Renunciation

Renunciation what in the heck is that? Renunciation by definition is the act of rejecting or disowning or disclaiming. What makes this so important to us today? I wonder how many of us really think about rejecting or disowning or disclaiming things that are important to us these days. I know that with the "economy" the way it is we are all thinking about what is really important to purchase or save for and we are thinking about what is really important to us in life at all levels.
Jesus talks about the idea of renunciation in a way that just knocks our socks off!

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:37-39 (NIV)

"Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.
"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."

Matthew 10:37-39 (Message)

Are we really ready to renounce all the things we hold dear to totally find God? Are we really ready to leave all that we so deeply care about to actually find the life that Christ talks about that is filled with peace, love, joy, abundance, and kindness? Are we ready to disown all the things that we think make up our "self" to find our "self" in God? Are we ready to give up what others think about us, the things that we have, the reputation that we so dearly want to hold onto, or the credibility we think we will find by what we do or that others praise us for to find Jesus?

I think that I all too often hold onto these things as a way to measure my success both spiritually and physically. I need to stop and let go of all of these people, places, and things that I think hold my future and just allow God to have it. I need to renounce all these things, reject them as holding some truth about me and my life and find my life only in Jesus. It is when I do this that I find peace beyond understanding, patience in the mist of a storm, and joy in the deepest despair. I no longer hold onto the form of what I can see - others, my body, the money I make, my success - and I find my worth and value in what God says about me in the spiritual and eternal. This is when I get an eternal perspective and I live an eternal life.

Namaste'

Refuge

The Kingdom of God is a refuge. God is a refuge. Refuge being a source of help, relief, or comfort in times of trouble. A place of safety that we resort to for help. God is a refuge, a place, a person of safety that we can resort to when we need help. We know that we can go there and find what we need. Jesus put it like this:

He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it."

Matthew 13:52

So here it actually go further, we are to be well trained in God's kingdom. If we are, we become the the people who can put our hands on anything that someone needs exactly when they need it. What do most people need? Exactly what the kingdom of God offers - love, kindness, patience, care, forgiveness and peace. If we know well the kingdom because we have been practicing living the way of Jesus, we can offer to people what they are looking for - a refuge, a place of safety to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, to have a relationship with us that allows a relationship with God. We have the kingdom to give people - humanity. This is how we are the "light of the world." This is how people get to see Jesus because

And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me."

John 12:32

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

"You are the light of the world."

Matthew 5:14

So will we lift Jesus up by living the way he taught us? Will we become the light of the world because we live this way and people will follow the light to the owner of the general store? Will we be light to a person that can only see darkness? Can we end that darkness, light turning on the lights in a room, when we practice being Jesus, living His way, and having no agenda outside of that? Could people find refuge, safety, protection, and what they need and then ask the most important question they could ask - "Why have you done all this for me?" We would be ready with an answer that communicates that we have been loved in the same way and we want to share it with others who need to be rescued from darkness. Maybe then they would want to know this God and do be a refuge for others.

Namaste'

All You Have

So if the kingdom of heaven is not just something that I get to obtain "out there" somewhere after my physical body dies, but is something that I can have a taste of here, how much is it worth? If we could have just a taste of peace, kindness, love, and eternal life now how much would you pay for that?

"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
"Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it."

Matthew 13:44-46

This puts new meaning to the Jesus' words in the last post - "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?" If we find the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God by living the way of Jesus right now what is that worth to us? Are we willing to give up our reputation to live in the kingdom of God? Are we willing to be kind to others, love them, and make them feel special and give up what we think is our reputation? Are we willing to give up coming in first to find peace in giving up our lives for others in love? Are we willing to give up the need for attention or the need to be right to be kind and loving first? If we do all these things we find peace, joy, love - eternal life, the kingdom of God, heaven now! Are we really willing to give up "our lives" and let our lives "be hidden in Jesus" and give up, sell all that we think we have to gain this? I wonder again if this is what Jesus means when he says

"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."

Matthew 10:39

Namaste'

Profit

Can you "lose your soul" even though you find "salvation?" Is it possible to "pray the prayer" understand and accept Jesus' redemptive work on the cross and coming to life again and miss out on life, on what is the soul of the message of that cross and this life? Can you pray that prayer and mean it with all that you are, but not become a "Christ follower?" Is it possible that you do not follow the way, the lifestyle, of Christ the Master? (read the previous post)

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Mark 8:34-37

What a lifestyle to live - one of self sacrifice! Jesus says here that this is the way, "my way." Attempting to do things on your own, make sure that your life runs as you think it should, worrying about every single detail of your life - this kind of self help is no help at all. We can worry about getting and keeping everything we want, but we will not find ourselves. This kind of living is not living the way of Jesus, it is not the lifestyle that Jesus taught.

We find ourselves by giving our lives away! Remember Jesus teaching that the one who loses his life finds it? This is the meaning of that - do not place yourself first, do not give way to anger when someone comes to you with anger, do not attempt to always assert your rights, allow kindness, caring, and love to rule your every action. What do you profit and find by doing this? We profit a peace beyond understanding, we find eternal life that already exist because we are no longer attached to the things of this world, but ruled by the spirit of God. We find that these are the things that are eternal and spiritual and that will last for all of eternity- love, peace, patience, gentleness, caring, kindness - this is the way of Jesus and the way to find eternal life, not only somewhere in the future, but now. So what will it profit you if you gain the whole world - even salvation - yet lose your soul?

Namaste'

Lifestyle

Lifestyle means a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group. I prefer to describe myself as a follower of the way of Jesus. To me this means that there is a lifestyle that I am pursuing that reflects the attitudes, values, habits, and actions of my master - Jesus Christ. Jesus came to not only rescue and restore us to our original condition so that we would live in union with God when our body dies, but to teach us a way of living that brings hope, life, restoration, joy, peace, abundance, patience, love, kindness, and salvation now.

"And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

John 14:4-7

My challenge to you is to read the book of Matthew, specifically chapter 13, and look at all the ways that Jesus describes the "Kingdom of Heaven." These parables are not about one day out there you will receive something. These parables are full of the mystery of living the way of Jesus today. These parables are about living the way of Jesus as a lifestyle and there in finding heaven right here on earth. I am not saying that salvation does not include going to heaven. I am saying that if we just narrow it to that concept we are missing out on what Jesus came for:

"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."
John 10:10

However, this life only comes by living the way, the lifestyle of Jesus. Living the way of Jesus is really about having a lifstyle - attitudes, values, beliefs, actions - that identify us with our Master. Your challenge is to look at the way that Jesus lived life and see if you, if we can work on living that kind of lifestyle. Do we forgive others easily? Do we treat others with kindness? Do we love others without condition? Do we have the faith of a child? Do we allow God to work as God needs? Do we live in the moments that are given to us? Do we humble ourselves? Are we willing to give our lives away to others? Do we think of others before we think of ourselves?

This is a lifestyle that can be lived in each moment. Would you let someone cut in front of you in line in traffic or the store, or would you want to say "that is not fair" and assert your rights? Would you forgive someone that has hurt you and not join them in their anger and cause more hurt? Would you be compassionate on someone, even someone in your family, that is having a hard day and understand and love them, or would you want to "set them straight?" Would you be peace where there is frustration - would you listen to someone who is upset and angry or try to get them to "shut up" and stop?

Jesus calls us into a lifestyle of living that reflects God. I wonder why Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."

John 14:12

Namaste'

Restore

To restore is to bring back to an original condition and to put (someone) back in a former position. Jesus said that he came to do this. I wonder sometimes if that is happening with us? Have I been put back to my original condition? Have I allowed myself to be placed back in my former position of being in perfect relationship with God? Have I really allowed myself to understand the enormity of what Jesus said when he said:

"For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

Luke 19:10

This is not a promise of "one day" somewhere out there in the future we will be found and restored. This is not something that we have to wait on to get here only when Jesus appears or when we have moved on. This is something that can happen now! If you have claimed to be a follower of the way of Jesus then this promise is here for you now. You are restored and God sees you in your original condition. You are loved, cared for, and are a very well loved child of God. This is your original condition and your position in life. This is not just a "saving" out of something but a calling into something and a restoration back to something.

How would it change your life to see yourself through spiritual eyes? I wonder how it would change how you live your life? I wonder how it would change the view of yourself and your view of others? Are we really called to make sure people get "saved" and then move on to the next person so that we can make sure that they get "saved?" Could it be that we are called to find people who are lost and wondering? People who think that they do not matter to anyone, that God has forgotten them, that there is no hope. Could it be that we are called to find them and help them restore their lives, bring them back to their original condition and former place with God. That this restoration happens now is this life, that they find that eternal life starts right now, that we can die while we are alive and leave the worries of this world to the world?

Are we really restored or are we still waiting for something else to "make us feel better," something else to "make us feel secure?" What good does it do to pray and prayer thinking that will secure us to heaven and it never make a difference in out life today? Do we continue to worry and feel insecure? If we are then we have not found salvation. If we are we have not really been saved from anything. If we are there is no restoration.

Namaste'

Allow God

Do we really trust God? Do we really believe that there is a God that will change people and their hearts? Do we think that we are the ones who have to do that? Do we really think we know what God is up to in someone else's life? Do we think that we know what is best and we have to tell people that? Jesus just was present with the people that he crossed paths with. He did not "call out" Zacchaeus, he just had dinner with him. There is no record of Jesus saying to him, "now you know you have been doing some bad things and you got to get those right before we can go futher." This is what happened:

Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?"
Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages."
Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus did come to seek and restore that which was lost, but not by finding it and shaking it into submission, but by submitting to it and having it love him back. Just by showing love, by having dinner, by engaging in a relationship, and a conversation this man knew what he needed to do. Do we trust that God is still the same? Do we trust that if we just love, care, and accept people - sin and all - that this will allow God to work out what God needs to work out? Could it be our duty as Christians to just love and call people into relationship with us and God? If that is done can we allow God to work out the rest of what this person needs? God will lead them. We do it with training, confrontation, care, and teaching, but we ultimately leave it to God to bring about the end God desires?

Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people. Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all.

Proverbs 3:4-12

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Philippians 2:13

We do not assume we know it all. We are called not lose a grip on love. We are called to carve it on our heart. Then we are called to trust God with the rest because we do not know everything. We do not know what God will do with any of us, what God will use to bring us back to restoration, what God is up to at anytime at any place. My call is to love people and have that love attract them into a journey of the spiritual. Once they start this journey I must leave it up to God to bring them to the end of that journey, their journey with God. God working in them for God's pleasure. My love keeps them on the journey when it is hard, confusing, or when they make "wrong" decisions. Not my journey, or the journey I think it should be, but the journey God has made for them. If it has to be my journey I am a clanging cymbal to them. Without love they never get to start the journey of knowing God. Without love the never get to complete that journey of knowing God. They never get to know that they are very well loved children of God. Love people and allow God.

Namaste'

Clanging Cymbal

Clanging - A loud, resonant, metallic sound. Imagine sitting in a room where someone is hitting a cymbal over and over, again and again, without any tempo, cadence, or musical ability. It would not be long before you would be wanting them to stop or wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. This is what is sounds like to a person who is searching for the love of God, desperately wants to find a place to discover that they are a very, very, well loved child of God, and all they hear is - "well you must be this or that", "if you want to join our tribe you must stop that", "to be a part of us there must be some rules you must follow first," "sure we will let you join the journey with us, but first you must........." All they can hear when these words are spoken is "clang, clang, clang, clang, clang"........ over and over again and again. If there is love there it is drowned out by the loud and constant gong and clang of something else......

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13

To think that we can somehow make people "holy," or "righteous" by the rules we make, the boundaries we set, I wonder if that is the reasoning of a child? We think we know what God would say or what God would think about certain issues. However, there is no way to see God clearly, we and this earth is just a "poor reflection in a mirror," or as another translation puts it "we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything perfectly." Jesus reminded us of two things: Love God, love people. Does not seem like you can go wrong with that because that we can see clearly. What happens then I choose to let God handle. For now I will just love, and hope I will not be a clanging cymbal.

Namaste'

Bankrupt

What truly makes us bankrupt? I know in these hard economic times everyone is thinking about their "bottom line." However I wonder how much that really matters? The situation of our financial lives, our things, our knowledge, our power, tells us nothing about our value or our worth. Millions of people have filed for bankruptcy. Sitting in the lawyer's office and signing those papers does not change their value one bit. They sit and scratch their name on a piece of paper and walk out. Nothing really changes. Millions have done it before them and millions will do it after them. The true value of their lives has not changed.

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

I Corinthians 13:1-7

I love the last line in this passage. No matter what! I can know everything there is to know. I can have all the "right" doctrine and memorize every verse of the Bible. I can be the richest person in the world, be the leader of the free world with all power, or be able to speak and write like no other. Without love I am bankrupt. Without love I am as annoying as a creaking rusty gate. With love I could be the greatest of super heros, but I am truly nothing, bankrupt, with love. My true value and worth only comes when I can love. When I can give my life away with love, this is when my life can matter and count for something. I must love all. I must love before anything. I must love despite anything. I must love to not be bankrupt.

Our challenge today is to love. Our challenge today is to love before and after all else. Our challenge today is to have a selfless, giving, sacrificial love as Jesus did and taught us to have through his life, death, and resurrection. Remember that Jesus said that "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Who are our friends? Anyone and everyone we encounter. Don't let yourself be truly bankrupt.

Namaste'