Category: Different Thoughts

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

the weakness of Jesus

Posted on by Wick

My wife can often tell when I get stressed.  What she may not always be able to tell, is why I’m stressed.  Recently, we discovered that a bit source of my anxiety comes from my approach to many of life’s simplest of tasks.  When I’m doing something, especially something routine, I’m not usually thinking about what I’m doing.  My mind is 4 or 5 steps down the road, and attempting to do this current step with the greatest efficiency to get there.

A couple examples:  Before I can cook or help much in the kitchen, I have to clean the kitchen.  I don’t like making a mess on top of a mess, and I’ll usually try to keep the kitchen clean while I cook, so that I don’t have to do it all at once afterward.  But one of the biggest areas my anxiety comes out, is when we’re scheduled to be somewhere at a certain time.  I’ve been known to have all the kids with their shoes and coats on 10 minutes before we even need to start getting ready.  She regularly gives me the “chill pill” pep talk.

So the passage we read this week, Mark 1:40-45, strikes a cord as I recognize how wildly inefficient Jesus is.  A man comes up to him, asking to be made clean/healed.  Moved by compassion, Jesus touches the man saying “I am willing..be healed.”  But then he must tell the man not to say anything to anyone.  The man goes off telling everyone!!!  From then on, Jesus “could no longer enter a town openly”, and had to “stay outside in lonely places.”

It’s easy to read this story and think, “Wow, that Jesus sure knew what he was doing.  He was scheming to have that man run ahead announcing great news, and knew the guy couldn’t keep his mouth shut when he healed him.  The best PR is word of mouth!”  But that’s not what we read here.  It sounds more like Jesus was just a poor campaign strategist.  He wasn’t motivated by what would maximize his reach in the cities.  He wasn’t worried about 3 or 4 steps down the road, and what this mans’ commotion would stir up.

He was motivated by Love.

That love compelled him to reach out and touch the man in need.  That touch brought healing and restoration for the man.  But for Jesus, it brought sacrifice.  But I don’t see Jesus doing a fist pump saying “Yes!!  He did exactly what I knew he would!”, or “Aw nuts, now I can’t go to the parties.”  We see Jesus continuing to do what He set out to do, however he can.  He continued to make decisions motivated more by Love than any type of long-range efficiency plan.  Those moments of acting out sacrificial love add together to a life destined for the cross.  When he arrived there, he continued his pattern of being senselessly motivated by God’s Love.

He calls us to that same reckless abandonment of self.  To that same wildly freeing experience of living out God’s Holy Love for others, no matter what it means to what the world would consider our most efficient/favorable path.  Before I sound too hippyish, I suppose I ought to add, I don’t believe this is some sort of romantic – go with the flow – type living where we are blown around by the wind.  Jesus was able to make senseless “in-the-moment” decisions that didn’t make much sense – because His heart was in the hands of God.

My examples above are really pretty silly.  Small things.  But the large picture is this: does my life show my kids how to live motivated by Love…or how to live motivated by efficiency?  It can be tough, especially when it requires sacrifice of the entire household.  But when we live motivated by Love – we are following Jesus…

Posted in Different Thoughts

saying no to frosting (sometimes)

Posted on by Wick

I remember when each of our girls turned 1 year old. There’s a tradition that I didn’t even know existed, that my wife made sure we participated in.  The entire family gathered around the giant table to light a candle and sing “Happy Birthday.”  But then came the addition that I was not aware of.  One that part of me continued to happen on our birthday’s until someone was….let’s say….near 30. 🙂

There was a birthday cake, just like any other party. But there wasn’t just one cake. There was another, smaller version of the cake, intended for the birthday girl all to herself.  When the time came, we  set the small cake in front of her and wait to see what would happen.

Her eyes grew wide as she took in the vision of frosty baked goodness in front of her.  Maybe a moment or two of disbelief, as she looks around.  Surely this must be a test? This couldn’t be intended for my enjoyment alone? Finally, her true desire is revealed. She has behaved and told herself “no” long enough.

She is transformed into the being commonly referred to by Dr.Kevin Leman as a “hedonistic little sucker of the ankle-biter battalion”. 🙂  I know many aren’t fans of him calling these cute little fluffy babies anything less than angelic.  But we all know it to be true.  Even as infants, our children are born with a natural self-inclination, and desire for pleasure.  No one needs to teach this to them, or any of us.  If something is enjoyable or tasty, we want it.  (sidenote: I once met a guy who used the word “tasty” in place of “awesome”. I’ve tried to use it also.  So far it doesn’t work for me, but I’m gonna keep trying.)

One of our roles as parents, is to teach our children self-denial.  To help them experience waiting for what they want.  Working toward something.  Enjoying something slowly.  Saying “no” to something, even when they could say “yes”.

Why?

Because we live in a world of assumed expectations.  A culture of entitlement, where the “Pursuit of Happiness” (as defined by any individual) is a basic human right declared in our Declaration of Independence.  There are children (and adults) today, who take every day by the horns, wondering how it can serve them.

As followers of Christ, one of our parental responsibilities is to train our children to put others first.  To proclaim Christ as Lord, instead of self, or selfish pursuits.  To lead them in lives that reflect Philippians 2:4, knowing life will go well for those who appreciate the little things:

“not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

Posted in Different Moments, Different Thoughts

toddlers and teens.

Posted on by Wick

Recently I returned from directing a “Winter Retreat” for Senior Highers, where we had about 140 people for the weekend.  It’s called “Frostbite” every year, but this year the ground was a bit darker shade of white. More like brown, actually. Frozen over mud.

But this year’s experience brought yet another reminder of how youth ministry continues to prepare and connect to my journey as a parent.  Like any youth retreat weekend for 140 people, we have quite a few activities planned for the weekend. Flag football, masquerade party/concert, and “Frostbite Idol/Fear Factor” just to name a few. But this year, we also offered a “Prayer Experiment”. An unused house on the campground where 7 stations of prayer were set up, each focused on a different aspect of God. I had used the 7 stations last week with our youth group, and it seemed to be a good fit.

The weekend went incredible. The speaker was great, the worship with DANYA was exactly what these teens needed to bring them before the throne. There were no major injuries (that I’m aware of), and no one got sick from eating live worms. But as I processed the surveys from teens, a few of them reflected a similar sentiment:

“I wish there was more quiet time, and time for prayer.”

Who wouldn’t smile in agreement with that statement? Coming from my side, however, I saw and experienced quite a bit of available silent/prayer time. My alarm went off both mornings at 5am, giving me plenty of time to read and walk with God before the buzz of the day began with breakfast at 9am. Not to mention 3 hours of open space on Saturday with an actual “Prayer House” being offered.  It was an issue of priorities. During the 3 hours, there was also a flag football tournament for a while. There were friends everywhere to hang out with. During the early morning hours, there was sleep to gain because I stayed up ’til 3am, or time needed to do my hair. 🙂

We may find the same issue in our homes as parents. It may seem like quite an achievement to offer and protect a few hours of quiet for prayer in our child’s life each week. But sometimes it may not be obvious to them why it’s being offered, or how exactly to embrace those moments. Heck, we may have the issue ourselves.  “Okay, the book said I should have more quiet time in my life.  Here I am. What do I do?”

Many of us don’t know where to begin. Here’s a great book to start with for adults. For kids, here’s one of many. For both adults and kids, remember prayer and spending time in God’s presence can be kind of like starting a new sport. At first it feels unnatural. We feel awkward, and probably strain to make it happen. But as we dedicate ourselves to doing it, our prayer muscles/synapses grow, and it becomes a natural part of who we are.

Someday, when our toddlers/teens naturally sense a hunger/thirst to be in God’s presence, our hope is that they can make the sacrifices it may take to experience it.  May we continue to model this as a worth-while pursuit…