After Life

I have just returned from my 10th LIFE Conference.  I attended my first one in 1980 and have only missed two since then.  This is a rare gift that God has given me.  Out of the thousand that attended in St. Louis, only a handful have been to that many LIFE Conferences and and even smaller handful would be a senior pastor. What an honor!

One of the speakers made the statement that teens do not represent the "church of tomorrow" but in fact are the CHURCH OF TODAY!  I have always believed this.  This LIFE Conference reminded me why I believe this so strongly.

• The worship is genuine, passionate and a little reckless.  I'll admit that many of those who participated were part of a "herd mentality" that joined the crowd.  Yet, I watched ... and participated.  God was not in the enthusiasm.  He was not in the youthful energy.  He was in the worship.  His presence was ushered in by passionate followers.  (I don't think God honors worship because there's a lot of people or because the energy level is so high.  He honors those who honor Him).  I wonder what causes adults to lose some of the passion.  I wonder why much of worship has a sense of control and balance.  Have we grown up so much that we've forgotten to be a child in His presence?  Can God use the youth to remind the church of today that genuine worship requires a willingness to surrender to His greatness?
• There is a strong desire to be a part of something bigger.  This is a God-placed passion that He plants in the heart of every follower who understands He is the one writing the story.  Since it's not about them, they are free to do big things and little things because it all is for His glory.  They see the eternity in leaving a bag of apples on a city bench that will soon support the weight of a homeless person. They see their scratches (from pulling thorny weeds from forgotten park pathways) as a badge of honor.  I wonder why adults often want to be noticed and given credit for their acts of service.   Can God use the youth to remind us that all acts of service are an offering of praise to God?
• They are quick to talk about the work God has done in their lives.  To them, it's not a matter of waiting to see how much of LIFE will "stick" in their lives.  They just assume God did a work and now there is work to be done.  Of course we adults understand that not every exciting commitment will last.  Often a renewal at a conference has the life span of a New Year's resolution.  Yet, aren't they right to declare what God has done?  Aren't they correct to take immediate, brave steps because of it?  After all, what's the difference between a powerful change at a conference and a little change in the routine of daily life?  Nothing!  Each change lasts ... as long as the person remembers that God's fire is fueled by God's spirit - and that is never extinguished.  Can God use the youth to remind the church of today that God is at work among us calling us to deeper commitment?
• They understand the need for community.  As soon as God begins working, the teens kick into full community-mode.  They are listening, praying and encouraging each other.  They assume that their own personal commitments will be dependent on each other.  It's not the "Lone Ranger" mentality of their parents.  It's the "one another" teachings of scripture.  Could God use the youth to remind us that being a Body means that each part is equally important to the other parts?
• They don't wait for the mission field to come to them.  They are already looking for ways to live the reality of God in their homes, jobs and, this fall, their schools.  They're already thinking like an army on the front lines.  Could God use the youth to remind us that real Christianity is on the front lines and not the rear echelons?

In the months that have followed every LIFE conference it has been a joy to watch those who continue in their passionate pursuit of God.  They have continued to live in the above realities.  Many of them are now adults that are living a different form of Christianity in their churches.  Many of them brought the next generation of today's church to LIFE 2013.

What does today look like?

Unseasonably warm weather which has made me yearn for spring and long for snow!  I don't get it.  I think it's a grass is greener thing.

Drop-Ins to my office that have reminded me of the incredible tapestry of people's lives.  So many dynamics.  Such different personalities.  Yet, to those who are looking for God, there is light and encouragement and hope.  It reminds me of my favorite Browning poem:

Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,

 

I'm encouraged by a warm and meaningful Annual Celebration that allowed the hearts of so many good people to be seen and appreciated.  This church continues to raise my suspicions.  While I believe we are all recipients of God's grace and while I do agree that FCC has been given a great measure of that grace through the amazing people God has brought to us.  I DO NOT believe God has done this for our viewing pleasure.  He's up to something!  The deck is being stacked with great resources and people.  May we not miss the moment when He begins to unfold His heart.

And God, grant that I'm right in the middle of it!

One New Years resolution

I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. After all, what makes January 1 any better than July 7 or October 3?

But a new year followed by an old birthday, causes me to ponder. There is value to writing down what this ride of life is looking like at the moment. It's too rich to catch every subtle moment without making time to reflect. And God is such an amazing choreographer that His movements are too complex without His revealing them to me.

So I'll watch and pray for the right lens ... and the right perspective ... and the right teachability.

What does today look like?

Post-Holiday hangover.

The good kind of hangover where you're and tired but there are no regrets.

I've spent unusual time with my family. I'm amazed at the generation that my daughters are a part of. They are multi-tasking, socially connected wonders! They can laugh one moment then in the next one introduce an amazing profound insight... then in next moment they're watching a rerun of Friends. I love it! They are positioned to handle this chaotic world if they stay anchored in God's foundational grace.

I've also spent time with Connie's parents - and their generation. They act like most of their life is still ahead of them! And they're right. They've learned pacing - not because of limitations of moment or memory but because they get it. The most important moments are always missed ... unless you learn to look for them and dwell in them.

And then there's my generation. We Boomers. Fearless when it comes to talking about our wounds and our journey. Yet, fearful to do much about it. We're just beginning to grow into our ignorance. We are becoming comfortable in the realization that the more we experience and learn, they less we really know about life.

I'm so thankful for these holiday moments. It makes me appreciate God's goodness in so many ways.

So, I'm watching for what will be seen next...

Back to Ground Zero

Papa has been talking to me about getting back to the the basics of my early faith. A time when God was so real and fresh and I knew He was there.

I'm not living with any doubts. My relationship with Him is so much more than in the early days. Yet, sometimes I'm too familiar with my relationship. I let the rhythm of His grace sing me to sleep.

It's good to be in awe all over again - not like a new child, but as a favored one.

Thanks Papa. Your grace still amazes me!

Remembering what I forget

Today marks an amazing anniversary for my country - and my family. We were landing in Frankfurt, Germany right about the time the first plane struck the WTC towers. As it would turn out, we would be one of the last international flights allowed out of the U.S. and one week later we would land at O'Hare airport in Chicago to a virtually empty concourse (and we would represent one of the first flights allowed back into the country).

My memories of 9/11 are far more personal than they are national. I never viewed endless footage or listened to the talking heads. Our first newspaper was 36 hours after our landing and it was in the German language.

We focused on whether we would ever be able to get back home to our other two daughters. We agonized over leaving Reese in Germany (to attend her school - which was why we had traveled to Germany).

Of course, God worked in miraculous ways:

• A friendly German culture who grieved with us - unlike two years later when we would return to pick Reese up and the anti-American sentiment was in full bloom.
• A caring intelligent school for Reese to learn and grow.
• The miraculous experience of being moved to the front of an unbelievably long line of Americans at the airport, because we were flying out on our scheduled day and time and everyone else was facing cancelled flights or wanting to fly home earlier.
• A ticket agent who bent the rules and moved us off a cancelled flight to Paris (our connector) and put us on a direct flight into Chicago.
• A brave United Airlines crew that individually volunteered to be one of the first crews to fly back into the U.S.
• The final destination of Omaha, one of very few flights from Chicago that was not cancelled that day.
• The joy in coming home - and finding a new respect and love for my country and a deeper gratitude to the kind attention of God

Today, I'm remembering what I forgot. Papa cares - no matter what happens. Sometimes in the midst of overwhelming sorrow and tragedy, He listens to the prayers of a frightened family in Germany and Minnesota.

What an amazing thing!

Change the Filter

I just watched a repairman change a very dirty filter in our office air conditioner. Our office calendar reminds us each month that it's time to change the filters. We all understand that in order for that equipment to run at its best, the filter should be clear and clean. Meanwhile, it wasn't changed. It became clogged. The air conditioner stopped working. Knowing the truth about filters and believing it just wasn't enough.

I wonder how many times, I'm operating with clogged filters -especially when listening to someone else. There are times when I see someone else listening with a filter. Instead of hearing the words, they're interpreting the meaning - even before the person is done speaking.

Why can that be so easy to spot and yet my own filters are just as easily ignored? AND if there a filters that I use with people, are there filters I use when seeking the Lord's voice?

Honestly, it's probably not often ... but once is too much. Maybe that's why Jesus made such an odd statement, often. "He who has ears, let him hear."

Papa, thank you for Your filter-free hearing. Give me ears to hear.

Open Heart, Empty Hands

I was stuck today by a quote from St. Augustine.

"Come to God with your petitions, but come to God with empty hands."

It made me wonder, how many times I come to God with expectations that are not part of His plan for me. I remember the story in John 9 where a man born blind was healed and the very religious people of that day could not recognize the miracle. It wasn't what they were exprecting.

How many miracles and messages from God do I miss because I'm looking for MY results - and not waiting on Him?

How many times do I judge what He is saying by what I can see (or think I need to see)?

How many times do I pray for what I want - and not listen for what He wants?

I need to be careful to remember that faith "is the evidence of things not seen."