Under construction

These last few weeks, our house has been under construction. The furniture is moved, things are covered as rooms are painted, and many of our possessions are boxed up somewhere in the house or a storage unit. Our house is a mess. If you've ever been there, you know how disorienting this can be.

Now think about how it feels when someone's life is under construction.

Someone is watching their elderly parent suffer from Alzheimer's.

A teenager's parents are in the middle of a divorce.

A man just found out he lost his job.

A woman's husband struggles with alcoholism.

Like my house, which looks fine from the outside, but is an absolute mess on the inside, we encounter daily those whose lives are messy under the surface.

Remember that person who bit your head off at work the other day? Maybe they just found out their sister has cancer.

That teenager who was rude to you? Maybe one of his parents screams at him and calls him demeaning names.

The older man who seems gruff every time you seem him at the store? Maybe his wife is losing her memory and he is helplessly watching his life-long companion fade away.

We never know the mess that might be inside a life that looks fine from the outside.

I have often heard the saying, "Hurting people hurt people." I have found this to be true. When people are in deep pain, pain is often the only language they can speak. They may not know any other way to express what they are feeling.

As citizens of the Kingdom, we are not called to bring more hurt, rejection, and pain into those situations, but rather love. We should strive to bring healing, not hurt. Acceptance, not rejection. Hope, not despair.

The apostle Paul offers this advice...

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21 NIV)

There is plenty of evil in the world, often right around us. It often impacts those we see every day, even when it may not appear that way on the outside.

As you encounter those who seem angry, combative, hurtful, or distant, remember, their lives may be under constuction. While the outside may look just fine, on the inside there might be a mess.

Our job is not to judge, but to love. To offer peace and blessing to those who may seem to deserve it the least, but may actually need it the most. But really, isn't that what God does for us?

shine!

Jason

Spring is in the air

Over the last week, I have watched the snow slowly disappear from my yard. The temperatures have risen and winter has melted away. And as winter begins its transition into spring, things begin to change.

Birds chirp. Green emerges from the ground. People seem to have an extra spring in their step.

There is something about new life that feels right to us. It brings hope and refreshment.

The seasons of nature remind us of the seasons of life. We all experience times of winter in our lives.

Death.

Divorce.

Debt.

Depression.

Disaster.

The list is endless, but almost all of us can relate to something on the list. We have all gone through those seasons of cold and darkness.

God never promised that we wouldn't go through winter; God did promise spring.

I can handle the cold of winter, because I know that the spring thaw is coming. In spite of the ice, short days, and need for heavy coats, there will be a day when I can wear shorts and enjoy longer, warmer, sunny days.

We can endure seasons of difficulty because they won't last forever. It does't mean we won't feel down and discouraged at times. But, Jesus promises us that even in the midst of death, there is the promise of new life. Paul said it this way...

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4 NIV)

The resurrection promises new life. Renewal. Restart. Rescue.

Paul reminds us that, "he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14 NIV)

We have all had moments of darkness, times when we felt as though we were in a pit of cold and dispair. But into that pit reaches a hand offering help. A Son bringing warmth and light.

Spring is in the air in northern Ohio, but it may not be in the air of your life. When your life feels like the middle of a bitter, cold winter, Christ offers an opportunity for renewal.

The journey may not be easy and the path may not be clear, but Christ calls out to us, "follow me." If we take his hand and follow his lead, Christ will guide us to a place of hope and new life.

shine!

Jason

Together in unity

Have ever been to a middle school band concert? Having spent over thirteen years in youth and family ministry, I have been to my fair share.

The students sit dow, the director steps to the podium, raises his baton, and they begin playing. Sometimes the sounds that come forth from the band are less than, shall we say, harmonious. Not everyone is playing the correct note, following the director, and controlling their volume.

Now, picture you have tickets to hear the Cleveland Symphany Orchestra at Severance Hall. You settle into your seat, the conductor stands before the group, and as he lowers the baton you are overwhelmed by a rich, harmonious sound that sometimes reaches to the inner core of our emotions.

While you hold that image in your mind, let these words from the Psalmist pour over you...

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 NIV)

While most of us can't relate to the idea of oil being poured over a priest's head, we can understand the sounds of a world-class symphony orchestra. The wonder. The richness. The amazement of so many individuals coming together creating beauty.

In the church, like the orchestra, not everyone plays the same instrument, sounds the same note, or uses the same rhythm. Each of us is blessed with certain gifts, using them in certain ways at certain times. We will have times when we are called to work hard and moments when we should rest. Some of us are more delicate and others more bold. Neither is wrong, just different.

Unity isn't about agreeing on everything or doing everything the same way. It's ultimately about following our leader, our conductor, our Lord. Paul states it this way...

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:1-4 NIV)

If we want true unity, we need to focus less on agreeing about everything, and more on agreeing about one thing: that God is God and we are not. We should exercise humility and love as we work together to accomplish Christ's mission, not ours.

Will we be wrong about some of the specifics that we believe and practice? I guarantee it. There are more times than I can count where after study, experience, and prayer, I have changed my opinion on my specific understandings of what it means to follow Jesus. But one thing that has never changed is that I am following Christ wherever he leads me.

And like a good orchestra, when all of God's people keep their eyes on the conductor, something beautiful will emerge. When we embody and exhibit the love and humility of Christ as a body, then the world will take note.

shine!

Jason