Like a Little Child

   If you were in worship Sunday, you may have caught sight of one of our children after children’s time in a sprint, carrying a bottle of water given to her by one of our staff, and announcing excitedly, “Look mama, she gave me a bottle of water!” Now granted it was just a bottle of water but in my mind this child embodied pure joy. Joy sees life and all of its “trappings” as a gift from God and rejoices in the thoughtfulness of the giver.

   We live in a society where people feel entitled. Entitlement says, “It’s just a bottle of water, no big deal.” We could do well to learn from this child. Joy says, “Thank you God for all the gifts of this day…including the little ones that come as a surprise for they remind us that we are loved.” Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when he said, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 If you find yourself being critical of others or focusing on the disappointments of your situation, perhaps its time you rediscovered the little child within that cries out in joy in the face of unexpected gifts. The writer of James puts it this way, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing by joy.” 1:2 

Stay Thirsty My Friends

I am thirsty...it's such a simple little statement. Whether its my son asking to stop at Sonic on the way home from school or one of our hospitalized members asking me to hand them their water mug on the tray table, I hear and think these words often. We're made to thirst, our bodies dependent on fluid to keep them hydrated. We can last weeks without food but mere days without some kind of fluid. So it makes sense that Jesus describes himself as "living water" and God's will as "the cup he must drink from." There is something about a relationship with Jesus Christ that satiates the deepest needs of the soul, something that can never be adequately addressed by anything this world has to offer. Its takes something "out-of-this-world" to satiate our needs as spiritual beings. Jesus poured himself out on the cross, until there was nothing left. No wonder he was thirsty. "Sour wine" could not fix that. It never can. There was nothing left for him to say but "It is finished...into your hands I commend my Spirit." This world continues to offer us "sour wine" and sometimes we settle, thinking to ourselves, "This will be good!" But in the end, nothing in this world can quench our deepest thirst. Only something "out-of-this-world," can do that. As we continue to wander through the wildness of Lent and this life, there awaits for us an oasis along the way. There, Jesus waits for us offering us the water that satisfies. He offers us himself, poured out for us and many for the forgiveness of sins. And then the invitation, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come..." Isaiah 55:1

Don, You Push Too Hard!

Finding time for what’s important is usually not that hard. We prioritize all the time, whether it’s to make time to watch our child play soccer, catching the game on TV, getting our teeth worked on, or going out with a friend. Sometimes it means adjusting our schedule, carpooling, TiVo-ing “Dancing with the Stars,” or even taking time off from work but somehow we manage. What drives our decisions ultimately comes down to the importance we place on something. You’d be surprised at how quickly I could clear my schedule if someone offered me an all expense paid trip to Maui (if this happens, remember I’m your guy!). So whether it’s participating in a week-long mission trip to tornado ravaged Joplin, Missouri or attending a 30 minute vespers service, we determine whether it’s worth adjusting our schedule to make this happen for us. The truth is, the world will not end if I do not participate in these kinds of activities. The bigger issue is what it says about me and what I value when I can find time for my favorite TV show or a free Hawaiian getaway, but cannot adjust for the radical inconvenience of worship and mission. In most cases no one is going to know or care about how or why I prioritize my life a certain way, but I care.