Where'd I put that thing?

I used to enjoy watching the re-runs of the TV series, "The Waltons". The simpler times of 'pioneer life' have their intrigue - if not immediately, at least when you are in the midst of a traffic jam on the highway or a huge delay at the airport! The struggles to remain true to their convictions when times were quickly changing around them is a reminder to me of the speed of change demanding our attention today - change happens at the speed of light these days, or so it seems. What touches me the most in these shows about pioneer life is their simple trust - in their neighbors, in their family, and in their God. One of the characters on the show, Ike Godsey, is the store owner and local postmaster. His store is never really seen as what we'd call "impressive" by today's standards, but it always seemed he could get his hands on whatever anyone was looking to obtain - even if he had to special order it. Sometimes we forget we have a great big God who is able to do above and beyond whatever we imagine in our lives - not in terms of granting our every wish, but in terms of helping us find and keep what is best for our lives.

He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it." (Matthew 13:52)

To be a student well-trained in God's Word is being the like the owner of a general store - able to put our hands on anything we need - exactly when we need it! The idea of a vast storehouse which is at our disposal might make some think we serve God for the 'goods' he can give us, but quite the opposite must be true in our lives. We are given access to a great deal in this relationship with him, but if we are in it merely for the 'goods' we receive, we have it all wrong. We often have "access" to many things. I have access to a copy machine right in my office area. In fact, I have access to a laser printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine without having to walk more than 20 feet. Yet, none of these office machines are mine. I can "use" them in the day-to-day operation of my work, but I don't get to take them home at the end of the day. They are not owned my me. Access is the ability to "use" these items only. I have been granted "permission" to utilize them, and I can grant permission to others to utilize them as they have need, as well.

As Jesus is speaking with his disciples, he refers to being "students" - well-trained in God's kingdom which really equates to them being like store "owners". The one who owns the store is able to access anything within the store whenever the need arises. The one who merely "purchases" from the store is one who must seek permission to purchase what is needed and they must have the 'goods' with which to barter for the item they desire. Being a disciple of the Word is like being the keeper of a vast storeroom of "good stuff" you may "access" at any time - not having to barter for it in order to obtain it. New or old - exactly when you need it. Here's the joy of becoming a student of the Word - the vastness of the resources available to us! Some truths will be like the pillars of a building - holding us strong through thick and thin. Other truths will be used less frequently, but like the fine china which comes out on special occasions, they grace our lives with beauty. Then there is the cumulative effect of one portion of the Word adding to another - providing wisdom for our journey and sustenance to our soul.

I need to find some things in my workshop that I have 'put away' for safe keeping. As I got the tools, I unpacked them and put away the small parts. As I am becoming aware of what the small parts actually do within these devices, I am not struggling to fine them! What I need to do is create a space for them and make them more visible so I am able to find them now. In other words, I need to deal with some 'clutter' in my shop in order to have things be available when I need them. It is often in the "de-cluttering" of our lives we find out just how blessed we are - that we really do have the 'parts' we need to accomplish whatever it is we are in need of doing! Sometimes we "clutter up" our storeroom of faith with all kinds of things which only serve to push the good stuff to the back, making "access" a little difficult. Maybe we need to "de-clutter" our spiritual storerooms a little, too. In so doing, we may find treasures we'd long forgotten! Just sayin!

What's that I hear?

"Heaven's my throne, earth is my footstool.  What sort of house could you build for me?  What holiday spot reserve for me?  I made all this! I own all this!"   "But there is something I'm looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say."  (Isaiah 66:1-2 MSG)

It is an encouragement to me to know that God is not looking for the eloquent or fancy to use for his purposes because I am neither. He is looking for the simple and plain to utilize as his instruments of grace and mercy to a hurting and hungry world. I spent some time a while back just looking at the various definitions of "simple" and "plain" found in Webster's dictionary. It is always a wonder to me to discover the "less than common" meanings of the various words we use in our English language. Know what I discovered? Simple isn't all that simple and plain isn't all that plain! For example, did you realize 'simple' means to be free, but freedom comes in many forms. It is to be free from guile - the bad stuff that pollutes our lives and affects our innocence. It also speaks for the freedom that exhibits itself in modesty - without vanity getting in the way of others seeing us as we really are. Most of us think of 'simple' as uncomplicated or free from that which gets us muddled up. This is true, but never truer than when 'simple' describes the need to not 'display' anything in our lives other than Christ and his grace.

While simple carries a little more 'complicated' meaning, is it possible 'plain' does as well? As a matter of fact, 'plain' might mean to us that something is kind of 'unflavored', but being plain in the sense God desires means we carry a much different flavor in our lives now that Christ is in it! We might be free of that stuff that impacts our purity in life, but we are also able to see things clearly because our lives are free of impediments that once obstructed the view. We find our perception is clearer and our minds are more open - they aren't as cluttered anymore. Plain might just be the way we would describe a life that is free of anything extravagant or 'pungent', but a plain life in Christ isn't 'flavorless' or without a sweet odor! In fact - we might just say is it something to be 'savored'!

All that meaning in two simple words. Break each down a little, and you will see a picture of the one whose life God can continually pour more of his power and grace into. Our passage today indicates that God is looking for the one who is willing to live above the guile or mess of this world (the insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity of character that is exhibited in so many who live without God in their lives). Those that do not need to be the center of attention attract the attention of God! Isn't it amazing how God works? Step out of the limelight and God shines his glory through you!

What does it mean to be free of complications in our lives - to be free of that which obstructs our view? It means that we don't complicate our lives with things that just keep us busy, not really producing anything of lasting value. I have a tendency to complicate my life with all kinds of things. It could be those relationships that don't bring any real value into my life (like hanging around with those that bring us into places of compromise in our choices). It could be those activities that take my time, but I am just using it to 'fill a spot'. Whatever it is that "clutters" our life - it acts as a obstruction or a complication in our spiritual walk. It keeps us from a clear view of God's plan and his purposes for our lives.

If you try listening to ten people talk all at one time, making requests of you to perform multiple different tasks simultaneously you will like not catch the absolute intention of each of the ten petitioners or the specific task they need accomplished! When our lives are free of clutter, it is easier to hear what is being said! Our hearts are more prone to respond when their is clarity in what we are hearing. We can "unclutter" our lives, but as with any other 'cleaning job', it takes some effort, but it is worth the effort! We might just begin to hear that still small voice of our God in the hidden recesses of all that clutter being moved out! Just sayin!

Keep it Simple

Have you ever stopped to consider just how complicated we can make life? We have a way of taking things to the extreme, don't we?  I don't think we would have ever ended up with "super-sized" drinks, burgers, and fries if we didn't take this idea of taking things to the extreme a little too seriously! When we try to over-think things, we usually add complexity to the situation, don't we?  I think we tend to think unless we have the next greatest idea, or get all "deep" in our answers to someone, we aren't really going to shine.  In fact, I think we sometimes face scripture this way - thinking we have to get all "deep" and have some totally "awesome" interpretation of the meaning of the passage.  Maybe we just complicate things too much by thinking "too deeply" since God's message was written to common people, with common problems, needing common answers, and common sense!

I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness. One discovery: A woman can be a bitter pill to swallow, full of seductive scheming and grasping. The lucky escape her; the undiscerning get caught. At least this is my experience—what I, the Quester, have pieced together as I’ve tried to make sense of life. But the wisdom I’ve looked for I haven’t found. I didn’t find one man or woman in a thousand worth my while. Yet I did spot one ray of light in this murk: God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.  (Ecclesiastes 7:23-29 MSG)

Sometimes we are guilty of increasing our possession without maintaining our goal.  We may set out in an honorable manner, with an honorable and achievable goal, but in the end we get all caught up in the things which only serve to complicate our lives.  God made us simple - we are the ones who have developed the complexity in life!  Anytime sin has a chance to enter into any space in our lives, complexity is sure to follow.  We might complicate life with our possessions - what it is we possess might just come to possess us! We might complicate life with our attitude - what starts out to be pure can become warped when pride takes hold.  We might complicate life with our desires - what tantalizes us just "enough" will often be what lends difficulty in our lives.  We have to learn to keep life simple - it is the way we were made!

Looking at the things which complicate our lives, I think we can turn first to our "treasures" - those things which we set out to possess as our own. Treasure on this earth has some personal risk associated with it - for what we come to own, we have to also protect.  It takes a great deal of time and energies to protect things we might treasure, but not all treasure is worth such effort.  A bone is nice treat for a dog to chew on, but after a short while there isn't any meat on it anymore.  What once had such appealing qualities isn't the same any longer.  So, why does he go to such lengths to ensure no other dog finds his treasure?  The dog growls at anyone attempting to take it away, or even digs a hole to hide it.  To you, the bone seems like a silly "treasure" to go to all that effort for when his food bowl stands full beside the refrigerator!  Sometimes I think we act the same way, allowing all our focus and energies to be directed to what "promises" satisfaction, but which really has not a whole lot of potential to do more than get us to worry a whole lot about it!

Our possessions can become our obsessions.  Our pursuits can become our passions.  Our pride can become our undoing.  Stop for a moment and consider our "starting place" in life.  We come into this world with no real possessions of our own - naked, hungry, and desiring closeness.  We don't complicate this right away, but as soon as we are able to see a toy, claim it as our "own" and then gnaw away on it like a dog on its bone, we become quite possessive of what we possess, don't we?  It can take a good many years to learn this whole concept of "sharing" - but deep down inside, it may take us even longer because we can give the toy over to the other kid without really dealing with the deeper longing to get it back!  The desire to get it back will drive us - watching for the exact moment the kid puts the toy down, quick to snatch it back into our possession.  Yep, we "shared" for a while, but we quickly reclaimed it as "ours".  The other kid screams as he watches the tiny toy squirreled away by our quick hands - beckoning moms everywhere to focus on teaching us a lesson or two about kindness, sharing, and the like.  Oh, we have a way of turning simple into complex in just a short matter of time, don't we?

Now, lest I end on a bummer here, let me share a little truth I think Solomon was trying to get us to focus on in his writing of the Book of Ecclesiastes. You see, I think he has worried a few bones in his time, complicating life with all he possessed and what ultimately came to possess him.  I think he may have struggled with this whole concept of contentment - what do you think?  One thing I see in his writings is this idea of where it is we "start" in any pursuit. Our starting place often determines our sense of satisfaction with what it is we obtain in the end.  For example, if I start out expecting to get some huge, deep, never before seen point from the passage in scripture I am reading, I may be utterly disappointed in the end.  Solomon was quick to remind us there is absolutely nothing new under the sun!  On the other hand, if I present myself to God, mind open to the possibilities of receiving from him, regardless of how "deep" or "profound" the truth may be, he will indeed point me to the nougat of truth he desires for me to possess.  The difference is the starting point.  

God isn't looking for us to have the latest and greatest truth - he is looking for us to be open to the truth we have been given and to allow it to affect our lives.  He doesn't measure our passion by how "deep" we are, but by how "naked" we are willing to become in our communication and time with him.  He isn't looking for us to work out our sin, but to work our way toward him with our sin - so he might remove it and the complexity it has create in our lives. He isn't expecting us to get it all the first time we hear a lesson from him, but he is expecting us to remember tidbits along the way until we get the totality of it worked out in our lives.  We make it complicated - he desires to keep it simple.  Maybe we'd do well to un-complicate our lives a little and see how much more God can do with the simplicity of our genuine love!  Just sayin!

Greatness Measured in the Simple and Elemental

^2-5For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.

(Matthew 18:2-5)

The disciples have just finished asking Jesus the "important" question that had been in the back of their minds:  "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" This was probably eating at them for quite some time - being as competitive as we humans are by nature, it was only natural that they would want to know about status in the kingdom.  Then we are told that Jesus uses an "object lesson" to convey the answer - the child is called over.  Why a child?  Why an object lesson?  Couldn't Jesus just have answered this question straight on without the object lesson?

Certainly, Jesus could have simply said, "Look, this is how it is..." - proceeding to answer his disciples without any object lesson.  There was something that helped "connect" the words Jesus was speaking when they were looking face-to-face with the small child.  That child conveyed innocence, displayed enthusiasm, and was probably more than a little curious to see what the teacher was going to do that day (especially since he had been chosen to be the center of that day's lesson!).  

Jesus knows exactly what it is that we need in order to best understand the concepts he is teaching us.  Sometimes it can be said straight out - grasped without any "challenge" in our spirit.  At others, we need that object lesson to help us "connect" with the concepts taught - it makes sense when we compare what is taught to what we know about the object lesson.  Jesus tells his disciples that there is an attitude of spirit, mind and will that helps us to "connect" with him - that of a child - elemental and simple.

Some of us have walked with Jesus just long enough to want to be a little "weightier" in our study of the Word - we want something that will "dazzle" and will show our "maturity" as we dig into our study.  We forget that Jesus is all about helping us connect with him in the simple and elemental.  The "simple" side of God is his ability to be straightforward with us - he doesn't beat around the bush, but gives it to us head on.  In other words, what you see with God is what you get with God!  The one who is always looking for something "deeper" often misses the things that are right there before their eyes.

The elemental side of God's character reminds us that his plans for us are not complex - they are, in fact, simply twofold.  First, love him with all our heart - in other words, all your passion, prayer, intelligence, and energies.  Second, love others as well as you love yourself.  A child understands these principles - everything they do is done with a passion and with energy.  I have two grandsons - both engage with life like there is no end to their energy reserve and enthralled with the next thing they will encounter like their will always be new stuff just around the corner.  That is what God wants of his kids.  That is the purpose of the object lesson.

We often make our Christian walk way more complicated than it needs to be - expecting things of ourselves that really end up holding us in bondage instead of helping us be free to experience Christ with passion, energy, understanding and enjoyment.  The next time we are tempted to think we need to "show ourselves mature" - we would do well to remember our object lesson of the little child.  God looks for us to approach with innocence - because a heart and mind that is renewed is a freeing thing.  He invites us to experience us with enthusiasm - boundless passion - because he has a specific purpose for our passion.

So, it is not the question of who is the greatest - who shows themselves the most knowledgeable or the deepest in their insight.  It is really about the one who reveals a mind willing to be engaged in the process of discovering who Jesus really is, a spirit that is willing to take the time and energy to connect with our Lord, and a will that is eager to respond to the direction of his voice.  Don't underestimate the privilege of living simply and engaging life elementally. The benefits of that kind of walk cannot be measured in "stature" or "position", but rather in the depth of the connection we come to experience in Christ.