Made Whole

Holy. Most people know right away that when you use the word you are going to say something about God; and if not God, then something that has to do with God—the Holy Bible or the Holy Spirit. They have no reservations about singing hymns that proclaim God’s holiness. They will gladly repeat prayers that acknowledge God’s holiness. Some of these same people bristle when you remind them “the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy’”(1 Peter 1:16).

Some of the resistance people have to the call to “be holy” may be attributed to their experiences with people who claimed the concept, but whose actions fell far short of resembling or honoring God. There are few ways they would want someone else to describe them that would rank below “holier than thou.” Besides all that, it seems such an impossible, unreachable, challenging goal. “. . . and doesn’t God love me just the way I am?”

The origin of the word “holy” goes back to the Middle English word “whole.” How would it change your response to the call to be “holy” if you heard it as an invitation to be “whole”?

When something is “whole” it is free of wound or injury—unhurt. It is free of defect or impairment—intact. With so many reminders of your brokenness, you might feel excluded right away; but “whole” also means recovered from a wound or injury—restored.

“Whole” is used to describe someone who is physically sound and healthy—free of disease or deformity; as well as someone who is mentally or emotionally sound. For all those people who feel like something is missing in their lives, “whole” means having all its proper parts or components—complete.

Here’s the good news: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Ephesians 1:4). It is another sign of God’s grace. The One who saved us is working to restore us and make us whole.

Working behind the Scenes

It’s opening night. As you approach the front of the theater you can sense the excitement in the air. Everyone seems to be eager to get in the building and find their seats.

You hand your ticket to the person at the door. You were more than slightly surprised that your friend wanted you to be here tonight. It feels like months since he’s had time for you—almost like he dropped off the face of the earth.

You take back the stub. Someone hands you a program. One of the ushers points you in the right direction. You find your row and then edge your way past the people already in their seats until you find yours.

You flip through the program nervously, looking up every once in a while to see if there is anyone else there who you know. They are mostly strangers. It really is a quite diverse group.

The program has a message from the director. You try to read it, but you are too distracted by everything else going on to really understand what you are reading. A few pages over you find a picture of your friend and a little bit of information about him that you find much easier to comprehend.

Before you can read much more, the lights begin to dim, the curtain rises, and the show has begun. The action captures your attention from the beginning. People moving back and forth, on and off the stage, with such purpose and action. It seems so natural and, at the same time, so carefully choreographed.

Your friend comes on stage. You recognize him immediately; but as the character he portrays moves about the stage and interacts with the other actors, you begin to wonder if it is really him. Indeed, you realize that the drama unfolding onstage has become its own reality. You have been transported to a different time and place—all without leaving seat L-31.

Suddenly a question springs to mind: How much time and effort went into making this evening possible? Weeks, months, years? So many elements brought together to make this possible—a show that will only be performed a few nights.

That leads to an even deeper question: What about my life? Who is working behind the scenes to make my life what it is—preventing me from tragedy and preparing me for blessing?

In that moment you realize it is impossible to step outside God’s gracious reach. Indeed, God is always actively engaged in leading you, blessing you, loving you, flooding your life with his grace.

Learning along the Way

When he was 10, Jimi Ray's dad brought home two things that would change his life: a very cheap acoustic guitar and a recording of John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.” He would listen to that record and play his guitar until he eventually realized he could sing. He started playing and singing in public, but mostly at church.

In 1987, fresh out of college, Jimi decided to make his love of music his profession and livelihood. Along with a friend he formed an acoustic-rock band that would later be named Age of Faith. They spent many nights in church basements playing for small youth groups.

That was where I met Jimi—in a church fellowship hall when he was playing for our youth group. The band had just signed with the Benson Music Group. Jimi told me about the conversation he had with the Benson executive who had signed them. The question that had sealed the deal was, “How many times have you performed in public?” When Jimi answered, “Well, last year we did over 100 concerts,” the executive could hardly keep from falling over himself.

Most of the bands who sent this executive demo tapes had never performed in front of a live audience. They might sound great in the garage, but the big question was always how they would handle themselves when something went wrong during an actual performance. Guitar strings break. Microphones, speakers, and amplifiers fail. Sometimes you just don’t feel like singing. Would they have the ability make sure “the show goes on?” This executive knew that if Jimi and his friend had done over 100 concerts—and had dozens more already scheduled—they had the experience they needed to succeed.

Through the next 13 years AOF would go through several member changes, but would remain constant as a touring, recording and working band. The band recorded 5 nationally released projects garnering positive revues from critics. They shared the stage with some of the biggest names at the time in Christian music, like Geoff Moore, Newsboys, DC Talk, and Third Day. AOF played nearly 150 concerts a year, in nearly all 50 states and parts of Canada until the band parted ways in late 2000.

That’s when his life derailed dramatically. He has written about his struggles over the next six years in a book due to be released early next year. “There were many days when I wondered if God had turned his back, when in reality I was the one turning. God was there all the time. The amazing love, mercy, and redemption shown to me was unbelievable. I pray others who now walk in the shoes I walked in will realize the same thing.”

What you learn along the way can make all the difference in whether you succeed or fail. May you learn those things that bring life. 

The Standard Text

Since the first edition came off of Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press nearly seven billion Bibles have been printed. “The Bible is the best-selling book of the year, every year,” according to The New Yorker Magazine with estimated annual sales of around 25 million copies.

According to Guinness the whole Bible had been translated into 349 languages; 2123 languages have at least one book of the Bible in that language, which means that at least some of the Bible is available in the languages spoken by over 90 percent of the human family.

If you travel in the United States, you are likely to find a copy of the Bible in your hotel room—placed there by Gideons International; but, as their name suggests, they are working around the world. Since 1908 “Gideons have placed or distributed more than 1.7 billion complete Bibles and New Testaments in more than 190 countries around the world . . . so far.”

Not so long ago it was common to find a copy of the family Bible on the coffee table in the living room of many homes. While it may not be displayed as prominently these days, there are not many homes in the U.S. that don’t have at least one copy—even if it’s just one of those they took from the hotel on their last vacation.

Many people carry a copy of the Bible with them every day. Others make sure they have their copy with them when they head to church on Sunday. If they happen to forget their personal copy, they can usually find a stack of Bibles somewhere in their classroom and nearly always count on finding one next to the hymnal in the pew racks.

With all these copies of the Bible available, you might be surprised to learn that more than 60 percent of Americans can't name either half of the Ten Commandments or the four Gospels of the New Testament. When the Barna Group conducted a survey to explore biblical literacy a few years ago, they found “none of the four generations were particularly likely to say they aspired to read the Bible more as a means of improving their spiritual lives.”

John Wesley would be very sad to learn this. He proclaimed the centrality of scripture for doctrine and for holy living. It was the basic authority for the Christian life. Where its truths are clear there was no alternative but obedience if one desired to be a faithful Christian. The way to learn its truths is to read it—not just own it.

Always On

The day we moved into the Garden City parsonage, the lights were out. The power company had been given instructions to come and read the meter, but not to disconnect the service. Apparently, the standard procedure is to disconnect service when a technician is sent out to read the meter; so either he didn't read the work order carefully or whoever was responsible for writing it up left out that vital part of the instructions.

While we were waiting for power to be restored, we heard that it was not that uncommon to experience an interruption in service from time to time in our neighborhood. Some of the outages came during storms, but then others just seemed to happen for no apparent reason. I am happy to say that we haven’t experienced that many interruptions in service in the past year or two, although they did seem to come pretty regularly the first few months we were here.

There are parts of the world where most people rarely have dependable electrical service. They know that most evenings will be spent in the dark. Our visit to Kenya while Kathy was serving there with the Peace Corps made us more aware of that reality. Some evenings the power would stay on all night; and then other evenings we would try to make sure all our preparations for the next day were completed before the sun went down, because we didn't want to have to sort through our luggage with a flashlight in our mouth. There are parts of Honduras, Mexico and Belize where I have also found this intermittent service to be the rule rather than the exception.

Jesus promised his followers that he would not leave them alone. He would send a Comforter. The Holy Spirit would remind them of the things Jesus had taught them; but this same Holy Spirit would do much more than that. The Holy Spirit would give them the power to do great things—even greater things than Jesus had done. Furthermore, Jesus promised that this power would be available to them always. On day of Pentecost—the birthday of the Church--this promise was fulfilled. 

The church doesn't need to wait for the power to come on to start doing the work that God is calling it to do. Jesus has promised and God has sent the Holy Spirit to provide all the power the community of faith needs to accomplish great things—and great things are happening through Christ’s church. Would you join me in praying that more believers would claim the power and quit acting like the lights have been switched off? Then the church would truly be the blessing God has called us to be. 

Living in Unity

From the beginning, the television series, Lost, confronted its viewers with steady stream of questions: What caused Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 to crash? Where is this mysterious tropical island on which they find themselves? Who are these people?

One of the central characters was Dr. Jack Shephard. As the only physician to survive the crash, he quickly becomes a leader of the group as he is called upon to treat the injuries of his fellow castaways and direct their continuing care. Like the others, he initially believes someone will come to rescue them in a few days.  

As the days pass and the supplies from the plane begin to run out, tensions among the survivors begin to flare up. Hesitantly, Jack steps forward to challenge the group to ask themselves a few key questions:

It’s been six days. We’re all still waiting—waiting for someone to come; but what if they don’t? We have to stop waiting. We need to start figuring things out.

A woman died this morning just going for a swim and he tried to save her and now you’re about to crucify him.

We can’t do this. ‘Every man for himself’ is not going to work. It’s time to start organizing. We need to figure out how we’re going to survive here….

Last week most of us were strangers, but we’re all here now and God knows how long we’re gonna be here; but if we can’t live together, we’re gonna die alone.

“Live together or die alone” becomes a recurring theme for the rest of the six seasons. In one situation after another, cooperation leads to better relationships and improved living conditions; competition produces calamitous results.

When you read the New Testament you discover every one of the leaders of the early church—Peter, James, John and Paul—warned the members of the faith community about the dangers of pursuing their own selfish motives. They lived in a dangerous environment and they needed to care for one another, serve one another, encourage one another, love one another. Paul counsels the Romans, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (12:18).

Jesus prays that the community of the faithful may not only live in peace, but also discover the power of authentic unity: “I pray that they will all be one” (John 17:21). That is the power that will convince the world of the love of God and lead them to believe in the one who can give them life.

May the world see that power demonstrated in the community of believers.

No Fear

It is a scary world.

IED’s in Afghanistan.

Chemical weapons in Syria.

The growing threat of nuclear attack from North Korea.

And the violence is not just “over there.” Disturbed people with access to assault weapons make the places we go every day the scene of death and carnage. Radicals with an agenda mail letters laced with poison to elected leaders. People desperate for money—to support their addiction or pay their rent or buy the latest pair of Nikes—rob and steal from those who seem vulnerable. Someone you live with gets mean when they have had too much to drink.

Even if you are tucked safely into your home in a gated community with all the doors locked and the alarm system armed; you may find yourself lying awake on your pillow-top mattress worried about your balance at the brokerage. Will the Euro-zone collapse? How long can our country sustain its pattern of deficit spending? Are we headed for another “Great Depression?” Can I count on my job being there tomorrow? Next week? Next year?

What are you afraid of?

Loud noises? Dark rooms? Big dogs?

Roaches? Spiders? Snakes?

Running off the side of the road? Running out of time to complete an assignment? Running out of ketchup?

It is a scary world! Especially if you believe you have to face all the threats (perceived or ignored, imagined or real) on your own. There is no way anyone can protect themselves from every danger that puts them at risk. And a new menace seems to arise just when you think you have them all managed.

Here’s the good news: Jesus promises peace to those who love him and live their lives according to his plan. “And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).

Remember that the next time some strange noise wakes you up in the middle of the night.