the uncommon life

James 1:25

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

It is tragic (and probably partially causal) that calling people to be hearer's and doer's of Jesus' Word has become a cliche in our generation. I caught myself the other day apologizing for saying, "...the Bible says..." because I could see the semi blank stare (and eye rolling) of the people (Christians) I was talking to. Afterward I began reflecting on a couple things that stood out to me in our conversation...

First, I was struck by the fact that it seems today that we are so often inclined to talk about the latest great book or idea BUT wary of going to the Bible for the exact same idea. And the same could be said for any number of spiritual disciplines or "habits". I guess it is because they seem to have become common to us.

Second, I was embarrassed (and angry at myself) that I had apologized for using the Bible to support a relevant idea. I was embarrassed because I felt myself giving in to what is truly common... and becoming like everyone else. This got me thinking about a quote I had written down several months before from A.T. Pierson's biography of George Muller called, George Muller: All Things Are Possible:

The most intimate knowledge of God is possible on one condition - that we search His Holy Scriptures, prayerfully and habitually, and translate what we find there into obedience. (pg 50)

Men like Muller lived lives that were marked with a different set of convictions, a different set of values, and that resulted in strange uncommon habits and priorities. They were driven by a focus on Jesus, generous to a fault, surrounded by simple men and women (like them) building a simple kind of church. They fought with passion for a holy life and often fell on their faces in humble prayer and intercession... and they read their Bibles... oh did they read... over and over... front to back... on their knees... through tears... and with many prayers. That my friends today is uncommon. It would seem that if we are to live the life that follows Jesus whole heartedly we will find that we are in a different sort of company... uncommon not just in the world we share but in the faith we profess.

Lord... I want to be uncommon. Strengthen my "hind feet". Prepare me for battle. And give me courage to live and speak for you any time, any place, at any cost. Amen.

"The Peril of Prayer" 2

Matthew 6:6

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

I've always struggled with knowing how to balance a hidden life of prayer with a community life of prayer. Some of the most powerful times of prayer I have been a part of have been with a few of my closest friends on a poorly carpeted floor around a couple candles. It seems that God's presence is increased in some special way "when two or three are gathered" in His name. And if you consider the idea that I mentioned in my last post - that it is as possible to dishonor God alone in prayer as it is with a group - it gets even more complicated. How are we to pray in ways that make much of God and less of us? How are we to pray NOT like the hypocrites but LIKE the tax collector?

It would seem that the real issue is not one of place - though that can definitely help and is an essential part of a Christ followers journey - but more one of heart... what is the status of your heart as you pray?

Which is a complicated question for sinners like us.

Tozer's thoughts from "Keys to The Deeper Life" are:

"What then shall we do?
We must deny self, take up the cross and count ourselves expendable.
We must cease to exercise the world's judgments and try to think God's thoughts after Him.
We must reckon ourselves dead to gain and glory and allow ourselves to become inextricably involved with the cross of Christ and the high honor of God." pg66

Simple enough...

;)

but what does that look like?

"The Peril of Prayer"

Matthew 6:5

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Recently I read an incredibly potent little book by A.W. Tozer called "Keys to The Deeper Life". More of a collection of thoughts, it is filled with amazing (and challenging) quotes and ideas. One idea specifically was in the area of prayer:

"Nothing is so vital as prayer, yet a reputation for being a mighty prayer warrior is probably the most perilous of all reputations to have. No selfishness is so deeply and dangerously sinful as that which glories in being a man of prayer. It comes near to being self-worship; and that while in the very act of worshiping God." pg65

Oh the hidden dangers of "being spiritual".

The truth is... I love to pray. By myself walking down the street, on the floor of my bedroom, in the morning with a couple of my closest friends, before a service at RE:hope... or lying beside my wife just before we go to sleep. BUT, I know this danger that Tozer refers to well. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about what I think others will find interesting as I pray OR I hear the phrase "I echo my brothers prayers..." and a little pride seeps in OR (if it wasn't my prayer) I think about why my prayers were just as valuable as "my brothers" OR (and this is probably the most dangerous) I think about what I think God wants to hear... hmm... how do you spiritually "butter up" an all knowing completely majestic Lord of the universe?

The REAL truth is that there is a part of me that wants to be known as a "mighty prayer warrior"... a part of me that wants to look more worthy than I could ever be... a part of me that wants to hear "well done" not JUST from my Father in heaven, but from my brothers and sisters in Christ... a part of me wants... to steal... just a little... wee bit... of glory... for myself.

I know... I'm a sinner.

But the problem is... I want my reward - the promised one from that passage in Matthew 6 - and glory seems as good a reward as any. And I want it today, on my terms with payment in full in the here and now... did I mention that I am a sinner.

Fortunately, the Bible (and Tozer) has some thoughts on this very situation.

spiritual beauty

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I don't normally take so long to get through books but, as of late, I have been reading way too many books at once! I think this may be the result of having been on a bit of a book-buying "fast" - after Christmas I just started reading everything at once... not a good idea. That being said, I am really enjoying this little book by John Piper called God Is The Gospel. It has had some fantastic quotes in it that I have not been able to stop thinking about. One such quote is from chapter 4. Here Piper is reflecting on the verse from 2 Corinthians when he says (sorry for it's length):

The spiritual beauty of Christ is Christ-in-action - Christ loving, and Christ touching lepers, and Christ blessing children, and healing the crippled, and raising the dead, and commanding demons, and teaching with unrivaled authority, and silencing the skeptics, and rebuking his disciples, and predicting the details of his death, and setting his face like flint toward Jerusalem, and weeping over the city, and silent before accusers, and meekly sovereign over Pilate (... John 19:11), and crucified, and praying for his enemies, and forgiving a thief, and caring for his mother while in agony, and giving up his spirit in death, and rising from the dead - ...(John 10:18). Such is the glory of Christ. (pg 66)

I have recently been struck anew by the difference between a knowledge of the "spiritual beauty" of Jesus and knowing about God. I seldom think about the beauty of God as seen in the face (or life) of Jesus. It seems so much easier to think of God's beauty as I look to His creation and His mighty works but to see it in the life of Christ seems... different. It is not that I don't see Christ's works as amazing, triumphant, powerful, transformational, revolutionary... even breath taking, I just don't often think of them as beautiful. But as I have reflected (and read Piper's reflections) on this passage as it talks about this light shining into our hearts and giving the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus" I begin to see the life of Christ with a different set of eyes again... the eyes of the heart (Ephesians 1:18) I guess... glory eyes.

And then I realize why Jesus is at the center of so much art, literature and creative revolutions... His life was beautiful. Horrifically, amazingly, tragically, exceptionally... beautiful.

spiritual beauty (2)

Keeping the main thing the main thing!

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God...

I have, as of late, been reading a number of very good books. One that I am really enjoying is God Is The Gospel by John Piper. In it he talks about the main point of the Gospel being God Himself... not just what He gives. I will let him describe it himself:

Propitiation, redemption, forgiveness, imputation, sanctification, liberation, healing, heaven - none of these is good news except for one reason: they bring us to God for our everlasting enjoyment of him. If we believe all these things have happened to us, but do not embrace them for the sake of getting to God, they have not happened to us... The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God.

I find the power of that last statement brings an amazing focus to living this life. How easy it is to get caught up in all the works of God (and our part in them) and lose sight of why it is we follow Jesus - to be with Him. Our pursuit of holiness, our fighting for authentic relationships with our brothers and sisters, our passion for the world and it's lost... these all fall in behind this one main thing - to be with God. Everything that we have (given to us), everything we are (crafted within us), everything we do (appointed for us) comes to us, for us and through us to lead people to our King, Lord and Savior.

Piper poses a powerful question that is well worth reflection and meditation... I encourage you to think about it: If you could choose to go to a heaven right now (enjoying all of it's fruit and riches) WITHOUT God, would you go?

To Mckenzie… and Duncan, Hallie and Celtin

Galatians 4:6-7

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

I wasn't the only person in the family to get books for Christmas. My daughter McKenzie was given a very unique children's Bible (thanks mum and dad) called, God's Little Princess Devotional Bible, by Sheila Walsh. She LOVES it! Yesterday, as we were walking, McKenzie asked me a question of dear importance to her... "Daddy", she said, "am I a princess?" I thought for a bit, mostly because I new why she was asking the question (the book has left quite an impression), and said, "yes, you are my princess... but more importantly you are God's princess." I know, I know... pretty sappy, but as I was saying those last words my eyes actually welled up (a little... dust I think).

It got me thinking.

And as I reflected out came this poem.
p.s. for those unfamiliar with the colors... they are personality types.

To Mckenzie… and Duncan, Hallie and Celtin

A princess you are, as you’ve said it is so
And this call you will live wherever you go.
In the good and the bad, for better or worse
A life under The King is far from a curse.

Whether princess or prince, my prayers for you are
To follow our King and follow Him far…
As He’s made you to be, unique with each trip
I pray you will follow Him as His workmanship.

For McKenzie your heart creative and true,
Filled with a love full of passion - it’s "blue"!
Will take you on journey’s both bumpy and wide
But go you will with your King by your side

He is wonderful and beautiful… He is love it is true
And all of this He is in His love for you.

For Duncan your soul, a friend to the last,
A passion for God came all so fast.
A heart for people, a heart for your King
As "yellow" as they come with gifts you will bring.

He is peace, He is life, a friend, our King too
And all of this He is in His love for you.

For Hallie your mind quick, wild and alive
Moving with courage, fire and drive
Gates will come down with the thoughts of Your head
Your Kings fight will lead you for you are "red".

He is good, He is just and fights for what’s true
And all of this He is in His love for you.

And finally for Celtin your strength it will stand
On Rock, Stone and mortar… no, not on sand.
Built with all care, truth handled with "green"
In front of this world for your King you’ll be seen.

He is righteous and holy, faithful thru and thru
And all of this He is in His love for you.

So our dear children, our gifts for a while
Pursue God wholeheartedly in your own style.
With heart, soul, mind, strength… never give up!
Stand at the ready until we do sup…
With the King of creation, His Spirit and Son.
That day we’ll be brothers and sisters – what fun!
Heirs of the King together we’ll stand
Forever His friends walking full hand in hand.

So, stand strong with Christ, eyes focused on Him
Authored, perfected, forgiven… for Him!!

Love,
Daddy

timothy mark mcdonald

Christmas books

I was asked the other day what I had on my shelf... mmm books...
So here is what I got for Christmas to add to my reading pile! (If you know how these books end DON'T tell)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - The Cost of Discipleship
A.W. Tozer - Keys to The Deeper Life
Scot McKnight - The Jesus Creed
Jon Krakauer - Into The Wild

Should keep me busy in the new year!

reflecting...

Isaiah 53:10

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him...

As I sit on the other side of Christmas day and just before the New Year, I find myself reflecting on this past year and looking to the next. To be sure, there is a lot to reflect on. And though I often find myself wrestling over mistakes and successes of the past year or possibilities of the next, this year feels different, this year I find myself reflecting increasingly on Jesus and His cross. It is an interesting time to be focusing on the crucifixion in light of the Christmas carols still playing over our iPod... but nonetheless here I sit.

I think that I am beginning to learn just how essential it is that we allow ourselves these moments of reflection on the great gift of Jesus AS we reflect on our own lives, successes, failures and futures. Reflecting with this set of eyes seems to change all of our perspectives. On this note, I would encourage you to allow your mind to linger a little longer on Jesus before you begin the process of creating "resolutions"... start with the manger... move towards the cross... and see what is left after you focus your eyes on the life of the Lord that we follow. As you reflect this season check out this recent post at Desiring God from John Piper's book The Pleasures of God. It includes a powerful parable found at the end of one of the chapters in his great book.

Lord lead us on into deeper waters as we follow Your life... Your lead. Further on Lord... further up... take us to where You are that we might see all that we are through Your birth, Your life, Your death and Your eternal radiant light. Amen.

drew moser: Who's hiding from who?

drew moser: Who's hiding from who?
Great quote pulled by my friend Drew from the pages of Henri Nouwen.

Awaken us (2)

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

I love this passage from Romans. It represents an almost "how-to" ish glimpse into what the essence of Kingdom Christianity looks like.

First... love each other genuinely.
Second... hate things that are evil.
Third... when you find something truly good, hold onto it with all your strength.
Forth... love each other with devotion; like a family of brothers and sisters.
Fifth... outdo one another in serving each other.
Sixth... live ablaze with passion for Jesus that fuels service for our King.
Seventh... rejoice because of the hope we have.
Eighth... be patient when you suffer.
Ninth... pray, pray... and pray some more.
Tenth... give generously of your resources, time and life.

A while back I was reading J. Oswald Sanders classic book, Spiritual Leadership - for the third time - and I came across a quote in regards to Romans 12.

"Because he was constantly full of the Spirit, Paul's mind was aflame with the truth of God and his heart glowed with God's love. At the center of his life was a passion for the glory of God. No wonder people followed Paul. He exerted himself to lead. He did it with intensity and zeal. And the spirit of his life was contagious to those around him."

Yes, yes, yes!

I love the fact that this passion (or zeal) is in the center of these verses... like a fire burning in the middle of everything else. I find it so difficult to live this life daily with out this fire. It acts like a furnace for my mind... for my body... for my soul. It awakens the yearning for what could be. It pushes me to do things that seem impossible. It gets me out of my own brain and gets me focused on my neighbors and my brothers and sisters. It calls me to give what I do not have and fall on my face and thank God for what I do... it generates a heart that WANTS to lay down my rights, my possessions, and my life... in other words, it does what is impossible for man.

Awaken this heart Lord to Your love. Awaken my mind to more of Your truth. Keep me FULL with Your Spirit. Fully AWAKE. Fully ALIVE. Let me be contagious to those around me... but most of all show us Your glory Lord. We desire to follow with all that we are... heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.