That’s your job

Posted by revarant on October 23, 2012
Posted in: Faith in Action. Leave a comment

Last summer, my youngest and I were in the shed making preparations to spray paint some outdoor furniture. I was trying to get the paint, the tape and other items that would be needed to do a good job. He was holding the paint, and begging to be allowed to do the spraying. Thinking that he couldn‘t make too much of a mess outside, I suggested that I would get things ready and he could paint. As soon as he got permission he disappeared, and I continued gathering supplies for a few more moments in the shed. When I walked outside he had already began painting the furniture. The problem was that it was leaning against the house, and spray paint was on the furniture and house. “SON, what are you doing?” I exclaimed. “Why didn‘t you move the furniture away from the house before you started?” To which he replied…”My job was to paint. Your job was to get things ready.”

It sort of reminds me of the parable of the Sower that Jesus told (Matthew 13:1-8). In it Jesus describes a farmer lavishly sowing seeds on the road, on rocky ground, among thorns and even in the good soil. The parable is intended to speak to the various conditions of people‘s hearts when they hear the word of God. But it also suggests to me that as God lavishly sows the seeds of grace in the world…it becomes our responsibility to help clear the rocks and thorns so that the seeds have a better chance of growing. God sows…we prepare.

We are surrounded by people who need the word of God in their lives. But they need to do more than just hear it…they need to feel it. They need to feel it in our touch, in our concern and in our embrace. That is our job as a Christian. God will lavishly sow the seeds, we need to move the rocks.

Footsteps

Posted by revarant on October 9, 2012
Posted in: Faith in Action, relationship, teaching by example. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

I enjoy gardening, but have not always lived in locations that made it feasible. Whenever possible, we always have planted a small garden. One year, our garden grew especially well and the vines stretched across the rows leaving very little room to walk. Our middle son was about three years old, and loved helping in the garden. I always gave special instructions on how to walk through the jungle of vines. But he never listened and always wound up falling on the vines. I never understood why he found it so difficult until I stopped walking long enough to watch him. Instead of looking for his own spots in which to step, he was trying to walk in my footsteps. Because I was taking such large steps, he kept falling down.

In his letter to Titus, Paul writes, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned… (Titus 2:7-8a).” This statement is made after several verses of Paul suggesting important topics that need to be taught to the people. Paul words remind us that teaching requires more than words…it requires a physical example.

Too often we are guilty of teaching with words only. We often forget that we are surrounded by people looking for a connection with God. Surrounded by people who are watching us so that they may know where and how step in order to experience God. It is not enough to talk about faith, prayer and worship. People need to physically see us connect with God in word and deed. There are many aspects of faith that cannot be explained, only experienced. People will always follow your footsteps more easily than they will follow your advice.

Mommy Should

Posted by revarant on September 26, 2012
Posted in: Faith in Action. Leave a comment

Several years ago, while picking up our then seven-year-old from school he handed me a coupon he had received for being a good citizen. He explained that he had done something nice and this was given to him. While I was telling him how proud I was of him, he interrupted me saying, “But I don‘t deserve it. Mommy does.” He said, “This is for people who always do nice. I did one thing; Mommy is always doing nice things for me.” When his mother came home, he gave her his award. She didn‘t need the coupon, but she did need to know that she was appreciated.

Most of us would have been content to simply recognize that someone else deserved recognition. Some may have even offered some verbal praise. But it is easy to fall short when we are focused more on our self than the big picture.

This is also true in deeper aspects of life. James 2:15-16 says, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ” Thoughts and words are not enough. Faith has to be put into action. We must respond to the needs around us with more than words.

We are surrounded by people with many and great needs. To meet those needs we must look beyond ourselves. We have been blessed in many ways, and if our faith is real it will motivate us beyond words and into action. God feeds the hungry and helps the hopeless through us.

Keeping Warm

Posted by revarant on September 12, 2012
Posted in: Faith in Action, Love, relationship. 1 Comment

Our middle son has always had a kind heart and a gentle spirit. When he was in kindergarten, he was always giving away his school supplies. He would come home and explain how someone else needed his pencil or crayons more than he did. I quit buying the fancy supplies, and often would send him with old crayons. And still he continued to share what he had. Each time I tried to convince him that he could share without necessarily giving everything away, he would always explain how much they enjoyed his supplies.

I was nearing the end of my patience when he came home one day wearing someone else‘s jacket. One warm morning he had forgotten his jacket as he left for school. As the day progressed it became cooler. While asking him about the jacket, he explained that he was cold and couldn‘t go outside to play at recess. He friends wanted to play with him so they offered to share their jackets. He then looked up and said something that I‘ll never forget…”You don‘t have to be cold when you share daddy.”

It is so easy to become isolated while we are working so hard to meet the needs of our families and ourselves. Often times it appears as if the only purpose in living is to make a living. As we work toward making a living, we can find ourselves striving for more and more as we begin to share less and less of ourselves with our community, with our friends and eventually even our own families and God.

Proverbs 29:23 says: “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.” This passage suggests that real fulfillment and accomplishment in life is found in the sharing of ourselves with and for others. It‘s a reminder that the only sure way to freeze to death is to be wrapped up in yourself.

I’m not 15 anymore

Posted by revarant on August 1, 2012
Posted in: Faith in Action, relationship, teaching by example. 7 Comments

I seem to be aging at an alarming rate. Just a couple of years ago, I was excited to find out that a new group for Young Clergy was being formed, and then I was told that I was no longer a “young clergy.” It seems as if it was just yesterday when I looked into the mirror and saw my fifteen year-old face staring back. Now my father seems to be impeding my view each morning when I look in the mirror.  If that wasn’t enough, there is this young man, who is taller than I am, walking around my home claiming to be my son. And somehow, the little baby I brought home from the hospital just a couple of years ago is in college.

Last week, my eleven year-old informed me that it was now his job to take care of me because I was old. After my initial shock, I asked him how he could possibly be qualified to take care of himself, his mother and me. Without missing a beat, he said, “Not a problem daddy. You taught me everything you know.”

In Deuteronomy, Moses is explaining the essence of the commandments to the people of Israel (chapters 10 and 11). In doing so, he tells them to embed God‘s words in their hearts and teach them to their children so that they and their children “may live a long time…on the soil that GOD promised…” In chapter four, Moses reminds the people not to forget what they saw God do, and to make sure they tell the children so that the children learn what God is capable of doing.

There seems to be an invisible line that we cross unknowingly when we move from the primary role of student to that of teacher. Although we never lose the need to learn, we must be willing to pass along that which we already know and have experienced. It is so easy to become too immersed in what we want to experience and learn that we fail to bring children and others along with us on the journey. If we don‘t hold open the door and teach, the truth dies with us. Our experiences and the lessons we‘ve learned will fade away. The real legacy that we leave will not be measured in what we‘ve learned and accomplished ourselves, but in the success that we have made possible by what we have taught to those who come after us.

Out of juice

Posted by revarant on July 16, 2012
Posted in: Perseverance. Leave a comment

A few years ago, my then three-year-old son asked me to play ball with him. I had spent the entire day doing heavy yard work and was completely exhausted to the point of my arms trembling. I simply was not physically able to play with him at that moment. I tried to explain my exhaustion to him by saying, “Son, daddy is just out of juice. I can‘t go anymore.” He seemed to understand, and disappeared about his own business while I found a place to sit and catch my breath. A few minutes later, he comes out of the house with an over-filled glass of something. Handing it to me…he said, “Here‘s more juice daddy! Now you‘re not out anymore!” It was funny, just playing with him made my weariness go away.

In the Gospel of John (2:1-10), Jesus is attending a wedding banquet that prematurely runs out of wine. The Jewish rabbis of the day had a saying, “Without wine there is no joy.” At this wedding…the joy had just run out. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also at the wedding, and knows that running out of wine before you run out of guest is a huge social embarrassment and problem for the new family. Attempting to give the couple a good start, she approaches her son, and insists that he do something. It‘s at this wedding that Jesus performs his first recorded miracle when he turns the water in six huge ceremonial cleansing jars into wine and restores the potential for joy.

Sooner or later we all face moments when the ―wine runs out‖ in our lives. There are times when we feel overwhelmed because the joy is gone. There are also times when we seem to just endure life without anymore juice. This passage reminds us that strength and joy are gifts of God, often given through fellowship with God and others. Each time we don‘t reach out to God for companionship and help, we isolate ourselves from ―the juice‖ we need to be filled with joy. Life can be wearisome alone, but connecting with God in worship fills our vessels with joy and keeps us from running out of juice.

Call my daddy!

Posted by revarant on July 9, 2012
Posted in: presence, Trust. Leave a comment

Last year, our youngest son was sick and my wife took him to the doctor. He has always been a “Daddy‘s boy,” wanting me close when he was sick or hurt. Unfortunately, our family had another crisis that day leaving me waiting for a repairman and unable to accompany them to the pediatrician.

At some point, my son called me from the doctor‘s office for no apparent reason. I never could understand why he called. He just chatted. When my wife picked up the phone, she said that he had insisted on “calling his daddy” for some courage before he received a shot. I later asked him what good it did to call me when I couldn‘t be there. Without looking up he said, “Hearing your voice reminds me that I will be okay…no matter what.”

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” promises God in the book of Isaiah, “and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you”(43:2). God never promises us that we will not face difficulties or hardships in life. Scripture is clear that troubles are part of life in this world. What God does promise us is that we will never be alone, and that we will not be over whelmed.

So often though we feel alone in the midst of these trials and hardships. But this Isaiah passage reminds us that God does not leave us alone. Many times we simply need to reach out and grab a hold to the extended hand of God. Remind ourselves of all the blessings God has placed in our paths, and all the promises God has kept. Sometimes we simply need to “Call our Father.”

Dirty laundry

Posted by revarant on July 3, 2012
Posted in: confession, relationship, repentance. Leave a comment

On the farm we learned to drive in the fields before we could drive on the road. In my case that led to overconfidence and poor judgment.Once, before I was old enough to drive I decided that it was foolish to ride my bike to the store when momma‘s car was parked in the garage. I didn‘t realize how much harder driving on a road would be, until I buried momma‘s car in a canal. I tirelessly worked pulling her car out of the canal with a tractor, then washing, waxing and cleaning it so that no evidence of my wrongdoing remained. Hours later, I left for ball practice with my friends confident that my parents would never know.

That was the worst practice I ever had. I couldn‘t remember the plays, keep my hands on the ball or even make decent blocks. I lost my starting position that day because I couldn‘t stop obsessing about keeping my secret. I returned home just in time for dinner. I found an extra helping of my favorite meal in front of my seat. I choked on every bite. My stomach was in knots wondering if they knew. Finally, I looked up and said, “Daddy, I wrecked momma‘s car today while you were gone.”  “Really?” he said. “Why can‘t we tell?”  When I had confessed the whole scene I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. It didn‘t matter what my punishment was going to be. It would never be worse than the heavy conscience I had before.

In the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus speaks about un-resolved feelings and issues that damage our relationships. He says, “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.” His point is simply that it is difficult move forward with our lives (physical or spiritual) until we have made peace with others for our actions and theirs. The feelings of fear, anger, guilt and resentment will consume our hearts and minds leaving little of us to enjoy God and the joy of life around us.

I still remember my father nearly laughing as he said, “I wondered how long it would take you to tell us. We already knew.” Often times we create more problems by ignoring life‘s issues. It would be helpful to remember that we will not be free to enjoy this journey until we‘ve unpacked our dirty laundry from the last one.

Life’s Logs

Posted by revarant on June 21, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

As a teenager I spent a great deal of time on the river fishing and camping with my friends. Even then comfort was high on our priority list – just under food. Our river trips generally lasted until the food ran out or bad weather set in.

Late one night we were trying to get home after a storm had drenched us, and folded up our tents. While traveling on a one-lane back road, we noticed that a tree had fallen, blocking our way. Being the nice guy that I am, I volunteered to get out in the rain and move it. As I approached the tree I noticed how large and awkwardly shaped it seemed to be. I really wasn‘t sure how I was going to move it alone, but I also wasn‘t going to let my friends know that I needed help. After a moment or two, I finally reached down and gave it a budge. About that time this log turned to stare at me, and flashed HUGE teeth!

Have you ever noticed how sometimes we don‘t recognize the truth when it appears different from what we expect? We expect fallen trees; we expect alligators in rivers; we do not expect alligators on roads. Even now I can remember being absolutely convinced that this was just another log. I am reminded of the scripture Matthew 14:22-33. Jesus had sent the disciples across the sea in a boat, and by himself had gone up the mountain to pray. Early in the morning Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water, but they did not recognize him, and were afraid. I have often wondered if they would have recognized him had he instead split the Red Sea like Moses (Exodus 14), or split the Jordan River like Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:8-9, 13-14). Maybe if he had crossed over on dry land like the Israelites did at the Red Sea and Jordan River (Joshua 3:14-17) they would have clearly seen God at work. Walking on water was something new – a different expression of God‘s power. But then, so was Jesus.

The expressions of God to which we have become accustomed, were, at one time, new. Often we fail to recognize the movements of God simply because they happen differently than any way we have previously experienced. Remember, that God can be found throughout scripture reaching out to humanity in many varying ways. In our journey to know Christ, be open to God‘s expressions what ever they may be, and lives will change, communities will be transformed, and churches will be renewed. My log-moving experience taught me two great life lessons that I still hold dear. First, some logs should be left alone to move themselves. And second, we should never let what we expect, keep us from seeing what is.

It’s Raining

Posted by revarant on June 12, 2012
Posted in: Prayer. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Several years ago a close friend planted his very first garden. He was about to be married and had moved into their Imagenew home early to get things ready. He was so proud of his garden that he worked in it with every free moment. Everyone who stopped by was expected to tour his “masterpiece.” Unfortunately, about midsummer the rain stopped, and the community was placed on drought precautions. Every night he would call me heartbroken, questioning if I was praying hard enough for rain. Some nights he insisted that I pray over the phone so he could hear. He even started a special prayer group at church praying for rain.

The drought continued, and his wedding quickly approached. Never once did he quit praying for rain. He even asked me to pray for rain during the wedding rehearsal. The next day appeared to have been specially created for the outdoor wedding they had planned. Everything was perfect…until lightning flashed across the sky. Without any warning the bottom fell out of the clouds and a massive downpour began. Fortunately we were able to move the wedding to our church across the street.As the groom and I swam to the church all he could do was complain about the rain.

How many times do we pray without faith? It seems that we don‘t always expect our prayers to be answered even though Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given unto you…(Matthew 7:7).” Even if we pray for rain we‘ll wait for the meteorologist to call for it before we carry an umbrella. And when our prayers are answered we just seem to complain that things didn‘t turn out like we wanted or expected. Jesus continues saying in Matthew 7, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”Many times the specifics of our prayers may not be in the best interest of ourselves or in God‘s plan, but God‘s answers and timetables always are.


When you pray…pray as one who KNOWS CHRIST and expects to receive. If you ask for rain then carry and umbrella. You may get exactly that for which you pray, and in the process you will MAKE CHRIST KNOWN. As it turned out, neither the bride nor the groom ever wanted an outdoor wedding. They both only believed that the other did. What a beautiful wedding gift God gave to them, the wedding they both really wanted. One thing is true; don‘t pray for the rain if you intend to complain about the mud!