The Story

Good stories are compelling.  Like the aroma of a master chef's kitchen, a good story lures into the doorway of the narrative and beckons to us.  Stories are the way we frame our lives.  When we hear a good story it creates a mirror by which we reflect on our own story--on our own lives.

The best story of all is one that is so familiar to us that it may have lost its capacity to draw us in or to function as a mirror to our own life and experience.  The familiarity of that story--we have heard the many parts of the story so many times that we neglect to pay attention--causes us overlook its immense capacity to alter our lives.

Other obstacles exist as well.  Many folk today believe that there could never be one story so big and significant as to shape any other person's story.  

I disagree.

And the story that makes the most sense of things is the story of God's work in the world.  It is the story that we find contained within the many stories of Scripture.  From Genesis to Revelation the Bible recounts and tells a bundle of mighty deeds, remarkable events, and the powerful actions of God.  Those many stories can be daunting and sometimes a little confusing.  But if one steps back a bit from the details and looks at the larger story line of God's work, a wonderful and simple  narrative emerges.

It is that simple story--God's story--that we will explore this Sunday--Friends Day--at Northlake.  See you there!

The Priority of Faith

Abraham and Sarah were safe and secure in Ur of the Chaldeans (Iraq).  In a vast city, full of business, commerce, and trade—life had been good for them.  They enjoyed the bustle of city life, the massive and beautiful buildings and parks.  They were in the center of civilization and refinement—and they could afford to take it all in.

Ur was familiar and comfortable to Abraham and Sarah.  They knew the city streets.  They knew which markets carried the best melons and vegetables.  They had known the butcher for years; the bakery was just around the corner from their large home.  They knew the sounds and rhythms of each day and each season.  They loved it.  They loved it because in all of its familiarity and comfort, it was home.

But God spoke to Abraham.  Genesis records the words, “Go from your country and your family and from your family home to the land that I will show to you.  I will make of you a great nation.  I will bless you and make you famous for your greatness.  And you will bless many peoples.”

Safety and security.  Familiarity and comfort.  Or. . . .  the Word of God.

Now it seems to me that Word of God is a troubling thing. 

God speaking to us not troubling because it is God that is speaking.  Who doesn’t want to have a good relationship with the Almighty!?

But what makes it troubling is that God comes into our safety and security, familiarity and comfort, and draws us out into another place, another land.  We prefer our creature comforts, the work of our own hands; God has another idea in mind altogether.

And so, the apostle Paul, writing to citizens in another great city, the capital of an empire, has the audacity to say to them that they need to let go and take a journey into another land—the land of Faith.

This Sunday, in our great city, with all of our safety and security, familiarity and comfort, we will hear Paul’s audacious claims once again.  And, in hearing Paul’s word, we may just hear God speak to us as well!

Fat Tuesday? Or Ash Wednesday?

Fat Tuesday is coming to be a rather popular and festive occasion--in places far away from New Orleans! Party hearty and going for the gusto sounds fun.  And the prospects of eating large quantities of gumbo  and washing it down with something cold may be a hoot.  

But perhaps it would be worth considering the value of Ash Wednesday instead.

I recognize that this is a hard sell.  Given the choice between a party or a quiet time of reflection, even the most introverted among us will suggest that a little time with some good friends and good eats is a much more inviting option.

But if we could set aside  the pleasures of good company and food for a moment and ask about the ongoing human pursuit of meaning, I think that we could make a case for exploring Ash Wednesday. . . . and just as important, the season of Lent.  

Many people think that Lent is a time when you are supposed to give up something--give up meat, or chocolate, or watching TV.  The idea is to give up something, to do without.  And by giving up something we are supposed to become more grateful, more loving, more something.

But what is we only have part of the story on this.  What if giving up something during Lent is really and more fully, "Give up something so that you can receive something of greater value?"

If my hands are full, then I have no ability to accept something else--a gift from someone who loves me, perhaps?  Indeed, Lent is a time when I choose to relinquish something in order that I might receive something--something of greater value than the things we normally fill our hands--our lives--up with.

And so, Christian people use the time leading up to Easter Sunday to practice letting go so that we can receive.  And the gift that God has in mind is a whole lot better than gumbo!

Forgiveness

Stanley Hauerwas once said that the church was the only organization in the world crazy enough to be constituted by the confession of sin.  Admitting wrong and extending mercy is an odd way of living, but forgiveness is written on the pages on the New Testament and across the heart of God.

My daughter Lauren explores forgiveness in this telling of Jesus' parable.

See you Sunday as we explore what it means to be a people who believe in the forgiveness of sin!

Sunday's Coming--The Ascension

As Christians we talk alot about the death of Jesus and we talk alot about the resurrection of Jesus.  And so we should!  The cross and the empty tomb are indespensable elements in the truth of the gospel.  But what we don't talk about much is what the risen Lord is doing now.  

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are in the past; what's Jesus up to today?

A whole lot--if we understand the witness of the church.  Jesus is alive and active.  He is Healer, Priest, Prophet, Savior, Counselor, Friend, and more!

And the event that the early church used to signify the ongong ministry of the Risen Jesus was the Ascension.  Jesus has ascended and taken on a role that places him at God's right hand.   Jesus' ministry has such power because he is intimately connected to the Father.  Because of his ascended role, according to Justo Gonzalez, "we have been given admission to the very heart of the Trinity!"

So maybe it's time to get the whole story together--crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension!  Because Jesus didn't just die for our sins and receive a resurrection body for nothing.  Jesus is working to usher in redemption and a new day.  And it the chapters of his story on crucifixion, and resurrection are powerful, just wait until we see the completion of what he is doing as the ascended, victorious Lord.

Hear the words of Andrew Purves:

“As the risen and ascended Lord, Jesus does not now sit in heaven with his arms folded waiting for us to do something religious that he can affirm (an image from Karl Barth).  Jesus is not our cheerleader from the heavens hoping we will get faith and ministry right.  Neither does Jesus want to get more involved in our ministries.  Why would he?  Our ministries are not redemptive.  We don’t raise the dead, forgive the sinful, heal the sick or bring in the reign of God.  Rather, Jesus has his own resurrected ministry to do—raising the dead, forgiving the sinful, healing the sick, bringing in God’s reign (note the present tense!)—and he wants us in on it.”

Do you hear the challenge of Ascension?