To Know or Be Known

 Its been crickets on my blog over the past few months, and I am sorry for that.  All that has been 2020 just seemed overwhelming, and there have been so many voices, that it seemed to quiet my own.  

I've still been here with encouragements and opinions, but not really feeling like that should be shared in blog form.  But lately I've been having conversations (some with myself) that seemed to be begging to be shared once again from my blog posts.  

We will see how they come out, but I want to return to writing because I love it.  

This morning I was listening to a book (via Audible) that we are doing as a church staff and going over each chapter during our weekly staff meetings.  The book is called, "The Emotionally Healthy Leader," by Peter Scazzero.  Its been wonderful and very contemplative.  

I got done with the chapter we were going over today and continued listening to the next chapter and was struck by a distinction in discussing a Bible verse.  The author was talking about Christian leaders in the church who do great things without having a relationship with God.    I should mention at this point that I have also been reading another book by Michael S. Heiser entitled, "What Does God Want?"  I've loved the simplicity this book adds to the story of God and why he created us, why we face so much heartache in the world and what God wants.  Spoiler alert, but the reason God created humans was because he wanted a human family to join his celestial family.  God is about relationships.  Hes about family and connection, so when I was listening to Peter share the passage below my ears perked up: 

Matthew 7:22-23

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your nae perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!"  

Before Peter started into his commentary, I knew at the mention of knew it didn't mean literally, "I don't know who you are."  God knows all of us, we are his creation.  He knew us when we were in our mother's wombs, he knows the hairs on our heads (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139, Luke 12:7, Matthew 10:30, Psalm 56:8).  Its not about knowing who we are, its not about recognition, but instead its about being known.  Why is that so important?  For one reason its the purpose of all of this, we are invited by God into a relationship.  A way was made for us to connect with the God of the universe and really God of the universes, through the death of Jesus (God in human form) on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.  We could not do it on our own so when we set out to do works of God that don't involve him, its like we reject his gift.  We pretend we are enough without him to overcome all the wrong in the world.  His grace is enough and sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Life wasn't always easy for me and human connection hasn't always been easy either, but I learned early to run to God.  I didn't always get the answers I wanted and even got mad and ran away from him for awhile, but I did always get acceptance.  I did get embraced for who I was more than I have from any person in my life.  I know there is a God, but that is nothing compared to knowing Him. I forget that sometimes as I get busy at life or in the business of sharing Him with the world, but without it, I run out of steam and really become the worst version of myself. I want to know God intimately and for Him to know me.  

What about you?  Do you just know there is a God or do you know God and are you known by God?  I'm sure there may be an atheist or two who stumble on my post, and I'd love to hear why you believe what you believe.  I've read some compelling evidence for God's existence and I'd happily share some resources for anyone interested.  I hope all of you are doing well, or as well as is possible in the midst of our crazy reality.   

One Thing You Don't Need

Its ironic to me that when we survey the world's population and examine issues that each country and region face, the biggest issue in the richest countries are things like: depression, anxiety and suicide.

Interestingly enough, suicide isn't an issue in impoverished areas like it is in first world countries. How is it that people that "have it all" are the most unhappy people in the world?

I heard a sermon recently from a guest speaker at a Christian camp, discussing the Beatitudes, a section of scripture also known as the Sermon on the Mount.  It is a sermon given by Jesus.  Many of Jesus' teachings seem counter to our culture and this section of text is no exception. Jesus says things like, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," or "Blessed are those that mourn..." What? How can they be blessed?  Yet, when we look into the communities of the world, these statements of Jesus are reflected in real-life.

Whenever I visit Thailand and spend time with the Karen refugees living in the northern Thailand mountains, I am moved with the happiness of the Karen.  Here are people who are living outside their native country, without citizen rights, often poor and yet - they are happy.

When a sponsor gifts a new outfit to a girl at the center, you will see that outfit many times throughout a visit, and each time on a different person.  When someone gets something, it is for the group, not the individual.

This attitude is also modeled in the scriptures when we read about the early church in Acts.  Followers of Jesus were focused more on community than the individual.

It seems that the Bible is right.  The more we become focused on ourselves, the more unhappy we become.  The more things we possess, the more empty we become.  The more we get our way, the less we really get what we truly want.

What is the one thing you and I don't need?

Everything.

We don't need to have things the exact way we want it.  We don't need everything our heart desires and can possess with the click of a button and free drone instant shipping.  We don't need to be the center of the universe.

What we DO need is an others-focused, community mentality.  We need to be self-less not selfish.
We need to be told no and to experience disappointment.
We need to live without
...only then are we strong, brave, empathetic, creative and fulfilled.

Seeing others succeed is a greater high than getting the latest technological device.  It is always better to celebrate each other than to have it be all out me.

Our culture is feeding us a lie - A LOT!  Are you ready to abandon the cultural standard of having it all and live the kind of life God created us for?

These 3 things will help you to live counter-culturally:

1. Recognize it - Do you see the subtle and not so subtle way advertisers sell the message that you deserve it all?  Can you take note of how many times that message crosses your path each day?

2. Deny It - Make note of the truth that stands in the face of the lie you are being spoon fed.

3. Defy It - Step out and live in a way that puts others' needs first.  Choose to give more than you receive, to embrace the thorns that prick you when you come across a rose and see the beauty that came with the pain.  Live in such a way that embraces the needs of others and community more than you the individual.

When we see others before ourselves, we live in a way that celebrates our communal and spiritual purpose.  We are, after all, the Body of Christ - working together is the only way we truly work!