Thursday, May 29, 2008

Turning Points: WHEN WE'RE DESPERATE (Pt 2)

Lisa and Wade Shelden were kind enough to share a piece of their story with our community last Sunday. Here's a recap from Lisa in case you missed it:

I grew up in a very religious family. Went to private (Lutheran) schools, elementary & high school. Went to Sunday school and church every Sunday, had chapel 2 times per week in school, had theology class every day in school and took confirmation class once per week for three years in junior high. During summers I attended Lutheran overnight camp and vbs. So .... there was a TON of "church" in my life. Once I got to college my participation in church tapered off dramatically. Once I graduated from college and was pretty much completely independant of my parents I attended very infrequently. Why, because I was completely burned out. Too much of what I thought was the same exact stuff week after week, year after year. I still maintained a prayer life on my own and never stopped believing but my church experience became an obligation that was meaningful in my life.

Skip ahead nine or so years. Wade and I were married and had Avery already. Wade was agnostic I guess you'd say. He grew up sort of hit-or-miss going to church but never really bought into it. We had Avery baptized in my parents Lutheran church as an infant because we thought it was the responsible thing to do -- but we were not church goers. We talked about it, but never really put much effort into finding a church to attend. December 2002 changed the lives of our entire family. Levi was born with a severely life threatening birth defect that we were unaware of until delivery. He had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. He was born by c-section, we got to see him for about 1 minute and he was rushed from Raleigh Community hospital straight to Duke to the NICU. We were in shock. We were scared to death. We had never heard of this condition before and were clueless if he was going live or die before he arrived at Duke.


My OB was the father of 8 and a Christian. After he sensitively explained what was wrong with Levi he asked us if he could pray with us -- and did. Then our parents came in and prayed with us. Those few hours were the turning point for our family.

Wade told me later that he prayed for the first time in years during the days that Levi was being treated -- and that he meant the prayers, believed they were being heard. Wade's dad told me later that he'd made some very big promises to God that he knew he'd have to make good on, now that Levi was "saved". Wade's sister decided after Levi was okay to be baptized and confirmed in the Catholic church -- to become a participating, practicing member of the church she'd been married in. Many, many of our friends and family prayed on their own, with their respective churches, bible studies, small groups and prayer chains for Levi's healing. We were blessed and God evidently wanted the same outcome we did.

Once we brought Levi home we started church shopping. Went to Grace and new that we found the group of people we wanted grow in Christ with. Our special group splintered off from Grace, became Connections and here we are. Wade was baptized by Jeff Tippett through Connections -- a huge deal for our family. He was saved and is a believer! Levi was dedicated, not because we felt obligated, but because we wanted to thank and praise God for the miracle he gifted to our family. Wade's parents also have since joined and become heavily involved in church, Sunday school, Bible studies and mission work.

Needless to say it was a HUGE turning point for all of us -- and this is just the story from my perspective :-).

Friday, May 23, 2008

Turning Points: WHEN WE'RE DESPERATE

Desperate Times Call For...
...self-guided field surgery??? Well, not usually. But that's what happened to Sampson Parker when his hand got caught in a corn picker. Listen to Sampson tell his story on the Today show. Maybe we haven't faced the choice of having to cut off our own arm to save our life, but chances are we've all been in desperate situations. One redeeming quality of these challenging times? They often lead us to turning points. That's exactly what happened for a lady with health issues who encountered Jesus.

Might As Well Try God
When we find ourselves facing urgent times, we're forced to be proactive- trying things we've never considered before. Including God. The Bible tells the story of an unnamed woman who had struggled with health issues for 12 years. Somehow, she hears of Jesus' reputation as a healer and decides to take a shot and track him down. Seeking healing from Jesus isn't the her first attempt at getting well. She tried lots of cures, spent lots of money- and actually got worse. Sounds like us. When we're struggling, sometimes God is the last person we turn to. Instead we try lots of other things. Some not only fail to help us, but they actually degrade our situation.

The God Who Lets Us Touch Him
I've been paying a bit more attention to this election cycle than normal. One thing I've noticed? Everyone wants to touch the presidential candidates. Be it a handshake, hug, high five or pat on the back- most folks want to get a little piece of their favorite candidate. I think Jesus can relate. In the middle of a touch-hungry crowd, Jesus feels one particular hand- and the desperate faith that fueled it.

What makes this story more amazing is that this lady shouldn't have been touching Jesus at all. According to Jewish law and customs her constant bleeding made her "unclean". Anything and anyone she touched would become "unclean". Polite protocol dictated that if you were unclean you kept your distance from others. You informed them so that they could keep their distance from you. (Kind of like when we tell people we're sick before they shake our hands.) And you certainly didn't touch others (esp. a miracle working Rabbi) without their permission.

Personally, I'm glad that her desperation led this lady to touch Jesus. It gives me hope that God lets us touch Him even though we too are unclean- undeserving- sinful. And catch this, Jesus feels her touch. And she feels His power. Sounds personal doesn't it? And isn't that what we're hoping for when we're desperate? Not just a rescue from our crisis, but an up close and personal interaction with the God who responds to our touch?

Love, Acceptance & Peace
Jesus refuses to let this desperate woman stay anonymous. Even though he's got pressing business to attend to, Jesus stops and forces her to tell her story. Why? To set her free. With 10 words, Jesus changes this woman's direction in life.

Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace!"
To start with, Jesus restores her standing in society. He not only pronounces her healed and fit for social interaction again- but Jesus speaks to her in endearing terms. Suddenly this isolated pariah has become the envy of the entire crowd. I love it when Jesus does stuff like this. Don't you?

On top of that, Jesus points her towards a new, peaceful path in life. No longer will her illness define and consume her. Now she is free to live for other things. Isn't this God's desire for us as well? To set us free from the sin and distractions that monopolize our lives so that we can live in peace and wholeness?

Reflect:
Q: Describe a time when you faced a situation that felt desperate. Did it resolve? How?

Q: Do you think we can still touch God today? How? What ways are most meaningful/helpful to you?

Q: Has your opinion of yourself ever stopped you from reaching out to touch God? Because you felt like a "nobody" when it comes to faith? Because you felt "unclean"? Something else? What should we do when that happens?

Q: Have you ever felt God's touch? How? What happened?

Q: Jesus set this woman free with two sentences. What could He say to you today that would do the same for you?

Monday, May 19, 2008

Turning Points: WHEN WE'RE STUCK

Ever been stuck? Me too. Whether the car is stuck in the mud, our career is locked up, or an important relationship is frozen- being unable to generate movement can be frustrating. At least we can take comfort in the fact that we aren't alone. Getting stuck seems to be a part of the human experience. It can also mean that we're on the verge of a turning point.

REALLY STUCK
John 5 tells the story of a man who had been stuck (on multiple levels) for a long time. Like 38 years. And I've been whining that it took the USPS 3 weeks to forward my mail when I moved! I officially repent. Jesus meets this guy as he sits by the pool of Bethesda- a spot where many invalids camped out with the hope of being healed when an angel stirred the water. The image below is a model of what the pool might have looked like in Jesus' day.


QUESTIONS
When we find ourselves in situations we can't seem to get out of, we ask questions. Some aren't really helpful: "Why did this happen to me?" "Why can't I catch a break?" "How come no one will help me?" Others are more constructive: "How did I get here?" "What can I try next?" "What can I learn from this?" Jesus' interaction with the handicapped man in John 5 suggests several questions we might want to ask the next time we find ourselves stuck.

Do We Really Want To Change?
Jesus begins his conversation with this question. On one hand, it seems too obvious. Of course, the man wants to get better. Why else would he be at the pool where miraculous healings are rumored to happen? On the other hand, this simple inquiry is a great starting point. Instead of assuming the man wanted to be healed, Jesus asks. (Those of us who are trying to follow Jesus take note: Jesus doesn't force Himself on people. We probably shouldn't either.) This question gives the man a chance to check his level of motivation and desire. Sure, he probably didn't want to be paralyzed, but was he ready for his world to be redefined? Had he lost hope altogether? Was he comfortable just being stuck? What about us? Do we really want to change those areas of our lives that we've been complaining about?

Are We Willing To Try Something New?
The man's response to Jesus isn't what we'd expect. If you've been paralyzed or sick for 38 years and someone asks if you want to get better, the answer should be some direct form of affirmative. Either an excited or sarcastic tone would work nicely here. Instead, the man talks about what he's been trying that hasn't worked. Jesus asks him to try something new. Makes sense. If we want to head a new direction, we'll probably need to venture into the land of "haven't ever done that before". This guy does. As a result he does 3 things that have alluded him for the last 38 years. Will we show the same kind of faith and guts?

Are We Clear On The Risks?
We live in a society plastered with warning labels- on our medications, the toys we buy our kids, even on our coffee cups. While risk is an inherent part of life, the potential difficulties multiply when we attempt to get out of a rut. For example, the people around us might not be happy for us when we get unstuck. After he is made whole, the former invalid packs up his gear and heads home. He walks vigorously, with a bounce in his gait and a triumphant tune on his lips. And he gets called down. The man that Jesus healed probably expected others to celebrate with him. But they don't . They don't see the man or his miracle. The same may happen to us. Some of the people we expect to be really supportive of our new direction might question, demean or rebuke us. Hopefully not- but it might happen.

Getting unstuck carries another sort of risk- God might send us in a new direction. Later, Jesus finds this man in the temple- most likely worshiping after being banned for 38 years due to his disability. Jesus message: now that you're unstuck- choose a different path. Why is it that so many of us complain about feeling stuck with God, but don't do much to change the situation? Maybe we're afraid that Jesus will say something similar to us, or reaffirm His leadership in our lives. "Hmmm", we think, "Guess being stuck doesn't seem so bad after all.

CELEBRATING BETHESDA
Even if you've never read John 5 before, you've probably heard the name "Bethesda". 14 U.S. states have cities with this moniker. Why? There's something beautiful about seeing someone get unstuck. The name "Bethesda" is the combination of two Hebrew words that mean "house of grace". Sounds good doesn't it? Some scholars note that one of those words can mean either disgrace or grace. As folks thought about this pool of water where miracles happened, they saw people coming in their "disgrace"- with illness and limitations, and finding "grace".

Makes a lot of sense that Jesus would have showed up there doesn't it? He meets us in our "disgrace" and brings "grace" to those of us who have the desire, faith and courage to follow His lead. And this often happens in the times and places where we're stuck.

May each of us find some "Bethesda" this week.

REFLECT:
Q: Think about a time in your life when you got stuck. How did it happen? How did you get unstuck?

Q: Is there a part of your life where you feel stuck today? How long has it been this way? How do you feel about it? What have you tried to get things moving?

Q: Which of the questions in the post above is the most pertinent to your situation right now? The most challenging?

Q: Have you ever faced opposition from the people in your life when you made some changes that were important to you? What happened? How did you feel? Respond?

Q: Which is scarier to you right now- staying stuck in your relationship with God- or having Jesus send you in a new direction? Why?

New Teaching Series TURNING POINTS

Changing directions in the car is easy enough. Find a cross street, hit the blinker, check the blind spot and turn the wheel. But how do we change directions in our lives? We may feel the need to do something different, but can’t always figure out how to turn things around. We aren’t alone. Join us for the next couple of months as we explore the stories of some average people like us whose lives took a turn when they met Jesus.

Schedule:
5/18 When We’re Stuck

5/25 When We’re Desperate

6/1 When We’re So Close

6/8 When We’re Just Browsing

6/15 When We’re Caught & Exposed

6/22 When We’re Sincerely Misdirected

6/29 When We’re Doing The Best We Can

Thursday, May 8, 2008

What Are We Doing Here? GOING HOLISTIC

This week Shawn Cooper led us in a teaching about letting Jesus into every part of our lives. As a part of the conversation, Shawn told a story about Charles Blondin- a famous tightrope walker. The tale goes that after Blondin pushed a wheelbarrow back and forth on a rope strung over a dizzying height, he asked a spectator if the man thought Blondin could put someone in the wheelbarrow and take them across the rope safely. The audience member was sure that Blondin could do it. When Blondin invited him to climb in, the man declined.

As I heard the story recounted, I tried to picture myself in it. I think I would have responded just as the man did- yes you can do it, but not with me. But even if I had worked up the nerve to climb in the wheelbarrow, I would have divested myself of a few things first. I see myself handing my watch, wedding ring and wallet to someone else to hold- just in case.

Then I started wondering if that's the sort of thing that we find ourselves doing with God. Maybe we get up the gumption to put our souls in Jesus' hands. But since we aren't 1000% sure where Jesus may lead us, we choose to keep control over certain parts of our lives. We decide not to take certain things on this little adventure with Jesus. We take off our watches because we don't want to give Jesus all of our time. Sundays are fine, but more??? We take off our rings because we don't want to give Jesus complete control over our relationships- married or otherwise. And the wallet? Ok, maybe we'll put a few bucks in our pockets to let Jesus control- but the rest is ours. Right?

Sorry, don't mean to project too much. So, speak for yourself.

What do you need to put in the wheelbarrow right now?

What part of your life have you been keeping control of, instead of surrendering completely to God?

Why have you withheld that area?

What would it take to start giving God control of it?

(It might also help to look back at Proverbs 3:5-6, which was a core scripture in this teaching.)