The Great Reality

One of the great illusionists of all time, David Copperfield, has been dazzling people for decades with visuals that appear real but are actually intricate illusions that defy reality and logic. To watch and experience the illusion in person is to believe through your senses that what you are experiencing is actually true even though your mind logically says otherwise.

Many believe that one of his greatest illusions is the “Portal” in which he transports himself and another person to Hawaii from onstage thousands of miles away. In this illusion he reunites an estranged father and his son by taking the son to Hawaii. Check it out:

http://www.noob.us/entertainment/david-copperfields-best-illusion-portal/

Copperfield’s flare for the dramatic mixed with powerful storytelling transport the viewer into a world of reality that is actually illusionary. Our emotions and eyes mask the real so that the illusion becomes truth. In the Christian world our senses and emotions are many times captivated by illusions that distort our perspective of the Christian life and its disciplines.

Christian disciplines have a specific purpose and plan for believers but that reality becomes blurred by the illusions of the visual and emotional. As a result we actually believe that prayer, fasting, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines are spiritual auditions for God’s acceptance based on personal performance. Reality has been distorted or avoided and sin management becomes the norm. The reality of the God-life is performance in trying to win God’s approval.

Others have approached everyday life through the windows of individualism, consumerism, and other hidden worldviews that have distorted personal realities of life as God intended. Christians have been infected by the viruses of this culture and age that have created an illusionary pseudo-reality. These powerful influences have masked the God-life as God intended and replaced it with a self-life that is baptized with the contemporary pull of culture.

The genuine purpose of the spiritual disciplines is simply to rid the Christian of all such illusions. To walk backstage with Copperfield and his team is to genuinely see the reality of how the illusion of the “Portal” was created. That moment becomes an “Aha!” flash of discovery that jars our thought, emotions, and logic into understanding the truth.

For the Christian genuine reality is seeing and experiencing the presence of God in all of life. Richard Rohr (2003) stated it this way:

“All spiritual disciplines have one purpose: to get rid of illusions so we can be present. These disciplines exist so that we can see what is, see who we are, and see what is happening. On the contrary, our mass cultural trance is like scales over our eyes. We see only with the material eye.” (p. 31)

Spirituality is about seeing and cultivating the mind to see beyond the illusions created by our culture to the reality of God and his presence. In a sense the spiritual disciplines take us backstage to see reality of God.

Paul said it this way in the Bible, “If anyone is in Christ…a new creation!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new creation is not our personal regeneration but that “Aha!” moment of seeing the reality of life through the presence of God. This is accomplished through a change in mind or perspective that is propelled by the spiritual disciplines.

The great illusion then becomes the great reality…we see and experience God’s presence in our lives in the past, present, and future.

Welcome to backstage reality!

Rohr, R. (2003). Everything belongs: The gift of contemplative prayer. New York: NY. The Crossroad Publishing Company.

Signs

"You have to ask yourself what kind of person are you. Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles...or do you believe that people just get lucky. Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

Former Episcopal priest, Graham Hess had lost his faith in God through the tragic death of his wife. His family was dealing with a number of personal issues and life seemed to be hitting a wall. Then to make matters worse, the crop signs appeared.

The the film, Signs, from M. Night Shyamalan in 2002, seems to focus on invading aliens and their attempt to invade planet earth to harvest humans for food. Sounds like your typical sci-fi film right? But actually this movie centers around Graham and his faith that there is a God and that God personally has his hands on even the most inconsequential of our lives.

The same tension enters into our own daily journey as well. We don't need aliens to push us to the brink of our beliefs, but we do have layoffs, cancer, bill collectors, hurricanes, and divorce. In the midst of it all we begin to wonder if life is all about luck and coincidence. Where are the signs that God cares for ME?

On the surface, Graham's life was overrun with what seemed like inconsequential problems. He lived on his farm in Pennsylvania with his two children and brother: His son, Rory, who suffers from asthma, his daughter Bo who has a fetish about drinking only partial glasses of water, and his brother Merrill who is a former minor league baseball player. He holds the record for the longest home run ever in the minor leagues and hangs the cherished bat in a place of honor in the living room of his brother's house. And then there is Graham who suffers from doubt and hatred toward a God that took his wife away. Graham talked to his wife when she tragically died after being hit by a car. Just before she died she tells Merrill to "Swing away." Each of these circumstances seem unrelated and problematic in their own way. They do not make any sense. They each are mysteries that feed a coincidental and skeptical worldview.

Yet in the film's final dramatic conclusion each one of these prove significant in a confrontation with an alien in their house. Each sign plays a part in defeating the alien who is about to kill Morgan with poisonous gas (see the clip from You Tube below).

I am always intrigued with science fiction movies that have suspense and subplots that matter. As one of my favorites, Signs asks the same questions to us today as we daily face living the Godlife. Is God really involved in my life? What are the signs of his touch? Where are you God?

Awareness is developing a keen sensitivity to the fact that God is with us at all times. When we are looking for them, the signs of his touch are unmistakable. We may view challenges and disasters and struggles with questioning and doubt. But when we look closer, every half glass of water, asthma attack, car accident, and forgotten award mean something because God uses it all in the shaping of our personhood. While we may not always understand the meaning or how it all fits, God still wants us to trust him even when the signs are a mystery.

"In God's reign everything belongs" (Rohr, 2003).

There are no coincidences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY_LBAVWRMU

Medals of Honor

Yesterday I conducted a wedding ceremony for a young bride marrying a Marine. He wore his dress blues to the wedding which, of course, always appears very impressive. I admire greatly all of our military, but I have special ties with the Marines because my son was in the Marine Corps for four years with two tours to Iraq. I still believe that their uniforms are the most impressive and heart-stirring of all the military branches!

This young Marine wore a string of five medals on his chest which made his appearance even more impressive. It took me back a number of years ago to my father, who was a WWII veteran from the Army. After participating in the war in Europe my father left the Army to pursue a civilian life and raise a family (I'm glad for my sake!). But one of the remnants of his time in the Army was never really recovered - his medals. He had never received any of the medals that he was due from his time serving our country in Europe.

He ran across a fellow church attender, who was also a WWII veteran, who proceeded to tell him that he mailed off to the Veterans Administration to request his medals. Thirty years after serving in WWII he was sent those medals upon which he showed them to my Father. After obtaining all the information he needed to mail the Veterans Administration, Dad finally received his six medals from WWII some 30 years after the fact.

At the time Julie and I were living in Pennsylvania and so on one of our visits back to Toledo, Dad's eyes gleamed as he prompted me, "Do you want to see something?" He went into the back room and pulled out a number of small boxes and proceeded to proudly show me all of his medals. I said, "Dad, why don't you let me take your medals back with me to Pennsylvania, and I will have them professionally mounted for you so that you can proudly show them off." He was very reluctant, but finally gave them to me and so I took them home and proudly had them mounted in a glassed-enclosed wall display.

Upon my next visit (we usually visited twice a year) I took the mounted medals as a gift to present him and he proudly hung them over the his chair in the living room. Even today 15 years after he died, they still hang in my mother's living room.

When we become Christians, God gives us a special gift - medals to hang proudly for others to see. These medals aren't made of gold or silver with multi-colored ribbons. These are His medals of mercy, grace, faithfulness, forgiveness, and love. In a world that's constantly consuming our energy and attention, we have forgotten each one of these badges of honor given to us just because we are His children. God wants to remind us this Memorial Day Weekend to bring the medals out of the boxes and display them for all the world to see. Let them know that we are His children!

This special weekend I want to honor my Father, my Father-in-law, my Brother-in-law, my Brother, my Son and the countless thousands of others who have served our country with courage and honor and commitment.

There aren't enough medals to express our gratitude!

This One Thing

I love the scene in the movie City Slickers where Billy Crystal's character, Mitch, is alone with Curly, played by Jack Palance. Curly is giving Mitch some life advice:

Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is? (holds up one finger) This.

Mitch: Your finger?

Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean s***.

Mitch: But what is the "one thing?"

Curly: That's what you have to find out.

What's your one thing?

Your job, your family, your church...there could be a variety of responses. Perhaps there could even be a number of answers within yourself as to what that "one thing" could me. Our days are inundated with activity, responsibilities, places to go, people to see, with leisure to fit in somewhere. In the midst of the swirling sea that "one thing" becomes blurred into "just these things."

Our examination of Christianity seems to simplify the answer to the question...at least on the surface for Christ-followers. "My one thing is God." The answer seems honorable and is politically correct for a religious-minded practitioner. Yet even for the average church-attender, "this one thing" can become uncertain. Is my one thing serving in the church or is it my attendance? Is my focus Bible study and my small group or is it giving my money in the offering? Is my one thing participating in weekend worship or is it delivering bags of food to the needy?

"Just one thing" again confuses the issue and has become "just these things."

Our lives take up the mantel to support our philosophical rational to religion by twirling multiple spiritual plates daily. More often than not, plates fall off now and then with a loud crash. We feel the guilt of failing in the eyes of God and quickly try to place even more plates upon the sticks, frantically twirling with new spiritual activity to please God. Our "one thing" is spinning as many spiritual tasks as possible to please God.

Meanwhile God softly whispers and asks us a question: "Do you know what the secret of life is? The secret is just one thing...and that one thing is listening to my heartbeat. It's being with me and experiencing my love and total acceptance. It's quieting sitting in my lap and feeling my arms around you rocking you gently. It's knowing me as your Daddy."

His whisper is not even heard because of my frantic spiritual plate-spinning. Busyness is priority as spiritual points are calculated by my being faithful. Doing has replaced being. The busier the better...God will then love and accept me more. I have got only one life to accumulate enough points for God to smile on me and for others to honor me. My "To-do List" is never completed and my "To-want List" is always looming in my mind. Gotta add more...gotta stay busy...

His whisper is now background noise...a murmur...an insignificant voice among louder shouts that lure me like a siren. The shouts are all I hear.

"Just one thing" has seemed to disappear.

But as the voices dissipate, in loving patience God appears...waiting...for me to rediscover "just one thing."

Daddy God

We rambled through airport security and eventually found ourselves sitting in the passenger section. As we looked at each other, the realization of our hopes and dreams was about to come true. Julie and I were on our way to Southern California to visit our son and his wife and our new granddaughter Isabella.

Our trip was a quick weekend filled with numerous fun activity and visits with Brittany's wonderful family. We had not seen our son and his wife for at least a couple of years since before his last Iraq deployment, so to just be together again was so invigorating for our hearts.

But the highlight of our weekend escape was little Isabella. What a precious gift to hold her, play with her, change her, feed her, bathe her, and carry her. This was our granddaughter and she was so precious and full of personality. One thing was apparent...she knew her Daddy well and felt right at home in his large Marine arms.

As I held that little child in my arms I couldn't help but ponder about how God as my "Daddy God" loves it when I am a child in His presence. As little Bella is right at home in the security of her Daddy's love, she is uninhibited about her feelings. There is no editing going on before her Daddy - when she wants something she expresses her feelings without thinking. I know...I witnessed it first hand! She is secure and knows Daddy cares and accepts her as she is, wet diaper, drool and anything else that leaks. Such openness before her Daddy is the desire of God for everyone of His children.

Brennan Manning writes that "emotions are our most direct experience of where we are in the moment." Yet when we grow older as Christians we become that "mature spiritual adult" who learns to edit before others and God. We spiritualize and hide as if we don't believe Daddy's promise to love us and hold us and take care of us. Little Bella sees her world through her father's eyes with a simplicity built upon absolute trust in her Daddy.

The Bible compares belief and the receiving of salvation as the faith of a little child. The same holds true in living the Godlife. When we recognize that God is everything and we are nothing but a little one that trusts and relies upon our Daddy, we stop becoming anxious and trying to be a controlling adult that works hard at maintaining masks of perception before others. We live by His promise of love and acceptance for who we really are, drool and all.

By the way, Isabella's name means, "God's promise." And her middle name of Elizabeth?

It also means "God's promise."

Today, I'm going to just sit in Daddy God's lap and enjoy a double dose of "God's promise."

The Royal Mask of Piety

It was a typical Sunday night. The air was warm and inviting to the people inside the building. In fact it seemed to call them like sirens to leave the enclosed confines and be baptised in the Spring sunset. But this was church and the people gathered were not only the committed...they were the committed religious. They resisted such temptations because they had an image to keep up and they had become the religious professionals. Their open gathering every Sunday night was held like a badge in the community evidencing that they were committed to God and proved that their devotional practice rose above the Sunday morning church attender. To God, they were the cream of the crop...faithful, studious, and devout practitioners of the letter of God's authoritative Word.

The usual assembly of familiar faces created a sense of comfortable acceptance and control. Everyone knew everyone...at least the religious faces they wore upon arrival. With a mask of worship and piety others admired them and God certainly looked upon them as the chosen ones. During the worship they proudly held their traditional hymnals and sang each song with a note of familiarity and pride...they were getting the words correct and even sang the parts with great harmony. They smiled at each other and felt right at home.

Then he walked in.

His more than casual clothing seemed irreligious. Doesn't he know that this is God's sanctuary and that His requirement was to wear our best? He walked in right off the street and then just sat in a pew by himself without a word. Chains from his pockets and tattoos seemed inappropriate and out of place. A leather coat and leather pants seemed at odds with the shirts, ties, and dresses of the faithful. The religious kept one eye on their hymnals and another on him. Their cross eyed facial expressions began to take the note of silent whispers among themselves about his identity and where he came from. To make matters even more fidgety, he was Hispanic. In an assembly of stayed white reformed middle age adults a twenty-something Hispanic carried a neon light that disturbed the religious air.

The looks continued but no one said a word to him.

The pastor started his sermon but no one was listening. The stares continued with a certain "nose direction" pointing upward. And then the pastor did the unthinkable...he started talking to the Hispanic man in the middle of his sermon. The night air became very thick and still and the religious piety feared for his life and their own. Could their be a gun or knife underneath those garments and chains? Please God protect him and us!

Now he is even making him stand out on the floor with him! He seems so irreligious and out of place...so common and unacceptable for such a place as this. Worry and uncomfortable tension cause the piety to sit wide-eyed and waiting.

He answers a question from the pastor and indicates that he is a missionary training to go to Mexico for full time ministry.

The smiles broaden across the crowd and the heads began to nod in religious approval. A collective "sigh" swung through the crowd as once again the piety felt at home in the sanctuary.

It's amazing how much love they showed him after the service was finally over!

The message from the pastor that night was on James 2:

If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? Listen, dear friends, isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first class citizens with full rights and privileges. The kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. (The Message)

As the pastor, I planted the man as an object lesson.

In our religiosity, we have forgotten the Royal Law of Love and assumed the Royal Mask of Piety.

I think God must be sick.

Paganini and One String!

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I respond to it.

When we confuse those numbers and switch the roles our lives are then turned into meaningless victims played at the whim of the fates. Such thinking is negative leading to despair and a dark side that covers our thinking like a thick blanket. A positive attitude is a choice but that choice must originate from a will that has been baptized in the experiential love of God. When I have truly grasped the truth that I am Abba's child and that He loves me in spite of all the false pretenses I tend to put up, then this reality show of life takes on a new perspective.

"If anyone be in Christ...a new creation!" (2 Cor. 5:17). My attitude is affected. All of life seems like a new creation because I see things more clearly from His perspective and His awareness. My life perspective changes...my attitude choices take on a new anchor. That anchor is not in my own gumption or fortitude but centered in the Rock Himself as my foundation. Awareness of His presence immerses my attitude with a Godly perspective that is addictive.

The result is an attitude of fortitude that infects those around us.

One of my favorite stories is told by Chuck Swindoll:

The colorful, nineteenth century showman and gifted violinist Nicolo Paganini was standing before a packed house, playing through a difficult piece of music. A full orchestra surrounded him with magnificent support. Suddenly one string on his violin snapped and hung gloriously down from his instrument. Beads of perspiration popped out on his forehead. He frowned but continued to play, improvising beautifully.

To the conductor's surprise, a second string broke. And shortly thereafter, a third. Now there were three limp strings dangling from Paganini's violin as the master performer completed the difficult composition on the one remaining string. The audience jumped to its feet and in good Italian fashion, filled the hall with shouts and screams, "Bravo! Bravo!" As the applause died down, the violinist asked the people to sit back down. Even though they knew there was no way they could expect an encore, they quietly sank back into their seats.

He held the violin high for everyone to see. He nodded at the conductor to begin the encore and then he turned back to the crowd, and with a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and shouted, "Paganini...and one string!" After that he placed the single-stringed Stradivarius beneath his chin and played the final piece on ONE string as the audience (and the conductor) shook their heads in silent amazement. "Paganini...and one string!" And I might add, an attitude of fortitude.

In a sense our lives are like a great concert in which the Master violinist plays a beautiful masterpiece with our story. We see nothing but one measly string...He sees a concerto for the ages. We see fear...He sees hope. Knowing that such love and acceptance for me and my one string are overwhelming and hard to fathom, God runs alongside me as my Master-coach with the encouragement to prop me up with His positive presence within the overwhelming negativity and storms of life.

Such positive thoughts permeate my thoughts to see a new creation with a new attitude.

God...and one string - me!

Lord of the Rings

Two rings. Each ring appears fairly similar in its visual presentation. The smooth round metal is simple and unobtrusive. One is silver and the other gold. while the silver ring is approaching 65 years of existence, the other lags behind but is no rookie at 29 years old. Each one has an original purpose to signify a marital contract of fidelity, commitment, and love.

The first ring my wife Julie gave to me 29 years ago in June. Although I've had it resized because of my "growing" finger girth, the ring remains perfectly intact. On the inside it reads, "JB to JZ June 26, 1981." That significant date was the time and moment Julie and I became one in marriage on a hot steamy day in Redding, California. The other ring is just as simple. There are no inscriptions on the inside but instead the memories of a wartime marriage of my mother and father in England, June 8, 1945 linger on. In a world at that time consumed by fear and war, love prevailed. I lost my father 15 years ago and recently my mother gave me his ring. I had it resized last year and now wear it on the pinkie finger of my right hand.

Two rings. One on my left hand marital finger and the other on my right hand pinkie finger.

Several days ago while sitting quietly before God, He impressed upon me a thought that has captivated me since. My father's ring has a another deeper meaning. Over the last several years God has taken me on a journey of the discovery of His daily presence in my life. Moment by moment he is always there with me. I am never alone and His fingerprints of work have been noticed and highlighted by the practice of awareness. What He showed me in that quiet time of solitude was a symbol of His presence - my dad's ring.

While the marital ring symbolizes the presence and commitment of my relationship to Julie, the ring from my father symbolizes the presence and commitment to my heavenly Father. By wearing the ring each and every day, I have a visual reminder of God's walk with me in life. Each day I have been wearing the ring from my dad I am reminded to be aware of what God is doing and His commitment to me.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

He is Lord of my earthly marital relationship and He is Lord over my heavenly relationship.

He IS Lord of the rings.

Circle the Wagons

There's nothing better than watching a good Western on one of the movie channels. Whether it's John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, or James Stewart, I love the feel and spontaneity of the old West and the courage of the pioneers who had to fight for their land. Hundreds and hundreds of easterners made the decision to load up all their belongings, leave behind family and friends, and travel by wagon train out West to a new land and a new beginning.

It was inevitable and portrayed in a typical western flick, the wagon train was attacked and the cry went up , "Circle the wagons!" The strategy against foes like Native Americans and intruders was key - in making a circle with the covered wagons and hiding behind the carts, you had a better chance of protecting the people hiding inside the circle. At night when they were most vulnerable they would circle the wagons again to protect the livestock and supplies from raiders.

In the spiritual Godlife we many times practice the concept of "circling." With circling we purposefully build a wall around our true self for the express purpose of protecting our true self from being disclosed. Just like in the old West, we operate under the drive of fear - fear of rejection which leads to fear in our relationships. We work hard every day in order to keep the walls of the circle up of an image that is expected from others or an identity that is accepted by our friends and associates.

The underlying fear is that we will some day be discovered for who we really are.

God's love is not always touchable and is replaced by the pseudo-acceptance of more visible people that surround us in our world. They control our image, the image we have to maintain is always in the back of our minds. Like Native Americans on the prairie they always seem to be lurking in the distance instilling fear in our every move.

The opposite is true - the true experience of God's love within "centering" creates the freedom to be me without masks and performance. He loves you just as you are - that true person inside the circle.

God says, "Don't be afraid., I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine." (Isaiah 43:1b-2, The Message).

In the language of the old West, that's translated, "Don't be afeared, partner...I knows ya...I accepts ya...yer mine."

HeeeHa!

Recipes, Coupons, and Chicken

I gathered all my tools to have at hand nearby: Pen, paper, 100 Best Chicken Recipes book, and coupons that were cut out and organized in a coupon folder. The process seemed simple - to put together a grocery list based upon a planned menu. Julie looks over at me and laughed, "Who is this guy?" It's hard to believe but because of Julie working many hours, I have learned to cut out coupons, purchase the food, and many times plan and make the meals.

The process is simply based upon a perceived plan of what meals we want to eat and then buying the necessary ingredients. This week: Black bean enchilada chicken, Chicken asparagus casserole, Chicken and rice bake, etc. (OK, so we like chicken). As I was reading the list of ingredients I needed I had to run a few things by Julie, "What is cilantro?" and "Do we have any cumin?" She just looks at me and says, "Who is this guy?"

This morning as sat before God in prayer I found myself planning meals again. Coming before God I have already decided what my life should look like. "This are the recipes I think my life should have, God." Then I read the laundry list of necessary ingredients I believe are necessary in order to accomplish those end results. Then because MY recipes seem sort of challenging, I device short cuts to save time and money and pain. So I hand God my coupons to "save" on the possible sacrifices necessary to achieve my plans and goals. "I've got it all worked out God, bless my plan."

God sits there and patiently listens and says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7)

At first His words seemed like the perfect ticket for me to go on planning my life menu...all I have to do is ask and He will make my plans happen. Sounds like the perfect recipe! Then I realize that the asking and seeking He was talking about was not what I thought all along. He was addressing the "meat" of the recipe, the heart, the core of prayer and the foundation of life - seeking after Him. So many days I brought my list of life wants to him - a pastorate, financial security, health, a teaching position - all ingredients in my recipe of life happiness. "If only I had these ingredients, my life would be wonderful..."

Yet alll He wanted was for me to seek Him. "Asking, seeking, and knocking" had to do with seeking God Himself in prayer not MY recipes and MY coupons.

How easily I get sidetracked.

I guess it's time to put my 100 Best Chicken Recipes in his hands and to trust Him with my life. It's time to ask Him for an awareness of His presence and let Him take care of the planning, the recipes, and the coupons. It's time to rest in the Great Chef...after all, God does make great chicken!

Meanwhile Julie is STILL looking at me and saying, "Who IS this guy?"

The Climb

My work these days finds me sitting behind a desk and computer on most days, so I am constantly looking for opportunities to get some exercise. With Julie's help I found a used treadmill at a second-hand shop that has proven to be just what the doctor ordered for a good sweat. The one I have is not powered but driven purely by my power. When I use to work out at the YMCA the treadmills were power-driven with a myriad of settings for steepness of the incline and speed.

I've come to realize that no matter how hard I work, the treadmill always defeats me. I just don't have enough strength and energy to continue the climb without running out of steam. So many days I have felt the same way about my life. I've worked hard for decades but the incline always seems too steep for me to overcome. In my weakness I take a short rest and then try all over again. It's hard work trying to pursue "the climb" in life to be somebody and achieve success. The recent top billboard song by Miley Cyrus, "The Climb", while extremely inspirational, preaches success on individual perseverance and effort. The bottom line is that "the climb" will always be too steep to tackle alone. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

Recently I was reading the story of Gideon in the Bible and was reminded once again that God insists on different values than the ones that surround us in our culture. Our society preaches living out of our strength and pursuing "the climb" to the top. God reminds us over and over on the necessity of our weakness so that we will trust Him. The truth is that I am weak and my human resources will never be enough. I need God. Just like God used that "mighty warrior" Gideon just as he was - weaknesses and all, he encourages us in our weaknesses and uses us to touch other lives. That's what I like about God - I don't have to be a "mighty warrior" when instead I feel more like Don Knotts! His plans for me include me to be just plain old Jeff in all my weaknesses. When I become comfortable and descend into my true self, and lay aside the veneer of trying to be comebody else, God's strength carries us on the ups and downs of our life journey.

I just need to be radically different than my culture - to be comfortable being weak and being Jeff in my own skin.

But he (God) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

His climb begins with my descent.

A New Creation!

Ah, the wonder of Spring! With the appearance of the sun in the Pacific northwest, there arrives warmth that feels good on your skin. The coats come off and you gaze up into the clouds, swallow the sunshine and then its beams force a smile to glow on your face. I loved Spring when my dad was still alive because it signaled the new beginning of nicer weather to go golfing together. Standing on the first tee, all you can hear were birds singing a new song mixed with the smell of freshly cut grass. Framing the first hole were freshly flowered trees and bright misty morning shadows. I would take a deep breath to fill my lungs with the fresh clean air of morning newness. All together they made up a bouquet of Spring feelings that I had waited all winter for!

It was a new creation all over again!

Here is how God is encountered in the immediacy of life. Many times we meet God in those special "aha" moments like the one I experienced several years ago at Cannon Beach. But the beauty of living the Godlife is that every moment in life can be that "aha" moment all over again. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5, "If anyone is in Christ...a new creation!" Most people mistranslate what Paul is really saying here by saying, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." What Paul is really talking about is that when we first encounter Christ (that first big "aha" moment) or when we see that flash of the mystery of God's fingerprints on the now moments of life (that ongoing "aha" moment) all of creation takes on a new life. When we are aware of God every moment of every day, the world is a new creation. We see God, His presence, and His work everywhere. When we initially become followers of Christ we are "in Christ." But living the daily mystery of "in Christ" requires keen eyes and a Springtime awareness that only comes from practicing His presence.

It's like Springtime all over again!

History Lesson

"The certainty of history seems to be in direct inverse ratio to what we know about it." Anonymous

Lately I've spent some time musing through old photographs of my family. I can still remember that Easter day when my mother took our picture in front of our house all dressed up and ready for church (that's me on the left squinting!). Each picture I held of my son and daughter as infants or kids growing up tends to immerse me in dates and events, in persons and in circumstances - in my own personal history (that's Julie holding our Marine son, Jeffry, as a baby). I struggle to recall the details of those "good old days" but that's where the family historian steps in - Julie. She has a gift for remembering what someone wore to a particular event. I can't even remember the event!

We tend to look at our personal histories through the eyes of regret and what if's. I wish I would have done this here or there. What if I had done this instead of that. We recall historical events both national, local, or family, that affected us in some way. What gets lost in the mix of the "certainty of history" is the inverse ratio of the presence of God. God met Julie and I in the ordinary and extraordinary occurrences that made up the stuff of our daily lives. The history of our 31 years we've known each other is the medium in which God worked, just as paint and canvas is the medium in which Rembrandt made created works of art. We cannot get closer to God by distancing ourselves from the perceived messes of our personal history. They are all part of his presence we sometimes forget.

We have so many stories to tell. Each one is a tribute that there is no such thing as secular history in our lives. None. Everything that happened, happened in a personal world penetrated by God. Our stories may not always include God so it is sometimes easy to forget that God is always the invisible and mostly silent presence in everything that took place. God is never absent from these stories and never peripheral to them. In fact to pay attention to these people and events in our past was to recognize a higher purpose to stay alert to God in the now.

We tend to develop the mindset of our cultural historians who would view our past with a God as not involved or present. We tend to tell stories through politics and economics, human interest, and societal conditions. Where were you when JFK was shot? Do you remember the great blizzard of 1978? What was your reaction to 9-11? Then if we have a mind for it, we go ahead and conveniently fit God in somewhere or other.

The truth is, that history teaches us everything including the future.

And that lesson is that God is here, past, present, and future.

Can you see His fingerprints?

The Wedding Zone

In a world surrounded by living together and co-habitation in the place of marriage, there exists a place where marriage dreams take the shape of excitement and planning. Filled with flowers, gowns, photographs and signup sheets, the South Hill Mall in Puyallup became such a place. The young couples traveled from place to place amidst the music and atmosphere of anticipation for an upcoming marriage. Here in center court there was such a place where marriages still can happen.

Welcome to... the Wedding Zone.

Last Saturday I found myself planted in the center court of a mall as one of 28 different vendors all with something to contribute to wedding couples and parents. The vendors represented just about every aspect of wedding planning: Photographers with their huge photo shots in frames and thick books of artistic examples; Tux and gown shops with books and books of possible choices; Caterers with cuisine selections to curb the appetite of the simple or elegant; A Flying Tomato mascot for the kiddies; Vocalists singing as example of their artistic contribution of love songs; A horse drawn buggy to go to and leave from the church in style; A wedding fashion show with all the latest styles for an up-to-date wedding; There was even a liposuction booth to get that instant buff look without all the sweat of dieting and workouts....soooooo 2010.

In the midst of all of that was my little booth as a wedding officiant. Some would ask, "What is a wedding officiant?" That question alone reminded me of how the ceremony itself and the importance of the words and vows have all become secondary to the spectacle of the exteriors. Relational preparation in learning the tools of how to make a successful marriage is not a priority on the financial list of investments for that perfect ceremony. Yet, long after the pomp and circumstance the realities of learning to live together with a marriage commitment suddenly take front seat. The value of learning relational skills takes on more importance. My services of pre-marital counseling and performing the wedding ceremony seemed insignificant to most couples, yet the spiritual connection and foundation is worth all of this "stuff" put together.

It seemed surreal and yet symbolic that my little booth was in the middle of all of this white lace and promises. I felt like I needed to arrive at future weddings as the officiant in a horse drawn buggy and then sing the ceremony wearing a white suit. I could also then be the entertainment at the reception doing the boogie or singing with a band in concert. Instead my services look kind of vanilla in comparison. I did pass out lots of information cards and talk to some interested couples. But the mall marketer told me that they have been doing this wedding fair for years and there never has been a wedding officiant as part of it. Wow.

It gets even wierder.

Next to my booth was a vocalist whose name was J'Lynn. Her name seemed interesting so I asked her the story of how she got her name. She told me that her twin brother died at birth and her parents were going to name him Jeffrey. So in honor of him, she was named Jeffri Lynn and then shortened to J'Lynn. So here we were, two Jeffry Lynns right next to one another...one a male and the other a female...our total names both contained 20 letters... I'm a pastor, she's a pastor's daughter...

I look around the center court and suddenly the value of what I contribute to weddings doesn't seem as vanilla anymore. In fact as the room spins around, it is in reality the most important vendor table in the entire room. I imagine the room filled with pastors and counselors and crowds of young couples seeking help and counseling. Most of their resources are spent on seminars, marriage mentoring, books, and retreats...

You've been visiting ...the Wedding Zone!

(You can also visit my wedding website at www.beingusweddings.com)

The Golden Godlife

Every day I find myself sitting in my window seat in my office. It's my place to be before God as part of my focus of daily solitude. In fact, it's large enough for me to sit in and practice looking at myself and the world through God's eyes. This morning I couldn't help but notice the framed picture located on the wall directly in front of me. The Norman Rockwell print represents an amalgamation of various nationalities all standing together. Underneath are the words, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

As a veteran of Sunday Schools and Vacation Bible Schools, I am familiar with this principle based on Jesus' own words in Matthew 7:12, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Called the Golden Rule, this principle transcends all religions and cultures. You can find versions of this life rule planted within over 21 different religions. In fact, Jesus only expressed in a positive way what had already been written and expressed through people generations before. The difference is in the context...Jesus is saying because God gives you good gifts therefore you should love others out of gratitude to God based on a life of love. So for the Christian, the Golden Rule has a foundation in love which is centered in God. So it is in actuality the Golden Godlife. This is supposed to be a natural love lifestyle and not a legalistic rule of measurement.

So many times the windows of love in our lives get blocked and we operate out of selfishness and the Golden Godlife becomes, "Do unto others because they deserve it," or "Do unto others in order to have them do unto me." In both cases the focus is on me and my life and not the Godlife Jesus had in mind!

Can you imagine if we actually lived out the Golden Godlife as Christians on a daily, moment by moment basis. Instead of getting mad at my wife for running late getting ready, I ask to help her. Instead of ignoring that person on the corner with the sign asking for help, I take them to lunch. Instead of criticizing my boss, I imagine what it must be like to make such tough decisions based on information I'm not aware of. Instead of complaining about trash in the parking lot, I actually help to clean it up. As Americans we are quick to rush to the aid of disasters like Haiti (and we should) but my neighbor or work associate becomes forgotten. Putting ourselves in others' shoes is what the Godlife is all about. Seeing what God sees involves an outer awareness that comes from an inner open window.

These actions must come from an open window of love. As I sit in my window box I am reminded that daily I must open the window of my life to God...to His presence, His love, and His acceptance. In the same fashion when I let that same love flow through the open windows of my life to people, the Golden Godlife becomes a natural practice and not just a mechanical rule. This Godlife is meant to be shared and not just cherished...given away and not held... It's time to open my windows to Golden Godlife opportunities.

The Main Thing

All my life my attitude toward God, the church, and religion in general has been apparently distorted. After 56 years of "religious" service, I've realized that everything spiritual in my life has had to pass through a doing stage in order to give me the kickback I so much have desired...that of feeling accepted by God as "spiritual." In the process, my doing had become the focus and laid the foundation of my perceptions of who and what is religious verses what is not religious. I've lived my life on the circumference doing the old "rope-a-dope" with God. I do...I feel better because God likes me...then as a result I must be spiritual.

I'm not just talking about going to church or teaching a class or participating on visitation or even mouthing my prayers both private and public. Those circumference activities have greatly clouded the main thing. In fact, the main thing has many times been lost and set on the shelf along with many books I have collected but never read.

Doing the same old mundane becomes dull and boring, so on the circumference I'm always looking for the next great "doing" spiritual activity. Then as that becomes the main thing, I again become uninterested and in cyclical fashion go round and round on the edge of the circle of life still dissatisfied.

I have found even in my relationship with God that the spiritual disciplines can so easily become the main thing. I read the Bible according to my daily schedule; Pray to Him unraveling my laundry list of wants and needs; Practicing the liturgy of the Daily Office at a set schedule; and sing about Him in worship to lift my own spirits. Meanwhile God sits in the chair nearby as a spectator.

Daily I pray for my needs for a job and then go out and work hard at my doing with the hopes of accomplishing the task at hand. I then pray God's blessings on my efforts. He continues to sit by patiently.

I have become the central focus and the main thing through my disciplines and piety. I am looking for help for me which is not the "real" main thing. He waits calmly nearby.

Jeremiah had a different approach:

"I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him." Lam. 3:24

There it is in one short snapshot of reality...God is my portion...He is all I need...He is the main thing. My doing can murky up the waters of God as my portion. I get sidetracked and miss the main thing.

Sitting before Him on a daily basis is not supposed to be about me...it's a focus on Him. If I never pastored again or served in full time ministry, would it be enough for me to have Him as my portion? If all of us had to lay aside our dreams, aspirations, and goals in order to replace them with just God - would we be content?

The reason He is enough is succinctly described in the two verses before this one. In the midst of doubt and trouble and affliction Jeremiah reminded himself:

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. they are new every morning: great is your faithfulness." Lam 3:22-23

The truth is that all my doing has been replaced with God's doing. He is all I need...not God's love...or even His mercy...but God Himself. He is the main thing.

Therefore I can do the undoing thing - wait.

The Lord Will Provide

As I laid in bed last night, my mind drifted off into mixing a review of the many activities of the day with thoughts of what my future may hold. It's in these moments when the light goes out that I lay there thinking of God and telling Him my innermost thoughts along with sharing my fears and emotions. Sometimes I just curl in a ball of quiet solitude before a God who is there...sometimes wondering...is He really there?

Many times before the light goes out, I meditate on the picture on the wall just above my dresser. This antique was given to us by a friend in Michigan some 14 years ago. The words based on Psalm 27 have stood as the theme of my adult life but in recent months they have meant even more to me. Every once in a while when Julie and I talk in bed about our uncertain future, she reads the words in that picture that hangs directly across from our bed. They remind me once again of the reality of my life that often gets lost in the emotions of daily struggle.

"The Lord Will Provide"

The words are not just a catchy marketing phrase or worthy sound bite or short twitter statement that checks our day. Each word underlines a true reality that is beyond my feelings and my activities.

"The"- This little word emphasizes that there is only one true God in my life. He has existed from before time and He created me and knows me. He is "The" God.

"Lord" - Lord is more than just a word denoting authority. It actually is derived from a word in the first testament that labels God as Yahweh. This revelation of God as Yahweh was significant because it describes God as a covenant-binding God. In other words, the God who is there is always there because He has promised to be there. He is present in my life because He promised to never leave me and a "promise is a promise is a promise"!

"Will" - This is a word of certainty existing without a doubt. It gives the tone of a God who has set the pattern of his presence in the past as a foundation for His presence now and tomorrow. The key here is - no doubt!

"Provide" - I am his child and He cares for his own. He is a good father that carries His children through the tough times when the dark sets in and hoplessness sinks its hooks in my soul. He has provided, He will provide today, and His provisions wait for me in my tomorrow.

Why would this little saying in a frame hanging over my dresser mean so much to me? Because today I am walking the line of reality verses my perception of reality. In the liminal transitions of life I fluctuate between God's reality and my perception of reality. As I face the uncertainty of my unemployment expiring next week and the fears of not having yet found a ministry job, I am tempted to chase my own logic, wisdom, and strategies for providing for my family.

The end result is anxiety, worry and fear of failure.

But those words return to haunt me and consume my thoughts. He is bound to me with His love. He has been there in the past, He WILL be there today and He WILL be there tomorrow and He DOES care.

The Lord Will Provide.

After all, a promise is a promise is a promise.

Cannibalism

The tragedies of Haiti have overtaken our emotions and caused us as Americans to rally around the ravaged country. We've been overwhelmed by mass graves, orphan children, and people without food. The pictures have moved many to donate resources, pray, and even to personally travel to the reeling country to volunteer help.

The hunger in Haiti is very real. People are walking the streets in search of anything to call food. While relief services are transporting tons of food to help feed the masses, the hunger pit seems bottomless. After eating today, the helpless hunger will return again tomorrow. the challenges ahead are centered in helping the people of Haiti develop new ways of feeding themselves in a country filled with rubble, unsanitary conditions, and disease.

In America, we have compassion for these tragic, helpless people. But the truth is that in many ways we have become hunger victims ourselves. I'm not talking about the food which is readily available at any number of dozens of food markets located within a short driving distance from our homes. Or the countless restaurants that dot the local landscape filled with hungry people that enjoy ordering more food than they can eat.

In America we are hungry to know ourselves. As individuals we chase the illusive "me" throughout our lives in a frantic daily sprint of activity that somehow creates an illusioned self. My job, my title, the things I've accumulated, my pleasures, all have become a food fix for trying to fill an empty stomach that seeks self-discovery and societal acceptance. We have become detached observers of our own lives caught in a squirrel cage, thinking that the constant squeaking of the wheel of our achievements is a verification of our reality and worth.

This chase motivated by hunger has actually eaten away at our true self as we are consumed by doubt and self-hate. We live in this sort of shadow existence in which we find our image self between our true self and God. As helpless observers, we watch ourselves living out a life we know to be a fragmented tragedy. This path of self hunger is not been relegated to non-Christians alone for it too has found its way into the church and consumed believers. The very thing we seek is being consumed by the drive to keep up an image. The result are lives filled with relational rubble and the disease of fearful rejection.

We have literally become cannibals of our true self.

Paul wrote, "Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God." (Rom 12)

The journey out of daily hunger and self-cannibalism is not going to be the quick fix of an instant meal of what I do, what others think I am, or what I have. Under a culture that consumes us, we will constantly live under the temptation of the world of the false self as an answer to knowing the real me. Cultural values that surround us leads to a constant hunger to know the real me.

The true journey to know me is found in a life of centering in God because our true identity is found only in him. By means of silence and solitude we journey into ourselves.

It is only there our hunger can be satisfied.

That is counter-cultural...that is the Godlife.

Welcome Isabella!

"Yesterday was so scary and exciting for me. For so long all I have known was the warmth and security of dark comfort inside my mommy. She fed me everyday and kept me warm and secure as I was growing my little fingers and toes and yes, my dark hair. Instead of looking like either my mommy or daddy, I decided to look like both because I love them so much already!

Then in a matter of a short time it all changed. Mommy tried for over 38 hours to help me come into the light - she was so anxious and brave! I could hear daddy all the time helping her - I've loved hearing his voice and was so anxious to meet him. I can't wait to go on those dates and to hold his hand. And mommy, well she will have fun dressing me up like the little girl I am and showing me off to everybody - I think I will like that too!

When I did finally come out I heard my mommy cry so hard it scared me. I closed my eyes so tight because the light hurt as I poked my head out for the first time. It seemed so cold and scary that I cried and cried and cried. Then strange people cleaned me all up, wrapped me in a warm blanky, and then laid me on my mommy's chest and suddenly I remembered that familiar heartbeat. I've known it all my life until now. Mommy!

Then mommy's arms wrapped around me and I looked up at my mommy and for the first time realized, I'm finally here! Hello world! Daddy then held me and immediately I recognized his strong secure voice and looked into that handsome face for the first time. Hello daddy!

Then I saw my fingers and toes for the first time and realized how special of a creation I am to God. We've had such a wonderful time together for the last nine months and now I get to spend a lifetime getting to know him better and thanking him for doing such a good job making me. I love you God!

So many new people to meet in this brand new world. I can't wait to meet all my grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles...Wow, I'm tired already..being born and getting all this attention is such tiring work...time to sleep for now, but don't worry, you'll hear more from me real soon...I have a strong voice!"

Isabella Elizabeth Zakrzewski
Born Saturday, January 23rd at 5:07 pm
7 lb 10 oz, 19 inches


Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration - what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you;
The days of my life prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139

Ode to David

I woke up this morning and found myself in an undesirable place. My first impression was to be overwhelmed by the darkness of the black hole I stood in the midst of. The blackness waved over me like a thick blanket without an end. My hands and my fingers seemed to just mesh into the black as if they weren't even there. My eyes were wide open but my sight seemed constricted and shut. I can't see anything.

The air seemed cold and damp so I felt my way to a cold ledge to rest upon and ponder my fate. I was afraid. There were noises but in quick time I discerned they were nothing but drops of water falling from the ceiling and hitting the floor. I felt all alone. With a quivering voice I cried out, "Is there anyone there?"

Silence in the cave.

After months (that have rolled into years) of seeking light in a life that I was called to be, I have now found myself living in a dark hole of a calling unfulfilled. I've been cast off, forgotten, and rejected. Even the one who called me to walk in the light of service has left me to be alone in black silence. After hundreds of rejections that have piled up to close the cave entry way, I can feel my hope disappearing into the damp and dingy. No progress, no direction, no hope. Failure is outside the cave seeking for me...prowling to devour... so I hide in the depths of the darkness. This is certainly not the place I expected to be when he called me to serve him full time 28 years ago.

Alone...in the dark...playing the waiting game.

I dreamed of being in that wonderful place again...outside in the light...where I would be able to finally serve out of my passion, gifts, and my calling...to leave this dingy cave and be busy again. After all, that is was I was meant to be and do. Then I bowed my head and faced the reality again of my present...the lonely cave when I am now. Dark, dingy, alone, without a purpose on a path that I fear will never end. Alone with me... in a black hole.

I cried out again, "Someone, help me get out of here!"

Again, silence.

Suddenly I felt a presence of another. I could not understand it or explain it. I reached out but couldn't feel anyone or see anything. Yet, I felt the presence of something real...no, I knew someone was there. I felt moved not to speak but to just sit and enjoy that presence. Somehow I just knew that whoever was there cared and loved me even in my fear and insecurity. He loved me for who I was and where I was. As I pondered him, I realized that he was the same one who called me decades ago.

My fears then dissipated into the blackness.

In the midst of the darkness, the demise of my cave peril...my dark situation... took on a new perspective. He is still here with me. He hasn't forgotten or dropped me. He still has a plan for me. Somehow there was meaning again.

I was meant to be here for just this purpose....to wait...to just be me... to just be with him.

In my quietness, I faintly smiled.


"You're my cave to hide in...I want to hide in you. I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me; you'll never let me down." (David while hiding in a cave) Psalm 31, The Message