Shema and Crucifixion

Asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded without hesitation: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." In Hebrew, this is known as the Shema, which is simply the first Hebrew word in the phrase. It is obviously one of the most important statements in the Scriptures, and it should be made even more important to Christians as Jesus picks it out as the most important commandment.

This statement is so wrapped in layers of meaning, from the LORD is one to how we are to love the LORD. What stands out to me is that we are to love the LORD with heart and soul and strength. Basically we need to love God with our whole beings. To break it down a bit, heart is where our emotions and our desires and our will comes from. In Hebrew, it is actually very closely related to our mind. Strength is our body and all of our physicality. Soul, in ancient Hebrew belief, is actually the unity of the emotions, desires, thoughts, character, and so on as the whole person. So love the LORD our God with our whole beings.

So, if Jesus knew this was the greatest command, it's logical to think that He would orient his ministry towards the goal of making it possible. Making it possible for people, humans, to love the LORD with their whole beings, body, mind, and soul.

The more and more I read through the gospels the more that this is simply jumping all over me. Awhile ago I wondered about Jesus' miracles, healings, exorcisms and other radical things that he did that seem so beyond me. Now as I look at that stuff through a different lens, the lens of the Shema, I see that the miracles are meant to change people's minds, to allow them to see that God is God and God is all powerful. That God is the only God. That's why John calls the miracles "signs." They are not just about the miraculous thing that gets done, they are about what the miraculous thing points to. Miracles deliver peoples' minds and hearts and set them on the LORD.

And healings. Healings deliver peoples' bodies, their strength. A blind man, a crippled man, a leprous man, a bleeding woman, these people all have bodily problems that may separate them from worshipping with their whole bodies. A blind man cannot worship the LORD who provided the lush forests and magnificent mountains. A crippled man cannot worship the LORD who gave him speed and dexterity. And so on. Jesus delivers peoples' bodies.

And souls. The wholeness of a person. The seat of their "spirit." Traditionally, we think that this is what Jesus died on the cross for. And it is. But I don't think that it is only in the sense of "so we can go to heaven and be with Him." Soul, in the Shema sense, is the unity of body and mind, strength and heart.

So I think that Jesus came, lived, and died so that salvation could be brought to our heart, strength and soul. So that we could understand and be free to worship the LORD, to love the LORD, with our bodies, minds, and souls.

That seems to make sense to me, and it really helps me understand why Jesus does what he does...don't know how it was explained though. Or what to do with that now.

Lord, I know that You are the LORD. Help me to live in a way that teaches others You are the one LORD, that inspires others to serve You with their strengths, and invites others into the wholeness of Your salvation.

Return

I've been away from this for too long. Honestly, it was refreshing for awhile to not have to post everyday. As I seek after the You, I just wanted to focus and hear You. When I came to posting I felt like I was trying to explain You or get something special. So as I took some time away it just got harder and harder to stay focused. I kept up with the texts, but they didn't mean as much without this space to work through it all. But any time I actually had time to work through stuff, I didn't really want to engage You at all.

Why does this always happen? These times of disinterest? These times of no motivation? When my praise for You should be high, coming up on a time that I will need You most, it seems that I've been the least interested in actually seeking You. I would say that this month has been the most insanely busy month for me in a while. Of course, then we could start questioning my priorities, which would be very fair. They are obviously out of order.

So, today I'm here again. Speak today, through the Scriptures or elsewise. Not so that I have something to post, but instead so that we have something to share together Lord. Return in power to my life as I make the effort to return to You.

Water to Wine

Listening recently to Rob Bell talking about wine and heaven, a thought struck me that seems to come right from what we've been thinking about lately. The D.C.K.L. and how God acts in response to it.

In the miracle of changing water into wine, the text actually never says that Jesus changes water into wine. That's how we talk about it, and that's fine, but it really doesn't say that Jesus did anything to accomplish the miracle. The story reads like this: Mary says to do what Jesus says, Jesus tells the servants what to do, they do it, the water is wine somehow.

I connect that with something I read in "The Gospel According to Moses," by Athol Dickson, which says that Jesus is the Word, the Law, the Old and the New Testament, all of it from beginning to end, and I've got a new thought rolling around my mind involving the D.C.K.L.

As I've said before I believe that the sequence of deliverance, community, knowledge, and land (D.C.K.L.) is the pattern of living that we live out to prepare the way for God. It's the biblical way that has been shown to us throughout Scripture. If we accept that Jesus is the Word, all of it, from beginning to end, then it is what Jesus is telling us to do.

Now here is where we connect to the water to wine story. Jesus told the servants what to do and they did it. Then, somehow, the water was turned to wine. When the master of ceremonies tasted it, he remarked what a great wine it was. Who actually changed the water to wine? The servants certainly don't take credit for it. Jesus never touched the wine. What turned the molecules into wine? How does that happen?

We don't know. We don't need to know. What we do know is who did it. God. There is no doubt. The servants didn't, Mary didn't, the master of ceremonies didn't. This only leaves us with God. Jesus told the servants what to do, they did it, and God worked.

This is how I believe salvation works. Jesus (the Word) has told us what to do. We need to do it, to prepare the way. Then God works. We don't know how, we don't know all the steps, but in the end, salvation is accomplished.

Lord, may I live with this knowledge in mind daily, aware of my chances to deliver, to provide care and community, to help people see and know You, to bring Your realm of power right here, right into this earth. May salvation be accomplished by You, in whatever way You do it.

Not Always Finding

Lord, everyday as I sit to read the Scriptures I hope that You jump out of them straight into an application, something that moves my everyday life. It's happened so often, or You've connected ideas right in front of my eyes, or You've helped me see a situation in a new way. Well...

It doesn't always happen. There I said it. It's a frustrating reality, and I'm not sure how it fits in to faith. We had a great discussion at Sparky last night about our new ideas in forming a biblical community, our Exodus Community. I'm really excited about getting things about and moving. I'm excited to begin new relationships, meet people with different viewpoints but who mostly want to move in the same direction, towards You. I'm exciting about making my pillow (though I must think of a creative design).

This morning I really wanted to find some overarching theme that would just continue to build these thoughts and dreams and instead I read about Lazarus being raised from the dead. It seems strange to complain about reading a story of a resurrection, but it just felt, well, still dead. Even if it had captured me, I'm not sure it would have led me to immediately see how You are working in my life right now.

I have really appreciated the focus that I've already found in eleven days of searching. I've been proud to take the time to focus on You early in the morning. Maybe the times where I don't find immediate focus are to challenge me to think about You throughout the day, maybe they are because I'm doing something wrong in seeking You, maybe because You don't immediately want me to find You. I don't know. I just kwow that there are times when I am not always finding.

Giving Up the Good

This is another topic that I've been thinking about posting about for awhile. In the Christian life, in my Christian life, we often think of the things that we want to get rid of. Religiously I am considering the sin that is in my life that I suppose You want me to rid myself of so that our relationship can be closer.

I've never been able to do it. Since middle school I've struggled with lust and all the things that go with it. Right up until today, despite being married to the most beautiful woman in the world, Lord I still struggle. It makes me feel ashamed. It makes me feel ugly. It makes me hate myself. It makes me want to hide myself from You. It makes me feel all wrong. And that's just when I think about it, let alone when I've just done it, caught myself in the middle of it, etc. It's dirty and shameful and... You get the point.

But I'm not sure that sin is what really separates me from You most of the time. I'm almost sure it is not. Here's what I think. I think sin does not separate us because You chose to deal with sin by offering forgiveness through Jesus. Jesus died for me to live and be forgiven. Hence, even though sin is revolting to You, it is ultimately dealt with in my life.

So what keeps me from You? I know there are times when we are far apart, what makes that happen. I believe that it is the good that drives us apart. I believe it is the blessings that my life is full of. I mean, I can honestly say that my life's biggest blessing has been my wife, but the thing that pulled me the farthest from You was my wife as well.

The good tends to be worshipped. The wonderful job opportunity that I could have, the church that I could start, the friends that surround me, the money that You've provided, the food that You've provided, etc. All this becomes so important to me. It is more dangerous in taking over my life because, unlike sin, it has not been dealt with. It is my responsibility to deal with it. You dealt with my sin for me.

I must be willing to give it up. I must be willing to give it all up. Luke 14 calls this the cost of being a disciple. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple...any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

I am willing to give things up for You Lord. I am willing, or I will deal with, anything that You want to take from me in order to be more committed to You. I lay it all down before You right now. You are in control. Take what You want. I want You to be in control of the good in me.

I want You to be in control of all of me. So thanks for dealing with the sin by forgiving, and because of that I'm giving up the good.

This is Where It Gets Big

Okay, enough philosophizing Lord. I love it, but now I'm starting to see the point. I don't want to keep living in "starting to see the point," or "beginning to see how it all plays out." I want to be in on the action, the bringing of the point to others, the preparing the way with hands in the dirt, feet in the soil. Because I believe that's where You've called us all to be.

But it always brings me back to the same point. If preparing the way beginnings (and it must) with deliverance, then who needs delivered? And from what? Do I wait or do I go? Will You bring the opportunities right into my path or must I walk out to where I think the opportunities might be?

So this is where it gets big, and where it gets difficult. My forty this time is to focus on Your will. My prayer then is that You bring into my life soon someone or some situation that I can be a part of bringing deliverance and community to. And by saying that I can be a part, I'd love to have whatever this opportunity is with the support of the Exodus Community.

I trust that You will show us how and where to live Your way. I trust that when we do You will bring salvation. And I must say, I can't wait for that.

Why Prepare the Way?

Last time I posted here Lord, we talked and worked through the idea of preparing the way for you by living a life of deliverance, community, knowledge and bringing heaven to others. I found that John the Baptist was exhorted by his father to live this way in order to prepare for you. Apparantly he did, for he is noted in Scripture for "preparing the way."

But the consequences of his preparation jump out at me today as I read John 10:40-42. Jesus has just gone to Jerusalem, where many did not hear the message of John the Baptist, for John stayed mostly in the wilderness. The people of the city's reactions to Jesus is simple, they mostly try to stone him, seize him, and arrest him. Now, that's because the leaders of the people in the city are the Pharisees. They hear the message of the Pharisees, the message that is not noted for "preparing the way."

But what about those who did hear John the Baptist? What about those who believed John and were baptized into his way?

John 10:40-42
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus.

MANY believed in Jesus. In the city, only a rare few. In the wilderness areas across the Jordan, where John prepared the way, many. It's not a coincedence at all. When the way is properly prepared, when people are reminded of and shown deliverance, when they are invited into a Godly community, where they finally know that the LORD is God, and then begin to live that themselves...these people are the ones who will believe. These people will readily find and accept the salvation that Jesus brings.

Thank you Lord for that. Help me to be one who prepares the way. Let me (yes, I forget all the time) remember the ways You've delivered me, and what You have left to deliver me from. Continue to bring the community that I find myself in more into You. Let us know and act on the fact that YOU are God alone. Allow me places to be missional and bring deliverance to others. I pray that for each Christian today, which seems like a big prayer, but how much more evident would Your salvation be if we all began to prepare the way?

Zechariah's Song

Exodus is simply a beautiful book...which brings me to Zechariah. Wait, let me explain. No, it is to long, let me sum up. As we've (Exodus Community) studied through the book of Exodus, we've been examining four main themes. I've talked about them before and they are huge.

Deliverance, the way that God works in responses to our cries for help to bring us out of oppressive situations. Covenant community, the way that God invites us into Him, into a community of humans, living and breathing, praising and sinning, holy and imperfect, that is centered around the perfect trinitarian community. Knowledge, the way of hearing and seeing and finally knowing that the LORD is the one God and the action, or experience, that appropriately accompanies that head knowledge. And finally, land, which is a difficult word for the last concept, but what it basically entails is the way that we bring the kingdom of heaven here and now, the way we display God's love and power to those we meet now.

We've tossed around big words for these four points, wrestling with what they are, what they mean, where else we see them, why they are important. But we know that they are. We've called them God's plan for all of eternity, salvation, the D.C.K.L., the life of salvation, eternal life, and on and on. We've been trying to find some bearing for them.

Let alone trying to live them, which is the ultimate purpose of all Scripture and is importantly placed within those four points (which we've settled on calling the D.C.K.L. for now). How do you deliver someone? Do they have to want you to? How do you find out that they want you to? What is the best way to invite people into the community? How do we get our community more into God? What do we need to hear? Where do we act that out? What is our specific call in bringing heaven on earth to the community? Who should we be bringing it to?

With questions rising, I came across a Scripture I always overlook a few weeks ago. It's not fully contained within the story of Jesus. It seems like preamble (in some ways it is). It's not bold and awe-striking. It very easily skipped. It's Luke 1:67-79. Zechariah's Song. I'll post the entirity below.

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Just some things to pull out of here. Some breath-taking connections to me. There is a remembrance within this song of God's deliverance (salvation from our enemies, rescue us from the hand of our enemies). There is a remembrance of the covenant, the community formed around the oath to Father Abraham. There is a knowledge, a knowledge of hearing (the tender mercy of God) and action (the forgiveness of their sins). Finally, there is also bringing heaven to earth in our actions (serve him without fear).

But who is this song about? Well, it's twofold right? It's a praise song to the Lord, for his mighty hand had just worked in Zechariah's life to bring him a son, John the Baptist. But it's also a song the son will here, because the ending is addressed to him (And you, my child...).

So what is John the Baptist to do? He's to be a prophet, a priest, but most of all...he's to prepare THE WAY of the LORD. He's to turn people's heart to remember the way of the Lord and repent. He is a worker, cultivating the LORD's way. To "guide our feet in the path of peace." John was the beginning of this way. He prepared it.

And what does Zechariah exort him to remember in preparing this Godly path? Deliverance, covenant community, knowledge, and bringing heaven. The same that God exorted Moses to remember, directly before saving his people from the oppression of Egypt. Strange that they are being brought up again here, directly before Jesus saves humanity from its sins? No.

I have a growing conviction that these four things, the D.C.K.L., they are the way. The way we are to live, the way we are to react, the things we are to speak, the truth that forms our lives. They are the way. In living this, we prepare the way of the LORD. And then God brings the salvation.

Maybe the understanding of salvation is beyond us, for it is only something that God brings through Jesus. But we are part of the preparation. By remembrance, by living, by acting out deliverance, covenant, knowledge and land we turn hearts from hard to soft and prepare them for the salvation of our LORD.

There's the thoughts you've been stirring up in me for awhile Lord. It's Your turn to take them, roll Your tongue around the edges, and respond in wisdom and truth to me. All I've given You is honesty. I love You and praise You for the connections Your bring. All praise to the God of all, the One. You certainly deserve to be remembered in song.

Living in the Psalms

Today I finished up my reading of the Psalms. Last weekend when my forty days finished we were actually at my parents house on a marriage retreat weekend with the entire Exodus Community (all of the 4 families - minus Micah). It was a wonderful, enriching time of thinking about our marriages, and thinking of Courtney as a gift that I've been given.

But, in that, I ran out of time to either talk to You through the blog and to read the rest of the texts I had planned on. I had wanted to get through the Psalms in the last forty days, but I got stopped 6 psalms short of that goal. Not a real big deal.

But today I decided to pick that reading up and get through the rest of the psalms. Each of the psalms that I came across were lavishing praise upon the Lord. For being unfathomable, for Your glorious splendor, for Your awesome works, for building up Jerusalem, all things that have breath praise the LORD.

This weekend, when I wasn't reading, my heart was restored to me. My passion for both my marriage and for this life that we're living was renewed. My will to live for You was rebuilt. It seems in the rest and relaxation, in the letting go, in the living I found my praise. I found reasons to praise. Now in coming back from that I have found the appropriate texts for this praise.

You seem to speak through Scripture to me at exactly the right time. Even as today unfolds, I am finding reason upon reason to praise. And it was placed on me early this morning, in my path through psalms.

Maybe this is where the focus upon Your will starts. In the praise. In where we've been and hope for where we're going. Help me to live in this praise, in this place of hope, in these psalms of hallelujahs. For within this life You provide the simple way of praise.

Forty Days of Focus

Heavenly Father, I'm confronted with really interesting ideas today. There are a million ideas about You just floating around in my head. I've been struggling to figure out what to write about now that my forty days of silence and study ended this weekend. I haven't even been back to consult with You. Now I'm already two days into my next forty, and I still don't know what the focus is.

Actually I do. As I sit here and think, pray, meditate on You and Your will, I think You've revealed to me that my next forty days need to be forty days of focus. Forty days of prayerful meditation on Your will. That's the focus.

Forty Days of Focus. I kind of like that idea, but it's daunting. It's daunting because it will require even more of my time won't it? Because, I won't be able to sit down and just write and read. I'll have to take time to pray, to confess, to listen, to honestly be quiet in spirit before You.

But let's start right now. Instead of a long blog entry this morning, how about a long, prayerful walk. Help me to focus Lord. Amen.