I’d like to strangle them.

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But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you  Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

Who are your enemies?

Who is hurting you right now?

Who is your nemesis?

Who hates you?

Who is trying to control you?

Who used you?

I’d like to strangle them. How about you?

Now, I have a dilemma. Am I Lord (The Boss) or is Jesus? I have to lay my lordship at his feet and bless instead, love instead. I am to want the best for them and do what I can to help that come about. Talk about counterintuitive.

If I pray, who will change? Me? Them? Both? Neither?

I abdicate, Lord, not because I feel it but because you say so. But I think I need a heart transplant.

Consumer or Disciple?

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Daily, we hear or see things that pressure us to buy, have it our way, consume, rate, and expand our choices. Our culture and economy is based in part on consuming. Get my caffeinated, liquid sugar delivery system order right! Will I get a ribbon or a trophy? We’re number 1! Don’t make me wait too long – I’ll bolt. You will never see me here again, the service was lousy. I rate my experience “fair.” You have got to try this place – it’s to die for. In the end, we often wind up getting consumed ourselves; by debt, busyness, isolation from real relationships, the stress of keeping up, and the fear that, we too, are being judged by other demanding “consumers.”

Jesus’ simply asks us to follow. The trip ultimately leads to an incredibly wonderful destination but it takes an unexpected route. In fact the easy route will not get us there. He makes no conditions on our admission to the trip. But he does say that the trip will be sweeter if we have the eye and the heart of a disciple – a follower who needs the experience of others. Will we be a person willing to learn, especially through taming the consumer in us? A disciple is one who is willing to tame, to harness, the heart, body and mind for a purpose higher than, “feeling good.” The purpose is to love recklessly as Christ himself did. The follower, it turns out, empties herself in order to experience fullness.

Today, how would you describe yourself? Your trip? Will the path you are taking bring you peace?

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)

Who or What is Our God?

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People’s opinion of me?
            My childhood?
                        Comfort?
                                    My children?
                                                Looks/Self Image?
                                                            Money/Shopping?
                                                                        Being Right/Hip or In Control?         
                                                                                    Youth?
                                                                                              Fear?  
Drugs/Alcohol/Food/Pornography?

            Escaping Responsibility?
                        My Work?
                                    Athletics/Being the Best?
                                                Retirement?
                                                            Politics/Political Correctness?
                                                                        Sameness/Constant Change?
                                                                                    Perfection?
                                               
Can you fit what you cling to under the Lordship of Christ? Must Christ wait in line to see if there are any leftovers?

In the end, we can have but one Lord, one North Star, one Boss. One God who will never abandon us or disappear or turn on us or fade away or lose potency. Each second, we choose.

Which altar will we choose this day?                                                                                    

¹ The LORD is King;
let the earth rejoice; *
let the multitude of the isles be glad.
² Clouds and darkness are round about him, *
righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.
³ A fire goes before him *
and burns up his enemies on every side.
⁴ His lightnings light up the world; *
the earth sees it and is afraid.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, *
at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
⁶ The heavens declare his righteousness, *
and all the peoples see his glory.
⁷ Confounded be all who worship carved images
and delight in false gods! *
Bow down before him, all you gods.
⁸ Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice, *
because of your judgments, O LORD.
⁹ For you are the LORD,
most high over all the earth; *
you are exalted far above all gods.
¹⁰ The LORD loves those who hate evil; *
he preserves the lives of his saints
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
¹¹ Light has sprung up for the righteous, *
and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.
¹² Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, *
and give thanks to his holy Name.          Psalm 97

Some Thoughts on Leadership and Mark 6

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Mark 6:30-46

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. Church leaders need to hold up what they have done to the measure of Christ.
³¹ He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Church leaders need to get away to rest and reflect.
³² And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
³⁴ As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Compassion, rather than duty or compulsion, fuels leaders. Compassion that reflect Christ.
³⁵ When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late;
³⁶ send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat."
³⁷ But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?" Leaders are asked by Christ to move beyond their perceived capacity. Expect to be challenged by the Gospel.
³⁸ And he said to them, "How many loaves have you? Go and see." When they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." When subject to Christ’s call, the resources are there. Inventory them. All of them.
³⁹ Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. Leaders hare responsibility.
⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties.
⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. Christ must be a part of all leadership. Christ transforms our “scarcity” to his “abundance.”
⁴² And all ate and were filled;
⁴³ and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Leaders are stewards.
⁴⁴ Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men. Scripture does have a cultural bias that leaders need to interpret. Scripture is not self-interpreting.
⁴⁵ Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
⁴⁶After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. Even with a break for compassion ministry, the need to get away and to pray remains. Interruptions will happen and need to be addressed. Spiritual derailment, however, is not an option.

What's Love got to do with it?

Many people have the wrong idea. The life of a priest is not quite what you (or I) imagined. In winter, I am the mouse catcher. All year round, I move things and tote things. Oh, and I work as an amateur plumber.

As plumber, I notice things. As a rule, men seem to be proud of what they do. I say that because they seldom flush. I can’t say my parents ever taught me that, but women seem to have mastered that feat.

Have you bailed out of something and left a mess for others? Worse yet, did you do it with a text or email?

Christ expects more of us. Community requires it. The fuel of a family, a business or a church is the trust built through honoring one another, even when it is tough. It takes sacrifice to grow relationships that breathe life. Commitments honored build worthwhile relationships. And, if we need to change things, face-to-face is the way of love.

Is there someone you owe an apology to? Can you find a loving way to honor your commitments?

Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 (NRSV)