There were lots of reasons that were given for why this is the case.  The church doesn’t really focus on the necessity, we haven’t seen God face to face, nothing life threatening has ever happened to us that would make us terrified of His power, and many others.  There were a lot of honest points raised, and one of the most telling in my opinion was when a group said that in church we often go through the motions instead of the emotions.

To see Mr. Bean illustrate this for me, check out this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bm9mhX1q4o

That’s catchy, the motions not the emotions.
Beyond it’s obvious preachable quality, this sticks with me because it might actually be a huge barrier to fearing God.

If we can create a church experience where most of the people can come and worship God without ever encountering Him, without ever feeling His presence or seeing Him move; then we are in danger of replacing the curtain that Jesus Christ died to tear apart.  

In Moses’ day, the people were so terrified of God that they didn’t even want to look at Moses’ face after he had been on the mountain speaking with God.  Moses’ face had a glow that frightened the people, so they told him to put a bag on his head.  Later this bag on Moses’ head was replaced with a huge veil that ‘protected’ the worshipers from the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place of the temple where God’s presence was.  Only the chief priest was ever allowed to enter, and only once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Jesus’ main mission was to restore humans relationship with God, and as a symbol of this, when he died the Temple Veil was torn in two.  The veil that had separated the people from God’s glory and power had been removed on purpose.  It was time for God’s people to encounter Him directly.   (Matthew 27:51)

Let’s be honest, encountering God can still be frightening even when Jesus is in our corner.  Our sins are lay bear before Him, the expectations on us increase dramatically when the Holy Spirit enters our lives, and we gain access to a new world of supernatural power through the gifts of the Spirit.  
I think that’s why we create services where our people can go through the motions instead of the emotions.  In our cowardess, we would rather have the Temple veil separating us from God, we like the Israelites before us would rather God put a bag on his head, because then we wouldn’t have to deal with the fact that God is terrifyingly powerful and that He has a purpose for our lives that asks more of us than we think we can give.  

I encourage you to be people of courage, to be brave.

^“16Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].”  Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified version).

Pam & Jim on an Awkward Double Date

Feeling awkward seems to be the reigning champion of humour these days.  Shows like ‘The Office’, ‘Parks & Recreation’, and movies like ‘Meet the Parents’, and ‘Anchorman’ are all about this type of humour.  Put a character in the most awkward situations imaginable and watch their reactions.

I think we love it on the screen because we hate it in real life.  It’s such an immersive experience for us, the audience, as we feel the silent tension, and share the looks of horror on the actors faces.

Let’s face it, no one likes to feel uncomfortable.  Whether it’s having to respond to an inappropriate comment, having to wriggle our way out of an awkward situation, or having our own shortcomings exposed; feeling uncomfortable is something most of us avoid like shaking hands with people in public bathrooms.

I have a feeling, this is why people killed Jesus.
It’s probably also why people killed all the prophets before Jesus.  And maybe why thousands of Christians have died throughout history.

Throughout the Bible in both old and new testaments there are strong challenges levied against the people of God.  Chastisements that would make even the most easy going person writhe in awkward agony.  God seems to be perfectly willing to make us feel uncomfortable from time to time.  This tends to make people respond in strange ways.

Here is one such uncomfortable saying pointed at a very comfortable church:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Revelation 3:15-18

Ugh, that is uncomfortable.  This is to the church of Laodicea, which was described as being lukewarm.  What else is lukewarm?  Maybe a nice swimming pool in the summertime that’s been heated by the sun?  Room temperature would probably be considered lukewarm, as would the bowl of porridge that Goldie-Locks finally decided on.  Not too hot, not too cold, just right.  A perfect synonym for comfort.
Now imagine you are having a nice meal with your church friends, talking about the newest thing you bought to make your life easier and more exciting, your laughing and enjoying your nice peaceful Sunday, and then one of the church leaders stands up and reads this letter.  You are ‘wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.’  Those words might make you feel a little uncomfortable.  Your first response would probably be to get rid of that feeling at all costs…either laugh it off as a joke with those beside you, or dismiss it as speaking of someone else or some other situation.  That would be a big mistake.

Sometimes those moments when we feel completely uncomfortable, fully exposed, and at a loss, are exactly the moments we need to be paying attention to.  I’m not saying every awkward feeling is from God, we all know that not everything on The Office is praise-worthy, but only that we shouldn’t be too quick to laugh off our uncomfortable feelings.  What might our creator, our former and shaper, the one who’s job it is to transform us, be trying to say?

To the church in Laodicea the message was plain, change or be spit out.  Do we take anything God says this literally, or this authoritatively in our lives?  Being uncomfortable in the presence of God and His word is not something to laugh off or avoid, it is to be poured over and understood.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to whom I have given authority over my life.  Unsettle me as You do to all those You love.  Keep me from complacency and religious comfort.  Don’t give up on me, I want to change, I want to be rich, to see, and to be clothed.  Amen.

I have heard it said, and I agree, that there are only 3 things a person can do with money.
 Give It
 Spend It
 Invest It

When talking about money, there is a sea of advice and opinion which can seem overwhelming to wade through.  Topics like where best to invest it, what to spend it on, buy or lease, rent or buy, how much insurance is enough, how much is wise to donate for tax purposes, and on and on.  Most of this information is good to be aware of, and much of it is even wise to practice; however, when talking about God and money, and specifically God Getting a hold of our Wallets, a more foundational issue emerges.
How do we decide how our money gets managed within these three categories?

This is a much bigger question, which will have a tremendous effect when we consider the thousands of money decisions we will make in our lifetime.  It is really a question about our understanding of money, about our attitude and posture towards money.  I hope that as we wrestle with this issue, we will get closer to allowing God to become the master of our money. 

We need to recognize where we’re standing

A basic assumption is the following: the way that we view the money we have will shape what we do with it. 
Watch this video clip and then come back…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ivK3m8tvk  
If we see the money that we have as ours, then we will decide where it goes.  We will spend it on what we want because, we earned it with our skills, knowledge, and abilties.
If instead we view the money that we have as belonging to God and managed by us, then where it goes will be decided in an entirely different way.  I believe it will become a conversation. 

The best example I can think of is when I became married to my wife Christina.  A lot of things change when 2 become 1, and attitudes towards money is one that absolutely has to.  When we began to live together our individual bank accounts became our ‘joint’ account, and we began to plan how to spend our money together.  Everything from the long term (where do we want to be in 5 years), to the week to week (how much should we spend on groceries), to the day to day (how much can we spend without consulting each other) was discussed, debated, and settled upon.  Now, you might be under the impression that this is a negative thing, that it is giving up control…but, I’ve found the opposite to be true.  Making decisions about money together actually makes me feel better about money decisions, more in control of money.  There is a second opinion, more information, and selfish impulses are quenched.  I am more aware of where the money goes; because, we are on a plan.  My money has become our money and it’s management has become a conversation.   

My money has become our money and it’s management has become a conversation. 

Our conversation about money leads to better decisions, and more satisfaction. 
I believe this same principle to be at work when we allow God to get ahold of our wallets.  We welcome Him into our conversation about money, and the result is better decisions, and more satisfaction.  Let’s begin to allow God to have a voice shall we…

We have to learn where God stands

This section is divided up into the 3 general uses of money listed at the outset, namely we can give it, spend it and invest  it.  Hopefully this emphasizes the point that God desires to be involved in 100% of our money decisions. 

Give It | God wants us to give joyfully & generously |

That 10% thing.
When we think about what God wants of our money, we are tempted to think that He is after a %. 
This understanding can lead to two dangerous money positions.  We either give him his share, fulfill our obligation, and do what we want with the other 90%,  believing that we are cool with God because He got His.
Or
We fall short of the 10% for some reason, we can’t afford it this week, we lost track of where we were, or we didn’t do the math right, and thus feel guilty that we are stealing from God and about to receive our due punishment. 

Paul’s teaching to the early church mentions nothing of a legaly based tithe.  He does however mention a principle of generosity, being a cheerful giver, and deciding in your heart what to give.  In a letter, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, writes this instruction to the church in Corinth:

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

What a liberating teaching about how to give!  In this short teaching there is both the freedom from any sort of mandatory tax to God, and the charge to make a responsible decision with our hearts.  If our hearts are making room for God’s Spirit our giving decisions too will be made in conversation with God. 

Spend It | God wants to be involved in our spending decisions |

Money is a form of exchange, and one of it’s main purposes is to be spent.  For all the problems money brings, it can also be a lot of fun.  With money we can have a wonderful night out at a great restaurant, we can buy that car we’ve been pining for, and we can take care of our needs like food on our tables and a roof over our heads.  
There is nothing wrong with spending money.   In fact, Paul writes to Timothy, a young pastor, and says that, “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” (1 Timothy 5:8). 

Spending money is an essential, and hopefully enjoyable, practice.  Having said that, in our culture, spending money is basically second nature, and we have become experts at spending money we don’t even have yet!  
The mismanagement of this ’spending’ category is the cause of all kinds of evil.  

Proverbs mentions that, “the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender,” (Proverbs 22:7).  Our unwillingness to be patient in acquiring our hearts desires turns us into servants of credit card companies, banks, and all types of lenders. 
How much more could we give, or invest, if we became better managers of our spending?

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,” (James 1:17).

Everything belongs to God, He created the world and all that’s in it.  He gave us the abilities, gifts, and talents that enable us to earn money.  Do we not think that our Lord and Master, might also want to speak about how we spend our money?
Our money talks, it tells stories about us that perhaps we wouldn’t want told very loudly.  What items we purchase, what companies we partner with when we buy our goods and services (it might be helpful to think of our purchases with companies as partnering with them), and even when we choose to buy (is it when we want it, or when we can afford it?), each of these decisions tell stories about us. 

I thoroughly believe that our life of discipleship must extend to our purchase decisions, and that God desparately wants to be involved in those decisions.   

Invest It | We are called to be good managers of our money |

One of the uses of money is to invest it and increase it, put it to good use so that we have more to give, more to invest, and more to spend. 

Jesus presented us with wise financial counsel when He told the parable of the good managers & the bad manager (luke 19:11-26).  In this story the first couple of managers went out and did good things with the money that they were given responsibility for, earning back double what they had started with, and were rewarded handsomly.  The story continues to the other manager, who was so scared he’d lose the money that he hid it away.  He was called a wicked manager and lost the little that he had.

To me, this parable comes as strong counsel to be investing our money.  To put what we have been entrusted with to good use or we risk losing it.  I hear a God who cares about all the money that passes through our fingers, not just a percentage point off the top! 

There is another example about putting money to good use that I can think of.  It is the story of Joseph, whom God used to interpret Pharoah’s dream.  The interpretation was that Pharoah should store up food in years of plenty so that he will have enough to spare in the lean years to come (Genesis 41).  Pharoah listens to this wise advice and ends up expanding his wealth incredibly as the surrounding nations come to Egypt for food.  The lesson I hear about money from this story is another encouragement to invest wisely.  Save up in years of plenty, save an emergency fund, put your money to good use. 

One word of caution with investing, do not invest without regard for the other two uses of giving and spending.  The bible cautions strongly about storing up our treasure in barns.  The rich man had too much to store in his barns, so rather than give or spend them he built bigger barns.  His trust and sense of security rested firmly in his wealth.  At this false trust God says, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  ”This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God,” (Luke 12:20-21).

Money can be very dangerous and yet we are called to manage it.  Without embracing God’s ideas about money, and without submitting our investment, purchase, and giving decisions to God, we will be standing on dangerous ground.  Money has the potential to master us. 

We need to decide to stand with God

How do we begin to change our attitudes toward money?  To pry our hands off of those bills, and that plastic?  How do we move from a fist to an open hand? 
I would be lying if I said it is just a matter of making one big decision to ask God’s help and you’ll forever change.
We are forgettful and stubborn, not to mention that selfish spending is a habit firmly engrained not only in our culture but in our own hearts. 
Amidst this sobering self-awareness, remember that Paul’s words to the Corinthians were not angry or corrective, but they were filled with promise, hope, and faith in God’s provision.  Hear these faith filled words meant for those who understand and reflect God’s view of money: 

^“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Cor 9:10-11

In order for us to allow God to get a hold of our wallets, we will need to invite Him into all of our conversations about money.  How we give it, how we spend it, and how we invest it. 

May we welcome His still small voice into our financial planning.  In Jesus’ name, and for the expansion of His Kingdom, we have these conversations.

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.  See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Luke 11:34-35

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus explains this powerful analogy for the eye. 
It functions like a lamp.  Easy to understand, we all know how lamps work. 
If the lamp is on and shining brightly we know where to go so that we won’t bump into things and get hurt.
If the lamp is dark, it does no good to be holding the thing, it is a useless tool.
The other thing about lamps is that you need them when it’s dark. 
Guess what, there’s a lot of dark out there today. 
Jesus invites us to think about our eyes in the same way.
  If our eyes are bad, they are useless…in fact, at another time, Jesus says that if your eye is causing you to sin it would be better not to have that eye at all.  
  But, if our eyes are good, they are very good indeed, filling our whole body with light.  Our eyes are ensuring that our lives are on the right track, and heading towards the right goal.

From these words from Jesus, our eyes seem like an important thing to get right.
An important thing to have God get a hold of.

“Your eye is the lamp of your body.”  -Jesus

For God to get a hold of our eyes, there are 3 things we need to do:
1) Learn where God stands
2) Recognize where we’re standing
3) Choose to stand with God 

1) Learn where God stands

Let your eyes look directly ahead,
  And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 
Watch the path of your feet,
  And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
  Turn your foot from evil.
                                           Proverbs 4:25-27 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
                                          Hebrews 12:1-2

These 2 passages of Scripture give us some helpful principles for where God stands.
In Proverbs we have strong direction, from the wise Solomon, on what not to do and what to do with our eyes.
Do not allow your eyes to turn you away.  
  There are a lot of things that lure our eyes, the Bible calls it the lust of our eyes, and tells us to throw it off.

Imagine you are a 100 metre sprinter, getting ready for the Olympic Finals.  
You are all too aware that there are TV cameras zoomed in on the beads of sweat pouring down your face, and sure you know that those cameras represent the millions of people watching your every move, not to mention the 10’s of thousands who are in attendance screaming, cheering, booing, and calling your name. 
It’s all there, all very alluring and attractive, but you don’t turn, not even for a moment.
Because you know that there is something far more important you are here to do. 
Your gaze is fixed. 
The picture of focus and concentration. 
The cameras catch your gaze and follow it to its fixation point.  
The finish line. 

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” -Hebrews 12

2) Learn where we stand

Guess what?
You ARE a runner, not a sprinter, but a runner nonetheless.  You are, even now, running toward a goal in your life.  What is it?  What is your goal?  What are your eyes fixed on?

Hebrews 12:2 explains that we are to fix our eyes on what?  
Jesus. 
Jesus Christ is our ‘directly ahead’, He is our ’straight in front of you’, our finish line. 
Can we honestly say that our eyes are so fixed on Jesus Christ that the cameras, screams, cheers, boos, and calls, haven’t turned us to the right or left?
Where are we standing?  What has the attention of our eyes?  What are we time and time again drawn away from Christ towards? 
This is an important question, and honesty is pivotal.

3) Choose to Stand with God

Let’s choose right now to ‘throw off’ everything that hinders us and entangles us. 
Confess our hindrances, name those things that attract and distract our eyes.
Let’s admit that we are not running the race we want to be running, and in humility ask the Lord to run alongside.

I invite you to take a moment in silent prayer.

–
Take a look at these videos if you have time:
What not to do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7hbzpZilJE
What to do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXj0BMYA-cU
  -This was a while back, but imagine the focus needed after all those false starts.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

In this descriptive sentence, Christ’s example of how to live with a quiet heart in a noisy world is captured.  In Part 1 of our series, we introduced the relevance and importance of this verse.  In this entry, the background and context will be explored, in order to form a foundation from which to build on in future entries.   

To understand the relevance of the teaching principles in this passage, we need to survey where it is placed in the book of Mark….where we find it in the story of Jesus’ life.  

A quick glance at the context reveals that this verse is sandwiched between two desciptions of ministry heavy, and likely exhausting, days.  Mark’s gospel at this point has Jesus beginning his ministry work, perhaps establishing long term patterns for his daily schedule.  From what we read, it begins with teaching in the synagogue in the morning (Mk 1:21-22), followed by the casting out of a demon (vs. 25), continuing with a miraculous healing (vs. 31), and into the evening He was healing many sick people (vs. 32).  A heavy day to be sure!  For me, an exhausting day is merely preaching a message in the morning and following it up with teaching in the evening.  

Immediately after our passage, Mark makes it clear that there was much more work for Jesus to do the following day.  Verse 36 says, “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’”

Our focus verse comes to us in the midst of these 2 intensely demanding days in Jesus’ ministry.  It is this context that allows us to ask some incredibly relevant questions of Jesus.  

How does the Christ follower handle the busyness of life?  How do we avoid the pitfalls of other peoples expectations in our calling?  How do we prioritize what is most important in our work life?

Mark’s ordering of the rhythm of Christ’s ministry offers us priceless principles to base our lives on, and as the passage continues we see why…

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  Mark 1:37

After a long day and evening of intense ministry Jesus awakes the next morning with the vision, insight, and discipline to remian focused on His purpose.  Not even the tempting call of need and popularity could disuade Him.  How was Jesus able to remain focused and purposeful in the midst of the hectic pace of daily ministry?  Answering that question is the task of this series, ‘Quiet the Noisy Heart’, and it begs to be continued.  

Lord of all, creator of the rythm of life, teach us to live as You intend.  Teach us to enter into Your rythm, Your clarity of purpose, Your presence.  As the busyness of life tempts us away from You, cling to us and call us again and again.  For Jesus’ sake, Amen.  

My spiritual director showed me a picture like this and those were the questions that came to mind.  
When my eyes hit the photo, my mind hit the verse that talks about how God feeds the birds… 

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”  (Lk 12:24)

I was challenged to think about the fact that I was the bird in the hands of the God who has proved Himself faithful over and over again.  Why do I not seek to have my needs met in Him?  Why do I continually fly around desparately looking for food that never quite hits the spot, when the food that has been specifically designed for my pallet is sitting there in an open hand?

Do I not trust that God knows my needs?
Do I not believe that God can meet my needs?
Do I not believe that God loves me and will give me what I need? 

Those are the rhetorical questions that rang in my head as I saw this picture and experienced the subtext of my current situation playing in the background.  Of course I did belive those things about God, He had proved it to me…so what went wrong?  

Continental drift is all I can think of…that imperceptibly slow coasting away from the source of life.