The second thought I have had about this “approach to God” has to do with coming to God “as we are.”

Self-Awareness

Pray as you can and do not try to pray as you can’t. Dom Chapman

That parable that Jesus tells of a tax collector and a Pharisee is one that comes to mind when I think of the quote above (Lk 18.10-13). The Pharisee prays from a very righteous place, while the tax collector acknowledges his more realistic place before God. Jesus’ point is that we are to come to God in prayer - not as we desire or long or wearing a mask to find God’s approval - but coming to our Mighty God with an awareness that we are not worthy of a relationship, save the mercy found in Jesus. To approach God with self-awareness is to fight the temptation of employing pious language and acting more accepting of God’s will than reflects our personal reality.

When we only bring that “holy” part of ourselves before God, what are we sacrificing? When we fail to approach God in all our honesty, fully self-aware, it seems we fail to bring our whole selves, those parts which need to come bare and honest before God. We fail to bring our real need. We fail to trust God’s acceptance, mercy, power and love to deal with our imperfections and sin.

May we come to God and pray as we can - not using words or language that puffs us up or covers us up.

“Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”

I have been thinking as I have fumbled about my small farmette quite a bit about the topic of how I approach God. This is a shift in the way I have thought about prayer and worship. For many years I was glad to think about prayer methods and pray forms, as well as, God’s role in prayer - but lately…

I am thinking that our approach to prayer and more importantly our approach to the Person of our prayers is worthy of my consideration. As I have thought about this, I began to think it would be a worthy topic for this blog. So I will be posting some short (or maybe shorter) thoughts on this idea. I am not a golfer - but I know the “approach shot” is critical to beating or making par. I am not a pilot - but the approach to the runway… well it goes without saying. I am a husband and a father - and the way I approach my daughter or my wife makes a difference between tears and a cold shoulder or a smile and hug. So, I think it is with our Creator and Redeemer. So - On the Approach - first take:

Our Approach is Communal:

“He who has not the Church as there Mother, has not God as there Father.” Cyprian

As I approach God I have been thinking that it is important to know that I don’t come alone. Although I may be alone (as Jesus put it - “shut in my closet”) yet, I have been taught to pray, “Our Father,” “Give us” and “Forgive us.” All plural phrases (Mt. 6.6-ff)… I also keep in mind that reference from the author of Hebrews who reminds us that there is a “cloud of witnesses” about us as we pursue our faith (He 12.1,2).

So as I approach God communally it reminds me:
1. It is not about me. There is little room for independence (my way; my wants; my demands or my ‘best interest’) - but acres of area for interdependence.
2. God’s story and mission involves and is big enough to embrace me - but it is not merely for me or featuring me.
3. Prayer involves interceding on behalf of others.
4. Prayer places me in community and incorporates me into God and the Body of Christ. As I approach God communally I find my identity and my purposes in the midst of the Trinity and God’s body - the Church.
5. I don’t come before God alone; I am joined by Saints living and asleep and with Jesus and the Spirit of God on my behalf.

Some recent thoughts on our approach… we approach God in a communal manner and there find communion.

I have been giving a good bit of thought to the topic of The Gospel; really just attempting to think about clear ways to share the “heart” of God’s story. I have always thought that the Gospel reduced to, “Jesus died for you” was far too diluted and narrow (The Gospel is more than a theory of Substitutionary Atonement). I also think making the Gospel message a couple of steps of actions (1. Accept that God loves you. 2. Acknowledge and Repent. 3. Pray this…, etc.) makes it a far too process oriented thing and too dismissive - “Well, I took care of that.” (The Gospel is more than a golden ticket to the Chocolate Factory - or Heaven, as the case may be).

So I have some presuppositions about what the Gospel is and is not.

The Gospel in my mind is not just a “way to get saved” or the message that merely gets us started in the Christian life. When I think about the Gospel - I am thinking of it in terms of the “heart” of what God is doing in our world. Why is God involved in the affairs of Planet Earth at all? I also am thinking about the Gospel in terms of its ramifications for our lives. I think the heart of God’s story (the Gospel) obligates those who enter into the story on a lifelong journey of both understanding and appropriating this narrative into our life and world. With that in mind, the following is one (of many ways) that I have been thinking about as the essence of the Gospel story (I must acknowledge that the message in our church service yesterday - really helped this bumble of thoughts click to allow me to share them in this fashion).

On to a prepositional gospel:

God is with us - we see this very clearly in both the Creation narrative and in the promise and coming of Emmanuel (God’s new creation). God is near to all of us - will we open our eyes and become attentive to the God who is with us?

God is for us - we see this in the Exodus event and in Jesus willingness to walk toward and endure the cross (To gain victory over sin, death, & the devil). God is not merely with - but he is on our side - will we avail ourselves to God’s power, direction and loving provision?

God is in us - we see this in the promise of the new covenant (a new law written on our hearts) and the resurrection and ascension that leads to the sending of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. God is desiring to make His dwelling place in our lives - will we allow God to work into us His fruit that we might work it out into our communities - for the sake of others?

Any thoughts? What are the strengths of distilling out the Gospel in this way? What are the weaknesses?

This weekend I have the pleasure of leading a group of youth workers from across the Mid-Atlantic on a spiritual retreat. Each time I have approached these times I have moments of great panic followed by deep breathing and a sense of calm - reminding myself - “this isn’t about me.” I don’t know if that makes sense - but it is clear as day for me.

I am leading the weekend focused on developing our attentiveness to the present moment and to becoming more aware of God’s activity around us. In leading this time we will spend considerable time focusing on the “Bethany Trio” found in the Gospel Narratives (Mary, Martha and Lazarus). I have spent the past two months or so living with these passages and have found them to be deep wells of fresh, clean and cool water to quench our soul thirst. Hopefully others will find them helpful, satisfying and, at the least, tangentially connected to the topic of developing our awareness/attentiveness.

So if my name, ugly mug or blog crosses your mind over the next few days - a prayer would be greatly appreciated!

I often beat myself up in approaching these times - but have enough history in leading retreats to recognize this for what it is (pre-retreat jitters). All in all (with the exception of time away from my family) I cherish these opportunities and experiences - and as many of you are aware, walk away gaining far more than I sense I gave.

Peace!

So often when I think of eating - I am thinking how do I fill this necessary need that I have for nutrition; to ease my hunger; to care for my family. These are not, out of hand, bad things - but is this all there is to “eating well.” Of course not. There is eating nutritious, eating in moderation, eating organic and well produced foods, eating well cooked and safe foods, etc. - there is so much to eating well. Again - is there more to this aspect of our created order?

I think so.

Well beyond filling our bellies with “good” food; there is that often overlooked aspect to eating well with regard to who we are sharing our meal. Biblical scholars refer to this as “Table Fellowship.” It is a feature of the New Testament that is hard to overlook. We often observe that Jesus’ critics refer to Him as, “a friend of sinners;” but I don’t know if we look closely enough or model the cause of such a charge.

In the first century of our common era mealtimes were far more than occasions to consume nourishment. Being invited to share a meal and eat well reflected a bond of friendship, intimacy and unity. When Jesus chose to invite folks from all walks of life (women, tax collectors, zealots and “well-known” sinners) to share a meal together Jesus was pushing social practices that spoke loud and clear. Jesus’ radically inclusive table fellowship presented a living parable which was announcing and redefining the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom reign on earth.

What do our meal times say about us?

I have had the opportunity to share some wonderful meals this past week. Meals that transcended consuming for physical nourishment - they nourished the soul. It was all about “eating well.” It was about a “Jesus-kind” of table fellowship.

Who is sharing your table? Are you “eating well” these days?

It demands we slow down. We look around. We extend an offer. In order to open our lives and widen our table… to really eat well.

I am trying to learn a new word. Not in the sense of when I was a kid and you had a new vocabulary word and the goal was spelling it correctly or using the “new term” properly. You remember, don’t you? You had an every week assignment where you had to write out definitions and use the “new word” in a sentence, etc., etc. (to be prepared to correctly spell the word on the end of week spelling test). I was pretty good with learning new words in that fashion, but learning to embody a new word or practice a new word, that is a different matter.

At least I am finding it difficult to embody one particular new word I am learning. It is a demanding and relentless concept that for ages I am sure has stumped or tripped up many who have been caught by it’s allure.

Don’t get me wrong this is no mean or nasty word - it is helpful; just downright hard.

The word is a Greek word that was a common word. It had a regular old meaning and I am sure was thrown about regularly back in the day - but that meaning has been infused with fresh and even greater intensity by those Eastern Desert Monks. They also began to use this term regularly as the antidote to so many sins and pitfalls in living out the life of Christ.

Jesus, also, used the word (at least Luke records such in 12.37).

The word means, “be alert” or “be sober!” It means control your attention on the matter at hand. (That alone is a tall order.) As I mentioned though - the monks of the desert infused this with a spiritual bent - giving this word the meaning to focus ones attention solely on God.

This is what I am trying to learn.

This is what I am finding very difficult. To practice this word, this Greek word, Nepsis.

The third day of The Paschal Triduum is also the first day of the 50 days of Easter. As the Paschal Triduum is three parts: Death, Burial and Resurrection so the season of Easter is a three part event: Resurrection, Ascension and Imparting of the Holy Spirit. But the season of Easter (while we may think of it coming with a bang) starts unassuming and “quietly” with people waking up to an empty tomb. It generates questions, concerns, fears and frustration… (the empty tomb convinces and converts no one). And the resurrected Jesus is mistaken for a gardner, a stranger and an impostor (by Mary, the emmaus pilgrims and Thomas respectively). But ultimately over a long period - the people closest to Jesus “wake up” to the fact that “He is not here (in the tomb) He has been raised.”

The Lord is risen.
He is risen, indeed. Alleluia.

Epistle: Colossians 3.1-7

Gospel: John 20. 1-18

Psalm: Psalm 120

Prayer: Almighty God, through your only Son Jesus Christ you have conquered death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: by your grace put good desires into our minds and, in your mercy, help us to bring them to their fulfillment, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Those closest to Jesus were confused during this final week of his life (not able or wanting to come to terms with the finality of Jesus’ language during this week) and even one would be used by evil to deliver him to death; but one disciple would bring him a moment of joy during this extremely difficult week. It was not one of the usual suspects - Peter, James or John - or any of the other “Twelve.” It was Mary of Bethany (according to John) that brought a years worth of quality perfume and anointed Jesus in the midst of his time at an evening dinner. She just lavished him; anointed him with sweet smelling perfume as an act of devotion and an act of surrender to cast her lot with Jesus’ mission (not to be overlooked she also probably just spent a good deal of her inheritance on Jesus). This act a moment of beauty and extravagance, a moment of clarity and a moment of confirmation in the midst of Jesus’ week was one that seemed to be profound in the Messiah’s estimation - as he declared, “wherever the Gospel is preached in the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered.” (Mt. 26.13)

Epistle: Hebrews 9.16-28

Gospel: Matthew 26.14-25

Psalm: 22 and 26

Prayer: from Psalm 22:

I will proclaim your name to my brethren: in the midst of the assembly I will praise you; “You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not spurned nor disdained the wretched man in his misery Nor did he turn his face away from him, but when he cried out to him, he heard him.” So by your gift will I utter praise in the vast assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him. The lowly shall eat their fill; they who seek the Lord shall praise him: “May your hearts be ever merry!” All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; All the families of the nations shall bow down before him. For dominion is the Lord’s and he rules the nations. To him alone shall bow down all who sleep in the earth; Before him shall bend all who go down into the dust. And to him my soul shall live; my descendants shall serve him. Let the coming generation be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown.

Unexpected. We get jaded. We have heard it all. Few things surprise and startle us anymore - we get real time feedback of every tragedy and every news worthy story - we hear it as it unfolds; and over time nothing really shocks us. Forecasts of everything from the future stock price to the weather prepares us for anything. We woke up to a covering of snow this morning and just 60 or so years ago - before doppler radar and computer weather modeling - it would have been “unexpected.” Israel expected a king - a king like David and they expected a prophet - a prophet like Moses; but the Son of God? God in the flesh sent by the Father above? How? God is one. Unexpected, to say the least. It is all coming to a head on this Tuesday of Holy Week as Jesus makes his words more clear, bolder and as he confronts the religious leaders, sealing his fate.

Old Testament: Isaiah 49.1-6

New Testament: John 12.37-50

Psalm: 22 & 25

Prayer: We cast our prayers at the feet of Christ our saviour, who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection:

Almighty and ever-living God, make us celebrate the Lord’s passion worthily
and thereby deserve pardon for our sins.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

An extremely busy and active week unfolds for Jesus as he approaches the pinnacle of his purpose for coming to live among us. One of the Psalm’s that is rehearsed on every Monday of Lent (an old tradition) is Psalm 23 and I can’t help but think how comforting that song of David might have been to Jesus as he progressed through this week. I also am challenged to think, “Are our churches places like David describes in that Psalm?” My experience unfortunately has been to find the Church competing with the culture around it to gain peoples attention with full calendars and endless activity. Maybe being distinct from our culture and offering a haven of quiet and a refuge of rest is what our stressed and adrenaline-addicted world needs.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 63.1-19

New Testament Reading: John 12.20-36

Psalm: 22, 23, & 24

Prayer: Please, Lord, guide my mind with your truth.
Strengthen my life by the example of Jesus.
Help me to be with Jesus in this week
as he demonstrates again his total love for me.
He died so that I would no longer be separated from you.
Help me to feel how close you are and to live in union with you.

note: Artwork by Michael D. Obrien