Hands Too Full?

I ran across a quote this week in C.S. Lewis’ writings: “God wants to give us something but cannot because our hands are full and there is no where for him to put it” (St. Augustine of Hippo).

As we look to our summer retreat, perhaps we would do well to repeat Augustine’s ancient words to ourselves and see if there is any truth in them for us. Our hands certainly are full in Northern Virginia, and it’s easy to see the retreat as one more thing, one more event on an already crowded calendar. If this retreat is just one more thing to “do” then certainly none of us have time for it….our hands or plates, are simply too full.

Lewis suggested that we often view God as an airman regards his parachute. It’s there for emergencies, but he hopes he will never have to use it. That analogy fits all too well with the busy lives most of us lead. We know God is there for us but he does not really expect we will call on him other than in extreme emergencies.

Yet God made us, so he has some insider information about what we need. In a way, it’s a strange truth that he as the creator knows, but we (the created) often do not see ourselves. He knows we will not seek him as long as he leaves us any other resort where happiness can plausibly be found. As Lewis puts it, “As long as what we call ‘our own life’ remains rewarding and agreeable, we won’t surrender to him. So God knows he must, at times, make our own lives less agreeable to us and take away any of those false sources of happiness.”

“It is here,” Lewis continues, “that God and his providence seems most cruel. Yet reality is that this stooping down of the most high to take interest in our true happiness is perhaps the most remarkable and deserving of praise.”

Is Augustine correct? Are my hands too full to accept what God has to give me? God wants our attention and, as Lewis suggests, he will eventually get it by removing things we have come to depend on. If that is the case, then this retreat seems to me an exceptionally kind way of God asking for our attention. He asks us to take a day and go and rest and reflect together. In a way it’s not much to ask… but then again, to ask for one of my busy weekends…it’s not very easy either.

Mark

May the Fourth Be With You

Many years ago I was watching a Daffy Duck cartoon and Daffy was in a sword fight. In the middle of the fight, as it looked like he was sure to lose, he suddenly asked the character he was fighting, "What is the date?" The other character looked surprised and confused by the off-the-wall question and said, "It's May the fourth." Daffy looked back at his adversary, pulled up his hood so he looked like Obi Wan Kenobi and said, "Then May the Fourth be with you!"

That was a big moment for me because it supplied me with one joke a year for the rest of my life. I have used it so often with so many different people throughout the years that I now get e-mails every May the 4th from loads of people trying to beat me to the punch. I am writing this on May the fourth...but by the time you read this on the 6th, the old joke will be mothballed away till next year.

As we enter into the summer months we need The Force to be with us. Summer ends up being a whirlwind of events, trips, visitors...vacation quickly gives way to something that is far less than relaxing. That's why our summer retreat is such a great way to start the summer. You still have three weeks to sign up. It's just a day and a night, not a huge commitment, but it is a great opportunity to hear Randy Harris encourage us to allow the Force to be with us through a busy summer. Our Force is something far greater than whatever it was that caused Luke Skywalker and Yoda to levitate in the movies...it is the power of the living God.

In the coming weeks we will use our sermon time to prepare ourselves for our retreat. After that, we will enter into a summer series called “A Summer in the Psalms.” If you have not done so yet, I encourage you to sign up for the retreat and join our family at Springfield as we prepare for a busy but great summer.

Mark

Great Science Apologetics Site

I've been a big fan of "science apologetics" for a long time. With my science and medical training, I particularly appreciate the work of Reasons To Believe for its scientifically and theologically rigorous approach and how well they have been able to harmonize the "book of nature" with the book of scripture. Check them out at www.reasons.org and have your faith tremendously uplifted with Reasons to Believe.


Dave

Citizenship!

This week we celebrate together with Kenneth the reunion of his family! What a joy it is for us to meet his wife, Millicent, and daughters, Doris and Loretta, after all these many months of prayers on their behalf. What a much greater joy it must be for him to finally have his family reunited.

It’s a blessing for us because it reminds us of the all-important issue of citizenship. We tend to take our citizenship for granted until we hear stories like Enrique finally getting his citizenship, or we see Kenneth and his family reunited, excited about pursuing "citizenship" in a brand new country. Living in the DC area, we are blessed to be able to drive by the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Library of Congress...and see all these symbols of America are real places. Conversely, one of the bad things is we get familiar with these amazing symbols and often drive right by without even a second look. Do you remember the first time you drove by the Washington Monument and said to yourself, "Wow! There it is! I live right by the Washington Monument."

I wonder if we don't do something similar with our citizenship in heaven. I wonder if the temptation is to be citizens of the most amazing "nation" in the world, the kingdom of God...and to take for granted all the amazing blessings and benefits we have as citizens. Do we miss how amazing it is to take the Lord's Supper because, like the Washington Monument, we drive by it all the time? Do we fail to grasp the freedom that we experience in Christ and bask in how fantastic it really is? Not that America deserves to be compared to God's kingdom...it really does not... but since we are citizens of both places at the present time, maybe it’s a fitting comparison for our situation.

This week as we welcome Millicent, Doris, and Loretta to our family, maybe we can learn from them how great reunion can be. I doubt Kenneth or Millicent, as political refugees, will easily forget they can say what they want about our government without fear of retribution. I doubt they will forget anytime soon they are free to move about and go where they wish. It might be good to see Kenneth’s family as a way to reflect on the freedoms we experience in America...but if that's all we do then we will miss the real chance to see ourselves as people who are exactly in their shoes: visa in hand, citizens of God's kingdom, and secure in knowing the freedom He has promised us.

Mark

Cell Phone Vs. Bible

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we gave it to the kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of an emergency?

This is something to make you go . . . hmmm . . .where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

Makes you stop and think, “Where are my priorities?”

And no dropped calls!

* Submitted by Kimberly Crawford, The Messenger, Volume XXX, Issue 06, February 11, 2007, Church of Christ at Dale City. **

Easter Message

As a kid growing up in the 1970’s, my biggest memories of Easter are the stomach-aches I always got after eating way too much chocolate. It was the Halloween of spring for me. Even a seasoned chocolate eater such as me could not down half a dozen of those super-rich Cadbury eggs without repercussions! I noticed in the media this week that the numbers for Easter candy sales for 2007 are higher than ever. Candy sales are expected to top 1.85 billion this year. That’s just the money spent on candy! If you count all Easter related purchases, the average American will spend $135.07 each.

In the midst of all this conspicuous consumption, the Crossbridge church in Houston, Texas has a plan to use the Easter holiday as an outreach tool. Today (Easter Sunday) they will have a helicopter drop candy-filled Easter eggs to egg-hunting youngsters below. Thousands of eggs will fall from the sky for children to collect. "It is something different and completely unrelated to the Gospel message, but it is a fun way to reach people," children's director Trisha Rich said. "And once they are there, we invite them into the service."

Good for them for being creative in their outreach, but I wonder if the type of people who come to church because a helicopter dropped eggs on their kids’ heads are going to be a little surprised when the rabbits leave, the fun and games stop, and the church starts asking people to die and be resurrected with Christ. As far as I can tell that’s the primary message of Easter.

So here we are at Easter, faced with the challenge of presenting the hope-filled reality of Christ’s empty tomb to our culture. Should we get tough, be serious and make sure we are not confused with those helicopter churches? (Based on our budget I don’t think we have much of a problem there;-) Certainly there will be different answers for different members who have different sorts of friends. But here is one message we can tell our culture this Easter. If you fill your bellies with 1.8 billion dollars worth of candy, you are going to feel very, very, very sick.

Mark

The Miracle of Constant Forgiveness

Do you believe in miracles? There is a great prayer on one of my favorite worship CDs: "Risen Christ, your miracle in us is your constant forgiveness." I really like this little saying a lot, and I can't seem to get it out of my head. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Constant forgiveness really does create miracles in our lives. Why? Because constant forgiveness is nothing else than the unending love of God, which Paul describes in Ephesians 3.18. Paul prays that we are able to grasp “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge….” God’s forgiving love is so great that it is beyond our reasoning capabilities. Our response to this love should simply be acceptance. Accept his unending, loving forgiveness each morning. Don’t try to figure it out; just receive it and enjoy it. The results of accepting this amazing love are nothing short of miraculous: this love will make you like God (2 Cor. 3.18). You’ll become a giver of unending love like the Father, and all those around you will benefit.

When we let go of the dark places in our past--whether they were ten years ago, last week, or this morning--and we accept the love God has for us, things change. This acceptance gives us hope and makes room in our hearts for God’s Spirit to “pour out love” (Romans 5.5). As Easter nears let’s reflect on how the Risen Christ’s steady flow of forgiveness miraculously helps us see beyond past failures and future fears. The love he offers us is like a door leading away from the dark places we tend to wander. His love melts away judgmental attitudes and bitter thoughts that harden our hearts toward others and creates interpersonal havoc. I pray that this Easter we will let God work a miracle in us and resolve to accept his constant forgiveness.

Matt