HCLM BLOG

"There must enter into your heart whole new attitudes toward your entire life.  If you are to branch out beyond just a time of prayer each day, other parts of your life--and even your whole viewpoint of life--will have to be altered.  This new attitude must come for a very special reason--so that you may go on deeper, still deeper, into another level with your Lord.

To do this, you must have a fresh attitude toward yourself as well as toward the Lord; it is an attitude that must go much deeper than any you have known previously.

To do this, I introduce a new word to you.  The word is abandonment.

To penetrate deeper in the experience of Jesus Christ, it is required that you begin to abandon your whole existence, giving it up to God.  Let us take the daily occurrences of life as an illustration.  You must utterly believe that the circumstances of your life, that is, every minute of your life, as well as the whole course of your life--anything, yes, everything that happens--have all come to you by His will and by His permission.  You must utterly believe that everything that has happened to you is from God and is exactly what you need.

Such an outlook towards your circumstances and such a look of faith towards your Lord will make you content with everything.  Once you believe this, you will then begin to take everything that comes into your life as being from the hand of God, not from the hand of man."

-Madam Guyon

There are so many times in my life where I thought "man, if I could just have _________", or "if I was ________ instead of here, then I'd be happy."  So what did I do?  I tried to change my situation by any means necessary.  I would manipulate people, including myself, in order to change the course of my life to the place where I believed I would be most "happy".  In the end, though, I realized that we act like this because we're afraid that God doesn't know what He's doing.

That's ultimately what it comes down to.  What does it mean that God is sovereign; that He is all-powerful and all-knowing?  Those aren't just $5 words that we throw out when someone asks us to describe God--they mean something.  If God truly is in control, then that means that no matter how you got to where you are right now--whether through truly seeking God or by "mistakes" that you've made along the way--God has at the very least allowed, and at the most actually orchestrated first-hand the events and outcomes in your life to bring you to where you are.  He has you right where you are for a special purpose: to draw you closer to Himself.  Whether there are good times, hard times or a little of both in your life right now, it is exactly what you need.

Can we trust God enough to believe that?  Because once we can, we become free.  How can we worry when we understand that right here, right now is where God is meeting with us, is drawing us closer, is burning away everything in ourselves that is not Him.  God is big enough to work all things for our good.  He's bigger than our mistakes, our insecurities, our confusion.  He doesn't ask for us to understand why we're at where we're at in life, or the grand plan for our existence.  He doesn't give us a list of "to-do's" or "to not do's".  All He wants is for us to turn to Him; to give up on our own efforts to make life comfortable and secure and instead embrace His sufficiency.  

I just looked and it was July 2nd the last time that I blogged. Oh well my grandpa never blogged!!!

I just finished 3 hours of work on this computer to get rid of

8 threats

298 Infections

94 registry irregularities

But the one that was the most annoying was what they call a "Trojan False Alert". Whenever I logged onto my computer there would be a pop up that looks like my AVG security only is says "Security Tool" and it tells me that I have 47 virus and I need to click on "remove" if you do that it wants you to register for a service and give your credit Card information and all kinds of stuff. When you don't respond it keeps coming back. How I got rid of this was a long story, for another time. The point of this blog is this:

In our lives there are people and things that pop up in front of us and demand attention! Most often they are a "false alert". We get all worked up for no good reason. We worry about things we have no control over. We anticipate worse things than will ever happen. All of this, like with my computer, slows down our efficency and sidetracks us from our real purpose. Jesus Himself said not to worry about tomorrow, "sufficent unto the day is the evil thereof" translated into today's language that means that to worry about things that have not yet happened is a waste of time!

For a week I have learned to focus on the background on the computer and ignore the "False Alerts". When you do that for a dertain length of time they go away. In the relationship that we have with our Creator God He wants us to focus on Jesus and everything else will be revealed. In Him we touch the Father. Don't get excited by the false alerts in your life simply focus on the task at hand and follow Him.

"There is a fire of Divine Love.

It is this love which burns the believer and can even cause the believer to suffer.  How?  Sometimes the absence of the Beloved greatly affects the believer.

Sometimes the believer hears the inward voice of the Beloved calling.  It is a gentle whisper and proceeds from out of the believer's inmost depths...where the Lord, the Lover, abides.  It is this whisper which possesses the believer almost to the point of undoing.  The believer realizes how near is his Lord and yet he also realizes how much of the soul has not yet been possessed by Him.

This intoxicates the believer and puts an insatiable longing within him to be changed into the likeness of his Lord.  Therefore it can be said of love: Divine love is as strong as death, for it kills just as surely as death kills."

-Michael Molinos

When we begin to dive deeper in our relationship with the Lord, we very quickly come to realize that His love is unlike any love we've yet experienced.  I like how Molinos said "there is a fire of Divine Love", because that is such a fantastic picture.  Fire warms.  Fire gives comfort, strength and peace.  Fire also burns, consumes and destroys.  God's love is the same way.  We can find a constant and ever-present refuge in God's love for us; we can hide away in Him, and find shelter in Him.  He is our confidence, our strength, our peace.  And yet at the same time, behind the scenes--or, sometimes, not so behind the scenes--God's love is doing something else...it is consuming you!  God's love sets ablaze and burns away every part of your soul that stands against Him.  

So often in the Bible, the illustration of purifying gold is used for what God does in our lives.  Only in extremely high and excruciating heat will the impurities in gold finally come to the surface to be skimmed off, eventually leaving the remaining metal completely pure.  God will stop at nothing until He fills every part of you with His love; that love which, like a fire, both comforts and consumes, strengthens and burns.  We have a God that is so vast, so powerful, so incredible, that in His presence all that is not Him cannot help but be consumed by Him.

"Therefore it can be said of love: Divine love is as strong as death, for it kills just as surely as death kills."  In God's presence, we die, and He becomes everything.  

I was recently reading an article in the August edition of the Reader's Digest (still not sure why the August issue comes the second week of July but that's for another blog). The story was about Sobibor, a Nazi death camp deep in the forest in Poland. It reminded me of the emotions I felt visiting the Holocaust Museum while I was in Israel. Can human nature really be that bad?

Was struck me about this particular story is what the Germans had done, or more accurately, tried to do. After a semi-successful escape attempt, the Germans destroyed the camp, burning it down and burring the remains underground. What is it about human nature that can justify doing something so inhumane and yet still have the need to hide their behavior? 

When in Israel, I thought of the mass killings that have taken place throughout history. Christians against Muslims, Jews against Christians, Germans against Jews...and the cycle continues. Unfortunately, there is part of that sinful nature in us that can justify behavior but still have the desire to cover it up. So goes the wrestling match with sin. We (or at least I) want to be a living sacrifice for God (Romans 12:1-2) but I find myself (because I'm a LIVING sacrifice) crawling off the altar and doing my own thing. God help me to be "transformed by the renewing on my mind." Then help me to share that with others. You are the only hope for human nature.

I had a lot of firsts this summer. First time having an electrical bill over $300. First time burying a pet. First trip to Israel. The later not only gave me an unbelievable experience but a new perspective on life. Having the chance to see the country for the first time was incredible. Having the opportunity to experience culture while living in people’s homes was priceless. I saw things with new eyes, things that locals don’t normally see, both good and bad.

Paul shared with me an e-mail he received an e-mail from a student from Concordia University (I’m assuming he is a life long Lutheran). He came to Holy Cross for the first time and left underwhelmed because he wasn’t identified as a guest and no one came to greet him as a guest. Now there are a lot of people who are guests during a weekend service, many of whom attend weekly and become members. So it would be easy for me to get defensive but perhaps we can learn something through this man’s first time eyes.

I realize that most people are uncomfortable walking up to someone they do not know, ranked right after getting a root canal and Add to that the fear of greeting someone as a guest who is a long time member and the task can become crippling. Since we have a God who welcomes us, perhaps we can cast aside our fears and be stretched to extend the same courtesy to those around us. After all, the next person you see on Sunday might not be connected to a church community. Why not be first?

On a related note, a new L-team season is starting on August 15. One of the new teams is a guest team that will connect with guests, the ones that write down their names in the blue folder (a good indication they want to be contacted). Perhaps that will become your team.

"God is your true friend and will always give you the counsel and comfort you need.  Do not resist Him!  Learn to listen to Him in silence so that you won't miss a word of what He says to you.  You know a lot about outward silence, but little about inward silence.  You must practice quieting your restless imagination.  Stop listening to your unrenewed mind and the kind of logic it has!  Get used to coming to God and asking Him for help when He asks you for something you are afraid to give.

Your sensitivity to the smallest affairs shows how much you need God to tear the things of the world from you.  You are making great progress when you begin to give God all the childish attitudes you have, and let Him deal with the "small" problems in your life.  You need not make a deep show of spirituality--just let God work on your everyday issues.  You can die to yourself in the course of your everyday life--you don't need to go out into the desert, or on some high mountain to be spiritual.  All God asks of you is to give Him what He directs you to.  To do this you must watch and pray.  Cultivate trust in God."

-Francois Fenelon

I don't know about you all, but I've got one heck of an imagination!  To this day, if I ever get my hands on a box of legos, or maybe some cardboard and duct tape, I'm good for the rest of the day!  My mind is always running with different ideas and perspectives on things happening throughout my day.  Our imaginations can be awesome things, but we can also use it against ourselves; like when we try to imagine what the future holds and get ourselves all worried about things that aren't even real.

I read this passage from Francois Fenelon this morning, and was blown away by the simple thought that he presented: what if, instead of thinking to ourselves, we thought to God?  What if, as we went through our everyday lives and wrestled with the different situations that arose, we let God in on them instead of mulled them over in our own minds?  Even deeper than that is the idea that we can train our minds to dwell on God's presence all the time.  Instead of having our mind just going crazy with random thoughts 24/7, we can actually learn to focus them onto God.

I love that Fenelon emphasizes that "you need not make a deep show of spirituality--just let God work on your everyday issues".  We don't gain God's peace by pretending that we've got it all together, but just by letting God enter into each moment of our lives as they come to us.  We become like Him by simply experiencing Him in our everyday, ordinary lives.

God does have a sense of humor (see previous post if you haven't done so already). Seat 11D. Sitting next to me is a couple, evidentially not having a very good day. As is usually the case in flights to Orlando, there are children on board. Excited children, even at 7:30a. The occupants in 11E and 11F aren’t so excited. Not that I am a fan of loud kids on a flight but in my opinion, this has been very tame. The young child behind us asked questions of his mom like, “how fast are we going?” and “how high are we?” along with comments like “wow” and “the plane is shaking.” I have heard them complain for almost an hour, certainly worth a blog post. What I found amusing about this chance encounter is that what has bothered me is not the child’s color commentary but rather the constant complaining. Now maybe “constant” is a stretch but after every word out of the child’s mouth comes something like, “stupid kids…they should be forced to be in the back of the plane…their parents need to tell them to shut up” And my new personal favorite, “they are SO annoying.” So annoying? Really? I would like to nominate two for that title. Pause. So God, how can I be a witness it this situation?

In a very rare and unusual occurrence, I found myself at the airport in plenty of time before my flight. It was 6:30a, plenty of time for a healthy breakfast. In what seemed like a moment of divine intervention, I walked passed a bistro which boasted the words “healthy food.” Perfect, I thought, with taste buds already dancing with delight. Even better, I would discover, was a breakfast special for $5.99 at the airport. It even came with a drink. Perfect for my frugalness, or as my wife Margaret likes to say, the finance manager. Now “healthy” might have been a stretch. The aforementioned special was scrambled eggs, hash browns (think McDonalds) and sausage (think McDonalds with extra grease).

It made me think about how easy it is to boast a title…”healthy…expert…fast.” All very relative terms. Here’s another one, “Christian.” I know many boast that title and many carry it in different ways. Just what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

I was so glad I was having a good morning. Going through security I greeted the agent that checks your ticket and identification with a smile, thank you and have a nice day. She asked if I was a reverend. I asked how she knew. Evidentially my title is on my frequent flyer account. I hope in a small way, that brief encounter left a different impression in her mind about Jesus. I walked away thinking about how many such encounters where I had blown an opportunity. I think being a follower of Jesus requires an understanding of grace and forgiveness. It’s the only way to meet the next opportunity. God I’m available. Use me

"I have no doubt that God treats you as one of His friends by giving you the cross.  God's way accomplishes His purpose quicker than anything you could think of.  God is able to seek out and destroy the roots of self-love. You, on your own, could never find those hidden roots.  God can see the entire path of self-love within your heart.  Let Him attack self-love at its strongest point.

Pray for strength and faith enough to trust yourself completely to God.  Follow Him simply wherever He may lead you and you will not have to think up big plans to bring about your perfection.  Your new life will begin to grow naturally.  

I know you want to see the road ahead rather than trusting God.  If you continue this way, the road will get longer and your spiritual progress will slow down.  Give yourself as completely as you can to God."

-Francios Fenelon

(We lifted this post from Pastor Ben's DowntownCredo.com blog, cuz we're tight like that.)

So in college I read this sociology book. It was somewhat long and complex but one thing it said was that they tried capitalism in Europe, before America was discovered, and it didn’t really catch on. Something like, people weren’t incentivized by more money. I mean they couldn’t get them to work longer by paying them based on what they produced. The guys on the farms would work just long enough to get what they needed than go home early.

Did you hear that? They weren’t interested in making more money, “Just enough to pay my bills, then I’ll go home and enjoy what I have. Thanks.” What!?

I remembered that when I saw an author on the news this morning talking about his new book: Happy. Pretty ridiculous title if you ask me. But the guy had a phd. so I listened. He had decided that true happiness took three things: pleasure, meaningfulness and…(I must have stopped listening after meaningfulness because I can’t remember the third thing). He said happiness is deep. Pleasure by itself is easy to get, but also easy to lose. It needs to be attached to something larger and more meaningful. Maybe it’s not hard to guess, I like that idea.

It left me wondering about when we became incentivized by money. That sociology book from college had an answer, but I’m guessing the answer is less important than what we do now. We’ve got to discover how to connect pleasure to meaningfulness in life. I know people who have: a friend who sells insurance doesn’t do it to pursue the momentary pleasure of making more money, instead he knows he’s helping people prepare for the future and protect what they have. His job becomes fulfilling.

It’s got me thinking this morning about what in my life is a grasping for momentary pleasure, and what is building for lasting happiness.

-Pastor Ben