Dear Future Me,

Dear Future Me,

I just returned home hours ago from the CTK Doxa Seattle mission trip,  June 2012.  I don't know when you'll need to read this, it might be 20 years, 20 months, 20 days or 20 hours.  Knowing you, you'll need to read this many times.  Because I know that you have a mind like a spaghetti strainer and forget things really, really easy.  So I'm writing this letter to you expecting that the amazing glory of this experience will fade in your mind like an old glow stick.  I'm sharp as a pencil now, but pencils grow dull.   Let's face it Future Me, you've forgotten things that I thought you would never forget.  I'm not slamming you, just telling the truth.  And if I want to live in authentic community with others, you and I first need to be real with one another.  It might sound like I'm calling you a forgetful knucklehead, but that's mostly because I am. Future Me, these are the things that I want you to remember from the Doxa Seattle mission trip.

• When you lose your courage to speak to somebody outside of your comfort zone or be present with somebody who is hurting, remember Dana who rolled his wheel chair up to the people at the Bread of Life homeless shelter and just started talking to them.  Remember he did that also at the block party, striking up a conversation with the man who's life had been tragic and hard.  Remember that if Dana had worries about being judged, rejected or self conscious pity they did not stop him.  I know you, Future Me, you chicken out faster than a Colonel Sanders KFC order to go.  You stop extending yourself and want to hang around people who are like you.  Extend yourself dude, leave your comfort zone, rejection is a fine price to pay for the times when you can be present to somebody who can use even a small show of interest, prayer or listening.
• Future Me, please always remember Josh scrubbing the nastiest grime from the floor of the Operation Night Watch kitchen on his hands and knees.  More importantly remember him singing a worship song while doing that menial, dirty, lowly work.  You see, Future Me, you have a tendency to not want to get your hands dirty or stoop for work that you might think is "below you".  I'm not calling you proud-- oh... wait... I am calling you proud.  Future Me, remember that any work can be made meaningful when you add worship.  Remember how super thankful Medium Ben was who worked at ONW, that our simple acts of service, cleaning, sorting socks, organizing a food pantry was a huge blessing to him.  Future Me, you tend to always want to cook up grand schemes, you think big, you like to make complex strategies.  And that is good to a degree.  But don't forget the power of the small, the simple, the straightforward.  Let Josh also be a reminder of how critical a worshipful attitude can be to transforming the menial task into the meaningful task.
• I know you all too well Future Me, like the back of my hand, and you tend to feel sorry for yourself when you get the sniffles or your allergies are acting up or your back is sore. And then you use that as an excuse.  So you need to remember Helen who was such an amazing trooper on the Seattle Mission Trip.  Remember her joy, her long work hours, her faithfulness despite  health problems that would likely make you wither.   
• This is not a "Rip on Future Me" session, because I'm thankful for how God made you, but sometimes you shy away from learning new skills and trades.  So remember  students who learned how to put up siding, sheet rock, roofing, tiling, painting.   Don't forget the satisfaction and joy they got from a job well done.  Also use that as a reminder of the awesome capacity that high school students have to make an impact on a neighborhood, church, and city.  Future Me, if I even get a sniff of you discounting their ability to work like banshees I'm gonna come over there and poke you in the eye.  Knock it off.  Remember how hard they worked.  Also remember the staff of the Compass Center, Senior Center, Dispatch Center, Hammond House for abused women, Operation Sack Lunch, all of the downtown urban ministries who RAVED about how incredible the students were.  Remember, Future Me, that these students did far more as a community than you could ever have done by yourself.  They are ministers as much you.  And sometimes more.
• And while we're at it, don't forget how powerfully the students were able to minister to themselves.  Future Me, don't think that you're "all that and a bag of chips", believing that all of the ministry has to be done by you.  That's your pride that stinks worse than the boys' basement sleeping room on day 7 and the toilet that overflowed Saturday morning as we were trying to leave! Remember Taylor W.  who prayed over me, Justin and Stevie.  Remember Faith who prayed for people at the homeless shelters, who prayed for the whole mission group during family times.  Remember  Lindsey and Ainsley who you saw repeatedly caring for the people around them and giving comfort.  Remember Taryn who used her gift of encouragement and to speak positive truth into people's lives.    Don't forget Drew who led worship times that were some of the most intense and powerful encounters of God in my life.    You see, Future Me, you sometimes think that you have to have your fingers in all of the pies in order for there to be fruit.  But the most sacred, holy, impacting times on this mission trip were the times when I was on the sidelines and the students were doing the ministry.
• Future Me, when you feel intimidated by serving before groups of people remember the grace of Taylor M. who sang to the abused and battered women at the Hammond House.  Remember that God gave you gifts to use like everyday dishes, not fine china only to be used on special occasions.  Future Me, don't hide your gifts away, use them!  Sometimes you even forget that God has given you gifts.  For the same reason, also remember McKenzie who played the piano and sang "Unending Love" on the last Family night.   Remember her courage to  leave her comfort zone and be a part of the Lord working to bless. God wants to use you also, so don't put your light under a bushel.  And I also don't want to hear some smart aleck remark from you, Future Me, about not even having a bushel.  Or knowing what one is.  You know what I'm driving at, so just stop the sass.  
• Future me, you often forget that incredible ministry victories come on the heals of intense planning and hard work.  Don't forget the hundreds of hours that Dibo and Christine put into this mission trip to make it hugely successful.  In case you think that you'll just snap your fingers and have a mind-blowing experience like Ballard 2012 any time you want, remember their focus, dedication, long range planning, agonizing, debate, discussion, check lists, countless emails, phone calls, meetings.  Remember that the pump of this mission trip was first primed and fueled by their blood, sweat and tears.  Also think about the incredible dedication of Paul and Gina Diaz at Ballard Church.  They have poured their lives into that church plant to love Ballard and to grow God's kingdom.  Future Me, I know you'd rather win a ministry lottery and see God's kingdom grow more by luck than work, it betrays a lazy streak in you.  But serving the King of Kings is very difficult and a long, long road.  Remember that as I was driving home from Seattle to Bellingham how I said to myself over and over, "This was worth it! All of the hard work was worth it!!"  Remember.
• Future me, sometimes you forget how powerfully the Lord can work to change somebody's heart and life.  Don't forget John and Tamara.
• I don't want you to forget the sacrificial service of Elyssa.  Remember how she served in the midst of very difficult circumstances, truly throwing in the the "widow's mite".  Future Me, let me be frank, because you often like to give only when it is easy or doesn't truly cost you much. Remember.
• Future Me, remember that if there are times when you can't make a huge commitment, that being faithful in a smaller commitment can be powerful too.  Remember Leigha, Gordon, Shannon, Chelsea, Tori, Ryan B., Ian, Ethan, Chris, Elyssa, Nate, Sarah, and John, who came for different parts of the trip.  Remember how thankful I felt for their pulling on the oars with us, for fresh legs.  Future Me, you may need to be fresh legs to somebody else, so don't forget that value.  Don't forget the super helpful planning and preparation that Hannah did leading up to the trip.
• Remember the leadership of Ryan H, that as a student he made huge efforts to not just be along for the ride, but to take initiative for building community and being on mission.  Remember his dedication to finishing a job and doing the job well.  Because, let's face it Future Me, you like to start projects but you're not the best at finishing.  Not even second best.  You're not even on the podium.  Remember how Ryan begged to be able to complete the bathroom tiling in the parsonage, how he trained other people to help him finish, how he focused until the job was done.  When you're tempted to do something half-way, or leave it for "tomorrow" to complete, just remember.
• Remember Sam and Jeremiah who I never heard complain, who served faithfully, who gave us an awesome display of true brotherly love and care for one another.  Future Me, don't forget how huge they were on this trip.
• When there is a job that's very unpleasant, I want you to remember Tapi.  Remember when he cleaned out the apartment of the deceased resident at the Operation Night Watch senior center? Remember?  In so many ways that project was difficult, but Tapi did that job and blessed the staff at the center.  Future me, you sometimes want to leave the difficult jobs for other people.  But you're missing out on golden opportunities to serve. Sometimes the worst jobs have the biggest impact.
• Future Me, think of Aly and Anna and remember the power of friendship.  Friendships don't happen with a snap of the finger, but with time invested.  Remember also Sam and Lavonte, that despite some bumps in the road their friendship endured. If you want good friends, Future Me,  then be a good friend.
• Future Me, remember the dedication of Stevie and Justin, they finished their seasons in CTK Student Life amazingly well.  They could have had short-timer's syndrome, cruised to the end, checked out early, but instead they gave an enormous effort and push right until the finish line.  When you get senioritis, remember these two guys.  They ran strong and finished strong.
• Remember the dedication of Heather and Nathan and other students who walked up to a group of kids playing soccer to invite them to the Block Party.  Remember their initial hesitation that they overcame with their desire to serve.  
• Remember the picture of Kai praying for the homeless man at the shelter.  Remember how huge your son's heart is.  Future Me, remember the pride that I had when Kai completed the tool shed roof.   Sometimes you underestimate him.  Sometimes your little frustrations about him not picking up his room or cleaning up his dishes overtake what an amazing kid he really is.  Don't forget.
• Remember Vicki and Brandi, their awesome dedication behind the scenes cooking for us.  Remember their humble and joyful service.  Don't forget the power of working together as a full team with all of members being vital and successful, not just the people up front.
• Future Me, when you waiver or doubt that youth ministry is important work and valued by students, remember the family time where we did leader appreciation.  Remember how the entire room of students shot their hands up all at once when asked if anybody wanted to say how Nikki had impacted their lives.  The. Whole. Room.    Remember when students begged and pleaded to be able to speak about Nikki's influence and blessing.  Remember Monique and Rosie's song to the Wonderful Christine too!  Remember Monique's tears when thinking about the impact of youth ministry in her life.  
• Spencer needs to be remembered for his mentoring and coaching, his huge heart and passion for worship, and his connection with students.  Remember how he jumped in feet first to Doxa, full immersion.  Because from time to time, Future Me, you'll want to just dip your little toe in, and don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about.  I know you.
• Future me, also remember the really  fun times that we had on this trip: Gas Works park, bonfire at Golden Palace beach, dub step dance room, signing the floors down stairs, ripping out the walls, "Hello Seattle" dance at the end of the block party, telling stupid puns, Beluga!,  coffee at Vivace's.
• Don't forget all of the other students and leaders I forgot and didn't mention in this letter.   (I know, I'm ragging on you for being forgetful, but I'm beyond tired and exhausted right now.) Just go back to the Facebook Page for the Seattle Mission Trip to remember them and pray for them.  Here's the link in case you've forgotten where to find it.  
• Don't forget the importance of a daily, vital relationship with Jesus, of community, of living on mission.  
• Future me, you also tend to forget the importance of prayer and the  awesome sovereign grace of God that exceeds all that we ask or think.  Don't forget the students whose eternal lives were changed on this trip by Jesus, the rain that held off for the block party, the divine appointments, the amazing worship times when the Holy Spirit showed up in power and just flattened everybody and literally blessed the snot out of us.  All of this is for Jesus, for his glory, in his name.  Do. Not. Forget.

Future Me, I know that there is going to be a time where youth ministry is going to seem too difficult, too frustrating, too fruitless, too much work, too much stress, too much drama.  But I'm writing this letter to now just to tell you to remember that it is all worth it.  Being in Christ, in community and on mission is worth it.  Do not forget Seattle Missions 2012.  Don't forget to bring Ballard to Bellingham.

Warm regards,

Present Me, Satisfied and Filled Up Me, Thankful Me, Grateful Me, Blown Away Me, Awe Struck Me, In Love with Jesus Me,  Brian Steele.

Fear of Man, Fear of God, and the Volume of Nostrils

I believe that knowing the amount of air in a human nostril will greatly impact your life.  Indulge me for a geeky exercise that I think has deep spiritual consequences. Warning: this is definitely going to at first seem entirely irrelevant and probably very dull to most people except the likes of those that collect Lord of the Rings figurines[1].  But I'm guaranteeing a payoff at the end of this so hang in there!  Or, if you insist, you can skip down to the Relevant Part.

The Technical Geeky Part
Let's say that the shape of a nose approximates a cone, wider at the base, narrowing upward.  So the nostril volume (V)  = 1/3 pi*R^2*H.

R= radius
H= height

OK, so perhaps it's not exactly conical, but if you get technical on me then it will interrupt the flow of this blog post. If you really insist a nose cavity is more cylindrical then use V=pi*R^2*H, I won't argue too much. If you're a math teacher or somebody who casts their own LOTR lead figurines and wants to argue the nose is a truncated cone, then here's the formula, but I've got much better things to do, as you can see.

I measured my nostril opening from the outside[2] and found it to be .5" wide (the diameter), so the radius, R=0.25".

The height, measured from the opening along the outside[2], to where my nose bone[3] starts is 0.75", so
H= .75"

Plugging these into V = 1/3 pi*R^2*H

V= .049 cubic inches of air can fit into one nostril.

That is .000802 liter, or .000212 gallons, or .027 fl oz, or .000848 qt of air fitting in one nostril.

That's a pretty small amount of air that can fit in one nostril.  Or, to put it in a more tangible measure, about 2493.7 nostrils of air would fit into one 2 litter bottle of Mt. Dew.[4]

The Spiritual and Highly Relevant Part to Your Life
Congrats if you've waded through what seemed to be completely irrelevant and definitely very boring nostril geometry.  Because here is the spiritual implication:

The Bible says that man is just a disappearing vapor, a wisp, a breath:

What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:14; ESV)

And yet how much time, energy, attention is consumed by the fear of man?  How many decisions do we daily make because we're afraid of what somebody will think, afraid of what they might do, concerned of how they might react?  What percentage of our thought life is wasted in needless fear of others?  Too many times I've done something I shouldn't have because of a "fear of man" issue, or didn't do something I should have.

But Isaiah 2:22 sums it up so well and speaks to the heart (or nose!) of the issue:

      Stop regarding man
      in whose nostrils is breath,
      for of what account is he? (ESV)

A life governed by the fear of man is a small life, constricted, imprisoned.  In a sense you're allowing your god to be somebody with a nostril that only holds .000212 gallons of air.  But more to the point, the entire life of the man or woman who you are fearing is only fleeting like a vapor, a small puff of breath on a cold day.

For of what account is the co-worker that lords over you? The friend that mocks you?  The clique that shuns you?  The neighbor that spites you?  Not even a tenth of a cubic inch of air fills his or her nostrils!!  And yet so often we tremble in fear of man.

Proverbs 29:25 argues the case:

      The fear of man lays a snare,
      but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. (ESV) 

Now read Isaiah 2:10-22 and ask yourself who is the one we truly should fear, revere and hold in awe?  Whose opinion should we be entirely concerned with?  Who should cause us to tremble? Who should govern our lives? Shape our every decision? Give motive to guide our every step?

      10 Enter into the rock
      and hide in the dust
                  from before the terror of the LORD,
      and from the splendor of his majesty.
            11       The haughty looks of man shall be brought low,
      and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled,
                  and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
            12       For the LORD of hosts has a day
      against all that is proud and lofty,
      against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
            13       against all the cedars of Lebanon,
      lofty and lifted up;
      and against all the oaks of Bashan;
            14       against all the lofty mountains,
      and against all the uplifted hills;
            15       against every high tower,
      and against every fortified wall;
            16       against all the ships of Tarshish,
      and against all the beautiful craft.
            17       And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled,
      and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low,
      and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
            18       And the idols shall utterly pass away.
            19       And people shall enter the caves of the rocks
      and the holes of the ground,
                  from before the terror of the LORD,
      and from the splendor of his majesty,
      when he rises to terrify the earth.
            20       In that day mankind will cast away
      their idols of silver and their idols of gold,
                  which they made for themselves to worship,

            21       to enter the caverns of the rocks

                  from before the terror of the LORD,
      and from the splendor of his majesty,
      when he rises to terrify the earth.
            22       Stop regarding man
      in whose nostrils is breath,
      for of what account is he? (ESV)

Don't let your life be ruled with fear by any man.  Rather, let every decision, every step, every thought be governed with reverent awe and fear of the Almighty God.  The splendor of His majesty that terrifies fallen man is matched by the depth of His love that redeems him.  God wants to redeem us that we might live our daily lives in humble worship and fear of Him alone.

The next time you find yourself trembling or motivated by fear of any person, look intently at their nose, then remember that they are just as fleeting as the .000848 quart of air exhaled from their nostril.


-----------------------
Footnotes:
[1] OK, I don't have an actual collection of Lord of the Rings figurines, but I definitely have a mental shelf in my head with them all lined up, from the shortest hobbit to the tallest Ent.

[2]  Let me be clear on this point, lest I be accused of a pick.

[3] Not the nose bone of my birth.  I had a nose job in high school because of a deviated septum.  TMI?  Probably, but isn't this whole nostril exercise TMI?

[4] Kai, my son, had another clever solution to the nostril volume dilemma and suggested starting with a known volume of water in a cup, then pouring water into your nose until it filled up.  Sounds pretty good. Anybody want to give it a go?

Why numbers do actually matter.

One way to get out of a mental rut is to take a piece of common conventional wisdom and think of a counter wisdom. The exercise often generates insight into leadership or new ways for approaching old problems. For example, we hear this conventional wisdom "it's not about numbers", too often said after a disappointing turn out for a ministry event, bible study, camp, or concert where big numbers were expected. I understand the motive and thought behind this, but let's see where will it lead us if we take the contrary stance. What if "it IS about the numbers"?

It is about the numbers because:

1) When numbering people, each number has a unique face and soul created by God and for His glory. He numbers the hair on our heads because we matter to Him.

2) A big expenditure with little result is often poor stewardship. The saying, "if only one person was saved, then it was worth it" might be used as a cover for ineffective ministry. Expand it out, why not spend $1M to save one person, wouldn't that be worth it? What about $1B to save one person? Wouldn't that be worth it? Not if those same resources could be better stewarded and thousands of people could be saved by having a better organized and executed plan.

3) Numbers mattered to the Master who entrusted the talents to his servants and expected a return on the investment. The servants who doubled their money through risk and work were praised. The servant who buried his talent in the ground and returned the money was not let off the hook because "numbers don't matter." Matthew 25:14-30.

4) I am a number, and I matter to God. I am one of 7 billion, and yet I matter. And so do the other 699,999,999,999.

5) Jesus said, go into all the nations (plural!) making disciples (plural!). If the disciples only went to one nation and made one disciple would they have been obedient to the great commission? Would that have stood up to the Lord had they packed it in after going into a few nations and made a handful of disciples? Matthew 28:16-20.

6) Honesty in our transactions matter to the Most High. Proverbs 20:23 always blows me away, "The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. (NIV84)". The Almighty paid attention to the accuracy of a scale when one peasant sold a sack of grain to another thousands of years ago. Numbers matter to God in the daily economy of our lives, in our taxes, paying parking tickets, giving fair value in return for value, paying for what should be paid for. In our generosity toward God and others numbers matter!!

7) I'm glad that numbers do matter to God because otherwise the church would have stopped growing centuries ago, the gospel would have died on the vine, and I would not be among a multitude of billions who worship the Lamb of God, who died to take away ALL my sins (plural!!!) and the sins of the world.

Try it out. Take a tired old piece of conventional wisdom, turn it upside down, shake it like a pair of pants and see what coins fall out of the pockets. And let us know what you find.

2 Chronicles 11:13-17 Strength flows from strong spiritual leadership

In 2 Chronicles 11:13-17 we see that strength flows from strong spiritual leadership.

After division of the kingdom of Israel, the Levitical priests flocked to Jerusalem in support of the new king Rehoboam, Solomon's son, reigning over Judah.They left their own lands at great personal sacrifice (vs 13-14).

Spiritual leadership always involves sacrifice of time, resources, hours in prayer, study, service. The priests could have stayed on their lands, abandoned the priesthood altogether, and just enjoyed that great milk and honey, eating grapes the size of basketballs. But they esteemed the worship of God to be more valuable than the stuff of this world. This sacrifice served as an example to people of the nation who set their hearts to seek the Lord (vs 16). The spiritual devotion of the Levites inspired a kingdom wide determination to seek God. The result was a strengthening of the people as a whole (vs 17) and security. The Levitical obedience to God's word was the source of strength and blessing to the entire kingdom of Judah.

To what degree is the blessing of people under our leadership dependent on our personal spiritual obedience and sacrifices in following Jesus? This is a very sobering question. It is answered by Jesus in John 15:1-11. He says that we cannot produce fruit if we are not attached to the vine. But when we are attached to Jesus, abiding in him, we will bear much fruit! This is true both in our personal lives and in our ministry.

Strength flows from strong spiritual leadership.

"The Lord be With You"

What can be a trite, rote, traditional religious statement (followed by the response "and with you") is one of the most profound messages of grace in the Bible: The Lord be With You. God is with us. The holy righteous God is with sinful but redeemed people. God is with us. He is the reason and source of our strength and courage but so much more. Why?
1) "God is with us" means that God is for us, the way a Dad is for his child. Jesus is for us as our advocate, his blood pleads for us, Jesus died for us, his righteousness is credited for our own. His life was taken in exchange for ours. Jesus drank the overflowing cup of wrath for us, in our place. God is with us. 

2) It means that God is in us. His Spirit dwells in us. Jesus abides in us. He is the treasure stored in earthen vessels. God is with us.

3) God is around us, he is our fortress, our stronghold, our eternal dwelling. The kingdom of God is among us. God is with us.

4) God is in front of us, He leads, goes on ahead, like the Good Shepherd who leads his sheep to green pasture and in the valley of the shadow of death. He is a pillar of smoke leading by day and fire by night. God is with us.

5) God is behind us. He is the power that drives us forward when we can't even take a step in our own strength. God has our backs, he shields us from the enemy. God is with us.

6) God is beside us, a friend that walks along with us. Jesus is the friend of sinners, our companion, our brother. He suffered what we suffer and then some, he knows our trials. God is with us.

7) God is above us, our Lord, our King, our Sovereign and Master. His will is our highest calling, his perfection and glory what we look up to, his majesty towers above us as we worship below. Jesus was raised above us on the cross, lifted up in sacrifice for our sin. God is with us.

8) God is below us. He is our rock, the cornerstone upon which all rests and everything worth building stands. Jesus is our foundation, our lives are built on him and our work will be judged based on how we build on that foundation below us whether gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble (1 Cor 3:10-15). God is also below us and He is already waiting for us in the depth of our worst trials, grief, anguish. He is there below in the depth of our darkness. He is below us, God holds us in his mighty hand, he carries us where we can't go ourselves. Jesus descended to the depths in his death and burial, defeating the grave below. God is with us.

9) God still stands before us in time as our creator and already waits ahead of us as our eternal destiny. Jesus is the first and the last. The Alpha and Omega. The great I Am. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.

10) Look down at the smallest subatomic level, between the minute basic particles of creation, among muons, gluons and leptons, God is fully there. Look out over the vast unending stretches of galaxies, star systems, globular clusters, nebula, and pulsars, God is fully there. And where two or three people are gathered in the name of Jesus, there he is in the midst. God is with us.

11) In the most vile hellhole of sin and evil on earth, God is present to save any lost soul who would repent, call on His name and believe. From among the worst of sinners God calls and redeems the heroes of the faith. In the prison cell, on the battle field, in gulag, concentration camp, slave market, house of prostitution, crack house, meth lab, porn shop God is present and immediately answers the prayer of the converted soul asking for a savior. Both victims and oppressors. On the spot forgiving sin, imputing righteousness, depositing the Holy Spirit, adopting sons and daughters, beginning the work of sanctification he will finish. In the places of abomination among crowds of outcasts and sinners Jesus made friends. God is with us.

12) There will be people from every tongue, tribe and nation praising Jesus at his return, because he was with them, bringing hope and redemption to every land. God is with us.

13) When we sleep and awake he is there giving new mercies every day. God is with us.

14) God is in believers, around us, above, below, beside. God came before everything, is with us during everything, and will be there in eternity for everything. God is with us.

15) God gives us the strength needed to fight our battles, the wisdom to make choices, the love needed to serve others, the will and desire to obey Him. He is the vine that causes fruit in our lives to grow. The sower that plants the seed of the word that flourishes in our hearts. He is the author and finisher of our faith that can move mountains. He multiplies the meager loaves and fishes confounding all laws of supply and demand. He is our healer and physician, curing the most grievous wounds in our souls. He is our comforter, our greatest teacher, our best model. He is our light in darkness, our hope in despair, our greatest joy. Our focus of worship, the rightful owner of our highest devotion and deepest love. The only one we should fear and tremble before while at the same time He gives us rest and peace. God is with us! 

16) God speaks to us when we daily open His Word and make worn the pages of the Bible. He listens in the solitude of our prayers when we're on our knees. He exalts in our worship with arms outstretched. He laughs with us in our greatest joys, cries in our anguish, guides when we plan, searches us out when we are lost, answers when we ask, is found when we seek Him, opens the door when we knock. He shows patience as we slowly grow, picks us up when we fall, disciplines us in love when we rebel. God gives us each breath and our daily bread. He clothes us better than the flowers of the field. He delivers us from evil and sometimes from ourselves. God is with us!!!!

Why can we can be strong and courageous? Because God is with us! The only question we must answer moment by moment is this, "Are we with him?"

Will we live our lives Coram Deo, before His face and in His presence? Are you with him?

The Lord be with you.

Playing Frisbee with Jesus

I ran into a friend today who was with one of his developmentally disabled clients, a guy we'll call Alex. Alex kept saying over and over again, "Want to play frisbee? Want to play frisbee? Want to play frisbee?". He has pretty severe OCD among a suite of other serious mental issues. But when I said that I didn't have a frisbee, Alex took off his hat to use as a frisbee. And we "played frisbee" for a few minutes, throwing his hat back and forth.

He was just bursting with joy! Huge grin on his face! Alex was so happy and also super intent on the simple game.  It seemed to be a sacred time for him.  

My friend said that Alex will be talking about this for days. And in a strange way, I got a huge joy out of it too. As if God were present, enjoying the action, thrilling in the joy as much or more so than Alex. In a manner that is difficult to explain I felt that I was playing frisbee with Jesus.

This is another "chicken suit for the soul" moment. Using the lowly, seemingly useless stuff of the earth for a blessing in somebody's life. In this case a knit hat that became a frisbee.  

The calculus of God's kingdom is not the same of this world's. Because today I experienced this equation:

2 minutes + 1 hat = HUGE joy

We have so much stuff, are often overwhelmed with blessing, that we commonly loose sight of the value of the things around us. We tend to focus on what we don't have and so always walk around with a deep sense of need.  Who knew that chucking a hat a few times would purchase days of joy for somebody?  And not just Alex. But me too. And I sensed that Jesus was present and smiling big.   

Jesus taught that even giving a simple cup of water can have eternal value (Matt 25:34-46).  Is throwing a frisbee hat much different?  And what else can be used for God's glory?  But lately I'm thinking that perhaps that's even the wrong question. Maybe the right question is, which tiny speck or insignificant morsel of his creation can't be used for God's glory?

How much do we need to remember that the Almighty God of the Universe powerfully uses the perishable stuff of the earth for blessing, and some of that blessing will last for an eternity!  Even the very little stuff we do have, or stuff that is everywhere and all around us always,  can be multiplied by the Creator a thousand  fold.  Loaves and fishes style.

At Pastor Grant's suggestion I've been reading Jean-Pierre de Caussade who teaches that God is ever present in each moment (his book "The Sacrament of the Present Moment" is a game changer). But I also get the sense that God is also always at the ready to partner with us as we use even the simple things of this earth to magnify His glory and bless others way beyond the typical earthly value. 

So was I playing frisbee with Jesus?  Perhaps. If so, why not hacky sack with the Holy Spirit? Or flag football with our heavenly Father?  Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill, talks about eating chicken wings to the Glory of God.  And why not?  I think Driscoll is exactly right about that.

So let everything we do, in word or deed, all be done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

Have you ever had a similar experience?  Ever seen something simple used for great purposes? Ever seen God use something ordinary in an extraordinary way?  Do tell!

A Visit with Dori

A few days ago I heard that the office cleaning lady who used to take care of my work place was in the hospital. A friend called to give me the news and so I thought, admittedly with a tinge of stupid pride, that I could visit her and give her some degree of comfort. She's 84 and had a serious heart failure, and I didn't know what to expect.

When I got to the hospital today she didn't know who I was immediately, but then when I told her where I worked, her eyes lit up, she sat upright in the bed, dragging tubes and wires from her skin and bones arms.

She knew who I was from my desk that she cleaned for years. How many times did I pass her in the hallway at work, I'd be polite but never took the time to get to know her or move deeper than "Howzitgoing?" in our short conversations. But when I told her what desk I was in she said, "Oh, you're the one who had the divorce!" Yes, that's me I confirmed. She told me she knew something was wrong in my life because my desk changed. And at 79 years old, cleaning an office, she started praying for me. I had no idea. For years she's prayed for me and my son. For years. Through one of the darkest periods of my life, Dori has been praying for me. In the isolation of her room, she bent to her knees before God, for me when I was laid flat with my world upside down.

I was able to share with her today that my life is so blessed now, that I've emerged from darkness to become a guy so thankful for God's countless blessings in my life. Dori pumped her fist in the air, shocking me with her energy and praise to Jesus. Her wrinkled, shrunken face just beamed and burst in a huge toothy grin.

I asked her about her life. And that's when I learned that the "cleaning lady" is a towering hero of the faith. She's travelled the world 4 times over, smuggled Bibles into countries hostile to the faith, prayed with hundreds of souls to be saved, spent decades in the mission field, often a great personal risk. My jaw dropped. The "cleaning lady" is a saint. And in the work or her hands, dusting, vacuuming, emptying trash she was still in the mission field, serving Jesus, being a huge blessing, praying for me.

I went to the hospital thinking I might bless somebody, but walked away so blessed. I went to serve Dori, but she served me.

I'm pulling away some powerful lessons from my visit with Dori:

Serve God where you are with what you have to those around you.
God takes a life dedicated to Jesus and uses her powerfully no matter if it is in a remote region of the world risking her life, or cleaning a desk, or suffering from stroke in a hospital bed.

Dedicated prayer done anonymously has huge kingdom impact.
Pray for people that may never know the hours you spend on bended knee before the Father. I'm sure there will be a massive crowd that welcomes Dori into the kingdom, those she's brought before the Father in faithful fervent prayer, without any immediate reward or thanks.

In your worst circumstances God can use you the best.
Dori was literally a bag of bones, eyes fogged, teeth rotting, skin gaunt, face worn and stricken. But God was still using her powerfully in that hospital room. She said, "Well, I guess that since I can't go out to help people, God is bringing people to me so I can help them." Wow. She had every reason to be depressed and discouraged. But she was full of joy, serving the Jesus she deeply loves.

I'm amazed at Dori in a hospital bed, very sick, and poor, but still on mission. And then I'm challenged about how I'm using my health, my youth, my time, and my abundance to bless, serve and pray for others others.

How about you? Is there a Dori in your life? A living hero of the faith? Somebody you've discovered that's secretly been praying for you for years? Who will you be a Dori to?

Mephibosheth: Adopted by the King

This year I made a very unusual but amazing phone call. It went like this:

[Ring Ring Ring]

Her: Hello?
Me: Hi, is this Carolyn?
Her: Yes, who is this?
Me: It's Brian.

[Long, long pause...]

Her: Brian? Really???
Me: Yes.

[Lots of crying....]

You see, I was adopted and this was a phone call to my birth mom, the first time I ever talked to her in 41 years. Since it was a closed adoption, she didn't even know if I was alive, I didn't know about her either. But through some digging we connected with each other.

I have been doubly blessed by God. First, my birth mom was courageous and loving enough to make a huge sacrifice on my behalf, she didn't take the easy option, but instead chose a difficult road to give me life and put me up for adoption. Second, my adoptive parents, my mom and dad, are amazing. They took me into their family, loved me as their own son and have been a huge blessing in my life.

Are any of you adopted? If so, you've might have had this dream that you find out your birth parents were crazy rich, maybe the King and Queen of some realm, and they would take you on great trips on their yacht or limo or spaceship. And you'd visit them in their palace, and they'd spoil you, and have a huge plate of Rocket Donut bacon maple bars, and you'd eat so many bacon maple bars, and you'd be so happy and a little sick but so happy!

There is a truth in the Bible that each of us can be adopted by the King. God wants to bring us into his family. He wants to be our father. This is really life changing and more incredible than any earthly dream. This is way more awesome than a plate of bacon maple bars!

For some people, when we talk about family and fathers it is a good thing. Your family is together, your dad is a good guy basically (even if you think he's a dork because he doesn't exactly fist bump right, and you don't like it when he makes you clean your room). If that is you and you basically have a good family and a good dad, the good news is that God wants you to know him as a great Father.

But for other people as you read this, right now there is a pit in your stomach because home is not a safe place for you, it's a place of suffering, or abuse because your dad has done great harm, or abandoned the family, or is in jail, or has made work more important. Some people cringe even if they just think about their father. But God wants to be the perfect, loving Father they've never had. He wants to bring all of us into his family, give us blessing we can't imagine, be a source of peace not pain. God wants to be present in our life, not absent. He wants to be our rock, not our trap.

Ephesians 1:4-8 talks about our adoption:

For [God] chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us.

Doesn't this sound like a miracle, Hollywood adoption story? Like the best dream you've ever had? It is. Look at the language again: in love, by his pleasure, glorious grace, freely given, redemption, forgiveness, riches lavished on us!

The truth is God wants to bring you into his family. To really bring this alive we will look at possibly my favorite story in the Old Testament about three people:

1) The most famous King of the Bible: David
2) David's servant Ziba who he sends to adopt another person. The one Ziba seeks out is:
3) Mephibosheth: a wretched, crippled guy living in the desert and a natural enemy of the King who was adopted by King David.

This is my story. It is the story of a wretched guy who was made part of the family of the King. And it can be your story.

Quick summary of 2 Samuel 9

Background:
In the olden days, they didn't have peaceful elections to bring new leaders to power. They didn't vote for leaders. Changes in kingdoms were usually bloody, savage. And when a new King came to power by force, he usually wiped out everybody from the old leader's group, including family and friends. 1 Kings 15:29 is an example go the brutality. This would be like Obama rounding up all of Bush's allies, wife, mom, brothers, kids and killing them. It was brutal.

But when new King David took over from the old King Saul he had an amazing display of grace that he wants to show a descendent of Saul. He wanted to make an enemy a part of his family.

So King David sent a servant, Ziba , to search the land. Ziba found Mephibosheth, grandson of David's enemy Saul. A man crippled in both feet, living far away in a town called Lo Debar (in Hebrew "Lo Debar" means "no pasture" a barren place). This is a nasty place. Nobody books a vacation to LoDebar. You don't find LoDebar t-shirts or key chains. In 4,000 years not one person has hit "like" on the LoDebar Facebook page.

Mephibosheth was brought before the King and he must have been terrified. When Mephibosheth met David, it went like this in vs 8: Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"

Have you ever felt like not just a dog, but a dead dog? When I was a kid I was walking with my sister. She was throwing a ball in the air and catching it, and I had a hedge trimmer (think BIG scissors). Just then I had the brilliant idea to snip the ball with the trimmers before she could catch it. And I chopped her finger, not off, but it was bloody. And I felt like a dead dog!

Mephibosheth knew that he was lower than dirt before the King. In fact, his name means "From the Mouth of a Shameful Thing". Wow. In today's language that name is like "Trash-Jaw Tim" or "Puke-Lips Paul." This guy does not have anything going for him. Picture this: a guy crippled in both feet, probably dressed in really shabby clothes, stinky, dirty, filthy feet, matted knotted hair. Coming before the king dressed in royal gowns, a jeweled crown, golden throne.

Mephibosheth was not expecting at all to be chosen to be brought into the family by the King. In fact, you could say that he should have been the very last to be picked.

Have you ever been the last to be picked? The very least desired, the least wanted?

I have. Last year I went to Cornwall Park with my son for some boffering (beating the tar out of each other with a variety of mideival foam weapons). Out of about 100 people I was picked almost dead last for the capture the flag game. Kai was picked way ahead of me, 10 year olds were picked ahead of me, if Granny Gertrude was there she'd be picked ahead of me. You might feel like this is your life: passed over, undesired, last in line or maybe not in line at all, left out. That was Mephibosheth. Not expecting to be chosen for anything.

But Mephibosheth was brought to David, and granted to feast at the King's table all the days of his life. He was chosen by the king to be brought into his family. Mephibosheth was given riches, land, servants, food galore, cleaned up, redeemed from a horrible life living in a barren place. And the cloth of the King's table covered the crippled feet of Mephibosheth.

More importantly than all of the stuff Mephibosheth got to enjoy, more than the sweet LED tv screen, the pool, the Beemer, the bling, Mephibosheth got to enjoy the presence of the King. When you sit at the King's table and are made a part of his family you get to know the king, you laugh with him, share life with him, learn from him. The presence of the king is a bigger blessing than the stuff of the king. Sitting at the King's table is a big deal.

Did you ever get frustrated with sitting at the kids' table at thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? Yup, me too. Adult's table has china, Kid's table has plastic plates. Adult's table has goblets and champagne flutes, Kid's table has sippy cups. Adult's table has steak knives, kid's table maybe a Thomas the Tank Engine spork. It's not that the food is better at the adult's table, but you are a part of their world and are close to them. You feel like you are a more important part of the family.

Memphibosheth, the dead dog, was made a part of the Family and got to sit daily at the table of arguably the most famous and important King of the entire Bible.

Put yourself in the position of the principal characters in the story and you'll see why this matters to your life.


Mephibosheth: Dead Dog Adopted by the King
Here is some tough truth: All of us are by nature Mephibosheth, by our sin and rebellion we are born enemies of God. You included. And by birth we're living in a far desolate land, Lo Debar. Crippled, helpless in and of ourselves. There is no way we deserve to be with God. And yet the loving heart of God searches out to the dry places, yearning to show kindness to those utterly unworthy of even a table scrap. And we're adopted, brought into God's family, brought into the Kingdom, shown grace and favor we don't deserve.

The Bible says that Mephibosheth became like a Son to David. We too can be adopted by God, into his family to be sons and daughters of the King.

How is this possible? Just like Mephibosheth we don't deserve to be brought into the family, we don't deserve to sit at the table. It is only by the kindness of the King.

The whole reason Jesus died was to bring enemies into his family. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty for our sin so we wouldn't have to. When we accept Jesus as our King, we are forgiven, cleansed, made whole and brought into the family.

There is no way that Mephibosheth could have one day decided all by himself, "I'm going to go sit at the King's table today." Then hobbled up and knocked on the castle door and said, "I'm here, what's for dinner?". No matter how much he bathed, or made himself look pretty he was an enemy of the King. Same with us, getting into the kingdom of God has NOTHING to do with what we can do for God. There is no work we can do, no amount of going to church, not "being nice", not doing good deeds, not even helping a thousand old ladies across the street. NOTHING we do will get us into the family of the King. It is ONLY what the King has done for us, ONLY by his kindness, only by his grace, only by the work of Jesus are we brought into the family of the King. We only have to accept the invitation to sit at the table of the king. Like Mephibosheth we have to put our faith in the King, trust in him, kneel before him in humility and receive the blessing.

Ask yourself this: Am I living in Lo Debar? Far from the king? Do I know the King is looking for me? Do I know the King wants to bring me into his family?

There's only one catch, our adoption is not involuntary, God won't force us to eat at his table and enjoy the blessings of His Kingdom. Mephibosheth could have given David the bird and still lived in the wretched barren land of LoDebar. He could have rejected the offer of the King and continued to live in the desert. And there might be people reading this who haven't decided to accept this amazing invitation from the King. Maybe you're not exactly flipping God off, but what does it mean if you're not accepting his invitation and offer of adoption? By not accepting His offer to bring you into his family, you are rejecting it. And if you choose to reject God on earth in your life time, He will honor that choice you made for eternity.

But the good news is this in John 1:12:

Yet to all those who received [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God.

That's how you are brought into God's family, you believe in the name of Jesus.

Ziba: Servant that Helps Save
We can also be Ziba, the servant enlisted by the King to help others, sent to go find one whom the King might show his favor. If you are a Christian, then your Father wants to use you to bring others into his family. You could be like Ziba, sent by God to bless somebody.

But what if Ziba instead decided to take a detour and go live at the beach for a while? Watch a whole lot of football? Hang out with his friends playing Call of Duty Black Ops and too busy to look for Mephibosheth? Mephibosheth could still be living in Lo Debar. The Christian life isn't just feasting, it is also service. And sometimes at the will of King Jesus we must leave our place of comfort to bring good news to people that are lost.

For some people, the King might send you far away, but for most people you're sent to your neighborhood, your school, your own home. Will you respond to Jesus call to help save the lost? Is your Mephibosheth waiting for good news from you about his adoption into the King's family?

Serving the king and doing the work of Ziba can be very hard work. Remember that Mephibosheth was crippled and lived far away from the king. It probably was not easy getting him to David. There were probably times that Ziba had to lift him, carry him, feed him, give him water on the long journey. For some people you know, it might be a long journey to bring them to God. Perhaps years of prayer, years of caring, years of love, years of service, maybe years of being rejected. But won't it be worth it?

There's a clear challenge and application.

Challenge: Serve the King
If you are already in the family, adopted by the King, feasting at his table, don't you want to bring others to the table? Which one of your friends, family, classmates, co-workers is living in the barren land apart from God? If you know Jesus, you know something that can change a person's eternal destiny. I want to challenge you to take a huge risk and talk to one person this week about Jesus. Let them know that Jesus wants to save them, forgive their sins, give them a new life, make them part of his family. One person. If you do that, you're going to be blown away that God could use "dead dogs" like us for an eternal impact for the kingdom and bring somebody else into the family of God.

Application: Accept the Invitation to Sit at the King's Table
God, the King of Kings wants to adopt you, to bring you into his family. God wants to be your father, He wants you to sit at his table. Some of you right now are snacking on this nasty moldy crust of bread in the desert, you are lost in your sin, and you're being invited to feast at the table. When you receive Jesus as your Lord, put your faith and trust in Him, you are made clean, you are brought into a new family, and join an eternal kingdom. At this moment, you can leave the barren land, which is any place apart from God, and can be adopted by the King. I want you to accept that invitation to be brought into God's family.


Here is Ephesians 1:4-8 again. This is the very Word of God. If you've ever wondered if God could speak to you, this is it:

For [God] chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us.

Other Notes on Mephibosheth:
1) trinity in the Father (David), Son (Meph), and Holy Spirit (Ziba)
2) Meph had to humble himself before the King and acknowledge his position ("dead dog like me").
3) Christians sometimes push away from the table, leave the feast and return to LoDebar when living in the flesh, the "old man". We need to repent.

Care of the Most Holy Things

In Numbers 4:4 God commands the "most holy things" of the tabernacle to be cared for and carried by the Kohathite branch of the tribe of Levi (also Num 3:29-31). This must have been a huge honor, but was also a huge responsibility they had to carry. Literally. In Num 7:6-9 we see they had to carry the most holy things on their shoulders while the other Levite families (Gershonites and Merarites) got oxen and carts to carry their portion of the tabernacle. When you carry something on your shoulders, you feel the weight sometimes with every step, you think about it often, you mind is drawn to it. You're intimately familiar with it. On the road you have a constant reminder of the object in your charge on your back. The Kohathites were not allowed to use ox carts to carry the most holy things.

Eleazar: leader of leaders
The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest (Num 3:32). He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. Eleazar, son of Aaron, brother to Nadab and Abihu, who were killed by God in priestly duties when the offered "unauthorized fire" (Lev 10), was appointed to be in leadership over those responsible for the care of the most holy things. In Num 4:16 Eleazar is set in charge of "the entire tabernacle and everything in it" for care and moving. He must have felt the tremendous burden of this stewardship. In fact in Num 4, the warning is issued multiple times to act properly with the most holy things or they would die (Num 4:15, 20; Num 3:10). Even Stephen Spielberg got this right in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Nazis got torched by the Holy God for ordinance violations. Probably because they didn't have the hides of sea cows to cover it (Num 4:10). When Eleazar wrapped up the ark for the first time for transport, was he still grieving the death of his brothers? Did he delegate that task to others? Maybe not. As a leader he might have "taken one for the team" and had first position as ark carrier.

We too must lead by example. The "things" we carry as youth group leaders, parents, teachers, aunts/uncles, grandparents are most holy!! In fact, even more holy than the acacia wood and gold box that was the ark. How valuable are the people entrusted to our care? Look at the price paid by God the Father to redeem them. But despite the value of the most holy things (both then and now), God puts sinful, weak, clumsy , forgetful, lazy, stubborn people in charge (See post on God's Carny). In the OT He appointed Moses (murderer, coward), Aaron (idolater, liar), Nadab and Abihu (killed for unauthorized fire), Eleazar and Ithmar (?) to care for the tabernacle and said, "Now be careful, and obey, or you'll be killed".

In a very real sense it is both comical, and also sad. God knew they would fail. This is like putting Deputy Barney Fife in charge of secret service security detail for the President or Mr Bean in charge of the National Security Administration. Just look at the mess that Adam made. God told him to "take care of the garden". Basically, just go mow the lawn. And ends up with all of creation poisoned, corrupted, utterly ruined by war, sickness and sin. As if he went to trim the shrubs in the yard but ended up with the whole house a smoldering pile of ruin (which is not far from the truth).

And yet, God still entrusts us with the most holy things of His creation (people) and creation itself. Knowing that in our nature we are no better than Adam, God still gives us this huge stewardship. Why? Pure love and grace (which I always figure is a safe answer and probably not far from the truth with most unanswerable questions).


Leadership Lessons:
1) Eleazar was the third born of Aaron. A low man on totem pole of familia rights. Likely taking little leadership for most of his life. But with the death of his older brothers Nadab and Abihu, he was thrust into a leadership position. Sometimes our leadership roles suddenly come upon us. Learn what lessons you can wherever you're at, so that if you are called you can be as ready as possible.

2) People are not often fully ready for leadership but need to grow into the position. Moses was clearly not fully ready for leadership. Nor Aaron. At least learn from others' past mistakes so you can make fresh new ones! Are we surprised that Eleazar didn't offer "unauthorized incense"?

3) Num 3:49-51 Money was collected from the Israelites by Moses who then entrusted the money to Aaron and his sons. Our handling of $$ as leaders needs to be above reproach.

4) The most holy things we carry, our students or own children, are to be carried on our shoulders, not in ox carts. We're to be close, feel the weight of their lives, struggle along side them, be present with them. We hurt when we carry these most holy things in our stewardship. At times it is a grind. A discipling relationship with a student can be tiring, but it becomes less so when we remember the value of the most holy things we carry.

5) Our heavy lifting is sometimes done in the desert. Not only do we labor under the strain, there is a scorching sun, in a parched landscape, and sometimes feel like we're just wandering.

Other observations;
1) In Num 3:3 the sons of Aaron were anointed to be priests. The Hebrew word for anointed is "mashiah" which is where the word Messiah comes from. The priests were a foreshadowing of our Great High Priest, Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed one of God. We too are called holy priests (Peter 2:5), we are anointed and set apart for service. Our anointing is by the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 2:20-27).

Sea Cow Hides? Seriously?

In the post Chicken Suit for the Soul I suggest that nearly anything can be used for God's glory and to advance His kingdom. What about the hide of a sea cow?

Sea cow hides turn up in Exodus 25:1-9 for what might be the first shopping list recorded in history:

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."

Moses has been on Mt. Sinai with the Lord for forty days receiving detailed instructions for two main things:

1) The Law, instructions for living and worship, which will be the cornerstone for much of the western world's justice system for thousands of years.

2) Blue prints for construction of the tabernacle, God's own dwelling place with man on earth. In the history of blue prints and architectural drawings, this set is arguably the most important among millions of buildings. Because, you know, this is the house for the Almighty Sovereign Lord of the Universe.

But sandwiched between these two monumental set of instructions to Moses, God slips in a shopping list. I'm picturing a dad handing over the minivan keys to his 16 year old son on the way to the grocery store, "Ok Moses, we need gold, silver, bronze, flour, sugar, milk, eggs, sea cow hides..."














And then Moses looks up from scribbling on the back of his envelope.

"Sea Cow Hides??? Seriously???" God nods.

This has always been a chin-scratcher for me. I understand the gold and silver, because you want the living place of God to be dazzling. But sea cow hides? Really? Maybe it has some amazing water-repellent qualities, or wicks moisture, or is super tough. Or maybe God just cracks up at this funky cow/whale/vacuum machine creature as some inside joke with the Trinity.

God intended the sea cow hides to be coverings for some of the holy things of the tabernacle during transport through the desert. So if not an inside joke then I think that sea cows are small link in a huge chain of the theme of coverings in the Bible. Here's just a quick survey of the theme.

Covering After the Fall
One of the first acts of Adam and Eve after the fall was to cover their nakedness (Gen 3:7). Using fig leaves, they sewed together a covering. My guess is that "leaves" are more than a few points lower than sea cow hide on the covering quality scale (CQS). Later, after the curses and consequences were meted out for their sin, God gives them an upgrade in their coverings and makes new ones out of animal skins (Gen 3:21).


Covering in the Desert
When God delivered Israel from Egypt He instructed Moses to build a tabernacle where His holy presence could dwell among a sinful, rebellious nation. In a sense, the tabernacle (along with the elaborate complex of rituals) was a protective covering so that the Israelites would not get torched by the glory of God's presence. Perhaps like heavenly oven mitts to keep the people from getting burned by the all consuming fire. The sea cow hides were just one image of this as the holy thing were set apart, sanctified, by being covered.

But I think that the tabernacle was not just a protective covering for the sake of the safety of the people, but also a picture of God's desire to be wrapped in the people He loves. God surrounded Himself in the desert with tribes of Israelites encamped all around. From the perspective of God, it looks like He is covering Himself with people like a cloak. A filthy, stained garment, but one that He will be making new and cleansing white as snow.


Covering of the Incarnation
In the incarnation, God the Son took on a human nature. Jesus was more than just God in a body. He became fully human while still being fully God. But God took on a covering of flesh and blood, he tabernacled among us in while he walked the earth. We need to be careful because there are a thousand errors to easily fall into when discussing the incarnation. If you put a sandwich into a Tupperware container, the two are still distinct. When Jesus was born, he wasn't just covered with flesh and bones like Saran Wrap, he actually BECAME human while still retaining his divinity.

But there is still a theme of covering: Jesus' glory was veiled, his kingly majesty was covered with humility, his glorious power was hidden beneath his role of suffering servant.

Covering on the Cross
On the cross Jesus took on our sin as a cruel, torturous covering. The sins of all people for all time for all places was placed on him. Then he was covered with the wrath of God to atone for our sin. He was covered with his own blood, shed for our redemption.

Covering of the Holy Spirit
After Jesus returned to his glory at the resurrection, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts. Christians become the temple of the Holy Spirit, we are the covering for God. This is incredible. In the Old Testament the sea cow hide is used to cover the holy things from a sinful people. In the New Testament, sinful people are redeemed then become a covering for the Holy Spirit.


Our Covering in Eternity
When we enter the eternal kingdom there seems to be a reversal. Humans go from being the temple of God the Holy Spirit, to God becoming the temple, our eternal covering. Revelation 21:22-27 is awesome:

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

While the infinite God was confined and covered by the cramped desert tabernacle in the Old Testament, limited and finite people will inhabit and be covered by the temple of the eternal God in the kingdom.

Sea cow hides? Seriously? Seriously.

Cliffs Notes for the Proverbs

Not sure if Cliff has gotten around to the Bible yet. (He makes cheat sheets for huge works like Moby Dick, War and Peace, Oxford English Dictionary, etc...). So while reading through Proverbs I thought I'd try my hand at distilling the wisdom of Solomon into a few key themes. Of course this immediately violates #5 below for even thinking I could do anything with Solomon's wisdom. Where did my bag of chips go?


1) Talking/gossip/lying: Shut yer pie hole (Proverbs 4:24; 17:28; 12:17-19; 10:19; 20:19)

2) Your job: Work yer tail off (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 18:9; 20:4)

2a) Your job: But don't work so you got nothin' else to give (Prov 23:4)

3) Sexual temptation: you get burned when yer playin' with fire (Proverbs 4:14-15; 6:27-28; 7:22-23; the entire 5th chapter)

4) Wisdom: worth more than gold (Prov 4:6-7; 8:10-11; and practically every other verse in the book)

5) Humility: Don't think yer "all that and a bag of chips" (Prov 8:13; 3:34)

6) Ill-gotten gains: not worth jack squat (or they are worth just jack squat. Either way). (Prov 10: 2, 15:16-17; 20:17; 28:6,16)

7) Honesty: Don't be a scammer. (Prov 16:11; 20:10; 22:1)

8) Generosity: Give some of what you got. (Prov 3:27-28; 19:17; 21:13; 23:6-8; 28:22)

9) Righteousness: Be that. (Prov 3:33; 4:18; 20:7; 28:12)

10) Wickedness: Don't be that. (Prov 3:33; 4:14; 28:9)

11) Parenting: Yer more than a buddy. (Prov 19:18; 22:6)

12) Anger: Simmer down. (Prov 19:19; 29:11; 30:33)

13) The Fear of God: Yer knees best be knockin'. (Prov 19:23; 22:4; 23:17; 28:14)

14) Honoring parents: treat them like they are all that and a bag of chips (Prov 20:20).

15) Foolishness: Don't be a fool (Prov 26:1-12; throw a dart and you'll probably hit a verse about the folly of a fool)

16) Justice: give a rat's [backside] about the poor (Prov 29:7, 14)

Biblical Numbers [For Geeks Only!]

[Warning: this post is mostly for geeks like me. If you are not a geek stop reading immediately, lest you become one.]

An NIV text note for Proverbs 10:1 tickled my fancy today (sidenote: where and what the heck is my fancy? Seriously.) Proverbs 10 starts a collection and new section in the book. The note mentions that there are 375 verses in this section which runs through Prov 22:16. So what, you say? (Get out the tape for your glasses because the geek factor is going to kick in right about now.). Turns out that the value of the letters in Solomon's name is... 375.

[Hebrews were highly numerical and devised a system of assigning a value to each letter in the alphabet, so that a name and words had a number.]

Some people have taken Biblical numerology to the H.N.L. (whole 'notha level). Kabbala is a mystic sect based on Old Testament numerology and has recently gotten a shot in the arm thanks to Madonna.

And rabid eschatologists spend their holiday weekends trying to determine the name of the antichrist based on 666, the number of his name. And, yes, there's an app for that.

My interest in numbers is not in the mystical or end-times-guessing-game camp. But the geek aspect of how numbers are used in the Bible.

For example, everybody who has watched even a single snap of a football game knows John 3:16 Even Raiders fans.











But there are truckloads of other very cool 3:16 verses in the bible. Check out:
2 Timothy 3:16
Joshua 3:16
Matthew 3:16
Luke 3:16
1 Corinthians 3:16


Sequential Bible Verses
Some key passages in the Bible have cool numeric chapter/verse sequences:

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.


Phillipians 4: 5,6,7
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Exodus 34:5,6,7
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”



Luke 23:45
The sun stopped shining and the curtain of the temple was torn in two [at Jesus death. ]

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Fear God and keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man.


Repeating Numbers
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2 Tim 2:2
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
(Not coincidentally this is the basis for a cool mentoring ministry called Lead222)

Proverbs 21:21
He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

2 Peter 1:21
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Anagrams
Some great passages have cool number things and have anagrams embedded:

Matthew 7:7
Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you (A.S.K.)



These are the tip of the iceberg. I'd love to hear of other geeky number things you've found in the Bible.

The Center (part 2)

The first part of The Center looked at the arrangement of the Israelite encampment around the tabernacle as an image of God being the center of our lives today.

But there seems to be much more to this image.

The desert tabernacle also is a powerful illustration of how the farther we are from God the less holy and righteous we become in some practical ways.

I think of it like the radiation zone around a nuclear detonation. God's burning holiness is most intense in his presence in the tabernacle, but diminishes the farther one goes from "ground zero".


Holiest of Holies was Ground Zero for God's Presence
When a nuclear bomb explodes the radiation is most intense at ground zero then decreases in radial fashion with distance from the center (geeky math warning... Did God's radiant glory diminish following an inverse square law?) So that when moving away from ground zero the radiation level drops rapidly and eventually there is a point where it reaches zero. For the Israelites, the Holiest of Holies was ground zero, the presence of God resided there like no other place on earth at that time. God's glory and majesty was intense with radiance and power. On the Day of Atonement, once per year, one man, the high priest could enter this place, it would be like walking into the blast area with Geiger counters ticking a million times per second. You can't even distinguish the individual ticks. Entering this most holy place took almost 100 steps of ritual, sacrifice and offering. Perhaps like putting on a radiation suit (picture the space suit guys in the movie ET).

When the high priest was in the Holiest of Holies in the very presence of God how likely was he to sin or fall to temptation? With God thundering before him on the mercy seat, I'm guessing that the priest is going to win most every battle of temptation. Sin and everything unclean is consumed entirely in God's unshielded presence. This is why the high priest had a rope tied to his leg so others could pull him out if he died in there. People wouldn't go in to retrieve the body in the "hot zone". But the Holiest of Holies is a picture of our future eternity with God, where we will be in His literal presence always (not just one day a year), able to see Him face to face in all his glory, and completely free from sin.

When Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai with God his face literally glowed (Ex 34:29-35 Ex 33:18-23) and the people insisted he wear a veil. We are also transformed by the presence of God and radiate holiness when we are in His glorious presence.

(Note that the glow eventually wore off of Moses' face, like what happens to a glow in the dark frisbee eventually. In this life when we are removed from the radiating glory, our holiness likewise diminishes with time. Not our positional holiness and righteousness in Jesus, but our practical righteousness. Ex 24:17 says that to the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire, so the nuclear detonation analogy works well, perhaps more than we suspect.)

With God at the center of our lives we reflect his glory, and the closer we are to him, the more we glow.

The Holy Place
Moving out from ground zero of the Holiest of Holies in the tabernacle, God's radiating holiness diminished somewhat (in the effect on the priests' lives). The geiger counter is ticking along at a steady clip (tick, tick, tick, tick) but not the piercing buzz as in the Holiest of Holies). In the Holy Place the Levitical priests would serve on a daily basis. They were more likely to sin in that place because God's holiness is not as intense (this is where Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering unauthorized fire). These priests were chosen by God, consecrated and set apart from the Levites to serve. They were less "sanctified" than the high priest on the day of atonement. Much of the time I feel like this is where my life is spent. Not in the fiery furnace and blazing presence of God, but the day to day rituals. Going about my life, paying homage to Him but also pretty busy with other tasks. God not exactly the center and full focus of who I am.

Outer Courts
And then God's holiness was diminished even more in the outer court of the tabernacle where the rest of the Israelites and even aliens could come to congregate and make offerings. The geiger counter might tick once every 20-30 seconds. These people were milling about, gathering for social occasions. Not stretching the analogy too far, but there have been times in my life where God is sidelined because the cares and worries of this life move me farther from the center, and I'm more prone to sin and lose the battle.

The Encampment and "Outside" the Camp
Move further out beyond the walls of the tabernacle to the encampment and the effect of God's holiness diminished significantly. The geiger counter is ticking once every 5-10 minutes perhaps. The people had occasional moments of dedication to the Lord (Ex 15 singing the song of Moses, confirming the Covenant in Ex 24:7) But for the most part the Israelites were characterized for 40 years in the desert as stiff necked, grumblers, quarrelers, weak, unfaithful, complaining, sinful, disobedient, covenant breakers, whiners, etc.. Because they were fairly removed from the center of God's presence they were less holy (and visa versa it can be argued. Sort of a chicken and egg issue.) It can be argued that many unbelievers are those in the camp and beyond.

Outside the camp the people considered unclean had to dwell. These were lepers, ceremonially unclean, and various classes of outcasts. These may might be considered the "lost sheep", ones who know God but are far from him. The Geiger counter ticks slowly here. They can be made clean, drawn closer to the center, but some spend their whole lives outside the camp, never fully enjoying the blessings of drawing near to God.

The Gentile Nations
Farthest from the center of God's presence in the Holiest of Holies are the Canaanites, those gentile nations occupying the land promised to Israel as part of the covenant. These people on a whole are not spoken well of in scripture. They are called evil, Molech and Baal worshipers, child sacrificers, practicing every kind of sexual sin and deviancy as a way of life. Maybe a tick on the Geiger counter every couple of years. Maybe. Sin flows like a river, not the milk and honey promised to the Israelites . But these "aliens" are not beyond hope and may partake in the Israel blessings in part if they become circumcised. There have been time in the OT where God directly blesses them. God sent Elijah to a gentile widow in Sidon and blessed her with the bottomless jar of flour and oil during a famine (1 King 17:1-15). Also Elisha cleanses the Syrian military general Naaman of leprosy (2 King 5:1-14).

In fact some of these gentile people of "the nations" are the ones promised by God to be blessed through Abraham's offspring, that is Jesus (Gen 12:3). God doesn't love them any less than the Israelites but their sin is grievous enough to merit punishment, judgement and wrath (as is ours!)

Application
How close to The Center do I live my daily life? Am I living before the mercy seat within the Holiest of Holies? Milling around the outer courts? Living outside the camp? Or assembling firewood for the altar of Molech?

The whole analogy is flawed in some ways, but works in more ways than not. Proverbs 17:3 says, "The crucible for silver, the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart." Our hearts are purified and made clean in this life (sanctification) to the degree we spend time in the holy, burning presence of God. It's a paradox, because if God is omnipresent how can we ever be far from Him? We need to make a choice to enter in, draw near. He's a consuming fire, but His awesome glory consumes the dross in our hearts, purifies us, refines us, so that what is left looks more and more like His image.

The Center

Numbers chapter 2 pictures the order and arrangement of the tribes of Israel encamping around the tabernacle. God is at the very center of their lives, everything emanating from that core, all activity moves out from the very presence of God.

There were three tribes camped on each side of the tabernacle and the Levites scattered around as well.

God's presence was not only the center and heart of the camp, but also the center of the tabernacle. Within the tabernacle there were different levels of access and closeness to God moving from the outer courts to the Holy Place and finally into the Holiest of Holies:

And inside the Holiest of Holies, was the ark. And inside the Ark was the covenant, the tablets given by God to Moses. And on top of the Ark was the mercy seat, where the very presence of God rested.

Mercy was at the heart of the Israelites whole order, resting over the tablets of the covenant, God's very Word. Their whole life was centered on this, literally.

The question is: Shouldn't our lives also be centered on God? With God at the heart of our devotion, our daily lives? Our waking and sleeping? Our thoughts and energies? Life gets busy and we have obligations, but does the Lord get sidelined and the things of this world take center stage, the place of honor, the most sacred space in our lives? What is sacred to us and set apart as special? What do we sacrifice on behalf of that sacred hobby, sacred job, sacred TV show, sacred relationship, sacred obsession?

In the tabernacle everything was bathed with the blood of sacrificed animals as people get closer to the Presence of God, hidden behind a curtain in the most holy place. A sinful people needed almost 100 rules for 1 man once per year to enter the Holiest of Holies to approach the Holy God. Failure to approach God without the protection of the sacrifices was deadly.

But we have been permanently brought near to God by one sacrifice. By even 1 drop of Jesus' blood countless people dwell in the center of God's presence for 100 million years and then some. Do we avail ourselves of the blood of Jesus to boldly approach the throne of grace (Heb 4:16) and find mercy and grace? The veil of the tabernacle has been ripped in two from top to bottom, and we can at any time enter into the center of the throne room, the presence of God.

In the desert some people had to be removed from the camp for various conditions making them unclean: disease, wrong offerings, eating blood of an animal, etc. When they were unclean or disobedient they were moved farther from God's presence, farther from the center.

Some people, like lepers, had to live outside the camp. They were unclean. They were sent away from the center (Num 5:1) so they wouldn't defile the place where God dwells.

And as disgusting as leprosy is, our sin is worse before God. If we were to see our sinful condition in bodily form, it would shock and horrify us. We would seem to be as disfigured as the latest stage leper who is nearly beyond recognition from his intended form.

Jesus healed lepers and touched them. But in a greater miracle, God sees believers through the imputed righteousness of Jesus. He doesn't see a disfigured and corrupted person, but one wholly righteous, clothed in white, and washed by the blood of the lamb. We have been made clean (justified) and are being made clean (sanctified). We are drawn to the center.

But when we sin, we distance ourselves from God. Christians are never assigned to the place of unbelievers but are not always in intimate communion and relationship. We move away from the center.

In the desert some people were aliens, outside of the chosen people, not even within site of the camp. Lost and utterly depraved (Lev 20:1-5 for example). There were whole communities and generations that did not even know that God called a chosen people, that He performed mighty wonders and miracles, that He delivered them from slavery with wondrous powers. How many people lived so far from the center of God's presence that they missed his glory? Never heard His thunder from the mountain? Never knew his name? Never covered their ears from the booming thunder blasts of Sinai, or shielded their eyes from the furious lightning? But instead were sacrificing their children in fire to the demon god Molech? How many? These were the people whose sexual sin was so deplorable that the very land was spoiled and defiled beneath them (Lev 18:25, 27). How bad must one's sin be before the earth that you stand on is corrupted? Like a poison that drips from a cup to the waters of a well, seeping deep, utterly corrupting it. Or, as in the Lev 18:28 text, like a rotten meat in the stomach, so that the stomach will vomit to purge itself clean. These people were very far from the center.

We're tempted to think of sin that bad as belonging to others, in a different time and different place. After all, which of us has sacrificed our child to an idol?

But we often underestimate the revulsion of our own sin to God and its consequences . Consider that the one single sin of Adam (eating fruit) was foul enough to spread death, decay and destruction to all of mankind, infecting billions of souls through thousands of years. That even nature itself and the natural order would be defiled and ruined. So much so that in order to redeem man He would need to destroy his body and give him an entirely new body (corruptible putting on incorruption) and the heavens and earth would need to be reformed.

Yet only by looking through the lens of our sin and its depravity can we fully appreciate the magnitude of the love and grace of God. Where sin abounded, grace super-abounded. We usually look at the arrangement of the camp around the tabernacle from our perspective, teaching us to keep God at the center of our lives. But when you look at it from the perspective of God, sitting on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies we see that God intentionally surrounded himself with fallen people, those of the would-be redeemed.

Despite the fallen nature of Israel, God the Father placed his majesty in their midst in the Holiest of Holies and surrounded Himself with 12 tribes of sinful men, wrapping them around himself like a dirty tattered cloak after setting aside His royal robes in the heavenly places. A material tabernacle housing God in the center of a sinful but chosen people.

And in the same way God the Son set aside his heavenly glory and wrapped himself in human flesh and lived among the throng of sinful man. Subjecting himself to the weariness, sorrow, pain, temptation in the center of humanity's depravity. A human tabernacle housed God among a sinful world. God the Son dwelling among men.

And then once again, today and in the church age, God the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of Christian believers whose bodies become the tabernacle (temple) of God, yet still sinful and corrupt though justified and being sanctified. God the Spirit dwelling within a man.

There is a progression of intimacy of the triune God dwelling among man:

1) Father in a Tabernacle in the desert: separation by walls, curtains and ritual; Only one man, once per year could enter the presence of God. God was seen, but only rarely and in limited expression.

2) Son assuming a human body: separation from others by physical distance. Thousands were in the presence of Jesus, the God-man. But most still were not. There was no veil or tabernacle shielding God from sinful man other than his flesh. But people could touch him, crowds pressed in tight. A woman was healed by touching his cloak. For a moment on the mount of transfiguration the veil was pulled back just a smidgeon and the glory of the Son was revealed to Peter an John.

3) Spirit living in the hearts of Christians: millions (billions?) of people have the presence of God inside of them. God dwelling inside the believers in the most intimate arrangement possible. At times we grieve and quench the Holy Spirit by sin in our lives, like covering burning coals with a wet, wool blanket. Not extinguishing the Spirit, but also not fanning into flame.

This whole progression demonstrates the deep loving heart of God, his intense desire to be intimately at the center of humanity. The tabernacle in the desert is a great picture of God dwelling among men. He WANTS DESPERATELY to live among us. How much so? That he would kill His own son that we might be brought ever nearer and closer.

The CS Lewis book "The Great Divorce" has an interesting and relevant image of hell: a community of people that keep moving farther and farther away from each other and from God. Whereas God wanted to draw Israel in tight, the weight and gravity of His love pulling them in, those who reject God drift farther and farther off, severed from the draw of His presence and ever receding into the vanishing distance.

Why should God be the center of our lives? Because He wants to look out and around to see a circle of those He redeemed by Jesus' blood encamped about him.

More in The Center, Part 2.