Pure Refreshment 2.13 -> A Christmas Thought

22 December 2007

As I think back about Christmas, three memories come to my mind.  One involves the gift of a bike that my father 'won' at a convenience store (he 'won' it by entering in a drawing, but didn't get his name selected.  He found the winner and bought the bike from him).  Another memory involves the lavish get-togethers my grandparents put on annually, filled with family, friends, fruitcake, and fun.  The third memory has a story behind it that started a few days before Christmas in 1991. 

On that occasion, I tagged along with my father to put gas in his work truck.  As we stepped out of the vehicle, a brisk wind hit me, followed by something cold on my nose.  I looked around and saw in the inky darkness the images of snowflakes.  "Is it actually snowing?"  I asked Dad when he returned from inside the store. 

"Sure looks like it."

We returned home and had dinner, but something was eerie about snow at the beach.  Oh well, I thought, it's not cold enough for the snow to stick, so enjoy looking at it while you can.  The snow began to fall harder, and I soon fell asleep with dreams of a neighborhood football game for the next day—maybe.

The next morning arrived, and after dressing I went to the front door and took a look.

Something was wrong. 

There was at least a foot of white powder on the ground, and snow was still falling.  It continued to come down all morning (the football game was a bigger success than usual) and into the evening.  The big problem was that nobody expected snow to fall in North Myrtle Beach in December, so there was no way to get snowplows in the area to clear the roads. Life in town grinded to a standstill.

It stopped snowing the next morning, but the damage was done, with 28 inches on the ground.  And our town had its first (and only) White Christmas in history.

To many of us in town, it was a miracle of sorts. 

Of course, Christmas is more than snow, presents, and gatherings, despite what one would be led to believe by watching commercials and reading the newspaper.  It says, right in the name, that it has to do with Christ.

And his story was a miracle that far eclipsed unexpected snow in a seaside community.

Why?

It all started when God looked down at the earth and considered humanity.  His creation had chosen to live lives apart from him.  God had already taken the extreme step of flooding the world and starting over with Noah and his family (see Genesis 6-8).  But alas, man's sins and errors continued on.

Jesus explains what happened next in a parable he told the people in Jerusalem a few days before his death (and later return to life):

"There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits. The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the third but he got away. The owner tried again, sending more servants. They got the same treatment" (Matthew 21:33-36 [The Message]).

God sent prophets and leaders to help bring people to an active relationship with him.  Some people listened, but others ignored their teaching and, in the case of a few, killed them.  What was God to do?  He already promised that he wouldn't flood the earth again.  Yet he intensely desired a relationship with humanity. 

Jesus reveals what he decided to do: "He decided to send his son. 'Surely,' he thought, 'they will respect my son'" (Matthew 21:37 [The Message]).

That's where Christmas falls in the cosmic lineup of God's ultimate plan.  Jesus was born under extraordinary circumstances at an extraordinary time in history.  The world needed a Savior.  And there he was—in a dark, smelly cave, surrounded by animals created by God himself.

Yet as Jesus explained later in life, the people eventually turned on him: "But when the farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed. 'This is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all for ourselves.' They grabbed him, threw him out, and killed him" (Matthew 21:38-39 [The Message]).

Thankfully, that was part of the plan all along.  The baby in the manger was born to die.  For without Jesus' death and return to life, Christmas is nothing more than just another story passed on from generation to generation. 

This was driven home to me a number of years ago around Easter, when the pastor of our church mentioned that the wooden cross on stage was made from the Christmas tree that held ornaments a few months earlier.  Without one, you cannot have the other.

So may you take time to reflect on this year and to consider the importance of Christmas in your heart.  And in these upcoming days, may God refresh you, that you may in turn refresh others.

 

"He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute.""
--Augustine

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
--Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)

Have a Merry Christmas!
--J. Alan Sharrer
http://purerefreshment.blogspot.com
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All material copyright 2006-2007 J. Alan Sharrer.  No part of this email may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered email message—without express written permission.

Pure Refreshment 2.12 -> The Perfect Storm

It wasn’t exactly the best night in the world to take a boat ride.

Yet it was the best night.

But before we get there, let’s go to earlier proceedings from the day. Jesus was teaching the people who gathered as he stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. At some point, the crowds got so large that he jumped into a boat and sat down to teach. On this day (as was standard practice), the method of choice was the parable. A sower, a lamp, a mustard seed . . . what did the kingdom of God have to do with any of these? The disciples were uncertain as well, but Jesus in private shared with them the eternal meanings of the simple stories.

As evening arrived, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us go over to the other side” (Mark 4:35 [NIV]). With that, the group of thirteen jumped in the boat, left the crowd behind, and started for the eastern shore.

At this point, it’s important to know a little bit about the Sea of Galilee. It’s not the largest lake in the world, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in the area of geography. It’s almost 700 feet below sea level and is surrounded by hills. This means that winds can sweep in and turn the lake into a frothing, frenetic frenzy. And somewhere between the two shores, one of these frenzied storms reached the disciples’ boat.

As the passengers sat in the boat, the winds picked up and the waves began crashing higher and higher. Before long, water came crashing over the sides, terrifying the disciples—even experienced fisherman such as Peter, Andrew, James, and John (see Mark 1:16-20). In addition, we have no indication in the Bible that the disciples had any working lamps in the middle of this storm! This must’ve been a scary moment to end all scary moments—in the middle of a lake, miles from shore, in pitch darkness, while everyone gets drenched with water from all directions, praying that the storm stops before something horrific happens.

And what is Jesus doing? Is he screaming and feverishly trying to bail water out of the boat? Curiously, the Bible says this: “But he was in the stern, asleep on a pillow” (Mark 4:38a [NKJV], emphasis mine).

In the midst of the perfect storm, Jesus is asleep.

I’m sure the disciples were just as amazed as I was when I read that passage for the first time over a decade ago. He’s asleep? What? Well, he was God in the form of man, and he had been teaching and healing all day. But to be exhausted to the point where a massive storm didn’t cause him to wake up? Wow.

Now the disciples, fearful for their lives, ran to Jesus and said to him, “Master, save us!” Right?

Actually, they didn’t say that at all. Instead, they asked Jesus a question: “Master, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38b [NIV]) I think that’s a fascinating question—especially the word ‘care.’ There was questioning among the disciples about whether Jesus cared about them.

Instead of immediately answering their question, Jesus got up and in the midst of the wind and waves, showed that he was Lord over them both. The winds were rebuked. The waves received a command: “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39a [NKJV]).

Immediately, what seemed to be the scariest place in the world was now even scarier. A massive storm was reduced to nothing with only a few words, and now the Sea of Galilee was tranquil. And sitting inside the boat was God himself, asking them about their faith! No wonder the disciples were terrified! Yet in the end, the boat got to its intended destination, and Jesus’ ministry continued.

It wasn’t exactly the best night in the world to take a boat ride.

Yet it was the best night.

Stories like these have the ability of rocking us to our core and revealing who we truly are. The storms of our life will occur; nobody is exempt from these. However, God uses them to help reveal our true thoughts, intentions, and issues in a number of situations. How do we really feel about the people who have hurt us more than we’ve ever been hurt before? Can we forgive when it seems impossible to do? Who’s in control of our life: God or us?

It’s our choice about what we do with these realizations, of course. But once exposed, we must decide what to do. Do we try to handle them in our own power and strength, knowing that in the back of our mind, they will fail at some point? Do we question God as to whether he cares for us, knowing how much he cares about sparrows and lilies (hint: it’s a lot—and they’re just birds and flowers [see Matthew 6:25-29])? Do we relax and trust, knowing that the one who controls the outcome knows better than his creation? Or do we come up with another option altogether?

The way we deal with the storms of our lives—full of wind, waves, and devoid of light—can truly be times of refreshing for us if we remember who’s in the boat with us and that he cares for us. As you seek him and trust his ways more and more, may God refresh you, that you may in turn refresh others.

-------------------------

“Jesus promised the disciples three things---that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble.”
--GK Chesterton

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
--Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Pure Refreshment 2.11 -> Human Arrows

* Photo is the public domain - http://commons.wikipedia.org

In our society today, it takes all kinds of people to make a company successful. For every CEO, one can find vice presidents, secretaries, messengers, and a slew of workers, right down to the custodians and security guards that help keep a building clean and secure. To this end, some jobs are more desired than others.

A few months ago, I was looking through the newspaper classifieds when I came across a rather odd advertisement for a job. This particular company (or group) was looking for people to become human arrows. I thought to myself, "What in the world does a job like this entail?" Maybe it had something to do with individuals taking packages or letters from one location to another. Maybe it was like being a concierge at a hotel, informing guests of the best restaurants or helping them to secure good tickets to a hot concert. Maybe it was being one of those folks that stands in the airport terminal with a sign reading "Mr. Wilson" or "Mrs. Smith."

I honestly had no clue.

It wasn't too long until I found out what a human arrow was. Driving to the store that weekend, I spotted one, and suddenly it all made sense to me. It turns out that a human arrow is a person that is paid to stand on the side of a road (or at a street corner) and advertise for a particular establishment (as seen in the picture above*). These individuals hold up a sign shaped like an arrow to attract business, hence the name. This method of advertising is being increasingly used by cell phone companies, housing developments, and even restaurants.

After learning what the people who do this are called, I started thinking about our role as ambassadors for the Lord Jesus. In many ways, we are human arrows that have the opportunity to point people towards God. It's not an option if one calls themselves a Christian, but an integral part of the equation.

There are four key traits that separate an effective human arrow for God from one who is ineffective. I hope you find them useful in your situation.

The first and most obvious trait of a human arrow for Christ is that they actually have an arrow to use. Without one, it becomes quite difficult to convince people to stop by the establishment being advertised. A person without an arrow could look just like anyone else on the street corner or sidewalk, for there is nothing significant to set them apart from other people. For the Christian, this arrow is critical because it's difficult to tell others about Jesus if you don't know him in a meaningful and saving manner. And the only way to know him is to understand the significance of his life, why he came to earth, why he died on a cross, and what his return to life means. This can only be accomplished through a one-on-one relationship with him—no exceptions. Thus, one must have this relationship before the arrow can even come into play.

There is a second critical aspect of being successful at the position—one needs to point the arrow in the correct direction. If the young lady holding the arrow for the local pizza parlor turned her arrow the wrong way, passers-by might think that the restaurant could be in a nearby subdivision or even a completely different town. In the same way, the direction a Christian points the arrow is important. As we go through our days, we are constantly pointing people to God or to other less meaningful things. Thus, we need to constantly ask God what he wants us to do, then allow our lives to be directed by him so that the arrow we hold points others in his direction. After all, he desires that all people come to a knowledge of the truth he is and embodies (see 1 Timothy 2:1-4). So why not point people the right way?

Human arrows also must be active in order to attract customers. I've seen some people just holding their arrows, and I've seen others getting a workout from constantly moving their signs, as if to accentuate the direction they want people to go. Which do you think would be more effective? I think so too.

For a Christian, the key is to know that a life for Christ cannot be lived on auto-pilot. It's not ritualistic; it's not academic; it's not spent on the sofa with a remote control in hand. God demands that we get up and actively engage society with all its quirks, foibles, and stains from sin. It's messy, but whoever said that a life of faith would be easy? Not Jesus, that's for sure! (see John 16:1-4 for a look at what he told his disciples before he was crucified) We cannot live lives completely free of engaging with the world, so it's best that we stop avoiding it and start engaging it with the message Jesus brought to earth.

Finally, a good human arrow has to be alert at all times. In driving around town, I've observed a number of these people that acted oblivious to the world around them, entranced in the music coming from their iPod or perhaps just bored out of their minds. If a person works a job, they are expected to give their best 100% of the time, and for people pointing others to Jesus, the same is true. Opportunities will come as God directs them, and our responsibility at those times is to make the most of them, as Paul noted in Colossians 4:5-6. To do otherwise is to not be as effective an ambassador as we need to be.

Are you being as useful an arrow as you need to be? Consider these four qualities, and the next time you come across an individual holding an arrow on the side of the road (or the first time if you've never seen one in person), may you remember that we are to be the same way to those we meet, bringing them closer to God. And as he makes you an arrow (or more effective arrow), may you be refreshed, that you may go and refresh others.

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
--Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

"Truth without enthusiasm, morality without emotion, ritual without soul, are things Christ unsparingly condemned. Destitute of fire, they are nothing more than a godless philosophy, an ethical system, and a superstition."
--Samuel Chadwick

Pure Refreshment 2.10 -> The Well

14 September 2007

There was originally another topic planned for this edition of Pure Refreshment. It has sat on my desk at home, unfinished, for the last two weeks. You will get to read that edition in due time, but something more important has come up instead that needs to be shared.

A number of months back, I noticed that what was originally planned as a biweekly reflection had became less frequent in nature. I mentioned this at the beginning of one PR edition this year, striving to make a more consistent effort to keep up.

Today's edition comes to you with over a month's delay. Why?

As I agonized over this during the last few weeks, I became more and more stressed. It turns out the answer was obvious to me, yet I didn't want to admit that it was the case.

Simply put, the well had run dry.

Now when I say that, I'm not necessarily referring to a lack of ideas, a lack of time, or even a lack of consistency in the faith I claim in Jesus. However, I think a little bit of each of these has played a role. Yet as much as I could turn this edition into some sort of confessional, I don't want to do that. Because all of us need to take a good look at our own wells and see what's inside.

Life moves fast, as you probably know. Despite this knowledge, many of us try to fill our waking hours with every imaginable activity available. This can trickle down to our children, who can be made to feel like they're on schedules even more hectic than ours. In the midst of meetings, soccer practices, social outings, and perhaps church functions, God can get pushed out of the way. If we let this happen for too long, something changes in our lives.

It's not that God has suddenly moved aside, since he eagerly desires that we spend time getting to know him better and become more like him in our words, deeds, and thoughts. Instead, we've done the moving—and suddenly God's off the throne of our heart. He doesn't like anything less than first place and will try to get our attention to remind us how far we've fallen. The car breakdowns, illnesses, and tight financial situations we sometimes experience may be his way of saying to us, "Hey! Put me back where I belong." Hopefully, we respond as he desires and return to a true life of faith.

Sometimes we do. But sometimes we try other options:

• We give up on God and continue to do things as we see fit.
  This leads (if unchecked) to a reliance on ourselves, with God left outside, looking in. Sadly, some people close their door to him, only opening it in times of sheer desperation, or (even worse) lock it permanently.

• We use our past experiences of lessons from God exclusively.
  Without a consistent focus on God and desire to allow him control of our lives, we can easily rely on our prior knowledge of him and our past faith experiences to help us get by. The question becomes: does this actually work?
  
  It can—for a time.
  
  The easiest way to show what will eventually happen is to consider a well filled with water. The situations of life require that we use a bucket and draw from what God has taught us. If we take time to pray, read the Bible, and listen to God's voice, we'll have fresh water to add to our well. If we keep drawing without replenishing, the water level will drop and will eventually be used up. When this happens, we have to make a decision about who's really in control of our life—us or our Creator.

In my case, the level of water in my well had become drastically low, causing a scarcity of topics to write about (hence the delay in Pure Refreshment). I've learned the hard way that relying on past knowledge of a living God doesn't work too well. Friendships don't work that way; why should we expect anything different with God?

The best part about all of this is that all hope is not lost. We can unlock the door and let God back in. We can sit, take his yoke (see Matthew 11:28-30), and learn from him, finding rest for our weary souls. We can enjoy a life of faith where our Creator walks with us, where every day is an exciting adventure, where our well is full even as we draw from it and use it to encourage, challenge, and invite others to see what a vibrant life with Jesus is all about.

So then, please forgive me for not sharing from what should be in my well but hasn't been. And know that the well will be filled again, with editions of PR coming on a consistent basis (that 'mystery' edition will arrive soon).

Until then, think about the well God has given you. And as you allow him to fill and refresh you today and this week, may you in turn refresh others.

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"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
--John 4:13 (NIV)

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."
--Oswald Chambers

Pure Refreshment 2.09 -> No More Black Eyes

This edition of Pure Refreshment will be a little different than normal. I say this because there's something that I've been thinking about for a while that seriously needs to be brought to light—and now.

It involves black eyes.

When one takes a good look at the history of the church since Jesus returned to heaven in Acts 1, there are a few items worth noting. People have come to know Jesus as their Forgiver and Leader in increasingly large numbers. Christians have died for the faith they believe in. And Christians have, to this day, tarnished the faith, whether knowingly or unknowingly, through their words, actions, and attitudes. By doing this, they give their Lord a black eye all can see.

At the heart of understanding these black eyes is the concept of zeal and how to use it effectively in our daily situations.

Sometimes we do the right thing for the right reasons. We, on occasion, do the right thing for the wrong reasons. And there are situations where we think we're doing the right thing, but we're doing the wrong thing and giving Jesus a black eye as a result. All one has to do is open the newspaper or watch CNN to verify this.

I'm not going so far as to say that I'm exempt from being a hindrance to God's kingdom. I know I've said things that have been deemed incorrect, mean, and/or obnoxious (and probably done just as many). But it's high time that Christians get back on the same page in unity and take up the common cause in ways that actively engage those who aren't of the faith–-and not provide them yet another reason to avoid a Savior.

Paul mentioned that he was not ashamed of Jesus because God used his death and return to life to bring his creation closer to him (see Romans 1:16-17). With this, we know that God draws people to him by making himself the best option in lives filled with heartache, brokenness, and despair. In a perfect world, this irresistible force would create a literal heaven on earth.

This is where the concept of zeal comes in. A good definition of the word is "a passion or fervor for something." Used effectively, zeal is both illuminating and contagious. Have you ever been with someone who has been so excited about something that you couldn't help but be excited too? That's the kind of zeal God is looking for—a passion that emanates from the marrow of our bones and produces excitement in the lives of followers of Jesus and those who aren't as well. If that was the case, what do you think would happen?

But when the zeal we exhibit gets improperly focused on a love for money, a lust for power, fighting the wrong battles, or creating a throne from where to pass judgment on others, more people get hurt than one might think. It could reach into the billions. And this is when Jesus gets a black eye—courtesy of us.

This is why not only reading the Bible, but also applying it in honesty and humility, is so critical. James mentioned that to read and not act on what we read is like running into the bathroom, checking out our reflection in the mirror, then running off and forgetting who we are—and whose we are (see James 1:22-24).

So, with that said, let it be known that I am on a mission: to help get rid of the black eyes Jesus has carried for twenty centuries. And I invite you to grab the erasers of love, peace, truth, and hope—and join me. We may not be able to completely get rid of the unsightly marks upon his eyes, but we can help to make his words and truth more palatable to those that need him—even though they may not think so at this time.

How can we do this? We can strive to do all things well in our workplaces, in our homes, around our children, and not allow the world's contributions to look inferior to ours. We can choose to not hang out in exclusively Christian circles, but start engaging a society that largely considers those of the faith irrelevant. We can make sure our words are kind, thoughtful, and not spoken to inflict harm upon another person or group. We can pray, then pray, then pray some more. As a result, people will be changed for the better--including ourselves.

I don't want people saying, "Well spoken!" as a result of this edition. Instead, I want people to make a positive difference for Jesus where they are in whatever ways God desires. I think the time for speaking about what to do has come and gone. It's time to do something and show a zeal the world both needs and reacts to positively. The result can only be left to the imagination.

So then, let's do this thing! And as you help to erase the black around the eyes of Jesus, may God refresh you, that you in turn may refresh others.
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"I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone." --Count Zinzendorf

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, " Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

--Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)

Pure Refreshment 2.08 -> Mistaken Identity

I've been fascinated with the seemingly endless number of reality-based game shows on television during the last eight or nine years. The possibility of getting on national television and winning vast sums of money has lured hundreds of thousands of people to stand in lines or call phone numbers, hoping to be selected for a moment of glory. What I've noticed is that the simpler the game show concept, the more popular it is. Three immediately come to mind: "Deal or No Deal," "The Amazing Race," and "Identity." The latter is hosted by Penn Jillette (from the comedy duo Penn and Teller) and features a contestant attempting to correctly guess the identities of twelve complete strangers. Some are pretty obvious, such as the cowboy who is wearing a cowboy hat, but others are more difficult, like the rocket scientist who is no more than thirty years old. After watching a few episodes, I realized something important: appearances can be quite deceiving.

If I was one of the twelve people standing onstage for a round of the game show, I would be pretty difficult to identify. After all, I've been confused for Stephen Colbert on one occasion and the manager of a retail store on countless others. And if I changed my glasses and added a scar on my forehead, I'd probably make a pretty good Harry Potter. But the truth is that I'm not any of these. Instead, I am me, and I'm okay with that.

But I have another identity that I pray people see when they read anything I write or meet me in person.

Paul shares something fascinating in a letter to the residents of Colosse, a town located in modern-day Turkey. After encouraging the people to set their hearts and minds on things not of this world, he adds the following line: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:3 [NIV]).

In other words, your identity is Jesus. Nothing less, nothing more. To be identified with one who underwent unspeakable pain and suffering—even death!—is the ultimate plan of God for every person on Earth, whether in Boston, London, Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg, or the little town down the street with a population of 300.

It's a humbling experience to lay aside one's personal dreams and goals to claim the identity of God's Son. It's an honor and privilege to be able to claim allegiance with him. It's an incredible challenge and responsibility to showcase Jesus to people who have no interest in associating themselves with him.

Since this is the case, people that have identified themselves with Jesus need to make sure their lives reflect him at every opportunity. The ways to do this are numerous, but here are three good places to start:

·R * Read about him — It's terribly challenging for me to do an impression of a character (say, Willie Wonka) unless I've learned how they talk and react in certain situations. When I've done my homework, however, being that character becomes second nature. In the same way, it's hard to embody Jesus unless one knows what he said, what he did, and his reasoning for the actions he took. The primary source for this information is the Bible itself. To not read and make its truths part of one's life is like describing the taste of a gourmet meal without experiencing it firsthand. Taste, see, and identify.

· * Be available for him — When one identifies themselves with Jesus, one's life becomes a constant opportunity for learning, sharing, and experiencing God. Sometimes it means going to the park one day, only to have an encounter that brings the phrase 'faith in God' into sharper focus. Sometimes it means getting up early and sending an email to a friend who is struggling with the same issue you've recently dealt with. The key is to always be ready, for you never know when God will show up.

· * Pray to him — I think sometimes that we run so fast in our everyday lives that the last thing on our minds is to pray to God about the day, any situations that arise, and to thank him for his innumerable blessings (seen and unseen). If anything, our busyness should drive us to our knees. It only comes when we both a) recognize the importance of communicating one-on-one with God and b) actually do it.

This issue of identity has been challenging for me lately. Less than a week ago, I realized that I had my priorities in the wrong place when it came to where God fit in my life. In other words, I was allowing my identity to become something other than Jesus—in this case, the things I do for him. Now doing things can be good, but when doing becomes a replacement for the actual relationship with God, problems develop. In my case, I started getting stressed out, developed a cynicism that was unlike anything I've ever experienced, and wanted nothing to do with God. It was driven home when my wife told me that I needed to pray about what was going on and 'give up' my mistaken identity and reclaim that of Christ. My reaction was a swift, "I don't want to pray!"

Then I realized how far I had truly fallen.

Only after listening to what she said did I come away with a renewed outlook on life and new determination to be what Jesus is. I never want my identity to be the things I do again, for many people can do those same things—and many of them can do them better. My focus needs to be one that if I was one of the twelve strangers on "Identity," it would be glaringly obvious that my identity is a Christian. May your identity be the same today and every day henceforth.

And as God has refreshed you, may you in turn refresh others.

"Is Christ a noun or a verb in your life? If he's a noun, you may be capable of intellectually comprehending that the Lord is good. But only if he is both a noun and a verb are you able to 'taste and see that the Lord is good'".
--Leonard Sweet, Out of the Question . . . Into the Mystery

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect."
--Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)

Pure Refreshment 2.07 -> Unknown Conversations

One doesn't have to look too far to notice that change is a constant, if not necessary, part of life in the 21^st century. To think that the 8-track player my parents owned while I was growing up has been rendered obsolete by the ability to download songs from a personal computer. To think that the encyclopedia sets found in school gather dust while history is recorded (often in real time) on the Internet for all to see and discuss. To think that the concept of using a road map and asking for directions would be replaced by personal navigation systems (complete with voice assistance) located in the car itself.

Last Christmas, I received a Bluetooth handsfree kit for my cell phone (mainly because I think driving with a phone in one hand and holding a conversation is a safety risk at best). Within a few months, I was pretty adept at using it—or so I thought. While at a friend's house for dinner, I was informed that I made a call to their house at 7:20 that morning. I denied this, noting that I was driving to work at the time. But after checking the list of called numbers, there it was—a call to their house at 7:20.

It didn't make sense.

Until they told me there was music playing in the background.

It turned out that I had called their house the night before, asking if our family needed to bring anything for the dinner. I didn't have my Bluetooth on that day in the car, but kept it my pocket instead. Somehow, I accidentally bumped it, causing the phone to redial the last number I called—in this case, my friends. I was quite embarrassed.

Since then, I have had this situation (unfortunately) occur on a number of other occasions. But I've wondered to myself, What did these people hear me say (if anything) when they answered the call? What kind of example was I unknowingly providing?

The words we use—in writing, in speaking, in typing—are extremely powerful. They have the ability to encourage and comfort. They also have the ability to wound and destroy. When added to a person's tone of voice, gestures, and/or actions, those words can become seared into a person's mind. Considering this, it follows that those who claim Jesus as Forgiver and Leader have a higher standard to uphold on a 24/7/365/life basis.

It needs to be upheld when nobody's around.

It needs to be upheld when we're among a large group of people.

How do we do such a thing? Well, it's important to know that words were never intended for evil by God. Otherwise, I'm sure Adam and Eve's relationship before they ate the fruit would have displayed an element of contentiousness. But alas, the fruit was eaten (see Genesis 3:1-7). And in that moment, words became tools used by humans for both good and evil, a trend that continues to this second. This realization is what caused James to make an incredibly astute statement about the tongue:

A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. (James 3:5-6 [The Message])

The fire alert level in life is always high, so we should do our best to put out fires with our words instead of using them as matches.

Earlier, James stated that "if you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life" (James 3:2 [The Message]). This is why it's good to be reminded of Jesus' example, since he embodied this verse to the core. Even when times were tough, when people mistreated him, when physically broken, he refused to start fires.

But reminders are just that: reminders. To put something into practice, it takes practice. So in the situations we face daily, we must constantly place our hearts on guard. The reason for this, found in the Bible, is that the words we say come from the overflow of our hearts (see Luke 6:44-45). Sometimes not saying anything says a lot. At others, a well-chosen word or words can have a powerful, even life-changing, impact.

In addition, this guarding of the heart is critical because we don't get a chance to fully retract the words we say once they leave our mouth. We also cannot control the damage they may cause if taken incorrectly, even if intended for good. We might be able to apologize if we hurt someone, but the scars can remain and even cause a person to think less of Jesus due to our affiliation with him.

We are unable to do this on our own. This is why we need God's help and assistance in the words we say and our reactions to the situations we face. We don't always get hours to plan our responses or edit them into something more suitable.

And we never know who might be listening in (even accidentally). Our words make more of a difference than any of us realize.

So, what are your words like? Are you setting forest fires or seeking to put them out? If you had a Bluetooth that had been turned on unintentionally, would your words prove to have a positive effect for the other person listening in? What will you do today?

I pray that you would listen to the creator of all words (and that you would pray for me in this as well). And as God refreshes you, may you in turn refresh others.

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."
--James 3:8-10 (NIV)

"Jesus was killed for His words, He would not have been crucified if He had kept quiet." --Oswald Chambers

Pure Refreshment 2.06 -> Waving the White Flag

Before I begin, I want to let you know the reason for the recent delay in Pure Refreshment. Our family has been busy packing up our belongings and moving to a new residence. Now that things have returned to normal, subsequent editions will return to a biweekly schedule. In addition, I will be offering a more media-centric approach to the topics shared (you'll see some of this below). Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and understanding as we continue forward.

One of the gifts I received on my birthday this year was a DVD featuring the comic hijinks of Tom and Jerry, a cat and mouse duo. As I sat with my daughter and watched a few of the cartoons, one caught my attention. Entitled "The Little Orphan," it added a new character to the mix in the form of Nibbles, an orphan mouse Jerry is asked to take care of over Thanksgiving. Nibbles has a voracious appetite and begins chowing down on the feast before Tom arrives and attempts to catch the two mice. Slapstick humor ensues, culminating with an attack on Tom that leaves him buried underneath a cabinet of dishes. A few moments pass, then Tom waves his tail (with a white flag attached) in the air, displaying the international symbol of surrender. In the end, the three stop their fighting and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together.

Let's face it: surrendering is not easy to do. It's one thing to talk about doing it; it's another to put actions to our words. Yet this concept is something that God desires in those he created, loved, and gave up his life for (in other words, all of us). So what does surrender look like? What does it take for us to get to a point of actually doing it? And how can we tell that we're really giving up?

These are good questions that deserve good answers.

And there's no better place to begin than with one of Jesus' most famous parables.

The parable of the prodigal son gives us a good look at the meaning of surrender. To briefly paraphrase the story (read it here), a father had two sons and the younger decided to ask for his inheritance early, ignoring tradition in the process. Surprisingly, the father granted his request, and the young man set off for a life of partying and promiscuity. When the money had run out, a severe famine hit the land he was in. Not having any money left, he was in deep trouble. Needing to simply survive, he offered his services to a farmer in the area, who promptly sent him to feed pigs. Not only was the job incredibly degrading for a Jew (pigs were considered unclean), he was so hungry that he longed to eat what the pigs were eating. Truly, this guy had hit rock bottom; he was broken and had nowhere to go.

Or did he?

Jesus defines the concept of surrender in the next six words of the story: "When he came to his senses" (see Luke 15:37). This means that the younger son had to completely give up, acknowledging that his choices were wrong and that a better way existed. That "better way" was possibly at his old house. Even though he had done seemingly irreversible damage to the relationship he had with his father, he believed even being a servant in his father's house was better than feeding pigs day in and day out. Despite the son's objections, the story concludes happily as the father celebrates his son's safe return.

In today's society, God wants all people to know him as Forgiver and Leader. For many people, this comes in the form of an experience similar to that of the young son:

· There is a deep-seated conviction that the choices a person has made in life have led them away from God.

· There is a sincere belief that a better way exists (in this case, the death and return to life of Jesus) than the path they are currently on.

· There is a real and absolute "I give up; I cannot handle this anymore" moment.

· There is a conscious choice to give God control, relinquishing one's hold on things.

· There is a constant commitment not to return to the former choices, making costly adjustments to safeguard them from happening again.

Then, and only then, has real surrender taken place.

Just because a person already knows Jesus as Forgiver and Leader does not mean that they will never have to surrender again. It sure would be nice, but we have a tendency to return to the struggles we faced in the past, often without too much difficulty. To safeguard against this, the last point above must become an integral part of the Christian's lifestyle.

What gets in the way for many of us involves a number of factors such as pride, knowing what to do yet not doing it, having to face the consequences of our past actions, and simply liking life at the bottom of the pit (yes, some of us enjoy wallowing in our struggles and difficulties). Yet to the one who asks God for help, he abundantly provides. One Psalm says the following:

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord" ( Psalm 40:1-3 [NLT]).

How do you define the word "surrender"? Are there any areas of your life (maybe your entire life) that you need to wave a white flag, much like Tom did in the cartoon, and give up control to God? Will you do it today and not put it off?

My prayer is that you would listen to what God is telling you to do and then respond. I'll be praying for you as you do. And as God refreshes you, may you in turn refresh others.

"If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both."
--1 John 4:20-21 (The Message)

"The tendency is strong to say, 'God won't be so stern as to expect me to give up that!' but He will; 'He won't expect me to walk in the light so that I have nothing to hide' but He will; 'He won't expect me to draw on His grace for everything' but He will."
--Oswald Chambers

Pure Refreshment 2.05 -> Two Letters

The celebration of Easter is unique for a number of reasons. All involve the letters "re":

--A reply from God regarding his love for those he created and the relationship he desires for each of us to have with him.

--The process of redemption that was so costly for Jesus:

a deep betrayal,

a rushed trial,

a mocking audience,

a released prisoner,

a indescribable beating,

a long walk,

a few nails,

a wooden sign,

a necessary crucifixion,

a pained cry,

a victory declaration,

a physical death.

--The people's rejection of who Jesus was and their resolve to make sure once he was buried, he remained buried, not to be taken away by those who were closest to him;

--Rejoicing about Mary's discovery a few days later at Jesus' tomb—grave clothes but nobody there (not to mention a large stone rolled away from the entrance and an angel sitting on top of it);

--The reveal of Jesus to Mary, who thought he was a gardener near the tomb. She realized it was him when he called her name;

--The resurrection and return of Jesus following his death, seen by more than five hundred people over a period of forty days;

--The restoration of God's people to himself, beginning with the response of allowing Jesus to be our Forgiver and Leader. As a result, we're remade on a daily basis into someone who becomes more and more like him (in other words, we're rescued from ourselves);

--The renewal and rebirth one experiences firsthand as a result of taking Jesus at his word and believing that he was (and still is) who he claimed to be.

I know there are more "re" words that can be used, but suffice it to say that the time of Easter is one of reflection, hope, and a reminder of the love we can experience yet not fully comprehend while alive on earth.

May you have a wonderful Easter. And may God refresh you, that you may in turn refresh others.

"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
--Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)

Pure Refreshment 2.04 -> Peter and the Fish

18 March 2007

Why do I like to read the Bible? What's in it that I can use? Is it some book that's full of nothing but ancient history (not that that's bad)? How can it be 'living and active' while being older than anyone I know?

Two reasons come to mind. One is that, quite simply, it contains the words of true life inside. The other involves my imagination.

Before you go "Huh?," allow me to explain what I mean by that. Some scenes allow my imagination to run free with information that is alluded to. In this case, there is the ability to jump into a world like ours but so unlike ours, discovering timeless truth, then bringing it to modern day and making some use out of what I've learned.

It's kind of like jumping into a time machine, setting the dials to whatever year the story takes place in, and pressing the go button.

Sometimes a whole story transfixes my mind. Sometimes it's a simple verse. Sometimes just a word or phrase.

I'll give you an example of what I'm talking about. There's a story found in Matthew's account of Jesus' life that is not discussed too often but has incredible significance in how we are to live our lives. It's also a fantastic example of faith in action, though it's not readily seen.

So let's step into the time machine and take a trip to the land of Israel around 0 BC.

Jesus and his band of twelve were in the town of Capernaum, about sixty or so miles north of Jerusalem. While there, a group of individuals came up to Peter and asked if Jesus paid the temple tax. This tax was a yearly requirement for anyone over the age of twenty and was used to help keep the temple in good condition. (At least it's a comfort to know that we're not the only ones who have had to pay taxes.) Peter replied that Jesus did pay the tax, though it seems that he didn't really know what he was talking about.

When he gets back to the house where they're staying, Jesus doesn't let Peter start the conversation. Instead, he asks him a rather interesting question: "Peter, what do you think? Do kings collect taxes from their sons, or from everyone else in their kingdom?"

Peter naturally chooses the correct answer: kings tax everyone in the kingdom except their sons.

Jesus hears this and says, "You're right. That means the sons don't have to pay taxes." Since God is king and creator of the universe, Jesus, as his son, is technically exempt from paying by this single virtue.

But then Christ says something that causes me to think, reflect, and imagine:

"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." --Matthew 17:26-27 (NIV)

He's saying, "I don't have to do this, but I'm going to do it anyway." Think about that for a second: Jesus would rather do what isn't truly required than allow others to think less of him.

"Oh, and by the way, I'm not going to physically pay the tax. Peter, you are. Here's how: Grab a two-drachma coin from Judas Iscariot, who's in charge of the money bag. Then take that to the collectors and pay the tax for me."

But that's not what he said.

There would be some teaching that accompanied the paying of the tax. It involved a rather interesting series of instructions for Peter.

What he actually said was, "Peter, you're going fishing."

Fishing? For men?

No, for fish. Head over to the lake and throw out your line. When you catch your first fish, open its mouth and you'll find a four-drachma coin inside.

Fishing? A coin? In the first fish's mouth?

Then take that coin and go pay for my tax. . .

Okay-----

. . . and yours.

What? My tax? They were only asking for your tax! They didn't ask me to pay! What's going on here?

Peter now had a choice to make. He could consider the whole series of instructions to be unimportant since they made no sense to his human mind. Besides, Jesus didn't really have to pay the taxes based on being God's son. Or he could throw off all rational behavior, grab his line, and head for the lake (in this case, the Sea of Galilee) to catch the one fish that had a four-drachma coin in its mouth.

This is where Matthew's account of the story ends; nothing more is mentioned about it in the Bible. At this point, we can just imagine what happened. I'm sure there would be some similar elements to most people's thinking, even though we don't know what Peter ultimately did. We could guess with high probability that he did some fishing that day, caught a fish with a coin in its mouth, and paid the temple tax for two—for the king's son and himself. Yet I wonder . . .

• What was Peter thinking about as he walked out to the lake?
• What was he thinking about when he cast out the line?
• What were his thoughts when he held the fish in his hands for the first time?
• Did he hesitate in opening the fish's mouth, fearing that Jesus was wrong and there was no coin there?
• What if the coin was some other coin worth less (or more) than the four drachmas Jesus said?
• What was Peter thinking about as he returned to the tax collectors and paid the taxes?

Take some time to think about the answers to these questions.

Right now.

You don't have to jump in the time machine and return to 2007 just yet.

Stories like this one are, to me, definitive proof that the Bible is a 'living' book and can change the world by transforming the lives of those who read it.

The story of Peter and the fish is an incredible display of faith, power, majesty, and even commissioning, if you'd like to think about it that way.

I'm sure God did some refreshing in Peter's life that day. And I pray that he would do the same in yours. As he does, may you in turn refresh others.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."
--Jesus, John 14:1 (NIV)

"God Himself paints Himself in the depths of our souls."
--Brother Lawrence

Pure Refreshment 2.03 -> The Seasons of Life

23 February 2007

From my desk perched on the second floor of our residence, I can look out at the single tree in our front yard. At this moment, it stands elegantly despite having surrendered its leaves a few months ago. Soon it will be dressed in the colors of springtime, as large green leaves sprout from its numerous branches and will remain that way through the dry, hot summer months—when drops of rain are incredibly scarce. Then, as the temperatures begin to fall, the leaves will take on vivid hues of yellow, orange, red, and brown. Winter will then approach and send the leaves cascading to the ground, leaving just the tree, bereft of anything but the quiet gracefulness it currently exudes.

The four seasons of the year allow the tree to put on a constant display of the greatness of God in addition to a gentle reminder about life. Similarly, we experience periods of time in life (seasons) where God has the opportunity to exhibit his plans for us. An often-quoted verse in the book of Jeremiah reveals the heart of God regarding this topic. It says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11 [NIV]).

Certain seasons of life are easy to determine, such as our childhood, our teenage years, and our adult life. However, these broad classifications hide additional seasons where God shares distinctive lessons to us in a real and meaningful way. Sometimes we may not realize that we are going through a season while in the midst of it, but only later on. At other times, we understand clearly (even if we cannot articulate it to others) what God is doing. In those cases, we need to follow the instructions he is giving us despite what others think or say.

A quick look though the Bible offers numerous examples of its characters going through the seasons of life. I present two (and recommend taking a look at the others for yourself):

Esther was a young woman suddenly elevated to the role of queen at a precarious time in the history of Israel. When her cousin Mordecai learned of a plot to exterminate the Jews, he sent Esther a message: you've got to speak up and do something about this. If not, our people will die—and you as well. He concludes by saying, "Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14 [Message]). After this, Esther begins to act, knowing that her actions would ultimately decide the fate of her people. Happily, the plot was exposed and the offenders were dispatched of quickly.

In the case of the apostle Paul, he wasn't exactly the person you'd want to meet in public if you claimed Jesus as Forgiver and Leader—at first. In fact, the early seasons of his life found him harassing, persecuting, and making life miserable for the early followers (see Acts 8:3-4). He was heading to Damascus to continue his campaign against Jesus, when he was confronted by Jesus himself! As a result of this encounter, he became a follower himself and began "preaching the faith he once tried to destroy" (Galatians 1:23 [NIV]). Before he began to tell others about Jesus, he went away for a period of time to Arabia—likely to be prepared by God for the tasks he was going to be doing (see Galatians 1:15-17). I'm quite thankful that he experienced each of these seasons of life, as they helped to bring countless numbers of people to a firsthand relationship with Christ himself.

But what about today? What do the seasons of our lives look like? In my case, the seasons of my life have been quite memorable, sometimes for reasons I'm ashamed to admit.

There was the 'season of relationship' where I was so enamored with a particular individual at my college that I lost sight of God's plans for who my wife was supposed to be. It took an infamous Valentine's Day talk with a friend for God to help me realize my error (I never did date the girl). I still fought the relationship question for two more years—until the month before graduation. That night, I gave up and told God, "If I'm supposed to remain single, then you've got a reason for this. I don't understand, but I'm going to trust you on this one." One week later, I went on my first date ever—with the woman that would become my wife.

There was the 'season of disorder,' caused by a seemingly odd event—a 70,000 pound crane barreling into the side of my car just yards from the hotel I was going to stay at while on the way to grad school. For the next two years, very little seemed to go as I planned, with even less making logical sense. Sadly, this season ended with me not learning the lessons upon the conclusion of my time in Illinois. It was a year later, as I stood looking out at the skyline of San Francisco, that God helped me to understand what was going on and begin reforming my life into what he intended it to be.

Finally, there was the 'season of recovery,' due in part to living in an area where we simply could not make ends meet each month. In this case, God provided a way for us to move to a new town, where we could get rid of debt while starting to save for the future and our daughter. As a result, our family has grown closer together, while my wife and I have rediscovered the passions for serving others that God had for us all along. We're not sure what the future holds, but it's an indescribable difference between worrying about things and simply trusting that someone bigger than yourself has things under control.

I'm sure you've had similar experiences and seasons in your life. I pray that you would take time this week to think about the journey of life you've been on so far. What has God been trying to tell you? What have you learned (or are learning) as a result?

And wherever you are in the seasons of your life, may God refresh you, that you in turn may refresh others.

"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails."
--Proverbs 19:21 (Message)

"All happenings, great and small, are parables whereby God speaks. The art of life is to get the message."
--Malcolm Muggeridge