Calling vs. Comfort

I want to take a rare opportunity to whine.

I live in the allergy capital of the world.  And here’s the data to prove it:  grass pollens of more than 20 grains per meter are considered “high”.  Counts of 200 grains per meter are considered “very high”.   Guess what:  here in the southern end of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, grass pollen counts above 600 are not unusual.  And counts have been recorded over 1500.

That is a lot of pollen.    

The numbers are different for tree pollens, weed pollens, and other sources of sinus misery… but at some point every spring, Eugene/Springfield typically exceeds the “very high” level for all of these various noxious, nostril-inflaming substances. 

This is where I live…and I suffer from horrible allergies. 

Many years ago when I underwent allergy testing, my allergist said that I had the worst reaction to spring pollens he ever had seen in more than 50 years of medical practice.  I’d always wanted to be first in something, but this is not really the category where I prefer to be leading the pack.

I’ve been treated by allergists, ENT’s, and a variety of other medical professionals over the years.  I’ve found some relief here and there, but nothing ever has fully solved the problem.  So I sniffle and sneeze and snort my way through life.  I told my wife that I should have become a major stockholder in the Kimberly-Clarke corporation (makers of Kleenex) since I consume so much of their product.  I’m convinced that I must be a large part of their profit base.

Here’s something else I want to whine about:  because of my allergy problems, I am much more susceptible to colds.  And guess what:  the Native Americans called this place “the valley of sickness.”   They were right.  People do get sick a lot here from the bad air.  Colds tend to linger…and linger…and linger.   

So I finish off my winter colds just in time for the spring allergy season.  I am constantly battling congestion, a runny nose, a sore throat.  On most days, I feel mildly “sick”, rather than “well”.  All of this is a real distraction as I try to preach. 

Yet I moved to this area, by choice, a little over three years ago.  Why?  Because this is where God has called me to serve. 

I can see so many reasons for me to be here.  I love our church, the climate, the ministry opportunities.  There seems to be a healthy meshing of my interests and skills with the needs of the church and the needs of our community. 

And yet…physically…it’s been a struggle.

So I’ve spent a lot of time musing about the relationship between my calling and my comfort (or discomfort).  I wrestle with the fact that my personal discomfort is a direct result of life in the place where God has asked me to live. 

I find that it’s easy to be self-centered about these things; to feel that because I am “doing God’s work” and “honoring my call” that the Lord should not ask me to endure this level of discomfort, inconvenience, and annoyance.

And then, of course, I think of all that Jesus endured. 

And the original 12 disciples. 

And the Apostle Paul.  

…as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger…

2 Corinthians 6:4-5

I have…been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 

2 Corinthians 11:23-27

This certainly puts my problems into perspective.  After all, what’s the cost of wiping my nose compared to these kinds of experiences? 

It’s clear that my personal comfort…our personal comfort…is not that high on God’s list.  Not when there are so much more important issues at stake.  Like getting the world back on track with His program.

And yet…on a larger level…I wonder why God has arranged it this way.  There obviously is a great amount of pain in this world, and doing good does not allow us to avoid it.  At times doing good comes at a high price.  Doing godly work sometimes comes at a great price.  And Jesus – the one I claim to follow – paid the greatest price of all. 

All of this makes me realize, yet again, the consequences of living in a fallen world.  This is the cost of sin.  For me.  For everyone. 

And rather than whine about some of my personal hardships, I know the Lord wants me to live with a sense of gratitude.  Gratitude for knowing Him.  Gratitude for what Jesus has done, and is continuing to do in me and through me.  And – just as importantly – gratitude for living here.  

Here in the pollen-laden Willamette Valley. 

This is the place where I have the opportunity…where I have the incredible privilege…to live out my calling.  Doing so by the grace of a loving God who knows what is best for me. 

Even if, much of the time, life is physically uncomfortable. 

When I look at life from this perspective, I find there is great comfort in knowing I am doing what the Lord wants. Where He wants.  And this comfort – this spiritual, relational comfort from the Heavenly Father – far outweighs any personal discomfort I may experience.

-       Bruce

God’s Grace & Graciousness

A few weeks ago, I woke up feeling a bit melancholy.  Just before Bruce left for work, he prayed for me, as he often does.    In that prayer, he encouraged me to embrace God’s grace, to reflect God’s graciousness, and to be grateful for all that God has given me. 

I’ve been pondering these qualities – grace, graciousness and gratefulness – in a new way since that morning.  These thoughts are not new or profound, but they serve as reminders of the importance of keeping my mind, my heart, and my attitudes in tune with Jesus. 

Embrace God’s grace

God’s grace is offered to me as His child.  I am a sinner in need of a Lord who will receive me with unmerited favor; a Savior who will pardon my sin.  But sometimes I act as if I’m a sinner who has yet to find a Savior!  I see my sin…and I berate myself.  I groan with disappointment at my imperfections and bad attitudes, and – by doing so – I allow negative thoughts to overshadow God’s gift of grace.  

 

Psalm 32 reminds me to rejoice in the Lord and be glad.  The psalmist reminds me that I am called “righteous”…not because of what I do or don’t do, but because the very act of my confession draws me into God’s grace. 

How can I be melancholy if I embrace the reality of God’s grace? 

Reflect God’s Graciousness

My mother was one of the most gracious people I ever have met.  She showed a gracious spirit toward other people, often in the face of unkind comments or selfish behaviors.  She extended herself to care for others, even when they were difficult to deal with.  She followed Jesus’ example of love by reflecting God’s graciousness to the people around her. 

I’ve seen God extend His love and graciousness to me…and not just through people like my mom.  God has been merciful, offering me gentle indulgence when I’ve failed or have been stubborn in my response to Him.  Galatians 5:22 reminds me that I am not just a recipient of God’s graciousness…I also have the opportunity to pass His graciousness on to others.  Each day, I can choose to embrace the reality that God’s Spirit lives within me and equips me to radiate godly character and godly virtues toward the people I encounter.

Yet it’s so easy to fall short.  It’s easy to be gracious when people are loving and accepting of me.  Or when I’m in a good mood because things are going well.  But when I’m irritated or frustrated…when people don’t treat me the way I prefer to be treated…then I’m not always so gracious.  And so I recognize that the only way to consistently reflect God’s graciousness is to keep spending time with Him.  I need to dwell in His gracious presence so I can, in turn, reflect His gracious love to others. 

Gratefulness to God

Of these three qualities – grace, graciousness and gratefulness – this last one is the most difficult for me.  I don’t like to admit it, but feelings of entitlement can overshadow my thinking.  Pessimistic attitudes can loom large in my mind and emotions.  And these things then crowd out the awe…the incredible awe…of having a relationship with the God of heaven and earth.  A lack of gratefulness erodes my appreciation for who God is, for His gift of love, and for the rich and abundant life He offers me.

As I ponder this, I realize anew that gratefulness is a choice.  I always can find something to complain about or fret over.  Yet God is willing to walk with me, guide me, and love me in spite of my weaknesses.  And so there always is something for which I can be grateful. 

And above all things, I am grateful for His grace. 

-      Julie

A Surprising "Donation"

How exciting to see God’s hand at work, especially when you least expect it. 

In the last month of 2012, God provided unexpected financial donations from four individuals wanting to invest in our vision for The Lavender Pavilion.  [See my post from September 30].  We have not even established a non-profit organization yet, we only have shared our vision.  Yet God prompted people to contribute.  We were amazed and excited and even humbled.  These generous gifts were yet another sign from the Lord which confirmed that this vision truly is from Him.

In my earlier post, I showed a couple of pictures of our first purchases for the prayer garden we plan to create.  However, because of other demands on our time, we've not finished clearing and preparing the ground...so the Japanese Maples are still in their pots.   

 

But yesterday, Bruce excitedly called me and Rachel outside.  There - in the middle of the pasture (which will become the prayer garden) - was one growing plant.  A purple plant.  Isolated and alone...but beautifully flowering. 

And we did not put it into the ground. 

This is our third spring in the house, and this plant never has grown here before.   This part of the pasture previously was filled with weeds, wild grass, and wild blackberries...all of which we slowly have been clearing.  How did this plant get here?  Did an animal carry a seed to this spot and drop it?  Did God Himself put this particular flower into this particular place? 

We do not know.  We only know that this previously was pastureland, not a garden.  There are no other flowers planted here. 

So whatever the explanation - whether the Lord used natural means or supernatural means - we have no doubt that this was His doing.  He chose to provide us with an amazing and exciting gift.  

We see this as yet another sign - a very powerful sign - that the vision we have is from God.  And to give us hope and confidence, our gracious Father planted the very first flower Himself...and He chose one with lavender colors.  (It's a purplish-blue flower, and my camera makes it look a bit more blue than it actually is.) 

As we stood in the middle of the pasture, Bruce called it "holy ground".  I believe it is.  And I believe it will be, as we slowly...faithfully... patiently...fulfill the vision that God has given us for the ministry of The Lavender Pavilion. 

- Julie  

Some New Thoughts on an Old Story

It is Thanksgiving weekend, and I certainly have much for which to be thankful.  But for the past two weeks I’ve been looking beyond Thanksgiving…to Advent.

I’ve preached tons of sermons over the years, but – until two years ago – I never was the primary pulpit minister.  As a result, I seldom had to present a holiday message.  Many of my colleagues in ministry have shared the opinion that “holiday preaching” is one of the most challenging tasks in all of ministry.  And now I tend to agree with them.

Why?  Because it is extremely difficult to preach about Easter and Christmas, year after year, and keep the message fresh.  These holidays define our faith in essential ways, yet the core story is contained in just a few Bible passages.  People enjoy revisiting these familiar stories, but – at the same time – no one wants them to become stale.

Some pastors I know simply give up, and refuse to preach holiday messages at all.  They create some other kind of sermon series – working their way through a relevant topic or a Bible book – and stick with that series right through the holiday.   I did that (sort of) two years ago, during my first Christmas at Garden Way, preaching just one seasonal sermon on the Sunday before Christmas.  And even that one message fit neatly into the larger (non-Advent) series I was preaching. 

I certainly understand the motivation for avoiding the annual holiday sermon series.  However, I’m not sure this is the best approach, for me or for the church.  It’s certainly easier on me as the preacher, but then the entire church (which includes me, by the way) misses out on the message and the meaning of the season.  And we all lose some of the spiritual rhythm of life that comes from taking time to step back and re-visit the foundational message of Advent: the arrival of God in human form.   

It is an amazing story…a life-changing story…that we cannot take for granted. 

So last year I preached a multi-week series that worked through most of the core Christmas passages.  It was delightful to do so for the first time, but then this year – as Christmas was approaching – I found myself in a quandary.  How should I attempt to “re-preach” some or all of these passages? 

One of the beauties of the internet is that sermon research is amazingly easy, so I’ve been perusing various websites in search of ideas for the Christmas season.  And I’ve discovered that other ministers – facing this same challenge - have come up with some wonderfully creative ways to proclaim the Advent message anew.

I have no desire to preach another pastor’s message, so I was not looking for sermons…I was looking for sermon topics.  I was hoping for a creative spark that would give me an idea for a fresh way to approach the familiar Christmas texts. 

My search was, to a certain extent, futile.  I did not have that “eureka” moment when I was hit by a flash of insight.  However, this search did get me thinking creatively about the Advent message.  In particular, I started to think more specifically about the people involved in the story.  About the ups and downs of their lives, particularly in the months and weeks leading up to the birth of Jesus.

And it struck me that far too often, I have approached Christmas as a bit of warm, comforting history.  As an ancient tradition, over which my family has laid its own traditions.  But to a certain extent, this has caused me to lose sight of the biblical story of Christmas.  I was forgetting that God intervened in the lives of specific people – people like Zechariah & Elizabeth; Joseph & Mary - at a specific moment in history. 

These individuals were not static characters in a play.  They were not “tools” to be used by God to accomplish His purposes.  They were real people, with real struggles and real challenges.  And because of His great love for His children, God did not just accomplish His purposes through them, He showed up to do something significant for them. 

All of this was churning around in my head, so I spent several days pondering…and praying… and reading (and re-reading) the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke.  And slowly, a theme began to emerge.  Slowly some ideas crystallized.  And ultimately the Lord enabled me to discover a new way to present Advent to the church this year.    

So in December, I will present five messages that wrestle with the question, “When Does God Show up?”  Here’s how I described this series to the church:

“Christmas is about God’s arrival in human form; that defining moment in history when Jesus came to live among us.  The Christmas season reminds us that God showed up in an amazing way to display His wisdom, His power, and His love for people. 

In this series of messages, we will explore the lives of some familiar characters in the Christmas story and see how God made His presence known before the birth of Jesus.  Speaking through angels and dreams, God showed up – in critical moments – to meet the heart-felt needs of His children.  And through Jesus, God still shows up to meet our needs today.” 

God shows up… 

When We’re Disillusioned (Luke 1:5-25)
The story of Zechariah & Elizabeth as they desperately wait to become parents

When We Least Expect (Luke 1:26-38)
The story of Mary and the angel’s announcement of her impending pregnancy

When We’re Confused (Matthew 1:18-25)The story of Joseph after he learns of Mary’s pregnancy

When Life is Hard (Luke 2:1-7)
The story of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in the manger

Postscript:  Do We Sincerely Want God to Show Up? (Matthew 2:1-12)
The contrasting stories…and contrasting purposes…of Herod and The Wise Men 

I’ve not yet written these messages, but I’m intrigued with this fresh perspective on Advent.  Just pondering these themes is building within me a sense of anticipation for the month of December.  I’m excited to see what God will say to me as I begin to craft these messages next week.

So I’m trusting that the preparation and presentation of these sermons will be a transforming experience for all of us.

I’m trusting that God will show up in our midst.

And I'm trusting that when God does show up, He will do so in an intensely personal way...desiring to work through us and in us...just as he did for our ancestors in the faith, during that very first Christmas season.

- Bruce