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Your Savior is definitely in the lineup!
This is the way I see Piraro’s panel today after reading from Acts Stephen’s time before the council and high priest to answer accusations that he spoke against Moses and the Law.
The Detective is Stephen, the old woman the high priest and in the line up Jesus stands alongside Abraham, Jacob, Joseph. Stephen, says, “Look again. Your Savior IS in the lineup.”
Piraro’s clever panel also made me recollect fondly the ‘Where’s Waldo’ phenomenon that erupted onto the children’s book landscape in the early nineties. That book provided hours of wonderment as page after page commanded your deepest attention to identify Waldo in the huge vast scene of a hustling and bustling humanity illustrating different pockets of the world. You might chance upon Waldo on a first glance, but to be able to find him in each separate scene required intention and focus and patience. And as time went by a person might develop his or her own honing skills to expedite the search, knowing just what to look out for in the next scene.
The HIS-story that Stephen is recounting in the reading today from Acts felt sort of like this – an intentional, focused, patient retelling of where God was throughout their history – their own private Hebrew version of a Where’s Waldo book through which Stephen is leading them. And on page after page, Stephen stops and points Him out and says to the council, “Here He is – remember?” as they look at an illustration of the hustling, bustling Egyptians and the see the Hebrews begin lead through a parted sea. “And there, look at the patriarchs kneeling before their brother Joseph? See HIM now?”
Stephen continues recounting and then he confidently, hopefully, steadfastly turns to the last page, the here and now page of the Hebrew history. And here, he says to the high priest and the council, “Look again. Your savior IS in the lineup.”
Where’s God? Where’s Jesus? The Spirit? To see and know the triune God’s presence I must be intentional, focused and patient so easily lost in the hustle, bustle of life in my little corner of the world.
Mother of, Daughter of, Wife of…and then, Stephen
Today’s Old Testament reading really shaped how I read both the Gospel and the Epistle. It was the last bit of the story of Samson’s parents and how they came to know that they would not die childless.
Though familiar with the story, it was the glaring absence of Samson’s mother’s name that stared back at me. She is described and known as a woman of God who when visited by an angel of the Lord hears the whisper sent and knows that God’s intention, God’s will, is that she is to become a mother. I feel her open heart and steadfast faith. I don’t need to know her name to see God at work in her life, anymore than I need to know Samson’s father’s name but I wonder if there is a deeper meaning that alludes because of her nameless identity. Is there more to the story because she is nameless?
And with this thought I moved into the Gospel reading where another infamous yet nameless woman is visited by the Lord; the ‘woman at the well.’
And then to the Epistle, where we meet Stephen, a very well know, beloved proclaimer of the Gospel, and after whom millions of Christians have named their sons.
This sharp contrast – the nameless women of the bible with the specific naming of men, today, Stephen – has me thinking about naming in Scripture. And I’m wondering if the scribe’s omission of the names of so many women of God established a type of theology that suggests women are a rather generic gender.
I don’t believe God omits Samson’s mother’s name. It is just not important anymore than inserting Manoah’s (Samson’s father) name – or Stephen’s later in the Epistle – is important to the story. These omissions or inclusions have more to do with the scribe than the author.
Though troubled by the disparity between named men and named women in Scripture, at the same time I am not inclined to get in a huff about it or conclude some theology is behind the disparity. No. I just don’t think there’s any deeper meaning to be had by reading either Samon’s mother’s story or the woman at the well story with a chip on my shoulder that those two wholly, holy women were not named by the scribe.
But I’m left thinking about how others through the ages have not only huffed and puffed but determined significant theological meaning and intention in the presence of nameless women in the bible, on both ends of the spectrum and everything in between feminist theology and patriarchal orthodoxy.
Does a name matter? Mother of Samson? Woman at the Well? Stephen? Yes and no. Always yes and no. Both and. I so frequently come back to this understanding of Scripture and what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. I am not able to ever settle in the absolute, appreciating so very much the subtlety, nuance, vastness of God’s hand as author and editor.
The Long and Winding Road
Have you ever thought of teaching Bikram? After-all, you are never bored with it, you have practiced it for a long time, you love to share with others how it can transform a body into good health from the inside out? And there are studios throughout the world, so you could travel – add that passion of yours to the work – meet interesting people?
The list of reasons why I should think about ‘teaching Bikram’ continues and all are solid, good points. And each time this is offered up, especially by those closest to me, I hear this at the end, “You are so passionate about the Bikram practice! Follow your bliss!”
Hmm. Really? I think there is a dangerous, misguided myth buried in the advice to follow your bliss; to think that if you do something professionally that you are passionate about that purpose, provision, happiness and success will naturally follow.
And my thoughts on this are way too complicated to communicate here this morning. I just don’t share the world view that the pursuit of happiness is the point.
But that hasn’t stopped the Spirit from speaking to me with the questions my beloved family members have put before me as they try to help me move forward and up and out of what they might think of as ‘the slough of despond‘ – a deep bog.
They have me thinking about an authentic life Christ-centered life and what it takes to live it fully right here and now. They have me thinking about all the things that excite and enthuse – that animate me, that grow and bring me life. Entheos – in God – things I am passionate about. From where they sit, well, Bikram yoga looks to be in a primary position But, I know better.
Of all that animates and excites, it is the Word and the prospect of ministry that has most enthused in recent years.
This whisper alongside the readings from Acts and the Gospel has me thinking about Jesus as the model and teacher for those called to continue the work that God gave him to do. Jesus said, follow me, do as I do, heal as I heal, say as I say. Many have been called to make their passion for Jesus, their work.
I know that I have not pursued becoming a Bikram teacher because I have no interest in the grueling, expensive, time consuming certification process. Though I have entertained the idea of owning and operating a studio I know that I am more interested and naturally inclined towards the business of running a successful studio than in the teaching that would take place there. But to own and operate a Bikram franchise one must be a certified teacher first. And frankly, in that I have no interest at all.
Not so with the pursuit of my passion for God’s Word and for His church. I am eager to serve, to ‘have a church’ and to do all that the church asks me to do to become ‘certified’ to serve.
But that pursuit has been stalled more than once and I’m thinking about that today and wondering why.
And at the same time and at the end of this twisted reflection, I am realizing I am not in the slough of despond, but yet at the crossroads
, an intersection really, that the Lord lead me to a few years back.
I haven’t moved out of that intersection for a good long while, not knowing really which way to turn. Indeed, the promptings from my family this last week to step onto the bliss path – the passion – the Bikram path – resulted because to them I have been at this intersection and crossroads for far too long.
But, it is where God has me.
Its a journey we are all on, no? And its a good thing, I think, to pause every now and then to get our bearings and to locate ourselves. Where are you today? In the bog? At the intersection? On a new path? And who and what lead you, kept you, moved you, there?
This is what I hear the Spirit saying to me today. And though I sense no whisper or encouragement to move out of this space yet, I do feel movement coming my way. And I know it is not to Bikram.
Come to me…first and always
Ok…in the Doctor’s place, imagine Jesus anyway you imagine him and the patient as you with all your brokenness. This is just what I picture when I hear Jesus say, “Come to me and I will refresh you.” Healing is to be had when I go to Jesus, first and always.
Moses gets a facial?
Well, that’s what many might wonder if they knew Moses personally and in this day and age. Away for a ‘spa weekend’ they might have considered their fearless leader’s time on the mountaintop – time he said he needed in order to be alone and with God. And when he had returned with his face aglow, they were sure to have wondered what treatment he received, what he had done that made his skin look so refreshed, alight and good.
The thought that a one-on-one conversation with God had taken place would likely not have occurred, even aware as they might be of their friend’s intention to be alone and with Him.
And the fear that the Israelite’s expressed (Exodus) when looking upon the shining face of Moses not felt, so blinded by the contemporary cultural understanding that refreshed, shining skin is gleaned from something someone does or has done to them. Something like a really, really good facial. And they would would be eager to know what it was because they would want it done, too.
You look great! Your skin looks great! You been doing more Bikram these days? Eating better? Are you still running?
I’ve had these questions in the pass few months as I meet up with friends and family I haven’t seen in a long while. Friends and family who are aware of my journeys away to be alone and with Him.
Funny how no one ever looks at my refreshed skin, improved physical appearance, fitness or health and says, Hey you talked with God today? Seems to be doing you good. You look great. Skin shines.
But not many have said so or guessed that it is because of my deepened relationship with Jesus that I am, to them at least, looking good. In fact many who are closest to me have seen that deepened relationship as one that has changed me but not for the better. Interesting.
I guess what I hear the Spirit suggesting today is that when God lights us from within and people notice, it is our chance to glorify Him. No, I will delightfully respond if another asks what I am doing or had done to look good, no it isn’t a facial, isn’t more Bikram. Its more God.
Glorifying the Maker? Or the made thing?
For over two weeks I have resisted the temptation to reflect publically on this blog the whispers and touches I have received from the Holy Spirit whilst reading His Word. Though I have read, prayed and written each morning, I accepted the urging of a slightly louder voice to retreat into my own space for a better view of what God is doing with and on me, so personal and painful have the touches been.
The pause gave me some time to think and pray about the purpose of this blog. Is it for my own edification? Or is it something bigger? Something that glorifies God? Am I and my stuff too much in the way of the Spirit’s effort to animate my life?
I think the fact that I paused for over two weeks as I dealt with my own personal stuff showed me that this blog is not about the writer. I wrote every day into my journal, just not here.
No, I write here to insert into the vast public social media arena snippets of the Spirit’s work. I believe that God’s Word is a living, breathing, eternal, wholly contemporary and relevant revelation of God our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And so into the cacophony of pontificating Christian bloggers I have stepped with the still small voice of the Spirit at work in my little corner of the world. I think it excites our Abba Father to see how conversation about His Word has just exploded exponentially as the world wide web has.
That being said, a personal scriptural journal is not wholly relevant to anyone but me. And I’ve struggled a bit to separate touches that fall clearly into the ‘personal application’ column from those that speak to a broader community.
But this morning, I find myself back on this blog with what was a very personal ‘aha!’ that at the same time suggested to me a broader application, both prompted by this line from the Gospel reading:
15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.
People lie. And people lie so often for money; To secure it. To earn it. To provide it. To maintain it. To be identified with it. To buy other people’s stories. People lie for money. People lie for security. For power. For authority. People lie to serve themselves.
Any lying – telling a story to explain something that is not explainable any other way but by truth-telling serves not God’s purpose, but the purpose of those lying. It intentionally keeps others ‘in the dark’; doesn’t allow the light to shine, the truth be told.
And in so doing effects separation from God not just for the deceiver, but for those deceived, too. Entire generations are separated from God – not lost, but separated and ‘in the dark’ – because of a story the Pharisees insisted upon to maintain the status quo – maintain their worship community, their respect, their power, their world view, their security, their authority, their relationships. 
An entire people – God’s people – separated because of the lies bought.
And I’m being prompted to think this morning about those who have lied to me. Or those I know who have lied to others when only truth telling would explain the unexplainable. When light had made its way to the head and heart of the one who later lied, but was when shut out; denied.*
The perpetuation of that lie allows them to maintain the status quo, authority, relationships, money and provision, like the Pharisees were able to do. To continue to live as they were, but now within, a darkness allowed into the head and heart in order to serve self. Their story maintained ‘to this day.’ And I when I think of this, I am moved to tears.
Yes, the truth will ultimately trump. But how sad in the meantime. How very sad.
So how do these two disparate bunny trails connect this morning? I guess in these ways:
- glorifying God: how do we know that what we do, say, and how we live is to glorify God and not our selves? I’m pretty comfortable this morning with the whisper sent me that this blog is not about me. In fact I see today’s post as a hint of how Jesus answers very specific, personal prayers while pointing us to a broader application.
- serving self: this is where the gospel aha! moment intersects with what the Spirit was saying to me today. Serving self is about as far as one can get from glorifying God. Lying glorifies and serves self. Truth glorifies and serves -truth IS – God.
Wow. Long winded one again. I think I’m rusty from not posting regularly. Thanks for hanging with me, today.
Have a great one and God Bless.
*And we all have these moments of denial – even Peter – but we are also, like Peter, given many chances to make right what we have made wrong by our denials – God never gives up on us!
Posted in Whispers
Tagged abba, Gospel, HIM, Holy Spirit, Jesus, pause button, Spirit
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Get into the boat!
It was flooding in the heartland. As the flood waters were rising, a man was on the stoop of his house and another man in a row boat came by. The man in the row boat told the man on the stoop to get in and he’d save him. The man on the stoop said, no, he had faith in God and would wait for God to save him. The flood waters kept rising and the man had to go to the second floor of his house. A man in a motor boat came by and told the man in the house to get in because he had come to rescue him. The man in the house said no thank you. He had perfect faith in God and would wait for God to save him. The flood waters kept rising. Pretty soon they were up to the man’s roof and he got out on the roof. A helicopter then came by, lowered a rope and the pilot shouted down in the man in the house to climb up the rope because the helicopeter had come to rescue him. The man in the house wouldn’t get in. He told the pilot that he had faith in God and would wait for God to rescue him. The flood waters kept rising and the man in the house drowned. When he got to heaven, he asked God where he went wrong. He told God that he had perfect faith in God, but God had let him drown.
“What more do you want from me?” asked God. “I sent you two boats and a helicopter.”
This is what comes to mind when I read the passage from Matthew. Nearly every time. On the surface, the joke is a God answering prayer story. Go a little deeper and I see God working very specifically and intentionally in our lives using other folks to help us help ourselves rely on God. This is what I hear from Jesus when he says,
…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me
God answers prayers often by using His people to help His people trust Him. God at work and in control. Letting go and letting God. It is easy for me to see this in the Gospel, in the joke and even, in other people’s lives.
In fact, seeing how God answers prayers in other people’s lives is one of things I feel think I have been called to do. It is the way my heart and mind work when in God’s Word, when my heart and mind are intentionally grounded in His will – ever in search of connecting dots, seeking and remaining still to hear what the Spirit is saying. That faith-based connect-the-dots lens opens my eyes, ears, all my senses to know God answers prayer.
Especially in the lives of people I am relationally connected to and with. I see how God reaches out to them, how God answers the ‘show me the way,’ prayer, the ‘help me out of this and into that,’ prayer, the ‘I want to trust you, God, and not try to control the outcome,’ prayer, the ‘save me,’ prayer.
Answering my prayers? In this, I am not as clear hearted and minded. Have boats, helicopters and people been sent to save and direct me that I haven’t seen?
Awaken the Dawn
Note: My readings this morning were accompanied by the spirit-infused music of Stanton Lanier. I share it here, as ‘background’ with this written reflection given that the Spirit had me thinking about our five senses, today.
As hard as I tried to move away from lamenting and resting in the psalm this morning – a place of refuge for me of late – it was this verse from Psalm 25 that beckoned me back to the Psalter and where I suspect I’ll have to stay as long as God intends.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
But in the meantime, I did try to move forward and the readings today offered much possibility, so rich in contrasts, if not contradictions. And I was awed, once again, by the breath of imagery the Spirit uses to help us see, hear, taste, feel even smell God’s hands in our lives. Here’s just a quick list of how my senses were activated by the readings:
- HEAR: Matthew 25:6But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”
- SEE: Romans 11:10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs for ever bent.’
- FEEL: Joshua11As soon as we heard it, our hearts failed, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below; or: Psalm 25 15 My eyes are ever towards the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net. - SMELL: Joshua 2:6She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof
- TASTE: Matthew10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.
So, though it was back to the psalm that my heart beckoned, I trust that the Spirit will have the last word, today, and activate and animate me out of that lamenting, pity-palace, sorrowful place. I trust that now awakened with all the senses on full throttle, the day will unfold with enthusiasm (en-theos, in God) and nothing less.
Praise Him!
TRINITY SEASONS 