Competitivism

Competitivism

There are two kinds of competitors: Those who are content with their best, and those who cannot be content unless they win; those who can celebrate the victories of others, and those who are obsessed with being celebrated by others; those who view others as friends and allies, and those who see everyone else as an obstacle or opponent.

I’m calling this blog entry COMPETITIVISM, because I see this as the root of another “ISM” that I need to address today…RACISM.

I feel compelled to address this because of the traumas that we’ve been seeing in the news about Charlottesville in the past several days, which are really just eruptions from festering wounds that have never healed from deeply troubling pathogens in American history.  I’m not going to jump into the polarizing fray of political ideals, how I feel about our President, which sides are at fault for what, etc.  I’m simply going to focus on addressing racism as an expression, and want to spend most of my time with the root issue. Yes, I know that “Competitivism” is not a word, but it does get the point across.

Racism is defined as “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against those of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior” (dictionary.com).  I sincerely doubt that the vast majority of racists ACUALLY BELIEVE that they’re own race is intrinsically superior and that others are inferior. Of course there are crazy fanatics, but there is simply no reasonable explanation for the belief that racial ancestry dictates superiority or worth…indeed all the facts say the opposite, that all humanity is varied and equal. The ignorance (both sincere and willful) associated with the racial bigotry of otherwise intelligent people, I believe, belies something deeper.

I see racism as a smokescreen-belief – a sham – to protect deeper, more sinister motivations: greed, selfishness, jealousy, disillusionment, covetousness, hatred. It plays itself out in many different ways in our society, including the type of terrifying behavior we are seeing rear its ugly head right now by groups like the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and other racist groups. It hasn’t been seen like this in America in several decades, but apparently it’s been simmering for a long time.

Competitivism is different from racism in that it has nothing to do with intrinsic superiority.  In fact, it often arises from places of insignificance and low self-esteem; giving hope to those who need something to salve their wounds...something to stand on top of and place their hope in.  But the belief that “life’s highest value is the fulfillment of one’s own desires at the expense of others” is a terribly false hope!  This kind of hope only brings pain and destruction and ultimately death.  In spite of the misguided religious rantings you may hear from god-less people, the way of Jesus…of authentic Christianity…is always one of humility.

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus’ “yoke” is a metaphor for adopting his ways, values, hopes; and trusting Him with life’s results.  The worldview of a competitivistic person is that the fulfillment of his/her desires is dependent upon gaining and maintaining power over others in order to be honored, served, and resourced by them. I suppose this could also be called social selfishism or me-first-ism or me-and-my-people-are-the-only-important-ones-ism.  These two worldviews are mutually exclusive.  People who wield twisted scripture as an instrument of hate are liars and imposters.

Competitivism breeds in quagmires of scarcity, and believes that there is simply not enough to go around.  That there are too many people vying for the same resources, therefore I must somehow get in front of the others by any means possible in order to fully satisfy the desires of myself and those I care about; regardless of how it affects others. Of course, anyone with a brain and access to reliable information knows that there is plenty of food, water, and resources in this amazing world of ours to accommodate all of us; but the systems of mankind seem to be inexorably governed by tendrils of chronic greed rather than good.

I challenge myself and you to a lifestyle of giving rather than grasping.  There will always be many people in this world who will worship and pursue beliefs and actions that spit in God’s face, this will not change until that final hour.  But as for me and my house, I have thrown-in my whole lot, placed my whole bet, set all my hopes on Christ.  I’m going to focus all of my attention and intention upon knowing & following Him in ways that will foster love and service and grace to all the people I come into contact with….regardless of how that affects me…because Jesus can be trusted when He says,

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34)

When we believe this, everyone around us becomes a brother and a sister, a fellow beloved creature of the Creator.

Defense Mechanism

Earlier this week I went into the hospital for my wrist injections.  Unfortunately, all the hard work I’ve done with my hands all these years has caught-up with me and caused debilitating arthritis at an early age…so I need occasional steroids injected deep into my wrist joints with a small needle that is guided by x-ray fluoroscopy.  Yeah, it totally sucks.  I HATE needles (aka I’m scared of them).  So I’m in there getting prepped with the doc. and the radiology tech., feeling my anxiety-level begin to rise as they describe the procedure.  By the time they’re prepping the first injection site, my heart rate is up and I’m feeling a bit dizzy.  Then he says those sly, menacing words “here comes a little poke, little burning.”  Within 10-seconds the room starts to spin, my breathing gets erratic, and the sweat machine turns-on.  30-seconds later, I’m literally on the floor with my feet on a chair and these two guys draping cold wash-cloths on my forehead.  Honestly, the shot really didn’t hurt that bad…but my mind had decided it had to jump in and hijack my body to save it from terrible danger. Fortunately they had the patience to wait for me to calm down, and we finished the procedure with me laying on my back with the table at a reverse incline.  Everything went fine after that...I just had to push through the internal, imagined trauma and ignore my instinctive beliefs in order to get to where I’m at now, only 36-hours later…virtually pain-free!

This little story illustrates a dynamic of the mind that we all sometimes deal with. In psychoanalytic theory, defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by the unconscious mind to manipulate, deny, or distort reality in order to defend against feelings of anxiety and unacceptable impulses and to maintain one's stable set of memories that summarize a person's beliefs, experiences and generalizations about the self.  In layman’s terms, defense mechanisms are the self-protective lenses we use to minimize the effects of the scary world around us so that we can deal with it on our own terms.

I’ve been thinking about the correlation between our beliefs and our fears. 

In many ways, our beliefs are often secondary…forged by the fire of fear and the raw materials of our life experiences.  What I mean is that each of us, instinctively, runs from whatever we’re afraid of into the embrace of promises that appeal to our personalities, pre-conceived points of view, and explanations we have embraced…whether they’re objectively true or not.

Our fears are very powerful, we all have them.  Fears are not a bad thing, they’re natural and neutral…it’s what we DO with our fears that assigns goodness or badness.  Fears push us from within to be and do things that will rewrite our stories and redefine our identities.  The one who fears pain tends to pursue safety in the belief that minimizing risk brings security.  The one who fears insignificance tends to pursue achievement in the belief that accomplishing goals will breed importance.  The one who fears confrontation tends to pursue appeasement in the belief that being agreeable with everyone will result in harmony.  And so on….

Sometimes the things we believe are not true.  When we believe lies - and fabricate attitudes & behaviors & lifestyles around those lies - we eventually suffer the deep disillusionment that is part of the broken human condition.  From these places of broken-dreams, we wind-up asking the most important questions.  “What’s the meaning of life?”  “Is there a God, really?”  “If so, then why ______?”  This is where God longs to meet us, in these deep questions and the pathways out of them.  These are forks in the road when our paths either turn toward Him or away from Him.

The pursuit of every human on the planet is really toward the same hopes; each of us craves to love and be loved, to be part of a larger storyline that’s gives us meaning and purpose, and to have a good time on the journey.  There are as many opinions and courses toward these universal goals as there are grains of sand on the seashore.  They all originate from a similar source, but only one returns us to its Author and Savior.  The interpretive-lens that we all really need – that we were all created for – is relationship with our Heavenly Father Himself!  This is what the scripture means when it says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Many people who shy away from God do so not out of disbelief in His presence or the truths surrounding Him, but because they cannot stomach the idea of surrendering control of their life to an invisible being who will expose their fears and spiritual defensive mechanisms. Many others, who are proclaimed believers, live as if they are not for the same reason... and alienate themselves from the consolation they need from Him.

The difference about someone who really, truly believes (aka trusts) in the Living God is that he or she surrenders all other explanations and pathways, and has thrown-in all of his or her entire being – past, present, and future – into embracing the narrative, presence, power, and promises of Jesus Christ, God’s “one mediator between God and man”; learning each day to take-on His perspective, character, and direction with ever increasing intimacy.  This is what it means to follow Jesus the Christ into the way of love.  Any version of Christianity less than this is merely a manmade ineffective defense mechanism known as “religion.”

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:16-18)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

Individualism

July 4, 2017

Today we celebrate Independence Day.

Independence from coercion, the right to control our own destinies, freedom of self-expression. These things we Americans hold dear, and it is indeed worth celebrating!

In many ways, I am very proud to be an American.  I absolutely love the foundational ideologies that created such a special country, which honors the individual.  Today I honor our public servants who attend to the day-to-day operations of keeping the wheels turning, as well as the veteran & active duty men & women of the armed forces who protect our way of life.  THANK YOU! 

That being said (and I really mean it!), I also see from the perspective of my other country, of which I willingly give-up whatever personal rights I have.  I have dual-citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, under the rule and leadership of Jesus the Christ.  Although I am thankful for the freedom to “pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” I have inherited as an American, nothing could ever compare to the hope, joy, and peace I experience as a dependent child of God!  It transcends socio-economic circumstances, and keeps my soul safe in spite of the greatest calamities.  It gives my soul rest and meaning beyond what I could ever gain through individual hard work & competition. This Kingdom will never be shaken, and I can lean the full weight of all my hopes & dreams & longings on its inexhaustible promises.  Because The King is God Himself, who made me, loves me, and carries me each day with songs of deliverance and purpose and consolation.  I have given-over control of my life and destiny to this King, and am now open to what only He can give me each day.  This Kingdom rises as high above the promises of my country as the purple mountains’ majesty soars above the fruited plains!

As a child of the King, I always operate according my allegiance to two realms.  In both, I must do my best to honor the legacy in order to receive the blessings.  One is an earthly kingdom based upon independence and individualism; and I will be the best citizen and neighbor and friend that I can, but I hold no illusion that self-determination is enough for me. The other is the eternal Kingdom, of which I am gleefully dependent upon the King; and as I give everything I am and everything I have to this Kingdom, it empowers me to be, do, and to love in this world more than I could ever imagine without it.  There is simply no comparison!

In the end, individualism is a dead-end.  Dependence upon God does not make me weak, it makes me strong!  The lie that many fall prey to is the illusion that living independently from our Creator is a viable option.  It really is true that “belief in God is a crutch for the weak,” the great lie that many believe is that they are strong enough not to need Him.  

Today, as I celebrate my freedom as an American, I actually celebrate 2 freedoms.  Let freedom, and FREEDOM, ring!

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. (1 Peter 2:11-17)

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:17-21)

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:25)

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

The "Isms" - Counterfeit Belief Systems

Ok, I'm going to start writing a new series about the "isms."  You know, the various belief systems that seem to define & explain the world.... and our place in it.  Beliefs are the most important things about us, they literally control us.  They're like the operating system of your smartphone or computer; they determine the stewardship of your body, guide your passions, control your calendar, and counsel every decision you make.  We tend to think that WE choose our beliefs, but I think in reality they most often choose US.

"Belief" is a highly misunderstood concept.  In our pluralistic society, the concept of belief has been watered-down by post-modernity to the extent that its definition has morphed into something else.  Belief in today's world might be seen as synonymous with Preference...religious, moral, cultural, or political values that we prefer over other equally-true options....like Coke vs. Pepsi, post-modern belief is a matter of opinion.  The problem is that when you try to take something essential and huge out of the human psyche, and replace it with something optional and minor, it wrecks the created intent of the system and leaves one shallow & wispy.  What we see in post-modern America today is a belief-vacuum; where people have jettisoned the idea of objectively-true values in favor of more tolerant & politically-correct alternatives, only to end up actually believing in practically nothing to the extent that their instinctive saddles get filled with whatever gets their attention.  Think about it.

• Why does the wealthy business owner go on lavish shopping binges when she already has everything she wants or needs?
• Why does the young man continue to drink, even after suffering damaged relationships with his colleagues, friends & family?
• Why does the teenage girl send dozens of selfies a day to social-media contacts she'll never meet for compliments?
• Why does the husband & father steal nights & weekends from his family so he can go on high-risk adventures with the guys?

...Because of beliefs.  Behavior ALWAYS Follows Belief.

• The binge-shopper may believe that a never-ending stream of new possessions bring happiness, that indulging in "retail therapy" will settle a desire that yearns for something deeper.
• The drinking-man may believe that he's powerless to stop drinking, that his life is on a downward spiral, and that drunken escape is the only salve.
• The selfie-snapper may fear that she is ugly, and believes that the positive opinions of others will make her desirable.
• The adventure-seeker may believe that amazing experiences define his masculinity and meaning far more than relationships do.

Just theoretical examples.  But in all these cases, and countless others, beliefs are the bedrock "truths" upon which we ACTUALLY, REALLY LIVE...and they will either undergird or dismantle your wholeness as a being created by God.  Your primary beliefs are whatever pursuits or people you give the reigns to for directing your life, and we all have them.  Some of them are part of God's created order - like love, holiness, forgiveness, servanthood.  Others are counterfeits peddled by another jockey - like narcissism, humanism, hedonism, competitivism.  Whether you believe in God or not, what are the guiding principles that you believe?  Are they working?

Did you know that, in the original Biblical language of the New Testament, the words "belief," "faith," and "trust" are all the same word?  It literally means "to be fully persuaded."  But sociologically speaking, most Christians must not "truly believe" in the God of the Bible; because they don't act much different than their non-believing counterparts.  Perhaps we're like the salt that has lost it's saltiness, or the light that has a bowl on top of it! (Matthew 5:13-16).  What use is it to have correct theological doctrines if the actual attitudes & behaviors of our lives don't reflect them?  None!

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

IMHO this is the main reason why the Church in America is so incredibly anemic, and why so many of us struggle so much with life even though we may "believe in God and go to church!"  We have so much trouble because we have so little faith....and we have so little faith because we have believed lies, more than we have believed the truth. The overriding principle of belief is CONTROL… we are hardwired to desire and exert control, yet we are inexorably beckoned by our Creator to hand the reins over to Him in order to live as He intended. Every belief system in the history of the world has been part of mankind's attempt to exert control apart from God...except for one.

So I'll be writing some blogs over the next several weeks that will detail some "isms": Counterfeit realities that we have created, how to recognize and exile them, and how to align our actual beliefs with the God who is actually there.

Growing Up

I remember believing that adults were grown-up.  The feeling of looking up (way up, in my case) at adults as completed beings…finished with the processes of development, independent of the opinions of others, and very intimidating.  Childhood was tough for me, and I strived hard as a youngster to get to that place.  When I turned 18, I was finally old enough to be considered a legal adult; able to vote and smoke cigars, but still feeling like a kid.  20 was a bit different, leaving the teenage years behind and having a couple of post-high-school years behind me; but I still had a lot of growing-up to do.  Then the biggie, 21, I could legally drink…which I quickly found didn’t make a bit of difference in my maturity level.  A lot happened in my 20’s – I graduated college, got married, started a career – until suddenly I was 30.  Officially over-the-hill right? But I still felt (and often acted) like an insecure novice, and was surrounded by other adults who I came to realize were in the same boat as I was.  Then I had kids…you learn a lot about yourself, your true beliefs and identity, when you raise kids.  Fast-forward through countless scenes to the new season I find myself in.  I’ve reached a new mile-marker at 50 – with a wife of 23+ years, a 20-year old daughter, and (nearly) 18-year old son.  I’ve come to believe that the maturity I had always associated with adulthood as a child was merely a mirage; either of my own making, or of the adults around me who wanted desperately for me to believe that they had it all together. Now as an official old guy, I feel uniquely suited to understand the dynamics of the mirage I once sought.  Actually there’s nothing unique about it, I’ve just joined the club of fellow-journeyers.   

Adults are most-often just as confused, unsure, and afraid as kids…we just have more words, tools, and practice.  I see things more clearly than I ever have, and would say that I am truly coming to understand myself, the world, and my place in it.  For me, the path forward to understanding and peace often goes backward into lessons from my childhood, and always goes upward into the arms of the Heavenly Father who has beckoned and consoled me all along the way.  I’m learning some really powerful lessons right now, and thought I would share.

Recently I woke-up worrying about some things I couldn’t control.  After spending time waking up, I realized I was feeling more & more anxious & exasperated. I turned my attention to the Lord, asking Him to help me, and His Words in Psalm 42 came to me. “Why so downcast my soul, why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God.”  I went to the Biblical source of the words, Psalm 42, which begins….”As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.”  As I continued to read, I realized that I had been looking past the blessings of the present and was placing my hopes on desired futures.  This is an elementary lesson in its simplicity, yet taking a lifetime to learn!  If I come into each day filled to overflowing with all I need, without compulsion to gain anything more to be happy, then my purposes and rewards for living are open to God’s designs and pleasure…which always leads to His favor and joy.  This is not a lesson we learn once, it’s daily…sometimes momentary.   Here are some pearls of wisdom that came to me through various people over the next 24-hours…

• Rick Warren (through Dan): “When God is at the center of my life, I worship.  When He's not, I worry.”
• Pastor Jess:
• "If you’re focused on what you will do, or what you want to see, you will always need to do more and better things. GOD DOESN'T BUILD WHATS, HE BUILDS WHOS. Whoever controls your identity controls who you will become and what you will do.
• “God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious.  The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Every day we wake up to a new reality, new opportunities full of potential in Christ; rather than being ruled by the injustices of yesterday.
• Who Are You?
• I’m invaluably significant. 1 Cor.6:19-20
• I’m outrageously love. 1 John 3:1
• I’m immeasurably valuable. 1 Pet.2:9
• I’m incredibly empowered. Col. 2:9-10
• My voice commands the heavens. Mark 11:23

Sensing The Spirit

Music speaks to me.  It sings the language of the soul, appealing to places in me that are hidden in inner labyrinths that get locked-up & stymied by exposure to the world. Scripture says that the Spirit of God inhabits the praises of His people, and He also rides on the musical currents of melodies & meanings into those deep places to draw us into what the ancient Christian writer Ignatius calls the “consolation” of God.

“Beyond surface emotion, consolation is the interior movement of the heart that gives us a deep sense of life-giving connection with God, others and our most authentic self in God.  It is the sense that in some deep way all is right with the world, that I am free to be given over to God and to love even in moments of pain and crisis.  Desolation is the loss of a sense of God’s presence.  We feel out of touch with God, with others and with our most authentic self.  In desolation we are off center, full of turmoil, confusion and maybe even rebellion.” (Ruth Haley Barton, “Sacred Rhythms” p. 112)

There are many alternatives to deal with the desolation we all experience…dulling its effect and running to evade it through diversion, substances, fantasies.  But we are spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience; and as such, only our spiritual source can speak to those places in us that were designed for constant exposure to Him.

Spiritual music is extremely powerful, and a certain song has been ringing in repeat mode over the past couple of days.  I won’t bore you with the lyrics in their entirety, but these phrases are what the Spirit has been whispering into my ears…opening me up from the inside-out like a rose in Spring:

”Spirit of the Living God
come fall afresh on me
come wake me from my sleep.
Blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow.”

Yesterday, I went for a run in the trails on top of Cooper Mountain near the nature center.  It’s a beautiful place, you should check it out sometime.  As I ran, meditating on God’s character and presence, thinking about those words and laying my burdens before Him, I thought about the power of breathing….and the correlation between wind/air and the receptivity of olfactory organs (noses) to sense what is there.  This thought started as I was thinking about the descriptions of the Spirit in scripture as a “wind.”

In terms of smelling, we are aware of scents because of their tiny microscopic particles that enter our noses and pass along the receptors that “read” them.  There are about 5-million of these little receptors inside the human nose.  Although this sounds like a lot, it’s nothing compared to the 300-million that give some dogs their amazing ability of smell.  The vast surface-area inside a dog’s nose are contained in intricate folds & crevices that the air passes through.  A dog relies on her sense of smell to interpret her world, in much the same way as people depend on their sight. Although this contrasting world view may be hard to imagine, know that your dog interprets as much information as you do. However, she does much of this by smelling an object or animal, not by staring at it.  It’s similar with the Spirit.

The Biblical word for “spirit” in scripture is the Greek word “Pneuma,” which also means “wind” and from which we get our word for pneumatic.  This gives deeper meaning to Jesus’ play on words with Nicodemus:

“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8)

So what would it be like if we had a greater ability to sense the intricate, subtle movements of God’s Spirit?  What if our spiritual receptors were more like a dog’s sense of smell than a human’s?  Perhaps a better question: “Is it possible to increase my receptivity to the Spirit?”  The answer is YES!  This is what pursuing God is all about...becoming so in-tune with Him and so devoted to Him, that we become an extension of Him in the world around us.  And the joy & peace & love that we receive and give to others is icing on the cake!  What a beautiful God!

“Discernment in its fullness takes a practiced heart, fine-tuned to hear the word of God and the single-mindedness to follow that word in love It is truly a gift from God, but not one dropped from the skies fully formed.  It is a gift cultivated by a prayerful life and the search for self-knowledge.” (Ernest Larkin) 

“The capacity to recognize and respond to the presence of God in all of life is a spiritual habit and practice that keeps us connected with God’s larger purposes for us and for our world rather than being consumed by self-interest. As we become practiced at recognizing the presence and the activity of God, we are able to align ourselves more completely with what God is doing in any given moment, which is when life begins to get really exciting!” (Ruth Haley Barton)  

“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  (John 14: 23-26) 

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children; and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Paraphrase of The Lord's Prayer

In the ebb & flow of daily life, the Spirit constantly beckons us to engage with Him in prayer.  Prayer is not simply telling God what He already knows; but communing with Him, coming back to Him, exchanging fears & dreams with Him.  As I prayed through The Lord's Prayer this morning, I found myself rewriting it in my own words...

My Father

You exist and exert Your presence all around me and in the air that I breathe.

You are wonderful and majestic and worthy. In You is everything good, and I revere and fear and honor Your Name.

The reality that You created, the one that interacts with and undergirds all of human history & culture, is the Real Reality.  Every effort that bends Your truth to create an alternative is a temporary, deceitful fantasy that will someday be remembered no more. 

May Your reality, Your Kingdom, come crashing into my life and the lives of those around me.  May Your desires and plans be as plain as daylight in the midst of my daily life and the world around me, conforming all that I perceive into Your glorious & good vision.

Please provide for my daily needs; physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual.

Thank You for Your amazing, stubborn love of me in spite of all my shortcomings; which grants me victory over sin and inspires me to truly love and forgive others in similar manner.  Help me to continue releasing every lump of judgment toward others that lives in me; so that although I perceive the distinction between righteousness and rebellion, my care & goodwill toward others is unimpeded by any form of indignation in me that would set itself against them. 

I invite You to inject Your leadership into every facet of my being – every known surface and hidden crevice within me – so completely that every thought that comes to mind and every move that I make possesses Your character and desire and power.  Thus will I remain free from every form of evil that originates from within me, as well as that which attacks me. 

YOU are absolutely, unequivocally, uniquely, completely, rightfully Sovereign and Almighty and Glorious; and I gratefully submit all that I am and everything I have to Your wonderfulness for this day, the rest of my earthly life, and for all eternity.  Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER
MATTHEW 6:9-13 

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen."

First Love – A Personal Psalm of Praise

I got up early this morning.
After drinking my morning coffee, checking the weather & news & stuff on my phone, I settled-in for some prayer-journal time.  This is what came out.

Good morning, my Love,

That’s how I feel about You, my God…although it seems strange to write a name for You which seems romantic in nature.  But truly You are my First Love!  And I rejoice in You this morning.

Because of You, I can face today and tomorrow. Because of You my hope and joy are not destroyed when I read the news, or consider the circumstances I must navigate, or deal with the people I must interact with.  Because of You I possess an identity and power that transcend the opinions or approvals of others.  Because of You I am free to be what I am designed and commissioned to be.  Because of You I do not need to compare myself to anyone else to determine my worth, effectiveness, or destiny.  Because of You the investment of my passion, time, and resources are not bound-up in the temporary treasures of this world.  Because of You I have access to the same supernatural, miraculous power that has healed the sick, given sight to the blind, and raised the dead.  Because of You I am empowered to give and receive love with everyone in my life with ever-increasing vitality.  Because of You I am regarded as faithful by those who are loved by me. Because of You I have insight behind the scenes of the world’s dramas, and wisdom underneath its foundations.  Because of You I am independent of every man & woman’s condemnation.  Because of You I have peace in the midst of the wild hurricanes that surround me.  Because of You I have opportunity to walk above the depravities and miseries of the world’s inheritance.  Because of You I have everything I need.  Because of You I have faith, hope, joy, and love that protect my soul from the painful trials I must endure.  Because of You, the people I come into contact with are imprinted with Your attributes by association with me.  Because of You I have purpose, power, pleasure, perspective, promise, and prize that eclipse the sunniest day.  Because of you there is no sacrifice I must make that is not rewarded with 100-times the blessing.  Because of You I live, serve, and sing with joy!

My Love, You are truly and unreservedly amazing!

Spiritual Gifts 7 - Faith, the Prerequisite

I was talking with a good friend a few months ago about the spiritual gift of healing.  He was sharing some pretty amazing stories, and I was feeling defensive because I've prayed for people before and it "didn't work."  I asked him "what about when it doesn't work?"  His words have stuck with me, "There are many reasons why prayer sometimes does not produce the results we want, but the Bible is full of promises and examples and commands about praying in faith and seeing miraculous results...so I'm going to focus on that."  I replied, "How often does it work for you?"  "About 75% of the time....but instead of getting derailed on the other 25%, I'm going to trust in God for the 75%."

In my personal quest to know God, follow Him, and become like Him, it’s clear that all of my times of greatest learning & growth were triggered by calculated decisions to throw caution to the wind and step-out in faith to where I KNEW God was leading.  There have also been plenty of times when I THOUGHT I KNEW, stepped-out in faith according to that supposed knowing, and was unpleasantly surprised.  Those experiences have been forks in the road of my past…sometimes my faith was strengthened as I learned more about the distinction between God’s voice and my own…His desire and my own.  Other times I furrowed my brow, blamed God for not performing, and withdrew into more controlled & cautious places.  There is a healthy, mature type of caution that avoids recklessness….but fear-based caution is one of our enemy’s most potent weapons in keeping us at arm’s length from our Heavenly Father.  God always responds to faith.

I think that one of the biggest reasons for the apparent spiritual apathy & impotence of the American Church today is lack of faith.  It’s also at the root of why many Christians say things like “why doesn’t God do miracles anymore like in Bible times?”  Well, actually He does…but He insists on partnering with faith. Not faith in the sense of intellectual agreement with the historical facts & moral truths of the Bible, and trying your best to live by them.  That’s Kindergarten faith.  Grown-up faith is a conviction of trust that God is real & personal, and that His way is best for my life.  Faith is the antithesis of fear, and in the Old Testament there was a powerful euphemism for faith: Fear of God.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10).

The opposite of fear of God is fear of man.

Alex Rettman, Pastor of Youth & Young Adults at Bridgetown Church in Portland, says this: “What the fear of man can do in your life is to make looking respectable, responsible, and financially wise more important than being obedient to God…The fear of man is an over-rating of people in your life and an under-rating of God.  Fear of man is actually a hallmark trait of the Pharisees.  They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God…and this is why they couldn’t see Him as the Messiah.”

The Pharisees are known as “the hypocrites” of the New Testament.  This wasn’t because they sometimes lost their temper or said harsh words or sought the places of honor…those were only symptoms, and we all do these things on occasion.  Scripture says that God looks past our facades straight into our hearts; He alone can see our deepest desires & dreams.  The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was rooted in a deep-seated fear of man, or in other words “love of the world,” which stood in direct opposition to what God was doing around them.  Any time we find ourselves resisting what God is trying to do, we’re acting just like them…and it pinches the hose of God’s power that He wants to flow into us.  All of us struggle with fear/lack of faith, and God is constantly, eagerly waiting for us to take the first steps so that He can catch us when we fall.  He can be trusted!!!

In order to experience the “abundant life” that Jesus promises, answers to prayer, miraculous healings, prophetic words & visions, and all the other stuff God wants to do through us, we have to turn away from the false beliefs we have learned and walk toward Him in faith.  His goal for us is not to fill our lives with material blessings and comfortable circumstances that will make us happy.  That’s not God, that’s the American dream…and in terms of the Kingdom of God, it’s actually a narcissistic nightmare that blinds our eyes to the true wealth that Jesus offers us to be victorious in the midst of a broken world.  When we surrender our fears to the Almighty, according to the relationship we have with Him in Jesus, we are free to step-out in faith and receive what He is waiting to give us.

SCRIPTURES…

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:37-39)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:1-2, 6)

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4-5)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

“Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

“Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:18-21)

“Jesus left there and went to his hometown…and they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:1-6)

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5: 14-18)

Spiritual Gifts 6 - Removing Barriers

In my last blog I shared about a truly miraculous, life-changing event that happened to me as the result of being in a great spot with the Lord.  I was running toward Him with all cylinders, enjoying His presence, and open to His voice; and an amazing & supernatural thing occurred (see “Spiritual Gifts 5 - A Prophecy Story”).  Today, I’m going to share about the other fork in the road…when we find ourselves impeded by self-inflicted barriers that block God’s work in us and through us.  We all carry echoes of the fall-of-man within us that continue to war with our Creator.  They’re instinctive urges & expressions of self-will that prevent us from acquiescing to God’s reign over us.  Like the ancient serpent’s whispering temptation into Adam & Eve’s ears “Did God really say…,” our ears itch with similar desires to touch and experience that which has been forbidden by the Most High so we can do things on our own terms; and we end-up suffering for it.  The Bible calls this sin.

I’m going to invite you into my journey, which I think is probably the most effective way to communicate.  Of course, it’s easiest and most convenient when the portions of said journey reflect well upon my character, and cause the reader to admire me in some way.  However, as is always the case behind braggadocious sermonizing & Facebook feeds, I tend to learn my most valuable life lessons through my failures…and I suppose it’s the same for you.  But we don’t really like to share about that, do we? We tend to hide those parts of us that are less than right and cover them over with shiny, happy veneers.  I don’t think it’s necessary or appropriate to go into details, but let’s just say that I’ve been struggling with an area of sin in my life; something that frequently rears its ugly head within me, messes with my motivations & behaviors, and throws wrenches in the gears of my relationships with God & others.  Every time I give myself over to its lies I end up feeling betrayed, distant from God, and devoid of His power…do you have a thing like that?

• A substance addiction that beckons you with promises of escape & release
• An unhealthy relationship that causes you to compromise Godly values
• A fixation on consumption of food, clothing, drink, or experiences as a way of filling the void 
• A greedy drive for money, power, or possessions that controls your definition of success
• An unbridled sex-drive that tempts you to engage in porn & unbiblical sexual experiences
• A self-righteous anger that causes you to seethe with disdain and explode with rage
• A self-deprecating grief that alienates you from people and entices you with alternative-realities.

So, why am I writing about sin in a series about spiritual gifts?  Because sin puts barriers between us and God. Remember all throughout the Bible how it talks about FAITH being the thing that unlocks God’s blessings and miracles, etc.?  The New Testament word we translate as “faith” literally means to be “fully persuaded,” to “totally trust” that God’s way is best.  Like the good Father He is, God always responds to faith with favor, and always responds to sin with redirection.  The world speaks an opposing narrative of self-determination, and our eyes & ears are filled with lies about this…saying that we can have our cake and eat it too.  We hear things like “God wants me to be happy, and [indulging in something that God condemns] actually makes me feel happy, therefore it must be good for me to [indulge in whatever it is].  I’ve heard this to justify drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, divorce, and other stuff.  Sins like these certainly don’t damn us to hell, but the circular reasoning that justifies them alienates us from the Living God.  We need to get our heads on straight…

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proudbut shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:2-8)

Now, understand me correctly….this is not a “works theology” about salvation.  It’s crystal clear that God’s offer of salvation for heaven is a free gift based upon His grace rather than our obedience.  “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We often misunderstand the difference between salvation and sanctification.  Salvation means that God saves us from eternal death by offering us the free gift of eternal life because of what Jesus did for us through His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead.  Amen on that!  Sanctification, however, means that after we are saved and already part of God’s family, we find ourselves at the beginning of our journey with Him rather than the end…and how we travel the road of life with Him will determine how He interacts with us, and to others through us.  So, although I am free in Christ and saved for Heaven, He’s not going to entrust me with important messages for others when my own lifestyle is in direct opposition to His reign.  Why would we think that God would reward us with blessings of greater understanding, miraculous gifts, prophecies, etc., when we refuse to abide by what He’s already given us?  Remember, His ultimate goal is relationship with you.

I’ve learned (and am learning again) that when I find myself in this unwelcome but familiar place, I have to die to myself in order to find the pathway back to the way of Jesus.  When I hold on to sin it always involves self-deceit, which is a function of the original sin of pride….and self-deceit shields us from the blessing of shame.  Shame has gotten a bad rap in recent years, as new generations of positive-thinkers attempt to live “shame-free” lives by focusing only on the positive and denying the existence of negatives within them and their consequences.  But shame, like any other God-given emotion, is neutral…it can carry our souls to places all along the spectrum.  I agree that there is self-destructive shame, which originates with the lie that “I am bad” and ends up taking me into downward spirals of self-loathing; but there is also life-giving shame, which is part of the God stuff in us that leads to repentance.  When we embrace shame and hand it over to God’s capable Hands, we see clearly how we’ve veered off the right path, how to apologize and adopt His better way, and how to start walking toward Him again in a state of renewed blessing.  This is why I keep friends around me who aren’t afraid to tell me the truth about myself when I’m full of Godless bull-s*$%.  Not because they ridicule me and make me feel like a maggot, but because they love me and have permission to remind me of my deepest and most important values.

It’s essential that we open ourselves to criticism and judgment from those who have our best interest in mind, to scripture, and to the gnawing sense of the Holy Spirit inside us that won’t let us rest in a state of unrepented sin.  Not because God hates us when we do, but because He loves us and hates when we block ourselves from the miracles and hope and love He wants to birth in us. After I have repented and placed the reins back in God’s sovereign Hand, new life springs up like fresh shoots out of April soil, and His celestial GPS navigates a brand-new course toward my destiny from where I’m at.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) 

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) 

“…In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) 

“I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:21-25)

Spiritual Gifts 5 - A Prophecy Story

Fateful Bike Ride

Early in the Summer of 2007, I was enjoying a sunny & warm June morning on my bike. I had ridden to the local post office to pickup mail from the PO Box of the fledgling ministry venture that my wife & I had recently started.  We were hosting a small house church of about 12 people…we were growing as a community of Jesus people, and were praying for ways we might be able to serve people in our neighborhood.  On this particular morning, I was praying.  Exercise has always been my prime time with God, especially biking and running.

As I returned toward home, I was riding South on Watson Avenue in central Beaverton…there wasn’t much traffic.  It’s a one-way street, and I was riding along the right-side curb.  I don’t remember what I was talking with the Lord about at the moment, but I do remember that I was experiencing some of the joy & peace we get when we’re able to put all other things aside and just “be” with the Father who loves us.  It was sweet and meaningful, and I was really enjoying the intimacy of the moment.

As I rode, I noticed the Pregnancy Resource Center on my left.  In recent years, the PRC has moved, but at that time it was located on the corner of Watson & 2nd.  I read the sign and thought about the ministry they provide.  Regardless of one’s stance on issues surrounding abortion, I think that everyone can agree that the faith-based PRC provides a really wonderful service to young pregnant ladies & young moms who are seeking help.  As I got nearer, I noticed that the building had a few minor rough & broken spots, and that the landscaping seemed a bit unruly.  Immediately, a phrase popped into my head: “Ask them if they need help.”  I quickly brushed it aside, imagining how weird & awkward it would be for a middle-aged sweaty guy to come in and ask if they needed help.  As I reached the point where I was directly across the street from the building, the phrase came again, this time with much more force and conviction.  It wasn’t an audible voice, though I know many people who have heard audible spiritual voices; it was just a thought-phrase accompanied by a really strong feeling.  This time, I wondered if it was the Lord.  It didn’t make sense to me, so I furrowed my brow and continued on…convincing myself that it was a bad idea and it couldn’t possibly be the Lord speaking to me.  I got a few pedal-strokes past the building, and the phrase rang through my head like a horn blaring from a diesel truck: “ASK THEM IF THEY NEED HELP!!!”  I literally said out loud, “Okay, okay!”

I promptly turned around, rode to the front porch, and leaned my bike against the rail.  I felt totally stupid.  I didn’t know what I was doing, what I would say, or how they would respond.  Besides that, I was wearing dorky bike shorts and I was smelly.  I walked through the unlocked door to the reception area, and there was no one there.  I stood there for a moment, looking around sheepishly and wondering what to do…I meekly said “hello?”  A lady peeked her head through an open doorway behind the counter, “Oh, good morning, we’re not open yet….can I help you?”  This was the moment when I wondered if I was an idiot; internally rolling my eyes at myself, worried that I had put words into God’s mouth.  She looked afraid.  I explained, “I’m sorry, I was just riding by your building on my bike and couldn’t help noticing that there were some things that needed some help.”  She was looking like she wanted to call the police.  I continued, “I’m part of a little church group, and we’re looking for ways to serve our community.  I was wondering if you needed any help around here.”  She relaxed a bit and asked a few questions….we talked for a minute, then she asked me to wait.  “Oh great, now I’m freaking-out this poor lady and I’m gonna get in trouble with the boss.

A different, younger lady came to the counter with a very inquisitive look on her face.  “Hi, how can I help you?”  I started over from the beginning, determined to see this thing through.  The more I shared, the more interested she appeared to be.  She asked a lot of questions about who I was, and what type of group I was from.  She was the director, and it ended-up that we knew some of the same people in the local Church Community.  I could tell that they were no longer afraid of me, and we enjoyed a few minutes of stories and laughter.  After a bit, I felt comfortable with my two new friends, and told them the story about how I had been praying and felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me about helping them.  The director stood there stunned for a moment.  She finally said, “You might think this is really weird, but I have to tell you something.”  She paused, then continued, “Early this morning as I was sleeping, I had a really vivid dream of a man showing up here at the PRC in the morning before we opened, and that I was supposed to listen to him.”

Do you have chill-bumps while you’re reading this?  Cuz I do while I’m writing this…and it’s been 10 years since it happened!

We talked in more detail about her dream, and my impression to stop that morning; both of us totally persuaded that Almighty God had not only spoken to us, but that He had connected us for some reason.  How powerful it was to know beyond doubt that we were walking in the very footsteps ordained by God for us!  We compared notes and talked for quite awhile about what the Lord was doing in their ministry there at the PRC, and how helpful it would be to have our help with some repair & maintenance items.

This is the birthplace of faith. Not that God’s grand plan is to break into human history so that we can get the chills and have all of our needs met; but that He is always orchestrating divine appointments & destinies to advance His greater plans for His people and His work!  Did you know that the original Greek word translated as “faith” literally means “fully persuaded?”  When we see God show-up in the middle of life’s circumstances, intervening and transforming like He does, it reminds us that He’s real and active and working toward great things we cannot see.  How amazing He is!

I returned to the PRC in July with a group of 7 adults and 7 kids.  We repaired a screen door and the floor of the entry porch, did some painting, and raked leaves.  It was encouraging to the ladies who work there every day, and made a nice difference in the appearance of the building.  Honestly, it wasn’t that big a deal; but it was super encouraging for them to know that God cared enough about their work to send us.  For me and my group, it was life-changing.  It was shortly after this project, reflecting on how fun it was for our group and how God had orchestrated it, that we began to dream about the next step…”what if we did something like this to help a low-income homeowner in our neighborhood?”

It started with prayer, was catalyzed by prophecy, and led to the projects we know today as Catalyst NW.  The rest is history.  His history.

”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)