Losing our Sensitivity?

"One of the greatest achievements of the last hundred years has been to deaden the human conscience on that subject, so that by now you will hardly find a sermon preached or a conscience troubled about it..." (Screwtape Letters Chapter 17)

Is it possible that we struggle with more than we know?  This word was about gluttony, pretty much a lost concern so it seems.  Screwtape letters says our gluttony can be as much in delicacy as in quantity!  Really?  That's not a reality I am aware!

Maybe I don't eat too much (spend too much or read any other temptation in that sentence) but have I shifted my source of life to my sensuality (food, drink, pleasure, etc)?  Ephesians has a cutting word here, that the focus on sensuality causes a loss of sensitivity to the Spirit!  That is why fasting can increase our sensitivity, it shifts our focus to the Lord as the nourishment of our hearts.  

The fear I read here is that the enemy wants to move me slowly, unnoticed by me, toward a life of stuff, taste, pleasure, etc. and away from the Lord.  Question is how can I be alert to that shift?  How can I be aware if I have shifted to food, drink, or anything else for my joy and source of life?  

When you scan your life, what could be the places the evil one would shift your heart to some pleasure, some focus that might cause you to lose your sensitivity, capture your thoughts and focus and move you away from the move of God fresh in you?

I've Done Tough Times Wrong in the Past! Not Doing It This Time!!

"Humans live in time but the Father destines them to eternity.  He therefore, I believe, wants them to attend to chiefly two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time which they call the Present.  For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity."  (From Screwtape Letters, words from the senior demon).

Lot of words but here's what I take away personally.  We are made for eternity.  We can choose to live in the light of eternity, make decisions in the light of eternity and live in the moment knowing that we have eternity.  Or, we can be swallowed in anxiety, fear and shame.

I can worry about tomorrow, jobs, health, etc.  I can live in the shame of the past failures.  Both steal away the present moment where the Lord is with me.  Both shift my focus from the God who has a destiny for me to my problems and my pain!

God's grace is for the present.  It is bread for today, as Jesus said.  Tomorrow the Lord will provide again but today His grace, care, provision is sufficient.

So, here's the point.  Walking through a bit of personal anxiety currently.  Not as bad as some have it, maybe worse than others.  And that is irrelevant.  What I am choosing to do each day is worship the God who has a destiny for me.  I choose to worship that He will provide even though I don't know how.  I am choosing to resist the shame that says I am not worthy of His love, that I am being cursed.

I've done tough times wrong in the past, fears, worries, stress.  Not doing it this time.  I have a God who has destined me for eternity and He is with me right now.  Tomorrow has it's own evil (as Jesus said) but today, the Lord is good and good to me.

How about you?  In a tough season?  You are not alone and the Lord is not done with you!  Now we have a reason to celebrate!!!

True Confessions!

True confessions are the moments I stare face to face with scripture that God has illuminated to me as if it was flashing with neon lights. Paul's words in 2Corinthians 12 cut my heart wide open.

So here is my true confession. My struggle as a pastor is the motive of my heart. I have three equal parts of truest desire that live in my soul.

1. My desire to honor God and live out of the truest and purest call to the mission of Christ.
2. The desire to build his church calling people to real life in Jesus and watching it grow into a movement of intense love and grace in the community.  
3. My desire to feel valuable, important, needed, and indispensable. 

I don't always get it right. I find  that I want to live a life of sacrifice and lay myself on the alter of Christ.  However, that third deep desire at times leads rather than falling into line.  When it leads I find people become less the priority, I become more short term rather than long term focused, I feel more empty and less alive.

What if life was more about living out of the first two motives and allowing God to satisfy the last?  Is this as tough for you as it is for me?

Who's the Best Preacher?

Is the best preacher the loudest, the quickest wit, the smoothest talker?  II Corinthians 11 Paul is being compared to other preachers... and coming up short.  Apparently some are saying he isn't the speaker that other leaders are.  Not as quick, not as astute!  Likely every preacher has that experience.

What makes the best preaching?  We know the answer, the best preaching is the Word of God.  But style can affect the listener, too!  What we have to guard against is style over substance.  Is the Word of God being taught in a manner that brings wisdom, conviction, guidance, hope and help?  We can trip over style, what appeals to us or what may not, but the real power is the Word being heard and obeyed.

So here's a question for you, what helps you to hear the Word? What teachings have been the best for you and why? Do you regularly experience the Word coming alive for you?  What aids or detracts from that?

Now that's some funny stuff!

In chapter 11 of "Screwtape Letters", Screwtape (Senior Demon) reveals the trap of humor that dulls a persons senses and holds them in the camp of the enemy (devils camp). It is when humor becomes the mask we hide behind because we learn that when laced with humor we don't only give ourselves permission to say whatever we want but get the permission of others who encourage our humor with their laughter.

Am I giving myself way to much freedom and in doing so invite others into a cynical world where virtue is lost and nothing anymore is sacred? Is the invitation that I give to others around me one where life has richness and meaning or one where nothing and no one is safe at the sharp end of a tongue that stabs freely at every matter of heart and soul.

The more flipped I get the more I melt away the kingdom of God. If I am to bring the kingdom of God my humor will paint the picture of laughter founded in joy not cynicism.

Don't hear me wrong. The gift of laughter is from God. Joking is my favorite past time and has real power in creating bonds of intimate relationship. I just know that I have killed to many moments where God was speaking with what I like to think is great quick wit. Do not fear. You will still have the same Phil who lovinglingly teases you and calls you into fun relationship. Just more concious that my teasing is elevating you, my God, and others and not tearing down with the permission of others laughter.

Pleasure Was God's Idea

Screwtape Letters is a behind the scenes look at how the evil one seeks to destroy us.  Along the way C.S. Lewis gives us insight into God's heart and dreams.  Here's one quote that may surprise you, "Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure, in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense on (God's) ground. It is His invention." (Bolded for emphasis).

Imagine that!  God created pleasure for us!  Maybe He does want us to laugh, take time off, enjoy the senses of touch and sand.  Does that give you a new picture of God?  Does that take the shame away from some of the things you love?  Yes, it has to be within the boundaries and in its healthy form.  But playing with your kids, reading a newspaper, watching your favorite team is something God has given to you.  Imagine, when you are smiling so is the Lord!  What a cool picture.  Think I'll have a Chai Tea today to celebrate I Timothy 6:17, "God... who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

Pleasure is God's idea.  Go enjoy!

God, Cash and Faith

"Some people got to have it.  Some people really need it.  Some people do things, bad things with it!" says the song.  II Corinthians 9 is a high calling.  Walking with the Lord is not a Sunday moment praise but an act of real faith where we give even when it means we will have less!  Even when it means we will do without and lead our families to "live less".  No wonder money gets to my heart.  No wonder it can create anxiety and pressure.  And no wonder the Lord loves a cheerful giver.  Who wants a gift that is given begrudgingly?

A few years back the Lord asked me to give and I resisted.  Then he said, "Just keep your money!  I don't want it!"  I was heartbroken.  I had hurt the heart of the Lord who had given me everything by my own fear and selfishness.  Then He said, "Would you like a gift someone gives with resentment?  Would you think I would like that?  If you can't give it cheerfully just keep it."

Still sometimes have to work through this but I will never forget the Lord's cutting words, "Just keep your money.  I don't want it."  Still rings in my head!  Is giving easy or hard for you?

True Test of Faith

So what is the ultimate test of faith? Have we reduced it to a collection of emotions, principles, or practices? Is it a mere set of values and virtues that we keep in order that we feel good about ourselves and in comparison to the world hold ourselves in high esteem?

What if the real test of your and my faith was connected to our heart that God has chosen to connect to our wallet. What of the standard of faith is not the virtues we profess but the eagerness of our heart? At least that is what Paul attests.

"For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. (2 Corinthians 8:3-5 NIV)"

As a pastor I struggle here as much as anyone. I long to be fully a part of what God is doing and the dream of a world and people who love God and live lives of full surrender that brings life and joy and peace. But my earnestness falls short at times at the place of sacrifice. It is a battle to put my money where my mouth is because everything I have been taught by this world is protect and provide for your family. My man's duty is to dream a future for my kids and my wife and in doing so place myself in the same dog eat dog world where we are all in competition for the top spot. We are all in the same race for the best line in the supermarket, the best opportunities for our kids, and the best provision this world has to offer.

The mistake I make is to live our lives as if I am my own provider. I am not. When I live life this way I make myself my own God and leave God to the position of euphoric feelings supplying the mirage of happiness I am sometimes chasing.

What sobers me each time is Gods invitation to live in the other world, the world he is bringing and will claim it's victory. That is the world where God provides our every need and we live in a constant state of gratefuness for the life that he gives that far exceeds any possession this world has to offer.

So God bounces the ball back to me. He places the ball in my court with an invitation. The invitation is the same as Paul give to the Corinthian church. Get in the game! It can not be played from the sidelines where we cheer on those who "give themselves". No the invitation is to step on the court, to give ourselves fully to the mission of God and it starts Witt the challenge to give. Only then are we really playing ball.

I know what I have to do. How about you?

Rich Times in the Valley?

Chapter 8 of Screwtape Letters gives us a different understanding of valleys. Low moments are alive with the presence of the Lord!! I've been trying to remember that when I hit low moments when life seems dark and God seems far. That truth, that these are fertile moments for the Lord to work breeds hope and joy in the valley. 

One of the powerful realities of community, life together in small groups is that others can remind us that though the moment seems hard when we lose a job or face a crisis the Lord is with us and is at work!!

In a valley today? You are right where the hand of God can be more evident!! You have a God. Valleys are fertile ground to grow real faith!!

For Each Other

Oh, that we could speak to each other the way displayed in 2 Corinthians 7. I read Paul's words and my stomach at times sinks as if I am the one receiving the letter from him (and maybe I am). I become afraid for him. "You cant talk like that Paul. What if they get mad and read your heart wrong?" That's just it isn't it?

We don't have real intimate relationships with one another because we are so fearful in our relationships. We are afraid of being misunderstood. We are afraid of being misrepresented. We are afraid of being wrong. We are afraid of being abandoned by each other so we we slow dance with each other but the way our teachers made us dance in the 8th grade, where we hardly even touch. The ruler distance we keep is because of some unwritten rule that we not allowed to meddle in each others lives. 

So what type of relationship is that. Oh that we could speak the truth in love to each other and, just like scripture says, "spur each other along toward love in good deeds. I am as guilty as anyone.

I'm on vacation and a member of my family isn't here with the other 19 of us because we are so afraid to hurt each other that we just allow distance and non-inclusion to exist without a fight for each other. I want to be fought for. I want someone to come after me and not quit. I want to be rebuked when I am wrong and trust your heart is not for your gain but Christ's and my own. I want a church body that does life this way, don't you?