I Wish I COULD HAVE A FRESH START

Speaking of fresh starts and new born babies, we've finally started recording our weekend teaching conversations on audio. We've been talking about this for a while, but finally someone got tired of waiting and figured out how to pull it off. (Thanks Chad!)

What does this mean for you? If you missed the Sunday adult teaching you don't have to read text summaries here anymore. You can experience the teaching conversation like everyone else did. Hear what everyone else heard. In fact- if you close your eyes- it's almost like we're right there with you.

OK, maybe that's a little creepy. Anyway, you can find a recording of this past Sunday's teaching HERE.

Please be patient. We're still working out glitches. In the weeks ahead we'll make some tweaks to improve things.

With all of these new happenings, I'll stop posting extensive written summaries of the teaching conversations here. For now you'll still be able to find links to the scriptures we explored, some questions for personal reflection or discussion with a few friends, and the occasional picture or link to something we referenced.

So enjoy and thank Chad Miller if/when you see him!

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:
Luke 1:67-79
Lamentations 3:21-23
Luke 3:2-6
Luke 4:16-21

REFLECT/DISCUSS:
Q: Knowing what you know today, what's one thing you'd go back and do differently in your life?

Q: What's one area of your life you'd like to have a fresh start in this new year?

Q: How would you like your life with God to be different this year?

Q: Of all the word pictures of fresh starts in the scriptures we discussed, which one resonates most with you today and why?

Q: God offers each of us a fresh start today. Do we really want it? Enough to engage/surrender to Him more than we have in the past?

I Wish WE COULD ALL GET ALONG

Ever noticed how hard it is to be original at Christmas? For the most part we do the same stuff every year- sing the same songs, watch the same shows, eat the same food, put up the same decorations, throw the same parties, etc. And we like it that way. Originality is not encouraged this time of year. We like Christmas to feel, sound and taste familiar.

Take our catch phrases for example: "Happy Holidays". This generic phrase could fit any of a dozen days, but none of us probably uses it outside of December. How about "Joy To The World"? Surely the world could use joy all year- but you won't find us vocalizing it the other 11 months. Then there's the subject of this post, "Peace On Earth". When was the last time you heard that other than Christmas- or the occasional beauty pageant? The idea that we could find peace, both personally and on a grand scale, is associated with this season. Why? Maybe because the event that first launched the Christmas phenomenon is God's plan to grant the deep desire inside most human hearts for peace. Check out this excerpt from the Christmas story in the Bible.

GOD WANTS US TO HAVE PEACE
God has a knack for irony. When He wants to send a message of peace He nearly scares the poor shepherds working the night shift half to death. Apparently the Lord hasn't heard of setting the mood. Or maybe God just likes to do things a bit differently than we would. Look at what Jesus said about the peace He came to offer. It is different. On occasion we can produce a bit of peace on our own- by overeating, shopping, going to movies, etc. Often our peace lasts about as long as our indulgence. The peace that Jesus came to offer is different. It has a depth and breadth to it that ours doesn't. So much so that it sticks with us in the moments when we should be anything but peaceful. ("Peace that passes understanding" I think they call it.) God also uses different methods to set things right. We try to bring about peace with agression- beating and bullying others toward our will. Jesus chooses to sacrifice Himself instead.

GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO HAVE PEACE
Humans are mostly selfish. We think about ourselves and the people we care about. But the peace God offers through the Christmas story isn't just for us. Or our loved ones. Or the people we like. Or who are like us. God offers His peace to EVERYONE. The good news about the peace making Savior is for all people. Jesus came to earth and sacrificed Himself to bring us all back to our Maker. He erased the lines and broke down the walls that separate us not only from God, but from each other as well. The diverse characters in the Christmas story give us a glimpse into God's desire to welcome everyone. God involves the old and the young, the white collar and blue collar, the reputable and the disreputable, the insiders and outsiders, the rich and the poor, the nationals and the foreigners. Why are we so slow to catch on to God's heart for inclusion?

GOD WANTS US TO PURSUE PEACE WITH EACH OTHER
If Jesus came to fulfill God's promise of peace on earth, why is there still so much conflict? It's been 2000 years since The Arrival yet wars, divorce, lawsuits, gossip, etc. are as prevalent as ever. Where is the peace God promised? Why can't we all just get along? If you resonate with that question, check out the lyrics to U2's "Peace On Earth". (Bono says it better than I can.)

While the question and emotions in this song are valid, I think the sentiment is missing something. Peace requires serious effort. Harmony won't be accomplished with a warm wishes and pixie dust. Jesus blesses the PEACE-MAKERS- not the peace accepters or peace receivers. Being at peace with others takes hard work. But should that surprise us? If Jesus brought peace through humility & sacrifice- and we're following in His steps- won't the same be required of us? This may also explain why God's desire for harmony hasn't been fully realized yet.

REFLECT/TALK:
Q: How do you find peace in your daily life? What, if anything, do you find peaceful about the Christmas season?

Q: Are you at peace wtih God right now? If not, what is standing in your way?

Q: Why do you think there isn't more peace in the world? In your opinion is it harder to fight or make peace?

Q: What do you think about Jesus' assertion that making peace with others is more important in the moment than offering a gift to Him in worship? (See Matthew 5:23-24).

Q: How do you feel about God loving all people groups? Is there anyone you think is beyond His peace? What could/are you doing to embrace God's desire to erase dividing lines and bring people together?

Q: Is there anyone you need to try and make peace with? How/when could you start?

I Wish I COULD DO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS

I was laying in bed late last night when Oprah popped on the screen and said:

"Whatever you're gonna do- do something that matters."

Now Oprah doesn't usually show up on my tv at 1am, so I took this as a sign from God that we might have been on to something with this past Sunday's teaching conversation. I mean if Ms. Winfrey agrees, we must be on the right track, right?

Ok, maybe she wasn't speaking on God's behalf- but Oprah was expressing one of the deep desires of the human heart: We want to do something significant. To make a difference. To do something that matters. Our problem however, as many of us see it, is that we aren't significant people. We're ordinary folks, living in ordinary places, doing ordinary things.

Sometimes we look at the people in the Bible for inspiration. What do we find? Colorful people, living in exciting places, doing amazing things. "Oh well", we shrug, "Significance must not be in the cards for us." 

And then we happen upon the Christmas story. A story so significant that it warrants a month long party and whose participants get memorialized on more front lawns and on mantles than you can count. And what do we learn? Significance can look pretty ordinary.

SIGNIFICANCE HAPPENS IN MIDDLE OF THE ORDINARY
I love the outdoors. When I'm out in nature I feel connected to God in a way that doesn't happen in my man-made world. So far my favorite spot to enjoy creation is the corner of Wyoming that's home to Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Ntl Park. There's something about that majestic spot that resonates with a deep place in my soul.

But I'd be kidding myself if I thought that was the ONLY place I could enjoy the outdoors. The Appalachain Trail is just a few hours west of my home. The Outer Banks a few hours east. The metro area I reside in has several beautiful lakes. And there's a nicely wooded walking trail at the end of my street. I don't have to go somewhere special to enjoy creation.  I can stay put in my ordinary life.  Isn't it the same with God?

Think about where each of the players in the Christmas story was when God found them: Zechariah and the shepherds were working. Mary was at home. Joseph was in bed. The Magi were studying. Talk about ordinary. God doesn't need us to go somewhere special to do something great. He can- and most likely will- use us right where we are.

SIGNIFICANCE LOOKS ORDINARY
Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, Outliers, challenges our understandings of what makes a person successful. One fascinating chapter chronicles the rule of 10,000. Hours that is. Gladwell pulls together several studies that suggest that people who become world class at something (music, business, athletics, chess, etc) all spend about 10,000 hours on their craft. That's 20 hours a week for 10 years. And all this time I've believed that the people who do something significant are just that much better than everyone else. If Gladwell is right, they just work and practice much longer and harder than anyone else. And practice often looks pretty ordinary.

What does God ask the people in the Christmas story to do? Ordinary stuff: Have a baby. Take a trip. Sneak away from work to see something interesting. The people do the ordinary stuff. God does the amazing stuff. Significance happens when ordinary people do ordinary things with an extraordinary God.

What does God ask us to do? Take care of each other. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Visit the lonely. Listen.  Hug.  Share what we have. Tell His story. Speak up when we see someone being taken advantage of. All ordinary stuff, right? What makes the difference is that God works through our ordinary efforts.

SIGNIFICANCE MOSTLY FEELS ORDINARY
If it were left up to us, everything would feel great. Every church gathering would give us goose bumps. We'd hear God speak directly to us every time we opened up the scripture. We'd feel a deep sense of kinship whenever we hung out with other followers of Jesus. Every act of service or help would feel rewarding. But it doesn't work that way, does it? Most of the time life feels....well, ordinary.

Don't you think it worked the same way with the people who played significant parts in the Christmas story? Didn't the parenting of newborns mostly feel tiring and routine? Wasn't much of the Magi's trip uneventful and maybe even a bit boring? Sure. Mountaintop moments are so named because there is a high point- as well as a way up and a way down, and probably a lot of plateau as well.

Just because we don't feel like we are making a difference doesn't mean that God isn't using us to do something important. A year ago a few folks in our church community got to know a guy named Rob. We liked him.  Rob asked for some help and friendship and we did our best to give both. After a couple of months, Rob pulled away. We felt like we hadn't made much of a difference for him. Last weekend I got an email from Rob telling me that he had decided to follow Jesus. I was floored. Didn't see that coming at all. While I'm sure that God used a bunch of folks to love Rob towards Jesus, I think that we played a small part as well. It didn't feel like it at the time, but God was using our meager efforts to help change a life. Amazing.

TRY IT:
The next time you see a nativity scene or read the Christmas story thank God for His propensity to use ordinary people like us. Right where we are. With what we have to offer. Regardless of the accompanying emotions. 

Want to do something that matters this week? Pray each day and ask God to help you do this:

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 

(Romans 12:1, The Message)

REFLECT:
Q: Do you agree that most people want to spend their life doing something that matters?  Why/Not?  Do you feel this way?  

Q: What reasons (or excuses) come to mind as to why you couldn't do something significant for God and others?  Does this look at the Christmas story challenge any of those?

Q: Why are we tempted to imagine that the important stuff would happen somewhere else- and not in our daily lives?

Q: Based on what you know about Jesus' life and teachings- what kinds of actions are significant in His eyes?

Q: Do you think people are seeking to do something that makes a difference- or to feel like they are making a difference?  Are they the same thing?

I Wish I COULD BELIEVE

What's your favorite Christmas movie or show?

As a kid I would have said it was "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". In college it wouild have been "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". Today it's "Elf".

Whatever your answer, I'll bet there's a good chance the plot includes a quest for belief- in Santa, the goodness of people, the ability to change, that people can be accepted or reconcile with each other, etc.

Why is that? Why do our Christmas stories and celebrations reveal a longing to believe? Maybe because the desire for faith echoes inside every heart. And because Christmas- God becoming one of us- is a huge part of God's plan to grant our wish for faith.

Every player in the Bible's Christmas story is asked to believe something amazing. Let's meet one person who often gets overlooked in the telling of the story.

STARTING EARLY
Most of us complain that Christmas starts too early. We see decorations go up in October and let out a deep sigh. Recently I watched a special on people who go over the top to decorate their yards and houses for Christmas. Their displays inspire tens of thousands of people to stop by every year. Their average starting date for decorating? August.

We usually start telling the biblical Christmas story with the angel's visit to Mary. But God is doing some amazing things 6 months prior to that with an old priest and his wife. Zechariah and Elizabeth are people with a real, deep faith (don't miss what God thought of them)- and an empty house. Certainly they'd prayed that God would give them children over the years. But no answer came. Until one day when Zechariah is in a special place doing a special work and gets a pretty special message.

How does this man of deep faith respond? See for yourself. Is that the response you expect? Would we have believed the angel? When it comes to believing God, some of us would say, "I'm not wishing for faith. I've believed for a long time." You mean, like Zechariah? His struggle to accept God's message reminds us that faith isn't static. We don't believe once and lock faith in. Instead we choose every day to trust God with our lives. Others of us think about faith and reply, "I wish I could believe, but I can't. Maybe if I knew more, could get my questions answered, or could experience God in a real way I could believe." You mean, like Zechariah? To those of us who struggle with faith his story reminds us that answers and miracles don't guarantee belief. We still have to choose.

GOING WITH IT
So what happens when we want to believe, but just don't? We've got to go with it. Look at what happens for Zechariah. God gives him some time (and silence) to process things. (Note: If God can't get our attention through a blessing, He may use a challenge.) The only way for Zechariah to know if God is really going to give him a child is to give it a shot and see if God shows up as promised. Maybe the same is true for us. Maybe we need to set our questions, reasons and doubts aside and see if God doesn't meet us in it. And God won't rush us. We may assume that faith should be instant, but God seems ok with a gestational period. Elizabeth's growing belly is a good picture for what is happening in Zechariah's heart- and what might happen for us if we are willing to go with it.

FAITH (RE)BORN
9 months later the baby arrives. And Zechariah has a chance to speak. His name for his newborn son speaks volumes about what he has come to believe. And when his vocal chords release, his gives voice to his faith and gratitude. Don't miss what happens next- God uses his story to speak to others and work in their lives. For those of us who feel like our doubts disqualify us from being used by God- think again. Sometimes our struggles are what make us usable.

REFLECT/TALK:
Q: Do you agree that most people have a desire to believe in God or someone/something bigger than themselves? Why/Not?

Q: How would you describe your faith in God today?

Q: Do you tend to think of faith as a static thing, or something that is constantly being decided? How does this play out/impact your life with God?

Q: What do you think of the angel's response to Zechariah? Have you ever seen God use a tough situation to get your attention? Are you more responsive to God's positive messages or the convicting/challenging ones?

Q: What role do you think time played in Zechariah's change of heart? Do we over or underestimate our need to let faith gestate and develop?

Q: Take another look at the impact Zechariah's profession of faith has. What struggles of faith have you come through? How has/could God use your story to impact others?

Gratitude Adjustment- A Grateful Expression

How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

Hope you enjoyed some time off of work and were able to celebrate as over the top or as low key as you wanted.

I'm curious about something: At some point in the holiday, did you stop and express your gratitude? Were you able to transfer your grateful perspective to a grateful expression?

Why do I ask? Maybe feeling thankful isn't enough. Maybe thankfulness has to be expressed to be fully appreciated. Why would I say that? Take a peek at this verse from Proverbs:

"Open criticism is better than unexpressed love."

Most of us wouldn't choose to be openly criticized. But how often do we forget to let our love and gratitude flow out to the ears of those who need to hear it?

Yesterday our faith community spent our entire gathering trying to express our gratitude to God in a bunch of different ways- through music, responsive readings, sharing stories, verbalizing thanks, writing and drawing, through communion- and even a baby dedication. (Thanks for hanging with us Micah!)

Here are a few of the scriptures we sat with:

Philippians 4:6

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Psalm 136

We also posed these questions for reflection and a time of open sharing:

Q: What are your learning about gratitude right now?

Q: What are you thankful for right now?

Whether you were able to be with us yesterday or not, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Hit the comments button and let the gratitude flow.