Garrison

So, last night a life-long dream was fulfilled... Tuesday and I attended A Prairie Home Companion at the Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City. It was quite a night...

The weather called for severe rain storms and strong winds throughout the night... Not a good sign. We came prepared though... dressed head to toe in our best water-proof gear. We arrived to sit in line around 4:00... gates opened at 6:00. A substantial line had already formed when we got there. It was exciting to see so many Garrison Keillor enthusiasts in Salt Lake! We took our place in line and talked with a fella named Tim for the duration of our wait. I got goosebumps as I could hear the musicians on stage on the other side of the fence tuning and warming up. You could hear vintage organ and sound effects that A Prairie Home Companion is so well known for.

A huge line had now formed... I was amazed at how many people had come early. The storm came and went for the duration of our wait... The gusts were indeed mighty and the rain was heavy. At one point, a Red Butte employee came out and advised us all to wait in our cars. This meant giving up our place in line. No-one budged. They also announced that the show might be canceled on account of the strong winds. We wouldn't let ourselves believe this. By this point, we had become friends with all the folks sitting with us. The wine, whiskey, and scotch were flowing freely all around us... this kept the people around us laughing and inspired. We were all waiting nervously for a decision to be made... and then there was movement... the gates were opening! The clouds had broken up and the show was to go on!

We raced in and found a great spot right in the center of the seating area... Red Butte is a large grassy amphitheater. It's a beautiful venue, perfect for a show like this. The show started... it was all I imagined, hoped for and more. Dressed in his usual white, wrinkled suit, red tie, and red adidas sneakers, Garrison shared stories and poems that were marvelous. He poked fun at Utah and all the quirky laws and lifestyles here. At one point, he wandered off the stage and strolled through the entire audience singing a song and telling a story. He even walked right behind Tuesday and me!

A full moon had now come out as Guy Noir, The Cowboys, and Butter Milk Biscuits, and of course... The news from Lake Wobegon all made an appearance... The bluegrass musical numbers were wonderful. Sara Watkins was the featured musician and hit it out of the park.

I made a point to take a lot of mental pictures and appreciate the experience I was having. I had grown up listening to A Prairie Home. It was so extraordinary to finally see it in real life. There's no telling how much longer Garrison will be performing, so I made sure to take it all in.

How are we to respond to persecution? First I think it's important to note that here in America, persecution isn't as much an issue as it is in other parts of the world or how is was back in the day. I think the most abusive persecution I've endured here in America has been a response of uninterestedness. Sure, there might be the occasional slander, but nothing life threatening... not like being sawed in half like the early Christians. I can just picture having a conversation with Peter in heaven...

Dan: "Yeah, Peter... sharing Christ with people in America was tough... There were times I was ignored and laughed at." 

Peter: "Oh, I can totally relate... I was tortured, beaten, and then was put to death by being hung upside down on a cross..."

Whether it's life threatening or just really uncomfortable, it's all persecution. Sharing Christ in an environment that's hostile can be the most difficult thing to do. But suffering persecution is our opportunity to show our faithfulness and loyalty to Jesus. There are SO many who've suffered and died for the sake of Christ. These folks have paved the way for us! We can honor them by continuing in there steps. To have to "suffer" persecution is, as Jesus Himself said, "the way to walk the same road as the prophets, the saints, and the martyr's have walked."

To have to suffer persecution is to share in the great "occasion." We should consider it thrilling to be part of something memorable and crucial in sharing Christ. When we are called upon to suffer something, anything for our faith in God, that is always a memorable and crucial moment... it is referred to as "the great occasion."

It is the clash between the world and Christ.

It is not a penalty, but a glorious moment.

"He that shall live this day and see old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his friends, and say, 'tomorrow is Saint Crispian.' Then will strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say, 'these wounds I had on Crispin's day.' -Shakespeare in Henry the Fifth before the battle of Agincourt

"Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

The American definition of peace is the freedom FROM something. It's the absence of evil, war, strife, etc. Unfortunately we're only experiencing half of the blessing. The peace that is described here includes receiving, enjoying, and to be in the presence of all things good. I think it's so cool that folks in the middle east greet each other with "Salaam alaikum..." They are wishing peace upon one another! What a great way to start a conversation. Seems so much deeper than a "Hey, what's up?"

Next, the blessing is bestowed upon the one who's making peace... not the one who's just basking in it. It goes to the one who's taking the necessary action to preserve peace, not the one evading or avoiding the issue at hand.

So, what does being a child of God mean? That's another one of those things I've always read and though "Yeah, wow... I want to be that." But never really knew what it all entailed. Apparently, the word 'child' is another way of saying 'son'... and calling someone "a son" of something was the typical way to describe someone. Rather than saying "Joe is a peaceful man..." they would say "Joe is the son of peace..." So this beatitude can be read as "Blessed are the ones who actively pursue peace, for the are doing a God-like action!"

One other interesting note... there are 3 ways to look at pursuing peace.

1. Making the world a better place

2. Conquering your own inner conflict

3. Establishing a right relationship between man and man. This seemed to be the most important pursuit of peace. For it has been said "The man who divided men is doing the devil's work, while the man who unites men is doing God's work."

Insults

"Yours is the bliss when men shall heap their insults on you, and shall persecute you, and shall say in their lies all kind of evil things against you for My sake. Your reward will be great in heaven..." Matthew 4:18-10
One of the things I love about Jesus' ministry is that He gave it to people straight. He didn't sugarcoat anything. The things that were great, were described as great. The things that were gonna be hard, were described as being hard. Folks knew what they were getting themselves in to when they set out to follow Christ. It would be an adventure of a lifetime, but would require great risk and sacrifice.
Here we find yet another example of Jesus teaching about something based on His own experience. I believe He teaches about these things because He knew it would be something we would struggle with for a lifetime. He doesn't waste His breath beating around the bush... He was honest and taught the most relevant and applicable topics. There's no "This might happen..." it's all "This will happen..." It's not "O the bliss of those who MIGHT get persecuted..." It's "O the bliss of those who ARE persecuted."
There are certain things we can count on happening when we follow Christ.
1. It will disrupt your work and "living."If it came to choice between a loyalty and living, the real christian never hesitated to choose loyalty."
2. It will disrupt your social life. "A man must be prepared to have spells of loneliness in order to follow Christ."
3. It will disrupt your home life. "Following Christ often involves a choice between a man's nearest dearest and Jesus Christ."

Peace

"Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

The american definition of peace is the freedom FROM something. It's the absence of evil, war, strife, etc. Unfortunately we're only experiencing half of the blessing. The peace that is described here includes receiving, enjoying, and to be in the presence of all things good. I think it's so cool that folks in the middle east greet each other with "Saslaam alaikum..." They are wishing peace upon one another! What a great way to start a conversation. Seems so much deeper than a "Hey, what's up?"

Next, the blessing is bestowed upon the one who's making peace... not the one who's just basking in it. It goes to the one who's taking the necessary action to preserve peace, not the one evading or avoiding the issue at hand.

So, what does being a child of God mean? That's another one of those things I've always read and though "Yeah, wow... I want to be that." But never really knew what it all entailed. Apparently, the word 'child' is another way of saying 'son'... and calling someone "a son" of something was the typical way to describe someone. Rather than saying "Joe is a peaceful man..." they would say "Joe is the son of peace..." So this beatitude can be read as "Blessed are the ones who actively pursue peace, for the are doing a God-like action!"

One other interesting note... there are 3 ways to look at pursuing peace.

1. Making the world a better place

2. Conquering your own inner conflict

3. Establishing a right relationship between man and man. This seemed to be the most important pursuit of peace. For it has been said "The man who divided men is doing the devil's work, while the man who unites men is doing God's work."

Fit to be Pure

 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Ok, this one sounds important... I'd better figure out what it means to have a pure heart. The greek word for pure is katharos. It refers to either cleaning soiled clothes, or an unwavering army free from cowardly, unwilling, and inefficient soldiers. Katharos is used in conjunction with the word akeratos. This is something that is unadulterated (like wine that's not diluted with water.)
Is it truly possible for us to do something with an absolute pure heart, free from any alternative motive? When we give, is it 100% pure, or is there some contentment in the self-approval or sacrifice made? Do we relish the credit we may receive? When we make a sacrifice or do something heroic, is it because we want others to see it?
On the news the other night, a 2 year old girl fell off a pier into icy water. A frenchmen nearby saw what happened, jumped in, and saved this little girls life. He didn't know her, he didn't even speak much english. The news didn't even give his name. I believe he had 100% pure motives. I think that an act like this is rare. Probably why it's included in the beatitudes. Jesus knew that it's hard for us to do things without the motivation of pay, prestige, or social pressure. To examine yourself and your motives can be pretty daunting and discouraging. Our society is built on satisfying other people's perception of success, happiness, and wealth. In short, we want to impress others.
Next, what does it mean to have the ability to "see God?" The other night, Adrian Fry, a professional ballet dancer from Portland, stayed with us. He was in Salt Lake auditioning for a spot with Ballet West, Utah's big dance company. I had THE BEST time asking him questions about all the in's and out's of being a professional ballet dancer. Our conversation turned to how hard it was that there are people who go to the ballet, opera, or any art gallery who aren't educated and can't appreciate the history, giftedness, and hard work that goes into it. Unfortunately, we are only able to see what we are FIT to see. I can go outside at night and look up at the stars and say "Wow, that's a lot of stars... cool." But an astronomer can go out and see constellations, galaxies, and give me a tour of the universe. It's because he is educated and fit to see this.
Having a pure heart makes us fit to see God. Sure, anyone can see hints and signs of God here and there... but knowledge, humility, unadulterated motives, and a pure heart make us fit to see God in all His glory.

Meek

"Blessed are the meek, for the shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

The greek word for meek is praus. It's a happy medium between extreme anger and angerlessness. It refers to someone with exceptional self control... meaning they have the ability to be angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time. It also means having patience with the unloveable, misinformed, and lost... but a higher expectation with the ones who ought to know better. It also refers to someone with humility... the ability to put aside ego and pride and being teachable. Numbers 12:3 describes Moses as being the meek above all men. Way to go Moses.
I got angry last night. One of my co-workers at Whole Foods asked me if I was headed to the protests after work. "Protests?" I asked "What protests??" The LDS conference was in town, a huge gathering of all the LDS around the world come together for a multi-day conference. Those who cannot attend tune in via TV or radio. It's kind of a big deal. She informed me that the "christians"all gather and protest outside the conference center to protest the fact the mormon's call themselves christians. "Why would I go to something like that?" I asked. She responded with "Don't all you christians go to that kind of stuff?" This made me mad. She was under the impression that all christians do things like this. We condemn, protest, and judge. I quickly pulled her aside and explained that I was in fact what most people refer to as a christian... but one who makes every effort to follow Christ and His teachings... and His teachings were not to condemn, protest, and judge... rather to love, sympathize, and forgive. I had to apologize to her on behalf of christians. How is it that so many christians have somehow overlooked Matthew 6:14 "... if you refuse to forgive others, your father will not forgive your sins." Yikes! Quite possibly the scariest verse in the Bible. This just in folks, it's not our job to judge!
No, I'm nowhere near perfect. I screw up everyday.
Yeah, I got angry. I hope I was being meek and doing it at the right time.
What a shame, though, that I was angry at christians.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Ever wonder why it is that many of the poorest people in the world have the strongest and most intense peace, joy, and faith in God? Folks that have no access to clean drinking water, no money, food, or wifi? Why is it that when a group of people go on a mission trip to serve the poor, it's the ones who serve that come back with a changed life.
Take a look at the process that the poorest people probably go through: First, they're poor.... which probably means they have no influence or power over people, help, or prestige... and because of this, they are probably oppressed by men... which leaves them no choice but to put their whole trust in God. It's at this final stage that a revelation must happen. It is then that you realize your own utter helplessness and you have no alternative. It is realized that nothing in this world is as important as trusting the Lord.
So, in a sense, you can read this beatitude as "blessed is the man who has removed himself from the things of the world, for he has discovered that their is no fulfillment or joy in the things of the world... and has become completely attached to God, because he knows that only God can bring him peace, joy, hope, strength, and power."

Blessed?

You  hear folks say it all the time... "We are so blessed..." or "That trip to Hawaii was such a blessing..." and how about "Lord, thanks for blessing us with such a great parking space!" Really? Is this what God is doing? I struggle with the idea of God hooking me up with a spot near the door... because, hey... Lord knows I don't want to walk an extra 20 yards.
I just started on the Beatitudes and each of them start with "Blessed." This made me want to find out what He really meant.
The word blessed comes from the greek word makarios, meaning a joy that is peaceful and untouchable and has nothing to do with the chances and changes of the world. This is way different than "happiness" which, in a sense, ebbs and flows. Happiness contains the root word hap which means "chance." Therefore, happiness depends on the chances and changes of life... It's very volatile.
When we are "blessed" we are attaining something much more significant than a temporary state of happiness or satisfaction (like eating a good meal, taking a trip, or getting a good parking space...) The christian blessing is untouchable, unable to be attacked, questioned or defeated! It is a joy and peace, that once attained, can never be taken from you. "Your joy," Jesus said "no man taketh from you..." John 16:22
The beatitudes talk about a joy and peace which stays with us through our pain, loss, and grief. A blessing which nothing in life or death can take away! The happiness we receive from this life is very fickle, it changes with the wind. But a blessing is consistent and steadfast and it comes from walking with Christ.

Catwoman

So, I was told that, on occasion, we get a handful of celebrities that come into Whole Foods. Being close to Park City and ski resorts, I guess they stop in from time to time. I finally had my first celebrity sighting yesterday. Julie Newmar, the original catwoman from the Adam West Batman days!
I know, it's not Halle Berry... and it's not like I even knew who she was. You could tell, though, that she was someone special. I think she's in her late 70's, she's quite tall,  had on a leopard printed trench coat, huge high heels, and what appeared to be a phenomenal wig. Everyone knows who she is, apparently she's not the nicest person in the world. She comes in all the time and likes to remind people who she is... or was.

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. The immediately left their nets and followed Him." Matthew 4:18-22

These fishermen were not scholarly men. They were not of great influence, wealth, or social importance. They weren't necessarily poor, but simple, hardworking men. It seems that Jesus was looking for "ordinary" folks who were willing to give Him themselves. Jesus knew He could do anything with and through people who were available and willing. 

Let's take a look at the traits of fishermen...

Patience: Very rarely do we experience anything immediate in ministry. 

Perseverance: It's important to try and not get discouraged, but diligent and to try, try again. 

Courage: There's an old greek prayer of protection that includes "my boat is so small and the sea is so large..." fishermen have to be among the bravest people out there. Just watch one episode of "Deadliest Catch" on the discovery channel. We must be ready to take risks and "face the fury of the sea..." There is danger in telling people the truth. 

Timing: Choosing the right moment is key. There are times to speak and times to just be quiet.

Choosing the right bait: Paul said that he "must become all things to all men if by any chance I might win some..." Different approaches work for different people. 

There have been so many times that I have been so quick in making up my mind about certain people, only to be completely blown away by what God does in their life. I have also found that most people are just waiting to be invited along... They have all these gifts and talents sitting dormant and just need someone to recognize them to allow these things to bloom. I can say with absolute certainty that God can do anything through anyone... and by inviting people along, we have the opportunity to be part of that. Throughout the gospels, we read that the disciples frustrated Jesus... they weren't perfect, they were human beings. I know for a fact that I have driven plenty of people nuts as well... thank God for patience and grace. 

These fishermen were ready and willing. I have been affirmed time after time that being open and willing to be used by God is one of the most important things in life. Barclay writes a story about an ordinary man, Aeschines, who presented himself to Socrates. "I am a poor man, "said Aeschines. "I have nothing else, but I give myself." "Do you not see," said Socrates, "that you are giving me the most precious thing of all?"

You are invited...

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him." Matthew 4:18-22

Jesus was demonstrating the importance of inviting people to discipleship, community, teamwork, and investment... He also knew that by doing this, that there would be a team of people who carry on His message long after He was gone.
Back in the 9th grade, I was sitting in social studies when a good friend of mine, John Keller, invited me to a spaghetti dinner.  It sounded like fun, so I went. It turned out to be a church youth group event... Thanks for the heads up John. I decided to go along with it and make the most of the evening. That night I met the youth pastor, Greg Krieger. He sat beside me and wanted to know all about my life. Where I grew up, what I did for fun... he was so excited to meet me and was so glad I came. I felt completely welcomed. By the end of the night it seemed like I was friends with everyone there. I couldn't wait to come back.
Greg did a phenomenal job of inviting people. The youth group was small, about 15-20 kids. Having a smaller group allowed Greg to invest in each one of us. I recall spending time with Greg nearly every week. We would work out, go on camping trips, sit at Dairy Queen, and just hang out. Because he had built a trusting relationship with me, he had earned the right to speak into my life, ask me tough questions, and challenge me in my faith. There were times I would drive him nuts though... The first time I ever heard him swear was because of something I did... yikes. Every where we went he would befriend people and love them regardless of where they were at in life. I remember a time we were at Subway and the sandwich artist said "oh my God..." and Greg shouted "Where!?!?!" He would make the most out of any situation. Greg entered my life at a time I was dealing with bitterness over my parents divorce. He, along with my Mom, took one of the most discouraging times in my life and helped me refocus my attention on the fun, joyous and exciting aspect of life. They helped me see and understand who Jesus was and the hope He offered us. It was then that I knew I wanted to have them same impact on people's life. I wanted all my friends and everyone I met to have this same experience. I remember bringing Tom, Zach, Garrett, and Nate to youth group hoping they would experience Christ just as I had. I knew that this was absolutely we had been called to do... to invite people to experience the love of Christ.
This paved the way for me to go to Bethel University to study youth ministry and theology. It's the reason I've been on younglife staff for 12+ years. Because Greg took time to invest in my life, I, through the ministry of YoungLife, have been able to share the love of Christ with thousands of people. All this because John invited me to a spaghetti dinner.

Hark! The herald angels sing...

"From that time on Jesus began to preach..." Matthew 4:17

Uh oh... another one of those words that tends to scare people off. I can't count the number of times I've heard kids say "I don't want to be preached at..." or "If there's just gonna preaching, then I don't want to go..." When people hear the word preach they hear other words like "convict" "boring" or "harass." Even through my younglife training I've been taught to "teach" kids rather than "preach" to them... people within the faith even associate it with negativity. It's too bad really.
The greek word for preach is kerussein, which means "herald's proclamation from the king." A herald is one who brought a message directly from the king himself. There was never any hesitation or doubt in a herald's message. Their message was indisputable. Because they were speaking on behalf of the king, they spoke with authority. They were often the ones laying down the law. Jesus was God's herald now.
Clearly there was a renewed sense of urgency to get the word of God out there. Time, once thought of as a limited resource, had been invaded by eternity, and Jesus wanted to challenge folks to think about where they were gonna spend it.

Pop Quiz

Matthew 4:1-11 continued
There are a handful of things about Jesus encounter with "the tempter" in the wilderness that I think are pretty cool...
1. "After He had deliberately gone without food for forty days and forty nights He was hungry..." I love this... It's one of those verses that make me laugh. It's such a simple and "no duh" kind of statement. I think it's there purely to show us that He was indeed human with real feelings, needs, and emotions.
2. Jesus uses good ol' fashion Old Testament scripture to battle His tempter. "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
3. The second test is the one I'm drawn to the most... He was tempted to fling Himself down from the top of the pinnacle of the temple in order for God to send angels to protect Him. The Devil was tempting Him to put on a spectacle so that we would believe in Jesus and His miraculous power. This is definitely one I would've failed.
There are those of us who are never satisfied. We stop at nothing to accumulate and attain more. It's true with material things, addictions, feelings, danger, thrills, etc. We convince ourselves that "if we only had this ONE thing that we would be forever satisfied and would NEVER want anything else..." But as soon as we attain that one thing, or reach that one level, the view seems to be a bit better on top and there's even MORE stuff we find that we want.
If Jesus would've performed this one spectacle, the people would've been temporarily amazed and satisfied that He was indeed Christ... but it wouldn't be long until they expected more. To retain His power and mystique, Jesus would have to produce even greater and greater sensations. Mankind has proven that throughout history.
I think it's only getting worse and worse with us over time. Look how many centuries it took for us to invent the automobile and airplane. We have sped up the production of "sensations" faster than ever... within the same century as the airplane, we put people into space. Look at the iPhone... take that thing back in time 10 years and you would be accused of being some kind of witch... but today we're already anticipating the next bigger (or in Apple's case, smaller) and better thing. Problem is, the things they are creating now, things that are blowing our minds will be next years obsolete. Funny how the folks at Apple seem to have figured this out a long time ago. They certainly know how my mind works and how I'm always wanting the newest gadget.
Jesus knew that a "Gospel founded on sensation-mongering is foredoomed to failure."

Sanctify

I mentioned in an earlier posting that the word Sanctify did a number on my faith. I was trying to think of a way to somehow write about it and then I read something today that seemed to fit perfectly. 
I was reading more on Jesus' time in the wilderness and how he was "tempted" by the Devil. He had just come from being baptized by John... the Heavens opened and the spirit of the Lord descended upon Him! Quite an experience for Jesus I'm sure. After this one of a kind occurrence, Jesus immediately went into the wilderness to be tested by the Devil himself. Yikes.
It seems that it is our lot in life that just after we do a marvelous job of resisting something and have, what many people refer to as, a "mountain top experience," it is then that we nose dive and fail miserably in our faith.
It seems that it is within in our own inmost thoughts and desires that the Devil finds and uses his allies and his weapons, It is where he has an advantage and foothold on our life. It is within our gifts that we are repeatedly tempted again and again. For example... the person with charm will be tempted to use their charms to get what they want and get away with anything. The person with the gifts and power with words will use their command of words to produce slick excuses to justify their conduct or to manipulate others with their power of persuasion. With Jesus, it was His gifts of being all powerful, His faith in God, and unwavering devotion to His mission.
There was time that I thought I would reach a stage in my life where I would be beyond temptation. A stage where the tempter would have no business or power in my life. I would arrive at some maturity where I would have it all figured out. Well... Jesus never reached that stage. From the very beginning to the end He had to fight His battle of being tempted and tested. This is where sanctification comes in to play... To sanctify something is to turn it over and fully give it to God. Farmers sanctified their fields and animals. Jesus even sanctified Himself before His mission. I've found sanctification is a daily appropriation and not something that if done just once is instantaneous and suitable for the rest of your life. It's something you do every morning, day, and night... and is not something you fully arrive at until the day Jesus comes back and we're celebrating in heaven. Once I realized this, it took so much of the pressure off me. I felt like I was continually failing at life and with God. Once I realized that life was indeed going to be a roller coaster and that I would have my good days and bad... It just made following Christ more doable. It made it more adventurous. It made it more real.
Because Jesus dealt with and fought temptation makes Him able to help us fight ours.

Tested... not tempted

Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil..."

Tempt is a funny word. We usually think of it as something negative... kinda like the word critique. Usually when you hear you've been critiqued, your mind instantly goes to all the negative things that person must've thought of. When you are tempted, you're usually tempted with something negative, something to make you stumble or fail. I've been trying to cut back on dairy and sugar, and I've been tempted with cheese and chocolate more than ever these days. Figures.

I found that the word Greek word for tempt in this verse is Peirazein: to test. It is not the kind of tempting or testing to MAKE us sin or weaken us to sin... it is meant to enable us to conquer sin and make us stronger. 

Jesus went to be alone, fast, and then be tested... all before the most significant 3 years of His life. He had been given a mission. God had been preparing Him His whole life. I imagine that Jesus wanted to straighten things out in His mind before He embarked on His mission... so He wanted to be alone.

There's a pretty good chance that we often fail simply because we never spend any time alone with God. There are times where the only sound advice we're gonna get comes from time spent alone with God. We are prone to always acting out and doing. We are tempted (or tested?) to go, and go, and go without taking the time to stop, breathe, and be alone with God.

I believe wholeheartedly that God has SO much He wants to share with us and that a lot of what He wants to share needs to be reciprocated on our end with a willing, open heart and mind. It's likely that we miss a lot of opportunities and make a lot of mistakes because we refuse ourselves the opportunities to just be alone with  God.

Right with God

Matthew 3:14-17 "But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let is be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented."

There seems to be a lot of hubbub and confusion about why Jesus of all people needed to be baptized... I've read things like "if He was without sin, why did He need to repent?"

Jesus had spent the better part of 30 years waiting, working, planning, and probably visualizing what was about to happen over the next 3 years. He most definitely was learning and practicing obedience and patience.

John 14:24 says "Anyone who doesn't love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me."

It seems clear here that Jesus us working and speaking on behalf of God and God alone. Even Jesus, who is physically speaking and doing isn't taking credit for the things being done. He wants it to be perfectly clear and understood that God is the one at work here and that He is a mouthpiece and tool used by God.

So It would make perfect sense that Jesus would want to be totally Righteous (right with God) as His adventure was about to begin. He knew what about to take place, so I imagine getting right with God was the important and pressing thing on His mind at the time. And, as usual, Jesus was setting an example of submission to God, Humility to allow John to baptize Him, and Wisdom in His timing.

"The success of any undertaking is determined by the wisdom with which the moment to embark upon it is chosen" William Barclay

Matthew 3:1-6 "In those days John the baptizer arrived on the scene, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. "Repent," he said, "for the kingdom of the heavens has come near..."

Repent is one of those words often either misunderstood or that scare people off. I think it fits into the same category  that "sin" and "saved" fit in to. Those of us who've grown up going to church have certainly heard the word "repent" and for many it may be a word that we don't fully understand. We know that it's probably a good thing... definitely a churchy word that has a lot to do with whether you're going to heaven or hell. There are lots of words and phrases like that in church. Sanctification, transgressions, and frankincense were fun words to pretend you knew the meaning... "Blood of the Lamb" is probably one that freaks newcomers out.

The older I get, the more fun it is to do word studies and to find out what these words and phrases really mean. Why are they used and what does it have to do with my faith? Sanctify is a word I'd heard for years and never really knew what it meant... only until about 5 years ago did I discover it's true meaning and it absolutely did wonders for my faith and walk with God.

So what did John mean when he was preaching repentance? Repent comes from the Hebrew word teshuvah - to turn away from evil and turning or return to God. To the Jew repentance is central to their faith and relationship with God. They believe that "divine forgiveness is never refused to genuine repentance..." Repentance isn't just sentimental sorrow and "feeling bad", but a real change in  the way you're living. Rabbi Eleazar said "The true penitent is he who has the opportunity to do the same sin again in the same circumstances, and who does not do it."


I work with a lot of folks who seem pretty bitter and disgruntled towards God. There's lots of blasphemy that goes on... It kills me because I think in many cases they've been mislead or let down by others. I bet they feel like pursuing Christ is a hopeless cause. I bet they think that the life they live is inexcusable to God. We all know it's easier to not care. It's easier to scorn and make fun of people and things we don't understand. I can't blame the way these folks feel and for the choices they make. I just wish they knew that no case is hopeless for repentance, and no one is beyond repentance.

"God's mercy is open to the person who is so ahsamed that they can tell their shame to no one except God."

Olympics

So Tuesday's parents are out for a visit, so we took them to Park City... a schmancy ski resort town with lots of shops and famous people surrounded by beautiful mountains. Park City was also the location of most of the events in the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Olympic center is still open and heavily used by athletes and a host to events and competitions all year. We took an hour tour that took us up and around the bobsled/luge/skeleton track and then to the top of the ski jump! I've always had a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Olympic athletes, but seeing all of these apparati up close gave me a newfound appreciation for what they actually do. They really are so dedicated, talented and borderline insane. Their passion and talent is just remarkable. For instance... the two-man luge involved the heavier person to lay on top of the lighter one... the one below cannot see where they are going but is responsible for steering via feeling the direction the fella on top is leaning. They reach speeds of 90+ mph while the guy on bottom is crushed by 800 lbs of pressure that frequently causes broken ribs. Fun!

We also found out that anyone can take a day long course and actually do the bob-sled, luge, or skeleton themselves - on the actual Olympic course! You have to make reservations well in advance and it's not cheap either... but at least I have something new and exciting to start saving for!

Holy Foods

 As you might already know, I've been working part-time for Whole Foods. I work on the one right on the university of Utah campus. Well, a couple months ago the Vice President of Whole Foods made a visit to our store (this is considered a HUGE deal... we spent an absurd amount of time prepping the store for his visit...) The day finally came and our store management was a frantic, hysterical mess. They were so nervous :) When the VP arrived you would've thought that President Obama had come to Whole Foods do a little shopping.... because, hey, who doesn't like to spend $15 for a banana?! Anywho, I couldn't help but laugh at all of the hullabaloo... Then I thought to myself "I gotta meet this guy... What do I have to lose?" So, as the lowly stock-boy, I positioned myself so that when he was walking down the soup aisle with his entourage, I would be there fixing cans of Annie's Organic Chicken Wild Rice. As he approached, I stood up, blocked his way, stuck out my hand, and said "Hello! I'm Dan..." I was pleased to find out that he was one of the nicest and most genuine guys I've met in a long time. I asked him where he lived and when he said “Austin, Texas....” I said “Hey! I’m gonna be in Austin in a month!” “What for?” he asked... “Oh, I’m going to a YoungLife leadership conference... it’s an organization I work for.” Apparently, he knew what YoungLife was and was really excited to learn that a Whole Foods employee also works for a, as he put it, “non-profit, community minded organization” Yeah, sure!

Well, a couple days later, my store manager came and sat with me at lunch (another rare occurrence... apparently he doesn’t sit and gab with the grocery team much) He had caught wind that I had that conversation with the V.P. and he asked me if I would speak at the next all-store meeting...

“Sure!” I said, “What do you want me to speak about?”

He answered “I want you to share about what it is you do for YoungLife...”

“Ok... (insert spit-take here) What? Really!?!?”

I knew for a fact that he had no idea that YoungLife is a Christian based ministry.... and soon I would be speaking to 100+ people about YoungLife... how God loves us, forgives us and wants to be in a relationship with us. I was going to be sharing with one of the most unique and challenging audiences in the U.S. I am amazed by the number of people I meet here who are spiteful and resentful towards God. There are still more who are utterly complacent and have no desire either way.

Been working there 2 months... and already... this.

Cleanliness IS next to Godliness!

 Matthew 3:10 “Therefore every tree which does not produce good fruit is on the point of being cut down, and thrown into the fire.”

One of the hardest things to do in life is letting someone go. Breaking up a relationship, ceasing to pursue a friendship, firing someone at work, letting go and bucking a habit can be one of the most difficult tasks in life too. So why go through with it if it’s so hard? I imagine that’s most people’s attitude. We hate conflict whether it’s internal or relational... we avoid conflict like the swine flu (I don’t think “plague” is relevant anymore...)

Obviously we go through with it because of standards we have set in our lives. We all should have standards, expectations, hopes, dreams, vision and some sort of plan for growth. Those things that hinder this growth need to be cut, pruned, and in some sense, destroyed.

I put some more thought into what makes this process so difficult... Relationships, establishing values, standards and character take investment and time, time that could be spent in a million different ways. We have the ability to pick an choose specific people and things we want to invest time in, and because time is a limited commodity, it becomes one of THE most valuable things around.

I’m sure if we took a good hard look into each of our own lives, we’d all discover several things that need to be tossed. Things that take up valuable space or time. Think of all things you drag around with you when you move. Take a look in your spare room closet or garage... yikes. The only value a lot of this stuff has is sentiment. Is that worth the hassle, space or time? (Matthew 6:19) Talk to anyone who’s taken a carload of stuff to the Goodwill... cleaning out, purging and getting organized... it’s one of the most freeing and therapeutic things people do. There’s something so right about simplifying, cleaning and organizing your life.

Put all this in the context of people in your life... but more importantly the people who hinder. I supposed it’s hard to let go of people for the fear of being lonely and wondering if that person will ever be replaced. That’s why we continue to be in abusive or unhealthy relationships. The fear of being alone. We resign to “well, I’ve come this far with this person... might as well stick it out.” We become dependent on whoever or whatever it is that’s got a hold of you. This goes for relationships, addictions, habits, lifestyles, employees, etc.

I know for certain God’s let me know when I need to get rid of someone or something in my life, and I for one have soaked in that fear of wondering “If I get rid of this person... will anyone else come to be in their place?” I’ve had to let volunteers and employees go, I’ve had to walk away from relationships, and I’ve had to let go of habits and addictions that I knew were destructive... and in every case I’ve wondered how on earth I was going to survive. But I can honestly say, that in every case, God has more than filled the space.

I supposed there’s another group of folks that just don’t know any better. To no fault of their own, they live the way they were brought up and honestly don’t know of any alternative. I think that’s one of the main reasons I’m drawn to a vocational ministry... to let people know an alternative to what or who they’ve resigned themselves to may be the most important job in the world. It’s what we’ve been called to do.