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Lately there has been a lot of focus on the “when” of God bringing His work to completion.  Thanks to a small group of people (many of which who seem to be trying to follow Jesus) tomorrow has been advertised as a possible “beginning of the end”.  It hasn’t received much credit in actual “Christian” realms, but atheist and other non-faith-oriented places have held it high as an example of the ludicrous ability of God-followers to believe in  hooey.

So what do these believers declare will happen tomorrow?  It seems to be “The Rapture“.  The basic belief that God’s desire is to remove the “souls” of all who love Him to another place (usually this place is thought of as floating somewhere in the sky, and contains a lifestyle of golden streets and jeweled castles).  From their website, “He will close the door to salvation on May 21, 2011 when He returns to take his elect children to heaven “

There are enough websites, youtube videos, and other scriptural explanations out there dispelling the May 21st deadline.  But the entire topic hitting the media as it has, makes us think about how important the “what” of this “when” can be.

I recognize that there are people I love who believe God intends to do something similar to the “rapture” linked above.  There are a few who hold this belief, and seem to still be actively working out the Kingdom on Earth, and inviting others to do the same.  But even more popular are those who have gotten their rapture passport stamped, are waiting for the big trip…and maybe inviting a friend or two to get their passport stamped also.

I do believe God will move again to finish what He began at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Bible points us to God bringing together Heaven and Earth in a marriage that makes both completely new, joined by a New Jerusalem.  A very physical existence in the full presence of God, someplace a lot more like “here” than a distant floating “somewhere up there”.  This will be mysteriously connected to the Kingdom work we are involved in even today.  This isn’t simply about “getting more people on the rescue boat while the world continues to sink”.  This is about a Love for God’s creation (including humanity) that lives and acts out His Love and desire to bring about healing, righteousness and redemption.  That includes living a life as revealed in Christ, not because “obedience = trip to heaven”, but because living this way is how God will be revealed and move in a world already begun to be made new. 

He will come to complete the works begun in Christ and the Church.  But until then, we know He has given us His Spirit for a purpose that is much larger than “saving souls from hell after death”.  We are involved in freeing captives, sharing love, sacrificing, healing, creating beauty, caring for creation, bringing justice, etc., and declaring Jesus as Lord with our lives, in a creation that is heading that direction.

That purpose has begun, and will not end.  May we join in the work of Christ in such a way that the day of His complete revealing will come as the natural celebration of what our lives are already directed toward…and not like a ship coming that we hope our tickets are good for.

(wait, that almost sounds like there’s a purpose to “Church” beyond a motivating message and emotional worship each week…:)

See you there…

Recently the “Harpers Index” included a statistic that more than caught my attention:

“Percentage by which young adults with high religious participation are more likely than their peers to become obese:  50 “

Yowsers.  As someone in ministry to youth and young adults, I have to take some ownership of this statistic (full source here)…and call many of my readers to as well.  Young people who are regularly involved in our churches are 50% more likely to become obese.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard this.  Anyone who’s been in ministry to young people have heard the argument in regards to a young person justifying alcohol consumption or tobacco use:  “But over-eating can be unhealthy too!”  In fact, all the way back to the 4th  Century, God’s followers have acknowledged “Gluttony” as one of the primary origins of other sins. 

But how do we approach “gluttony” in a culture that is gluttonous in itself?

One step at a time, for sure.  It’s not about “redesigning” everything we do as a church.  It’s not about canceling potlucks, pizza parties, and locking up the toddler snack cabinets (though we may change what’s in them).  Much of it could be changed from the very foundations by churches taking a more holistic approach to ministry.  Many churches are starting garden co-ops, and educating families on improving nutritional intake/activity levels (yay Kara!).  Here’s a quick “high five” to our own Parish Nurse also, who regularly talks/educates on making healthy choices as important to our faith.

As youth pastors, how about throwing out that unlimited fountain soda machine, and getting a machine that you can put your own, stocked, limited supply that includes healthy choices?  What if we made sandwiches instead of ordering pizza every time? (wow, that hurt to type)

I don’t like vegetables…or exercise a whole lot beyond dancing with my girls and running from teens in dodge ball.  I’ve probably actually gathered an invisible list of adjectives unfitting for a man who is thankful for the body God has given.  I’m not jumping on the “all natural, etc.” bandwagon, and I’m not too worried about how much corn syrup I take in….but I’m saying there’s gotta be somewhere healthier than living comfortably with the above statistic.

It may even be connected to our churches actually being a healthier Church.  Pun intended.

I awoke as the natural alarm clock within me suggested, without offering a chance to press the snooze button.  It was 5:15am, and the mental post-it note from the night before reminded me I’d not yet taken the garbage to the fence.  I was still unsure what time the morning men came and gathered refuse, but I did not want to find out after it was too late.  I quickly came to find myself with shorts and flip flops on, crossing the dewy grass toting a giant wheeled garbage can over a yard in need of mowing.  Wiping my feet on the kitchen carpet, I patted myself on the back for a responsible use of morning, and paused to decide my next course of action.

Should I wake her?

I decided to make some coffee, and she continued to slumber.  In our old house, the kids would have heard dad walking just outside their door, but here I had the privilege of tip-toeing around the first floor while they completed their sleep cycles in peace.  A few roads waited passively ahead of me:  I could enjoy a bit of uninterrupted reading, wake her up, or begin to prepare for the day; among other things.  I chose to wait until just enough coffee was in the pot, to  pour myself a tall hot mug of focus (You have to love a coffeemaker that will continue to brew patiently until you return the pot.) and find my book.

I was reminded briefly of important things I needed to get with her about today.   But they could wait.

I’ve been reading a book on hiking the Appalachian Trail.  This morning contained incredible views of nature, combined with interesting stories of locations off the beaten-path, but well worth a brochure – if not a movie.  Then it happened – I heard the patter of feet above me.  I listened as they quietly traveled the distance of the 2nd floor, down the stairs, and out into my area of the house.  Thumb still in her mouth, our 2nd born smiled and mumbled an excited whisper, “daddy!” as she climbed into my lap.

I was thankful I’d chosen not to wake her still.  Mornings with my daughters are much better without her.  We cuddled, and Sophie willingly recorded a new ring-tone for daddy, before her sister joined us in the moment.  It wasn’t long before they returned upstairs to find something interesting from the previous night.  Again, I chose not to wake her.  Not just yet.

I went upstairs to find our 1 year old in need of changing, and sucking on a Ring-Pop her sisters had given her a moment before.  Apparently they felt sorry she couldn’t yet hoist herself from her sleeping prison, and knew a sucker would quiet her from interrupting their morning play.

Oh, the things I would’ve missed if I’d woken her earlier.  Sure, there were enough compelling reasons to wake her.  Important things.  Unimportant things.   We hadn’t seen much of each other the day before, and no doubt she had plenty of updates for me.

But as my three girls and I climbed back into our giant, queen sized bed with mommy to talk about the day ahead, and laugh a bit together….I was thankful I’d not turned on the computer yet that morning.

Of course, I had to use her eventually….or I wouldn’t have been able to tell the story of my morning without her. 🙂