Practice

Sometimes we all want quick fixes to our problems. We want things to change immediately. Sometimes they do change that way. God still does perform miracles. However, change is a process that takes time and is practiced as a way of life. Jesus asked us to practice his way of life and to teach other to do the same.

"God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18

I like to use the example of practicing for a sport. I played football in college and I hated practice. We did the same things over and over. I remember telling myself, "why are we doing the same things day after day?" I can still tell you to this day, almost twenty years later, what we did each moment of practice. It was not until I was a senior in college that I "got it." We did all that practicing so that on the day of the game, with all those people screaming and cheering, and I had about 20 seconds to decide who to block, and asses the defense, this was not the time to be thinking about details. This was not the time to be thinking about which foot to step with, where to place my head, and where to put my hands. No, this was the time to remember the play, the snap count, and know what my assignment was when the ball was snapped.

Life is the same way. We somehow think that we can just have the right and best response to people in a moment without any practice. We think that there is no reason to spend time looking at how we think, our actions, and how we treat people. We take little if any time "outside the game of life" to practice what we will do when we begin to participate in life. This, to me, is the practice of a quiet time, meditation, bible reading, prayer, etc. Whatever you want to call it, this is the practice of doing what Jesus has asked us. We plan for our days in our brains. We see ourselves being kind, loving, and compassionate. We know what makes us angry and we already know the game plan before we get in that situation.

So today begin to spend some time practicing. Pray, meditate, read, imagine yourself in a situation that gives you anxiety or anger and see yourself handling it the way that Jesus instructs. Learn the ways of Jesus outside of the game of life, practice them in your thoughts and this will lead to a practice in your actions. This may be hard at first, just like football was to me when I started. But with enough practice, joy, happiness, and peace come more naturally when you are in the game. These traits become something that you no longer have to think about or work hard at. This takes practice, do not fool yourself into thinking that you can just do this for a day or two and then you "got it." This is a lifestyle and a lifetime of practice. The benefits will soon come.

Namaste'

Conceived By God

You do realize that God created your life, right? Our real life is not of this earth or this form we have in our physical body. Our real life, our real self, is made up of spirit, of God. We are to here to work on being whole and mature. What does that look like?

Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said, The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

A life that is whole and mature as taken in the deep kindness of God and acts on this daily. We are to put away, not act on things, like envy, hurtful talk, anger, assumptions, and resentments. We are life conceived by God that will last forever. We are to grow to think and act mature, as mature and holy as God. This is not a holiness that comes by following certain rules of behavior like don't curse, don't drink, don't listen to that kind of music, or don't go to that kind of movie. It is a holiness that comes from living a life that is full of kindness towards all. What good does it do me to follow certain rules of living, but in my heart hold hatred, anger, bitterness, envy, and say hurtful things to others? Have I really found the life conceived by God in doing this?

My answer to this is a heartfelt "no!" The life of God, the one conceived of by God, is one of love and kindness towards all. If we follow that simple path, the way of Jesus himself, the other "rules" of life will take care of themselves. If there is only love in your heart for others do you really want to go watch that movie full of anger, murder, and violence? If you are kind to all around you and this feels your heart do you really want to get drunk and hurt others with your words. I could go on here forever, but you get the point.

So today practice kindness - a life that is conceived by God! Practice love and see if you are still interested in all the things you think are important or the things that you complain hold you back from a fulfilling life. Just practice the way of Jesus and watch life of God flow through you!

Namaste'

Silence

I have a challange for you today. Spend some time in silence. No not prayer - silence. Challange yourself to sit in the stillness of silence. Notice your thoughts. Listen to the sounds around you. Many things will happen when you try this. First you will begin to notice a few of the 60,000 thoughts that go through you mind each day. Just notice them and what they are telling you about life and see if they have any bearing on how you live and view your life. Second you may find yourself feeling restless and anxious. This is because there are not many of us that actually sit down in silence to allow things to just be. We tell ourselves that we must keep moving and going, so to be still seems hard. Third, as your thoughts begin to quiet down and silence becomes more "normal" you may hear and feel the gentle quiet whisper of God.

Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

I Kings 19:11-12

It has been said that the one and only voice of God is silence. The Psalms say to "be still and know that I am God." God is not in the big huge events of our lives. God is in the stillness and the silence. This is where we can hear and feel and sense the living power of God. Do not let the silence scare you off, embrace it and listen. Prayer is more than just offering our request to God and hoping they will be answered like we desire. Prayer is about sitting in the presence of God and listening to that still small voice that comes by way of Holy Spirit.

So today find some time to just be still and quiet. Take yourself about 20 minutes and listen to yourself and to God. Make it a practice in your life, this practice of silence. You will watch yourself become more patient, kind, loving, caring, and confident. Why? You will begin to notice your thoughts and you begin to match them to God's thoughts. When we change the way we think about things, things change. Read Phillipians 4:8 and then sit in silence and notice how many of your thoughts are not on those things. Practice thinking new things and "behold all things will be made new."

Namaste'

Power

I recently spoke at the Hope's Journey Bible Study. I opened my talk with this line. "A new kind of Christian no longer lives a spiritual life to please God." I saw a few heads snap up and give me a look that said "uh, what did you just say?" So I repeated it. I would ask you to read it again. Go ahead. You see most of us who are Christian think that we live a life of spirituality because it will somehow please God. We forget that that has already been taken care of through the act of Christ on the Cross. This is what the word grace is all about. Jesus took care of any need to make sure God is pleased.

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

Most of us know this verse in a different translation that says, "there is therefore no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus." We forget that the power we have is a life that is free to be lived in spiritual practice because it is the best way to live! We do not live this life to make sure that God is happy and to make sure that everything go right for us, somehow thinking that if I do certain things in certain ways everything will be exactly as I plan it. We need to remember that Jesus Christ lived the most perfect life you could, but was faced with temptation, trails, and finally the ultimate rejection.

No we live a spiritual life because it is the best way to live. It gives us a different point of view of life and the circumstances of life. A spiritual life is the best way to live because it sees opportunities in "failure." It sees that there is no way to happiness, that happiness is the way. Living a spiritual life, a life full of spiritual practices, gives us joy and peace that cannot be explained. It bring us joy to be in the service of others. A spiritual life brings others freedom because they are attracted to the peace we have in the mist of what they see as dire circumstances. Jesus' practical spiritual advice to us was this - love. So today do just that - love. Let someone in line in front of you. Serve that person at work that you do not like, help them in some way. Be compassionate with that angry person and understand what they may be going through and stop taking it so personally. Stop and be silent and know God. The power that you gain from this will be felt immediately. It will not be a power that rules over, but a power that is enpowering to you. It will be that power of peace, joy, patience, love, forgiveness - the fruits of being connected spiritually to your Creator. This is true power, not in attempting to please God through being spiritual, but in living a spiritual life because we are free to and it is the best way to live!

Namaste'

A Different Point of View

How often do we really look at things from a different point of view? How often do we look at things from the point of view of someone else? I mean do we really know what it is like to be compassionate and loving if we do not? Compassion means to have deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. How often do we really have the deep awareness of another's suffering? We think we understand. We think we hear and listen. We think we know exactly where they are coming from. I would guess that most of the time we do not. It is so hard for us to get out of our own heads and our own view of life, that seeing it from another's point of view is almost impossible. It makes it particulary difficult if we are unwilling to really get to know others that are outside our "tribe." Listen to what Paul and Jesus said about having a different point of view and compassion:

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

I Corinthians 9:19-23

When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.

Mark 6:34

Both could see the view from other's perspective. Both engaged people in friendship, love, teaching, care, kindness and service so that they could have a life that is changed by God. Oh how practical our spirituality can be and should be. We need to jut simply love others, no matter how they identify themselves, define themselves, or hurt - our work to be in on is to love. This is the work of the message - love. This is the power of God - love. This is the action of God - love. This is the practical solution to every problem we have - love. When we fail to love it is a failure to see things from a different point of view. It is a failure of the gospel, the good news - it becomes horribly bad news without love.

Namaste'

Patience Works

So about two days ago I wrote a blog about the practice of patience. I discussed that I was waiting for something to "show up" by the end of the next day. Well it did not. However, I decided to practice patience and count it as something to learn from rather than something to be dissappointed in. I did not worry. I did not take my energy and use it in the process of attempting to control something that I had no control over. I was able to remember that I am a spiritual being having a human experience and let go of the need to have something when I thought I should have had it. I have to be and practice patience. This verse became real on Thursday:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

and the Message Version of it:

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:2-4

Patience had its perfect work with me this week because I allowed it to. What I thought I needed did not "show up" until Thursday after lunch, and guess what - I did not need it until then anyway! It was the most amazing experience to be totally detached from the outcome of this and just enjoy the moments that I was in. I played ball with my son, ate lunch with my wife, played in my son's room and wrestled with him, talked to my wife and son, laughed and played! This was all on Wednesday after I could have been disappointed about this thing not showing up when I thought it should. I was energetic and happy Thursday morning completing another chapter in my book, listening to something that I needed to hear to finish that chapter, and looking forward to my day. I was totally learning that I cannot get anything I want before it is time for it to come. I had "let go and let God." Then it shows up! When I needed it and not before!

I am not saying this was easy. I am saying that I learned a great deal! I learned about my faith life. It was forced into the open. I practiced patience and it brought me more maturity and clarity. I am hopefully better than I used to be. So why not practice patience. Let things happen as they need to. This does not mean stop working or doing, but just work and do with what is placed in front of you at the moment, this day. God will handle the details.

Namaste'

Presence

Practicing the presence of God. That sounds pretty far off does it not? Like how would we practice the presence of God? How could we make God's presence known to those around us? I mean this only happens on Sunday mornings or at times when events are created to "usher in God's presence," right? I think that we are in the presence of God each moment of our lives, we just do not practice the awareness of it.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

I Peter 4:7

I love this verse. To me it is about practicing the presence of God. Pray without ceasing, we have all heard of that verse. This verse says stay wide awake in prayer. To me this means that we need to be in constant thought, prayer, meditation through all our waking hours about what is the next best thing for us to do, be on lthe look out for places to serve, and display kindness. These may be the simplest places - like giving a meal to someone, or a place to sleep, or a place in line at the grocery store, in traffic, or at the Starbucks. Love, the action of love, makes up for practically anything! When we perform acts of love, kindness, and compassion the presence of God become clear and evident!

So today be awake in prayer - on a constant thought pattern about how may I serve today. Then when those opportunities are shown to you do not miss them, but take full advantage of them! God's presence will become clear! God's presence will be right there with you! You will be clear that this is not about you or me, but God! We will be clear that it is God who is at work in us to do God's pleasure through God's presence - love.

Namaste'

Like God

I know you are saying to yourself "us like God?" I say a hearty yes to this! We are to be the God in flesh to those around us. We are to be like Jesus! (Remember, Phillippians 2?) We need to realize the freedom found in the love of God! That the old rules, the old constraints of legislation, are gone and we are free! God fills us up more and more, not because we keep rules, but because we begin to see that God is everywhere we go! We begin to see that God is a living, breathing, moving spirit, that is present with us at all times! What a freeing thought! What a freeing reality! God has entered your life!

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

God is not that big statue made of stone sitting somewhere up in the heavens. God is not the "cosmic bellboy" and if you give him enough tips, do enough right things, follow enough of the rules, you get what you want. God is a personal presence! God is living! People who live like God who have been and realized the presence of God - people who actually practice this presence - they are full of joy that just radiates off of them. They are transfigured and their presence is a wonderful one to have in the room with you. They bring peace and joy. They bring hope. They bring the awareness of God with them so that we all know God is there.

So today, and the rest of your days, become like God. Live a life that is free! Live a life that is full of joy, patience, kindness, compassion, love, and purpose. Become more aware of all the places that God is showing up and fill yourself up with God. Stop looking for where God is not, and start seeing where God is - this will fill you up with a personal presence and give you a peace that passes all understanding.

Namaste'

The Practice of Patience

Today I am faced with this practice. Oh how hard it is to practice being patience and not trying to fix everything. My wife said to me last night, "stop trying to fix it." I think that she was telling me to live this verse without knowing that was what she was telling me:

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 1:2-8

Hard to consider different test and challenges gifts, but I am sure that they are. I sit here today and right at this moment I do not need anything. There is nothing in this moment that I have to have to feel happy right now. There is something that needs to be here by the end of the day tomorrow, and I want it here right now. I have no idea how it will come. I want to find ways to make it show up right now so that I do not have to worry about it. I want to keep all my options open. I want to find my way out of this. I want to make it all feel good right now. However, I realize that I have this choice right now - to feel good. I am connected to the Creator of the universe and if I died this very moment, what I think I need to have tomorrow would not matter at all. It does not define who I am as a person. I am a spiritual creature having this temporary human experience and all this will pass and not matter soon.

The practice of patience leaves me with just enjoying the moment and casting thoughts, meditations, and prayers to God already thanking for the care that I have and will receive. I have no second thoughts that everything is just the way it is right now and perfect. Tomorrow will be the same. I must do what is place in front of me today to do, nothing more and nothing less. I must just do my best in the moment that I am given. I do not do my best by sitting and worrying, wondering, and waiting - this is less than what I need to do. I also do not need to go about attempting to "fix" or get out of the test prematurely - this is more than I need to do. I do my best by acting, working, praying, thanking, loving, and enjoying what is given right now. What a difficult but such a wonderful practice!

Namaste'

Be

Sometimes we need to just be. This does not mean to sit about and do nothing and just wait for things to happen. It does mean to work. It does mean to do everyday the things that are placed in front on you to do and let God handle the details.

Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

James 2:19-26

You see you must mix your work with your being. You must act on what is placed in front of you to do each day with the faith, the belief, that God will use this for your good even though you do not know the outcome. Detach yourself from the outcome, just do what you need to do today. Love the ones around you. Show kindness to the strangers driving around you or at lunch with you. Connect with God today through acts of compassion, love, and in your thoughts. Know that God will work all things for your good and just take the actions that are in front of you at this moment.

We all too often take action thinking of some specific outcome, but this is not faith. This is our own pride and ego wanting things to work out the way we think they should. Faith is acting, working, and then just letting those actions and work be as it should be. These cannot be seperated from each other. If we have faith but do nothing, nothing will happen it is dead. If we work but believe our work will not yield anything, that is dead also and a waste of time. To truly live we are not caught up in our work as something that will make things the way we want them, but to do and then allow God to use them as God will. This is the essence of being, of not worrying, and of finding the peace that passes understanding.

Today do what is placed in front of you to do and let God handle the details. Have the faith, the knowing, that God is at work taking care of you. You will see this soon enough.

Namaste'

Responsibility

I just heard a great definition for responsibility - to not blame anyone or anything for the circumstances of your life. To not cast blame out to others or circumstances is the way to take responsibility for your life. How many of us do not do this? I know that I can find myself saying things like "Well if that would not have happened I would not have to be going through this." I know that I have also said to myself "if that person just could have done this instead, I would not have to be facing this." It is so hard for us to take responsibility for our lives and realize that no matter what happens or who we encounter and the decisions they make - it is still up to us to make choices and decisions about our own lives.

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Galatians 6:4-5

Our only responsibility is to look at our own life, do what we have been given each day to do and do that will all that we are - to sink into it, immerse ourselves in it. We cannot blame others or circumstances for where we are in life. We each make decision about how to handle these circusmstances and others each time something happens. Yes, even saying that you are not responsible for what happens to you is a choice that you are making to not live your own life creatively that best you can. Sure things happen that we cannot control, but how will you respond? Will this be a opportunity to propel you forward in life, or will you choose to stay exactly where you are and blame something else? If you choose the latter, do not wonder why you ask yourself the question "Why can I never seem to move forward" or "Why do these things keep happening to me."

Namaste'

Give

What are you willing to give today? No I am not talking about money. I am talking about your life. I think we have all seen, read, or at least heard this verse before:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Most all of us associate this verse with the giving of money, and I am sure this is a practical application of this verse. However, I wonder how many of us actually are willing to give our lives away in service to others? Even if we are willing to give money away we are usually looking for something in return. When we serve others we, most of the time, are expecting someone to notice and give something in return. I wonder if we give love generously, without regard to the outcome of that giving, what would happen? I wonder what we would "get back" for loving with no strings attached? I wonder if we gave compassion to others, and just understood them, not thinking about what is right or wrong about them and their behaviors - I wonder what we would "get back?" I wonder what happens when we give love, kindness, and compassion sparingly? I wonder if we feel like we have to give these things because God is making us and "I guess I better, it is the right thing to do."? I wonder how our lives feel and operate when we are not willing to give?

This is not about just the giving of money, but of ourselves! We need to give cheerfully to others, not expecting anything in return, not being worried about the outcome of our giving. When we do this I know we will find so much "given" to us without us even asking. There will be a generous reaping of people being attracted to you, your energy, your love, your acceptance of them. They see God and know God. Love becomes real to you. Could there better gift for you to recieve?

Namaste'

Impact

We have looked at the impact made on ourselves when we live in connection to God. We are peaceful, happy, joyful, loving, kind, and have an ease with life that cannot be matched except in connection to God. So what kind of impact do we have on the world and the people around us when we live in connection to God? Living in connection to God is the way we have the power of making a strong, immediate impression on others and our world.

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

Galatians 5:22-24

When we live in connection to God (see the last post) we begin to have a kindness for others and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people! I love this line! When living in connection with God we begin to see only the good, the God, in things and people! This gives us an exuberance, a joy, for life because we can see God everywhere. We have a peace that helps us see things through, to be persistant because we know we are cared for. We do not need to force things to be as we think they should be, we allow them as God has created. We have a compassion that fills our hears and we no longer want to get our own way. We no longer mindlessly respond to life, but thoughtfully, lovingly, kindly, and compassionately respond to life.

This can do nothing but impact the world and those around us for the good. People feel a sense of peace and respect in our presence. People and their energy levels are lifted up in our presence. Everyone feels a sense of peace, joy, and being loved. People want to know how we have come to a place free from worry, full of love, and full of serenity. People are attracted to this kind of energy. We actually become imitators of God and of Christ:

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Imagine for a moment if our evangelism was not about just "getting souls saved" for someday out there. Imagine if evangelism was loving people just as they are, allowing them to be ushered into the presence of God because they have been in the presence of someone who had an impact through the imitation of God. Imagine it and then live it!

Namaste'