A right turn and it’s two blocks to Lake Michigan. Three bicycle riders, looking Tour de France ready opt to go left. Cruising past a small enclave of shops beckoning tourists to stop and spend, they find their Sunday morning destination—breakfast at an outdoor cafe.
Within whiffing distance of the cyclist’s breakfast, other people arrive at their Sunday morning destination--a traditional white steepled church. Inside Pastor Paul Schneider leads the congregation in its first chorus. “In the morning when I rise give me Jesus. Give me Jesus . . . You can have all this world, give me Jesus.”
Me? I was inside the church that morning. Yet, seeing the bicycle riders; I was reminded of my Sunday mornings nine years prior. Then, a long bike ride and breakfast with friends was what the day was all about.
Now, attending church and worshiping God seems normal while the other option is extremely abnormal.
Radical life change is sometimes referred to as a “Damascus road experience.” This references the Apostle Paul’s conversion from Christian persecutor to ardent follower of Jesus. Traveling down the Damascus road intent on imprisoning Christians, suddenly a great light struck him, knocking him to the ground.
Lying on the ground he asked the same question I once asked: “Who are you Lord?”
You can hop on your bike every Sunday morning, ride beautiful roads with good companions and eat lots of great waffles. Yet, it’s almost guaranteed, you’ll someday wonder: “Is this all there is to life?”
You may say that I’m wrong, claiming ultimate satisfaction in non-God pursuits. That’s unfortunate. You’re missing the ride of your life.
My suggestion.
Ride your Damascus road. And may God bless you with a time of lying on the ground asking: “Who are you Lord?”
4/29/06
4/22/06
WE NEED TO GET THIS
“Look Nicky, we need to get this,” nine year-old Justin pleaded. “Put that back,” Nicky grumped. Justin glanced down at the magazine he held in his hand. With one last convincing attempt, he said: “It says: faith.”
I don’t know if Justin has been to church enough times to really understand faith. But he knew it meant new life—maybe a miracle.
The Bible tells of a crippled man who spent years at the doors of the church begging. Apostle Peter came by one day and injected faith into this man’s hopeless life. And in a split second his life changed. The Bible says, “Faith in Jesus' name put this man . . . on his feet--yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.” From a cripple, to a man “jumping and praising God.”
Justin’s fingertips sensed the glossy magazine paper, as if he was holding faith in his hands. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.”
Nicky, his older sister by a dozens years, almost yelling: “No, put it back!”
No big deal. He’s only a kid. Right? But, can we look at the beyond-the-apparent of Justin’s life?
His dad will be incarcerated at least a half dozen more years. In a few weeks his big sister will be in jail--again. While his mom works full time; her drug problem, seemingly managed, can sometimes roar back.
All hope vanished from Justin’s face, he turned a hundred and eighty degrees, shuffled three paces and plopped the magazine on the shelf. He put faith on the shelf. No miracle. No jumping. No praising God.
Justin, you are so right: “We need to get this.” Is faith at your fingertips? Grab it! “Faith is the substance . . .”
I don’t know if Justin has been to church enough times to really understand faith. But he knew it meant new life—maybe a miracle.
The Bible tells of a crippled man who spent years at the doors of the church begging. Apostle Peter came by one day and injected faith into this man’s hopeless life. And in a split second his life changed. The Bible says, “Faith in Jesus' name put this man . . . on his feet--yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.” From a cripple, to a man “jumping and praising God.”
Justin’s fingertips sensed the glossy magazine paper, as if he was holding faith in his hands. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.”
Nicky, his older sister by a dozens years, almost yelling: “No, put it back!”
No big deal. He’s only a kid. Right? But, can we look at the beyond-the-apparent of Justin’s life?
His dad will be incarcerated at least a half dozen more years. In a few weeks his big sister will be in jail--again. While his mom works full time; her drug problem, seemingly managed, can sometimes roar back.
All hope vanished from Justin’s face, he turned a hundred and eighty degrees, shuffled three paces and plopped the magazine on the shelf. He put faith on the shelf. No miracle. No jumping. No praising God.
Justin, you are so right: “We need to get this.” Is faith at your fingertips? Grab it! “Faith is the substance . . .”
4/15/06
EARL AND ARNOLD
Wonder if you are an old friend? “Who is this e-mail from?” I thought.
“Rick, did you grow up in Centreville? Graduate 73? Know a big goof by the name of Earl?” I laughed. Thirty-three years had passed. Off went a quick response. “Here’s a hint—Arnold.”
Yes, he knew Arnold. That was my nickname in high school. I wasn’t too fond of it since it was the namesake of a cute pig on a popular television show of that era. Arnold-the-pig comparison aside, it was great wandering back to those old memories. I have many smile worthy ones with Earl.
Another e-mail to Earl: “So tell me about life. Where do you live? Wife? Kids? Job? What do you do for fun? Spiritual life? Etc?”
Pondering through a deep searching of my brain, I thought: “Spiritual life?” Earl and I had been best friends. We both attended churches every Sunday. We both thought of ourselves as Christians, yet it’s highly doubtful we ever had one significant spiritual conversation. Realistically, it’s doubtful we even had a frivolous, shallow one. More than likely—zero.
God says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This is our central theme as Christians. And then it goes on to say, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart . . . you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
So God, if we love You we are supposed to talk about You and your commands? Even outside of church? Should we start with our good friends?
“Rick, did you grow up in Centreville? Graduate 73? Know a big goof by the name of Earl?” I laughed. Thirty-three years had passed. Off went a quick response. “Here’s a hint—Arnold.”
Yes, he knew Arnold. That was my nickname in high school. I wasn’t too fond of it since it was the namesake of a cute pig on a popular television show of that era. Arnold-the-pig comparison aside, it was great wandering back to those old memories. I have many smile worthy ones with Earl.
Another e-mail to Earl: “So tell me about life. Where do you live? Wife? Kids? Job? What do you do for fun? Spiritual life? Etc?”
Pondering through a deep searching of my brain, I thought: “Spiritual life?” Earl and I had been best friends. We both attended churches every Sunday. We both thought of ourselves as Christians, yet it’s highly doubtful we ever had one significant spiritual conversation. Realistically, it’s doubtful we even had a frivolous, shallow one. More than likely—zero.
God says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This is our central theme as Christians. And then it goes on to say, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart . . . you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
So God, if we love You we are supposed to talk about You and your commands? Even outside of church? Should we start with our good friends?
4/9/06
FOOLISHNESS OR POWER?
“Should I ask?” I thought.
Rob was at the house measuring for carpeting. I immediately noticed he was wearing a cross. The question-- does that cross signify that you’re a follower of Jesus?
So many people wear crosses, even though they’re not on the Jesus team. Strange-- it’s exceedingly more challenging initiating a spiritual conversation compared to conversing about a sports team identified on a person’s t-shirt.
I didn’t want to offend Rob. Well, confessionally, I didn’t want to look foolish either. Yet I know the Bible says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Foolishness or power? We usually won’t find out without asking. Internally: “Go for it; honor God,” tussled with, “You’ll seem like a weirdo.”
Why are so many Christians too chicken to squawk about their faith?
Rob got ready to leave. Ineloquently, I jumped in, “I noticed you’re wearing a cross; what does it mean to you?”
He smiled, “Everything.” “You’re a follower of Jesus?” “Big time.”
Wow, Rob’s on the same team. Our conversation instantly elevated. And before he departed, he gave me a shoulder hug: “Stay on God’s path . . . that’s where our true home is.”
So is the cross you’re wearing foolishness or power? Foolishness-- Isn’t it time you switched teams? Isn’t it time you received God’s promised saving power of the cross?
And you power crossers, have you asked anyone lately about the cross they’re wearing?
Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me . . . (Jesus) will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
So repeat. “So what does that cross mean to you?” Again.
Rob was at the house measuring for carpeting. I immediately noticed he was wearing a cross. The question-- does that cross signify that you’re a follower of Jesus?
So many people wear crosses, even though they’re not on the Jesus team. Strange-- it’s exceedingly more challenging initiating a spiritual conversation compared to conversing about a sports team identified on a person’s t-shirt.
I didn’t want to offend Rob. Well, confessionally, I didn’t want to look foolish either. Yet I know the Bible says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Foolishness or power? We usually won’t find out without asking. Internally: “Go for it; honor God,” tussled with, “You’ll seem like a weirdo.”
Why are so many Christians too chicken to squawk about their faith?
Rob got ready to leave. Ineloquently, I jumped in, “I noticed you’re wearing a cross; what does it mean to you?”
He smiled, “Everything.” “You’re a follower of Jesus?” “Big time.”
Wow, Rob’s on the same team. Our conversation instantly elevated. And before he departed, he gave me a shoulder hug: “Stay on God’s path . . . that’s where our true home is.”
So is the cross you’re wearing foolishness or power? Foolishness-- Isn’t it time you switched teams? Isn’t it time you received God’s promised saving power of the cross?
And you power crossers, have you asked anyone lately about the cross they’re wearing?
Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me . . . (Jesus) will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
So repeat. “So what does that cross mean to you?” Again.
4/1/06
SUNDAYS ARE AWESOME
Donna was excited: “Sundays are awesome.”
I remember some awesome Sundays in Donna and her family’s life. I remember when Donna, her husband, Joe and children finally came to church after several invitations. It was obvious God touched their lives that day.
Then a few Sundays later they both made a twenty step journey to the front of the church. Bowing their heads, they repented of their sins and made commitments to become followers of Jesus Christ.
Yes! Sundays are awesome.
An experience like that causes this Bible verse to come flowing out: “O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders.”
Also the Sunday of their baptism is still etched in my mind. How could a person not have tears of joy? After church, a group gathered to celebrate the marvelous things God was doing in Donna and Joe’s lives.
Now, seven years later Donna is reveling in a day in which God said: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”
And the ancient Hebrew root word for Sabbath commands, “Rest, cease from exertion, celebrate.”
Donna continued her praise for her Sundays, “It starts in the morning and goes all day.” Unfortunately, she wasn’t referring to a God focused experience. She was all excited about the generous tips she was receiving working as a waitress. Going to church is the only ceasing Donna has done in the last few years. She no longer sets aside a day for the LORD.
We have a difficult decision challenging us. How to make Sundays awesome? Countless activities loom. Leisure and financial pursuits entice. Yet, our spirit is longing to honor God’s command.
Think. Can a day actually be awesome if it dishonors God?
I remember some awesome Sundays in Donna and her family’s life. I remember when Donna, her husband, Joe and children finally came to church after several invitations. It was obvious God touched their lives that day.
Then a few Sundays later they both made a twenty step journey to the front of the church. Bowing their heads, they repented of their sins and made commitments to become followers of Jesus Christ.
Yes! Sundays are awesome.
An experience like that causes this Bible verse to come flowing out: “O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders.”
Also the Sunday of their baptism is still etched in my mind. How could a person not have tears of joy? After church, a group gathered to celebrate the marvelous things God was doing in Donna and Joe’s lives.
Now, seven years later Donna is reveling in a day in which God said: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”
And the ancient Hebrew root word for Sabbath commands, “Rest, cease from exertion, celebrate.”
Donna continued her praise for her Sundays, “It starts in the morning and goes all day.” Unfortunately, she wasn’t referring to a God focused experience. She was all excited about the generous tips she was receiving working as a waitress. Going to church is the only ceasing Donna has done in the last few years. She no longer sets aside a day for the LORD.
We have a difficult decision challenging us. How to make Sundays awesome? Countless activities loom. Leisure and financial pursuits entice. Yet, our spirit is longing to honor God’s command.
Think. Can a day actually be awesome if it dishonors God?
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