Don’t Worry, BE HAPPY

Problems and troubles don’t take a break just because the holiday season is upon us. Matter of fact, there seems to be MORE than the usual load of burdens lately. Sickness, separation, and sorrow have all paid recent visits to members of my own family and my congregation. I COULD be worried out of my noggin.

I could be worried, . . . but I’m NOT.

Instead, I am CHOOSING to follow the scriptural commandments found in Proverbs 3:5-6. It reads, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

By living by these words daily, I am buoyed in any crisis that may arise. Like the Weebles (anyone remember them?), I “wobble, but I don’t fall down.” Like Timex watches, I can “take a licking and keep on ticking.”

And if I can do it, ANY ONE can do it. Don’t believe me? Then try practicing this promise from God: “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

If you’re under a load of cares and concerns, I encourage you not to worry about them. Instead, “in everything by prayer and supplication, let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:6-7).

So don’t worry, . . . BE HAPPY!

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SEIZE the Day

As the end of 2009 is fastly approaching, there seems to be less time to do the things I’ve been saying I was going to do all year (i.e.: lose weight, start exercising, eating healthier foods on a regular basis . . . you get the picture). If I chose to see what I haven’t done, I might become discouraged (maybe even depressed).

So, I’m choosing NOT to focus on possible perceptions of my “failures”. Instead of seeing the glass as half empty, I’m seeing it as half full. That’s right; I’m going to seize the day.

After all, what other choice do I have? I can’t undo the past and I can’t control the future. Those things are wisely not in my hands.

What I can do is make the most of the present. Today. This hour. This minute. This second. That’s why I’m writing this blog. I’m choosing to express something that (hopefully) inspires others as it inspires me.

So, with whatever time I have left, I choose to invest it in things that bring me joy and happiness here and now . . . not somewhere down the road in the near or distant future. I advise you to do the same. The clock is ticking.

Seize the day.

NAKED Truth

Literally from Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God is filled with accounts of people who were found unclothed or naked. Keeping in mind that every detail and description of scripture serves a purpose, let us take a look at the following occasions of nakedness in the Bible and learn from their examples:

Adam and Eve. “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). Here we see a model for a godly marital relationship. Before sin entered the world, God created the first couple completely nude. Originally, they had nothing to hide from each other. There was no reason to be self-conscious about their bodies. They had no ulterior motives while being together. Neither one was trying to “get over” on the other. Vulnerable or “private” parts were regarded with the same attitude as any other parts. This is the way the Lord meant for all people to operate in their relationships with each other: openly, honestly and with appreciation for the beauty of each other. Most importantly, the Lord desires truth in the inward parts which removes the guilt and shame that come with sin and deception. From Adam and Eve, we learn that through faith and honest communication, a husband and wife can and should be completely transparent, or “naked”, with one another.

Noah. “Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent” (Genesis 9:20). Here we see a model for inward reflection. While in the privacy of his own dwelling, the man who found favor with God went on a binge. In his inebriation, Noah stripped himself of his inhibitions, symbolized by his nakedness. While scripture forbids us to engage in drunkenness, wherein is excess, we should find time and place for solitary introspection which allows us to uncover the complexities of who we are apart from roles we engage in public life. From Noah we learn that a private retreat can allow us to relax from stress, reflect upon our experiences and refine our character.

The Israelites. “Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (naked) for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies” (Exodus 32:25). Here we see a model for extravagant worship. While the man of God was upon Mt. Sinai receiving the 10 Commandments from the Lord, the Jews had abandoned themselves completely celebrating before a golden calf. God became angry with them, not because of how they were worshipping (which was naked), but because of what they were worshipping (which was an idol). Again, while Scripture forbids us from worshipping any other god than the Lord, when we do publicly worship the Lord it should be without thought of embarrassment or shame. Too often we fail to love Him with “all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength.” From the ancient Israelites we learn that public worship should be done whole heartedly as unto the Lord, being unrestrained, real and “raw”.

Jonathan, son of King Saul. “And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt” (1 Samuel 18:4). Here we see a model for love and loyalty in friendship. The prince’s actions toward the shepherd from Bethlehem were a demonstration of pure love and commitment. Jonathan loved David as his own soul; he didn’t hold anything back from him – not even the clothes he was wearing. God wants us to develop intimate relationships with each other wherein we extend everything we have as a gift to those we care about. From Jonathan we learn that friendship is the fulfillment of the second greatest commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Job. “And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’” (Job 1:21). Here we see a model of total trust. Job was declared by God Himself to be “a perfect and upright man, one who feared God and shunned evil”. When his good fortune suddenly turned for the worst, Job declared his unwavering confidence in the goodness and wisdom of His Creator. By recalling that he came into the world with nothing and that at death he would leave the world with nothing, he was able to keep an eternal perspective on a temporary condition. From Job we learn that unwavering trust in God is maintained by seeing ourselves as “naked” apart from His presence alone. Christ is our sufficiency.

The Underworld. “Sheol (hell) is naked before Him, and destruction has no covering” (Job 26:6). Here we see a reminder of God’s eternal judgment. Through the words of Job God warns those who might forget that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. He lets us know that even when the memories of the dead have been long forgotten and their corpses have rotted away in the grave, God still sees their souls and will bring them into account for the deeds done in their bodies. From the underworld we learn that we should live our lives as though everything is being recorded, because –good or evil, right or wrong- it is coming up again.

Isaiah. “At the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, ‘Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take the sandals off your feet.’ And he did so, walking naked and barefoot” (Isaiah 20:2). Here we see a model of dramatic prophetic ministry. During the time of Isaiah the nations of Egypt and Ethiopia had become so wicked and perverse that God had determined to judge them severely by letting Assyria take them naked and bound into captivity. While we might find the idea of a naked preacher proclaiming the judgment of God bizarre or even comical, it is anything but funny. From Isaiah we learn that even today God will use people in radical ways and to extreme measures in order to get sinful nations of people to listen to and obey His warnings.

Mark. “Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body” (Mark 14:51). Here is a model of Christian discipleship. The young man mentioned here in Mark’s gospel is commonly believed to have been the author himself. While the betrayal of Jesus is the primary focus, Mark wanted us to notice he was following Jesus, too. More importantly, he calls our attention to the slight amount of clothing he was wearing. This linen cloth was so loose that when the soldiers tried to grab him, Mark was able to run away naked leaving his clothes behind. From Mark we see that figuratively we as believers are to wear the things of this world like a loose garment, such that at any given moment we will be ready to escape the lures of temptation and the snares of sin.

Simon Peter. “Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and plunged into the sea” (John 21:7). Here we see a model of Christian integrity in the workplace. Simon Peter’s nakedness while deep sea fishing is symbolic of the diligent, sacrificial, humble attitude with which the Lord wants us to perform our daily duties. Whether self-employed or hired by others, we are to work in such a way that at any given moment we will be prepared for Him to inspect our efforts. From Simon Peter we learn that like he laid aside his clothes, we are to lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily beset us and to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

All creatures. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Here we find a reminder that God sees and judges our motives as well as our actions. The author warns us that every man, woman, boy and girl is known by God regardless of what their relationship is with Him. Whether clean or unclean, holy or unholy, every one is clearly visible at all times to Him. He knows our thoughts and hears our unspoken mental conversations. From all creatures we learn that we whatever is done in the dark will be brought to the light.

The Church of Laodicea. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). From this admonition we learn that the way we view ourselves is not necessarily the way the Lord views us and that His view is what matters most. Like the congregation in ancient Asia Minor, the modern church as a whole has become full of pride and self-righteousness. Like them, many professing Christians today have no idea that when it comes to their standing with the Lord, they leave much to be desired. From the Church of Laodicea we learn that we need Jesus inside of us if we are going to truly be rich, clothed in white garments that the shame of our nakedness be not revealed, and made able to see.

The Lord Jesus Christ. “(He) rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself . . . poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded” (John 13:4-5). “And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take” (Mark 15:24). In both these accounts, we see our Lord demonstrating the naked Love and Truth of God. By His voluntary actions to serve the apostles and by His submission to being stripped by His captors, the Lord shows that God’s love for us is really real and amazingly obvious. Given His earlier demonstrations of power and authority, there is no way anyone could misunderstand that His sacrifices were evidence of His great love for us. From the Lord Jesus Christ we learn that as He washed our feet so we are to wash one another’s feet and that as He loved us so we ought to love one another.

In conclusion, now that we’ve looked at who’s naked, let’s get naked as discussed in this blog. May God bless you as you disrobe before the King.

INTERLUDES

Anyone who loves the performing arts will tell you the greatest artists are the ones who have suffered and out of their pain created masterpieces that reflect their own experiences. Whether it’s a musical, concert, film, television, theater or dance, the masters are those who are able to combine varied scenarios into a coherent, unified theme. These larger, more significant segments are fitly joined together by interludes: those brief scenes where unfamiliar characters appear and seemingly disjointed movements occur.

Our lives individually and collectively are a great work of the Divine Master who uses our experiences to create testimonies to His glory. Now only He knows where this great work started and where it will end. While He has graciously given us the script or score of His Word and the coaching of His Holy Spirit, much of our lives is still unrecognizable to us in the moment. We find it difficult to discern the plot twists and who are the main characters in our lives. And between each apparent triumph there are interludes that seem like an eternity while we are in them.

As we continue 2009, we have our calendar dates, our roles, and our scripts, all of which we can use, but none of which we can rely upon. For in this period between old endings and new beginnings, many unknown variables will emerge. New people will enter our lives who don’t have a clue about why they are here. People we thought we knew well will surprise us with character developments we didn’t see coming. Strangers will come to us with unresolved issues of the past, unexpected emergencies, crisis and trauma in the present and fears and hopelessness about the future.

What will we have to depend upon ourselves as well as to offer others as we find ourselves in the interludes of life? Let us glean something from the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Between the end of 1 Kings 18 and the beginning of 1 Kings 20 (two high points in Elijah’s ministry), we find him in an interlude. His victory over the false prophets of the idol Baal followed by the end of a 3 ½ year drought is met with a death threat from the evil queen Jezebel.

In that moment, the mighty man of God finds himself fleeing from his place and his position. He gets 80 miles away from the nearest territory ruled by the queen and then leaves behind his servant a day’s journey to go into the desert. There, underneath a juniper tree, Elijah prays for his own death. But when no lightning bolt strikes him from above in response to his misdirected prayer, he goes to sleep. The Lord becomes Elijah’s rest.

He is awakened by an angel who had supplied him with nourishment for the journey ahead. Elijah eats God’s provisions. The Lord becomes Elijah’s manna.

Elijah runs on for 40 days and nights until he comes to a cave. There he waits for a word from God. The cave where the prophet was led is his refuge. The Lord has become Elijah’s Fortress, Rock and Shelter.

Powerful supernatural demonstrations of mighty winds, and earthquake and a fire appear, but Elijah discerns that the Lord is in none of these. Yet he is not moved by the occurrences for the Lord has become Elijah’s peace in the midst of the storm, his sure foundation in the earthquake and his asbestos suit in the midst of the fires.

Finally, after all the other flashy demonstrations, Elijah hears a still small voice. He recognizes it as the Lord’s and goes out of the cave to have an audience with Him face to face. The Lord has become Elijah’s Shepherd whose voice he follows. In this communion, Elijah receives wise counsel (he is not the only one left serving God), a fresh anointing (to be given to two kings and Elisha, his future successor), and a new commission (go with the armies of Israel into battle against their enemies).

In our interludes, let us be sensitive to the voice of God and the dealings of God as He reveals more of who He is to us in another dimension of experience. We need such knowledge of Him in order to offer hope and life to the world around us.