Well I know this will probably disappoint you, but this is not going to be about youth
camps or retreats or campsites. I have been thinking a lot these days about the
various camps within Christianity.
Now there are certainly oh so many denominational camps, but it goes way beyond
this: there are reformed camps, truly reformed camps, contemporary camps,
traditional camps, and fundamental camps. There are Calvinist camps and Arminian
camps. There are covenant camps and dispensational camps. There are progressive
camps and conservative camps, there are grace camps, cheap grace camps, new law
camps, sonship camps and charismatic camps and believe me I am sure I have left
many others out...
Maybe you get the picture. I was also thinking wouldn’t it be truly wonderful if we
were all just part of the Christian camp. I once had a pastor who has since passed
away; a good friend that I really miss and I heard him say in a sermon that he
didn’t feel called to be a Presbyterian Minister, he felt called to be a Christian
Minister. This stuck with me for years and while at the time I thought is was a fine
sentiment, only now have I truly come to appreciate the beauty and meaning behind it.
In the divisive days in which we live I think we have forgotten to search for the
common ground that can unite us; or at least we are stuck in the belief that only our
ground can be the common ground that can unite us. But can we for a moment open
our hearts and minds and seek the true common ground, the only common ground
that matters, the only common ground that can unite...the common ground of Christ.
With Christ as our focus; with Christ as our common ground, can we begin to see those
around us with the eyes of love; to see with eyes and hearts of love for our brothers and sisters? Can we begin to see
beyond the camps and see those around us with the eyes of Christ? Imagine the
possibilities!
To borrow a phrase (Thanks Steve Brown) – “You think about that”
Grace and Peace!
Well it has been a few weeks since Irma was encountered here in central Florida. We prepared as
best we could, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the emotion associated with this “storm.”
During a short period of time before the storm and for the period after without power I jotted down
thoughts in several locations. Just whatever came to mind or better yet came into my heart was
written down. Below in no particular order are those thoughts.
-
The mandatory evacuation of our home truly jolted me...the sight of what could be all your
life packed into the back of your vehicle, locking the doors, driving away from the place you
call home was like a punch in the gut.
-
Packing up minimal and only essential things, leaving the comfort of the home you have
known for so long and not on your terms is draining, deflating, emotional. Is this how it is
for the homeless all the time?
-
Sitting in a boarded up house for what seems like days helps me understand total reliance on
Christ.
-
Sitting in a boarded up house; it is amazing how encouraged you can be with prayer and
scripture.
-
Sitting in a boarded up house; it is amazing how little sleep you get or seem to need.
-
The closer the storm got, the more I realized that stuff doesn’t really matter; relationships
matter.
-
I wonder why it took this storm for me to tell so many people that I love them?
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How precious was that FaceTime with daughter and grandson just before the storm...tears
like rain
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Praying and praying and praying; yet praying carefully as I would not pray for this storm to
hit others. Praying for a calming of the storm; a weakening, praying for protection, safety,
and peace. Our pastor asked us to pray for love. Praying for love to abound even in the
storm.
-
Can clearly see how much I take for granted; power, air, hot food, Internet, cell
service...while at the same time realizing what a luxury.
-
Being boxed up with now a mandatory curfew even for a short time makes me appreciate
our freedom...what a gift...
-
Amazed at the calming of the storm! Answered prayer!
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The storm and clean up after, and days without power disrupt the rhythm of your life – you
can’t rest, nothing seems normal – seem to go through the motions of life. Lost??? Scripture
brings a centering/focus. Found???
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Storms seem to unify...neighbor helping neighbor no matter their differences.
-
What hope we have in Christ...
Grace and Peace!
Mark 4 - Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A
furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in
the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we
drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was
completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Yes, probably common reading as a Hurricane is bearing down, but something
struck me this morning, I have read this passage numerous times, but have to admit
I have never noticed that “they took him along (in the boat), just as he was.” That
phrase; just as he was, stuck with me. Why is that there, what does it mean?
Not sure I have it correct or hermeneutically analyzed, but what occurred to me is
that at least for me, I tend to take Jesus for what I want him to be, a wish granter, a
friend, a protector, the one who makes thing right for me; instead of taking Jesus as
he is, Divine, Lord, Savior, Loving, Gentle, kind, forgiving, wonderful, grace-filled,
teacher, all knowing, all powerful, all in all and we could all add to the list. Forgive me Lord Jesus - full of grace...
So as Irma is still churning toward us, I will continue to call upon Jesus just as he is to calm this
storm, but I will call with this attitude: I know he can, but I do not know if he will.
And as such my faith will remain in him, he will be my safe harbor, and I will move forward
knowing it is he that the wind and the waves obey!
Grace and Peace!
Father God,
In the Psalms we read: Hear my prayer, O LORD, let my cry come
to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!
Father, as our church has worked through the Psalms we are
learning that we can lament, we can cry out, we can come to you
with troubled and angry hearts and Father we (I) come with a
troubled and angry heart. Father, there is so much going on in this
broken world, the news is disturbing, divisive, distressing, and
depressing. News of nuclear tensions, news of hate and racism,
news of such division: but the one thing the news does is point out
how much we need you.
So Father, we come this morning crying out to you, crying out for
your healing, for your mercy, for your steadfast love to conquer all.
We pray that your love would reach into hearts around the world
and transform, that there might be revival, that there might be
repentance (turning to you) that there might be true reconciliation
and that people would love one another just a Christ has loved us.
Father, embolden us as believers that we may answer the message
of racism, hate and violence with the message of love and service in
Christ. Father, we pray answer us speedily.
In Romans Paul prays: May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that by the power of Holy Spirit you may
abound in hope. Father we believe; fill us with joy and peace, let us
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and thank you that
no matter our troubles, no matter the troubles of this world, we have
a place to turn, a place where we can hope and trust, a place that we
can be filled with joy and peace, a place that we can rest; and that
place is in the mighty arms of Christ.
Abba Father, we love you and pray these many things in the most
wonderful and beautiful name of Jesus...
Amen and Amen!
