Jesus, Not Jesús: Finding The Divine In The Space Between Us.
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact

Which Seed Are You?

3/31/2017

 

The more responsive we are, the more we will be given.

Picture

​We must be grounded and rooted in God's faithful promise to us if we are going to grow and produce. 

In Luke 8:4-18 Jesus tells a timeless story about for kinds of seeds that are "scattered" and "sown." You don't have to be a farmer to understand. Jesus uses plain and simple language to communicate the truth about human being and the importance of remaining steadfast in our faith...just as God is steadfast and faithful towards us. 

The four seeds are thus: The hard-hearted, the faint-hearted, the half-hearted and lastly, the whole-hearted.

If you think about a personal or intimate relationship you've had, it's easy to see how three of these seeds will lead to dissatisfaction at the very least. But the other seed will yield an abundance; producing more than we could ever imagine. 

Simple right? The disciples didn't think so. They ask their teacher to explain in greater detail. This is typical of them...and let's be truthful, for us as well.

The hard-hearted seeds hear the truth and remain unsure which opens them up and makes them vulnerable to attack. These are people who simply don't care. They like the way things are and accept that this is as good as life will ever be. As soon as they learn about God's grace and love the good news is snatched away from them, and they wither up and die without doing anything meaningful but go through the pain broken and alone. 

The faint-hearted seeds hear the truth and respond quickly and enthusiastically. These are the people who love to embrace life like fashion, and change their minds just as fast. Soon their faith piles up in a heap of other things as they chase after the newest and latest thing. But like a fad, it doesn't last; they have only shallow roots. And often the moment their faith is shook,  they give up and run. They spend their time searching blindly instead of embracing the truth that is (and always had been) right in front of their eyes. They remain lost and never fully satisfied with the richness of life. 

The half-hearted seeds really give it a go. Like a student focused on a career they set their sights on a goal and work towards achieving it. They set out to give it their very best. They go all out to learn more and do more, to better themselves for their job or goal. But as soon as the weeds and thorns of life begin to appear they give in to their fears and worries and get choked out by the false promises and pleasures of earthly life.

Too often we are too focused on what we want out of life that we forget what God wants. Yes, God wants us to be successful and goal oriented, but more importantly God wants us to be faithful. The half-hatted seed is often slowly tempted away from God because his goal is not grounded in God's will but his own. Before he can realize what is happening, fear and anxiety creep in. Things like financial fear and social anxieties that come with trying to keep up with the Joneses become the things that defeat them because they believe society above God.

We must be grounded and rooted in God's faithful promise to us if we are going to grow and produce. 

So Jesus teaches us about the whole-hearted seeds. These are the ones that hear the truth and bury themselves in it. They dig into the deep rich soil, and do not fear the unknown darkness. They understand that God is with them, nurturing and nourishing them. 

The whole-hearted seeds quickly  discover that in the dark soil and the unknown elements of life are not to be feared. For it's there God is mysteriously at work, breaking their shell and encouraging them to take root and grow. 

Buried in the ground they sprout strong stems that hold them upright. They grow leaves and extensions which produce more leaves and more growth. Like the human body, we cannot control this growth. Instead we submit willingly and let nature take its course. 

If you ask me, it's in the darkness of the soil where God's best work is done. Think about creation itself. The book of Genesis begins with God orchestrating life out of darkness. The whole-hearted seed hears the truth and gives over completely to the grace of God. As a result, God goes to work, creating fragrant and life giving blossoms that feed the beauty of the world and produce the fruit of God's kingdom. 

By remaining faithful and steadfast to their purpose in life, each of these seeds continue the circle of life as God orchestrates and not as humans seek to dictate. 

We must never lose sight that these words of Jesus are not just about other people, but about all of us. Every time we hear the word of God – whether we are reading the Bible or listening to a talk, we must remain mindful of how we listen...and how we respond. Faith is a verb in which the whole of your life responds to the word of God. 

The more responsive we are, the more we will be given.

Bread from heaven. Water from a stone.

3/29/2017

 

I'd like to share this wonderful gift of wordsmith with all who are in the midst of their Lenten journey. It's taken from the devotional "A Slice of Infinity" and was written by the talented Margaret Manning Shull.

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.(1)

The Gospel of Mark begins with this intriguing narrative of the Spirit compelling Jesus into the wilderness to be tested and to make his home among wild beasts. The original Greek language is so forceful as to imply that the Spirit literally expelled Jesus into this land of wild beasts and satanic attack. It is even more striking when compared to Matthew and Luke’s gospels, which both suggest that Jesus was “led by the Spirit” who accompanied him into the wilderness.(2) Despite Matthew and Luke’s gentler version, the point is still the same: the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested and tormented by the devil. It seems natural to ask why the Spirit would compel Jesus into the wilderness.

The history of Israel and particularly the Exodus from Egypt gives some perspective on this question. After four hundred years of oppression and enslavement, God sent Moses to deliver the people and to lead them into the Promised Land. A great drama ensues between the “gods” of the Egyptians and the God of Israel. Ten plagues fall, the sea is parted, and the Egyptian army is swallowed up by the raging waters. And then we read: “Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water…. and the whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.”(3) Israel would spend the next forty years, the text tells us, wandering in that wilderness of lament and bitterness with God being put to the test. Would God provide for their needs or would they come out of Egypt only to die in the desert? From the narrative’s perspective, what began as a great deliverance stalls in the wilderness of the Sinai.

Like Israel before him, Jesus’s story, as recorded by Mark, begins with great drama. John the Baptist announces the Deliverer: Israel’s exile was over, for the Messiah had come. The Deliverer is baptized by John and in front of the crowds declared “the beloved Son” of God. What a tremendous beginning to his earthly ministry. And yet, like Israel, Jesus begins that earthly ministry not with healings and miracles, or with fanfare and great teachings, but by being “immediately cast out into the wilderness.”


As many biblical commentators have suggested, Jesus was re-enacting the great history of Israel in his own life and ministry. He was Israel’s Messiah, their deliverer, just as Moses had been. Yet, like Israel, Jesus would be tested and his test had to precede entry into the Promised Land. Jesus would be put to the test—would he provide for his people as their Messiah, their deliverer? Counter to the expectations of the people, this Deliverer would be crucified and offer his life as the means by which salvation was offered.

For Christians, Lent is a season in which the journey through the wilderness precedes Easter morning. Of course, what is enacted in the season is very much a part of lived experience of many in our world. Many dwell in wilderness spaces of suffering, disappointment, doubt, or sin. Promised lands of hope, fulfillment, and healing seem far off and foreign. In these lands, what do we do? Who will we turn to? In what, or in whom, do we place our trust? And, when put to the test, have the ‘gods’ we have chosen to save us prove to be true?

The journey of life is a journey that inevitably runs through the wilderness. We cannot escape it, nor can we go around it. And yet, in the life of Israel God brings bread from heaven and water from a rock in their wilderness sojourn. God was with them in the desert. Moreover, the gospels present a God who in Jesus Christ did not seek to escape the wilderness either, but was compelled into it. In his own testing, Jesus reveals that a new kind of life can be found even in those seemingly deserted places—God provides even there. While we will often wander in the wilderness, with God’s help we can indeed be transformed by it.

 

Margaret Manning Shull is a member of the speaking and writing team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Bellingham, Washington.

 

(1) Mark 1:12-13.
(2) Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1.
(3) Exodus
15:22; 16:2.

Give. Not Give Up.

3/26/2017

 

"Mother Teresa once gave an interview to Hello! magazine. She was asked the question, 'Is it only the affluent who give?'

She replied, 'No, even the poorest of the poor give. The other day a very poor beggar came up to me and said, "Everyone gives to you and I also want to give you twenty paisa" - which is about two pence. I thought to myself, what do I do? If I take it he won't have anything to eat, but if I don't take it I would hurt him so much. So I took, and he was so happy because he had given to Mother Teresa of Calcutta to help the poor. Giving cleans the heart and helps you get closer to God. You get so much back in return.'

Generosity is not just a nice character trait that people have. It is right at the heart of what our faith is all about. C.S. Lewis defined Christianity as 'a kind of giving'. God has poured out his generosity to you in Jesus (John 3:16), and you are called to respond in faith and generosity to others. The key to blessing is generosity - 'the righteous give generously' (Psalm 37:21)."

How do we give? Better yet what are we to give? Time? Money? Talent? Love? Wisdom? Patience? From our hands to our hearts give generously. And you will be blessed.

I borrowed this generously from Alpha's Devotional "Read the Bible in One Year 2017" from the Bible app.

Yes v. No

3/22/2017

 

In saying "no" I shut my eyes to the blessings around me.
But in saying "yes" I begin to see all that is out there.

Picture
The Message, by Eugene Peterson, writes it this way, "So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith."

Never tire. Never quit. At least once a week I fail at doing either. It's not that it's so hard to "do good," but it's often not as alluring or fun. This lenten season I have been "fasting" from saying no and "feasting" on saying yes. This has been a difficult journey, and yet it has also been a very prosperous one.  I have been tempted to say to my kids, "No I can't do that," or "No, we don't have the time." When my wife asks me to do something, and my first thought is to "I cannot do that right now" I stop and think about my lenten promise and instead say, "Yes, but please give me a moment so I can finish what I am doing."  It's a subtle difference, that keeps me focused on the positiveness and productiveness of the moment.  

This past weekend I had the pleasure of my parents company. Their four day stay was packed with things they wanted to do, and things that would be the last thing I'd want to do. But I didn't have that luxury. I had to say yes. I drove them to see an old friend where we spent the day listening to wonderful stories of her and Picasso's daughter, and feeding raccoons in the middle of the night, and not to mention offer her company when there had been none.

On the drive home, instead of taking the freeway, we took back roads. As we drove through the small suburban towns of Southern California, we were blessed with spring blooms bursting from the ground to the trees. 50+ miles of beauty that I would have missed otherwise. Same was true the next day when they asked to go to the Antelope Valley State Park to see the wild poppies in bloom. Yes, I would have rather stayed at home. Yes, I would have chosen anything other than wasting gas and racking up miles on the car. Yet, I said yes and God rewarded me. 

What I've learned so far is that in saying "no" I close myself off, I shut my eyes to the blessings around me. But in saying yes, I begin to see all that is out there. Yes, it is often tiresome to do it, but it has produced some wonderful rewards.

Like this passage, it reminds me never to tire or never quit. Even though I want to say no, it's in my feasting on the "yes" that keeps me motivated, and continues to yield a surprising reward. Jesus tells us there is work to be done. And while that work may seem like an endless, tiresome task...keep on going. Stay with it and look for the Spirit (which is always  present) for your strength.

So what do you say? Will you say "Yes" today? I bet you something good will happen if you do.

Eating Twinkies With God

3/20/2017

 
Picture
Ok, as an ex-copywriter and Creative Director I can honestly say that this is not the worlds best big budget commercial, but it's worth watching. Director Meir Kay created this tender spot that I believe speaks to the very heart of Jesus' message. That is to say, we don't have to look far and wide to find God...question is which one of these two pictured above is God? Watch the spot and decide. 

Watch the clip: Eating Twinkies With God

Faithfulness is the goal

3/19/2017

0 Comments

 

Consider a relationship you are in. Your marriage, a team at work, a new or old friendship, or maybe with a doctor or contractor. Unless you're a hermit or recluse, you are always faced with being in a relationship. Some are more intimate than others.

Because we only have control over the way we enter and behave in our relationships, it is not possible to judge their success accurately. Yet we do. What does "a successful relationship" look like to you?

Again, consider a relationship you are in. How would you define it? Or what goals have you set for it? If it's a personal relationship, is it safe to say that one of the goals is to become closer and more intimate? Perhaps its a business partnership, is your goal to lesp up the ladder and make lots of money? Or maybe to grow the company to be the best in its field?

We can work hard, put in the long hard hours, make the money and grow the business and still not be content or feel successful. We can be fully committed and fully present in a marriage, and it can still fall apart. Why is this?

Relationships are tricky, and the more you want them to be successful the more likely they are to harm you or let you down. Why? Maybe it's in the way we define what success is, what it's suppose to look like and how it's supposed to act. Yet one person's definition might be different from the other. And that is where the problem begins.

Mother Theresa, the newly daunted and probably the most famed Roman Catholic nun and missionary in our lifetime said, "I do not pray for success, but instead I ask for faithfulness." This prayer can go two ways: our faithfulness to God and God's faithfulness to us.

Faithfulness (or unfaithfulness) is what defines us and our place in relationships, be it with others or with God. It not only makes us vulnerable but also gives us strength. Best of all, it keeps us honest, focused, and always moving forward towards a better goal.

Jesus puts faithfulness alongside of justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23). In Galatians, Paul writes, Faithfulness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It has and is the power to transform relationships to be more fruitful and loving.  

The success of God at work in our life, and in the world around us goes back to the covenant promise God made to humanity and to all creation. The world, in my opinion, would be in worse chaos if God was not faithful to the grace and mercy of pure divine love. And it is in that faithfulness that still defines the bar we set as we enter into every relationship.

God's faithfulness towards us gives us the examples to follow and teaches us how how we are to be and behave with our Creator. As the product of such faithfulness begins to grow, it also begins to overflow in our daily lives; our marriages, friendships and partnerships, from the most intimate to the most benign.

By following God's example, asking to be faithful and not merely successful, we begin to live fully and freely in the grace and mercy that is given to us in perfect love by God. It is here, fully alive in God through Christ, we become more faithful to ourselves and to our call to love and care for others.

As St. Teresa demonstrated so well, harder we work towards being faithful to God, the easier it becomes to be successful in all we set out to do. Our relationships begin to flourish, love and trust begins to deepen, and fear (I.e., of failure) dissipate allowing us to live fully and freely as God intended.

Take a moment to think about how faithfulness can redefine your relationship with a loved one or a stranger.

0 Comments

Money = Blessing (not)

3/9/2017

 

At the last funeral I officiated, the cousin who spoke of the deceased said this, "Kevin had a philosophy that there are some things money can fix, and somethings it just can't."

There are those who have the financial means to fix the stuff that breaks down in their lives; a car, an old termite ridden fence, worn out wardrobe. Most people who are lucky enough to have the cash on hand often discount themselves as being "blessed." And in many ways they are.

But what does that say about those who are unable to keep their head above water when things aren't broken in their life? Are they "less blessed?"

As I write this thought, I am sitting outside in the warm sunshine while others I know are stuck indoors escaping the freezing cold. I am also sitting in the backyard of my home while less than a mile away from a makeshift "skidrow" where men and women and families who have lost everything do their best to survive. Am I really more blessed than them? I, like them, have no job, no income coming in.

And as I sit in the warmth of my fenced in backyard, I begin to see wasp nest forming on my tattered roof, I see a fence that is held up by rope, and spots along the deck where the termites have returned. I see these things and fear begins to overtake me. The sun no longer feels warm but angry...like it's going to make my grass wither and die if I don't spend money to water it.

Have you ever felt that fear? Whether you are one with money or one without or somewhere in between, I'm sure you've experienced that heavy weight that living in this world places on us. I struggle with this, moreso now that I am not working. What will we need to sacrifice in order to fix the fence? What will one child have to go without because another needs cleets for softball? These are legitimate concerns for many in this world. But it doesn't mean we are any less blessed.

How do you see the blessings in front of you?

Looking back at Kevin's philosophy, there are some things money can fix. Money can fix termite damage, broken fences, wasp nest and bad roofs. But money can't fix me. I am broken and in constant need of repair. And yet, there is God...with a set of God wrenches in hand...ready to repair and redeem me. Free of charge. The repair bill has been paid for. A blessing that levels the field so all can participate in life, restored and renewed.

What money can't fix, God does. In fact, God already has. That is the Blessing we are given. Blessed are those who are called children of God.

The Fear of The Other

3/8/2017

 

Who do you trust your fear to?

Henri Nouwen shares this:
"One of the hardest spiritual tasks is to live without prejudices. Sometimes we aren't even aware how deeply rooted our prejudices are. We may think that we relate to people who are different from us in colour, religion, sexual orientation, or lifestyle as equals, but in concrete circumstances our spontaneous thoughts, uncensored words, and knee-jerk reactions often reveal that our prejudices are still there."

"Strangers, people different than we are, stir up fear, discomfort, suspicion, and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security just by being "other." Only when we fully claim that God loves us in an unconditional way and look at "those other persons" as equally loved can we begin to discover that the great variety in being human is an expression of the immense richness of God's heart. Then the need to prejudge people can gradually disappear."


Who or what do you fear that makes you uncomfortable? Who do you trust your fear to? For me, like Nouwen,I trust my fears and insecurities to God. I don't always do it in the moment, and sometimes it's not until I am safely away from whatever danger or fear that shakes and rattles my being. But each time I run to God in fear I get a little better at reminding myself that I don't have to always run away because God is always there. Even in the face of the stranger or strangeness.

Prayer for Lent

3/5/2017

 
Picture
God of the living and of the resurrected, during this season of Lent bring me closer to you. Prepare my heart and my home for silence and solitude so that I may discover your grace throughout my entire being. Strengthen me with you Spirit to fast form those things that threaten my well-being, and help me to feast on all that is good so that I may be faithful to the ways of Christ Jesus, who gave over his power and life to redeem me back to you. Amen.

Power = Peace

3/4/2017

 

We fear being powerless because the temptation to use power to our advantage also has a reverse effect, in that the very power we wield can also be used on us.

Picture
"Peace through Power" was the  government's motto during the formative years of my youth. The thought was if we out spend the rest of the world on military and weapons we'd be in a better position to flex our power abroad.

Later on in life, I'd come to understand that with such power came great responsibility; one that we as a nation and especially our government would constantly fail to uphold. I say this because we still have not attained peace. This is not the complete fault of the government or the people we put in charge. The very idea itself is flawed.

Now, as our government renews the rhetoric to increase spending on its military muscle, I can't help but think about a small but powerful verse in a Psalm that states, "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace" (Ps 29:11).

We all fail in nearly all areas of life when we seek peace through our own hands. Historically speaking, this has never worked with any government, or relationship. We do not own our power, nor do we have any real power to lord over others. Such thinking inevitably makes us slaves either to power itself or to the power of others. It's a no-win situation. Unless...we give in to the power of God, which gives us strength...and peace.

Power, in my humble opinion, is the greatest temptation we struggle with because of what it does to us. Let's face it, no one wants to be weaker, dumber, poorer, less talented, or less anything than other people. Our fear of being powerless is real because just as we use power to our advantage, power can also be used on us. And most likely it will be. There will always be someone stronger. But there will also always be someone weaker. 

Lent is a time to struggle and fail with those temptations in life that have power over us. As you seek to fast from those powers, you also need to balance it by feasting on something that will empower you to overcome the temptation. The question you might wish to ponder is this: "Do I chose the power of the world (money, fame, strength) that limit my ability to find true peace and love, or do I wish to give over my power completely to the power of God's love and peace that is steadfast, righteous, and never-ending?"

During your Lenten journey, might I suggest you place your focus and prayer on being slaves to the power of God, for I believe this is the only true power which is fair and just. It is a power that seeks to save, not harm the individual. It is a power that draws us all together, instead of dividing the weak from the strong. It's a power that turns the world upside down.

Such a power we all possess. It's been planted within us since the beginning of time. As we are made in the image of a Divine Creator, so too are we made with the same power and glory as the rest of Creation. Through our intentional prayer, meditation, and application we become part of that power. We begin to understand how it builds up a defense of peace and joy, even in the midst of chaos.

The irony, if you will, is the one way to increase this power is by giving it away freely to others until we have given ourselves over completely to the power of God's faithfulness and mercy. What is the cost? To paraphrase Jesus, "We must lose our life in order to save it" (Mt. 10:39; 16:25).

This is the opposite of what I was taught as a child. But this is the way of God. The way to real power that equals peace.

<<Previous

    Ian Macdonald

    An ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. 

    "that they all might be one"  ~John 17:21


    “Prius vita quam doctrina.”
    ​~ S
    t. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)​
    * “Life is more important than doctrine.”

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

Be Kind

About this blog

About The Author

Contact

Copyright © 2011