through more unwanted rhetoric; change happens when people change, and people change through the influence and love of the people who happen to live in “their” world. So, in the words of Christ, be the salt, be the light, where you live. I have a very high opinion of the Lord’s Prayer. In some liturgical traditions, the Lord’s Prayer is recited on a daily basis. Although the Lord’s Prayer is short in length, it covers a lot of territory while striking deep into some of the soulish issues that most of us wrestle with. One of those issues is that of forgiveness.
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) When it comes to the subject of forgiveness the Key Phrase in the Lord’s Prayer is as follows: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Before anyone could object to this revolutionary idea, Jesus doubled down. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” I have looked, and studied, and pondered, and contemplated, and explored for philosophical or theological devices that would help me find a way around this truth. Surely, there must be a way to hold the people who have been adversarial to me in contempt. To hold them responsible for their actions in offending me is my first and natural human response. I am not inclined to forgive. It is unnatural. It is counterintuitive. To respond with forgiveness amounts to cutting off the oxygen to the angry fire that burns in my soul. At first, venting my frustrations and anger towards the offending party feels good…until it does not. As unforgiveness takes root in my soul, it begins to bring forth a harvest of unwanted fruit. Bitterness, resentment, anger, revenge, depression, transference to other innocent people, gossip, slander… Unforgiveness opens a Pandora’s Box of darkness in the midst of my soul. The late Carrie Fisher said this concerning resentment: “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Wow! Let that truth sink in!! I can think of a number of reasons why practicing forgiveness makes sense: 1) Forgiveness puts out the fire that is wreaking destruction in my soul. 2) Forgiveness allows me to love and pray for my enemies. 3) Forgiveness puts me in right standing with God. 4) Forgiveness helps me control what I say and think about other people. 5) Forgiveness is a way for me to love myself. 6) Forgiveness translates into personal freedom. I could go on, but you get the point. If you want to walk in freedom, set other people free from your judgment, and next time you recite the Lord’s Prayer, take the issue of forgiving others to heart and simply do it! For whatever reason, I have drifted away from the faith of my childhood. (Just to be clear; I am still a believer in Jesus Christ, but the experiences of life have taken their toll) I exchanged the sense of well-being for a high-cholesterol diet of the cares of this world. What have I gained? Not much… I exchanged contentment for vain pursuits; peace that passes understanding for the heartburn of a world gone crazy; the prayer closet for political concern; being a voice of faith for entertaining the wisdom of man; simple trust for fear; the love of my neighbor for suspicion; trusting God for striving in my own strength. I find myself exhausted, frustrated, irritated, angry, confused, worried, and without the undying optimism of hope.
In the midst of my quandary, I hear a kind voice. I don’t know why I am surprised; it is a familiar voice; a voice that I’ve been familiar with since I was a child; a voice that always gave me the sense that everything would be alright. That everything would indeed work out for my good. A voice that always made me more courageous than I should have been. A voice that breathed hope and gave me the strength to forge ahead regardless of the circumstances that surrounded me. I need to be still and listen to this voice. (The voice speaks) "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:1-3a (NKJV) “Hear, and your soul shall live.” What is the Lord saying that I need to hear? What wisdom is being gently suggested? The answer, at first, surprises me. The answer is one word. “Stop.” Just stop…and be still. Rest in the provision of the Lord. Drop the burden that is the cares of the world. When I come to the waters, the living waters of God, my thirst is quenched. When I eat at the table of the Lord, the bread of life brings spiritual renewal. As I find rest in the Lord, it is the Lord who pulls me out of the quicksand that was swallowing my peace of mind. It is the Lord who puts my feet on a foundation that cannot be compromised or destroyed by the enemies of circumstances, or even the demons of hell itself. So, what is my plan of action? No plan…I’m just going to be still and linger in the life-giving presence of God. It might come as a surprise to many that the suicide rate among pastors is fairly high. The question that needs to be answered is, “why?” Pastors generally spend more time than the average parishioner studying the Bible and praying; so it stands to reason that their relationship to God would protect them from the stresses that would bring about suicidal thoughts. I believe that a Pastor’s relationship with God does indeed provide protection; however, being human means that there are vulnerabilities that exist.
Kayla Stoecklein was married to a pastor who committed suicide. She recently wrote an article about life in the trenches of ministry and some of the stresses that contributed to the suicide death of her husband, Andrew. She said two things that resonated with me: “Ministry was everything. Our entire world revolved around the local church and the calling God had placed on Andrew’s life. His calling became my calling; his passion, my passion; his purpose, my purpose.” (Just in case you did not know it—Pastors invest their life to the work of the ministry and the people that compose the church. Very often Pastors do not roll with punches of wins and losses—they feel the impact of everything that happens in the church under their watch) “Every pastor needs a safe circle of people with whom they can be vulnerable. They need close friends and a trusted community where they can let their guard down, take off their pastor's hat, and just be themselves. Andrew would often say, “It’s lonely at the top,” but it doesn’t have to be. We were never created to do life alone; it doesn’t work.” (Wow…finding a safe circle of friends is easier said than done. We need friends that we can trust and count on through the thick and thin of ministry. Such friends are priceless and equally difficult to find. What most Pastors do not feel is “safe.” We are vulnerable to criticism, both deserved and undeserved.) So, where does this leave me on a personal level? Throughout my years of ministry, I have struggled with the all-consuming demands of ministry. I have ridden the emotional roller-coaster associated with the ups and downs of my calling. I have welcomed new people through the front door with the knowledge that other people were leaving out the back door. At times, I have hardened my heart and repressed my emotions in order to deal with the losses. On the other hand, I have found it difficult to “find” people or friends that I can actually trust. (Sad, but true) Before someone gets the idea that I am in need of an intervention, please know that I am writing this from a position of reflection and not from emotional pain or despondency. If you are a pastor, you need to find a group of people who will be faithful co-workers and friends. If you are a parishioner, you need to consider being a faithful friend to those that have given their lives to serve. “We” are the body of Christ and each part of the body is necessary in order for “Us” to function as God has intended. We must love one another. Support one another. Forgive one another. Help one another. Exhort one another. Edify one another. Work through problems with one another. Stick with one another. And when it is all said and done…love one another some more. This needs to be who “we” are from the head to the feet and everything in-between. |
AuthorsWriting and Musing from former students and graduates of Northwest University. Archives
February 2024
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