The Jester

The other day as I was coming out of my room, wearing my Spongebob PJs (yes, it is true and maybe a little sad for a 40ish guy) and slippers, I shuffled straight to the coffee pot. Aliya spotted my lumbering form and perked up “Hey Dad could you make me some breakfast? Can you make me some eggs?” I stopped and looked at her still trying to see through the fog of just getting up without the morning caffeine running through my blood. She continued, “Can you make some for Mom too – cause she’s the Queen, and you are…” She paused and thought for a brief moment, “…well – the Jester.” She giggled at her own summation of my role in this family. Great! I was expecting of course to be the King. Every man likes to think that he is the king of his castle, with the full measure of respect and authority from his loyal subjects (children and any pets) and devoted and lovely Queen (wife). My fantasy bubble burst into a mist that dissipated into thin air.

Sometimes life throws a sharp and pointed dart in our direction. When it hits the fragile bubble of ego and self-perception, we feel the penetrating sting of defeat and deflation. We all have hopes and dreams and a perception of who we are. We might define it by: our education, the books we read, the knowledge we treasure, the jobs we work, the people we hang out with, our family, the amount in our bank accounts, the stuff we have (cars, homes, etc), the music we listen too, and even in the clothes we wear. In our self-perception we have all had, and will have, those days where we feel the sting of a well aimed dart (i.e. relationship strife, unemployment, perceived failure).

How do we respond when we feel disappointed, unsuccessful, and frustrated in those “bubble bursting” moments? Do we quit? Give up or go sit and stew in self pity? Sometimes yes, but we can’t linger there. Life continues and we have a critical role in our home, church, workplace and community. The first step is to remember who we are. We are a child of The King, a prince and princess, a joint-heir with Christ with full access and privilege to our Father in Heaven.

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise…so you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” – Galatians 3:29 & 4:7

The second step is to protect the bubble by daily putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17).

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” – Ephesians 6:16

When your bubble is burst and you find out that you are the Jester instead of the King, don’t slump into the bog of discouragement, but remember your identity is in Christ and to stand firm in the faith and life God has called you to. To Aliya, “Yes, the Jester can make you some eggs, and I might crack one over your head just to get a laugh.”

For Your Own Good

When it comes to our health and wellness do we consider it a spiritual discipline? We certainly think of devotions, prayer, fasting, Bible study as such, but generally with our nutrition and care of our physical and emotional health we place that in our own hands by going on diets, joining a gym, buying a workout DVD, and making New Years Resolutions. What if we moved our nutrition and general health practices into the spiritual disciplines category? What would change, if anything? Does God have anything to say about our nutrition, health and well being in his Word?

In my current study on this topic, God clearly cares about our health and wellness, from provision, guidance, instruction, and healing. Yet, we generally disregard God’s instruction by either lack of knowledge, thinking the ancient text is irrelevant to us today, or even rejection. Then we wonder why we don’t feel that great, clothes don’t fit, our general health and wellness suffers with a weakened immune system and we become more vulnerable to serious health problems.

We understand our commitment to follow through with spiritual disciplines increases knowledge, strengthens faith, and draws us closer in our walk with God. Obedience is the key. Obedience is the spiritual issue that applies to health and wellness as well. We still follow the O.T directive given to the Israelites 3,500 years ago.

And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? – Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Included in those ancient commands and decrees were numerous guidelines regarding nutrition, cleanliness, water, and rest. In the N.T. we find guidance toward emotional health in dealing with anger, resentment, worry, discouragement, persecution, anxiety and fear. Is it possible if we know and apply the health and wellness principles given to us, revealed in God’s Word that we could live healthier, happier, longer lives? I think so, and in this areas of obedience the final phrase in the above scripture is key, “…for your own good?” If we are obedient to what God has already shared with us, we will be the direct beneficiaries of our actions.

This issue is more than being on a temporary diet plan, losing 20 pounds, exercising or even reversing negative health trends, it is a spiritual issue of obedience to make life-long lifestyle changes. To know and follow through with what God has already outlined for us. It is for our own good.

Small and Strong

Is bigger always better? That depends you say, “If you are talking about Monster Trucks, hamburgers, biceps or closet space than you bet.” However, there are things where bigger might not necessarily be better: jeans, needles, taxes, and candy. I remember a time when I was about ten years old I had a large jawbreaker that I thought would be fun to stuff in my mouth to see if it would fit. It did. The problem was I couldn’t get it out. As a few minutes passed my fear increased, my jaw tightened, I began to gag on my saliva, and the problem became serious. With the help of Mom and warm water the jawbreaker eventually popped out. Whew, what a relief and that jawbreaker lost all of its fun as I threw it in the trash. Bigger isn’t necessarily always better.

In our church culture we often have the similar view that bigger is always better. The large churches and mega churches (over 2,000) appear to have it all with sprawling campuses, professional praise & worship teams, awesome programs and special events, a highly visible pastor on TV/internet/radio, and a full coffee shop in their entryway. Why wouldn’t you think that bigger is better? Who wouldn’t want to get their Carmel Macchiato at Jehova Java, while jamming with the praise team, and reading your pastor’s latest book? We have, and you have, larger churches that greatly impact the community and beyond by their size – praise God, but does that mean smaller churches are inferior, weak and insignificant as long as they are small? Not necessarily.

The facts are: the overwhelming percentage (60%) of churches are small (under a 100 in attendance), the average church size is 77, and home/non-traditional settings for worship gatherings are increasing. Truth is Jesus influenced a small group of men for three years and entrusted them with the message of his words, life and sacrifice to change the course of humanity.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ina the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20

Small, medium, large or mega-churches can be strong, growing and influential or weak, dying, and insignificant. Size alone may not be “the” indicator of a healthy and strong church or in fulfilling the Great Commission.

My encouragement to primarily my Journey Church family, and to you who attend, pastor or lead a small congregation is that bigger is not necessarily better for you. Do not look wistfully at what God appears to be doing in a larger church or think “if only we had (ministries, resources, buildings) like the X church, then we could really impact our community.” God has a specific plan, purpose for you, and an invitation to partner with Him in the greatest mission in history that only you can fulfill.  For today, being a small strong church is exactly what God desires for you.

Go Brown Team!

Are you a fan of the reality show The Biggest Loser? The show follows a group of obese individuals who live on a workout campus for a number of months to endure the rigorous training from Bob and Jillian with the hope of a changed body and new life. This season that began last Tuesday we have a personal connection to one of the couples Father and Son, Ken and Austin Andrews, The Brown Team.

Ken was Charlene’s youth pastor in Santa Cruz and I lived with them for about a year while attending Bethany University. Ken and Lori are currently the senior pastors of an Assemblies of God church in So. Cal. Although we were excited to see the first episode of the season and see Ken and Austin on the show, it was heart breaking to see the pain on their faces as the contestants take off their shirts, step on a scale and reveal to themselves and the world their current weight. As Lori stated on their fan page:

“Ken explained why the show makes everyone take off their shirts. Before you can change any area of your life, you have to be able to admit your sin. Baring their chests to the world is an admission of the reality of their weight ... and honestly begins the road to healing. So, yes - we know that it is embarrassing for the contestants, but it is also the path to wholeness .” – Ken and Austin Andrew’s Biggest Loser Fan Page

In each season with most of the contestants this initial revealing brings shame, remorse, and pain, and they openly weep or humbly stand there with raw honesty. The show offers a very real parallel to each of us who live in sin and seek righteousness. The Apostle Paul shares this process in Romans 6:15-23 (check it out), by the choice of either being a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. The first step to healing and wholeness (a life of righteousness) is the corrective action of repentance, and the only way we change course is through a humbling reality check. Paul makes the statement:

What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! – Romans 6:21

Wow! As my friend and the other contestants stand on the scale that is exactly how they are feeling and those things (overeating, zero physical activity) will result in an early death. Paul concludes this thought with the earned consequences of our choices, actions and path of life:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

One of the contestants as they had just worked out for hours, passing out, vomiting and in complete exhaustion said with a look of expectation and hope “I feel like I have just won the lottery”. For weeks through hours of hard physical training, being yelled at by Jillian, passing out, standing on a scale and being separated from family and friends, yet ALL of the contestants express how the show is a great gift that will change their life. God offers us this gift and its results are for eternity.

If you are on facebook join us as fans of Ken and Austin Andrew’s Biggest Loser Fan Page.