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Eat This!

Jesus, John's Gospel

53Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the fleshof the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent meand I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. -John 6:53-59 NIV

“Ewww. This is so gross! Here, try it!” Have you ever been in this situation? With a friend? A spouse? My immediate response is, “Absolutely not!” (Hopefully, you’ve never been the one to do this to someone!)

Jesus uses a repulsive metaphor to describe life in him. Why would he do this? This certainly isn’t the way to gain more followers or increase his influence. Why describe following him in such an offensive way?

Thinking through this, is it any less repulsive to be asked to limit ourselves for our faith, for the weaker brother or sister, for life in Christ than it is to be asked to eat flesh and drink blood? Not to our American sensibilities. In fact, we would probably come nearer to cannibalism than to the possibility of diminishing ourselves for someone else.

The way of Jesus can be repulsive to us because of what it asks of us. This isn’t a call to a picnic at the beach or tiptoeing through the tulips. It’s a complete surrender to King Jesus, a picking up of our cross daily, laying down of my rights, my way, my life, my everything.

I recoil at the thought of eating Jesus’s flesh and drinking his blood. I recoil no less at the thought of giving up my life in total surrender to him.

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The Small Things Matter

Transformation

It’s not always the big things
the massive changes
the complete 180s
Sometimes, it’s the small decisions
that steer the ship of your life
in a new direction

A little less television
A little less time on that app
A few more minutes in prayer
An extra moment with a friend

It’s not always the big things
but it’s the small steps that lead
to the big life change

Less time on the app
becomes deleting the app altogether
Less time on the streaming services
becomes never turning them on
or canceling them altogether
Less time alone and focused only on myself
becomes more community
and encouragement in following Jesus

It’s not always the big things
but wow the difference the small steps can make

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Easy

Rest

You knew it wasn’t going to be easy
all the thoughts swirling around in your head
all the residual leftovers from yesterdays conflicts and conversations
all the notifications from friends and family

You knew it wouldn’t be easy
to step out of the rush and into the stillness
to quiet the voices and noise all around?
to push against the current that is swiftly moving in another direction

What if is wasn’t meant to be easy?
the gate is small
the road is narrow
only a few find it

But when they find it
rest
peace
in the presence of our Creator
our Savior

There we find easy
the yoke of Jesus
There we find rest
for our weary souls

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What’s On My Mind

Philippians

It all wants my attention
Clamoring – shouting even

“LOOK THIS WAY!”
“YOU NEED THIS!”
“WANT THIS!”
“FEEL THIS!”
“THIS IS AMAZING!”
“THEY ARE TERRIBLE!”

All desiring to fill my head
to lead my thoughts
to whatever they are selling
promoting
their position

ENOUGH!
QUIET!
What am I thinking about?

What is right?
(no my side is right)
What is true?
(They deserve insults and to be put down)
What is deserving of respect?
(The ends justify the means and the person we think will get us there)
What is pure?
(Yelling, screaming, demeaning)
What is lovely and admirable?
(Hate them, whoever them is, see the bad, it’s all gone to hell)

What consumes my thoughts more?
Why is it consuming my thoughts?
Could it be what I am feeding my thoughts?

Whatever is true, deserving of respect, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

a reflection on Philippians 4:4-9

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That’s Just Me

Romans

That’s just who I am
Words oft spoken to excuse something
a damaging or harsh word
an action that leaves hurt and pain in its wake

That’s just who I am
implies “so I can do or say whatever I wish”
implies “I’m not responsible for the outcome or result”
implies “so just deal with it”
implies “I cannot or will not change”

That’s just who I am
a justifying statement
a limiting statement
a statement of no faith

What if…
It’s not just who I am
but it’s the result of pain I’ve endured
or experienced that I am trying to avoid
It’s not just who I am
but it’s the walls I’ve erected
to do everything I can to protect myself
from future pain
It’s not just who I am
but it’s the pattern I’ve developed
the voices I listen to
the easier way than trying to change

Who am I?
Better yet, who can I be in Christ?

A reflection after reading Romans 12:9-21

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The Stuff of Suffering

Uncategorized

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17 NIV

We avoid suffering, or at least try to, as much as possible. We run to and cling to comfort. And much of our comfort is found in our stuff. Closets, garages, and basements bursting at the seams with all the stuff we’ve accumulated. Never enough. Always more.

What if the opposite of suffering isn’t comfort but glory? Specifically, sharing in the glory of Christ. Are we missing sharing in his glory because we are so comfortable? Are we suffering BECAUSE of our comfort (and all the stuff of our comfort), but we don’t even know what we are missing? Do we fail to see, know and share in his glory now because we are so satisfied in our comfort that we don’t even realize what we are missing?

Is the stuff part of the suffering?

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Without Warning

Uncategorized

Without warning
– a king is born
– a king appears
– to teach
– to heal
– to love

Without warning
– a king is arrested
– tried
– convicted
– killed

Without warning
– the king is alive
– teaching
– restoring
– loving

Without warning
– a helper comes
– to empower
– to indwell
– to testify

Without warning
– the world is changed
– mercy is offered
– grace received
– life eternal

Without warning
– A king will return
– to remove sin
– and hardship
– and pain
– to make all things new
– to reign forever
– with those who call him King

A response to Acts 2:1-4 from The Message –

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Ac 2:1–4.
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You Are Here

Uncategorized

You appeared
after the cross
after death
after burial

Seen
by disciples
by multitudes

Visible
so all could know
you are alive

Appear today
Be seen in our neighborhoods
Show yourself now

I want to and will
but not through my physical body
but through my body – the church

I’m waiting for the church to make me visible
to reveal my heart and passion to the world
to speak words of life and touch your communities with healing

Appear today?
I will when my church stops playing at religion
and stops cozying up to power
I will when my church realizes it is not in their cleverness or accumen
but by my Spirit
I will when my people
look, speak, and act more like me.

Be my visible representation in the world.
Show them I am alive
and that I bring life.

Go – in my name – in the power of my Spirit
Show the world the real Jesus
not some cheap imitation
not some impotent guru
Jesus – the Christ – the Promised One
The Savior of the World

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A Prayer by St. Teresa of Ávila

Uncategorized

Christ has no body but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes
with which He looks compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet
with which He walks to do good.
Yours are the hands
with which He blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands.
Yours are the feet.
Yours are the eyes.
You are His body.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

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If God Acted Like Me

Uncategorized

If God acted like me
our time together would be one
of constant distraction and interruption

BING – a new notification awaits
DO THIS – excuse me while I write this down
SEND – this email
LOOK – this detail up
It will only take a second
I imagine the frustration of being on the receiving end of this

But God is not distracted or even distractable
His power and glory sustains all creation
His work is ongoing in his creation
And His work is ongoing even in me

But even so, with all this work going on, He is
PRESENT and PRESENCE
Come, sit with me
Be with me
Drink from the Living Water
Lay down distractions
… to-do lists
…achievements to be done
And breathe
…with me
…in me
It will all be there waiting for you in a moment
But I am with you here and now, says the Lord.


You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139
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Missing Out

Uncategorized

Can you imagine hearing some of your closest friends reminisce about a story you missed out on?
And not just any story.
The story of the resurrection.
Eight days go by.
Eight days of “the doors were locked”
Eight days of “we were so scared”
Of “we couldn’t believe our eyes”
“And he breathed on us”
“and empowered us”
“and sent us”
Eight long days

Where’s my experience with you, Jesus?
Why haven’t you appeared to me?
They say they saw, show me

And eight days later, you appear
Very similar to the other time
the time with all my friends
Except this time with the words
“Touch me. Examine me.”
“See, It’s me, Jesus. I’m real. I’m here.”
with the loving admonition
“Don’t be unbelieving. Believe!”

Eight long days to wonder…
…Where was I?
…What was I even doing then?
…Why not wait until I was there?
…Why not appear to me then?
…This can’t be real.
…They must be making this up!
And then…

Eight days later
You show up
And appear again
to me
calling my name
I’m missing out no more
Jesus has appeared to me

John 20:24-31


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Of or To

Uncategorized

Not a leap of faith
But a leap to faith
Evidence all around
If we choose to see
You never call us
without revealing yourselves in some way
Open my eyes to see
my heart to feel
my mind to know
My Lord and My God!

John 20:24-31

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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You First

Uncategorized

Remember as kids, being introduced to something new, possibly something risky or unknown
when faced with taking that first step…
hesitation…
resistance…
uncertainty…
sometimes followed by those two little words
YOU FIRST

Here, try this strange, new food!
You first
Take a drink of this weird-smelling concoction!
You first
Go into that dark, musty abandoned place
YOU FIRST!

It’s always a bit easier to be the second person somewhere
To see the steps of the person who has been there,
To hear their story of survival
To know they’ve been there and were able to return to tell you all about it.

Even in faith, the call to follow Jesus can seem daunting, frightening even.

Love God with all your heart.
You first.
Loe your neighbor has yourself.
You first.
Seek first the kingdom of God.
You first.
Love your enemies.
You first!
Take up your cross and follow me.
YOU FIRST!

The challenge is that even as we look at Jesus and say “You first,” to him
He never says that to us.

Hey Jesus, seek first the kingdom.
Done.
Hey, Jesus, love YOUR enemies
I already have (and still do).
Jesus, take up YOUR cross.
Been there, done that, and I’ve got the scars to prove it.

Jesus never asks us to go somewhere he’s never been.
He never asks us to do something he’s never done or is unwilling to do.
Including love.
Jesus says, “Love me.”
“You first!” we reply.
“You got it. You love because I first loved you.”

You first said to Jesus becomes I have.
Will you?

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Stay With Me

Uncategorized

I feel the pressure and activity of the day waiting for me outside the door.
Do I go? Do I dive into the day? Or do I stay for a few more minutes with you?
But there are things to do!
Stay with me.
People are waiting on me!
Stay with me.
But I’ll get behind!
Stay with me.

Breathe deeply in my presence
Experience the shalom I want for you
not the anxiousness
not the hurry
not the flurry of activity
Shalom, wholeness, peace
Stay with me and experience the shalom of my presence.

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Godself

Uncategorized

You have given yourself to me
What does this even mean?
Stop
Think on this for a moment

You – God
have given – as a gift, freely, unreservedly
yourself– Godself, all of You, Creator, Almighty, Immanent
to me – who am I? why me?

So undeserved
Far too often underappreciated
Sometimes, even rarely acknowledged

You have given yourself to me
Who am I that you are mindful of me?

What can I do to keep this?
Receive it
What can I do to lose it?
Turn away from it
Why?
Because I made you in my image, to be with me, and I love you

You have given yourself to me
And even though there are many challenges
Worldly pleasures and concerns
vying for my attention
desiring the place that only you should be
whispering to me “more”
want more
need more
achieve more
be more

Your love says “enough”
you are enough
grace is enough
Christ is enough

Show me your grace, Lord
Lavish on me your love, Lord
That is enough for me

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Desiring Fake or Real

Jesus

The counterfeit Jesus might tell me
all the things I want to hear
might bless all “my truth”
and affirm everything about me
My counterfeit Jesus won’t make any demands
or ask me to surrender anything

Why?

Because counterfeit Jesus isn’t willing
to give up anything for me.
My counterfeit Jesus never went to the cross
He would never ask me to come and die
because he’s unwilling to die for me

I want the real Jesus
The one who can ask for all
and make claims on my life
because he lived and died (and rose) for me

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Counterfeit Jesus

Jesus

So close, yet so far away
What I want
but not the way I want it.
So close, I could touch you
but still miss who you really are

To hear the stories
how all the Scriptures point to you
and still not be able to see you
I hear the words
and somehow still miss the Truth

Break the bread
Open my eyes
Let me see you as you really are

What keeps me from seeing
the Jesus right in front of me
the Jesus who comes to heal and restore

The counterfeit Jesus I’ve created
the counterfeit Jesus I prefer
He makes fewer demands
and blesses all I am and believe
and never asks me to take up my cross

Who is this Jesus before me?
Not the one nailed to the cross
But a poor imitation of the authentic One

But the real Jesus is still here
still walking with me
reminding me of who he is
and what he’s done
and what he’s inviting me to

An invitation to lay down my life
so I can truly live

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The Disappointment of the Resurrection

Jesus

Oftentimes, our expectations go unmet
We share big news to a lackluster response
It’s important
It matters
Where are the balloons? The confetti?

Confusion
Misunderstanding
Unable to see what’s right in front of your face

Jesus, did you feel any of this?
An empty tomb
Foretold many times
yet never comprehended

Are you the gardener?
A mysterious guest on the road?
A ghost?

On that first Easter morning
No confetti
No noisemakers
Just a stone moved
Linen clothes on a slab
An empty tomb
and bewilderment

Were you disappointed, Jesus?
That it took a bit for reality to set in?
That they needed a sign to know it was really you?

No.
There was no disappointment
Just faithfulness
to love
to show the scars
to call their names
to bring along
to encourage
to restore.

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Restlessness

Uncategorized

Restlessness in the waiting
Let’s go
Let’s get a move on
Wait
There are things to do
Wait
Chop-chop
Wait
I don’t have time for this
Wait
This is stupid
Wait

I’m here
in the waiting
Calling you to sit with me
In the stillness
In the silence
Resist the urge to run ahead
Fight against your natural desires
to push ahead
Wait
Look
Listen
For I am found in the waiting

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Reflections

Uncategorized

My mind keeps thinking about fear. Not that I am fearful right now. But the power of fear and how fear is constantly used to manipulate and control people.

There’s an eclipse, so be afraid because this is God’s judgment. Oh, and Jesus is coming back to “get you, my pretty!” An earthquake in New York – be afraid. God is angry with you, and an earthquake is his call for you to repent. NOW!

The loudest voices get the most airtime and spread the most fear.

They’re coming to get you.
They’re going to destroy your way of life.
They’re going to change things.

Peace, be still.
These are the words of Christ that calm the anxious storm within.

Turn off the voices that are fear-mongering
And listen to the words of the Master. The Creator.

Peace, be still.

No more fear. For perfect love casts out fear.
And I know perfect love.
His name is Jesus.