One of the best reasons to visit the land of Israel is to see the biblical sites in 3-D. I don't mean donning a pair of plastic glasses to experience theatrical special effects. I'm referring to experiencing not only the length and breadth of the Bible lands, which is helpful in connecting the dots on the maps with the actual distances, but also the third dimension - the height and depth of the terrain. It is truly amazing and often astounding. It changes the Bible from black and white to living color!
Why does it matter? It's important to me for two reasons. First, one of the places I most love to visit is a place called Colorado. And maybe that's because I now live in Iowa. Yes, I do love these cornfields (really, I do!). But these cornfields in Iowa in now way inspire me like the mountains inspire me. Whether I'm looking up at them or enjoying a vista from a peak, there's just something about those mountains that do for you what no other spectacular scenery can do.
Psalm 121 is a favorite: "I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." It's a psalm of ascent, meaning it was meant to be recited while looking up and walking upward. I just returned recently from a four day quick trip to Colorado, and after returning from seeing those mountains every day, I do realize more than ever that I live in a state that is, uh, topographically challenged. A psalm of ascent isn't quite the same in an Iowa cornfield.
Second, the topography of Israel is important because it actually reveals something about Jesus. The man was fit! And I mean really fit! I hadn't seen this in Scripture until I visited the land where he walked. I came away impressed that Jesus was fit in at least three ways.
1. Jesus was physically fit. The land of Israel is topographically rich. As you travel, you are constantly going up and down. Having hiked a bit in both Colorado and Iowa, I can attest that hiking in the mountains is more strenuous than in the flatlands. And Jesus walked a lot and in very hilly terrain. Elevation matters! Just from Nazareth to the neighboring town of Cana, 6 miles away, is a slope of 500 vertical feet. Whether you are going or coming, your legs will feel that one.
The Sea of Galilee is 682 feet below sea level. That doesn't sound like much until you visit the place and descend from the surrounding heights. About halfway down the steep grade, you pass the sign saying you are at sea level. You still have 682 vertical feet to go.
By comparison, the Washington Monument is 555 feet tall. As a junior high student, I climbed every one of the 897 stairs from top to bottom. To this day, I can still remember that my little thighs burned and my legs were trembling from that descent.
From that sea level sign, I realized the vertical drop from there to the Galilee shore was every bit of the Washington Monument ordeal, and then some. Actually it was an additional descent the equivalent of a 12-story building.
Guidebooks in Israel say that to walk the 60 km trail from Nazareth to Capernaum, the fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, takes 3-5 days. One guidebook offered this warning, without a hint of irony: "Wear sturdy hiking boots. Do not attempt this in sandals." It was a laugh-out-loud moment. But it made the point without having to say it: Jesus and his disciples, who walked that grade regularly, in sandals, had to have been physically very fit.
2. Jesus was historically fit. Not only was Jesus physically fit, a visit to Nazareth convinced me that he was also historically fit.
I hadn't realized it until I got there, but Nazareth is a mountain town, on a ridge approximately 1,650 feet above sea level. More significantly, the panorama from the top of the ridge is not only spectacular but historically rich. It's a living history lesson. From there you can see:
Mount Tabor, where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera's Canaanite forces (and later where Jesus' Transfiguration likely took place with Moses and Elijah).
The valley where Gideon and his 300-man force routed the Midianite army.
Mount Gilboa, where Saul and Jonathan were killed by the Philistines.
Mount Carmel, where Elijah defeated 400 prophets of Baal after God miraculously sent fire to consume his sacrifice.
Har Megiddo.The strategic crossroads city where many battles have been fought throughout history and where the climactic battle of Armageddon is foretold to occur.
I wondered if Jesus ever contemplated the historic richness of this place. How could he not? He certainly knew the Hebrew Scriptures. And when you walk up that trail to the Mt. of Precipice overlooking the city of Nazareth (it was a village in Jesus' day) - you are overwhelmed with the closeness of the past, and your part in a much larger story.
Seeing what Jesus could view from the ridge near Nazareth, it became clear in a way I'd never seen before that Jesus was historically fit.
3. Jesus was spiritually fit. Three experiences in particular impressed me with Jesus' spiritual fitness. One was walking the hillsides where Jesus would either stay up all night or get up very early in the morning to pray. Jesus took seriously his time with the Father. If he did, how can I not also spend time in prayer?
A second experience was driving through the wilderness near Jesus' baptismal site, where Scripture says "he was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil" (Luke 4). After 40 days, he was hungry and the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." The wilderness is a barren, intensely rocky environment. When all you can see is stone, and you've had nothing to eat for more than a month, that temptation to turn stones to bread must have been powerful. But Jesus overcame the temptation.
The third experience was following the path Jesus took from the Garden of Gethsemane to Caiaphas's house to the site where Pilate examined and then condemned him, and then along the Via Dolorosa to the place traditionally identified as the site of the crucifixion.
Walking most of that distance, almost four miles, knowing that for much of it, Jesus, having been arrested, was likely roughed up and beaten, makes you appreciate his fitness, strength, and determination. Climbing the stairs, ascending the slopes, making your way through the crowded and narrow streets, seeing the places where it's believed that Jesus fell, only to get up again and continue his journey to the cross—it all deeply impressed me with the spiritual strength that Jesus had. How tempting it must have been to just give up!
The verses from Hebrews kept replaying in my mind: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Heb. 12:2-3).
Yes, during my time in Israel, I was able to "consider him" who endured such things, consider his physical and historical and spiritual fitness. And that consideration continues to nourish me and helps make me more fit so as not to grow weary or lose heart.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Not What I Expected
“This is not what I expected”, the young man said as he grabbed my hand and walked out of our sanctuary recently.
He quickly shared that he had been to other United Methodist Churches before his visit (in other communities) and that it was with reluctance he had even attended here on this particular Sunday morning. What he had not expected, he confessed, was spirited worship, a vibrant congregation and a church that came across as being on a mission. “This church is actually alive”, he continued.
All of which got me to thinking, how in the world would this not be what you would expect from a United Methodist Church? Or from any church, for that matter.
We were founded, after all, as a movement (not a denomination or church!) on fire for Jesus Christ. John Wesley, our founder, could scarcely take time to eat or sleep or do anything else because he was so anxious to share his faith with others.
One scholar, Stephen Tompkins, estimated that during his lifetime Wesley rode 250,000 miles on horseback and preached 40,000 sermons. He led a movement that by his death numbered over 150,000 people organized under 500 preachers. Methodism, at the time of his death, was the fastest growing religious movement in the world, and it was really just getting started in America.
John Wesley expected his preachers to connect the gospel of good news to the daily living of their audience. He was unafraid to address difficult topics (such as slavery and the rights of all people). He loathed dull preaching and proclaimed famously, “I set myself on fire (when I preach) and people come to watch me burn.” Methodist preaching was, and should be, alive and vibrant today.
The Methodist movement focused on caring for the needs of the communities it served. Food pantries and clothing centers, visiting the sick and imprisoned, offerings for the poor, and opportunities for children have always been at the center of our movement.
On the morning this young man visited our church, we were collecting food for our own food bank, advertising for the new clothing center in town, plugging another opportunity for children to learn about Jesus in our VBS daycamp coming up in the city park this summer, and asked people to give money to support our youth who are going on a mission trip this summer to help a community devastated by the ravages of a tornado.
Finally, it has always been our tradition to welcome and care for one another. Methodism has always emphasized care for those both within the Christian community, and those outside of it. We should warmly greet each other, inquire about their welfare, and care especially for the “strangers in our midst”.
These were and always will be the hallmarks of our Methodist heritage. I am glad that this young man found them to be the case at the church I am blessed to pastor. I am glad that neither he, or John Wesley, was disappointed! And I'm hoping that Jesus wasn't disappointed either, because He was there, too!
So, how is it at your church? And you don't have to be Methodist to claim this royal heritage. It works anywhere, anytime. Maybe those were after all the best words I could have heard that day - "This is not what I expected."
He quickly shared that he had been to other United Methodist Churches before his visit (in other communities) and that it was with reluctance he had even attended here on this particular Sunday morning. What he had not expected, he confessed, was spirited worship, a vibrant congregation and a church that came across as being on a mission. “This church is actually alive”, he continued.
All of which got me to thinking, how in the world would this not be what you would expect from a United Methodist Church? Or from any church, for that matter.
We were founded, after all, as a movement (not a denomination or church!) on fire for Jesus Christ. John Wesley, our founder, could scarcely take time to eat or sleep or do anything else because he was so anxious to share his faith with others.
One scholar, Stephen Tompkins, estimated that during his lifetime Wesley rode 250,000 miles on horseback and preached 40,000 sermons. He led a movement that by his death numbered over 150,000 people organized under 500 preachers. Methodism, at the time of his death, was the fastest growing religious movement in the world, and it was really just getting started in America.
John Wesley expected his preachers to connect the gospel of good news to the daily living of their audience. He was unafraid to address difficult topics (such as slavery and the rights of all people). He loathed dull preaching and proclaimed famously, “I set myself on fire (when I preach) and people come to watch me burn.” Methodist preaching was, and should be, alive and vibrant today.
The Methodist movement focused on caring for the needs of the communities it served. Food pantries and clothing centers, visiting the sick and imprisoned, offerings for the poor, and opportunities for children have always been at the center of our movement.
On the morning this young man visited our church, we were collecting food for our own food bank, advertising for the new clothing center in town, plugging another opportunity for children to learn about Jesus in our VBS daycamp coming up in the city park this summer, and asked people to give money to support our youth who are going on a mission trip this summer to help a community devastated by the ravages of a tornado.
Finally, it has always been our tradition to welcome and care for one another. Methodism has always emphasized care for those both within the Christian community, and those outside of it. We should warmly greet each other, inquire about their welfare, and care especially for the “strangers in our midst”.
These were and always will be the hallmarks of our Methodist heritage. I am glad that this young man found them to be the case at the church I am blessed to pastor. I am glad that neither he, or John Wesley, was disappointed! And I'm hoping that Jesus wasn't disappointed either, because He was there, too!
So, how is it at your church? And you don't have to be Methodist to claim this royal heritage. It works anywhere, anytime. Maybe those were after all the best words I could have heard that day - "This is not what I expected."
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Looking for Lessons
I remember very vividly a lesson God taught me.
A large man with a long scruffy beard and a loud, demanding voice came into my church office one day. His hair was uncombed, his shirt smelled of heavy sweat, and his dirty shoes left tracks across my carpet. I was put off by Ron’s arrogant swagger and his order to fix his wife or I’d be sorry. But as we talked, a tear trickled down his cheek when he told me how much he loved his wife and how he was fearful she might leave him. This man who at first appeared hard-hearted was actually quite caring and tender. The longer we talked, the more I liked Ron. But I had to get past my first impression.
After Ron left my office that day, I thought of the story of Samuel looking for a king. God said, “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). That morning God used Ron to teach me to look beyond the surface and not jump to conclusions. I learned that things are not always as they seem. It’s a simple lesson – one I certainly already knew but desperately needed to be reminded of.
Each and every day God teaches me a lesson – frequently many lessons. Some are new and enlightening, and others are reminders of things I had forgotten or had not focused on recently. Some lessons have a heavy impact; others are small and seemingly less significant. Lessons come to us in hundreds of different ways. Yet if we are not keenly attentive, we miss them.
I probably miss too much of what God wants to teach me. If God were to send me a hundred lessons in a day and I were to get just one of them, I would consider myself blessed. Looking for lessons requires intentional determination to get beyond whatever distractions we may face. To find these lessons we must be willing to pay attention, dig deep, and work hard. We don’t appreciate what we have found if it is too easy. As Malcolm Muggeridge wrote: “Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.”
On the surface, each day looks random and confusing, but that is frequently because we do not really look and we do not really think. Thinking means connecting things. It involves looking for meaning and wisdom in all that we encounter.
There is an order in this universe – an order that provides meaning and millions of amazing lessons. All we have to do is reach out and grab them.
The ordinary is only ordinary because we have grown used to it. The common, the simple, and the small often hold powerful lessons. Grace Crowell wrote: “The common tasks are beautiful, if we have eyes to see their shining ministry.” Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie, put it this way: “I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” Yes, it is frequently the things we ignore that can teach us the most. They are the diamonds at our feet.
So, don’t ignore the little things; don’t label anything as insignificant or meaningless. We miss so much of what happens around us. Life’s lessons are infinite. Look for lessons everywhere. You can find them in the most wonderful and surprising places: in a song or a movie, on the bumper of a car, in a dream, in a smile, on an afternoon stroll, or even in a patch of sunlight. And yes, even if a dirty, smelly, arrogant Ron crosses the pathway of your life.
Every person we meet has a story to tell and a lesson to teach. We are surrounded by teachers – wise senior citizens, innocent children, close friends, complete strangers, even enemies and critics. All we have to do is look and listen.
A thousand lessons stand before you in a thousand different forms. Some are obvious, some are not. Open your eyes, your ears, your heart. Let your soul always stand ajar – seeking, waiting, and welcoming the next lesson.
And each evening as you turn out the light and let your head sink into the pillow, review the events of the day. Search for lessons that God has placed along your way – all those messages, both grand and simple, that are easily lost in the rush and clutter but could make your day much more meaningful.
Just like the lesson Ron taught me the day he stopped by my office. I’m glad I didn’t miss it.
A large man with a long scruffy beard and a loud, demanding voice came into my church office one day. His hair was uncombed, his shirt smelled of heavy sweat, and his dirty shoes left tracks across my carpet. I was put off by Ron’s arrogant swagger and his order to fix his wife or I’d be sorry. But as we talked, a tear trickled down his cheek when he told me how much he loved his wife and how he was fearful she might leave him. This man who at first appeared hard-hearted was actually quite caring and tender. The longer we talked, the more I liked Ron. But I had to get past my first impression.
After Ron left my office that day, I thought of the story of Samuel looking for a king. God said, “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). That morning God used Ron to teach me to look beyond the surface and not jump to conclusions. I learned that things are not always as they seem. It’s a simple lesson – one I certainly already knew but desperately needed to be reminded of.
Each and every day God teaches me a lesson – frequently many lessons. Some are new and enlightening, and others are reminders of things I had forgotten or had not focused on recently. Some lessons have a heavy impact; others are small and seemingly less significant. Lessons come to us in hundreds of different ways. Yet if we are not keenly attentive, we miss them.
I probably miss too much of what God wants to teach me. If God were to send me a hundred lessons in a day and I were to get just one of them, I would consider myself blessed. Looking for lessons requires intentional determination to get beyond whatever distractions we may face. To find these lessons we must be willing to pay attention, dig deep, and work hard. We don’t appreciate what we have found if it is too easy. As Malcolm Muggeridge wrote: “Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.”
On the surface, each day looks random and confusing, but that is frequently because we do not really look and we do not really think. Thinking means connecting things. It involves looking for meaning and wisdom in all that we encounter.
There is an order in this universe – an order that provides meaning and millions of amazing lessons. All we have to do is reach out and grab them.
The ordinary is only ordinary because we have grown used to it. The common, the simple, and the small often hold powerful lessons. Grace Crowell wrote: “The common tasks are beautiful, if we have eyes to see their shining ministry.” Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie, put it this way: “I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” Yes, it is frequently the things we ignore that can teach us the most. They are the diamonds at our feet.
So, don’t ignore the little things; don’t label anything as insignificant or meaningless. We miss so much of what happens around us. Life’s lessons are infinite. Look for lessons everywhere. You can find them in the most wonderful and surprising places: in a song or a movie, on the bumper of a car, in a dream, in a smile, on an afternoon stroll, or even in a patch of sunlight. And yes, even if a dirty, smelly, arrogant Ron crosses the pathway of your life.
Every person we meet has a story to tell and a lesson to teach. We are surrounded by teachers – wise senior citizens, innocent children, close friends, complete strangers, even enemies and critics. All we have to do is look and listen.
A thousand lessons stand before you in a thousand different forms. Some are obvious, some are not. Open your eyes, your ears, your heart. Let your soul always stand ajar – seeking, waiting, and welcoming the next lesson.
And each evening as you turn out the light and let your head sink into the pillow, review the events of the day. Search for lessons that God has placed along your way – all those messages, both grand and simple, that are easily lost in the rush and clutter but could make your day much more meaningful.
Just like the lesson Ron taught me the day he stopped by my office. I’m glad I didn’t miss it.
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