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Luke 21:8 “And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he! and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.”

We’ve probably heard these words before, but I believe we usually limit their impact on our lives.  We zoom in on the literal translation, and miss out on what Jesus is actually offering us here.  He was speaking to 1st Century Jews about the coming destruction of the temple, etc.  But His words also carry much into our lives as well.

“..many will come in my name…”  We’ve lost some of what Jesus is saying here, simply because we usually reduce “name” to that which a person is called by or responds to.  The word here (onoma) means so much more than simply someone coming and saying the name “Jesus”.  As I’ve posted before to help understand similar texts in the New Testament, we can think of the word “name” in the same sense as “nature”.  Think about the nature of Jesus.  His nature is to bring healing, restoration, forgiveness, right-ness, and to reveal Truth.  To be something we can put our eternal Hope in.  Jesus is saying here, “many will come saying this is also their nature”.  We see this on a daily basis, in advertising and other areas.  Products, people, powers, situations and systems, and “get rich quick” ideas that all offer/promise to be something it makes sense to put our hope or fear in, and receive life from/be anxious over..

May we not be led “off the path” by these things.

Then he ads an extra blow. “..and say, ‘I am he!’ ”  Most of our translations say “I am he!”  But the actual word here (eimi) does not actually include “he”.  It was added to reinforce the “come in my name” statement.  The word here is the same used in  1 Corinthians 1:28, “God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are (eimi).”

The literal translation of these words, then, is “come in my name and say, ‘I am‘..”, which says much more that our first glance.  It’s not just warning us against people who come and say “I’m Jesus”, or “I’m with Jesus”.  It’s warning us against everything that comes and pretends to BE something to worry/concern/live for/give priority and place in our life.

The Christmas season is here again.  We can fly right into the deals, ads, and shopping for gifts, because the Christmas shopping season proclaims “I AM”.  (sidenote: here’s a great take on the “War on Christmas”)  Many of us will spend time with family and friends, and there may be relationship issues and brokenness in our midst that needs forgiveness and healing.  We need freedom from these things in our life that are shouting “I AM!!”.  Jesus offers us that freedom…and community with others who are living as people made free.

In your life this week, what is shouting “I AM!!”?  Jesus offers freedom even now.  May God free us, and may we continue to live as those who celebrated their Thankfulness just a couple of weeks ago…

Hello old “blogspot” friends!

You may have noticed a bit of silence over here in blogspot land.  That’s because a while back, I moved my writing over to a new website.

I’d love to have you come and join me, if you haven’t already.  Some very exciting things have happened, and are happening even now!

We’re in the process of adopting our daughter from the DRC in Africa, and would love to have you join us in prayer.

So grab a few friends, give the kids a pail of chalk (or a shovel, or an umbrella, or a pillow, depending on the weather & time of day) and join me over at:

www.differentparent.com

You’ll be glad you did.

(I sure will be.)

While we wait for Christmas, the world is waiting for something even more needed.  They are waiting for Jesus.  I don’t mean in a whimsical, “waiting for our Savior to return, waiting to go to Heaven someday, waiting for glory” kinda way.  I mean in a “desperate, life is unjust, people are dying and suffering, and evil is everywhere you turn” kinda way.

I remember in the beginning of our adoption process, we looked forward to not only transforming the life of our daughter, but also the impact it would have on our family.  We couldn’t wait to begin that process by bringing her home.  I had no idea how much it would impact us even during this past year of moving in this direction.

You may have seen the Democratic Republic of Congo in the news lately.  The conflict has been happening for years and years.  For the latest information on why there are M23 rebels and what they hope to accomplish, check this out.

That link is to an interview Jason Stearns did with a leader from M23 before they retreated from Goma last week.  Talks between the DRC Government and M23 are to begin Friday this week.  It seems both groups want the same thing – a healthy country.  They want the people to be free.  They want the people to be taken care of, and safe.  They want their country to prosper, and be developed.

In the dust of their marching boots, however, we see a country that continues to be torn to shreds by the very people who beat their chest in its defense.  Go ahead and read that article…and know “FARDC” refers to the DRC Army.  It seems that looting and rape and terror continues to be the way of life – no matter who holds the gun.

Now don’t start freaking out, thinking “You’re going to travel THERE!?”  Check out this post by a family currently living in Kinshasa, where we will most likely go when it’s time.  Most of the above atrocities are happening on the other side of the country.

Yet the hopelessness of the people living there should not be swept away easily.  The thoughts you may have had, concerned for my safety or that of my family – hold that burden for a moment, on behalf of those suffering in the Eastern DRC.  Feel the weight of a people truly and desperately WAITING for Jesus to move in a new way.  Be moved to desperate prayer, on their behalf and on behalf of many more around the world living in conditions like these.

Sure, we’d love if you could give toward the goal of rescuing our daughter from the DRC.  But don’t stop there.  Experience just a sliver of how God’s heart is broken for these people.  Hold the preciousness of their burden in your heart…and when it’s too heavy to bear, bring it to God.  And there, at the foot of God with your hands outstretched in prayer – look over…I’m smiling at you, and thanking you for coming with us…