faith

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Catch me!

Posted by revarant on April 15, 2013
Posted in: Faith, relationship. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

DSC_0052I have never been much of a traveler. I simply don‘t like being away from my family. A few years ago, I had to spend more than a week on the other side of the Country in school. I returned home and found my youngest son playing on the deck of his tree house. No one seemed to notice my return or even miss me enough to be looking out for my arrival. I quietly approached his tree house and just stood there with arms full of luggage for a few minutes as I watched him play. All of a sudden he saw me and took off running. Without any warning, he jumped from the top of his tree house toward me yelling…”CATCH ME DADDY!” Without any thought, everything in my arms fell as I reached up and plucked him from mid-air. “Son,”I said, “Please don‘t ever jump like that again. I could have dropped you.” Without ending his hug he said, “No Daddy, You never drop me!”

In difficult times, it is easy to worry about failure and falling. It can even be overwhelming when we realize how many people are expecting us to “CATCH” them. If we are not careful, fear of dropping everything, even the ones we love, will render us helpless. In Luke 12:6-7a, Jesus says, “What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head!” Jesus is trying to reassure those to whom he is speaking that they are not in their struggles alone. God is with them. He goes on to say that we should use our lives to proclaim our faith. He‘s suggesting that we focus on living faithfully in the small ways, trusting that God will provide the guidance and answers for the journey. In other words, tend to what we can in the best and most faithful way we can. If we let worry and fear grip us, everything will fall.

My son was right to expect me to drop everything to catch him. I always do. Jesus even says that we‘re “…worth more than a million canaries. (Luke 12:7a)” If we tend to what we can, as faithfully as we can…God will not drop us.

Like jumping off a bridge

Posted by revarant on November 6, 2012
Posted in: Faith, Faith in Action. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

As a child, swimming in a creek near our home was one of our favorite summer pastimes. All of my friends loved to jump off the bridge into the deep end of the creek. Not being able to swim, my father always had to jump with me causing me much grief from the other kids. Daddy tried everything to teach me, and I continued to swim like a rock. No matter what method or even how often daddy tried, he always wound up fishing me out after my failed attempt. I became so discouraged that I started looking for excuses not to go swimming with all my friends.

One day my father took me to the top of the bridge and said, “Son, you know everything you need to know to swim, you‘re just afraid to let go of me.” After some talking and lots of “fatherly persuasion” he convinced me to jump off the bridge alone, promising to be waiting in the deep end to help me. Just before he jumped into the water he said, “Son, I promise.” I can still feel my heart racing as I closed my eyes and hesitantly took that first step off the bridge‘s guard rail. It turned out to be one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

We often let fear and past failures hold us back in life. Many times we know what our hearts are leading us to do, we are just too fearful to let go so the fun can begin. In Matthew 14, the disciples see Jesus walking on the water. Peter feels led to join Jesus on the water, and allows his faith in Jesus to give him the courage to step out of the boat. It doesn‘t go perfectly. Peter winds up sinking into the sea only to be fished out by Jesus. But for a few moments Peter also walked on the water. He made other mistakes, like lopping off the ear of a priest‘s servant when Jesus was arrested (John 18:10) and even denying knowing Jesus while Jesus was on trial (Matthew 26:69-75). Peter could have let fear of failing again hamper his faith and ministry. Instead he kept trying, and became a foundational teacher and example of faith.

There are times when we need to stop dreaming and start walking. There are times when we simply must follow the spiritual pull on our hearts, trusting God‘s promises and put our past behind us. The real joys of faith and life will never be found standing on the shores, but out on the water where Jesus is. Often times it simply takes the first step, almost like jumping off a bridge. Mistakes do slow us down, but they don‘t have to take us out of the game.

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.

Stop Talking so you can hear!

Posted by revarant on May 14, 2012
Posted in: Prayer. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

A few years ago, my youngest son found me alone in the sanctuary of our church, kneeling at the altar praying aloud. He sat quietly on the front row until I had finished. As I sat down beside him, he asked, “Daddy, what were you doing?” ‘Well, son…,’ I said…’I was praying.’

He had seen me pray aloud in church before, but there were people present. Looking back, it was probably an interesting site from the perspective of a four year-old. I told him in essence that prayer was a conversation with God. He looked puzzled for a moment, and I wasn‘t sure that he understood. But just before I tried to explain further he asked, “If this was a conversation with God, why were you the only one talking?” “Laughing, I said, ―I wasn’t.” ‖ I went on to explain that when I had difficulty hearing God in my life, often praying aloud would help. After thinking for a moment he said, “Next time use your inside voice so we can both hear God.”

Elijah seemed to have a similar problem hearing God. He had just been part of one of the greatest displays of God‘s power and presence (I Kings 18-19:18) when he found himself despondent. At a mouth of a cave at Mount Sinai, Elijah finds himself waiting for the Lord to physically come by him. Elijah witnessed a windstorm, a earthquake and fire…but God was not in them. God appeared in a still soft voice.

The story reminds me of how easy it is to let life‘s noise crowd out God‘s voice. God is always speaking to us, always reaching out to us. We are just not always spiritually settled enough to hear. God speaks to us through scripture, through teachers, friends and spouses. God even speaks to us through children who remind us to ̳be quiet and listen.‖ If we are going to have an on going conversation with God, we‘ll need to learn to listen to all the ways God speaks. We need to intentionally look for what God is saying in each moment. When we do so, the voice of our lives will be soft enough for everyone around us to also hear God.

Is this enough?

Posted by revarant on April 14, 2012
Posted in: Faith in Action, Strength. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

I‘ve heard this story told about me most of my life. Although I remember it happening, I don‘t remember the impact of which everyone speaks. When I was about four or five years old, our small church was in need of funds to pay-off a balloon payment on a mortgage debt. Our pastor gave a plea expressing the need in a way that tugged on my heart.

I can remember sitting alone on the front row fiddling in my pockets for all the money I could find to give. According to all the adults, I walked into the pulpit and interrupted the sermon to ask Preacher Finklea if my .54¢ would be enough to help the church. I do remember him taking the change out of my hands and telling me that he thought it would be just enough. According to him, after church an older gentleman who had been opposed to the original loan handed him a check to cover the entire loan balance (minus .54¢). On the way out of the church, the older gentleman supposable said, “Don‘t think what that little boy did had anything to do with this!”

How much of that story is true, and how much of it has been embellished by time I‘ll never know. But what it does illustrate is the connectedness of God‘s kingdom. We often think that we are not talented enough, or spiritually mature enough to participate or help in ministry. But Paul writes “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (I Corinthians 12:22).” Everyone can be in ministry. Everyone regardless of our age, size, abilities or inabilities has role to play in God‘s kingdom. In fact, Paul identifies the weakest and least likely to be the most indispensable.

When we are aware of our own weaknesses, we tend to lean much more on God. Our work in the midst of our weaknesses often proclaims God‘s grace and strength. Jesus was able to take a few loaves and fish from a small boy and feed a multitude of people. God was able to take a child‘s .54¢ and pay off a mortgage. God knows that we are not perfect, and not the most talented when God calls us. All God is looking for from us is a willingness to what we can do in any given moment. God will always multiply it and do the rest.

Basket Cases

Posted by revarant on June 15, 2010
Posted in: Perseverance, Trust. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Quite a few years ago, my little girl fell and deeply cut her chin. It obviously needed stitches. I tend to be very calm in crisis situations, and this occasion was no different. I arranged for friends to care for my son as my daughter and I went to the doctor‘s office. I walked into a special room and noticed a large padded chair. The chair was so out-of-place in this sterile room. I leaned over my daughter as they begin to care for her. All of a sudden I felt weak. My face started sweating and evidently lost its color. It wasn’t long before I felt as if I would pass out. The doctor whispered to me, “That‘s what the chair is for.” My daughter remained remarkably calm, asking every moment or so if I were still in the room.

I had never before felt queasy at the sight of blood. I had never had a problem with one of the boys getting stitches or IVs. And I was not even watching the doctor. I was only talking with my daughter. But I could not stand the thought of this happening to my little girl. It actually continued to trouble me for several more weeks, mainly because I spend a lot of time around sickness and death. Somewhere deep inside, I felt concerned that I might lose “my cool” again. And nobody ever wants a basket case for a pastor.

No matter how collected you are, at some point life will throw you a curve. We will all face situations or circumstances that seem to knock us for a loop. At times we just need to ask if God is still in the room for more assurance. I am reminded of Moses. When Pharaoh was slaughtering the male infants; Moses’ mother set him adrift in a crocodile infested river riding in a basket. That must have been the darkest moment of her life. Yet God watched over Moses, even cared for him as he grew. When Moses fled Egypt, God found him and called him home to lead his people to the Promised Land. Even Paul suffered many things in his life. He lost his lifestyle, his friends and the respect of the Jewish religious community. On several occasions he even lost his liberty and health. Yet in the midst of all these problems, he said “I can do all things in him that strengthened me.” (Philippians 4:13)

We are all called to more than knowledge of Christ. We must also make Christ known. If we truly trust God, our countenance will teach it in good times and bad, in smooth circumstances and rough. No matter what problem with which we must deal, God will provide guidance. No matter what loss we experience, God will provide comfort. Even in times of weakness and despair, God is there. We are never alone, even in our lowest moments. After all, even Moses was once a basket case.