Who are you pretending to be?

"All mortals eventually become what they are pretending to be." - Uncle Screwtape, from C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters

Reading from this book last night, this passage hit me particularly hard, in two ways. First, there are things that I don't picture myself as, that my actions probably say I am. It made me ask: what do my actions say about who I am, and how does that line up with or contradict who I think I am? For instance, I say it's stupid to be obsessed with celebrities, but every once in a while I find myself stealing glances at the Life section of USA Today or sneaking a quick peak at who's dating whom on the AOL entertainment page. My words say one thing, my actions say something else. What about you? Do you say you're recovered but still sneak a drink once in a while? Do you say you're faithful to your wife, but just like to flirt a little? Right now, you are faithful, but you're pretending to be unfaithful. Will you eventually become what you're pretending to be? Will I?

On the other hand, if our actions are positive, we can use them to improve our attitude. As a runner, I know that even on days I don't feel like going out, often just a short 1/2 mile or mile jog will help improve my attitude to the point where I'm able to complete the entire workout. By pretending to be a runner that day, even if I don't feel like one, I can become one.

An old pastor friend of mine used to say it this way: Right thoughts follow right actions. At times, even when we don't feel like doing something positive, we can do it, and then we'll feel like it. So, here are some things that may aspire to. Maybe we should pretend to be them, so we will become them:

Want to be generous? Try giving.
Want to be loved? Try loving someone.
Want to be joyful? Try laughing.
Want to have a friend? Try being one.
Want to be forgiven? Try forgiving.

Peace.

The future president's church life

I was a little disturbed today when I read that Barak Obama, who was pretty upfront about his relationship with God during the campaign, announced that he hasn't attended church since the election. Instead, the Wunderkind is working on his figure at the gym Sunday mornings. It makes cynical little me wonder... was it all for show? Surely one wouldn't attend church every Sunday for months on end, in front of the TV cameras, just for the purposes of campainging, would one?

Mr. Obama claims he doesn't want to cause a distraction or disturbance at a church that wasn't prepared for him. And that's a good point. After all, the purpose of a church service is to worship The One True God, and anything that forces a distraction from that would not be good. I respect his decision to keep other worshippers in mind as he struggles with this question.

On the other hand, you can't believe his presence in churches didn't cause distractions during the campaign. And, he's not been afraid to attract a crowd at Sunday services before, see here and here. And it just seems pretty convenient to come up with an excuse to stop doing something that isn't really who you are.

Mr. Obama clearly thinks faith has an important place in politics... he said so himself. And Christian author/blogger Donald Miller claimed that his biggest reason for supporting Mr. Obama for president was his relationship with God.

Now, I don't pretend to know the real reason for Mr. Obama's about face. 2 Chronicles 6:30 says only God knows a man's heart. Therefore, I want to believe that Mr. Obama's reasoning is the whole truth. But, I hope the future president keeps this in mind... God is there in good times and in bad. I know people whose lives have gotten so bad, they try to shut God out thinking he's not going to help anyway. But, if we're not careful, we can shut Him out when life is good, too, thinking that we've got it all under control. I hope that doesn't happen to the future leader of the free world.

When president Obama is leading this country, I desperately desire for the lines of communication with his maker to be wide open. To that end, I beg him to find a church home for his family and fast.

So, what do you think? Do you agree with the president-elect's reasoning? What would you do?

Is your wife more spiritual than you are?

Wives must not disrupt worship, talking when they should be listening, asking questions that could more appropriately be asked of their husbands at home. God's Book of the law guides our manners and customs here. Wives have no license to use the time of worship for unwarranted speaking. Do you—both women and men—imagine that you're a sacred oracle determining what's right and wrong? Do you think everything revolves around you? - 1 Corinthians 14:34-36

This is yet another indication of how men are called to be the spiritual leaders of their families. Granted, this passage goes against our modern ways of thinking about home life and church, but Paul is emphatic that husbands should be able to answer the spiritual questions from their wives.

Men often neglect the study of scripture as too ethereal, too time consuming, too boring, or just not football-y enough. But, if we don't read and study and spend time in God's word, how can we really be what we're called to be - spiritual leaders of our households?

In Spanish, there are two words for "read." The word "recitar" (to read) means to read in a way you can repeat, or "recite" the text. The word "estudiar" also means read, but to read deeply, to study. I need to estudio mas and recito menor.

My wife gets up early to read her bible. My wife goes to a bible study with other women, as well as our small group study. My wife prays daily, and not just before meals (I KNOW!) I need to do a better job of being a spiritual head of my family. How about you?

The Theology of Hypocrites

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. - Romans 2:3-4

Everyone hates a hypocrite. Some of the more enduring and fascinating news stories involve people who are getting their "just desserts" for something they've railed against in the past. A well-known pastor who teaches against homosexuality caught in a homosexual relationship. A politician who made his name as a tough crimefighter caught up in a prostitution ring. There aren't many things that get people excited like seeing a once-smug celebrity doing the perp walk.

You don't have to ask too many non-christians what they think about Christians before the word "hypocrite" comes up. If you didn't know, the word hypocrite comes from the Greek, literally meaning "actor." Specifically, a hypokrites was an actor in a Greek play who played multiple characters, and had to "change faces" throughout the course of the drama. So how did Christians seem to co-opt this description? Well, for one thing, many Christians have become known far better for what they are against than what they are for. We're more interested in boycotting McDonalds because of their stance on homosexuality than we are on reaching homosexuals for Christ. We're far more inclined to protest abortion clinics than teach scared teen girls about the love of God.

Paul had this exactly right in this verse above from Romans...pointing the finger at other's misdoings does not forgive us our own. In fact, boldly proclaiming the wrongs of others intensifies the spotlight on our own sin, and makes it so much more satisfying to naysayers when we eventually show our human side.

When Jesus gave instructions, he told us to "go and do." Not go and protest. Not go and boycott. Not go and complain about. Go and do. If we would spend more time doing for others instead of judging them, maybe the word "Christian" wouldn't leave such a bad taste in a lot of mouths.

Passover / 4th of July... Same Dif?

The king now commanded the people, "Celebrate the Passover to God, your God, exactly as directed in this Book of the Covenant."

This commanded Passover had not been celebrated since the days that the judges judged Israel—none of the kings of Israel and Judah had celebrated it. But in the eighteenth year of the rule of King Josiah this very Passover was celebrated to God in Jerusalem. - 2 Kings 23:21-23 (The Message)

"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana

Josiah was a good king in God's eyes. The Message tells us that "He kept straight on the path blazed by his ancestor David, not one step to either left or right." But one of the most amazing things he did was to reinstitute the celebration of the Passover.

Passover is a traditional Jewish celebration of the time when the Hebrews were rescued out of slavery in Egypt. Following God's commands, the Jews painted blood on their door frames. As God passed through the land, killing all the firstborn sons, He would "pass over" the homes that had blood around the door, and the Jews were let go. After this miracle, God told them to always remember this day, to keep it close to their hearts and use it to teach their children about God's faithfulness. But king after king had failed to follow God's command about this, and the practice of passover was forgotten for generations. Until Josiah came along.

As I was thinking about the 4th of July this morning, I thought about what my kids know about the holiday. Basically, they know fireworks, watermelon, and a 3-day weekend (my kids don't yet get the whole concept of the weekend other than that Daddy's home). But they don't yet understand how fortunate they are to live in this country. They don't know how our fathers and grandfathers fought and died to defend their right to do anything they want (or nothing at all). They don't understand the price that was paid for their freedom, and they won't unless I teach them.

The sad truth is, as a society, we're quickly reaching the point where people don't care. War has become political, instead of about fighting for freedom. In fact, I don't think this country will ever win another war - we just don't have the stomach for it. In the 24-hour news culture, people have become numb to the travesties and trevails of oppressed people all around the world who didn't win the life's lottery that is a US citizenship.

So this weekend, I'm whipping out the Declaration of Independence. At quiet times, I'm going to forgo the Sunday paper in lieu of George Washington's prayer journal. I'm going to try, in my best 6- and 4-year-old speak, to explain to my girls how blessed they are to grow up here. To talk about how God has been faithful in protecting them, and how we need always to be mindful of His awesome provision for us.

Have a great 4th.

Other than a "for rent" sign...

Question for the day. In his latest book, Pop Goes the Church, Pastor/Author Tim Stevens asks the question, "If your church were to disappear tomorrow, would anyone even notice?" Other than the people who would now meet at Bob Evans on Sunday, other than the 10:45 traffic jam, would the community notice? In other words, is your church making an impact in the community? Is my church?

As I met with a group of teenagers last night, we were talking about what God cares about. They came up with several things - racism, hatred, starvation. I asked them what they were going to do about it. They also complained that adults don't take teens seriously, that many of them think teens are just troublemakers. I asked them what they were going to do about THAT. So, they now have a challenge for the summer.

Here's yours: many people think Christians are hypocrites, as we would rather blame people for the world's ills than fix them. At the same time, people are hurting and broken all around us. What is your church going to do about that? What is ours going to do about that? A challenge for this summer.

For whom to root in Eugene?

Maybe you don't follow track and field except for every 4th August. If that's the case, you may not know that the US Womens 10,000 meters field will be loaded with talent at the USATF Olymic Trials in Eugene, Oregon June 27-July 6. Among the women competing in that event are Shalane Flanagan, the current US record holder in the 10,000, Kara Goucher, Jen Rhines, Katie MacGregor, and Blake Russel, who has already qualified for the marathon in Bejing. But, with all of these talented women, it will be hard for me not to root hard for Alicia Shay when the gunshot echoes throughout historic Hayward field on June 27.

If you don't know, Shay's husband Ryan died during the Olympic men's marathon trials in New York City last fall. After that totally unexpected and tragic event, Alicia's training obviously suffered. But, she has remained steadfast in her faith and has been a stellar example of how to deal with adversity. In the article linked above, she says, "When something like this happens, you're stripped down to the core. What remains is what you believe, what's at your foundation. At a time where I should be angry at God and angry that this happened . . . I'm in awe with the love of God and how he has carried me. I'll get to the point where I feel like I can't breathe, and every time God picks me up. He just keeps meeting me right at the point of my need. That's something you can't learn in Sunday school."

In the meantime, she helped Saucony establish the Ryan Shay Fund, to honor her late husband's passion to help disadvantaged individuals, groups, and communities, as well as to fund American distance runners in need. Here is some video of the event.



Sooooo, if you don't already have your favorites to go to Bejing, please think about spending 32 minutes of your life rooting for Alicia Shay on June 27.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.- Jeremiah 29:11

Preparing for God knows what

"Master," said David, "don't give up hope. I'm ready to go and fight this Philistine."
Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced—and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."
David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine."
Saul said, "Go. And God help you!" - 1 Samuel 17:32-37

One of the things I love about the story of David was how he waited on the Lord. In this case, up against Goliath, David seemed to have no trouble looking back at all the seemingly mundane things that happened in his life and knowing that they had prepared him for this very moment.
I mean, before this ever happened, we know that God had annointed David to be the next king of Israel. It woul have been easy for him to excuse himself from his shepherding duties in order to push forward toward being king. Instead, David was faithful with the little tasks he needed to do (tending sheep, killing lions and bears), and that faithfulness prepared him for the major task of killing Goliath and saving the nation of Israel. We know, of course, that this task made David famous among all of Israel (and even today), and was a defining moment in his becoming king.
There is a great parallel here to the story of Joseph, I think. In Joseph's case, he had a dream early in his life that he would rule over his brothers and his father. But, rather than push that dream, he was faithful in the little things God gave him to do. When sold into slavery, Joseph became the very best slave he knew how to be, and he was promoted to run the household. When put in prison, he was a model prisoner, and ended up being appointed to be in charge of the other inmates. All of this led to Joseph's life being preserved so that he is eventually made second in command in Egypt and is able to save the nation of Israel.
My tendancy, and maybe yours, is not to wait. My tendancy is to see what I want and run headlong into it, forgetting what little things I might need to do. Why bother doing well at my job, if God has something bigger for me down the road? Why should I help pick up toys? Why bring my wife flowers, since God has already shown me how much she loves me?
Jesus said he who is faithful with little things will be faithful with much. I need to do a much better job of waiting on God and being faithful in the little things.

Having no king

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.- Judges 21:25

It's easy to read the book of Judges and wonder what God is up to. People killing each other left and right, committing sexual sin, doing basically whatever they want. So this verse that ends the book of Judges, and in fact is a constant refrain throughout the book, seems to explain that fact. With no king to direct them, they did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Obviously, it's no different today. True, we have a president and a congress and a judicial system and governors, mayors, senators, city councilors, police officers, and other officials that tell us what we can and can't do. But American government really just represents the minimum standard for how we should act. In fact, the whole premise of the constitution is limited government over our actions- as it should be. But this doesn't mean we should do whatever seems right in our own eyes.

Primum non nocere is one of the first concepts students are taught at medical school. It translates in English as "first, do no harm." This is great instruction for our future doctors, but it is certainly not all-inclusive. They go on in medical school to learn how to actually do good.

In the same way, we can't make a difference in the world by just following the law- just doing no harm. We must decide to do good. Having no king, though, we often decide to do what seems right in our own eyes. It is only by having a set of standards- a measuring stick, a "moral code" as it were- that we can know what is good and what is not.

Having no king in your life is a lonely place to be. Now that I have a King, I am pushed to do the things that are right in His eyes. It's not enough to "first, do no harm." If only all the people had a King...

The prayer of a Christian leader

Don't let those who look to you in hope
Be discouraged by what happens to me,
Dear Lord! God of the armies!

Don't let those out looking for you
Come to a dead end by following me—
Please, dear God of Israel! - Psalm 69:6 (The Message)

David's plea is the prayer of many Christian leaders. It probably should be the prayer of many more. He basically says, "Don't let others stumble because of what I do."

There's a perception that when we become Christians we will always be shiny, happy people. Remember the old song, "I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time?" We teach that to our kids! Well, I don't know about you, but it's not always true for me. Unfortunately, that's sometimes what people expect from followers of Christ. God forbid you should have a bad day. God forbid you should have a problem in your marriage. God forbid you should suffer from depression, or anxiety, or make a poor decision, or do anything that proves you're not perfect.

Leaders, you are under a lot of scrutiny. Christian leaders are watched especially intently. Some people look to them for examples, others look for them to make mistakes so they can revel in them. All of us who are passionate about helping people find their way back to God should make this our prayer..."Don't let those who look to you in hope be discouraged by what happens to me." Let's point people to Christ, not to our lives, as examples.