May 31 - Upon Seeing Jesus

Note to Self: In trying to imagine seeing Jesus for the first time, best not to imagine a man resembling Michael Bolton in a long, flowing robe. Chapter 1 of Revelations is a good reminder that it could be a little heavier than that. This is John recounting his vision of Christ:

Rev 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

My study notes say: This revelation of Jesus Christ in His unveiled glory took all the strength out of John. He could not stand in the presence of such a One.

There will come a time when we'll realize how silly we've been to live as though he's marginally worth living for.

May 27 - Fatherlessness

Day 147 of my bible reading plan. It's been an interesting journey to this point. I have a greater awareness of God's control; His power; His jealousy for His people; His justice; and His mercy.

What I've found is through my reading and contemplation on His words, God is actually moving and working. Not just then, but now, in 2010, in and around me. My faith that God is alive and working in our lives has always sort of been theoretical, but through my faithfulness in reading his word this year, God has grown my confidence and conviction that He actually listens to and answers prayer. I've also noticed that my prayers have changed - they are probably more in line with what He wants me to be praying about.

On April 27th, I journaled/blogged about orphan care and fatherlessness. Reading the bible reveals God's heart for orphans and fatherless. So does seeing other godly men around me that are passionate about them. So I prayed that God would provide some clarity on how we should respond and care for orphans and the fatherless.

Two weeks before, in mid April, I was introduced (via a friend I met in NYC who's now living in Thailand) to a young man in Dallas that I now consider a good friend. He works for a fund raising agency that helps Not for Profit organizations raise money. I was sharing with him how I've been feeling compelled to engage and help the fatherless. He told me I have to meet the the Executive Director of the Cornerstone Crossroads Academy. She attends Watermark and serves as the ED, principal and one of the 3 teachers in this small school. It's a private Christian high school for at-risk kids in South Dallas. This is a last resort for most of the students. They've either been kicked out of their high school or have quit for whatever reason. They started the year with 12 students; they're down to 8 now; all 8 are graduating this weekend. All 8 were raised without fathers in their life. They have no idea what a man is supposed to do or how he is supposed to act. They've never had mentors that modeled manhood for them.

That's where my opportunity exists. I've been asked to develop a mentoring program for their school (and to be a mentor). The director tells me they can't have another year of school without a mentoring program. These kids despartely need more than just school. With all 8 students graduating this weekend, we have the summer to identify a new crop of students - likely a class of 12-15 Junior-class students, and odds are pretty good, unfortunately, that most if not all of them will be fatherless.

Their world is a different one than mine. I'm spending the summer educating myself on what it means to be a mentor to these students. I have some training from having my own children, but this is more complicated. I'm reading Tony Dungy's (head coach of the Colts) book called Uncommon, a book about becoming a man of character and integrity, and talks about how to treat women and how to be a father. Not only will it be a good resource for helping them, but I'm sure it'll help me as well.

I have no idea what I'm getting myself into here. I do expect that as I start mentoring these young men, I'll find myself in ugly and frustrating situations. I'm wise enough to know that I can't expect sudden success and turnaround from these men after 15 years of fatherlessness, poverty, and who knows what else.

Ultimately, I want these men to learn what it means to be a disciple. I want to be clear with them that I'm a man of faith and being a man of faith has nothing to do with which part of town you're from. I want them to be the men God wants them to be. I want to help them get there. My family will be giving financially to the school, since funds are desparately needed just to keep the small school going. And I'll be giving of my time, obviously.

All this is answered prayer. God revealed his heart for the fatherless. I asked for clarity in how to get involved. I was willing to be used. Doors everywhere started opening. I'm excited to be a part of this.

To the countless (estimating somewhere between 1 and 4) readers of this blog, if you'd like to learn more about Cornerstone, click here.

If you'd like to talk to me about being a mentor to one of these kids (male mentoring a male or female mentoring a female), please reach out and let me know.

If you'd like to contribute financially, that would be awesome too.

May 25 - When Love Came To Town

One of my favorite songs of all time is When Love Comes To Town by U2 and BB King. The sound is powerful, especially cranked up all the way, and the lyrics are even more powerful.My favorite verse goes:

I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced his side
But I've seen love conquer the great divide

I think the song is about repentance and grace - he realizes how stupid he's been, feels horrible about it, but rests in grace, knowing he did what he did before love came to town.

I was a sailor, I was lost at sea
I was under the waves
Before love rescued me
I was a fighter, I could turn on a thread
Now I stand accused of the things I've said

Love comes to town I'm gonna jump that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town

I used to make love under a red sunset
I was making promises I would soon forget
She was pale as the lace of her wedding gown
But I left her standing before love came to town

I ran into a juke joint when I heard a guitar scream
The notes were turning blue, I was dazing in a dream
As the music played I saw my life turn around
That was the day before love came to town

When love comes to town I'm gonna jump that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town

When love comes to town I'm gonna jump that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town

I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced his side
But I've seen love conquer the great divide

When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that train
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town

Today's reading from 1 John:

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

May 19 - Qualities Lacking in the Blind

In this mornings reading, Peter reminds me of the qualities added to faith that make a christian fruitful and effective, or said negatively, prevent me from falling away. It's a good idea to remind myself of these qualities and ask whether they are increasing in myself. Notice how they go from inward qualities, starting with faith, to outward qualities, ending in love.

My study notes say: Love is the crowning virtue to which all the others must contribute. It is not just the most important virtue, but it's the overriding ethical principle from which the other virtues gain their meaning and validity.

II Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

May 11 - Amazing Grace

I'm in the middle of Numbers. God has rescued his people from Egypt. He has them traveling through the wilderness for 40 years - headed to the promised land. In Numbers 16 and again today in Numbers 20, I see the power and jealousy (demanding loyal devotion of his people) of God.

In Numbers 16, 14,700 people of Israel grumbled;so God killed them. Seems harsh on the surface; that it seems harsh to me only means I don't understand God well enough. It occurs to me, in a sobering kind of way, that this God hasn't changed. He's still a powerful, jealous God, expecting, make that demanding, loyal devotion. That he allows me even a single breath is a testimony to his patience, and makes his grace taste that much sweeter.

May 10 - Rich in Faith

Needing more of the 'rich in faith' type in my circle, James' advice would be to look among the poor (with their shabby clothes). James 2

2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good [17] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.