Wick – Page 186 – words from wick

lent – a family trip to Easter week

Posted on February 26, 2012February 22, 2012 by Wick

“I think I’ll give up…..applesauce!!” She said, as she looked down at her bowl full of uneaten applesauce.

It seemed like another case of me accidentally pretending my 5 year old has the capabilities to understand what teenagers from my youth group do. It makes sense for me to think this, when you take into account the amazing ability of a teenager to act like a 5 year old. 🙂

Nevertheless, the conversation continued and a better understanding of this “Family Trip” to Easter was going to be like. We were talking as a family about what sorts of things go on when we take a “family trip” anywhere. Preparations are made. Bags are packed. Laundry is washed. We bring things to occupy us along the way. These are all things that we do in order to make arriving at our destination as enjoyable as possible.

I think our kids were able to make some of those connections as we talked about them. But then they realized their applesauce needed cinnamon…etc. Still, it was a fun talk to have. I’m proud of our girls for selecting toys that are meaningful to them, to put up on a shelf until Easter. Who knows, mommy and daddy may even get fresh batteries and new outfits for those toys – at add to our Easter celebrating. 🙂

This year I’ll be giving up drinking anything but water and black coffee (hey, sometimes I gotta stay awake!). This should help my health out, as well as save some money making it easier to give. I also hope to regularly use that pair of tennis shoes I purchased a while back, that still look amazingly crisp and white. 🙂

But why? Why do we make changes, and do anything different during the 40 days leading up to Easter? (sidenote: for anyone who counted, it’s not a “true” 40 days. Traditionally, as Sunday’s are miniature “celebrations of Easter”, these were not tallied in the count to 40) The number 40 in scripture usually comes connected to a time of preparation, testing, or transition into something more that God has planned.

The Truth is that no matter where we stand during these 40 days, we all stand in need of God. We look forward to the Celebration of Easter together, all on the same ground, eager for Jesus Christ and the work accomplished / being accomplished in Him.

We are invited during this season to purposefully remember. To remember both as individuals and as a community. To recognize our place before God. To recognize our oneness with each other. To recognize a beautiful tension of finding ourselves as sinners transformed as saints. To give of ourselves in a way that leads to a life deepened in relation to God and others.

Looking forward to Easter week, and the promised land God has in store for us…

Different Books

wright writes an alright book. :)

Posted on February 24, 2012February 22, 2012 by Wick

I just finished reading a recent book by one of my favorite authors, “Simply Jesus” by NT Wright. In this book, Wright takes a look at who Jesus was, what Jesus was saying, and why it matters – in a way that smashes right into our homes and local churches. With incredible insight into what the theological and political climates were in those days, Write reveals Jesus to have arrived not at just a random spot in human history – but the amazingly appropriate place in time and space to launch a brand new Kingdom of God!

This book would make a great read during your 40 days of Lent (preparing to celebrate Easter) if you haven’t already selected one. The book leads to the final chapters of what Easter means for God’s people, and what it looks like when we speak and live as if Jesus truly is ruling even now.

I underlined so many bits of his book, I couldn’t begin to share them here. But because this is a largely “parenting” blog, I will talk about one section I enjoyed quite a bit.

In Chapter 11, Wright explores how Jesus impacted the three elements of “Space, Time, & Matter”. As we’re talking to our children about God, one of the things I naturally fall into without even thinking is this mentality of “heaven” being somewhere “out there”. Historically, “neither ancient Jews nor early Christians believed that “heaven” was a location within our present continuum of time and matter.” – Wright

In the Old Testament, God promised to dwell with them in the Tabernacle (portable temple), and later set up his residence in the Temple itself when they settled in the promised land. This was the physical space where they believed God lived (not simply visited) – the place where heaven and earth came together. God’s space and our space, joined.

When Jesus came as God’s embodied presence, all of a sudden this “place where heaven and earth come together” was walking around, and the overlap continued to grow and move as his disciples went out accomplishing His work in His name. Finally, to the glory of God, Jesus gives us his Spirit so that the activity of Jesus can continue even today! Lives are transformed, sins are forgiven, and the Kingdom work is being accomplished!

Here’s the cool thing: Believing these above statements leads to the conclusion that when the work of Jesus is being done, empowered by the Holy Spirit – THERE is where heaven and earth are becoming joined together! The fact that as our homes become places where the activity of Jesus becomes a regular occurrence, they also become places similar to the Holy of Holies in the Temple…..whew. 🙂 Kinda makes you want to look for more opportunities for our families to get involved in Kingdom activity and living out His Lordship in our daily walk, eh??? 🙂