Walking the Garden Path

Following Christ can be very exciting. Following Christ can be a little scary. There simply is no way that I can, in good conscience, tell you that it will always be easy to be a faithful disciple of Jesus.

Ask Peter about his experiences. Ask him if he was scared the night Jesus was arrested. Ask him if he worried what the religious leaders thought about his violation of Jewish traditions and laws. Ask him if it hurt when he was stoned, beaten, and ultimately crucified. Ask him if it was worth it.

I believe our choices are simpler today, and our risks are not as great, in this country. However, the teachings of Christ still require that we give ourselves away in the fashion He did at every moment leading up to and including Calvary. How we manage this life's resources and assets entrusted to us, how we relate to others, what we do with our time, etc., all are areas of discipleship that demonstrate the Lordship of Christ.

Religion often over simplifies the Christian life to a series of rules, dogmas, and rituals, all of which are designed to focus our attention on Christ. But it's easy to make the religious exercize the focus, losing the focus on Christ altogether. It's really important to remember that our actions are supposed to grow out of the relationship with God. And similarly, our actions should draw us closer to Him. But it all starts with the relationship. And the relationship is like any other--communication is key.

The easiest part about following Christ is the time we spend just being with Him, talking to Him, listening, just being. And if we stay there, we might think it will always be easy to know what to do, and to do it. But remember, the disciples were with Jesus the night He was arrested. Even though they were walking right alongside Him, they were scared, confused, and at least one of them struck out violently with a sword. The sweetest thing is that--even in that stressful moment--Jesus just fixed it, miraculously healing Malcus' ear. I don't really like being scared and confused, but I'd love to have been there.

As we walk together with Christ and the family of disciples here, there will be moments of fear and confusion. It's inevitable, because we have an enemy who will confront us. We will likely screw up, individually and collectively, and Jesus will have to fix it. I don't really like being scared and confused, but I really have to be there. And I want to be there with you.

Family at Work & Play

Saturday was a huge day for Calcium Community Church. I love the sound of family when they work together, play together, and just spend time doing stuff.

Saturday, we were family. We worked together, painting much of the walls and ceilings in the new building. We played together, painting and laughing and eating and just having a good time being together.

Our family gets pretty loud. We can be a little chaotic. We can tolerate a lot more of the noise and chaos than I thought! As a result, we can accomplish more than I thought.

I think we may be ready to try some really ambitious things.

Think about it. Pray about it. Get ready.

Learning Jesus

Following Jesus means alot of things, but the baseline has to start with learning about Him.

We all learn in a variety of ways. I enjoy reading, because I can analyze detail, going back to reread things that prompt me to think. I also like listening to the stories of Jesus' life, work, miracles, etc. My grandfather used to tell stories, and somehow, to me, the stories of Jesus are just golden. But maybe the most invigorating learning process for me is experiential. When I am engaged in purposely "living the life of Christ," I am constantly in conversation with God. I want to do my best to think like Christ, act like Christ and just BE, like Christ.

I think the benchmark for learning of Christ is to examine the historical, biographical record of His life, which is found primarily in the 4 "gospel" books of the Bible--Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. When read like a novel, the story is gripping. When read by a devotee, a lot of detail jumps out. When scrutinized, the normal inconsistencies and unique idiosyncrasies of a very special life become the "stuff" of criticism as well as inspiration. The criticisms can become faith challenging, or they can become the very confirmation of our faith that Jesus was somehow, supernaturally, both God and man. The record appears imperfect. Yet, somehow, I am inspired to believe the imperfections are perceptual. I may never understand the perceived conflicts, this side of heaven. But I realize that any life held up to scrutiny will often hold surprises, paradoxes and conundrums for the studious observer.

Having read the stories of Christ over and over, listening to more sermon and stories than I can recount, and engaging in flights of fancy identifying with the principal character, I find myself, at 50 years of age, still fully consumed with the idea that I can--I should--be like Him.

The experience of sharing life with someone changes us. I share my life with Christ. I am changed. I understand, because I try to understand, His thoughts. I see how He lives, and I am inspired to live like Him. I see how He died, how He gave himself away for others, a sacrifice, and I am moved to think new thoughts about the value of my life, and how it should be spent, not just consumed.

When I was a child, I read the biography of Francis Marion (a.k.a. "Swampfox"). I wanted to be like him. He was smart, a skilled rider, well liked, and a man of principle and conviction. I liked those things, and thought him worthy of my emulation. When I read the story of Jesus, I knew nothing else, no one else, ever even came close. This was the life to model. This was the man who changed lives, my life, forever. The Spirit made it possible for me to experience Christ, personally, in a way I never imagined possible. He still does.

And I'm still learning.