Cold showers and no coffee

Many of you have joined me on this journey of giving up something pleasurable this week as a way of reminding ourselves of our dependence on God. I love that people are spending more time in prayer, Bible reading and simply a deeper awareness of all of the blessings we receive from God.

Giving up coffee has been a nuisance--I think I use it as a pacifier to get through meetings, etc.

Giving up hot showers has been just downright nasty. We have well water at our house and it comes out of the shower fixture absolutely frigid! Each cold shower reminds me of one of my first trips to Ecuador. I was riding on a bus through a poverty ridden area of Quito. We were returning from a long day of caring for children in need. My head was against the window. I caught sight of a little boy--he was four or five years old. He had no clothes on and was standing on a tree stump. It was chilly and drizzling rain. His mom was hosing him off with cold water. He stood there shivering. It was a horrible picture. It is also an image that I will never forget.

Millions of people around the world, if they have clean water at all, have no hot water. For those of us who enjoy drinkable water and hot showers . . . may we ever be reminded of our incredible blessings. Blessings entrusted to us so that we may be a blessing to others.

Health care benefits?

Researchers at the Netherlands National Insitute for Public Health and the Environment recently released the results of a new study. They said, and I quote, "People who smoke and overeat may do themselves a lot of harm, but in the long run they're actually less costly to society than healthy people. That's because obese people and smokers die younger and thus consume fewer healthcare dollars."

Well, there you have it . . . the answer to our United States healthcare dilemma. We should all eat more and start smoking.

More thoughts on Lent

Let me begin by saying that I am not becoming Catholic, nor am I leading RiverTree in that direction. However, I am also not Protestant, nor is RiverTree a Protestant church. Protestant means to "protest" against Catholicism. I personally am a follower of Jesus who is part of a church made up of Jesus-followers, all of us together doing our best to be the church in a broken world.

Sooo, when we attempt to draw people closer to God by asking them to sacrifice something pleasurable for a short period of time it does not mean that we'll soon be sprinkling babies or asking people to pay a fee for the forgiveness of sins. It is simply an attempt to creatively (and I believe the idea of fasting is also VERY Biblical) encourage people to draw near to God and place their full dependence on Him.

With all of that said, I did not grow up in a tradition that practiced Lent. I don't have a negative association with many of the traditions that other Christians practice. If I have been insensitive to those who have come out of such a background, I am deeply sorry. In no way did I anticipate that placing ashes on our forehead as a symbol of our dependence on God nor giving up something we enjoy to remind us to make sure that nothing has taken God's place in our hearts might cause anyone distress. I pray you will continue to struggle along with me as we together fumble about with the things of God.

For those of you who are finding this to be a very meaningful experience, I pray that you will continue to join me on this journey of sacrifice. Not taking hot showers and not drinking coffee is certainly not enjoyable, but it has spurred me to focus on Jesus and the needs of others in a very refreshing way.

Join me for Lent

As many of you may know, we are in the midst of the season of Lent. Lent historically begins 40 days before Easter on what is known as Ash Wednesday. Some of you may have participated at some point in Ash Wednesday. You go to a special service at church, walk forward to the Priest and the Priest says to you, "You are from the dust of the earth and to the dust of the earth you will return." The Priest then takes some ashes (burned Palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday) mixed with olive oil and paints a cross on your forehead. In high school we could always tell the Catholic kids because they would have ashes smeared on them. I never knew what it meant but I remember thinking it was weird.

During Lent, Catholics and other High Church religions, make a commitment to give something up for a short season. It's a reminder that everything good comes from God. It's a reminder that we are dust and that all of the stuff that we collect here on this earth will one day return to dust. It's also a reminder to care more deeply for those who don't have as much stuff as we enjoy. There is a lot of good to be found in this Lent tradition.

Now, since people are going to be giving something up for Lent, it only makes sense that the day before Lent begins would become a big party. So the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday became known as Shrove Tuesday or, more commonly, Fat Tuesday. And on Fat Tuesday people tend to overindulge in pleasurable experiences. There's actually a national drinking establishment known as Fat Tuesday.

And because we love our excess, some people decided that one night of indulgence wasn't enough, that several days of celebration are needed to prepare for the sacrifice of Lent. So the weekend before Lent begins became what we know today as Mardi Gras. A time of great indulgence. Mardi Gras or Carnival. And Carnival comes from the Latin words carne vale, which literally means "without meat." It was common practice for those celebrating Lent to go without meat, at least on Fridays, for the 40 days preceding Easter. Still today you will see signs for fish fries outside of many restaurants and churches on Fridays during Lent.

1 John 5:21 says, "Keep away from anything that might take God's place in your heart." And that's what the season of Lent is really all about. Is there anything in my life that I have allowed to take God's place in my heart? The stuff we might choose to give up during Lent is simply a reminder for us to ask the question: Is there anything in my life that I have allowed to take God's place in my heart?

So in the weeks to come, during the remainder of the Lent season, as we prepare for Easter, I'm going to participate in this Lent tradition. Why don't you join me? Let's give up some kind of personal pleasure so that we can be reminded to focus on our dependence on God.

Maybe give up coffee for the week? Or desserts? Smoking? Alcohol? Meat? Chocolate? TV? Keep your ipod in a drawer . . . turned off? Hot showers (make sure you continue to bathe, but no hot water)? Maybe you give up shopping?

I'm personally going to give up cauliflower and prune juice. No! If you're a vegetarian, don't commit to giving up meat for the week. Choose something that will have an impact in your life.

In all seriousness, I'm going to give up two things this week. The first is coffee. I drink a lot of coffee every day and so this is going to be a strong reminder for me about my dependence on God. I'm also going to give up hot showers. I love to take long hot showers, so I'm not looking forward to this. But taking cold showers will remind me of all that God provides for me and also of the needs of others to whom I need to be a blessing.

This is a one week commitment and then we'll try giving something else up the following week.

Would love to hear if you're joining me and what exactly you're giving up!

Prophets

I'm studying through the Old Testament Prophets right now.

This morning I read an interesting statement from authors, Wayne Barber and Eddie Rasnake. They state that: "True ministry is initiated by God, which means that it is received, not achieved." This is a powerful statement for me to reflect on. Am I trying to "achieve" for God or am I simply living out the call upon my life that I have "received" from God.

Achievement means that I carry the burden. Living out a call that is received places the burden upon God.

Achievement means that I work in my own strength. Living out a call that is received means that my work is empowered by God.

Achievement means that I receive the glory. Living out a call that is received means that all glory goes to God.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Acts 20:24, But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God!

We have a phrase that we frequently say around RiverTree, Your life is your mission. Is your life one that is filled with "achievements" for God, or is it a life that is reflective of a peace that comes from knowing you are simply walking hand in hand with God as you live out His purpose?

Wax

My friend and mentor, Wess Stafford, told me this story from his childhood . . .

I was a boy growing up in Africa. As a child one of my responsibilities would be to go with the other boys of the village to purchase pots from local merchants. These merchants would frequently set up shop under the outlying mango trees. The heat would be intense and the shade from the mango trees would be much needed. Unfortunately, some of the less scrupulous sellers of wares had another reason for the shade of the mango trees.

I learned very quickly that before making my final purchase I should take my chosen vessel out of the shade and place it directly in the hot sun for several minutes. If wax had been used to conceal cracks in the pot then it would melt and the vessel would be exposed for what it was--useless. If the intense heat had no effect on the vessel then I would make my purchase and carry it home.

Wess then turned to me and asked, "Greg, do you have anything that is 'wax' in your life? Anything that when exposed to the heat of life that will melt to expose cracks in your character--cracks that will make you a useless vessel in the hands of God?"

I think about Wess' question often. I ask God to show me anything that might be wax in my life. I long to be an instrument used by God. Used to build His Kingdom for His glory. I know that heat will come--intense heat. I do not want to discover that I have covered my character cracks with wax that makes me unusable for God's service.

Any "wax" in your life?

Rebate

"The checks aren't in the mail, but they will be soon." So begins an article from USA Today. The President signed legislation on Wednesday to rush rebates from $300 to $1200 to millions of Americans. Congress, President Bush, the Federal Reserve and Wall Street are "hoping the money will burn such a hole in people's pockets that they won't be able to resist spending it." And the spending is supposed to provide an energizing jolt to our nation's economy.

When I was growing up my parents would say to me, "That money is burning a hole in your pocket." It was a negative assessment of my desire to spend whatever little money I had attained. And here's our government encouraging us to act like little children, in a very negative way . . . spend, spend, spend.

What would happen if we all took our rebate checks and paid off the existing debt that we owe? Or if we all invested our checks in interest yielding savings accounts? Or, I'm really going out on a limb here, if we said "No" to the new flat screen tvs, vacations and clothing, realized that we already have more than enough, and gave our new windfall away to those in desperate need?

It wouldn't make sense to the economists but I have to wonder, that if in God's economy, we might once again experience God's blessing upon us as a people?

Lousy T-Shirt

Last night I finished reading Vince Antonucci's book, I Became A Christian And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt. When I turned the last page I was genuinely sorry that T-Shirt was coming to an end.

Vince, in a very candid and authentic manner, discusses what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He exposes many of the misconceptions and misrepresentations that are tragically corrupting the current state of Christianity.

I found myself laughing out loud and softly crying as I read this book. God has gifted Vince with a marvelous sense of humor and is using his writing to ask all of us some very probing questions.

Pick this one up!!!

Beer or baby?

A Florida woman was recently pulled over with a case of beer strapped into the front seat of her car by a seat belt. She said that she wanted to make sure the beer wasn't jostled. Her 16 month old daughter was riding in the back seat without a seatbelt on. Ummm, priorities?

Jesus said, "Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." (Matthew 7:20) What does the way we live say about our priorities? What do you have strapped in on the front seat and what of value are you allowing to bounce around in the back?

Counter-intuitive

Years ago people would argue that the earth is flat. It made sense. If we didn’t know what science has taught us today most of us would still believe that the earth is flat. It’s counter-intuitive that the earth is round. If it were round, then people would fall off!

Years ago people would argue that the sun circled the earth. Think about it for a moment--you stand outside for a day and you can watch the sun go from one side of the sky to the other—it must be circling the earth. It’s counter-intuitive that the earth would be circling the sun.

But, the earth is nevertheless round and continues to circle the sun!

Unfortunately, the church has been known to be a bit intolerant of those who championed counter-intuitive ideas. In 1614, from the pulpit of Santa Maria Novella, Father Tommaso Caccini denounced Galileo’s opinions about the earth revolving around the sun, judging them dangerous and perilously close to heresy. Galileo went to Rome to defend himself against the accusations but, in 1616, Cardinal Roberto Bellarmino personally admonished Galileo to neither advocate nor teach his "anti-Biblical" astronomy.

Is it any wonder that the church of Jesus’ day would condemn him for his counter-intuitive message?

Jesus said,

You have heard the law that says, “Love your neighbor” and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! (Matthew 4:43-44 NLT) As if “being religious” wasn’t already hard enough.

Give, and you will receive. (Luke 6:38 NLT) We think our economy is tough. Jesus spoke these words to a people living under severe oppression and taxation.

What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? (Matthew 16:26 MSG) These words were in response to Jesus’ disciple Peter doing his best to stop Jesus from talking about heading into town to die.

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. (Luke 6:35 NLT) When Jesus said these words, it was the prevalent view of the culture that if you helped someone then you deserved to be repaid. Almost always . . . giving had an ulterior motive.

Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. (Matthew 19:26 NLT) Jesus repeated words like this on numerous occasions addressing a variety of seemingly impossible situations.

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. (Matthew 20:26-27 NLT) This was Jesus’ response to His disciples arguing over who would be the greatest in the new kingdom.

Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:44 NLT) When Jesus spoke these words He understood them firsthand.

Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children. (Matthew 19:14 NLT) Jesus’ words astonished a society that placed very little value on children. Jesus’ disciples were shooing the children away—they were establishing a kingdom! Their King surely had more pressing matters to attend to.

Sit here while I go over there and pray. (Matthew 26:36 NLT) Jesus said this to His disciples in the face of His impending death. Didn’t He have more important things to do?

I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. (Matthew 16:18 NLT) When Jesus uttered these words, His followers were expecting a new kingdom. What does the church have to do with it?

Is it any wonder that the counter-intuitive words of Jesus would eventually contribute to, if not cause, His being crucified?

The amazing thing is that Jesus promised then and promises now that, if we will live our lives in His counter-intuitive manner, then we will live the fullest life imaginable. Counter-intuitive, isn’t it?

Your obituary

Usmagazine.com just released one of those "strange-but-true" bits of information. They stated that the Associated Press has prewritten Britney Spear's obituary! Pre-writing someone's obituary isn't all that uncommon but it's typically done for someone who is very ill or aged. "Of course, we would never wish any type of misfortune on anybody," said AP entertainment editor Jesse Washington, "but if something were to happen, we would have to be prepared."

It would make me pretty uncomfortable if I found out that people were already writing my obituary. Definitely sends a clear message.

The truth of the matter is that you and I are writing our own obituaries every single day by the way we live.

What are you writing?

Recent reads

I've read some good books in the last few weeks (a couple of worthless ones as well).

The Appeal by John Grisham. This is Grisham's latest novel and he once again relies heavily on the American judicial and political system. There's enough truth in this work of fiction to, at the least, raise some eyebrows. I found the book difficult to put down and very disturbing. It's a great plane or beach read.

Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado. I think I've read every book Max has published. This is one of his best. Giants is a study of the life of David with wonderful, practical life application. Max may be the king of word-smithing--unfortunately at times even to the point of distraction. Definitely recommend.

The Sky Isn't Visible From Here by Felicia C. Sullivan. I picked this book up on a whim from the new release section at Borders. Sullivan's book is her own life memoir. It was especially meaningful to me as I continue to delve further into understanding the damage that is done to so many children. Sullivan is an extremely skilled writer. Once again, I found this book hard to put down. It is not for the faint of heart.

Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. Though this is really a workbook--it takes twelve weeks to complete--it is worthy of review. This was my second time to go through Experiencing God (the first time was about ten years ago). I was pleasantly surprised to find the same incredible depth of meaning as the first time I went through the study. Blackaby's workbook is very self-probing and has the potential to bring about incredible life transformation.

Read any good books lately?

Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday is almost upon us. If you're like me, you're having some trouble sorting through the issues as to what each Presidential candidate believes and how they line up with your own values.

A friend sent me a link that is interesting. Click on it. Take about a two minute quiz and see which Presidential hopeful you are closest to. The answer might surprise you.

http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460.