True Rest

Have you ever had one of those nights you simply couldn’t fall asleep? You turn the pillow over, looking for the cool side. You shift around from your front to your back, side to side, looking for some position that is more comfortable than any other. You toss and you turn, wondering if you will ever find any rest. Maybe you have something on your mind, maybe it has been a long day, maybe you drank two double-shot, non-fat Lattes from Starbucks… But something is keeping you from finding the rest that you need. No matter how hard you try the relaxation and restfulness simply won’t come.

We’ve all one of those experiences. No matter what you try, it won’t make you any more rested. They might provide momentary relief or give you one night’s respite, but often you are back at the same place you were before.

This is often how the rest of the world feels about life. There are so many individuals who are looking for rest and peace. Their hearts yearn for true peace but they have no idea what that really means. Thus, they look for momentary peace and rest in the things of this world: drugs, alcohol, partying, “spirituality,” etc. These things provide momentary respite, but it is fleeting and never-lasting.

Augustine, a Christian minister and theologian from the 4^th century, writes a very similar idea in his Confessions. Augustine had grown up in a Christian home but rejected his faith so that he could follow the things of the world. He had an affair and a child out of wedlock, all while chasing “spiritual” philosophy that never seemed to offer enough hope. Finally, he writes these words that sum up his experience: “You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Jesus came to bring peace and rest to those who were weary and worn-out. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30) Jesus reminds us that our ultimate rest can only be found when we lay everything at God’s feet and allow him to bear our burdens for us. We are called to take up his yoke, because his yoke is easier than our own. God wants to bring peace and rest to the world, and the world will never find true rest until they find rest in God alone.

Putin as 21st Century Hitler?

In the late 1930's, Nazi Germany began a policy of removing the sanctions placed on them by the Treaty of Paris at the end of WWI. The Nazis preyed on the feelings of discontent and malevolence among the German people. Thus, they began a policy of military building and the expansion of their territory by "protecting" German citizens in other nations: Austria, Poland, etc. They then place puppet governments in charge of the nations they have just "liberated," creating an empire without (in many cases) ever firing a shot or killing a person.

Putin and the Russian forces are doing the very same thing in South Ossetia today. They have entered into this region in order to protect their "peacekeepers" and assure the right of "freedom" for these people. Hence, they entered into South Ossetia, and then KEPT GOING, demanding that this was their right to protect their "own people." However, the Russians are simply working from the same expansionist, empirical mindset that has plagued Europe for centuries and caused untold devastation in the last 100 years. Putin and the Russian military are bringing "freedom" at the head of the sword, "freeing" people they will inevitably bring back into their "protection" once more.

Just wait and see: Putin might just have a weird mustache in a month...

Live from Denver

Ok, to be honest, I am not in Denver, although I wish I was. But not for the Democratic National Convention.

I am very politically minded, but I refuse to tell anyone where I stand politically. Suffice it to say this: I am a combination of the two parties, and I am ok with that. But as I listened to Hilary Clinton's speech tonight I came to a conclusion: Lots of promises often consist of hollow words.

Clinton called for the support and "salvation" of the American middle class. She spoke that the hope of the nation resides on the middle class. They are in need of a tax break, so that the receipts incoming can get ahead of the bills outgoing. She spoke of the need for universal health care, the end of American dependence on foreign oil by the support of renewal energy resources, and an overhaul of the American educational system. She also spoke of ending the war in Iraq, yet in the same breath mentioned Putin/Russia's invasion into Georgia. She spoke of greater support for our service men and women and a greater package of benefits for our veterans. She spoke of government for the people rather than the select few.

The problem she neglected to mention was the need for more money. She calls for tax breaks for the middle class; where will the funds come from to support these great overhauls? There is a need for universal health care so that all people will receive medical treatment. (AMEN to health care for all!) But...one small problem: where will these funds come from? These ambitious needs require a LARGE increase in taxes from ALL of the American people. She called for a need for economic growth and stability, yet also called for greater taxes on industry. How do these ideas coincide? Can we support business growth and expansion while simultaneously increasing the taxes demanded from said institutions? She calls for the need to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. A couple of small problems: By increasing our dependency on "renewable" energy resources like ethanol we inevitably drive up the cost of grain for the average consumer, placing a greater burden on the poor and middle classes. (If the cost of grain increases, then the cost of beef/meat increases due to the cost of feeding these animals...)

ALL of these platform issues require HUGE amounts of financial support. Clinton spoke of our dependence on monetary loans from the Chinese... If we can't support our failing economy now, how do we expect to do any better in the future with NO economic changes in the long haul?

While the Democrats expound a position of "Change," we must realize that it will take dollars (not just change) to make these policies a reality. Who will wind up bearing the burden of these costs? The very economy they espouse wanting to save... And, ultimately, the middle class individuals who are having to pay for those who refuse to take initiative for themselves...

Becoming a Jayhawk

I guess it is official: I realized today that I am slowly becoming a Jayhawk.

I know, I know... becoming a Jayhawk is not something I ever wanted to do. I am a Memphis Fan, for goodness sakes! I sing the Memphis Fight Song in my sleep. I threw things at the TV during the National Championship Game. I thought about tattooing "Derek Rose is my homeboy" on my left arm, but I thought it would look kinda tacky about my "I <3 MOM" tat.

But today I realized that things are beginning to change, and I am not sure I like them. Last night we did "Four Corners," where we went to the four corners of KU's campus and prayed for the faculty, staff, and students. We prayed for their spiritual health and well-being, and we prayed that God would make our ministry well-known on the KU campus. (I will post about my vision for KU later.) But as we walked from place to place there on campus, I engaged in a conversation that I am not too proud of. (Yes, I know I ended that sentence in a preposition; I am not too proud of that either. Strunk and White would beat me with a copy of their book...) I was talking to a group of Hawks students, and I started a discussion on "OUR" chances for the upcoming football and basketball seasons! Sigh.

For all of you back home in Memphis, I am sorry for letting you down. Megan, I am sorry for slowly becoming a Jayhawk when you are such an avid Wildcat Fan. If I could, I would repent in sackcloth and ashes. But I think I am allergic to ashes...

The Heart of Worship (Part 2)

My biggest pet peeve is this statement: "I just didn't get much out of worship today." (Ok, honestly, my biggest pet peeve is loud teenagers, followed closely by these statements...) Equally as annoying: "I loved worship today, because it was so upbeat and I loved all of the songs."

Most of us worry about what we will GET out of worship rather than what we BRING to worship. Worship has, in essence, become about us. We think worship revolves around what we like, either:
o Instrumental (because we like it), or noninstrumental (because we think you are wrong)

o Contemporary songs vs. Traditional songs

o Clapping/Raising Hands vs. Not

- Worship becomes a war

- Worship becomes a THING rather than a LIFESTYLE

o Worship is reserved for corporate, Sunday/Wednesday

o Worship becomes something we DO, rather than something we ARE

- Worship, in essence, can become an idol

Can I let you in on a secret? Worship isn’t about us! Sorry to burst your bubble. Ok, let me rephrase that differently: Worship isn’t about what we like or don’t like, what we are comfortable with or discomforted by, what makes us happy or “causes us to stumble.” It just isn’t. Worship isn’t FOR US; it is FOR GOD!

Worship comes down to the heart.

Worship: Reflection of the Presence of God (Part 1)

The next few blog posts will be on the nature of worship. I am beginning a new series in my ministry on the "Heart of Worship," and I am trying out a few ideas on this blog. Please let me know your thoughts through your comments and emails. Thanks!

~Daniel <><

_________________

Worship is acknowledgment that God is worthy of our praise. God is holy, other, set apart, distinct. The transcendence of God calls us to worship a God who reigns on high, who created the world and established its foundations, who creates and sustains life, who establishes the universe and sets all things into motion. This alone is cause to worship God. Yet it is only one facet of his character. We also worship a God who is immanent, who interacts with his people and intervenes in their lives.

Throughout the OT, we find God constantly interacting with humanity. Genesis 1-11 tells the story of YHWH's provision even for those who refuse to acknowledge him as God. Genesis 12ff tells the story of YHWH's interaction with humanity through the descendants of Abraham, a Chaldean who moves to Canaan at the command of the LORD. God tells him that God will bless him and increase his family/position/wealth SO THAT, through him, God might bless the whole world (Gen 12:3). God's story is an interaction with the people of Israel as he seeks to accomplish his purposes on the earth through them.

Rather than acknowledging their role in God's plan, the people of Israel find contentment within their own "achieved status." They were Yahweh's people, his chosen race, his kingdom of priests and holy nation (Ex. 19). They were God's favorites, and thus all other peoples were seen as inferior. God reminds them constantly that they were not chosen because of their greatness, their strength, their holiness, or their ability. God chose them specifically because they WEREN'T great, strong, holy, or able (Deut. 7-9). If God hadn't intervened, they would still be slaves in Egypt! But God chose them specifically to be a light to the world. They were to be priests, chosen ones who intervened for OTHERS who were not able to come to God on their own. They were called to be holy (1) because God is holy, and (2) so that the world will notice their distinctiveness and realize the God who causes them to be holy.

God’s charge to Israel was to be a revelation of the immanence of God, to be his presence among the world because he was present with them. Their worship was to be a life that was wholly devoted to the LORD their God. Their lives were to be an offering to God, and he demanded that every aspect of their lives, from their sacrifices to the condition of their homes to the proper way of treating others, and everything in between. Every aspect of their lives was done in worship of the God who created and who still sustains them. Their lives were to reflect the presence of God within their midst. Israel was not called to simply sit back, content in their salvation. Rather, they were called to reflect the presence of God.

Vintage Faith Connect '08

I recently returned from the National Campus Ministry Seminar in Golden, CO, and I will discuss some of my insights from there tomorrow. But... I wanted to share this quote said in worship this morning by Dean Barham:

"It's impossible to save our a__ (backside) and our face at the same time." -- AA Member, commenting on his perceptions of the church.

How true! We often put on such a great mask that we are afraid to take it down and let people see our authentic self. If there church is the place where authentic ministry takes place, then we need to take the whitewash off of our tombs and show the dry bones inside for our brothers and sisters to see. There is no fault in being sinful; the true fault lies when we pretend that we always have it all together. And when we realize that our lives have dry bones within them, we also realize that we serve a God who brought a valley of dry bones to life (Ezekiel 32). That's the kind of God we serve!