Spoiled!

I was finishing up some chores around the house today and preparing to make a run to the store. One of the items I needed to pick up was a prescription refill. The problem was, I actually have a few days left on the last prescription. Everything will be closed down for Thanksgiving and we will be busy so I wanted to get it early. Do you ever have conversations with yourself about possible future difficulties that might arise to spoil your plans? Well, that's what I started doing. It went something like this:
Me: "I wonder if they'll let me fill it a few days early?"
Me Too: "I've heard them tell other people at the register that they couldn't do a refill because it wasn't time yet."
Me: "Surely a few days early shouldn't be a problem..."
Me Too: "But what if they do say no...then I'll have to contact my doctor in order to get it approved...and it will be just my luck that he isn't in...Then what...?
Me: "Well surely they have some procedure for getting around this..."
It was about then that God stepped in.
God: "You know Sean, there are people all over the world who don't even have access to medicines. As a matter of fact, you know some people who live in places where they are dying of things like diarrhea and bacterial infections because they don't even have clean water let alone medicine to cure these simple problems you take for granted. Perhaps...you know, in light of Thanksgiving and all, you should just be thankful that you have access to medicine period. I'm just saying..."

I don't know if God talks to you like that, but that's a pretty normal sample of the way He deals with me. And I heard the message loud and clear. Here I was worrying about the ways my plans might get spoiled; and completely oblivious to the fact that I was BEING spoiled. I have been so blessed throughout my life. And each blessing piled upon the others just makes it so much easier to take it all for granted. It's like when you get a raise at work and for the first month or two you appreciate the extra income. But, it doesn't take long before the new paycheck becomes the NORM and you can't see how you could possibly live on less than what you make now.

I was born in a country of opportunities to great Christian parents who provided all the resources, love, wisdom etc. that I needed. I didn't earn that starting place in life and it didn't have to be that way. I don't know why I have been so blessed when so many others start out with no resources, opportunity, and little hope for the future. But, it seems to me the least I can do is be appreciative...really, deeply appreciative. I've often quoted the verses from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Timothy 6:6; but I guess I still have a lot of growing to do in living them out. With God's help I'll get there a little day by day. Come join in the journey!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the God's will for you in               
                                         Christ Jesus."


1 Timothy 6:6 -"...godliness with contentment is great gain."

Happy Thanksgiving all!
                      

Dads, Daughters, and Donuts

My daughter's school has a "sweet" program to give dads a chance to be involved with their children at school. They call it Donuts with Dad. It's a 20 minute time early in the morning on a particular day when fathers can bring their children to school and eat donuts with them while they read books in the library. Today was my chance to go and spend some time with my daughter, Erin. As we walked through the hallways and met her teachers she drug me along by the hand and pointed everyone we passed in my direction. I felt like a rockstar.


That's an unusual feeling for me in school hallways. When I was growing up, my family moved around a lot because my father was a military chaplain. I was a shy child and not always socially adept. Let's just say no one would have ever described me as popular...if they noticed me at all. I know I am not the only one who ever felt like that. As a matter of fact, I would hazard to say most of us have been there at one time or another. High school was especially difficult because we moved twice in those four years. I did my freshman and sophomore years in Jacksonville, Florida; my junior year in Lancaster, Texas; and my senior year at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa (Class of 86). So I was generally lost in the crowd. And often when I was noticed, it wasn't particularly pleasant. Truth is, I was probably too shy to give most people a chance to get to know me.

I know many people who walk through the halls of life feeling as isolated and unnoticed as I often felt during my school years. People who don't really fit in and feel almost invisible. Here's the good news. No one is invisible, unwanted or without value in the eyes of God. It sounds cliche', but I assure you if you will turn toward God you will find Him beaming over you. Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my wife's favorite verses. It says, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

So, when you feel alone, unwanted, invisible, unloved and unlovable; look toward the one who knows how many hairs you have on your head (or don't have in my case.) Look toward God who knows everything you have ever done, for good or for bad, and loves you anyway. You don't have to measure up, act up, cozy up or work up. He sees past our weaknesses, faults, bad choices, and masks. He doesn't value us because we are rich, adorable, talented, popular or perfect. He loves us -He loves YOU- because He is love. Your value is not established by the sum of your desirable attributes or friends. Your value has been established by Jesus' willingness to give his life for you. His great sacrifice on our behalf puts us all on an even playing field of value. No one could be worth more than what Jesus gave for us. I thank you, God, for your infinite, unmerited love. Blessings!
                             

Two Kinds of Spurs

He sat alone on the cold stone steps of a church... It was Halloween night and the local ministerial association had received permission to shut down one of the city streets and host an annual event called Kids' Harvestfest. There were probably 200 people milling around as the children played games, listened to live Christian music, jumped around on inflatables, and ate candy and popcorn. Noise, pageantry, people, laughing; but, this elderly gentleman sat on the steps alone staring at his feet -or perhaps some memory I wasn't privy to.

Now I am not the most outgoing person by nature. But something about this man caught my attention and the still, small whisper of the Spirit assured me it was more than just my imagination. So, I took a break in my role as candy and supplies runner and sat down on the steps next to the man I would come to know as Harold. We introduced ourselves and then I asked Harold what he thought about the event. This opener led into a discussion about the Church in general and quickly turned toward problems we have encountered in various churches. Harold wasn't against the church. As a matter of fact, I found out he began his relationship with Christ in the early 50's and had been a faithful church member since. But he, like many of us, desire the Church to be so much more than we often see from week to week. Maybe you have had that experience yourself. So much of what we learn about the early followers of Christ and how they lived in community and reached people daily inspires us. We want to see more vitality, and greater impact on our communities for the Kingdom of God.

It's like a spur that digs at us little by little. And often, unfortunately, it comes out in conversations like this one. My friends, the Church is not all she is supposed to be -WE ARE the Church and we are works in progress. But the Church is still the Bride of Christ; the bride Jesus loves and that God is working to make pure and spotless. The question is, how do we have conversations that are hopeful and productive instead of fruitless commiseration? Because, I believe how we communicate together has great power to produce change, growth, and hope for the future. We can either be a spur - by being reactive and focusing on the negative; or we can choose "to spur" by being proactive and calling out the positive. The author of Hebrews lays the groundwork for us:
     "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

We can help shape each other in the body of Christ by spurring one another on as fellow believers. Here is a few ideas building off of the English vowels to make it easier to remember:
     I = Inspire - try to make sure you are living out and growing in your own relationship with God. People    
           who are walking closely with God, experiencing the wonder and joy of life with Him, and sharing it  
           with others  are inspiring.
     E = Encourage- Make it a goal to be an encourager. Look for the good in everyone and take a moment  
            to share with them what you appreciate about them.
     U = Uplift  - I am using this in the sense of inviting someone out of the places they are stuck in or are
           comfortable in. Sometimes we need someone else to invite us to be part of what they are doing. John  
           Mark in the New Testament got to travel the Mediterranean and see great miracles of God because  
           Paul and Barnabas invited him to come along as a helper.
     O = Outfit - Outfitters supply needed equipment to people. God has blessed all of us with certain gifts,
           talents, life lessons, etc. that are useful for building others up. If God has given you a gift for music,  
           look for people to pass it on to. If he has rescued you from addiction, look for places to use that  
           experience to help others. I have a friend who has outfitted numerous worship leaders, youth
           directors, etc. with the ability to play guitar. Who knows how big an impact your gifts could make.
     A = Admonish (Exhort would probably have been a better word, but I needed an "A" :) - There are
           times when the most helpful and loving thing we can do for someone is to caringly point out
           something that may well be hindering their growth in relationship with God. It takes a certain 
           amount of  relationship building to "earn the right" to speak into someone's life like this.   
           When our family returned from Okinawa in 1988 I had a major spiritual backslide. My father loved  
           me enough to confront me about where my life was headed. It was not an easy conversation, but it
           was a  necessary and healing one. It started me back to the arms of my Heavenly Father and I will be  
           forever grateful for my earthly father's admonition.

I'm planning to write these 5 simple helps on my Bible bookmark to remind me to prayerfully glance over them at the beginning of each day and ask God to bring to mind anyone I can inspire, encourage, uplift, outfit, or perhaps even lovingly admonish. Let's spur one another on to love and good works and see what God will grow and build through us. Blessings!  

What's in a Name?

Hello all! I was listening to "Revelation Song", by Jennie Lee Riddle and performed by Kari Jobe and Gateway Worship. It's a great song, and if you haven't heard it you can check it out here: Revelation Song. I have listened to this song many times, but this time the bridge (or third verse) really came alive for me. The lyrics are: "Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, at the mention of your name. Jesus, your name is power, breath, and living water, such a marvelous mystery." I just started thinking about everything that makes the name of Jesus special.  And the thing that grasped me was the wonder that we get to use His name at all.

When I was pursuing my vocal music degree I had the wonderful privilege of studying under Jim and Anne Beane. Both were highly-gifted, caring, and very patient. Well...Mrs. Beane was patient :) Mr. Beane would bend over backwards to help you learn; but he had high expectations that you would fulfill your role responsibly. I remember toward the end of my senior year, the Beanes invited the graduating seniors from their voice lab over to their house for a special meal. It was part celebration and part rite of passage. At a particular point in the evening, they reminded each of us that once we graduated we would be peers and colleagues -no more "Mr." and "Mrs.", they would be Jim and Anne.

I still admire and respect the Beanes greatly. I went to see them a few years ago and was greeted with a warm embrace at the door. But I have to admit that even after such a welcome, I could barely get the words "Jim" and "Anne" out of my mouth. They were my teachers, mentors, and music royalty to me. I don't know who you may have held in such high regard that the privilege of using their first name daunted you, but I'm sure there has been someone. Do you begin to see the connection?

The triune God of all creation who sees all, knows all, created all, has made himself available to us on such an intimate level that we are on a first name basis. Who am I that God should notice me? Without His breath blown into us we are literally dust. God the Son left the glory of heaven to take on flesh, and a purpose, and a name. And with great love and grace He poured out for us His flesh and His purpose and His name. Friends it is no small thing to be able to kneel in prayer and call out to God as Abba, which translates as "Daddy"; or to end our prayers with "...in Jesus' name." So, I am "filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, at the mention of [His]name."

         "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received a Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15


          "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" 
- Philippians 2:9-11
                                                                      Blessings,

Common Biblical Ground

Let me start out by saying that what follows is not a political post. I don't want anyone to see the word election and run off on me :) As the title indicates, this is a post about how we all can perhaps find common ground following yesterday's elections and the ones to come.


As I woke up this morning to the news of which candidates had won election to which offices I had mixed feelings. Some results I was happy about and others were a little more concerning. Perhaps you have had a similar experience. In the midst of my ups and downs God brought a couple of verses to mind which reminded me of a crucial truth. God has given me instructions on how to handle myself regardless of the political climate or my own leadership preferences and opinions. It is a place where I think all might be able to find common ground -and perhaps holy ground as well.


First, God has told us to pray for our leaders and even to be thankful: 

   1Timothy 2:1-3 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession   

         and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in  

         authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and 

         holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,..."

I admit it is easier for me to be thankful and pray for some leaders than others; but perhaps

that only shows how much I have yet to grow in God's grace and love. God has the capacity 

to make saints of anyone (I am living proof in process). So why should I pray for someone 

grudgingly? I have to admit my first thought when God showed this to me this morning 

went something like this. "Yes God, but isn't it counterproductive to support leaders who 

might be leading us down wrong paths?" I should have learned by now not to try and dodge 

God's lessons for me or rationalize my own preferences. In reply, God called to my mind the 

words he gave the prophet Jeremiah to speak to the exiles in Babylon:

     Jeremiah 29:4-7 - “ This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says
           to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build 

           houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6   

           Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give  

           your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and  

           daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the  

           peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.  

           Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 

If anyone one had a reason to rebel against leadership, it was the exiles in Babylon. These
were people from Judah who had been attacked, defeated and taken captive by the
Babylonians. Now they were exiles in a foreign land ruled by leaders who had taken them
from their homeland and burned their houses. On top of this, they followed pagan gods and
not the one true God. Surely God wouldn't expect them to pray for those leaders or to submit to their rule. And in things that would have required them to go against God that assessment was probably true. We must obey God rather than human leaders when there is a conflict between the two. However, in the normal matters of everyday life, they were to settle down and seek the prosperity of the place where they had been planted.

To seek the prosperity of our neighborhoods, cities, states and nation; to pray for our leaders
that God will reveal Himself to them, guide them, grow them, and help them lead in ways
that honor and follow Him -surely this is common ground we can all stand on. Or perhaps
even better -kneel on! Blessings'

                                              

Can You Hear the Knocking?

          The other morning I got up and prepared togo through my normal morning ritual. As I was scrambling some eggs and pouring milk I started to turn on the news and catch the weather. But, on this particular morning I paused on the way to the TV and decided I would do things a little differently. I went back to the kitchen and turned on the local Christian radio station. I remember thinking to myself, “I have a long day ahead of me and I want to focus it around God early.” Normally, breakfast is a whirlwind of activity. There is food to prepare, children to dress, lunches to pack, etc. My wife and I are not morning people. So we kind of muddle through the chaos half-asleep and hope we manage to put the lunches in the backpacks and the backpacks on the kids instead of some other unfortunate arrangement. (Putting your children in backpacks is generally frowned upon!) As I listened to the songs playing in the background the lyrics slowly focused my thoughts on God -His love, His grace, His faithfulness. Before I knew it, I was in prayerful conversation with God over scrambled eggs and ham.                                                                     

          What had been normal daily ritual became nourishing relationship with the God of the universe. I think most of us maintain a pretty hectic schedule these days. I generally try to maintain an “open ear” toward God throughout the day; and yet, I often find myself going through the motions of large portions of my day with little awarness of God at all. And walking closely with Him matters! Gentle whispers of assurance or direction, gentle nudges to reach out to the people I come in contact with, words of encouragement in daily trials, and so much more...all come from God when I am listening for Him as I go about my day.

          We generally associate Revelation 3:20 with a person first answering God's invitation to come into personal relationship with Him. It says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (NIV)” I also think this verse has a lot to say about God's open-ended invitation to us in every moment of every day. It is hard to believe that the Son of God who has the whole world and every person in it before His eyes constantly would have much interest in me. Have you ever felt that way? But it's true. Jesus is excited about every opportunity we choose to spend with Him. When I chose to listen to music that turned my thoughts toward God, instead of the morning weather report -I was opening the door and accepting His invitation to do life together.

          All it takes is a few Christian songs instead of the normal news routine, a few moments reading Scripture instead of channel surfing, or turning a conversation with friends toward God instead of last night's football game. When He was trying to get a point across to the crowds of people, Jesus often said, “For those who have ears to hear, let them hear...” I think God has lots of things to say to us throughout our day. I want to have ears to hear it. I want to be a better and more frequent listener. I hope you'll join me in trying to turn more of the monotonous moments in life into fruitful time with God as we look for opportunities to open the door of our hearts and lives to Him more frequently.

Why FaithSparks?

     When I first started my relationship with Jesus Christ, I was a 7 year old at Aldersgate Camp. Doing life together with others in an atmosphere permeated by God's love was a big motivator in the decision to give my heart to God. I wish I could say that relationship simply grew constantly and unfailingly from there. But like so many others I have talked to, I floundered and forgot or ignored God through most of my teen years. I was a senior at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa before I began to listen to God's gentle whispers calling me home to Him once more. I might not have listened and returned had it not been for a good friend God gave me at that time in my life. Together, we decided to place God first in our lives and follow Him whole-heartedly. Individually we were weak and struggled, but together we found the courage to grow and reach others for Christ. That was 25 years ago now -Wow! I feel suddenly old. But in those 25 years God has shown me over and over again a valuable truth: Christians grow deepest and best when they are doing the Christian life together. I have made it a priority over the years to keep myself in encouraging, accountable community.
     Virtual community -like blogs, social networking, etc. has definite limits. There is no substitute for face to face contact with people in a local body of Christ-followers. However, in this day of high volume connectivity through the Web, it is possible to have conversations with people from all over the globe. It seems a waste not to make use of this larger forum for doing life together. God, in His infinite power and presence works individually in each and every person's life. Even before we care about Him, even before we reach out for relationship with Him, He has already been reaching out to us. He calls us, comforts us, challenges us and teaches us daily if we will listen. We each have a story -a journey to travel. As I continue to walk in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, His Spirit is shaping me day by day. And the more God reveals to me about Himself, the more captivated and awestruck I am. Perhaps some of what He is showing me might resonate with you. And perhaps what you share in comments might resonate with me. Like sparks touching down in dry tinder a fire can be ignited leaving us all a little warmer and the world a little brighter. I hope you will drop in on occasion and join me on the journey.