Interdependent Community

As I’ve been working through the idea of what real community is over the last few years, I’ve noticed something interesting.  It’s the idea that affluence can be a hindrance to community.  I’m not saying that people with money are incapable of experiencing community.  I’m not saying that at all.  But I do think affluence can be just one more distraction if we’re not careful.  It’s awfully tempting to forsake meeting with one another when there are more alluring opportunities before us.  It’s awfully tempting to forsake meeting with one another when we don’t really feel we need to. 

I’m beginning to realize that interdependence is a crucial ingredient in “real” community.  I don’t use the term “interdependence” loosely.  I mean it in the utmost sense of the word.   When people need each other… really need each other, community isn’t some desire, some romantic notion within the latest missional movement book, or some great spiritual goal – it is necessary for life itself.  It is heaven-sent, life-giving provision for the survival of the church.  There’s something to be said for a bunch of folk living in close community with each other - not only sharing things, joys, and burdens, but also seeing each others “dirty laundry” lying about.  In this environment, it is difficult to hide.  You cannot be one person during the church meeting and another during the week.  Perhaps this is why the early church exploded and thrived the way it did - interdependence was already woven into their culture.

   

As another wave of foreclosures are set to sweep this country, as people lose their homes and move in with friends, neighbors, and relatives, I can’t help but think, “What a blessed opportunity for people to live in true community together.”  What ideal conditions for discipleship to happen!  What an opportunity to experience blessed interdependence.  May we as the church grab hold of that opportunity.     

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Hands off! That's mine.

My family and I gather each week in our home with other followers of Jesus, many of whom live around our southside neighborhood.  We eat, celebrate the Lord’s supper, pray, worship, share, minister to each other, and encourage/challenge each other in the making of disciples.  (As a side note, we aren’t all part of the same large church fellowship.  There are about 3 or 4 churches represented when we gather.  That wasn’t planned.  It just worked out that way).

The other week, the 15 of us (children included) piled into our little living room.  As part of our time, my dear wife issued a challenge.  She noticed that for the last couple weeks, while the weather was warm and sunny, we were inside the house with the curtains drawn.  She made the observation that there are churches across the globe who are under great persecution, and as a result have to meet as the “underground” church in order to survive – and that we, for no good reason were meeting like the underground church.  

After some very brief conversation, we decided together that the following week we would gather in the local park at the center of town.  Nothing was going to change about what we did, other than we were going to do it in public and allow whoever might be passing by to join us if they wanted to.  There was an element of risk to all this.  There we were, for the whole town to see.  What if we were overwhelmed with all kinds of strangers?  Would there be enough food for everyone?  What if they brought a bunch of screaming kids?  What if some “weirdos” decided to join us?  These thoughts, I’m sad to say, were all thoughts that crossed my mind.    But we effectively said, “So what!” and decided to just go and see what God would do.   

My wife’s sister, who’s been living in our neighborhood for a couple months now, has been a regular part of our gatherings.  She has some connections at the local women’s mission just a few blocks from our house.  So, she thought she’d put the word out to a couple ladies at the mission and see if they wanted to join us for a time of fellowship, prayer, and sharing in the park.  She called my wife and told her that two of the ladies had agreed to join us.  The day of the gathering, we got another call from my wife’s sister.  She said that there were now around 4 or 5 women that wanted to join us, and she wanted to make sure that was ok.  We told her of course it was ok!  A few hours later, the phone rang again.  It was my wife’s sister.  She said there were now about 12 people that wanted to come, and wanted to know if that was ok.  We told her of course it was ok!   Just before we were supposed to meet that afternoon, the phone rang again.  It was my wife’s sister.  She said that there were a total of 19 people from the women’s mission that wanted to join us and wanted to know if that was ok. We told her of course it was ok!

Boy, did we have a time in the park that afternoon.  We ate together (there was plenty of food), we laughed, we prayed and lifted up praises to God, we shared with one another, and we ministered to one another.  One lady even belted out a song, right there in the park.  As a side note, I was humbled when I saw that many of the women, homeless women who don’t really have much of anything, brought food items so that they could contribute to the shared meal.  I used that as an opportunity to talk about how this gathering was a spiritual potluck.  EVERYONE had something to offer.  God had something to say TO and THROUGH each one of us there.  EACH of us had something to contribute.  And just about each person did contribute to the time – whether that was through praying, or giving testimony, or sharing a piece of scripture.  

Afterward, we talked about the experience with some of the core people in the group.  We talked about how wonderful it was and how God had brought so many people out to the park that day.  We talked about how we may not be able to do that EVERY week, but we could certainly do it once a month and see what happened.  And we felt good about leaving things there.  

Then today, as I was out watering my grass, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  I became very convicted by what He said.  You see, in our sharing time with the group, I’ve often talked about how GOD will build His church and that we just need to concern ourselves with being a disciple and making disciples – nothing more.  Essentially, we need to adopt a hands-off mentality when it comes to trying to control or build the church, because that’s God’s role.  As I stood there today watering the grass, feeling good about what happened the previous Sunday and where we planned to head with it, I felt ashamed at how I was trying to control and manipulate what God was doing.  As I stood there thinking about our “regular” core-gathering that we were going to have that afternoon in my living room, I heard God say, “What about the 19 people I brought you last week?  What about them?”

I told my wife what happened.  I apologized to God for my arrogance.  I knew immediately what had to happen.  I didn’t have to DO anything.  As a group, we didn’t have to DO anything – other than take our hands off and allow God to build His church however He saw fit.  Our job was just to be available, be open, and be obedient to whatever He puts before us (even if that meant cramming 34 people into my little living room each week - and not just once a month - if the weather wasn't nice enough to meet in the park).

Confidence

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV)

These verses grabbed my attention a couple of years ago.  They seem to fly in the face of human sentiment and intellect.  After all, isn’t it good to have “self-confidence?”  Our culture is so concerned with the idea of self-confidence and self-esteem.  “It’s a healthy thing to esteem oneself.”  There are entire sections of major bookstores devoted to the idea of esteeming oneself.    

But blessed is the man whose confidence is not in himself… not in his ability… not in his wealth of experience… not in his superior intellect… not in is advanced social skill.  Blessed is the man who realizes that these things are but wood, hay, and stubble.  Blessed is the man who realizes that he is but a breath… mere dust.  Blessed is the man who realizes that his own purposes and plans are like a paper lantern – they’re nice and even pretty to look at, but with one tiny little poke of the finger, they’re reduced to a piece of rubbish.  They’re frail and fragile - All the more when the Lord of heaven and earth extends HIS finger to our strategically organized plans and purposes.  

Blessed is the man whose confidence is in the LORD.  He doesn’t care what comes.  He doesn’t care what the world thinks of him.  He is unaffected and unmoved as he stands firm in the purposes of God.  Whether he is esteemed of men or not, it is of no consequence to him.  His confidence is in the Lord Most High.  This reality is the perfect antidote for worry and anxiety.  In fact, I would dare say that anxiety is nothing more than misplaced confidence.  If your confidence is in yourself, and you’re hedging your bets on your own ability to pull through… you should be worried.  

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in HIM.

Imitate Me!

1 Corinthians 4:9-20 (NIV)

⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

 ¹⁴ I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. ¹⁵ Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you to imitate me. ¹⁷ For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 

 ¹⁸ Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

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Question… if my primary directives are to love God, love people (the “sum” of the law and prophets), and to go and make disciples… and if discipling is done primarily through “imitation” (i.e. not in a classroom, but rather by living a life that meshes and interacts deeply with one who has the fragrance of Christ), is MY life worth imitating?   

Do I have the authority to say to someone, “Imitate me!”?  Do I have the fragrance of Christ, or the stink of man?  Does my life reflect the values of the kingdom of God, or the values of a fallen world?  Am I living a life of holiness? (Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 11:45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7, Leviticus 20:26, Leviticus 21:6, Deuteronomy 23:14, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:16, Revelation 22:11)    

Am I satisfied with “good” church gatherings only?  Am I living my life in such a way that is not only worth imitating, but have I invited others in to imitate me; or is my life a closed system?

Making disciples is not some great mystery.  It does not require a seminary degree, a 5 year plan, a 10 step strategy, or neatly organized systems.  It DOES however (along with some intentionality) require that those doing “the making” love God, love people, are holy, are accessible, and most importantly, that they live a life worth imitating – SO THAT they can, with the same authority of the apostle Paul say, “I urge you to imitate me.”       

Our Quasi-Seder Meal

Tonight, on this Good Friday, my family and I had a Seder meal in our home.  It was really more of a “quasi-Seder” meal.  I say that because a Seder meal isn’t something you can easily pick up by reading a book, watching a video, or doing a couple afternoons of searching on Google.  The meal involves layer upon layer of tradition, prayers, blessings, and symbolism.  But we decided to do our best to remember together by including elements of the Seder meal into our regular meal time tonight.

I felt like a buffoon at times as we celebrated, because I had no idea what I was doing, even with my laptop right there to guide me.  I thanked the Lord for His forgiveness and grace at least a couple of times during the meal, because I didn’t want to take this thing lightly or flippantly.  Despite my stumbling around, we managed to walk through at least some of the elements of the Seder together as a family.

While we haven’t celebrated Passover in the truest sense of the term, (i.e. a weeklong period of abstaining from leaven, preceded by cleansing our household), we did celebrate by preparing the Seder plate.  The plate included the bone from a roasted lamb shank, a hard boiled egg, parsley, salt water, bitter herbs, matzo bread, and haroset.  Each person also had a glass containing grape juice or wine.  In addition, there was also a bowl of water and a towel used for hand washing.

Every element on the Seder plate has deep, rich meaning.  We walked though each of those elements and did our best to explain to our children what this meant to Israelites in the time of the Exodus, as well as what they mean to us as followers of the Messiah.  It really was a rich time.  But for me, the most meaningful part of the meal came when we sampled the bitter herbs (horseradish) on a piece of matzo with a few pieces of lamb on it.

We explained to our children that the bitter herbs (horseradish) reminded the Israelites of the bitterness of slavery.  We also explained to them that it reminds us (as followers of Yeshua) that we were once slaves to sin and death.  But Messiah came to free us from sin and death, so we are no longer slaves to those things.  When we sampled the bitter herbs, my youngest daughter’s eyes started to well up with tears, and her voice started to quiver (she’s 4 yrs old).  I could tell she was about to start crying.  With her mouth still full, she quietly muttered “It’s too spicy.”

My heart was touched as I saw the look on her little face.  I immediately wanted to come to her rescue and tell her to “Spit it out.  It’s OK.”  But I didn’t.  As much as I wanted to rescue her, I allowed her to continue chewing it so that she would experience the bitterness of slavery and sin – so that she would remember.  She finished chewing, swallowed, and took a sip of her grape juice and she was just fine.

Later, after we’d gone though the various elements of the Seder plate, we did some review and I asked the kids what the various elements symbolized.  Sure enough, my youngest remembered the bitterness of slavery.  As a parent, that was a hard thing to allow my little girl to learn.  It made ME want to start crying.  But I’m truly glad we did what we did tonight.

We finished the night off with some chocolate pudding, and later had some friends over for a time of fellowship, worship, and prayer. If we do this again next year, I’d like to be a little more prepared – so as to better understand some of the richness of this celebration, and perhaps even include some others in the meal. 

So shall it be with you

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NASB)

So shall it be with you.  Those who are born of the Spirit and live according to the Spirit freely go wherever the Spirit wishes without thought of consequence or religious and social norms.  Those who witness this are able to see the effects and evidence of it, but they are unable to determine where these people (those born of the Spirit) are from or where they are going.

They don’t fit.  They’re awkward... even strange to a world of boxes, systems and strategies. We ridicule them… make little jokes and remarks about them.  They’re just plain weird to us.  And I’m not talking about the response of unbelievers only here.

These Spirit walkers often seem foolish to us.  Sometimes their lives and actions don’t fit with the program.  Sometimes… their words and actions are utter nonsense to us.  You can’t fence them in or make sense of them.  You never quite get what they’re about – And just when you think you’ve figured out a piece of them, off they go again.  They’re usually not one of the boys/girls.  They’re on the fringe… outside the norm…  and sadly, I suspect these folks bear little “real” influence within some our modern church structures.  

Some of the greatest books I’ve read… some of the most earth shaking messages I’ve ever heard, have come from relatively obscure, unknown Spirit walkers.  You won’t find their work available for sale in local Christian bookstores.  You won’t hear about them on popular blogs or see them speak at popular conferences.  And while they love the Lord and love people, they’re not bound by our rules, nor do they answer to  the world of men.  They're indifferent to the approval of men.     

So shall it be with you.

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NASB)

In Spirit and in Truth

On Friday evening, my family and I were enjoying the Sabbath together.  As part of that, my wife and I were listening to a recorded teaching by Art Katz.  The kids read books quietly and hung out with us in the living room as my wife and I listened.  The teaching was called “The Law of God p pt 1” and focused in on Psalm 119. 

Almost 30 minutes into the teaching, Art shared a prayer that he and his fellowship once prayed with respect to worship.  The prayer was, “Lord, don’t let our praise exceed the truth of our life.”  As a result of praying that prayer, he shared that some of their gatherings became downright painful and that their praise seemed flat, out of tune, not harmonious - because their lives were flat and out of tune, even contradictory. 

He said they prayed that prayer so that they would not be deceived by their own musicality, or by something they produced –(versus authentic praise / worshiping in spirit and in truth).  I think that was a very bold and honest prayer.

Lord, let us not be deceived.  Lord, if we’re not living what we’re declaring, may this thing fall flat. Lord, if we don’t have an honest, authentic, close relationship with You, let that be revealed.  May we worship the creator and not the created.  May our worship of You not depend on music or a leader.  May the reality of our worship of You be uncontainable by songs.

If you’d like, you can download Art Katz’ teachings titled “The law of God” pt 1 & pt 2 at SermonIndex.net by clicking this link: http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=173&min=280&orderby=titleA&show=20

Trust Daddy

Admittedly, I regard schmaltzy, sentimental, Hallmark-ish Christian writings and sayings with a certain amount of disdain, particularly those that are mass marketed.  I often view them as a symptom of deeper issues… systemic issues related to consumerism, sensationalism, shallow theology, and the foothold they’ve taken within Christian culture.

I share that as a disclaimer due to the fact that this particular post is schmaltzy, sentimental, and Hallmark-ish.  Sorry.  It is what it is.  And with that, I shall begin. 

Every now and again, I get glimpses… little bits of heavenly perspective from the vantage point of the Father - Not because I’ve reached some great spiritual mark, not because I’ve fasted or prayed, but in this particular case because I’m a dad.  And every so often, the shadow that is our world, aligns in such a way that we catch reflections of the Heavenly realm... little shimmers which can give us moments of divine illumination.

As I was getting my children ready for bed this evening, my youngest was a little weepy.  She gets that way when she’s tired.  Just about anything can set her off and her eyes will water up, her bottom lip will quiver, and she’ll struggle to communicate the words she so desperately wants me to understand.  In this particular case, she wanted her “critters” (her stuffed animals).  Then she wanted a glass of water.  Each time, I asked her to wait patiently as I finished what I was doing, and each time, she became weepy.

I simply said, “Trust daddy.”  The second time I said “Trust daddy,” is when it hit me (that little bit of divine illumination).  I realized that The Father was saying the same thing to me.  Trust Daddy.  Abba.  Trust Daddy in the midst of your waiting.  Trust Daddy in the midst of your pain and struggle.  Trust Daddy to work it out.  Trust Daddy to order your steps.   

I could almost hear the ancient echoes… (Moses being sent to Egypt) Trust Daddy… (Joseph in prison) Trust Daddy… (Abraham going) Trust Daddy… (John the Baptist in prison)… Trust Daddy… 

My children are in bed now.  I can hear my youngest talking quietly to her critters.  Hopefully she'll be asleep soon.   

Thank you Daddy.  I will trust You.  Help me to trust You.  

True Fellowship

I re-read some of the introduction to the book True Fellowship by Art Katz today.  Art (as some of you know) is one of my favorite authors/speakers and his work and ministry has had a profound impact on my life.  Below is an excerpt from the introduction that I thought I would share.  It's long, but hang in there.

It would not be unfair to say that the Church of today is essentially an aggregate of individualities; we sit alongside each other, but we are not yet "together" in the biblical sense of that word. We do not yet constitute that wholeness or completeness. We do not yet reflect the genius that is in the Godhead itself, where the Son does everything for the Father, likewise the Spirit for the Son, and the three are One. When we come to that kind of corporateness, the principalities and powers of the air will know it; but God first needs to reveal to us how deep-seated our individualism, self-will and rebellion are.

The powers of the world are increasing, captivating the souls of men, rooting them in time, and blocking from their consideration the things that are eternal. We cannot come to freedom from this evil influence by ourselves alone. Separation from the world is so painful, and those evil powers are so pervasive and strong. And it is only through the support, the encouragement, the prayer, the wisdom, the counsel of others and the atmosphere that we generate together as the community of God's people that we can live and maintain that freedom without again being sucked back into the power of the world.

Community or life together is one of God's main provisions to resist and to overcome those powers. The sons and daughters of God are those who overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, and there is no place more conducive for being or becoming this kind of people except in such an intensive community setting.

There is not a living soul whose life is, or will be, totally free from deception. Our lives need to be submitted to the examination of God through the brethren in Christ. It is a painful revelation, but rather that pain now than the unspeakable pain of learning at the Judgment Seat of Christ that we were living a delusion. We may have thought ourselves to be spiritual, while all along we were far removed from authenticity and reality. The Lord is not going to indulge our romantic or wistful view of what we think true spirituality is. His gracious provision, therefore, is community life in which the true condition of our heart, and the things that would not otherwise have been understood, have the greatest possibility of being revealed to us!

The quality of our fellowship with the Lord vertically cannot be any better or more authentic than our fellowship with the saints horizontally. We cannot have the one independent of the other, and we cannot have the one out of proportion to the other. How many of us think that we can, and love to be solitary and isolated saints, having some kind of imagined and euphoric relationship with God privately, but hardly having any patience at all for the saints who are His Body? How can we cherish the Head more than the Body, and how can we honor the Head outside of the Body? The Lord has fixed it like that-the vertical and the horizontal beams of the Cross-and the one is in exact proportion to the other. It saves us from exactly that soulish thing we would love to indulge, namely, isolation, separateness and privatistic living.

God has called us to fellowship, and we are not going to see resurrection power and authority if we are not related in the Body authentically. God will not let us 'get by' with a supposed and imaginary vertical relationship with the Resurrected and Ascended One independent of an actual and existential one horizontally in His Body. 

This requires something more than Sunday services. The Church needs to consider becoming a community in the sense of a closely-knit integration of life together in an intensive way. If it exceeds the numbers by which true relationship is feasible, then it cannot, in my opinion, attain to this reality. A generalized congregation of three hundred, five hundred or a thousand cannot effect what I am suggesting. Sadly, large church numbers are the great emphasis today, and constitute, therefore, a moving away from God's very provision for our sanity as well as the greater glory, namely, of being "witnesses unto Him." 

As the conditions of the world become more extreme, people are going to be forced to choose more radically for or against God. We are in that painful interim between a conventional Christendom and the apostolic entity that God is wanting established again. And as we shall see, it is only the Church as an authentic, apostolic presence in the earth that can possibly fulfill its eternal purpose of making known the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers of the air (Ephesians 3:9-11).

Apostolic Authority

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.  John 5:30 (NIV)

“By myself, I can do nothing.”  It would seem that if there were ever a person who DIDN’T need to say that, it would be Jesus.  Yet, He said it.  It goes without saying then, that we should be a people who follow our King’s example and become nothing in our own eyes, and in the eyes of the world.

By our flesh and our striving, we will achieve only that which is temporary… that which will not withstand the refining fires of judgment at the end of this age.  It is only the things that are born of the Father… born of the Kingdom of God that will stand.  All of our plans, strategizing, and best intentions will amount to little more than ash if they are not truly heaven born.

"I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”  Such a King is worth following.  Such a King is worth losing everything for.  In this simple yet profound declaration, our Lord sums up what is at the heart of His apostolic authority…His apostolic perfection.  “I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” 

It would appear that Jesus’ death to self was not limited to His sacrifice on the cross, but encompassed every waking moment.  What would my life look like if I truly lived that way?  What would the church look like if we truly lived that way?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV) 

The Cost of Following Jesus

Luke 9:57-60 (NIV)  As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  He said to another man, “Follow me.”  But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”  Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

These words seem (to me anyway) to fly in the face of what we’re often told, and what we’ve come to know concerning what it means to be in the service of our Lord.  In fact I think these words fly in the face of all human civility and sensibility.  These words seem so cold and callous, even heartless, especially coming from someone we know to be so loving...so merciful.

“Let me bury my father.”  No.  “Let me say bye to my family before I make this choice to come follow.”  No.  “Let me first do this or that.”  “Let me raise these funds, or get these credentials, have this meeting, or work out a plan.”  “Let me prepare personally and professionally so that we can do this thing responsibly.”  And the answer is still the same… NO.  Come follow Me.

And when we receive such a calling, may we not follow the lead of Lot’s wife, but instead follow the lead of Elisha who did request to say goodbye to his family, but ultimately returned to slaughter his oxen and burn his plowing equipment – essentially burning his bridges, making sure that he would not have anything to return to.

Such a calling, like the one we receive when Jesus calls us to go, demands that we with both word and deed declare our intent with ultimate finality.  “At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Mt. 4:20 NIV).  I believe it is only then that we become fit to serve in the kingdom.  Not because we’ve reached some great spiritual mark, but because we’ve become absolutely nothing.  We have no credentials.  We have no personal ambition.  We’ve been humbled… even made a fool in the eyes of the world… in the eyes of our culture… in the eyes of our friends… in the eyes of our family.  We have nowhere to go, nothing to do, other than that which the Father has asked of us.  And it is from Him that we shall receive our manna.  Not by our own hands.

To what degree are we (am I) willing to pay that price?  Will we hang onto that which we should not hang on to?  Will we trust in what we should never trust in?  Will we fear what we should not fear?  Will we continue to make Ishmaels for ourselves?  Will we accept something “good” because the “perfect” thing He’s asked of us is just too hard?

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

The Lost Practice of Sabbath

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Exodus 20:8 NIV

Clearly, the Sabbath was/is important to God.  It wouldn’t be one of the 10 commandments if it wasn’t.  The Sabbath, which begins on Friday evening, was to be set apart as holy... as a time to rest, remember, eat, celebrate, and pray. 

A piece of the new covenant, is that Jesus (the fulfillment of the law) is now our Sabbath rest (i.e. every day is holy… every day is set apart).  And while I believe that is true, is it true of us?  Do we really set every day aside as holy?  As a time to remember?  As a time to rest, eat, celebrate, and bask in the amazing grace that is our Lord?

Yes, the law has been fulfilled.  Yes, Christ paid it all with His sacrifice.  But is it possible that there is still something special in observing the Sabbath?  Could there be some value in that for us today? – not out of a sense of duty or obligation, but because God really knew what He was talking about when He told us to set it aside.  He knew how good it was/is/and can be.

I do not presume to speak for God in this matter, but I can speak from personal experience – and I was reminded of this just last night.  Picture this….  Friday draws to a close.  The day’s tasks are winding down.  A meal is being prepared… not cheese and crackers… not chips and pop… but a MEAL… a good, stick-to-your-ribs home cooked meal.  The aroma fills the house.  Fresh bread is baking in the oven.  Music is playing.  The kids are playing.  Evening draws near.  The curtains are pulled shut.  The table is set and the meal is served.  A prayer of thanks is given, but this time a little different.  This time, the prayer includes remembrance of how Christ’s body was broken and that His blood was shed for us and for all.  Usually at that point, the bread is broken and passed.  Sometimes there is wine at the table.  Sometimes it’s just milk or water.  Sometimes the meal is shared with another family (I highly recommend this).  But the meal is not rushed.  We take our time.  We talk.  We enjoy.

After the meal is over and the table is cleared, it’s into the living room - Sometimes for singing, sometimes for storybook time, sometimes for just lying on the floor and playing.  There have even been times when we’ve had another family over, and the adults clapped and stomped their feet while the kids just danced around the living room.  Last night, my girls took off my hat and brushed my hair for a good half hour while mom read a book aloud.

And almost always, there’s a thought that is never far from me…. and it is, “Thank you Lord.  Thank you for everything.  This is so good.”  We’ve done this off and on for the last 2 or 3 years now (more off than on).  Sometimes it doesn’t work out because of travel or plans.  Sometimes we just forget.  But I’m thinking that I’d like this to become a practice that is more “on” than “off” in our household.  Shabbat Shalom!

Confidence ≠ Casual

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.


That verse always gave me such peace, knowing that I (the mess that I am) can approach God and know that He receives me through the blood of Jesus. But if we take these words lightly, and ignore their full meaning, we might be tempted to think we can now approach the throne of God casually… even flippantly.

And while we should bask in the AMAZING reality that the God of the universe calls us friend, we should not make the mistake of taking that lightly. Jesus is NOT your “home boy.” He is the LION of JUDAH. HE came as the Lamb and will return in all His glory as the Lion. Yet with a cup of cappuccino in one hand and a program in the other, I sing my songs to God. How dare I?

On this Super Bowl Sunday, chances are we will give more honor, reverence, and awe to a group of grown men (millionaires), dressed in tights, playing a child’s game, than we will to the Great I AM… the ALPHA…the OMEGA… the HOLY GOD of the universe.

Our tendency to become star-struck and enamored with celebrities and well-known personalities (even Christian personalities) is a direct testimony to our fascination with the false… the plastic… rather than that which is true… that which is real… that which is Holy. We forsake the Holy for the profane and justify it by calling it “entertainment” or a relaxing time. Such tendencies are at enmity with the ONE we should really be enamored with. And it is at HIS NAME that we should tremble… in holy reverence.

I can’t remember the last time I trembled like that. God have mercy on me. God have mercy on us all. “Aw, lighten up Wilkinson. It’s just fun.” I’m not against fun. Ask my wife… I’m a complete goofball. But I can’t remember the last time I was fascinated by a celebrity… a professional musician… or a Christian personality. They simply don’t do it for me. They’re just people… like me… subject to the same joys and temptations. They use a toilet just like I do.

Why then do we often give them more respect and reverence than He who is worthy of such honor? My guess is that if one of the Green Bay Packers were to have walked into this morning’s church gathering, that hearts would begin to palpitate… adrenaline would begin to surge... imaginations would soar… and all attention would be upon him….and probably not because people were excited about the possibility that he might be repenting and giving his life to God.

We need to turn from such idolatry. I’m not saying we need to give up enjoying music, or watching sporting events. We just need to keep them in their proper perspective, and reserve our heart palpitations… our surges of adrenaline… our blushing… our wide-eyed expressions… our roaring cheers and emotional outcries…our TREMBLING…for the only ONE who is worthy of such things.

Apostolic Foundations

Today I started reading Apostolic Foundations by Art Katz for the 3rd time… and it still smacks me in the face. There are a handful of writings outside of the Holy scriptures that have greatly impacted my life. Apostolic Foundations is most definitely at the very top of that list.

I appreciate many of Art’s writings, but I believe Apostolic Foundations was (to borrow a phrase from another blogger) his grand opus. I find it strange that you would rarely (if ever) find any of Art’s works in the local Christian bookstore or within popular online Christian resources. Yet in his lifetime, I believe he was a true prophetic voice.

Although he traveled the world and regularly spoke in many countries, Art lived a very simple, quiet life with his wife Inger in a small community in a rural part of Minnesota. My good friend Joe once took a road trip up there to go talk with Art – as he (Joe) resonated with Art’s work and wanted to know this man more. I remember Joe saying that when he arrived and made his request to see Art, that Inger (now a good friend of Joe’s) very matter of factly told Joe, “He’s just a man.”

If you’d like to know more about Art Katz the man, click the links on the right of this page named “Art Katz” and “Ben Israel.”  And I would certainly encourage you to pick up a copy of Apostolic Foundations.