Empty Pews

I had the opportunity to preach last weekend. I love preaching. I love being able to impact another person's heart and soul, to confront their perception of reality with transcendent Reality. It is a job I do not take lightly, nor should it be taken lightly.

The church I work at records sermons to put on the web and to give to those people who can't make it on Sundays. I found out this morning that my sermon didn't record right. In the process of finalization, it was all lost. So I'm going to have to re-record it, this time in front of empty pews.

People apologized for the inconvenience this would cause for me. There will be no energy, no feedback, no faces to engage. There will be no build up to the sermon with a wonderful rendition of "Build Your Kingdom Here", no prayers, no praise. Just me, and a microphone, and empty pews.

I look out on empty pews, reminded of the faces that filled them just a couple days before. And I wonder. Did my message change them? Did they live this Monday differently from the one before?
But, as I get ready, I reflect on reality. I do have a listener. I do have two ears and one heart listening in on this sermon, and they might be the most crucial. My own. I get the opportunity to impact hundreds of people's lives through my words, but if my own heart is left unchanged, it is all for naught. If the cause I communicate is so un-compelling that it does not change me, then I have no reason to expect that it should impact others. No reason to utter anything. Will my Monday be different from the one before?

So, I prepare for empty pews. I prepare for one person. The Preacher himself. I have been caught up in a Story, in a Message. And that story is changing my life. And I ask my hearers to go where I am going, too. That means when I tell others to love their spouses, I take that first upon myself. When I tell others to give back- I must take it seriously. We go together on a journey of faith; I am not special. I walk together with all others, asking them if they will come with me on a journey, a journey of re-formation, integration. A journey where we follow a Savior who first traversed the Way he leads us on. A journey with a Savior who bids, "Come, follow me." We go on a journey where the pews must be empty for the Message to move.

The Alpha and Omega (part 2)

Last week, I started a poem on Psalm 119. The psalm is an acrostic of sorts, representing all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. And so it continues...


ל

Lord, your word and faithfulness carry on forever.
Laws of yours endure unto eternity, preserving my life for just as long.
Limits are put on everything- wealth, fame, goodness- but your commands are without limit.

מ

Meditating on your words, Lord, brings such richness to my life.
More wisdom, more insight, more understanding, more life: all mine because of your word.
My mouth drips with honey when I taste the morsels of Truth and goodness found in your Book.

נ

Now I can see on my path, thanks to the light of your Word!
Not only do I struggle from my own faults, others are doing their best to knock me off your path.
Nevertheless, I have set my heart on keeping your decrees, on sticking to this path forever.

ס

Sick, sinister, sinful people disgust me, and their intolerance for your Word makes me sad.
Sustain me, even though I am tempted to be like those people. You are my only source of life.
Seeing how you deal with sin scares me to death; I stand in awe of your sovereignty.

ע

I am your servant; help me to understand your command, so that I can carry it out.
I am doing my part, Lord. I am looking for you in all places and following your law.
It is time for you to act now, Lord. Punish the lawbreakers, and make my reward your Word.

פ

Pure light pours forth from the unfolding of your words.
Powerful waters permeate the dry desert where your words were lacking.
Please, Lord, place me in your presence, and let no sin rule over me.

צ

Tsunami-like zeal keeps me focused on your statutes.
Tsk, tsk, all you who ignore God's Word! Oh, I'm getting tired of saying it.
Tsk, tsk, you who are distressed and displeased! God's Word could be your delight!

ק

Quietly, in the night, even before the dawn, I meditate on your promises to save me.
Quell the restlessness within me, the fear I have from evil near me.
Quickly have I learned that you are near, O Lord, and your word is in my heart and my mouth.

ר

Redeem me Lord, buy me back, even the worst parts of me; I know you are compassionate.
Rescue me from persecution and pain. I know you use them for your purposes, but I am ready,
Ready and waiting for the fulfillment of your eternal promises. Preserve my life!

ש

Shudder at the power of people? Never. But I tremble when I hear the Lord speak a single word!
Shaking notwithstanding, your words bring me such joy, and I seek to obey them with all my heart.
Shalom, complete peace, comes to all of those who love your law, Lord, and keep your commands.

ת

The lips and tongue you gave me can do nothing but shout and sing, pray and praise your name!
These laws you left us sustain me in this place.
Though I wander like I'm lost, seek me out and find me, Lord. Make me yours.

The Alpha and Omega (part 1)

Psalm 119 is long. Really long. 176 verses long. And this makes it a very intimidating Psalm to read.
But Psalm 119 is a beautiful poem, containing some beautiful truths about the Word of God. And, even though it takes 176 verses, the Psalm doesn't exhaust how much can be said about God's Word for us and to us.

And, tragically, our English Bibles hide some of the rich imagery of Psalm 119. You see, the poem is an acrostic of the entire alphabet. Eight verses dedicated to just one letter, then on to the next. Our vocabulary finds its fulfillment in the very vernacular of our God. From A to Z, Alpha to Omega, Aleph to Taw, our language is rooted in the loving law of God. So, what follows is my attempt at bringing some justice to the aspect of God's all-encompassing Word to the poem, Psalm 119.

 

א

All your commands are good,
Anyone who perfectly keeps them- blessed.
Ah! If only I could... I will Lord, bless me!

ב

Boys have a huge hill to climb to get to holiness,
But I am doing it by dwelling on your word day and night.
Behind every action of mine is the desire to honor and praise you.

ג

Give me life, Lord, do good to me.
Going on this path, I see only what you show me, since my home is with you.
Governors and statesmen mock me, but I find my peace and delight in you.

ד

Deal with me, Lord, when I'm down in the dust and weary with worry.
Determining my path based on your word, my heart is set on understanding.
Don't let me be bound up, for I run fast and free on the way of truth.

ה

Halt, stop, the evil within me, Lord, and turn me toward your righteous words and ways.
Here, right now, I demand you take me by the hand, instruct my head and heart in your holy decrees.
How I long, o Lord, for the fulfillment of your promise! Preserve my life in your righteousness.

ו

Words come at me from all directions, but I hold fast to yours Lord. Keep them coming!
Where obedience means freedom- that's where I will walk.
Whenever words are demanded from me, I will put forth the ones I love- yours.

ז

Zeal for your ancient words brings me comfort, even when people are zealous for wickedness.
Zap my name, you arrogant mockers, but you cannot take away my hope and promise.
Zero songs will I sing, O Lord, if my song is not your decrees, your name, your Torah.

ח

Counting on you, I am sure I will have more than enough- forever.
Consider my ways - so much different from the wicked - as I walk, guided by your face.
Continue to fill me with your love, oh Lord, as the whole earth is filled with your love.

ט

Teach me knowledge, teach me goodness, teach me service.
Tainted, tarnished, tattered: when you afflicted me, God, it pushed me to trust in you even more.
Tons of cash, tireless fame, or time in the spotlight couldn't keep me from keeping your decrees.

י

You are the maker of the earth, You are the giver of wisdom, You are the reason for hope and joy.
You love me without fail, even when others don't.
You are life-giving, life-sustaining; give me life and sustain me. You are "I am."

כ

"Keep going, keep going!" I tell myself, as I press on, tired, toward your salvation.
Kindness is a byword in the mouth of my enemies, and I'm tempted to say the same about you God...
Keep me in your Word and remind me of your love, especially in these troubling times.

Baptism (Romans 6)

Water. Word. My life of death.

I wake up in the morning, supposed to kill myself. Daily dying, I’m already dead-

I’ve been drowned in the font, my robes soaked red.

What does that mean- already dead?
I barely wake up, and sin is in my head. I can’t understand death, or even life, until I look to the death and resurrection of Christ. He died on a cross, on a blood-stained tree, hung lifeless, murdered brutally.
People thought futilely He was done, they put him in the ground, thought they had won.
But they didn’t realize what they actually won.
Jesus came back to life- that’s what they won.
 

Life. In Christ. The one who died but lives.

The price of death was paid, and the power of God was proven. Now he gives
Resurrection life to us- He daily forgives. In addition to that he kills, puts my sin to death on the cross along with Him. And he does it again and again.

See, we have a God who is God of the living. Death doesn’t stop Him, He keeps on giving life,

and new life, it’s a daily thing. Every day that we’re drowned- another day raised.
We have the power of Christ- God be praised for working resurrection in us-
A life of grace and peace, and righteousness.
The life we live- it’s Christ in us.

No longer a slave to sin and evil, Jesus made us His siblings- He made us His equal. Brothers and sisters, washed clean, through water and Word, he gave us everything we didn’t deserve.

We’ve got a daily struggle with death and life, waking up every morning to brokenness and lies. But I’ve got a choice every morning, before getting out of bed; will I hear God’s voice this morning? Will I fall down dead? Will Christ’s life be my life this morning? Will I hear what God said?

Romans 6-

“We were buried with Jesus by baptism into death,

So that we can be raised with him out of that death,

By the glory of the Father we’ve been given new Breath.

Baptism- Jesus gives us resurrection life and does away with our death."