Every time I lead a mission trip, people ask, “Why do you need to go away when there are people in your own community that need the same ministry?” It is a fair question. The money we spend to make this short trip could be used to make a difference locally, and there is need where we are. So, why go? Here are my thoughts:

Everyone matters. The lives of people in our community are no more, or less, valuable than people in another location. Each person is of great value to God. Loving those in need is a way of life for those who follow Jesus. A group of 24 people from rural Western New York may be the way someone in a city on the other side of the state experiences the love of God. Jesus said we were to, “ go into all the world,” and “be [his] witnesses to the ends of the earth.” We go to fulfill this call.

We can do both. It is easy to live with an either/or approach to life and a zero-sum mentality. We can fall victim to the false belief that helping somewhere else takes away from helping locally, but that is not the way of Jesus. In God’s economy, there is more than enough for everyone. We can serve people on the streets of New York, and possess all that we need to care for our neighbors because our resource is God’s abundance.

We will be changed. One of the greatest impacts of a short-term mission is what the Holy Spirit can do in us. When we leave our comfort zone and encounter situations that stretch us, we develop a greater dependence upon God. Our eyes are opened more fully to the extent of human need, and serving in the midst of physical poverty can quickly reveal our material excess, and spiritual poverty. Leaving our place of comfort is an invitation for the Holy Spirit to transform us more into the image of Christ.

We will learn. The principles we learn from equipping and practice become tools to better serve our neighbors. We become more sensitive to the needs around us and better prepared to meet those needs. Our compassion is strengthened, we can see Christ in everyone we meet, and be Christ to them.

Of course, we could just go through the motions, give ourselves a pat in the back, and go back to our lives. We are trusting and praying that the Holy Spirit will protect us from such a limited experience, and we are choosing to be intentional about the larger purpose of our mission.

Today, wherever you are, you are on a mission. You are an expression of the compassion and love of Christ. Through you, people see what Jesus looks like. Through you, others will know they are seen and valued. Through you, your community and the world will know the great love of God.

Together, let’s embrace wherever we are as an opportunity to bless others in the name of Jesus. Let’s be intentional servants, grow in our ability to serve God and our neighbors, wherever we are.

The post Why We Go appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

The cross of Christ is a powerful liturgical symbol and a place of power for our faith. While our modern choices frequently place the cross in church logos, bumper stickers, and jewelry, this core image has a rich history among followers of Christ. It is found in the construction of cathedrals, woven into liturgical blessings, and written into numerous hymns and songs of faith.

The image evokes memories of Jesus’ Crucifixion, recalling a depth of love poured out for the sake of the whole world. It reminds us of our need of the saving grace of God, and of Jesus’ call to, “take up our cross and follow him.” The cross symbolizes the protection of God and the consecration of our lives. It is a central image of the Christian faith. It is also a place of forgiveness, love, and power.

Once, only a gruesome form of tortuous Roman execution, the cross was given a new meaning as the Church celebrated the Resurrection by converting a symbol of death into one of new life. It grew to illustrate the profound grace and love of God in Jesus Christ, and a sign of victory over death. The church reflected the heart of God by taking what was ugly with evil and turning it into to something beautiful with love. There is power in the cross.

One compelling example of that power is equality. At the cross, all of us are equally in need of grace, and that grace is equally available to us all. No one is above, or below, anyone else. There are no dividing lines and divisions. No achievement or status can be claimed and invoked. Our past and experience may vary; our successes and failures radically different, but all of that falls away and the field is level at the foot of the cross. There, we are all equal in our need for, and access to, the grace of God.

Matthew Chapter 20 begins with Jesus telling a story about vineyard workers. These day-laborers get hired at various times throughout the day, and when the workday ends, everyone is paid equally. Of course, those who worked longer expected more and became dissatisfied and angry when those who started near the end of the day were treated equally. Those who put in a full day’s work received exactly what they were promised, but it seemed insufficient when compared to others.

We are accustomed to such comparisons, setting our lives against the lives of others. Many of us might find Jesus’ story unfair, and agree some laborers deserved more and others less. Grace and equality can be scandalous. When the playing field is leveled, those accustomed to the high ground feel robbed, while people on the fringe feel blessed and valued, even though everyone is treated equally.

Throughout Scripture, we are reminded God’s message of grace is not based upon merit. We do not get what we deserve, rather we receive what we need. Grace is never earned, it is given. We can only embrace what is offered. When we view grace in comparison to others, it begins to appear unjust, but when we experience grace in light of what we need, it becomes an amazing gift.

The cross may mean a different degree of grace for each person, but it means sufficient grace for everyone. In this simple, yet profound, symbol of faith we see the vast love of God poured out in enough grace for all the world.

Maybe it is time to stop comparing our journey with others, savoring instead the richness of God’s grace for our lives. When we understand that we are not shortchanged, but blessed, only then can we begin to become the agents of grace to others. When that happens, real equality begins, and that is the heart of the message of the cross.

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I remember the first time my son said he hated me.

Our family went shopping at a large superstore. My wife and daughters were looking for clothes, and our son was not interested. I suggested we wander through the sporting goods section. As we looked around, I realized he was standing transfixed, staring into the display case. “Daddy,” he said, “I found a knife I want.”

Recently, he received his first pocket knife. He was excited, and diligent to show his responsibility with the new tool. I smiled at his new interest and made my way to the case to see what caught his eye. Before I could look, he began presenting a well-crafted rationale. He was responsible. He could use this new knife in so many ways. He liked it. He loved it. He needed it.

My eyes trailed down his arm, beyond his pointing finger, to find a knife that was something just short of a machete. I tried to point out that there typically isn’t much need for a knife that big, and that it might be a little too much for him at his age, but he was insistent, “Please daddy, let me have it!”

I love my son and want him to be happy. I could see how much this meant to him, but I could also see the dangers he could not envision. I wanted to follow my emotions and bless him. I wanted to affirm him and his responsibility. I wanted to say, “yes.” Yet, pushing my sentimental thoughts aside, I did the loving, reasonable thing, the hard thing, and told him, “no.”

Immediately, the tears began to flow from his eyes, followed by proclamations of my lack of faith in him, and lack of love for him. Then, in the middle of the sporting goods section, he looked at me and said, “I hate you! You won’t let me have what I want! You don’t love me!”

I tried to explain, but it didn’t help. I restricted his desires and he was convinced it was a sign of my lack of love for him. Telling him, “no,” was nothing short of condemnation in his eyes. My love for him did not waver, nor did my position, even though my heart broke for his pain. I loved him too much to see him get hurt, or hurt someone else.

We returned to the rest of our family. He was wounded and angry, and I still felt the sting of pain that real love brings.

In the last two blog posts, we looked at love and truth. Both are important. Both are parts of the heart of God Jesus came to reveal, parts of what he taught, and parts of how we are called to live. Walking in truth and love is central to our faith, but it can be a painful journey.

When we move beyond mere sentimentality, we love people enough to speak the truth, even when it hurts. Our love is not judgement, nor should it be. It is, however, a love that values their wellbeing over their comfort, and over our sense of affirmation. Real love does the hard thing, even when it hurts, with the knowledge that the truth is always more valuable than temporary pleasure.

In Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, the church, and for the world, he pleaded, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17). It was his passion that we would love God, one another, and the world with truth. In fact, truth is actually a sign of real love and concern.

Recently, I went to see my doctor. He challenged some of my life choices because of the impact they have on my health. I did not want to hear his words, and I don’t particularly want to change, but I know that he cares about me. His words were not meant to harm, but to heal. He was not judging me, but helping me. I would seriously question his care if he put my comfort ahead of my health. I can choose to ignore his counsel, but I put myself at risk if I do. His guidance was not judgment. It was about wise, truthful discernment.

It is never easy to speak the truth in love, but real compassion does it anyway, because we live in integrity, and because we truly love others.

It took a while for my son to get over the pain of that day in sporting goods. He laughs about it now, but it took a lot of time and maturity to get to that place. However, I still remember how hard it was to love him enough to say, “no.” I remember the pain of knowing he saw my love as judgement, and of watching him suffer because of it. I wish it was different, but I do not regret my decision. I love him too much to put him at risk to make him feel good, and I love others enough not to do that to them.

Real love, truthful love, “does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” That is the love of Jesus, and it should be our love as well.

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Today, is a day for love. That’s the way it is explained, anyway. Valentine’s Day is billed as a time to celebrate love and those in love. In spite of its historic foundations, it is a nice sentiment, but sentiment is part of the challenge.

It is far too easy to substitute sentimentality for real love. Numerous people will be making stops today to grab something fast so they have a gift for the one they love. It will be one more thing to check off of the daily action list, or even delegate to someone else. A token and a card and everything will be covered for another year, but is that what love looks like? Can love be reduced to a gift, a dinner, or a card?

Several years ago, I asked a man I knew if he was ready for Valentine’s Day. He responded, “I don’t participate in that. Once you start, they come to expect it.” I suggested that was a little harsh and he silenced me by saying, “If my wife doesn’t know that I love her every day, then a gift doesn’t help, and I am failing to do what I should do.”

There is certainly nothing wrong with celebrating today, and nothing wrong with sharing expressions of our love, but if we reduce love down to a heartwarming verse or a fancy dinner, we are missing the point. Real love is an investment. It is sacrificial, and can never be relegated to a few kind expressions. Love requires work, and sometimes, the work is hard.

Often, when I perform a wedding ceremony, I am asked to include a reading from 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It is an appropriate passage, but it is not just for weddings. It is the definition of what real love looks like. Consider these words once again:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Love like this takes effort. It is an intentional action, not a sentimental feeling. Love puts the other first. It patiently cares and easily forgives. Love believes in the possibilities of what is yet to come and presses on until those possibilities become reality. Love does not find pleasure in self-seeking, but in the truth. Love does the hard thing and expresses itself in integrity. This real love is so much more than making someone feel good. Instead, it is a deep desire to help someone experience goodness.

So, on this day when we celebrate love, give the chocolates, flowers, and cards. Enjoy a dinner out. Tell the people that matter that you love them. Then, after the symbols are shared and the sentiment expressed, choose to actually love. Be deliberate, persistent, and hopeful. Resolve to love with intent and integrity every day. Rejoice in the truth as you humbly consider others ahead of yourself, and always remember, “Love never fails.” (13:8)

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The Apostle Paul, writing to his protegee Timothy, encouraged him to hold fast to the truth of faith, for his sake, and for the sake of those he cared for. He wrote, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5 NRSV)

It is so easy to fall victim to our itching ears, to surround ourselves with people who will always tell us we are right, leaving our thoughts and actions unchallenged. The comfort such a position brings is unmatched, but it also leaves us open to great deception. Navigating our path through life requires more than cheerleaders, it depends upon truth that allows us to see clearly.

A friend, who was a serious smoker, began to see the negative effects on her health. Her doctor began to point out the damage she was doing to her body, and continued to encourage her to take steps to break her harmful habit. Her response to the doctor’s concerns was a search for a new physician. After several attempts, she found one who was also a smoker and unwilling to confront the habit that continued to ravage her health.

That response is far from uncommon. It is all too easy to surround ourselves with people who think like we do, and distance ourselves from those who do not. Today, many join online groups, attend events, and surround themselves with voices that support their position, while unfriending and avoiding anyone who says what they do not want to hear. It seems that we would often rather think that we are right than to be right.

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 NRSV) Real freedom does not come from believing what we want to believe, but from aligning our lives with the truth. Unfortunately, real truth will challenge our beliefs and behaviors. It will make us uncomfortable and direct us to change. It will not be easy on us, and may likely cause us to address places in our lives that are much deeper, and more substantial, than a bad habit. The truth will hurt, but it will also set us free.

As I recently told my congregation, if you are reading the Scripture, listening to sermons, and reading inspirational material, and you are never offended or uncomfortable, you are doing it wrongly. God loves us enough to tell us the truth, even when it hurts; maybe especially when it hurts. God does not take pleasure in our pain, but loves us so much that he is willing to lead us through that pain to the liberty that awaits on the other side of it.

Our itching ears may long to hear what we want to hear, but the real cure is the truth, and that truth will do more than heal the itch, it will set us free from what actually restrains us from living fully.

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Sometimes, the greatest gifts come in the smallest packages. They often seem common, and their value may only be captured by those who truly realize what they have. I feel this way about this passage in John. A common Christmas Scripture, its depth and significance could easily be missed.

I recently received presents from my children. They included homemade coasters and a homemade coffee mug sweater, a homemade piece of art with one of my favorite sayings, and a bottle of ink. To me these are treasures, though others might not give them a second glance. What makes them important is the thought that went into them: appreciation for my love of coffee, a quote that warms my heart, and a a fountain pen ink that I thought I would not find. These gifts are not big or fancy, but they mean so much to me because they represent the thought and the love of the givers. John’s words represent the thought and the love of God.

In one simple verse, one sentence, he depth of he Christmas story is revealed. Jesus, the Son of God, chose to take on our humanness so that he could dwell with us and reveal the glory of God to us. There is much more to the life and ministry of Jesus, but the core of the Christmas message is found in this one statement: Jesus became like us to show us the glory of God.

Consider the amazing significance of that truth. Jesus, the Living Word of God, the One through whom, by whom, and for whom all of creation was made, chose to take on the limited form of humanity to reveal the glory of God and share life with us. This is the Son of Almighty God who we are talking about. Sometimes we use words like “God,” ”Jesus,” “Son,” so much that we lose sight of their real meaning. Jesus, Son of God, chose to dwell with us.

Consider the limitations of taking on human flesh. Imagine the constraints God would experience in becoming human. I look at all the ways my human flesh fails me and hold me back, and I have lived with it my whole life. What an amazing sacrifice Jesus made to be found in human form and to live as one of us.

All of this was to reveal God, and the heart of God to us. Jesus shows us who God is is, what the glory of Hod looks like radiating through human flesh, and what we can be if we allow his Spirit to fully live in us. What an amazing gift, and what a wonderful opportunity to see the face of God in Jesus and be forever changed.

Here, on the fifth day of Christmas, we celebrate the amazing love that sacrificed so much to deepen and define our relationship with God. This is more than enough reason to rejoice. And to share the great love of God with those around us today!

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The past two months were full of surprises and ministry needs that left little time for me to write something meaningful. I experienced enough to provide material for many days of writing ahead but, unfortunately, the free time I carved out of my schedule, usually came while experiencing the impact of sheer exhaustion. Frequently, I thought about how much I missed blogging, but the effort to create a good post seemed like too much to give.

I would love to say that things slowed down, but my schedule is every bit as busy as it was, with a few new things added in. I simple came to a point when I realized that I needed to take action to pursue something I love. It was not going to happen on its own, and waiting for a time that worked was a losing proposition.

In Revelation 2:4, Jesus is speaking to the Ephesian church and he says to them, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” This sounds a little harsh at first, but when we realize it was said as a healthy challenge, in the midst of other affirmation, it becomes clear that Jesus is calling them back to something important they left behind. Some people believe that Jesus was talking about their love for him, but it is more likely that he was addressing the heart of love they had for God, each other, and the world. Their love was growing cold.

It is not always easy to love. When we are tired and drained, the energy to look outward can be hard to summon. When time is short, compassion can be as well. When we are hurt, wounded, or offended, love can be a very elusive thing. The power to let our love grow cold is ours to wield, but so is the power to fan it into flame. It may not be easy to love, but we can choose to do it anyway.

I realize that making time to write a blog post is quite different that stirring up love for others when the weight is heavy on our heart, but the answer is often very much the same. We simply must choose to do it. We must acknowledge our feelings, and all that stands in our way, and choose to love anyway. It may not be an easy choice, but decisions of value rarely are.

So, as I take time to welcome myself back to writing, I am challenged to welcome back the more important love I had at first. Maybe, you need to welcome back your love as well. Could it be that God is calling all of us to remember our first love, and kindle its fire till it blazes once again? Could it be that the first step is saying, “Yes?”

May the love of God rise within you that you may be God’s love to the world.

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I have a list of experiences I regret. Actions and choices that seemed to fulfill at the time led to personal pain, and often had a significant negative impact on the people around me. There are words that were better unspoken, choices that were tremendously unhealthy, and actions that were based in great selfishness.

Like many others I know, I frequently commented on how I wish I made better decisions, often pondering the, “If I had it to do over again…” thoughts. Certainly, I can see many ways I could have made better choices, but I see those options because of what I learned by making the wrong choice. In fact, it is these very painful experienced that shaped me into the person I am and demonstrated the immense, transforming love of God.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesian Christians, said he prayed that they would, “know the love of Christ that surpassed knowledge.” (Eph. 3:19) What a powerful and important prayer that was, for it is one thing to know about the love of God, but is something quite different to experience the greatness of that love. Far beyond knowledge is the awesome gift of God’s gracious, forgiving, and transforming love!

Too often, I try to fix the broken places in my life which leads to even greater feelings of frustration and regret. Maybe you can relate to those feelings. What I really need is not another round of trying to work harder. I need to experience God’s healing grace that renews the wounded, broken places of my life and frees me for the new life that lies ahead. Instead of lamenting my past failures, I can allow God to help me leverage them to shape my future.

All of the guilt, regret and sorrow we can muster will never change the past and will only hold us captive where are. The touch of the gracious love of God will free us from the bonds of our history and the present and prepare us for a future of destiny. God does not want to hold us captive to the sin and mistakes of our past. Instead, we were meant to see the door that is now opened to a redeemed and renewed life in Christ.

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I wanted to be sure that the ones I purchased had no cleaning products in them, so I checked the back of the package. They were exactly what I was looking for, but when I checked, I was surprised to see directions and I wondered what directions I would need to safely clean my touchscreen. They read, ” Wipe desired area.”

I actually laughed out loud in the office supply store. “So, it’s come to this,” I thought, “We are at a point where we need to be directed to use a microfiber wipe to wipe something.” It was funny, and a little scary. Did someone really need those instructions?

The more I thought about it, I realized we are bombarded by shallow advice and information all the time. From near magical diet tips to another set of “Ten Great Secrets to Save Your Marriage,” the priceless tidbits abound. Most of these offering little more new knowledge than the back of my microfiber cloths, but somehow making us feel like we have a deeper understanding.

Sadly, this cheap guidance frequently enters our spiritual lives, as countless voices attempt to reduce our faith down to a few simple directions. Don’t get me wrong, Jesus was clear that the message of the Gospel could be expressed as, “Love God. Love people.” It is a truth grasped in a moment, but learning to live it out takes a lifetime.

Our faith demands an investment on our part. There are no shortcuts or cheap advice, only a willingness to be led by the Spirit as we grow deeper in our faith. It is my hope that the people of God will never be satisfied with another round of obvious advice, but will seek out a deeper relationship with God. There, we can daily grow in the knowledge and love of God, and prepare ourselves to bring substance to a world drowning in the frivolous. It is a challenge worth taking for ourselves and for the world.

Today, let’s choose to go deep; to move beyond a superficial relationship with church or religion, and take hold of the Savior of the world. Let’s echo the words of the first disciples when they said, “Where else can we go? For you alone have the words of life.”

The post Going Deeper appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Now, with the bulk of those experiences behind us, it is time to begin writing again. I’ve missed the opportunity to share my thoughts, and I’ve missed the opportunity for all of the creativity that comes with sharing with all of you. As we journey together further into this New Year, I look forward to all that God has in store.

Today is the day to celebrate love and those we love. It will be marked with cards, chocolate, flowers, and numerous other gifts. Some of these will be purchased today, on the way home. People who procrastinated, or simply forgot, will run out to find something to show just how much they love that special someone in their lives.

I hope that last sentence sounds wrong to you, because it is. Thinking that a last minute scramble to buy anything that makes it look like we care falls a little short on actually caring. I would love to tell you that I’ve never done this, but that would be somewhat disingenuous. Truthfully, more than once I waited to the last minute, or forgot. I would like to tell you I was justified in those circumstances, but that would be equally untrue.

Loving is an action and it requires intentionality. More than just a feeling of affection, love is a choice to offer unconditional acceptance and compassion. We decide to love, and we make that decision again and again. This is where intentionality comes in. We ought not to try to slide by on yesterday’s decisions and actions, instead, we should reaffirm our love in word and deed every opportunity we find. Just as there is a large gap between finding time and making time for things, there is an equally large chasm between finding opportunities to show our love and intentionally planning to do so.

As you celebrate the gift of love today, and every day, may you do so with passion and intention. May the those you love never need to question your heart as they see your love in action, and may the world see the awesome power of the gift of love from a God who is love in you.

Happy Valentines Day

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