Sometimes You Gotta Fire Jesus

 

“Sometimes you just gotta fire Jesus.  Jesus, you don’t work for me anymore…it’s time to go.”   The room feel silent as the words faded into the background of confused, shocked, and puzzled expressions.  “What did you say?”  someone asked.  It was then that the speaker realized his mistake.  And then we all laughed.

I just got back from a missions trip to Bolivia with three other guys from our church.  Our primary objective while we were there was to craft some business plans for some flourishing ministry projects in the community.  While in the middle of a planning session with an expert on Bolivian business law, the individual was passionately making his point that we needed to be careful about Bolivian labor laws–that when an employee like Jesus (not “Jesus” but “Haysus”–a common Bolivian name) needed to be fired, it need to be done immediately and in a lawful way.    Because he was constantly shifting back and forth between Spanish and English, the speaker said “Jesus” instead of “Jesus” (“Haysus”).   It was a funny moment. He really didn’t mean what he said.

The passage this weekend that we’ll be studying isn’t a funny moment, but a somber and a sad one.  And a it is a moment with a clear message and a powerful warning.

The Pharisee have rejected Jesus.  That had “fired him” as their Savior and Messiah a  long time ago.  Now they were actively trying to discredit and disparage Him, seeking every opportunity to undermine Him and trap Him with His own words.  In Matthew 23: 1-39 Jesus warns the crowd and disciples and then judges and condemns the Pharisees…and His words are harsh and to the point.  Over and over again He calls them hypocrites, blind guides, blind fools, snakes, vipers and to top it off…sons of hell.  Wow.  NOT a page out of the book   “How to win friends and influence people”.

Jesus makes it clear that if you “fire” Him, you risk Him “firing” you.  Literally.  Even the most religious of people can miss His Kingdom…miss His Grace…and miss Him entirely.  He makes it clear it’s not about “looking good” but “being good”…and no one is good enough on their own merit.  It’s not about BEHAVIOR it’s about our need for a SAVIOR.  Only through the righteousness of Jesus can we be good enough to enter His Kingdom (2 Cor. 5:21; Titus 2:4-7).  But He’s not for “hire”.  He demands that we follow Him.  Entirely.  All In.  No “ifs” “buts” or excuses or hesitations.  Because you don’t hire a King.  You don’t fire a King when you don’t get your way.  You follow a King on His terms, His way, with no conditions.

Are you firing Jesus?  Are you rejecting the truth of His Word?  His truth that has been spoken into your life by others?  When someone confronts you or I with His truth and we shut them out (or shut them up) we’re essentially firing Jesus.  Or when we get mad a God because we don’t get our way it shows we’ve hired Jesus.  On our conditions.  But He’s not for hire.

Jesus is looking for followers.  People who will follow Him on His conditions, not their own.  Are you a follower?  Or are you doing the hiring and firing?  Sometimes you’ve got to fire Jesus (“Haysus”).  But don’t make that mistake with Jesus.  Follow Him because He’s the Savior.  YOUR Savior.  Remember what He’s done for you.  What has He saved you FROM?  What has He saved you TO?  And where would you life truly be without Him?

 

Coach em up!

We could all use a little encouragement when it comes to raising our kids or influencing our grandchildren eh? Have you ever wished for a formula for successful parenting?  If only the Bible told us the exact child-rearing techniques to produce a healthy home.  That would be great!  However, biblical words applied to parenting, such as obey, honor, discipline, and instruct, aren’t integers in a math formula.  We can’t add them up correctly and  . . . presto!  Perfect family.  Real life is not that predictable.

Although the Bible doesn’t teach formulas, it does offer us a core principle that we can organize our parenting efforts around:  the nurture principle.  Let’s take a closer look.

Perspective from Proverbs

The wisest man who ever lived told us:

Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it

(Proverbs 22:6)

Parents, as Solomon counseled, we need to hanak, “train up” or “dedicate,” our children from the time they’re little to walk in the way (derek) of the Lord.  Interestingly, the phrase “in the way he should go” can also be rendered “according to his way,” meaning the child’s way.

Implicit in this is a sensitivity to how God has put our children together, how He has shaped their personalities and bents.  Our job is to help them discover their gifts and how to use them for God’s glory.

Nurturing means training children in godliness in a way that is tailor-made for them.  It’s knowing how your children learn most easily, how sensitive they are, how much encouragement they need, how close they like you to get, and how they need to be disciplined.  That means spending lots of time with them—we can’t embroider God’s ways into the fabric of our children’s lives in a hit-or-miss fashion.

We need to “teach them diligently” when we “sit in [our] house and when [we] walk by the way and when [we] lie down and when [we] rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7).  Nurturing is a natural, daily part of life.  And when we nurture, we determine to set aside our own personal agendas and accept our children as individuals, patiently helping them develop their gifts and find ways to use them for God’s purposes.

What do our children gain from a nurturing home?  First, nurturing parents help their children know who they are.  Our kids need us to show them their strengths.  We can encourage our sons and daughters by telling them what we see:  “You’re good with your hands,” or, “You really have a creative flair.”  Positive words from loving, involved parents deposit precious coins of confidence in a child’s storehouse of strengths.

Second, nurturing parents take time to cultivate their children’s individuality.  Attentive gardeners know that each of their plants needs different care—roses need weekly deep-watering, regular fertilizing with rose food, and cutting back in the winter; while azaleas need well-drained soil, acid-type fertilizer, and occasional light pruning through the year.  Are children any less individual?  Of course not!  Nurturing parents will take the time to know their children’s make up and work at helping each child’s uniqueness blossom and bloom.  They’ll create an environment where their kids feel safe in being themselves . . . in being who God designed them to be. And that’s exactly what we want!

Weird Isn’t Working

“WEIRD ISN’T WORKING”  That’s what the bumper sticker said yesterday.  When I saw it, I laughed.  There’s a non-conformist, I thought to myself.  One of my kids, who was riding with me, asked “What does THAT mean, Dad?”  I answered “Well, it think it’s in response to the “Keep Portland Weird” bumper stickers you see on other cars.” Then another question–”So what does THAT mean, Dad?”  At that point, I had to confess, I wasn’t really sure.  So I was intrigued and went to look it up.

I discovered through the miracle of Wikipedia (OK, NOT the best source, but good enough) that this was a “buy local” campaign started by Portland businesses to encourage people to buy…local.  OK, fair enough.  But I’ve also heard “Keep Portland Weird” as justification for…well…keeping Portland weird.  Recycling everything.  Driving tons of hybrid cars.  Eating Voodoo donuts. Visiting the 24 hr Church of Elvis (seriously?).  Riding in the Zoo-Bomb race (death-wish!).  Yarn bombing (what is THAT?).  You get the idea.

Then I was reminded through Webster’s Dictionary (a MUCH better source) what “weird” really means… “of strange or extraordinary character.”  Now that I can work with.

When I go to the Bible (THE VERY BEST SOURCE) I reminded that according to passages like Matthew 5:13-16 we are to be “salt” and “light” and to lives wholly (and holy) for Him.  Now that’s unique.  That’s extraordinary.  It’s also kind of…strange.  Even…weird.

When I look at my own life, the lives of other believers, and even our church communities I’m forced to ask myself…are we  “weird enough?”  In a number of cases, I think we could say (if we’re honest) “weird isn’t working.”  Do our lives look distinctively like Jesus’ or do we look pretty much like everyone else?  Are we generous?  Gracious? Forgiving?  Do we live out the Fruit of the Spirit?  Are we more loving than we were yesterday?  Last week?  Last year?

But then I’m reminded of what Jesus promises me (and you!)…the empowerment and presence of the Holy Spirit.  HIS Spirit.  I CAN do this.  Not just because of my own choices, but because of His power, His help, and His blessing.  And He WANTS me to succeed.  He WANTS to bless me.  He WANTS me to be obedient.  And in my true self, my heart of hearts, that’s what I want too.  And with His help, I WILL become who He is calling me to be.

So, are you WEIRD?  Is WEIRD WORKING?  If you don’t know, why not ask someone who will give you an honest answer?  And then decide what are you going to do about it…!  WEIRD WORKS WHEN YOU KNOW AND LOVE JESUS!

Dog Biscuits

There’s a story I know about a little boy I know who used to eat dog biscuits.  Really.  I’m not kidding.  One day, when he was looking for something to eat, he saw a box of Vitabone dog biscuits in the pantry…right at ground level.  He observed that the dog seemed to like them…so why not try one himself?  He ate one (it was the red colored one) and it didn’t taste bad.  He also noticed some soy sauce on the shelf, too.  So he sprinkled some on the NEXT dog biscuit and it was quite…tasty.  So he ate another…then another.  After while, those dog biscuits tasted pretty good…he got used to them.  Until one day his mom dad caught him with a mouthful of…you guessed it…dog biscuits. (My Mom and Dad never quite understood all that…maybe you don’t either, but give me chance here…)

In Matthew 14:13-21 is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 men (it was many more than that when you included the women and children).  One of the issues the parable speaks to is that we all have a spiritual hunger…we’re all hungry for only that which Jesus can provide.  But we don’t believe it.  Or at least you wouldn’t know it by how we live our lives.  John Calvin said that “the human heart is an idol-making factory.”  We always seem to be able to find a way to take a good thing(s) and make them the ultimate thing(s).  Over time, we convince ourselves that those things will satisfy our longings and appetites for what we’re really hungry for…fulfillment, satisfaction, joy, contentment.  Ultimately though, we find ourselves hungry yet again for the very things that may taste good to souls, but still leave us wanting more and more.  You and I have a spiritual hunger that only Jesus can satisfy. You can turn to religion, work, sex, money, relationships, or any other thing to satisfy your cravings, but you will only be left with an empty soul…again and again.  Don’t settle for dog biscuits…when Jesus wants to give a FEAST.  He is the bread of life.  Only through Him can your soul hunger be satisfied.

Reflections

Reflections on “Doing Lunch” at East Gresham Grade School – The Mentor Program
By Kathleen Copeland

This year I volunteered to do something completely new. Before retiring I’d been a teacher and principal for over 30 years but I’ve never gone to a new school, met a child and developed a relationship with them. I was a bit nervous at first. It was simple really, my third grade buddy made it easy. We just sat together and ate our lunches, chatted about what we liked to do for fun, and then played a board game or two. He was always reserved but eager to see me standing there as his class filed past to go to lunch. I enjoyed my time with him and the kind remarks from the staff, who appreciated me coming each week. His teacher made a point of telling me how much he looked forward to Wednesdays, our lunch date. Over the course of the year we had more to talk about and I met his family at our group events. His mom told me how much he talked about me at home. We’ll keep in touch this summer and I’ll be back next year, at his request, and because I feel I made a difference.

As the coordinator of the program I did a survey with the mentor and students at the end of the year. Every child was enthusiastic about having a mentor. When asked if they wanted one next year they all said yes, and wanted it to be the same one. It reminded me again how much we all want to be seen and heard, feeling that we’re “worth the effort” from someone who doesn’t have to be with us. I came away this year feeling like I had been the heart and hands of God in a way I never experienced before.

It all got started because Tracy Klinger, the principal at East Gresham, asked if Grace could help the school by getting adults to volunteer. This is how she saw the impact of the mentors this year.

“Having mentors at East created a lot of buzz this year. Students were always really excited on mentor days, which led to students without mentors asking about how to get one. They also benefit in the classroom by having students feel more connected, engaged and excited about school. A little TLC goes along way with our kids. Kids pick up on the subtleties of manners, giving, kindness and how to treat others.

I feel so deeply touched about everything Grace does to support our school. My staff cares so deeply and takes so personally the work we do – it is our mission and a way of life. The love, prayers and support we get from Grace allow us to give even more!”

I’m looking forward to next year, watching our relationship grow. There is no way to measure all the ways my time made a difference, but for one boy and a middle-aged woman it’s been very rewarding. I can’t wait for September.

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