Beautiful Mess

The Incarnation “God stepping into humanity…”

What does this mean?  Why does this ACT of God matter?  How does this change the game for humanity, for me?

As Christmas is fast approaching I’ve been surprised by momentary glimpses, into the ‘Reason for the Season.”  It’s real meaning seemingly more and more obscured, God choosing to step into humanity, literally the Divine willingly entering into the flesh and bones of a man as a gift for all men!

What does this mean?  Why does this ACT of God matter?  How does this change the game for humanity, for me?

If this is true…why are we, as a culture, as living and breathing miracles, each one of us, running head long away from this most beautiful and meaningful reason?

Those are the questions that have been haunting me…in quiet moments…I find myself caught up in awe and wonder as I wrestle with the overwhelming flood of possibilities that cross my mind.  They bring hope…light…life…purpose to my being…to your being…yet I still run.

John, one of Christ’s closest friends, left us with these thoughts… “Christ became human flesh and lived among us. We saw His shining-greatness. This greatness is given only to a much-loved Son from His Father. He was full of loving-favor and truth (John 1:14, NLV).”

Perhaps in the confusion, weightiness of pressures and pain of life it just seems too impossible to believe that God stepped into humanity…that He chose to incarnate as a man because He is for us?  In all our fixing, buying, working, crying, thriving, surviving and even dying we just can’t pick our heads up enough to see this TRUTH.  But I do believe it’s right in front of us, we just aren’t used to seeing God, His TRUTH and that He is for us, so we miss it.

The day after Thanksgiving the Arbutus Town Hall, The Greater Arbutus Professional and Business Association and caring citizens came together to decorate this small town, that seems buried in the surrounding urban and suburban sprawl, for the coming Christmas activities and celebrations.  This year was no different than any other, but I was blessed to glimpse Jesus in the flesh as I served alongside those who gave of their time, talents and finances to transform Arbutus into a special place…a place where it’s possible to touch and see God incarnate.

This might sound CRAZY, but I encountered God…  And you can too!  You can see Him at work in the unity of heart, as different folks from different walks of life gather to serve to love on their community.  Their were the homeless, the addicted, a dentist, small business owners, construction workers, florists, fire fighters all working hand in hand to make something beautiful happen down on East Drive.  There is more evidence to consider the up coming festivities: The Train Garden at the Arbutus Fire Hall, the gathering of children at the Santa House where they receive gifts, Southwestern Emergency Services annual Christmas shopping spree for the poorest in our community so that they might be able to have a heart felt celebration in their homes this Christmas.  All this begs the question why?  What are we preparing for?  What are we looking forward too?  What are we celebrating?  Why are we serving?  Why are we giving?  And, Why are we caring?

I think deep down inside we all know the answer, but we’ve chosen to minimize it…reject it…or just plain ignore it…yet it haunts us…there are glimpses of the TRUTH all over and it oozes out during our Christ-mas celebration.   While your wondering the streets of Arbutus this year listen and hear the lyrics of the toons being played over the loud speaker system…there you will find a glimpse of the reason for the season; or catch a glimpse of the used to be homeless-alcoholic sitting on the bus stop encouraging another lost soul to find restoration like he did…again the reason for the season becomes obvious; or maybe you’ll catch it in the eyes of a child as she is given a gift by a stranger for no other reasons than…it’s the reason for the season; or perhaps you’ll catch it when you see the volunteer army that comes together to make Christmas possible for hundreds of families that never dreamt it possible…the reason for the season; and maybe…just maybe you’ll stumble across the reason yourself like I did time and time again while hanging around that beautiful small town hidden on East Drive and Sulfur Spring Road…the reason for the season as far as I can see…God loves us.  

Can you see it, in the love, the love for one another, that’s the reason…the truth…that’s a glimpse of God’s greatness…of His love and His favor for mankind.  

In a world where posts, blogs (written or video), rants, tweets, instant messages, texts, instagrams rule; the beauty and power of real prose is being lost in the noise of mass production money making industry.  I found myself scrolling through FaceBook posts yesterday trying to read and like and comment to the posts, pictures, and quotes that caught my minds eye.  

Quickly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of thoughts being conveyed, it all became a blur and absolutely meaningless.  The apps that were created to connect us, really seem to disconnect us.  Mass production, and ease of communication that doesn't require much effort or presence has become the norm...what we crave.  Though it touts personal, it's really impersonal; it sells the illusion of presence, but its disconnect and really separateness that are personified; it promises a heart felt intimacy, but it only nets you a mass marketed intimacy that can never satisfy the real cry of our hearts for a REAL love, a REAL hearing, a REAL seeing that only comes out of a REAL "BEING" with, not a facsimile of.

The many Psalmists...Poets...Song Writers...and Wisdom Givers of Psalter in the Scriptures use a time proven method to convey that which consumes their hearts, writing.  Writing that is reflective, born out of personal experience in real life with its many joys, sufferings and ecstasy's!  

Change is what is birthed out of Surrender to God, it is the ONLY way to become like Christ, living a life bowed down and as a slave of Christ Alone. This is how anyone can walk in their Creator's purpose. No Surrender, no change.

In wrapping up our Change series were going to wade into a no mans land of sorts..."Suffering."  It's a place nobody wants to go, likes to go, or can't wait to get to, but it is a reality for every life on this planet, so we are going there!  Suffering is one of the greatest catalysts that can lead to real change in life and circumstances.  Pain is a great motivator, it not only pits us against difficult circumstances and people, but it exposes the heart of the sufferer to the realities of this fallen world and the neediness of fallen humanity.  Suffering begs relief and rescue, someone or something to swoop in and save the day.  It puts us, if we are willing, in a place where we are ready to cry uncle...uncle, in submission to the reality that we no longer can.  

Here in this valunerable place of honesty and humility, recognizing our weakness and need for outside assistance we surrender, because of our suffering and cry out for help.  And this is the place where God shows up in the most profound and power filled ways!  Always unpredictable, always profound, and always confounding...as Isaiah put it, "God's ways and God's thoughts are NOT our ways, or our thoughts" (my paraphrase).  The beauty is when you or I surrender in our suffering, God changes the circumstance, and more importantly God changes you and me!  

I don't know about you, but it really is good to know that I'm not in this life alone, that there really is a God who not only knows me, my circumstance, and my pain, but He really wants to "Be With" me right, smack dab in the middle of it!

Anxiety, worry, all consuming concern weights down, oppresses and subdues the heart, mind and will of man and none can withstand this depressive, debilitating burden outside of God's help!  

Solomon, King of Israel once wrote, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.  But a good word makes it glad."

Anxiety, worry, all consuming concern weights down, oppresses and subdues the heart, mind and will of man and none can withstand this depressive, debilitating burden outside of God's help!  

I want to challenge you to Embrace your brokenness, hardships, limitations, and the closed doors; pressing into God and trusting Him in the struggles, with the un-answered questions, the unknowns, and the hard times…hoping in His Goodness and knowing “He is For YOU!”

This challenge may seem insurmountable, and one you really don't want to take on, but whether you take it on or not, you are in a struggle for life and death everyday.  Ignore it, or embrace?  Your choice!    The ancient Hebrews not only captured this struggle in the Torah, the writers of the Psalms, Proverbs and other poetic books, as well as, the books of the prophets and the historcal books in the Old Testament teach us what it means to embrace difficulty.

Mother Teresa endured a six decades long struggle with a deep, soul wrenching, depression that only her spiritual director knew about. In-spite of this she trusted God and Hoped that He had not abandoned her as she cared for the naked, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the leper, the dying, all the ones the world has deemed untouchable.

Depression is a REAL Human Experience that goes undiscussed, stays hidden and is avoided even in church. Yet the scriptures are full of individuals who faced this struggle and some who even embraced  their oppressive hardship.

Lamentation - Written by an author that witnessed the genocide, suffering, slaughter and enslavement of his own people when Babylon, the New Super Power invade his nation, carrying many, like Daniel away into captivity. Job - Loses everything: his wealth, his 10 children, his health and his friends even turn on him. King David’s son, Absalom - Rapes his sister, steals his throne and is eventually killed against his wishes. King Saul, disobeys God’s wishes, is condemned to lose his throne by a prophet, and is tormented by evil spirits. Question: What can we do, when we are faced with this darkness called depression?

A brief reading through Psalm 42 will give you a glimpse into the life of one who was suffering beyond what most of us in America have ever experienced.  This poem…this song was written to capture the anguish of heart, mind, soul by one of the “Sons of Korah,” a Levitical family. Who was exiled from his Jerusalem, longing for the sanctuary and oppressed by his enemies.  So, how does he deal with the weight of his situation?  You only have to read the opening lines of this poem to learn the key to embracing, "As the dee pants for the water of brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, ofr the living God?  When shall I come and appear before God?"  The psalmist pours out, empties his soul to God and somehow in this simple act of Faith change happens in the depths of our being that cannot be wrought other wise.

Question: How do you feel forgotten by God? Question: What is oppressing you right now, causing you to mourn? Question: What is your soul agonizing over, disturbed by right now? Question: What is God’s word of hope to you this morning, Step into His Presence invite him to be the answer, the savior, Your God.

The psalmist ends this beautiful piece of poetry with these words of comfort for all who are pressed down by depression:

Somehow we want "Change" to be instant, just like we like our food, our purchases, our fun! We hate to wait...we hate when we don't get what we want when we want it. But "Change" doesn't always work that way, does it? So what do we do, just give up, realize we are doomed and that things just never get better? No, following Jesus as He encounters folks that are utterly hopeless, just might change how you look at change.

We will also hear some stories from real people that have lived in the struggle we call life.  They will share their journey of "Change" and give you courage to keep on going, because even in the darkest hours God has a plan and when you choose to Follow Christ in those hopeless moments you will discover "Change" isn't something you have to strive for, work up, or force...it just miraculously happens!

As we focus on Paul’s Letter written to the church in the small town of Colossae, located by the Lycus River, in the then Roman Province of Asia, today’s modern day Turkey it is important to recognize that Colossae was once a thriving “populace city, wealthy and large,” during the Persian and Greek empires rule and reign, but the system of roads changed, and Colossae was reduced to an insignificant market town by human standards, God had not forgotten the Colossians! (Lightfoot, “St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians and to Philemon,” London, Macmillan, 1879, p.16; Vaughn, EBC, “Colossians,” p.163).

But before we talk about Colossae and the Colossians lets remember Paul, writer of this letter and the troubled times he lived and died in. Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome, probable around 62-63AD. Nero began the first of ten rounds of persecution and execution of Christians.

Paul would eventually be summoned to his execution by Nero, an eye witness account, by Abdias reports that Nero sent Ferega and Parthemius to tell Paul that he was going to be put to death; both they and others gathered asking Paul to pray for them, so they might believe, after which Paul instructed them to be baptized; then the Roman soldiers came and took Paul escorting him outside the city to the place where they would execute his death sentence, Paul again prayed, Abdias reports, “he gave his neck to the sword” (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, p.13).

Take note, these words Paul penned were some of his last! He was not fainted hearted, fickle, or a Follower of Christ for convenience sake ONLY, NO Paul was absolutely committed to Christ and His Gospel and it cost him his comfort, security, and ultimately his life.

As we explore this Letter of Paul’s to the Colossians lets not forget the back drop, following Jesus and sharing the Gospel just might cost you everything, even your life. The times were serious, the church in Colossae was being attacked from within also, a group called the Gnostics were bringing a New Gospel, fundamentally different from Christ’s Gospel. The Gnostic Gospel focused preached a new, but old way to salvation; a salvation NOT through Faith in Christ, but a salvation obtained through acquiring special knowledge, and the practice of superstitious rituals, and astrology and angelology; this salvation was a mystical and magical experience to become a “Gnostic” or a “knowing one.” They believed the material world, including the flesh was evil, and therefore, attacking Christ’s Incarnation and his Deity, Christ could not be both God and Man, because the two could never co-exist. Paul as a counter, to their teachings/philosophies writes this letter to the Colossian church and encourages them to stand firm in their faith, beyond belief, proven in their action to love and care for one another through self-sacrifice...faith in action!  Paul in his opening lines, commends these Christ Followers for their dedication to their God and the tangible results.

Temperature Check...

Where is your Dedication to God...Your “All In” commitment to your life being IN HIM?

The "Truth" bites! All of us have tangled with truth, if your human that is, and it most often is NOT EASY, but if we deal with it we change, life gets simpler!  But we aren't always looking for simple or less confusing, or less painful living are we?  I often think I like confusion, pain and hardship...how about you?

What I love about the "Truth" is that when I ignore it long enough...when I've run myself to exhaustion...when I've excused, justified and lied myself into a corner...and when I've let the sharp teeth of "Truth" bite deep enough then I finally cry-out "enough is enough" Jesus I SURRENDER!  Jesus I'm ready to listen to your life restoring WILL and live according to your life giving WAY!  The hardened mud in my life that covers the Master Piece that God made me to be must be chiseled away when I don't let Jesus wash it away.  Thankfully Jesus doesn't give up on me, He never stops pointing me to His TRUTH, He never stops wanting to lead me down the road of His WAY, He never stops trying to pour His LIFE into mine, but we MUST be WILLING to PARTICIPATE because He does nothing against our WILL.  

A Hard head and a Hard heart that WILLS against what is:  Absolute TRUTH, The only right WAY (Path), and living a never ending LIFE that is abundant and being restored to perfection REQUIRES "The Hammer of Truth" to bust away the hardened mud that obstructs the view of the beautiful Master Piece that YOU ARE.

How have you been hard headed and hard hearted...running from the inevitable, ever deepening bite of TRUTH in your life?  Look the at areas in life that cause you the most pain, what TRUTH are you not seeing or are you intentionally ignoring?

I was talking to a friend last night that is being choked out by the strangle hold of his addiction to drugs.  He is literally being suffocated to death, though he has so much to live for: a girl who loves him and hasn't left, a new baby on the way, and two other children that need his love and attention, but he refuses to see these life giving gifts in his life.  Why?  His dad walked out on him when he was two, yes, he had a step-father who he calls his dad, yes, his dad suddenly re-appeared a few years ago and apologized for disappearing, but my friend still hasn't acknowledged the reality that he lives out of a mentality of worthlessness.  Why does he feel worthless, because he still hasn't acknowledged and worked through the reality that he was abandoned by the man, his father, who was supposed to be there for him...who was supposed to love him unconditionally...who was supposed to really protect...care for...and provide for him.

His unresolved "Abandonment" and subsequent feeling of "Worthlessness" have caused great pain and suffering in his life.  Crime, jail, homelessness, joblessness and addiction are all the baggage or the bite of the HAMMER of TRUTH that he must face.  His daddy abandoned him, but that TRUTH doesn't make him "Worthless" it just points to the brokenness that requires restoration.  My friend's need can only be met in Christ Jesus...who NEVER abandons, NEVER leaves, NEVER stops loving and always through the TRUTH points to the only WAY (path) that always leads to NEW LIFE, now and FOREVER!