Giving and Receiving

Spain is in the middle of a severe recession.  Because times are tough, Coca-Cola decided to spread some joy.  Coca-Cola customized an ATM machine to distribute 100 Euros ($131) to users with one condition: takers had to use the money to purchase a gift for someone else.  It worked.

           

Coke recorded peoples’ responses to the gifts and compiled them in a video.  The video began with ordinary people being surprised by the free money from the ATM machine.  They smiled and then laughed.  Later, the video showed them giving gifts purchased with the money to others.           

           

What I loved about the video was this: the expressions on peoples’ faces were more excited when giving the gifts than when receiving the cash.  People appeared thrilled and could hardly contain themselves when giving.  They laughed and cried and danced with excitement as they surprised others with seemingly random generosity.  Their expressions were much more animated than when being surprised by the free cash.

That isn’t all that surprising to church folks.  Christians have said it is better to give than to receive for centuries.  Acts 20:35 tells us “Jesus himself said it: ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  So it seems that Coca-Cola and the Son of God agree on some things.

As you go through the coming week, preparing for Easter, let me encourage you to give.  Give of your time.  Give of your money.  Give your life to Christ and others.  You will find more joy in the act of giving than you ever could receive.  It is a time tested truth taught and lived by Jesus Himself.

Reminders of Humility and Simplicity

This week, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.  As is tradition, he changed his name upon taking office.  The name he chose was Francis.  He will be known as Pope Francis I, named after Francis of Assisi.

The new pope chose the name for symbolic reasons.  One news outlet explains the symbolism this way: “(Francis of Assisi) symbolizes poverty, humility, simplicity, and rebuilding…” Taking the name Francis reminds the Pope (and the world) of the importance of humility and simplicity in Christian leadership.    

Christians are weird.  Reminding people of the importance of poverty, humility, and simplicity while becoming one of the most powerful people in the world is weird.  It is weird in the way Jesus was weird.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus celebrates the power of simplicity and humility while warning of the temptations of wealth and power.  Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit” and “blessed are the meek.”  Jesus teaches that “those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  Jesus warns, “it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Power and wealth are treated like temptations while humility and simplicity are celebrated like marks of God’s reign.

As you go through the coming week, give yourself a reminder of the importance of humility and simplicity.  Write a Bible verse celebrating humility on your hand.  Pray every morning that Jesus will cultivate humility and simplicity in your heart.  Give one thing away every day and thank Jesus for blessing you with the many things you have.  In a world that celebrates wealth and power, remind yourself of things Jesus celebrated.  As you do, you will find riches beyond anything that fame, fortune, power, and/or titles could ever offer.  You will find provision in Jesus.

Pastor Tom on Hypocrisy

N.T. Wright critiques the media and their coverage of church scandals.  Read the original article by clicking here.

The Open Door of Christian Confession

It is hard to get in trouble in Sweden.  Even if you’ve done something wrong and want to make things right, Swedish police won’t make it easy.  You have to work for it.

Last week, a Swedish man connected to a murder visited a police station to turn himself in.  He had been on the run for over a year, living as a fugitive.  He was tired of hiding and wanted to make things right.  So, he stopped by a local police station to be arrested.

When the man rang the bell of the police station, the attendant said that the station was closed and he would need to come back later.  The man responded: "Closed? I'm suspected of murder and a wanted man – you guys really want to get ahold of me."  The attendant explained that it wasn’t a good time.   The station was closed for remodeling and things were a bit messy.  If the man wanted to turn himself in, he would need to do it at another station.  The man followed the attendant’s instructions and was arrested elsewhere.

Good thing life with Christ doesn’t work that way.  The moment we want to confess our guilt and be forgiven, He is there with arms wide open.  No office hours to be considered.  No referrals.  Jesus is very clear: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  In other words, Christ is ready and available to every contrite heart that seeks Him. 

As you go through the coming week, begin by turning your life over to Jesus.  Quit running, call on Him, be forgiven, and enjoy life with Him.  You will be free from guilt and condemnation.  You will find grace and mercy and life changing power in Him.  Though police stations may not have the time and space, Christ is always ready and waiting. 

Watching Wood Burn

Norwegian public television has an exciting idea for a new show.  The network plans to broadcast wood burning in a fireplace for 12 hours straight.  The images of the fireplace will include commentary and expert advice on wood burning from well-known Norwegians (no joke).

That show probably sounds pretty boring to most Americans.  We are all about the action.  We want fight scenes, explosions, and car chases on our television shows.  We want our heroes to do stuff, not just sit around and wax philosophical about all things wood and fire.

           

With that said, coming to terms with not doing stuff might be a good exercise for many Americans.  Learning to slow down, rest, and relax might be just what we need.  There is a lot to be gained from knowing how to be as well as knowing what to do.

Jesus instructed His disciples to take a break and settle down.  The Gospel of Mark says, “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”  After doing a bunch of stuff, Jesus tells His closest followers to slow down, take it easy, and get some rest.  In other words, Jesus told them enjoy being His disciples as well as doing what disciples do.

           

As you going this season of fasting, give up the hectic pace of action packed doing.  Take time to get away, read the scripture, sit in silence, and pray.  Learn to enjoy being with Christ as much as you enjoy serving Christ.  There is much to be gained from the act of being a Christian.  And, I am sure it will be more enjoyable than watching Norwegians talk about burning wood.

How God Made a Farmer

DaimlerChrysler ran a commercial during the Super Bowl that created a lot of buzz.  In the ad, Paul Harvey’s poem “So God Made A Farmer” narrated a slide show of striking images depicting American farmers and the landscapes they work.  I was moved by the commercial and it left me thinking that the American farmer is a never failing, always honest, caretaker of God’s creation.

Now, I grew up in a rural agricultural community filled with farmers.  My experience was a bit different than Paul Harvey’s poem.  The farmers I knew were ordinary people.  They had ups and downs and goods and bads just like the rest of us.  With those experiences in mind, I questioned the feelings evoked by the commercial.  I decided the ad was overly nostalgic and a bit dishonest.

Later, I learned that the commercial left out one line of Harvey’s poem.  Ad makers deleted a line that says farmers “finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church.”  I don’t know or care why they chose to exclude that line.  But, for me, it made all the difference in the world. 

That line made a big difference because driving to church every week is a way people seek God.  Regular trips to meet God are a way ordinary people are transformed into the noble characters Paul Harvey celebrates.  When people seek God in Bible studies, worship services, prayer groups, and prayer closets, God graciously develops our character.  God makes us more patient, more kind, more faithful, more joyous, and more self controlled.  In terms of the commercial, God makes us a farmer.

As you go through the coming week, take regular trips to meet God.  Pray, study the Bible, go to church, invest in your Growth Group, and be changed.  You will find that it makes you a different type of person.  You will learn the process by which God makes you a farmer.

Hip Hop and the Act of Love

I loved listening to a Christian rap group called D.C. Talk when I was in junior high.  I thought they were awesome.  One of my favorite songs began by asking, “you down with the dc talk?”  At the ripe age of twelve, I was indeed “down.” 

Today, many scoff at my junior high music tastes.  That is fair.  But, that song made an impression on my life.  After asking listeners if they were “down,” D.C. Talk sang, “Hey, tell me haven't you heard?  Love, is a serious word…the word love; love is a verb.”

Hip-hop aside, that is a powerful statement.  Love is a verb.  Meaning, love goes beyond sentiments and intentions.  Love is an action.  When we love someone, we do stuff for them.  We give hugs.  We buy gifts.  We serve.  We sacrifice.  Love is communicated through action.

           

The Apostle Paul agrees.  In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul says that love involves all kinds of actions.  Love is patient and kind.  It does not boast.  It always protects and always perseveres.  Love is a verb.

As you go through the coming week, see how you might put love into action.  Serve your spouse as a way of letting them know you love them.  Sacrifice time at work in order to spend more time loving on your children.  Though I may have learned it through early nineties, decaffeinated hip-hop, the lesson is no less true.  Love is a verb.