Forsaken?

“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” -David, Psalm 22:1

Have you ever felt complete abandonment, vulnerability, betrayal, anguish, excruciating pain, or hopelessness? If you have gone through one of those times you may understand David’s desperate plea. Where is my God? Why is He not paying attention to my needs? Why does He not help me?

I can’t say, I have ever had to walk through a valley of despair where I felt the void of the absence of God and His rejection. I can recall the accounts of US P.O.W. soldiers in Vietnam who were held by the Viet Cong for years, some imprisoned in bamboo cages 6 ft. long, by 3 ft. wide, and 2 ft. high, placed on a starvation diet of rice and salt, and shackled in irons, often beaten, certainly neglected, and many executed. I remember the descriptions of those who suffered the inhumane treatment in the German Concentration Camps of WWII. Alexander Werth, a British correspondent records what he saw at Maidenek, near the Polish border where over 1.5 million people were executed.

Anyway, after the washing was over, they were asked to go into the next room; at this point even the most unsuspecting must have begun to wonder. For the "next room" was a series of large square concrete structures, each about one-quarter of the size the bath-house, and, unlike it, had no windows. The naked people (men one time, women another time, children the next) were driven or forced from the bath-house into these dark concrete boxes - about five yards square - and then, with 200 or 250 people packed into each box - and it was completely dark there, except for a small light in the ceiling and the spyhole in the door - the process of gassing began. First some hot air was pumped in from the ceiling and then the pretty pale-blue crystals of Cyclon were showered down on the people, and in the hot wet air they rapidly evaporated. In anything from two to ten minutes everybody was dead. . .

In our history we have a long list of human atrocities of torture, genocide, neglect, war, slavery, and those who suffered must have cried out “My God, my God why have you forsaken us?” Has God abandoned us?

A poignant snapshot in history, one man is tried and sentenced to death by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans 2000 years ago. Roman crucifixion was a visceral statement of power over their subjects. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews is written above his head as he gasps for each breath in excruciating pain. Flogged, hands and feet nailed to the wooden beams, mocked, rejected, convicted as a criminal, and taking on the sins of humanity…even humanities atrocities. Jesus cries out “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Has God abandoned his own Son?

David answers:

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
- Psalm 22:23-24

Human suffering tests our faith like no other. To hold onto faith that God is present, compassionate, and empathetic to our suffering even to the point of death is our present and future hope. Jesus, the Son of God, is the first fruit of our future hope, fulfilled in his power over sin and death on Resurrection Day. When Jesus walked out of the dark, lifeless tomb…he emphatically answers “Yes, God is…” God is present, God listens, God is active, God is powerful, God cares… my God has not forsaken me. God's answer is Jesus.

Where Do You Stand?

Unless you have been in isolation camping on the backside of Mt. Hood this winter eating canned beans and trapping rabbits for dinner, then you are aware of the political hurricane about to come to shore this weekend. The House of Representatives will most likely bring to a vote (or non-vote) on the Health Care Reconciliation Bill. By everyone’s view this is a big deal…a big bill…a big cost…a big change. Regardless of where you find yourself in support or in opposition to this bill, it is a bill loaded with uncertainty, fear, hope, promises, and the scariest issue of all…change. If passed and signed into law then it will most certainly bring change to our hospitals, doctors, procedures…change to the insurance companies…change to businesses…change to individual health insurance policies…change in taxes…and change in political careers. Everyone will be affected in this change in some way at some level. That’s a big deal.

Most friends I talk with have very, VERY, strong opinions on this issue in either support or opposition with this bill, with not many sitting on the fence. There are some foundational issues that surface: trust, hope, and fear. If you support the bill and the changes you trust the Federal Govt. bureaucracy, hope for fair, universal health care coverage, and fear the status quo. If you are in opposition to the bill you do not trust the Federal Govt. bureaucracy, do not hold out hope that this is the answer to health care coverage, and fear this will further indebt our nation, and weaken our heath care system. The hurricane has landed.

As for me, I could wax eloquent for a page or two on my personal views, however, in the foundational issues of trust, hope and fear I would like to share a different perspective. I reserve 100% of my trust not in people, insurance companies, or governments, but in the Truth found in Jesus Christ. I do not hold onto hope that any Government will be able to protect, provide and meet all my needs. God alone is my provider, my sustainer, my protector. In the midst of real fears of disease, accidents, hospitalization, increased taxes and insurance premiums, or even bankruptcy, I find daily courage in the guidance and presence of the Holy Spirit.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. – Psalm 62:6 (NLT)

As a believer in Christ, I put my hope and trust in Him regardless of what is swirling in the world around me. When the hurricanes of life (tragedy, job loss, failure, uncertainty, fear, and change) whip around us and cause the ground beneath us to sink, I am encourage by the truth found in the 150 year old hymn, On Christ the Solid Rock by Edward Mote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQgD_Wg9DG4

Principle of the 5th Sparrow

“A person's a person, no matter how small.” – Horton, (Horton Hears a Who)

Theodore Seuss Geisel (1904 – 1991) or more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, is one of the most beloved children’s writers even today. He wrote and illustrated the classics of Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Although he penned himself, “Dr.” Suess, he never fulfilled his dream of earning a doctorate in philosophy of literature at Oxford. Yet, his stories, his parables have endured through the decades not simply because they were silly, tongue twisting escapades, but because there was a positive truth to be discovered. He was an encourager to children reading his books in the school library, as well as, to parents reading to their sleepy children at night. One of his enduring themes is the specialness of you:

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” (Happy Birthday to You)

“Thank goodness for all of the things you are not!
Thank goodness you're not something someone forgot,
and left all alone in some punkerish place
like a rusty tin coat hanger hanging in space.
Thats why I say "Duckie!
don't grumble! don't stew!
some critters are much-much,
oh, ever so much-much,
so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!”
(Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are)

When we feel down, lonely, disposable, insignificant, and common we withdraw in fear of not mattering. When we feel “unlucky”, we compare ourselves to others in their appearances, their relationships, their cool stuff, their success and we feel as if we don’t measure up. We compensate by being critical of others, by working harder, earning more, buying more, by cosmetics, gym memberships, diets, and even surgeries…all to make us feel that we matter.

We don’t need to compensate for this fear of not mattering, or even Dr. Seuss to remind us how special we are. Jesus encourages us with the principle of the 5th sparrow.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God…. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. – Luke 12:6-7

Two sparrows were sold for a penny. Four were purchased for two pennies with the 5th sparrow thrown in for free. God cares about the 5th sparrow - insignificant, disposable, worthless. How much more does God value and care about you as his beloved child. One way to think about it is this question: When you meditate on the crucifixion of Jesus, what does the cross say about how much you matter to God?

So, if you’re feeling like a 5th Sparrow today, “Don’t grumble! don't stew! some critters are much-much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!”

Taxes, Spies and the Road Runner

Taxes – just saying the word, can make your blood pressure rise, lead to heated arguments, polarizing political debate, and even fueling a national revolution. “No taxation without representation”, was the rallying cry of those British Colonist 240 years ago, which eventually led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. Presently for us, April 15th is that dreaded deadline to file our taxes, whether we like it or not.

In the few days before Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, there was a public debate, a heated sparring, a political power play between the religious leaders and Jesus in the Temple described in Luke 20. In one of those engagements the Chief priests sent undercover spies to trap Jesus into public statements they could use against him for a potential arrest by the Romans or to discredit him to the Jewish public. They pulled their best highly explosive and touchy issue of their day – taxes. Taxation by the Romans was oppressive, enforced by brutality with no benefits or rights.

The undercover teachers of the law were setting up their Acme TNT trap like the Looney Tunes character, Wile E. Coyote, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Then at the right moment as the Road Runner “beep, beeps” his way around the corner, BAM! “Is it right (lawful) for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

As the smoke from the explosive question clears, Jesus anticipated the trap, and asks for a small coin, a denarius and asks a simple question, “Whose portrait and inscription are on it?”

The teachers of the law, shift their weight with a little uneasiness, look at the coins they are holding in the palms of their hands as the full attention of the crowd senses the emotional tension of this engagement. They reply, “Caesar’s”.

Jesus looks them in the eye with a calm resolve and authority that penetrates through their disingenuous question, and makes this often quoted statement, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. Astonished at his answer, they became silent. The Road Runner again escapes injury, and runs free through the desert.

For me as I just filed our 2009 taxes, I am mindful of Jesus’ words, “…give to God what is God’s”. As I fulfill my obligation as a citizen of this nation, what obligation do I have as a citizen of God’s Kingdom? Does God run an IRS department, set a deadline, or burden us with oppressive, forced obligations? Of course the answer is “no”, and I know your thinking “that’s absurd”. However, I sometimes think we fail to grasp our opportunity to worship and honor God with our trust and obedience. All that I am, and all that I have in relationships, stuff and finances is God’s. I am His. His expectation is not one day, April 15th, but everyday, 365 days a year to fulfill my obligation as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. The good news is in God’s Kingdom there is freedom, not oppression…there is blessing, not taking…there is mercy, not condemnation…there is benefits, not restrictions, and the retirement plan will last for eternity.