Today is known as Ascension Day in the Christian church. It’s observed as the day when Jesus finally ascended following his resurrection. The notion of the Ascension is important in my life for the following reason. Let me set its importance up for you. You see I can’t imagine how crushed the disciples were when they had to face their first time of separation from Jesus in the time following his crucifixion and burial. In fact they were probably surprised at how unprepared they were for living into the next stage of their individual and collective lives. The disciples were lucky, however. They received an additional 40 days of time “together” in order to do two things: heal and prepare themselves for the days ahead. The Ascension, then, represents for me an amazing expression of God‘s grace. The 40 days that lie between Jesus’ resurrection and final departure suggest that God doesn’t just throw things on our plate without regard to our circumstance or ability to carry them out; God often provides the time and space we need to process them. As we look back and scan the horizon of our lives, let us give thanks for those times when we too were given the space and time we have been given to deal with the challenges we have faced. Then, let us go forth with the healing and sense of vision we gained and live the lives God’s grace has empowered us to live. Til next time…
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Thursday, May 1
Today is known as Ascension Day in the Christian church. It’s observed as the day when Jesus finally ascended following his resurrection. The notion of the Ascension is important in my life for the following reason. Let me set its importance up for you. You see I can’t imagine how crushed the disciples were when they had to face their first time of separation from Jesus in the time following his crucifixion and burial. In fact they were probably surprised at how unprepared they were for living into the next stage of their individual and collective lives. The disciples were lucky, however. They received an additional 40 days of time “together” in order to do two things: heal and prepare themselves for the days ahead. The Ascension, then, represents for me an amazing expression of God‘s grace. The 40 days that lie between Jesus’ resurrection and final departure suggest that God doesn’t just throw things on our plate without regard to our circumstance or ability to carry them out; God often provides the time and space we need to process them. As we look back and scan the horizon of our lives, let us give thanks for those times when we too were given the space and time we have been given to deal with the challenges we have faced. Then, let us go forth with the healing and sense of vision we gained and live the lives God’s grace has empowered us to live. Til next time…
Wednesday, April 30
Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 130; Deuteronomy 19:1-7; Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 1:1-10; Psalm 8
There were many books I read and conversations that I had that stayed with me from my sabbatical last summer. One of the most important was a book titled “The Contemplative Pastor” by Eugene Peterson. While there were several nuggets of wisdom I mined from the book, one thing in particular stayed with me and helped redefine my entire approach toward ministry. Let me share that with you. In the book, Peterson stated there are three words that should be used to describe an effective pastor. The first two (prophetic and apocalyptic) were within my current practice of ministry at the time so I didn’t think too much about them. The third adjective, however, bowled me over. The adjective was “unbusy”. By this Peterson meant that an effective pastor should schedule his or her life in such a way that there is time to respond to spontaneously emerging needs. I remember thinking, “How is that possible with the countless demands that pull a pastor in a thousand directions?” Despite my initial skepticism, I decided to try scheduling myself differently when I returned from my sabbatical last fall. I began to prioritize my commitments (actually getting rid of some of the less important ones) and found that it was possible to create a more flexible schedule that would allow myself to be there more for others AND myself. I was reminded of this process when I read today’s words from Ephesians . Portions of Ephesians 1:7-9 read: “Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah … we’re a free people…And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything…He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him” (The Message). That language reminds me of the way the various threads of our lives that threaten to pull us in a thousand directions can be woven into one tapestry where we have a true sense of perspective. By integrating those streams we can actually do the unthinkable in the fast-paced world in which we live: we can lead “unbusy” lives that exude a sense of freedom! If you are feeling overwhelmed by the many demands of your life today, I invite you to take a moment and step back . Look at those many competing threads. Then remember the One who can take those various threads and seamlessly weave them together into a beautiful new tapestry you might call your life. Til next time…
Tuesday, April 29
Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 128; Deuteronomy 8:11-20; Matthew 28:1-15; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Psalm 127
Every time I return to the area in which I was born and raised, I have conflicting emotions. The positive things about my return primarily center around the many people I spend my time reconnecting with: people who in so many ways helped me become the person I am today. That part of my return experience is amazingly positive. Of course I have other emotions during my return trips as well. You see I grew up in a region that had little - if any - diversity present. Consequently, if you were a member of a white family household (1 mom, 1 dad & 2.4 kids) or were a white retired person then my community had much to offer. But if you fell outside of these two categories in any way, shape, or form; then the area had little to offer. Consequently, I grew up thinking that because I was outside the “norm” that I would never have many of the things that all of the others I knew came to expect - things like a long-term, loving relationship; a house of my own; and a vocation where I could do what God had truly called me to do. Each time I return “home” for a visit, I am reminded of the amazing things I have been blessed with since I left the region nine years ago - things that I grew up thinking would never be possible for me. And it would be easy on some level to think to myself, “Well, Craig, you’ve worked hard and deserve the things that have come into your life.” Thankfully, I have the words from Deuteronomy 8:11-20 to ground me this morning as I begin my first full day back “home” on my vacation this week. Those words in part read: “If you start thinking to yourself, ‘I did this all. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!’ - well, think again” (Deuteronomy 8:17 - The Message). Are there aspects of your life where you find yourself more than ready to claim credit: aspects like a career move, a new relationship or a sense of renewal in an existing relationship, a recovery from an addiction, and so on? Today I would invite you to consider an area of your life that perhaps you’ve been a little quick to claim credit. Now stop give credit where credit is due. Til next time…
Monday, April 28
Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 78; Deuteronomy 8:1-10; John 14:22-31; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
One of the themes that struck me in today’s passages from the Psalms and Deuteronomy is our human tendency to focus on the difficult things we face in life and forget the blessings. I think, for instance, of how quickly the Israelites forget their years of servitude in Egypt after they left; and how soon they started complaining about their new “accommodations” in the desert. Of course I can’t be too hard on the Israelites for there have been many, many, many times when I too have quickly forgotten the many blessings in my life and instead have chosen to clutch my fists in the midst of adversity and cried out, “Why me!!!!” It’s so easy to lose a sense of perspective in our lives. I loved the simplicity of the concluding words of today’s passage from Deuteronomy – for they helped me regain my sense of perspective today. Those words read: “After a meal, satisfied, bless God, your God, for the good land God has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10 – The Message). I would encourage you to take an inventory of your attitude toward life recently and see if there is a discernable pattern. Do you find yourself more frequently lifting words of thanks; or are you more likely to raise a litany of complaints? No matter what that ratio of thanksgiving to complaint currently looks like, realize that it’s never too late to restore a sense of balance in your attitude toward life. Til next time…
One of the themes that struck me in today’s passages from the Psalms and Deuteronomy is our human tendency to focus on the difficult things we face in life and forget the blessings. I think, for instance, of how quickly the Israelites forget their years of servitude in Egypt after they left; and how soon they started complaining about their new “accommodations” in the desert. Of course I can’t be too hard on the Israelites for there have been many, many, many times when I too have quickly forgotten the many blessings in my life and instead have chosen to clutch my fists in the midst of adversity and cried out, “Why me!!!!” It’s so easy to lose a sense of perspective in our lives. I loved the simplicity of the concluding words of today’s passage from Deuteronomy – for they helped me regain my sense of perspective today. Those words read: “After a meal, satisfied, bless God, your God, for the good land God has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10 – The Message). I would encourage you to take an inventory of your attitude toward life recently and see if there is a discernable pattern. Do you find yourself more frequently lifting words of thanks; or are you more likely to raise a litany of complaints? No matter what that ratio of thanksgiving to complaint currently looks like, realize that it’s never too late to restore a sense of balance in your attitude toward life. Til next time…
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