Lenten Reflections: Build Up

"....love builds up." - 1 Corinthians 8:1

Within each of us lies the power to build up and destroy. We do a good job at construction, but unfortunately we demolish with greater skill and efficiency. We demolish what we've built, and take more pride in rubble than we do building supplies.  

Who have we demolished? Who have we built up? 

Demolition takes less time than construction. Demolition requires more force. 

Demolition is primal. 

Construction is evolutionary. 

Demolition is the world.

Construction is the Kingdom.

As followers of Christ, we've been built up. Demolition was our future, but through the love of Christ, we now have plans for construction and renovation. We been hired onto a construction crew. But in us still lies the choice. 

Being built up comes with a price. By being built up, Christ then calls us to build up.

A reciprocal construction contract.   

Build.

Build community.

Build relationships.

Build a new culture. 

Build the Kingdom.

We been given tools of construction, called to build up what we've previously destroyed; in our lives and the lives of others. Will we build up, as we've been built up? Will we construct.

Brick by brick, nail after nail, one stone at a time? Or one detonation?  

Build.

Lent is about realization. Lent is construction. But construction cannot begin without a clear analysis of what has been demolished. Our past is filled with demolition, but we begin looking forward to what our spirits can construct. Before us stands the Kingdom of God, with many projects in need of completion.  

Lord, send us Your Spirit, that we may be the kind of Church that builds, not destroys. Enable us to love one another, serve one another and forgive one another. Enable us to build rather than destroy. As You were torn down, help us to build up. As You have built us up, help us to build up as well, for the glory of Your Kingdom. Amen.  
 

Lenten Reflections: Death

"....and to dust you shall return." - Genesis 3:19

For a hard days sin, our payment is death. And we work hard for our sin, don't we? From morning to night, we labor for sin, cherish it, covet it and seal it away in the hidden places of life so that no one ever knows about it. But death soon finds each of us at the end of our lives, and a life of sin is what we present for the big payoff. We can't avoid it. We climbed the proverbial ladder of success, competed to be the best, screwed over those who deserved to be screwed, made the grade and accepted the honor. Sin perfected. 

"My sin is better than yours!"
We did what we set out to do.
Mission accomplished.
Now we get ours.
Payday.   

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

Lent magnifies the filth that is you and me. The ashes still linger from last Wednesday. They've been washed off, but the dirt still remains. It sears the skin and penetrates the pores. Ashes. A dark reminder of the inevitable end that we will all face.Yet through the paradox of the Resurrection, we are cleansed of the filth, healed of the wounds that cripple, the broken limbs that cause us to stagger and the pains of death that haunt. Christ breathes new life into the lifeless, rejected and formless filth that we are. All of the eternal promises of Eden come racing back and we find ourselves naked, but covered in filth.  

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

Lent reminds us that through Christ, death is no longer a payment that we have to bear out of our pockets.

We lost our debit cards.
We are out of checks.
No petty cash.

The expense lies on the One who mimicked our efforts and climbed the ladder of success of sin with us. He accepted the check and cashed it in, forging our signatures. Yet we still go through the motions. We mimic death, as He mimicked our sin.

Fake death for real sin.

UNeven exchange for services rendered.   

Lent portrays life. A micro-life in 40 days. A journey toward light, but filth that remains and darkness that overwhelms.

Thank God it's Friday.

But resurrection comes a few short days later. The check will be returned to us.

INSUFFICIENT FUNDS

Lord, Thank You for accepting the wages of our life of sin. By Your Spirit, breathe new life into us this day. Let Your Holy Spirit fill us, so that as we continue in our journey of Lent, we remain Holy as You are Holy. The journey is long. We know that we face death at the end. But through our faith in You, remind us and encourage us that Your Resurrection awaits us. May we be alive in You. Amen

Ash Wednesday Reflections

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Growing up Roman Catholic, Ash Wednesday was always a big day for those observing the liturgical Church calendar. Somewhat of the Christian's "Day of Atonement", Ash Wednesday is the first day of the 46 day Lenten season, which ends on Holy Saturday, April 19, the day before Easter Sunday. Lent is a time of spiritual reflection based on the forty days of temptation that Jesus faced in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11) Lent is a time of deep reflective prayer, fasting, sacrifice, spiritual self-examination and repentance, in anticipation of the day Christ sacrificed Himself in atonement for the sins of all mankind. Specifically, Ash Wednesday is a day to be reminded of our human mortality; the ashes being a sign of mourning over of the fragility of live and the sin that has birthed that condition. It calls us to repentance and begins a long 40 day journey of coming to terms with sin and committing ourselves to face it, wrestle with it and deal with it throughout the remained of the year.   

Growing up, I always perceived Ash Wednesday as the magical day when all "good " Christians somehow purged themselves of the debauchery and hedonism that has crept into their lives over the last year; especially after Mardi Gras. Mostly, I remember classes being cut short so that all good Catholic school students could attend Ash Wednesday Mass, and the subsequent embarrassment of walking around all day with "dirt" on my forehead. "Hey, church boy! You've got dirt on your head!" When I got home from school, my mom was always quick to remind me not to wash the ashes off until bedtime, but was more lenient once I started to develop acne. Those oily ashes can wreak havoc on a teenage forehead. I have always found it perplexing that some pastors have the skill of creating a perfect cross, while others only seem to manage an unidentifiable smudge.   

But as I look back on my spiritual journey, Ash Wednesday was merely a strict religious observance and nothing more. I had no idea why I was called to observe the day, and had no clue what the ashes were supposed to symbolize in terms of my faith. I was a faithful Catholic and believed in Christ, but in terms of dedication, giving up meat on Friday was about as far as I would go. Have you noticed all the fast food restaurants pushing fish on their menus lately? I wonder what McDonald's will do to rival the culinary delight of their "Fish McBites" from last year?    

So this year I'm wondering to myself if Lent is suppose to mean more than just giving up something? Is it more than marathon prayer meetings, fasting, reading scripture and other "religious" activities? Is there more to Ash Wednesday? Is there more to observing Lent? I think there is, but I think that most of us don't want to think about it, because Lent has to do with a really nasty word. OK, now I'm going whisper it so that no one else hears. Ready? "Sin". Gasp! There, I said it! I know. I know. No one likes to talk about it, right? But we're all screwed up anyway, so let's just throw it out there and get it out in the open.

When you get right down to it, Lent is about sin. It's about looking back and reflecting over the last year and coming face to face with all the crap that has infected our lives. It's about taking stock of our walk with Christ, and meditating on the areas that we have fallen short. And as we enter these 40 days together, it's a time to prepare ourselves for Easter. A time of the year that we stop and remember that our Christian faith revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and nothing more.

Lent is not about looking more "holy" because you have ashes on your forehead. It's not about fasting so that all your friends can see how dedicated you are. It's not about piously praying several times a day so that those you work with can witness your awesome dedication to God. And I've got news for you; it's not about sacrifice. God doesn't want out lame sacrifices anyway.

When we think of Lent, we automatically think of giving up something, right? We give up sweets, coffee, smoking, technology, drinking, sex (no way!), anger, meat, cussing, etc...etc...etc. And although sacrifice is a vital aspect of the Lent experience, I think it has become a distraction from what what we are really called to as followers of Christ. We live in a culture, and are even part of a Church, that finds it politically incorrect to talk about sin. We don't like to confess sin to one another, because that makes us "bad" Christians. We don't like to hold someone accountable for sin, because that would be judgmental. And let's face it, in the post-modern church of today, sin is offensive. It's become intolerant to even mention sin for fear that others might think we're religious zealots.

Now, I am in no way advocating that we pursue campaigns of judging one another, and I'm not suggesting forms of self-righteousness. I'm not even asking us to feel bad about our faults and failures. We carry enough guilt during the rest of the year. Like I said, we're all screwed up to some extent, and those of you that know me know that I'm up there with the worst of them. I guess what I'm getting at is that maybe it's time to observe Lent for what it is: a time of repentance. Repentance is a good thing when you think about it. It's not about some angry person on the street corner screaming, "REPENT!"  It's not about doom and gloom, fire and brimstone and God's wrath on pathetic worthless sinners like you and me. Repentance, when you get right down to it, is about loving one another. When we call each other to turn from our sins and turn back to God, we are essentially communicating to them that we care about them. It's about saying to those we love, "Repent! Please! Because I love you and see what a freaking mess your life is! And my life is a mess too!  Help me! I'll help you! We're in this together!"

So, as we begin Lent on this Ash Wednesday, let's commit to the discipline of repenting. It really is an ancient discipline, when you get right down to it. Repent! And do me a favor. Challenge me to repent as well, especially when I fall short. Because I will fall short again and again. I promise. Because I'm a mess.

Love One Another - Part V

"I love you"  We hear these words fairly often, either directly or indirectly. Our spouses, children, friends, acquaintances and even strangers will express their love for us and each other by words or by loving actions. We overhear the communication of love within our communities, hear it in song or see it expressed in movies or television. Consequently, we return an expression of love by affirming love for others in our lives. In it's purest form, love is reciprocal; an action that demands reaction and vice-versa.

But how do we react when the reciprocal nature of love is absent? How do we love and express love to those in our lives that are not easy to love? How do we love when love is not returned to us or even acknowledged by the other person?

The familiar words of John 13:34 call to us from the lips of Christ, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." He makes no promise that love will be returned to us, or even that it will be received as a welcome sentiment. There is no expectation or guarantee that we will see the benefits of love, or that a tangible manifestation will be created for the common good of society. Quite simply,we are called to love. But there's a subtle catch that may or not have been intentional.

When the command to "love one another" reaches the ears of those who hear, we cannot ignore the "one another" present within the command. If you and I are sitting in a room together and hear the words, "love one another", can we ignore the fact that if we are loved, we must express love in return? Christ doesn't simply compel us to "love others". We are called to "love one another". If heard in isolation, the command would make no sense, but it is meant to be heard, responded to and acted upon based on community. The assumption is that there will always be an "another" in any situation in which love is expressed.  So, while we may never be promised that love will be returned to us, we can rest in the essential co-existing nature of love. As with the air that we breath, love is sent forth and love is brought back within.

In our continuing discussion of what it means to "love one another", I asked the following friends to contribute a few sentences on what the concept means to them. Can you spot the common theme?   
    

"For me, "love one another" is action, not just feelings. In fact, it's action in spite of feelings. And for me, the action boils down to just being kind."

- David Hayward 

 David Hayward has a Masters in Theological Studies as well as in Ministry and Religion and has served local churches for over 30 years. He left the professional ministry in 2010 and launched an online spiritual community called The Lasting Supper. He is best known as the nakedpastor, a graffiti artist on the walls of religion.

 “Loving one another is being kind, caring, committed and compassionate towards others...loving other people as Christ loves us. It's not an easy task and it goes against human nature, but it is God's loving nature to love us in spite of all our faults...to look past all the sins and all the warts and see and love the beautiful person God has created. I think it is also about forgiving...simply striving to be Christ-like in an ungodly world....” 

- Jerri Brezik

Jerri is a leader at Hope Church in Houston, Texas, currently serving as a prayer ministry leader and leading prayer servant training. She is also actively involved with praise team and choir. She was baptized in the Baptist Church and grew up in the Christian Church. Jerri is a Retired NASA contractor manager and has been married to her husband Jim for 26 years. Between them both they have three children and four grandchildren. 

“To love one another is to help all people become most fully themselves. This goes beyond the golden rule of doing to others as we would like done to ourselves, but means understanding others so well that we treat them as they desire to be treated. While this often involves helping remove roadblocks and injustices that stand in others' way, it starts with seeing and accepting others as themselves and not through the lens of who we would like them to be.” 

- Julie Goss Clawson

Julie is an author, speaker, and mother who lives in Austin, TX. She is the author of Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices and The Hunger Games and the Gospel. Connect with Julie at julieclawson.com 




“Every definition of what it means to Love One Another will risk oversimplification: "To serve in a way that leads to friendship, but does not demand it." Love is serving others, even enemies, in a way that might make possible a friendship; not based on competition but unconditional admiration. Friendship is better than sacrifice. "Self-sacrifice" is not an end but a means to a eudaemonistic end of loving friendship. "

- ChrisHaw
Chris is the author of two books: Jesus for President (2008) and From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart (2013). He lives with his family near Notre Dame University, where he is doing his PhD in theology and peace studies. For the last ten years he worked as a carpenter and adjunct professor (and a bunch of other stuff) in Camden, NJ. Connect with Chris at chrishaw.com

 "I believe loving one another well means seeing them through the eyes of Christ. It is not approaching the relationship in a way of thinking "how can I serve you" or "what can I gain from our relationship" it is recognizing that each person is a Creation of the Almighty and is Holy and Dearly loved in His sight. It is in focusing on that aspect of a person that allows you to Love them as Christ does." 

- Erika Steele
Erika is Executive Director of Lighthouse Christian Ministries, a non-profit in Bacliff, TX.  She is blessed to be the wife of an amazing Christian man and the mom of two energetic, bouncing five year old twins. 

Amen

While having coffee with a friend of mine last week, he shared with me a personal experience that he had while running and what the word "Amen" really means. As the repetitive nature of running is often conducive to simple thought, he began to ask what place the word actually has in our prayer and communion with God. We utter the word almost instinctively in conclusion of a prayer or use it when discussing something that we approve of. But how many of us have ever stopped to meditate on what the word really means? This got me thinking and my thoughts came to fruition this morning while listening to a conversation in Starbucks.

Two young men were having a discussion revolving around the recent execution of Edgar Tamayo in Huntsville last week. From the details, words and phrases of their conversation, I could tell that they were Christians. And I quickly came to the conclusion that they not only approved of the execution, but seemed to be somewhat joyful that this man was dead. As the conversation began to wind down and it was clear that their discussion was about to change gears, one man declared with finality, "Well, he's finally dead and that's one more illegal alien scum bag that we don't have to worry about anymore."  His friends response? "Amen!"

Amen. Think about that for a moment.  

The word has a Hebrew origin and basically means "so be it". It has developed in Christianity to express strong agreement and confirmation of the context of the prayer. With the declaration of "Amen", one is expressing that all that has been prayed for, asked for or uttered with thanksgiving, is being agreed with in the assumption that God approves, agrees and accepts your words as being in union with His perfect will. One could make the argument that from our perspective, prayer in it's purest form is uttering the words of God, assuming that His words would be the exact words that we offer to Him.

"Well, he's finally dead and that's one more illegal alien scum bag that we don't have to worry about anymore." 

"Amen!" 

My goal is not to debate the moral grounds of the death penalty or defend my personal beliefs. The argument can be theologically and Biblically defended from both sides of the issue. There are strong opinions from both perspectives and if approached from love and humility, I respect both views. But as with most issues within Christianity, my concerns rise more from the heart that guides a person to reach a certain perspective, rather than the complexities of the issue itself.

The conversation that I overheard this morning really had nothing to do with support or opposition of the death penalty. Obviously, these two men supported the capital punishment and I respect their freedom to hold that belief. What I don't support is the apparent hatred of this man and the celebration of his death, rather than isolating their emotions to his actions. What I don't support is the "amen" that God would somehow celebrate an execution, preceded by a pattern of death by a man who God loved as much as He does you and I.

We live in a dark world and a culture that sometimes seems to be consumed by death. We witness evil and the results that come from evil actions. Unfortunately, we do not always have complete control of what our eyes see and what our hearts ingest. We process what we experience, filter the information and emotions and decide how we will outwardly react. We can choose to allow our pain to cause us to react with anger and hatred, thus perpetuating the cycle of pain for others. Or we can choose to shut down the cycle, healing what has been broken and loving when it's hard.  Our emotions can lie, but they can never keep us from externally expressing truth. What would that look like? How would our culture change?

Can I get an amen?