Deliver Us From Amnesia

I have always been fascinated by stories in which the main character suffers from amnesia. We all know how it goes, because they can’t remember their past, they’ve lost their identity. They have no context for their existence. They are isolated and alone. I’m captivated by their intense search for clues that will give them any hint as to who they are. They are consumed by this quest. Maybe I’m so easily drawn into these stories because, if I’m honest, on some other level, I ask the same kinds of questions...  who am I? Why am I here? How does my short little life fit within the grander scheme of things?

God’s word the Bible has given me some answers and although I certainly don’t have it all figured out here’s two things I’m learning to stand on with greater certainty all the time.

Firstly, God’s Word reminds me that my primary identity is as a child of God. “See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children, and we really are” I John 3:1. He created me, redeemed me and loves me all the time, even though I don’t deserve it. What a relief to know that it’s not what I do, how well I perform or what I achieve. This identity is a gift that I have received through Jesus. He promises He will never change how He feels towards me. Talk about security! He has also promised that He is always with me so I never need to fear being alone. Do I ever forget my identity? Many times, but as I continue to take God at His word, my bouts with “amnesia” are becoming less frequent. And it doesn’t end there….

Another way that God continues to help me be at ease with who I am is by helping me view my life as part of a bigger story. My story isn’t limited to the context of my parents, grandparents and known family tree. As a child of God I’m part of a much bigger story that includes all the men and women of faith who have gone before me, and all those who will come after me. Whenever I’m having an “amnesia” moment---feeling isolated in my journey with God---all that I need to do is to go to a part of the Bible like Hebrews 11 where I find a list of fellow participants in this great story. When you glance down the list some of these folks saw incredible miracles---like the Red Sea parting and the walls of Jericho falling---of course we’d all like to have a part like that in the story. Others however, saw nothing but hardship and suffering.  What God saw was their faith.   That gives me great comfort because again, its not performance and spectacular results that God is after, it’s faith. Day by day surrendering to Him, doing my best to be obedient and leaving the rest in Him hands. I’m a child of God and part of a great community of faith, each of us with a small but significant role in God’s great story. So let’s face each day with confidence in our identity…and on days we don’t…. God deliver us from amnesia!

Chosen by Grace

Every once in a while I’m drawn to a collection of Christian poetry my parents gave me as a college graduation present. I have no idea what inspired them to select this particular book; yet (at the risk of further entrenching my reputation as an “artsy type”), I must admit that it has become one of my most treasured possessions.
 
There’s something about this particular book that speaks to my soul—something in the thoughtfully-chosen words and well-crafted metaphors that resonates so deeply within me that the pages somehow seem to express my own thoughts, my own feelings—my own story.

Perhaps that’s why this poem struck (and still strikes) me so powerfully.

CONVERSION

He was a born loser,
accident-prone too;
never won a lottery,
married a girl who
couldn’t cook, broke
his leg the day before
the wedding
and forgot the ring.
He was the kind
who ended up behind a post
in almost any
auditorium. Planes
he was booked to fly on
were delayed
by engine trouble
with sickening regularity.
His holidays at the beach
were almost always
ruined by rain. All
his apples turned out
wormy. His letters
came back marked
“Moved, left no
address.” And it was
his car that was cited
for speeding
from among a flock of others
going 60 in a
55 mile zone.

So it was a real shocker
when he found himself
elected, chosen by Grace
for Salvation, felt
the exhilaration of
an undeserved and wholly
unexpected Joy
and tasted, for the
first time, the Glory
of being on
the winning side.

Luci Shaw, 20th century

Although most of the hardships mentioned in the poem have likely never literally happened to you or me (for example, let me make it clear before I end up sleeping on the couch tonight that my wife is a very good cook), what is being expressed touches the inmost core of our beings. Like holding our hand up in an invisible “L” against our foreheads all day long, we all have a strong sense of our own inadequacies, failures and missteps. And, while the world exhorts us to become experts at masking these things with success, possessions and power, God invites us to embrace these things and allow them to do what they are meant to do—unmask our need for Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross.

So be courageous today. Acknowledge your shortcomings. Accept that you are limited. And let God shock you with the realization that, in spite of everything, you are chosen by grace. Feel the “exhilaration of an undeserved and wholly unexpected Joy.” You are on the winning side.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17 NIV)

Exposed

I know a girl, we will call her Zoe. She had a boyfriend she dated for over a year. During their time together she had taken photos of herself only meant for his eyes.
When the relationship ended he was left feeling angry and bitter, so he sent these photos to one of her professors. For those of you unaware, this is not taken lightly at Universities. Zoe was reported to the academic Dean. The ripples of this action she could not stop. She was called in to the Dean’s office and had to explain how these photos were sent to her professor, she had to explain to her parents why the Dean’s office was calling the house. And after all this she still had to still go and sit in that class in front of that professor. Each part of the story she had to tell all the facts she never wanted anyone to know about. She had to look at those starring eyes, eyes that she could not hide from. She wanted to cover up, but she had been exposed, she had nowhere to hide.

As a young boy I was told the day of judgement would go like this; I would be led to this place and a chair would be there. I would then sit down and have to watch the movie of my life, everyone I knew would be there watching. I would have to watch every detail, every moment I had tried to forget, every moment I have tried to cover up, everyone moment I had spent my entire life trying to cover up. But the veil finally came off and then I was exposed. I was left standing there, nothing to hide behind, just like Zoe.

In those thoughts I wonder if anyone could even accept me, I have already decided no one could love me. I am standing there, just like Zoe exposed and ashamed. You know the feeling; you know this feeling I am talking about. Whether it has come when you have had to confess what you have done, or have been caught in an act. Or maybe this feeling comes when you are with a significant other who is ashamed to be with you. Or maybe you have put yourself on the line; have tried and failed for everyone to see. We all know what it is like to be standing there.

"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10

When God speaks such words how can I not be drawn to Jesus?  Zoe’s story is our story. Zoe’s story is Jesus’ story.  It’s why we are drawn to the cross, why we can be with someone who knows our shame and who can take away our shame. After all, who wants to be left standing there?

She was exposed for all to see. All eyes focused on a photo never meant for them.

It was the day before my 7th birthday, there was a block garage sale going on. There was so many places to go, so many interesting things to see. I had never seen so much wonderful things before. The weekend before my grandpa had given me a whole 5 dollars, 5 dollars! Through the exploring I came across a Pog set, do you remember? Different types of slammers, putting your Pogs on the line with the hopes you would beat your friends. Someone was selling all their Pogs and slammers and a Pog board for 5 dollars! I couldn’t resist, I went and found my Mom and asked if I could get it. She said no, it was special money and I should save it for something better. But I couldn’t resist, I went against my Mom and bought that beautiful Pog set. Later that night I could be found locked in the bathroom crying, feeling shame because I had gone against my Mom and used Grandpa’s money poorly. You may laugh at this story, or think big deal, 5 dollars. But it’s a story that defined who I am. I laugh about it but a part of me still feels a tinge of shame. It’s amazing how that feeling can stay with us.

But there comes Jesus, seeing everything I have done, I am standing there bare before him, lying in a corner or a room trying to hide. He takes off his robe and gives it to me. He has already taken my shame.

I run into a room wanting to hide and be by myself, I know no one could love me now, let alone accept me. Jesus comes walking in and there I am in the corner of a dark room. Asks if he can be with me, gives me a robe and then takes me out back into the crowd. He is proud to be seen with me, He introduces me as his child. All my shame has disappeared I am no longer standing there exposed.

Mark 3:13-19

This passage describes the time when Jesus hand selected a team of twelve men who he gave the title of apostle. Jesus desired to spend time with his apostles, to be in community with a trusted group of confidants and like-minded friends. He also wanted to pass on his heart for lost and hurting people. I imagine he had a lot of hope and excitement in what this inner circle could do to advance the good news he came to proclaim.

The passage goes on to name the twelve that Jesus called. As I read this list of names I imagine a sports team, maybe hockey or basketball, where each player is announced as they take the ice or the court. You can feel the cheers as Peter, “The Rock,” takes his place. Here come James and John, “The Sons of Thunder.” Who wouldn’t get amp’d up knowing you had the Sons of Thunder on your team. Now Andrew, Philip, Bart, Matthew, and Thomas take their place. The arena is electric as Jesus closest team mates take their places around him. Thad is announced, James of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and finally Judas, “The Betrayer.” Huh!?

In my mind, maybe yours too, the mention of Judas is like a bucket of cold water in the face in light of all the other big-star apostles. As I read this passage a couple of times, I kept getting stuck on Judas. I realized that my heart felt sadness every time I read his name in the list of the all-stars. It dawned on me that I experience this passage from my side of history; I read this with the knowledge of what Judas did. When I mentally transport myself back to the moment that Jesus called and named the twelve apostles, it changes something. Judas in that moment was not Judas the betrayer; he was just Judas... and not only just Judas, but a man that Jesus believed in enough to call him into his closest community of friends. I wonder what must have been going through Judas’ mind as Jesus called him. What a rush. What an honour. Can you imagine being personally invited into Jesus inner circle? How exciting to be singled out and chosen personally by Jesus.

I can’t help but think that Jesus had every hope and belief in Judas when he invited him as one of the twelve. I also can’t help but believe that Jesus knew exactly how Judas would betray him one day. The sting of betrayal had to be exponentially more painful for Jesus because he trusted and believed in Judas enough to call him a friend and apostle.

Today I’m thinking of how often I am like Judas; how often I betray Jesus with my divided allegiance, how I desire to be so close to Jesus and how often I fight his leadership and betray his companionship. I’m also thinking about how guarded I am; how quickly I reject those who have betrayed me and how much energy I spend protecting myself from getting hurt again. I wonder if I can give myself permission to believe in people the way Jesus believed in Judas. Today I’m grateful to be reminded of Jesus unending gift of forgiveness, his graciousness, and his belief in me, a modern-day Judas.

The Temptations of Power

In getting ready to speak this weekend I came across a this name a couple times: Vaclav Havel. I think I've heard his name before, but after I reading the speech linked here, he's a new favorite. Give it a read. I bet you'll say the same thing.

Havel writes about the dark, seductive side of power. His primary application is politics, but if you allow it, I think his message will speak into any arena.

www.cs.utexas.edu/~vl/notes/havel.html

Those of us who lead others - who parent, coach, teach, whatever - generally start with a good motive for doing so. But Havel thinks we're always influenced by a second need. That need is to convince ourselves that we're significant. If we lack self awareness we won't know this motivation is there, and if we're not careful, the second need will overtake the first.

I've been thinking a lot about this in the last couple of days. Thinking about my own multiple motivations for leading like I do. This stuff messes with a person. Thanks God for the example of Jesus, who did not come to be served, but to serve. Who emptied Himself of His power and died on the cross for me, and gave me supreme example of what power ought to look like. Jesus shows what power is for: Giving...loving...serving.

He humbled Himself and died for you. That's where your assurance is supposed to come from.

The Father delights in me, this I know. I hope you do too.

Embarrass

You know the word. I suspect you also have felt the word. Embarrass is “to cause confusion and shame or to make someone uncomfortably self-conscious”. I remember being at swimming provincials at the Commonwealth Pool back in my teenage days and I was late for my race. I heard the last call over the loud speaker and I panicked. I whipped off my track pants and ran to my starting block only to look down and see that I did not have my swim suit on. The referee said my trunks looked like boxers – that’s because they were! A tough day. I was embarrassed.

I have also been embarrassed by the actions of some Christians – whether it be in history past or stories from the present day. I can think of a conversation I had with one server at a local restaurant where she said she hates working on Sunday because the church crowd is cheap and demanding. I was embarrassed again but this time in a deeper way. I’m sure I’ve been an embarrassment too sometimes.

On one hand we realize that people aren’t perfect and can’t act right all the time but what we might forget or not pay attention to enough is another definition of embarrass and that is “to put obstacles or difficulties in the way of”. What a tragedy it is that as we claim to be followers of Christ we might in effect be adding obstacles in people’s way as they seek to find truth and meaning in this world.

In the book of Colossians chapter two we are reminded that we are a chosen people, a holy nation, God’s own possession. It goes on to say this is so we can show others the goodness of God, for He has called us out of the darkness.

We should never tire of the challenge to be humble people who are open to God indwelling us and changing us to be more like Jesus.

We should never tire of hearing yet again that our God is a good God who is merciful and who forgives. What a great reason to follow.

Amen.

Can you hear that?

by Laurence Fernández

As some of you may know, I have two boys: Joshua, 8 and Caleb, 5. As they interact, play, and grow together, one may suggest a great piece of advice for the other, “Dad, you need to talk to Caleb because… or Dad, Joshua needs a time out because…”

I don’t know about you, but as God speaks to me, and I go through life and learn, sometimes I do the same. I am quick to think of who can really hear, or learn this. I find my self almost wishing “my lesson” to some one else.

I believe that God can use you and me, and He can direct us to speak insight, encouragement and strength into the lives of others. However, I believe that God wants my heart always attentively ready to hear and learn from Him.

In light of the current message series as well as my current life circumstances, am I willing to allow God to speak to through His word to me?

As this week comes to an end and we get ready for the next one, let’s take some time to ask God to speak to us. Maybe go to your favorite coffee house, or place you enjoy solitude and read the following passage from the book of John:

John 13:34-35
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” © New Living Translation

If God were trying to tell me something, would I know?

If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice?

I ask for the grace to be free of my own preoccupations and to be open to what God may be saying to me.

“Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful. - Christian community is the final apologetic” Francis Schaeffer