Shadowboxing

I love movies about boxing. One of my favorites is Cinderella Man, with Russell Crowe. I would even admit that I have watched my share of the infamous Rocky movies. I love how these movies portray great comebacks and I get inspired. I am no boxer, but one of the things I know about boxing is that a boxer, if he is going to be great, must train his body. So, they undergo months and years of exercises that fine tune the fighter to do one thing... box! One of these exercises is called shadow boxing. Shadow boxing is kind of a funny thing to do. It is simply when a boxer practices throwing punches at nothing to refine his technique and warm up the muscles to avoid injury. However, if he never gets in the ring, all his efforts are in vain.

I, recently, reading through the "pastoral epistles" of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. I like to visit these passages at least once a year to remind and refresh what it takes to be a shepherd of people. In these letters, in particular those to Timothy, Paul uses an interesting phrase 3 times. "Fight the good fight." The first two are instructional, the last is himself reflecting on his own life. Something that stands out to me when I look at this command is that it assumes that there is a bad or no-so-good fight. He doesn't just say fight the fight, but rather fight the good fight. In the 1 Tim. 6:12, he further describes it as the "good fight of faith."

He is telling Timothy to give himself to that which matters most. I began to think about this and was reminded that we ALL give ourselves to something. But is it the right thing. We are all fighting a fight... but is it the GOOD fight. If I am not giving myself to Jesus daily, I am just shadowboxing. I can chase all sorts of good things (money, stuff, people, family, health, church, etc.) but I will come up wanting every time, because only Jesus truly satisfies. What do we spend our time pursuing? Jesus said where our treasure is, that is where we will find our heart. It's time to stop shadowboxing and to get in the ring... the right ring... and fight the good fight.

Great Quote...

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."

-- C. S. Lewis

In EVERYTHING...

As I finished off my breakfast this morning, I looked up and saw the trash can that was in need of attention-- as this morning was the day for curbside collection. I stared at it for a moment and was suddenly struck with a verse of which the Spirit reminded me. "...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes. 5:18) Why on earth did the Lord give me that verse at that moment? Am I supposed to be thankful for a full trash can? Being a little dense, it took me a few minutes of meditation for the tho't to finally click as I drove to work.

Having a full trash can means that we have had an abundance of trash which included food (and Easter candy) and other "necessity" wrappers... so I thanked God for being my provider. I was then reminded in a rush of many things that I take for granted, or worse complain about, that are actually blessings. I thanked Him for dirty clothes in the hamper that meant I have more than one pair of clothes to wear. I thanked Him for furniture that needed dusting as it meant that we had places to sit on and unmade beds that meant we had warm places to sleep. I thanked Him for a noisy house which meant my children are healthy and loved.

When I arrived at work, I looked up the verse and confirmed what I already knew. The word "everything" in the Greek means... can you guess... everything! We are so blessed in so many ways that we take for granted.

Lord, please forgive me for not giving you thanks for EVERYTHING, even when the road is marked with suffering. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

The last part of the verse, tells us that this is the will of the Lord. Why is that? Well, I was reminded that the world does not revolve around my comfort or my vain pursuit of heaven on earth. It ain't gonna happen on this side of the millenial kingdom. It gives us the right perspective on life.

P.S. Oh yes, thank you Lord for the wonderful wife that takes care of so many of the things that I complained about!

How Do You Respond?

Having spent most of the last 2 decades of time in youth, children, and family ministry, I have established a few hard convictions. One of those, is that my primary role as a parent is to teach my children to obey (Ex.20:12; Eph 6:1-2). So, like many parents, I have my own phrases and looks that communicate a certain expectation from my kids that even my almost 3 yr old understands.

One of these comes in the form of a question, "How do you respond?" And at this stage in life their expected response is "yes Daddy/Mommy" and do it. Because of their current maturity level, we do not give them much choice in the matters. Our expectation at this point in life is compliance. Of course, as they age, we will allow for interaction as to the "why," but still expect obedience. Their motivation for obedience right now is extrinsic, but eventually, we desire for the motivation to become intrinsic. As I continue to think about what God is teaching me in what I am reading, one of the things I keep noticing about Ezekiel's response, as well as, the vast majority of God's prophets, to God's commands is, "Yes, LORD" and do it.

Think about some of these things God has asked these people to do: sacrifice an only and long awaited son; lead a couple million people out of Egypt and into a new land filled with hostile people; leave business and family and follow former carpenter turned itinerant preacher. Each one of these were blessed and held in high regard by God (see Hebrews 11 for a Cliff Notes list of these). Jesus Christ is the ultimate example to follow. He, though perfect and blameless, was told to do die a gruesome death and take on the punishment of the sins of the world, and his response, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will" or "Yes, Daddy" and did it.

I find myself asking what is it that God has asked me to do today, and then He asks, How do you respond? "Yes, Father and do it?" My life is not my own, I have been bought with a price.

Thy kingdom come...

I heard a fabulous quote while listening to a sermon on prayer this morning...

"Prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie, not an domestic intercom to summon the butler to change the thermostat."

This hits way too close to home for me. Lord, teach us to pray.

Galactic Discovery

I am in a house full of girls. My wife, my two daughters and the exchange student that lives with us. I grew up in a house full of girls (my mom, 3 sisters, and a grandmother). I have been outnumbered all my life in this way, and so I can confidently say I know my way around in the mall. It is not only because I have been there a "bajillion" times with these females, but also because of a fixture that I personally believe was placed there by a female... the directory. I am confident that a female placed this item in the mall because we men never ask for directions. So one time while I was waiting for my wife to finish trying on shoes, I needed something to do. So, I read the directory... I have read many and they all have one thing in common... a little arrow or man on the map with the words, "You are Here."

This morning, I was reading a friend's blog who finds the coolest websites. He posted a link to this sight and it was all photos and info taken from space of galaxies and other space phenomenon. And lo and behold, I found this picture! Hmm... okay, so maybe I altered the pic a little, but given what I have been reading in the Word, it just fit well.

The book of Ezekiel is just weird to me. Some of you Old Testament scholars may eat it up, but so much of the things God asks Ezekiel to do are just foreign to my 21st century brain. And yet, one truth keeps popping up over and over again that I think is very appropriate for us today. He communicates this in two very common phrases, "'This is what the Sovereign LORD says..." and "know that I am the LORD.'"

You see, after almost 30 chapters, God keeps telling Ezekiel to give the people of Israel these graphic images of what He is and will be doing in their near future. After the imagery is drawn, God says these phrases over and over again. I think He does this, because like us they thought they were the center of the Universe, and God is telling us all, "Ah, NO! I am Sovereign." He is God, he is in charge. You would think, as a pastor, I would have this one down, but I still always have to be reminded of this truth. My nature and all of culture is always trying to tell me that I am the center of the universe. But that is just not true. Just look around, and God will reveal Himself that He is in fact in charge.

"...because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:19-20