What kind of hope do we need?

In March 2020, without warning, most of us were asked (or forced) to leave many good things behind. And we found ourselves in a very new place – “quarantine” and “social distancing” – wearing safety masks and gloves for the sake of others.

And now, in the midst of this COVID pandemic, we are in a world that seems shaken by uncertainty and fear.

Many of us are suffering personal loss in this pandemic. Many are suffering abrupt unemployment; many have lost loved ones to COVID; and many people live with the gnawing uncertainty of caring for loved ones.

And for most of us, quarantine and isolation means losing the freedom to enjoy the “good and normal” things of life – like going out to a favorite restaurant… shopping at the local Farmer’s Market … strolling through the museums … picnicking at the park… going to a baseball game…

Like everyone, I hope for the day when I can do these “good and normal” things once again

But if we’ve learned anything recently, it’s that we aren’t guaranteed of anything, much less the good and normal things in our life.

So, it might be a mistake to harbor a heart-felt, personal hope that life will be “good again” some day – a hope that once this quarantine is over, everything we need and want in life will be returned to us, and we’ll be “good.” 

Frankly, I can feel the tug in my heart to find assurance in that hope - that one day, these good and refreshing things will be returned to us, and that I can relax again.  I feel the lure of hoping for a life that will be better, and somehow that “better” will provide peace and joy.

And yet, this lure or tug in my heart feels a lot like idolatry to me.

We tend to think that idols are inherently evil. But an idol is anything we desire, or seek after, in place of God himself. In fact, our idols can be some of the good things given to us by a good and loving God. We can look to his good gifts for comfort and hope before we want to trust him or know him.

It is interesting that this COVID crisis is happening during the Christian Easter season. Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and his resurrection is all about hope.

As Christians, we share a  “…living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

For those who love Christ, “hope” is not wishful thinking. Hope is not simply wanting the best, or trying hard to think the best. Hope is not seeking the assurance that “we’ll all make it through this!”

A “living hope” is the expectancy that God is all we truly need. That in him, we can find true and lasting peace and comfort and provision.

Christ’s resurrection makes possible a “living hope” that can bring joy and peace in the midst of sorrow and fear. This kind of hope is alive with the expectancy that we will know the power of Jesus’ resurrection in our hearts and in our lives. 

The theme of hope is echoed in a recent article by my friend, Esau McCaulley in Christianity Today. Esau writes, “The somber season of Lent seems perfectly suited to the moment. This is a time of    national lament. But as we turn the corner toward Easter, dare we say more? Dare we speak of joy and resurrection in a world that feels like it’s in the shadow of death? If the prophets of the Old Testament have anything to teach us, it’s that precisely in the darkest moments of our history, we need divinely inspired and freshly articulated hope.”

The resurrection is proof that God keeps his word, and that he is everything he claims to be – our rock, our refuge, our redeemer; our healer, our helper, our hope; he is the one who holds us in the palm of his hands; he is the Lord of our lives, the lover of our souls, the life of the world.

So, I close with this prayer for you, this Easter season: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15.13)

An unexpected journey to the grocery store

As a Florida resident, I have personal experience with preparing for hurricanes. We stock up on canned food, bottled water, essential meds, paper products. We expect to see the anxious looks on people’s faces as they jostle in grocery stores or home supply stores. We hear regular updates on TV about “models” and governmental proclamations.

But I was not prepared for this.

My first visit to our local grocery store soon after the outbreak of the coronavirus in our country was, in a word, bizarre.

A day after the president’s declaration of a national emergency, I went shopping for a couple grocery basics at 8.00 AM on Saturday. When the concerns about this virus began to ramp up earlier this month, we had stocked up on many of our basic needs, so we had prepped. But, on that Saturday morning, I had a short list of important items, and I thought I’d get a head start on the day.

As I walked through the store, I saw empty shelves, empty displays, and long lines. At 8.00 AM on a Saturday! All the items on my short list were missing. No milk. No chicken. No bacon. No bread.

I was stunned. I felt a shot of adrenaline, and real fear.  I had never seen anything like this before, not even during the days prior to Hurricane Irma back in 2017.

The store clerks didn’t know when new supplies would come. As soon as the shelves are stocked, they said, people load up their carts (hoarding food, more to the point), and check out.

And for the first time in my life, I felt fear that we might not have all the food we need – not a voluntary worrying, but a natural, knee-jerk reaction type of fear – a fear of wont.

The anxious energy in that store was thick. So many shelves were barren. Many questions hung in my mind like a mobile, spinning around. The normal routine of life had suddenly been taken away. My reliable American food chain did not seem that reliable.

Then something that Jesus said came to mind: “do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat ..."

Wow. That’s real. 

Back in my car, on the way home, more of Jesus’ words came: For the nations seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6.25,31-33)

I knew it was time to work this out.  And it is hard work trusting God in the midst of these unprecedented crises. But this is a time when his Kingdom can be expressed in unprecedented ways!

And we get to be part of that!  What an unexpected journey this is!

Can we see this crisis from Jesus’ perspective?

When Christ is the center of your heart

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4.4-5)

Paul wrote these words while he was alone and separated from his loved ones, unable to visit or be visited. He was in jail. But his incarceration was unfair and unjust – he didn’t deserve this isolation.  Yet… he was able to rejoice and trust that God was near, even in his dark and fearful experience.

Many of us can relate to Paul in our current experience: isolated, separated, unable to visit or be visited… but not as a result of our actions or offenses.

Self-isolation and self-quarantine are essential community behaviors that can save lives and protect our communities in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.

But that doesn’t make us feel any better about it, right? Many of us are feeling frustrated, fearful, and anxious.

When I am anxious or fearful, and I allow that anxiousness to dwell in my heart, it will direct my reactions to people. I am not gentle with others, but impatient and aloof; there is no evidence in my words or behavior that the Lord is in near – or that he is here in our midst.

But when I bring my anxiousness and my fears to Jesus, I can turn them into prayers and requests, and he replaces that turmoil with peace.

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4.6-7)

His gentleness becomes evident, because the Lord is near – he is in our midst.

And that can bring encouragement and comfort to others. Just like when Jesus calmed the storm – he calms the storms in our hearts and minds.

Today, and in the days and weeks ahead, we can learn to bring to Jesus our fears and frustrations – and turn them into prayers. We can thank him – for all he is, and all he has done.  We can look to him, even when our hearts or minds are rattled with anxiousness.

Jesus can work into our hearts and minds a peace that the world cannot give us, but a peace that only he can give.

Here is a wonderful version of Philippians 4.6-9 from the Message Bible. Perhaps this is worth memorizing!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Invite Jesus into each place of your heart, and ask him to dwell there.

He is called the “Prince of Peace” and he wants to share that peace in our hearts.

Moreover, he can give us that peace – all you need to do is “let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.”

Is today the day when you can take a new step in trusting God? What is preventing you from reaching out to him, in your heart, and asking Jesus to come and dwell in you? 

Can you ask him to be the center of your life today?

If you want to chat about this personally, please PM me or email me so we can connect.

"God, I remember you"

At times, over these past several weeks, I have woken up around 4.00 AM with troubled thoughts and anxieties – all stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak and the financial crisis developing.

In the normal course of everyday life, I can mull over problems, and turn that mulling into worrying.

But these moments of early morning wakefulness feel more like an involuntary fearfulness welling up. What are my fears?

That I will not be able to find food for my family members with special dietary needs (the shelves of our local grocery stores are more and more limited, and I’m not referring to toilet paper! Hah)  Or that our vulnerable family members could catch this virus. Or that the financial downturn will take away our savings. 

These thoughts can shake me out of an early morning sleep. But, then what?

I choose to remember how God has provided in my life over the past years. 

I try to follow the example of the psalmist in Psalm 63.6-7:

On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.

So, I choose to remember how God was my help and covering in years past.

For instance: How God provided opportunities for me after college in Ohio, even though I had wasted a couple years in school in reckless living; How God provided a job for me when I moved to Virginia at the depths of the 1980 recession; How God provided work and support for us here in Jacksonville over these many years of mission and ministry.

I recall these times, specifically, one by one. And then I turn them into a prayer.  

Such as, “Lord, just as you provided for me in Ohio…in Virginia…in Jacksonville…so you can provide for me now. I will not allow myself to stay in an anxious place, but I thank you for being my provider, then and now. You chose me, and you love me. And I will rest on You.”

Or to quote the psalmist:  “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

There are many other scriptures that help us look to God for his grace and mercy, such as…

Psalm 143.4-6

So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago;
    I meditate on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.

Isaiah 46.9

“Remember the former things, those of long ago;
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.”

Why would I say that God cares about me, and that I can bring him my fears and needs? Because he made me his own, through Christ – I belong to him, and he will care for me – and he offers you the same opportunity today.

Please PM me or email me if you want to chat more about what this would mean for you. At such a time as this, we all can reach out to God afresh, for he made a way through Christ to know his love and his care.

"Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

There seems to be a pandemic of anxiety and fear. The spread of the COVID-19 virus is causing people to seek quarantine and isolation for protection. Global financial markets continue to plummet, largely spurred by the fear of economic damages from the effects of COVID-19. And now, a new international oil price war is creating more economic havoc. (And ... we can’t forget to mention the ongoing rancor and drama in this current American Presidential election year, which is not really a new thing, if you think about it – but it can add more stress and anxiety to an already fearful environment.)  Whew! Just typing this paragraph is wearying!

Anxious and fearful times are nothing new. We read Jesus’ words to his anxious disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…” (Luke 12.22) If the disciples weren’t worried about their welfare or protection, Jesus wouldn’t have issued this specific command. Although the disciples’ fears were rooted in a different context, the question expressed in fear or anxiety is the same for us: “Will I be OK in this unsafe world?”

Jesus’ answer is not simply a quick “yes, of course.” But he digs deeper (as he always does!) and draws our attention to our hearts’ affections: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12.34)

In other words, what you treasure expresses what you trust.

And trust is a heart-issue.

God is a realist. He knows our needs. Which is why Jesus says, “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.” (Luke 12.30) That is meant to reassure us. God knows your personal, private needs. We are known, personally, by the eternal God Most High. And he cares for us.

So because of Jesus, we have a different and better response to anxiety or fear: “Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12.31)

To “seek” is another heart-issue. It means to intentionally turn our attention and affections toward God – to his rule and reign, his presence and power in us.

Getting slapped in the face

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  (Matthew 5.38-39)

There are many billboards in my city that advertise the services of law firms, each with their own slogan. One in particular always stands out to me: “Don’t settle for less than you deserve.” I want to believe that this firm has helped many people find justice in our legal system, but their slogan expresses to me one of our most base human desires – to get what is mine by rights.

This makes sense in the realm of our culture. We do live in a society that values the biggest, the strongest, and the richest. In this realm, our safety and security needs to be defended from bigger and stronger and richer threats. Defending rights and privileges therefore makes sense.

But in Christ, God has transferred us to a different realm – to the “kingdom of God.” (Colossians 3.15)  In this system, the rules of behavior are different, because our source of safety and security are different. We don’t have to be our own defender or advocate – the Lord is our advocate; God is our ultimate defender and provider. This looks “upside down” to the way our world lives.

My late father-in-law, Les, exemplified this heart attitude.  After years of hard work and commitment, he had built his own engineering consulting business with two other partners. But, at the height of his career, his partners were able to restructure the business, essentially cutting Les out. He was basically robbed of his business and livelihood. Remarkably, he did not fight back or bring legal action. His reason was simple, as he expressed to his family: the Word of God tells us to turn the other cheek, and God will provide for us. In the years that followed, Les was able to start a new business that eventually was successful. And through this, God provided for Les and his wife in their final years. After he sold his business upon retirement, they were able to move into a specialized senior health center to care for growing health challenges. God indeed was faithful to his Word.

Paul asks, “Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6.7)  Because we live in God’s different realm, and we can trust his power to provide.

"Blessed are you when you're in crisis..."

There are two crises spreading through our world today – COVID-19, and the global financial crisis. Both are life threatening, in their own way: a virus poses the threat of a deadly illness, and the market melt down poses a threat to life-long provision. 

[But Jesus] lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6.20-21)

Poverty. Hunger. Sorrow.  These are three human experiences that most people work hard to avoid. These are not normally personal life-goals, but are seen as life-threatening attacks. In fact, most communities in our society work to end poverty, provide food for the hungry, and give help to those who are suffering.

So why does Jesus seem to give these experiences preferential status?

In fact, he says we are “blessed” when we are poor, hungry, or grieving.  Does God prefer human suffering?  What is going on here?

Jesus is using a provocative teaching technique to make a vivid contrast between our experiences and God’s promises. He wants to draw our attention right into our pain and fear, so to offer an alternative view of that pain and need.

Jesus’ words in this passage are paraphrased in The Message Bible: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

In other words, our pain and loss are places where God’s presence works best. They are avenues for hope, not dead-ends of futility.

Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you…”

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you…” Luke 6.20

A simple posture, and a personal word – Jesus sat and looked at his disciples, and he spoke to them, beginning with the well known (and often misunderstood) phrase, “Blessed are you…”

Such a basic way of being human: to look at someone and speak.  Let’s not miss that – Jesus sat and spoke personally, and directly, to his people.

What a powerfully simple picture of God! 

Would God, the Infinite One, the Holy One, actually want to sit with us and speak with us? Jesus’ life is a resounding answer, “Yes!”

Just as Jesus did this in Galilee in the early 1^st century, so he wants to do this in our lives today, here and now. Just as Jesus was intentional and personal with his people, so he wants to be intentional and personal with you and me.

But here is the question: If Jesus wants to sit with me and speak to me, does this only happen during private times of prayer and contemplation? Is Jesus’ presence and message only relegated to a personal “quiet time?” Or…can I pay attention to him, even in the midst of a busy day, and hear his “still small voice?” Can I hear him in my daily routines, meetings, chores, and conversations? 

This is the question I am asking during this season of “Lent” – how can I retune or recalibrate my heart to be a better receptor of God’s Spirit and Word?

And, that is the point of “Lent” – to retune our hearts and minds to Jesus.