Tag Archives: Event

Chapter-a-Day

Spiritual Waxing & Waning

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I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair...
Nehemiah 13:25a (NIV)

Across my life journey, I’ve experienced seasons of revival at different waypoints in life’s road. There were specific moments in time when I witnessed many people putting their faith in Jesus and becoming followers in a short period of time. In some cases, many of those who became followers were the last people I would have expected to do so.

In each of these seasons, I observed individuals who became faithful disciples. I also observed individuals whose spiritual experience appeared to have only short-term effect. At the same time, I’ve lived long enough of this life journey to have experienced that every individual has their own story regarding their relationship (or lack of relationship) with God. Sometimes an individuals journey waxes and wanes. With others, I’ve experienced zero interest of faith until their death bed. And yes, I’ve witnessed very real, very sincere death-bed conversions.

There is a similar observation I’ve had regarding church programs designed to “create” community through small groups, many of which I played a significant role. There’s a recurring pattern I’ve noticed. Initial hype and interest. Large kick-off event and great participation followed by months of slow waning interest. A few small groups continue to do life together long after the “program” fades into oblivion. Most never make it more than a short season.

These things came to mind as I read today’s final chapter of Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s story ends on a downer. After the miraculous rebuilding of the walls in less than two months and the joyful climactic celebration that kick-started Temple operations for the first time in 150 years, things quickly return to spiritual complacency. The “revival” event in yesterday’s chapter is immediately followed by people going back to doing what they’ve always done. They don’t make a habit of going to Temple and giving their tithes and offering. With no tithes and offerings to provide for all the priests and Levites, they leave the Temple and go back to their fields. Nehemiah finds that the Hebrews pretty much ignore every commitment they made to God’s covenant just a few chapters ago.

Nehemiah goes full-prophet postal screaming, beating, and condemning his people for their lack of faithfulness.

Been there. Done that.

In the quiet this morning, I’m reminded that history tells me the rest of the story. Despite Nehemiah experiencing what seems like the failure of his revival event, the Temple system he restored will actually take off. The “second temple” period he’s begun will become one of the most profitable periods of Jewish history with regard to scholarship, scripture, and literature. Of course, that will eventually wane too. When Jesus arrives on the scene some 500 years later, the Temple system will be thriving but completely corrupt. Forty-years after Jesus death and resurrection, it will be completely wiped out by the Romans.

This leads me back to my observations across my life journey. Like Nehemiah, it’s easy to get caught up in moments and seasons on life’s road. Revivals are exciting, and I’m blessed to have experienced them. Events, however, are moments. The spiritual journey is not an event but an epic story complete with mountain-top climaxes and long wilderness wanderings. There is a spiritual waxing and waning that most people experience across their lives. There are tragic moments when everything seems dark and hopeless, and moments of eucatastrophe when the miraculous breaks through and everything is right with the world. It’s all of it.

I love Nehemiah’s passionate, prophetic heart. But as he screams at his people and attempts to beat them into repentance and obedience, my heart whispers: “Dude! Chill out. There’s a Story God is authoring in all of this. Trust the Story.”

I’m out the rest of the week. We’ll pick-up our chapter-a-day journey on Monday with the book of Hebrews!

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.

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Chapter-a-Day

The Luxury of Relative Peace and Safety

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Ar in Moab is ruined,
    destroyed in a night!
Kir in Moab is ruined,
    destroyed in a night!
Isaiah 15:1 (NIV)

It’s hard to believe that those now graduating from high school have no recollection of life before 9/11. How quickly life, as we knew it, changed that day. I can still remember walking by the cafeteria inside my client’s office building that morning and catching a crowd of people huddled beneath a suspended television. Out of my peripheral vision I saw it, and it caused me to stop and wonder what was going on. I slipped quietly to the back of the crowd and watched the first tower burning. While I was standing there watching the second tower was struck. I packed up my things and went home. I knew that all of our meetings would be cancelled that day.

It had really been 50 years since the last time an event of that magnitude shook the U.S. From the accounts I have read, and from the testimony of my family members I know that Pearl Harbor had a similar effect. Everything changed in a moment.

It is a luxury to live in relative peace and safety.

I read the words of Isaiah’s prophecy against the ancient cities in Moab. I try to imagine what it was like in that day. How hard life must have been. How dangerous. A wandering raiding party could change everything for you and your family in a moment. I have to believe that is how it is for many people today living in certain villages of  Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Ukraine, and other war zones.

It is a luxury to live in relative peace and safety.

This morning I’m waking up to a beautiful morning. I will go to my client’s office. I will conduct my training sessions and return to my hotel. My concern this morning is not fear of life, of safety, of security or provision for me and my loved ones. My concern is finding my way in a city strange to me, finding favor with the new team with whom I’m working, where I’m going to eat tonight among the myriad of choices, and my beloved Cubs finding their offense tonight against a formidable Cleveland pitching staff.

It is a luxury to live in relative peace and safety.

Thank you God, for blessings I so often take for granted. Shower your peace, safety, and provision on those who know they afford no such luxury this day.

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Featured image courtesy of Jason E Powell via Flickr

Chapter-a-Day

The Power of the One Ring (Not THAT One)

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Those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal, saying to the Israelites, “When your children ask their parents in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.’
Joshua 4:20-23 (NRSV)

I have a ring that is worn on a chain around my neck. Those who know my life-long love of Tolkien are likely to think it some homage to the ring of power in Lord of the Rings. The ring around my neck may be a ring of power, but its power is not in magic, elves, wizards, or the stuff of imaginative fantasy. The ring around my neck was a gift to me from Wendy. She gave it to me before we were married, and its power is in the meaning it holds for her, and for me.

The ring was and is, for Wendy, a special reminder of a waypoint in her own spiritual journey, and the things God had done in her heart and life. These things are a part of her story, thus they are hers to tell and I will leave it at that. When she knew that I was to be her husband and that God was bringing me into her story, the ring became a gift to me. It always hangs around my neck. It is a ring of power, even if its power is limited in significance to Wendy, me and God.

Memorial [muh-mawr-ee-uh l] noun. Something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, thing, etc.

In today’s chapter, the people of Israel were called to create a memorial. Twelve stones, one stone for each tribe, were piled as a reminder of what God had done in drying up the River Jordan so that they could cross. They would preserve the memory of that event. When future generations asked about the pile of stones, they could learn the story.

We generally think of memorials as a reminder of people after they die, but memorials can be a powerful tool in other ways. When God does something special or remarkable in the life of a person, a couple, or a family, it is an opportunity to create a tangible memorial of His faithfulness, provision, deliverance, miracle, answered prayer, or etc. The memorial can be a powerful reminder, even if its power or significance is limited to the person, couple, or family involved.

Today, I’m thinking about the ring that has hung around my neck for nearly 11 years, and the fact that 99.9 percent of the time I forget that it’s even there. But, I catch sight of it in the mirror as I shave, or I feel it pop out of my t-shirt when I bend over, and it reminds me of Wendy, her journey, and her gift. It reminds me in the moment of what God has done in her story, in my story, in our story. I am reminded once again of grace, provision, and redemption.

Therein lies the power of the ring.

 

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Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 6

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2008 12 31 New Years Eve Dinner Party LR "Not on your life!" said Elisha. "You didn't lift a hand to capture them, and now you're going to kill them? No sir, make a feast for them and send them back to their master."

So he prepared a huge feast for them. After they ate and drank their fill he dismissed them. Then they returned home to their master. The raiding bands of Aram didn't bother Israel anymore.
2 Kings 6:22-23 (MSG)

We like using our dining room. Necessity is a good part of the appeal. Our quaint little house does not have a kitchen big enough for a kitchen table, a bar, or a breakfast nook where many families snarf down their meals on the fly. So, we use the formal dining room a lot. We sit around the "good table." We like setting it nicely for family, friends and guests. You feel in less of a hurry when the meal is an event. You take more time. You eat a second helping. The conversation goes a little deeper.

There is something about the gift of hospitality that can soften the hard hearted. Sharing a good meal together eases tension, fosters conversation and deepens relationship.

Killing the Aramean raiding party would have only served to escalate the violence and tension between Israel and Aram. Elisha's solution was a good one. Treat them like an honored guest. Have a feast. Sit down over choice food and break out the good wine. Talk, laugh, and raise a glass together. You're less likely to kill the person with whom you shared a great meal.