Bringing Words Back

So, now that life is just as crazy before except I can write my own words now instead of words for grades (though I have a few of those left) I will restart this gig.  Another part of the restart is that we are moving to Kirksville, MO to work with a church there called The Crossing (www.thecrossing.net).  I will be working with the tech ministry as well as with college students (Truman State University and AT Still, a med school, are in the town). I look forward to more words and I am sure 5 of you out there will be too.

Peace

Sports God

I found it here.

This sign is just too funny! Who said being a sports fan isn’t spiritual? (This is in reference to a guy named Brett Favre. Google him.) Don’t we all participate in different “spiritual” acts all of the time? I saw an article headline somewhere that expressed how Christians are more rabid fans of their sports teams than they are of God. I live in Lawrence, KS home of the University of Kansas Jayhawks, where KU basketball is a religious experience. If a game falls on a night that we have a community group or worship, rest assured that there will be little to no attendance. During the pro football season, more people attend the early service than the late service. I am sure you have your own example.

The headline had it right. We will put more energy, emotion, passion, finances into our favorite sports teams (yes capitalism!) than we would with our faith. Somehow someone dying for our sins and taken the burden of guilt from us doesn’t really stir us up as the Kansas Jayhawks winning another title would. We schedule God around our sports times, instead of scheduling our sports around our God times. How did we get here? I confess, I am often there, but living more dualisticly because I am a pastor so I, more or less, force myself to schedule around the “God” times. Whatever the case is sports fans, we need to get some priorities rearranged.

Do you see this in society?

Do you see your self as more passionate about God or about your favorite sports squad?

Discover God

During my studies to preach on the crucifixion of Jesus as told by John, for some reason Jesus being buried in a garden just struck me as awesome. All things went sour in a garden, now all things are healed in a garden. I don’t know if that was intentional by John or not and I am sure I am not the first to observe such a thing, but it is awesome when things like that just strike you across the face like a dead fish.

Sometimes I feel like reading the Bible is an accidental science. People come up with ways to read it and study it and write limitless commentary on it, but still we find ourselves surprised at the things we find in it when we engage in it ourselves. It reminds me that there is still so much more to discover and know.

Recently I had a student point out to me that Christians don’t know the Bible. They are repeating a bunch of lines that they heard from some preacher guy, but they don’ actually know it, the Bible, for themselves. I really agree with him. Think of the lines that are out there that aren’t even in the Bible like, “God helps those who help themselves.” My dad told me that line. Not there. If there is so much to discover about God and about ourselves why wouldn’t we want to know the Bible better? Why wouldn’t you want to look for something that you haven’t discovered yet? Why be satisfied with what a preacher said? The Bereans didn’t do that with Paul’s teaching (Acts 17:11). We need to be hungry again to discover God through the Scriptures and not just wait for someone else to tell us what to believe about God.

Are you hungry? Do Christians you know, know God?

What do you look like?

Do you ever wonder what a Christian should look like other than going to church and nice? What is “loving your neighbor” like? Read below.

Psalm 15:1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. (NLT)

I hope this allows for strength and bravery to look like the person that walks with God.

The Right Way

Do you know the “right way” to do things? I know I do and I learned all the “right way” methods form my dad. With our knowledge we know the “right way” to make a steak, we know the “right way” to install a security system, we know the “right way” to play sports. It is hard knowing the “right way” when everyone else is lagging behind us and just not getting it like we do. Are you like us and know the “right way” to do things?

I already know the answer to the question. Of course you know the right way! You have been telling people how to do it for a while now. And when it comes to church and being a Christian, we definitely know the “right way” of doing things.

What are some of those right ways? Let see:

1. Prayer-always hands clasped, head bowed, eyes must be closed, and always quote Scripture to God to be assured that your prayer is relevant to God.
2. Bible reading-First thing in the morning (just before prayer) and memorize. Anything less is a not giving God the best part of your day. Also, reading chronologically is the way to get it done.
3. Worship music-Listen to K-LOVE. They have the music you need to be listening to. If you are not, you are not growing.
4. Church-Opening song, prayer and welcome/greeting time, 2 more songs, communion and offering, sermon, invitation with a song, benediction. Don’t change it, ever!
5. Evangelizing-Just tell people about Jesus whether you know them or not, whether they are listening or not. It is their own fault if they don’t heed your words.

Are these the “right ways” that you were thinking of?

What really is the “right way?” This is a theological debate through the years. People debate the ways of worship, theology, eschatology, Christology, and other ologies. God didn’t give us the exact “right way” to do things, but has allowed for creativity in a willing heart to do the Christian life. God isn’t systematic in the way to accomplish His mission. There is no chart. There is no check-off list.

I think the only thing that God considers being the “right way” is this, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor” and “Go make disciples, baptize them, and teach them all the things that Jesus commanded.” How all that happens is up to you.

What do you think?

Are you busy telling people the “right way” to do things?

Mixing Metaphors

Do you ever mix your metaphors? It is pretty funny when it happens, but only if someone else is doing the mixing. One of my favorites is from the Back to the Future movies when Biff Tannen would say, “Why don’t you make like a tree and get out of here!”

Unfortunately, I have talked with many people who mix their metaphors when it comes to matters of faith.  One example I just recently heard was a lady was talking about using the “energies” around her to help healing occur. This seems pretty common, but knowing what the metaphors refer to seem lost on some people. The “energies” that she was referring to were taking from her like of Buddhism, where as she feels that salvation comes from Jesus. So the “energies” heal, but Jesus saves us if we have faith in Him.  Mixed metaphors.

From the Christian perspective, Jesus heals and saves. Jesus is the “energies” and He doesn’t mind the recognition. Is it that it seems religulous (to borrow Bill Maher’s term) to say that Jesus heals? Is it more comfortable for our own religious purposes to keep Jesus out there and let the “energies” do there work here? Maybe we all need a collective slap in the back of the head when we begin mixing our religious metaphors with someone saying “It’s Jesus you idiot!”

What do you think?

Do you mix it up?

Letter to my son

Happy Birthday Son!

One year ago my son, Miles Bennett Bedora, was born. I was so exhausted from a long night, of course my exhaustion doesn’t compare to what my wife went through. Every moment since then has been amazing. It is crazy to watch your child grow and develop so much in one year. I cannot even fathom where this past year has gone, but every moment with Miles has been worth it. I am so excited to see what will happen with his life in this next year and the years after that.

Son, these are my words to you: Know that God loves you more than I ever could, which is a lot because I love you so much. You have been given so many gifts and talents that you or I don’t even know about yet, but be assured that they are gifts from God. Use them to the best of your ability for Him. Whether that means you are a football player, an artist, a teacher, or a businessman do it all for Him. I will be proud of you knowing that you are doing what you are gifted for and that you are enjoying the life that God has given you. In fact, I am proud of you now. Proud to hear you laugh. Proud of how you are a friend to everyone. Proud that you have learn to crawl so fast and even drink out of a straw. Sure enough, I am one proud daddy.

There will be times that you make mistakes and I may be upset with you, but mistakes will not keep me from loving you. I will still be one proud daddy (though it is good to remember that your mother loves ice cream and I love movies). Forgive me for the times that I will let you down. Though I will be giving my all to avoid that, even your daddy will fail. Fortunately, God’s love is never failing, always strong, and always there. He will be the reason that we are sustained through the good and the bad. He is the reason that we live. I am so glad God has given me the opportunity to be your daddy.

I love you son! Happy 1st birthday!
Your proud daddy

Jesus and the Dalai Lama

Recently the Dalai Lama has been touring the US meeting with the likes of President Obama and Larry King (I wonder if Larry asked him in his suspenders, leaning over his desk, “Have you ever wanted to punch someone in the face?” And the Dalai Lama responds by saying, “I’ve always wanted a shot at Jay Leno’s chin to see if it is actually real”).  It is amazing the iconic status that he has reached in many parts of the world including the US. People may not actually know who he is, but it seems that most people have heard of him.  The Dalai Lama (I really want to put 2 Ls in front of Lama) is more than a nice Buddhist guy in a robe, he is a cultural identity for the people of Tibet. People will often comment on the “peace” that they feel around him, of course one of the mainstays of Buddhism is finding inner peace, so that is good. He is also a leader who says what he believes without beating around the bush and gives the impression of authenticity.

Meanwhile, Jesus had many similar traits to the current Dalai Lama. Jesus never beat around the bush when it came to speaking the truth, He was completely authentic, He reached iconic status by many, and He was after peace. And I am pretty sure He did punch the devil in the face. Jesus is often depicted in a robe and, though not everyone knows Him, many people have at least heard about Him. Of course we find some differences, like Jesus is God and the Dalai Lama is just a reincarnated person, but that is not the point.

What I do want to point out is a quality of leadership that each has brought to the table. Authenticity. There is no question that there are huge differences in the religious practices of each and what each stand for (to get a better understanding of that, I recommend the little book The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha By Ravi Zacharias ), but people were willing to follow each of these men because of their authenticity.

Authenticity is maybe one of the best attributes that is hard to come by these days. People need and crave authenticity in their relationships, in their religion, and their lives, yet rarely can they find it. The problem with authenticity is that not every one will agree with you. Not everyone agrees with the Dalai Lama, even within his culture and religion. Definitely not everyone agrees with Jesus as we read in the Gospel accounts, especially those inauthentic religious types known as the Pharisees and Sadducees.  If you are asking people to believe in what you are doing, you must be authentic. It opens the door to let others see exactly what you stand for and why. 

Unfortunately, the people following the authentic God, Christians from how I see it, are lacking in authenticity. We see preachers talking about marriage, yet failing in their own. We hear about how the Christians are supposed to help ones being hurt and marginalized, yet we are often taking part in hurting others or just plain ignoring the cries of the marginalized.  We hear about Christians wanting to bring peace, yet we are often the first in line to go to war to resolve disputes.

Do you want to see people come to Christ? Be authentic. Do you want to have a real relationship with God? Be authentic. Do you want to transform your community? Be authentic.

What do you think?

Do you find Christians to be authentic?

How about the leaders around you?

Going Home

I have been gone from my family for 13 days today (either a lucky number or unlucky number depending on who you are). I am so excited that I will get to see them tonight. I will get to give my wife a big hug and a kiss. I am sure my son will be asleep by the time I get home, but that will give me time to sit in the recliner with his little butt in my hand and his head laying on my chest. It has been a very long 13 days.

I am longing to be reunited with my family. Apparently God was so longing to be reunited with His creation that He would even die to be with us. It makes my longing so miniscule to the desperation, I imagine, that God has. I hope that I remember this feeling to capture a tiny picture to the way that God feels being separated from us.

Have you had this longing ever in your life?

Do you know that God is longing to be with you?

More from Lent

Here we go with Lent season! For our Friday hotdog ministry at KU, this means that if anyone is a Catholic they will not be eating a hotdog until after midnight. It is quite funny because they all some right at or just after 12am. There even tends to be a few that will set up a count down for the last few minutes of Friday.  Lent sometimes has been known as the season of “giving-up” something or, as more holy people say, sacrifice. (I wonder if anyone is “sacrificing” 24 or Lost? Doubt it.) In all my time, there are very few people that I have met that participate in Lent who are expecting to get something from it. It is like they hoping to say by Easter, “Yes, I am the man God! Thanks for the Holy extra credit I got from that.” I have never really participated in Lent and I haven’t made plans for this year to either (though I want to stop by a Catholic church by campus that has Fish Fried Fridays). Maybe I should.

I read an article yester day on Sojourners website that had a great article about lent (check it out here). In this article Julie Clawson brings up the idea that Lent is more about transformation than it is about giving something up. I really like this idea because rarely do I see people who are participating in Lent expecting transformation. In fact, if we would just call Lent a season of fasting, maybe we would be able to have a mind ready for transformation.

Are you doing Lent this season?

Are you expecting transformation or are you just giving something up for a little while?