Wakes

Sun on sacred image glows  

Upon the eyes of dark below

Ancient arches reach across

Span divides of sin and loss

Gained is everything beyond

And the shore we stand upon

Water washing every tide

Glad the life that wakes inside

Is God After Me?

Is God after you?  Does God pursue you?  Some may say yes and some say no.  To some people God would seem like a distant person-less nothing who stays at a distance and continues to do nothing.  Some might experience a feeling of heartache at the very mention of God because they feel as if they have been rejected already by some distant emotionless parent who never really loved them anyway.  We live life on our own and try not to think much about life- it's purpose or meaning- this might be reasonable from a certain point of view...might as well turn up the music...drown the potential for tears in whatever takes our mind off of things.

Another view might be that God is "out to get me."  Much less than being merely distant and unconcerned God is actually out there punishing us for our attempts at enjoying life.  We see things turn out in ways we don't like...maybe we develop a sickness~ a loved one dies~ we lose our job you name it and suddenly we find ourselves faced with the penultimate question, "why?"  For us it would perhaps seem like God first says, "Don't do anything enjoyable" and then because we enjoyed something God says, "Okay...I warned you...now you'll PAY for your actions!"

The final view of God that I'll mention is perhaps more common among the younger generations...maybe not...at very least this is a very common view that faces most of us at one point or another: "God is irrelevant."  It seems like this view could be a result of a total lack of exposure to spiritual considerations (i.e. our growing trend of secularism which seeks to remove the consideration of God from any and all public forums...school, government, etc)  It also could be largely due to the fact that the so called, "people of God" don't really live out their call in any practical manner.  The people of God could possibly have forgotten that sharing their perspectives with others is an essential aspect to their own service to God...this makes sense in our culture that has been very adept at draining God out of every conversation...it's almost impolite to say words like, "Jesus Christ" unless of course you've just closed your finger in a car-door...it is then commonly accepted.  (Side-note: I also believe the current God-followers have lost their Spiritual vitality largely due to the fact that they have forgotten their own purpose and have taken to spending more time in pursuing what the world has to offer than the abundant life God has already given.)

If any of the above describes you I obviously don't need to tell you that you're not alone.  You know this to be true of yourself and perhaps you don't really care.  You might be resigned to leaving your life pretty much how it is right now.  Sure, you've got your ups and downs like everyone else and to change horses in mid-stream (or change make and model mid-highway) might just feel resigned to your present reality.  In a way this is admirable.  You've chosen to stick it out in spite of it all.  Like captains resigned to "go down with the ship."  If you're still reading this, however, I would suggest that you're not satisfied with the way your life looks now.  You're looking for something.  In spite of all the things I've said here you realize the emptiness of merely pursuing "things and fun."  Maybe you just want some true solitude, "peace and quiet."  Of course I don't know what you want in the short term.  But may I suggest that you might be seeking God and not even know it?  And perhaps you know that you're not even all together sure who God is?  Let me offer a few suggestions that might help you:

1)  Examine your life and ask yourself if you want it to stay how it currently is...meaning...what would you change?  What would you like to keep the same?

2)  Why?  Why do you want to change things?  To simply "be a better person?"  Why would you want to do that?  So people like you more?  So people won't forget you when you die?  If you "wouldn't change a thing" what will you say when things change your life that are completely beyond your control?  (i.e. sickness, loss of loved ones) what then?  Will you maintain your, "wouldn't change a thing" attitude?

3)  If you have not encountered God, do you really even want to?  Would such an encounter mean, perhaps, that a "life like that" would be too unfamiliar, boring, stifled, predictable?

4)  If you have never really pursued God how can you know it's, "not for you?"  We don't like to judge in a negative sense, naturally, but would it not be reasonable to "judge" through experience to a certain degree rather than thinking we know about God from a distance?

God is after you.  God is out to "get you."  But not in any negative way.  I say this because I have experienced the love of God that is greater than any human love.  It doesn't depend on weather or whether or not people like you.  God is pursuing you right now...not as a cosmic-cop to right all your wrongs and turn you into an obedient drone.  God is after you like a long-lost Father or even a long-lost child.  He is meek and humble of heart.  Gentle, forgiving, understanding and very real and has only your good in mind.  Following God isn't easy, I'll give you that.  However it is the only real life-changing decision you can make that will impact your eternity beginning today.  He is waiting in the quiet and He is with you in the crowd.  Look for Him~ He is already looking for you.

Dad Where is the Shampoo?

You Sweet Idolater You

Coffee...ahhh...warm drink...quiet time...my time...the right time....go ahead God...I'm ready...I'll listen for a few minutes now.... 

We are idolaters. Do you believe this? Perhaps yes and perhaps no? We have often heard that we idolize money and for some this may be very true. But even above money (we’re rarely seen sitting in a corner counting gold-coins) we’ve made an idol out of that which we believe money can or will provide for us…security, independence, efficiency, health, power, prestige, acceptance, preferential-treatment, honor, approval and yes, even love. 

There is an interesting saying that I often, these days, associate with Hippies or Flower-Children but it could have simply come out of the self-help section of any bookstore for the past 40 years or so…the notion of, “I’m okay…you’re okay.” The idea that we are to, first and foremost, accept ourselves “as is” and not feel condemned by any external mores or feelings of guilt or shame…throw them off the thinking goes. Worse yet, “You must first learn to love yourself before you can love anyone else.” Do you agree with this statement? Even a little? If so you are an idolater. Welcome to the club.

 Why are these views so problematic? Firstly, any view, if it is truly your view, is not evil intentioned in and of itself. Truly it is more, simply, a reality that is…not in itself sinful per se. We have inherited many of these ideas from well meaning (although often shallow thinking) people of our times. We are a product of our environments (or products of the rejection of our environments) and this is unavoidable to a great extent. We can’t be expected to live outside or beyond our own times anymore than a gold-fish can live beyond it’s tank…it’s water is it’s reality so to speak. Though, be it probable or not, we are called to live well above and beyond our abilities…above and beyond our natural surroundings and this is frankly where things get tricky.

 “Where your treasure is there your heart will also be.” Jesus Christ said this…do you believe it? By “believe it” I mean, do you live by it? Are you concerned about this statement as it applies to your life? What is it that you treasure? If you want God to fill your heart and to dwell in His is it even possible if your heart is absent from Him and even absent from the TRUE YOU? What do I mean? When you call upon the Lord in prayer and ask Him to fill you, guide you, guard you…what is it that you are asking Him to be concerned about…about your desires? What do you desire? What are you worried about? What plagues your thoughts? What inspires you? What motivates you? If what you desire or are concerned with is anything or anyone OTHER THAN our Lord Himself then you can’t honestly expect Him to respond…right?  The real "you" is not what you've made but what our God desires to make of you.  Is this true?  Should God be sought on our own terms?

 The question that necessarily must be asked is, Is the Lord your treasure? If you say, “Yes” then you’ve decided to live a life that looks like your concerned about nothing other than Him and the increase of His Kingdom both in yourself and in everyone else you come in contact with on a daily basis. What would other people say that you treasure? I treasure quiet reflective time and chocolate ice-cream with almonds. If I am interrupted in “my” quiet reflective time by a request to “watch me dad” I can become irritated. If I find out that someone other than me finished off the LAST of the chocolate ice-cream with almonds I will quickly be giving a homiletic-discourse on the importance of throwing off selfishness and the importance of mortification for the Christian soul. And you’re just like me. Sorry.

 So what of it? What am I supposed to do with the fact that I generally do prize other things above God and above my sacrificial love for other people? Let our prayer be this:

 “Lord Jesus have mercy on me, sinner that I surely am. Lead me to die that I might surely live. You have given yourself to me that I might give myself to You. Help me Lord.”

 Will this do the trick? I assure you it won’t…not right away. But it is certainly a first-step in the long pilgrimage back to our intended place as sons and daughters of God.  You know this is where you want to be and if you don't I'm praying for you.  I can't change your mind or heart.  Believe it or not:  We are not meant to be sons and daughters of our age. We are meant to swim against the rising tide of self-centeredness…we are to prize the Eucharist and God’s Holy Church above and beyond our own desires. We are to place others first. We are to be heroes of this age and not victims of this age. The cultural norm, in one statement if I could be the one to define it would be: “I decide...I am mine...I decide my own truth.” No you don't.  We are to say, “Lord I am fully and completely Yours…thank You.” Let your life be a “Thank You” and not, “More, more, more!”

Be real...be authentic...be who you truly are...a son or daughter of God.  Not that false deity you've made yourself out to be.  Live for what matters while you still can.  The first step is the most difficult and that would be to take a few days and consider that which stands as an obstacle between you and God.  Finances?  Hobbies?  Sports?  Television?  Fear?  You name it and ask God to help you.  He will.

I recently read a post on facebook by a close family member that disturbed me greatly. This is not the first time I've been disturbed by a post on facebook (and by "disturbed" I do not mean "offended"...there is a difference and the difference is key) that indicated a very strong, "anti-theist" or "atheist" viewpoint. That being, essentially (not verbatim): "It is ironic that in the same country founded for religious freedom...becomes a nation where the "religious" persecute the freedoms of others." Of course, this could be referring to many things but principally it would appear to be regarding (so called) "Homosexual Marriage" (and I say "so called" because it is NOT marriage and never can be a true Sacramental Marriage)...or it could be referring to abortion...could be "all of the above"...who knows.... At any rate what is clear to me is that this is a prevailing attitude among the self-proclaimed: "I'm spiritual...just not religious" crowd. The serious error in this view that I wish to address (though there are many that should be addressed) is this: the false notion of freedom. Their thinking goes something like this..."It's a free country and everyone here should be able to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't interfere in the lives of others." Or similarly, "Who are YOU to say what I should or should not do with my body?" On the surface these might seem reasonable as they are very broad in their scope and vague. But what lies underneath (and here "lie" is intended) is a false notion that religious people want to subjugate others and simply make others "follow the rules." I would suggest nothing could be further from the truth...here's why... A truly "religious" or truly "Spiritual" person (capital S on Spiritual this time...also intended) is one who desires the "ultimate best" for the sake of others. What does this look like? Essentially, we come (as Jesus Christ) to serve and NOT to be served. We do not want to create some "perfect society" simply where others are prone (by force or coercion) to simply "do what we say!" This is absurd to the truly Spiritual person. What we DO want is for Souls to not be damaged and/or destroyed. Much like the example of the loving Mother who does not want her children to eat mounds of candy because Mothers love their children too much to give them, immediately, whatever they happen to want. Or the loving Father who would weep over the poor choices of a drug-addicted son...it is not so much the "rules" that are our main concern...but the harm that we know is caused by giving in to homosexual temptations...by abortion...by contraception...by euthanasia. I would sum it up in this way: it is true we are "free." Free to love and free to throw ourselves off the cliff. Our freedom to love is compromised to the degree we selfishly choose for sin and to feed our own sinful inclinations...just as our freedom to live is compromised by our desire to pretend we can fly off said cliff. It isn't that we "hate" or want to "persecute" those with opposing views but we have simply tasted eternal life...seen glimmers of the purity and holiness of God...we have experienced divine transformation (to one degree or another) in our hearts. The truly Spiritual (born of the Holy Spirit) do not hate anyone...but surely love...and this love leads us to challenge that which we know will kill...either physically, or much worse yet, spiritually kill. What then is freedom? Freedom is to be fettered to the love of God in Christ Jesus. Limited in denial of sin, yes, but here the entire universe is ours to inherit. So many are throwing their lives away for meaningless "tendencies" and sinful "inclinations." Yet, our Lord has taught us that we are to be called, "Children of the Father." What we gain by sin is death and what we gain by denying our sinful inclinations (for the sake of Our Lord) is eternal life. How is such a "fettering" freedom? Because we are free when we live corresponding most closely to our nature and our divine-purpose. We cheapen these things through lack of Chastity and Purity. License is doing what you want...jumping from the plane without a parachute...you can do this...but this only lasts so long. Whereas eternity in joy is for those who persevere and turn, repent and place themselves in the loving arms of God.

Why People Who Aren't Christian Are (Rightly) Tired of Christians

There are as many reasons as there are people who aren't Christian I'm sure. But I'm going to make some guesses based on my own experiences of myself (Yes I'm intending to communicate my own reality and hope it helps you.) I can't be exhaustive in other words because it would be too exhausting.

It is often said that non-Christians are tired of hypocrisy. I can easily understand this because I'm tired of hypocrisy in all other people beside myself...no, I'm tired of myself too. The problem is that Christians truly aren't supposed to be hypocritical. In reality, non-Christian people have every reason and can legitimately BE hypocritical and it makes sense. The non-Christian people, I believe, know this intuitively and find it abhorrent that someone would claim to be "in Christ" and a "New Creation" but really don't act any differently than anyone else. Where I see this in myself I'm damn tired of it too. The problem is that our lives aren't really changed though we often claim they are. I think what is often meant is that we've decided that we're "betting on Jesus" than giving our lives LIKE Jesus and this is a serious problem which makes Christians seem ridiculous.

Another thing is that many Christians think more like "Precious Moments" greeting cards than they do in any dimension of the Cross...in any form of self-giving and sacrificial love. Overly sentimental views of Christ don't fit the Son of God. Like Jesus Christ as "cuddle bunny" or "best friends forever." Ick. Get rid of this view, please, though it might be nice for you to have "God loves me" napkin rings this will not save anybody from anything.

I should have called this article, "Another Thing" because I have another thing...Telling people about Jesus is good. Right? The problem is the sugar-candy version doesn't meet people where they actually live. People need to know that Jesus Christ is more than a story but that He has actually affected your life and how. Like the old saying goes, "You can't be a Christian without Christ." I agree with this but what does it mean, truly, to you to "have Christ?" Does this mean that now you've decided not to cheat on your taxes? Or speak harshly to a loved one. People want, and should be able to expect, results. Do you live like everyone else or has God actually changed your life because you call on his Spirit to help you? Christians must realize that we are poor...poverty stricken with a true inability to love. I have difficulty loving other people and I often forget to ask for the Lord's help to love others. I forget who God is and who I am...it's easy to do.

All in all the bottom line is our inability to love and how we Christians truly need to call on God to help us...quickly...constantly. If not we're just ridiculous...you know it.

What Were You Thinking?

"Brown Coffee Blues"
(Cue crunchy blues guitar)
I woke up this mornin'
Stumbled out of my bed
Something, something, something
That rhymes with "bed."

I tasted my coffee
Blah blah blah blah
Wanting more coffee
Ya Ya Ya Ya!
(Last line intended to be sung with Swedish accent...Stockholm Blend)


I didn't have enough coffee this morning and therefore my lack of caffeine is even impacting my ability to have the Blues. It would be more true to say I have the "Browns" because coffee is brown (pitch-black in my case.) But, as brown is not symbolically associated in any way with music but more closely with a bad football team from Cleveland...I'll begin here by leaving well enough alone. I digress...whatever that means.

What I actual want to say:

I've come to realize that following the Lord means just that, following Him. It does not mean dressing up our desires in sheep's clothing. I have been able to justify many wrong-headed things in my life on the grounds (not coffee grounds) of the action or intention of following, "God's will." "Justification" is not a spiritual-gift...I believe this is a trap that many Christianesque-minded folks (as well meaning as we might be) when it comes to our pursuit of worldly things, desires and pursuits. Consider the following statements/interior thoughts which are not meant to be absolute statements against what they might represent, but are intended, merely, to allow us to do some self-analysis...

1) "I will do this because, after all, doesn't God want me to be happy?"

My how sly. What is the problem? Personal intention becomes the goal and God becomes a bottled-Genie. Instead of beginning with, "God, I want what you want when you want me to have it." It begins with, "I want it." Of course this is the essential plague of sin on humanity...nobody can escape this entirely. But it should give us pause next time we hear ourselves beginning with our own desires and not beginning with an ear and heart established in God.

2) "God can do anything He wants...so if it happens it must be His will."

This is equally, if not more, spiritually dangerous than #1. This view resigns God as the "paddle" and us as the "ping-pong-ball." This view has at it's very root a mis-belief that God is merely a "force" and not personal. This view of God is more akin to Zeus than to the God of the Old and New Testaments. Surely, God allows certain things and will withhold certain things...God does surely act in time and space and in our lives. However, He is personally concerned, primarily, with the state our souls and is not distant and aloof. It would be more accurate to say, "God loves me and all things that happen, He does allow, but that I might be drawn ever and increasingly closer to Him." Therefore, to keep God at a distance (as in statements #2) is to cheapen our view of God. He is involved, though often silent, but whether in silence or in speaking everything is intended to lead us, shape us and prepare us for heaven.

3) "I want to live a little first...I'll get back to God later."

There is no life apart from God. Every breath we draw is a sign of His love and faithfulness. God does not have a "pause button." Either you are moving toward Him or you are moving away from Him. Either you are currently aiming to give all to Him or you are in disobedience. With God there is no "middle-ground" and there is no "neutral." Jesus Christ said, "He who is not with Me is against Me." God is surely merciful but with limits. A day will come (be it at your own death or when Jesus Christ returns...whichever comes first) that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He IS LORD. If we were to do a poll in hell we would find that the majority of people there were surprised to find their souls in such a place. Some would dare to say that there is no hell. Those who maintain this view are guilty of spiritual-wishful-thinking. God is not your play-thing. As Jesus Christ said,

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Key words: fulfillment, kingdom of God, at hand, repent, believe, gospel. Now is the time. Now or perhaps never.

Finally, back to coffee and the blues. Justification of a coffee-addiction is one thing but justifying a life apart from God is quite another. Why would we do this? Simply because we have not had an encounter with God...or if we have encountered God we have chosen a path that is leading in the opposite direction. Return to Him and know true, abiding joy and peace...the best part of waking up.