Fasting

I confess up front that I am not a theologian.  I have been around the block a time or two before but I learn best by watching and I've been blessed to hang out with some folks who have lived their faith and prayers in real and specific ways.  For the last several months, God has been laying some things on my heart; one of them is going back to the basics of the faith.

With the approach of the holy season of Lent coming up in just a few days, fasting is a basic Christian belief that is rarely spoken of.  Lent is one of the seasons of the church year, celebrated for centuries.  Lent is the period of time prior to Easter when Christians traditionally remember the sacrifices that Christ made as a human on earth and specifically when he spent 40 days in the wilderness alone prior to His earthly ministry.  Although He was tempted, Jesus victoriously answered Satan each time through use of scripture and prayer.  Following the three temptations in the wilderness, Satan is not recorded again addressing Jesus directly in the Bible. Multiple times indirectly, like a bully who "snipes" at a would-be victim just to aggravate them.

Fasting is almost never addressed without prayer, yet nearly everyone will mention prayer: "I'll pray for you!" you may wave as you walk away from your friend who is facing surgery;  To the co-worker  in chemo you might say, "You are on our prayer list at church".  And as we pray, nearly everyone I know falls into the just-short-of-mindless supplications of "God, please bless ______ " which might be anything from spaghetti to snowy-headed Sister Susie at church with bad breath.  "Lord, please help me with ___" could be completed with anything and everything from a chemistry test to chronic fatigue to landing a new job.  I think you see my point: prayers that cover the bases but accomplish little else ..... and have no real expectation whatsoever of God actually answering.  Ouch.  Yes, I'm admitting that I'm often in the same boat.  While I'm loading up on ammuntition, let me fire one more round in this game of spiritual russian roulette: we all pray for God to bless America and fret that our country is going to hell in a handbasket.  Christians are told to "get out and vote" but how many do the preparation we SHOULD do prior to an election?  I'm talking about prayer, repentance and fasting.  I'm not talking about posting some sweet Christian meme to your social media.

The traditional view of fasting is giving up food and utilizing the time we would have spent eating instead on praying: essentially it boils down to feeding the spirit instead of the body. Rather than focusing on where to eat your next meal, you choose to focus on Jesus, the Bread of Life.  Who says everything always has to be the same?  God created millions of us, all with different fingerprints, DNA and personalities....so why do we have to fast identically?  The textbook definition for fasting would be giving up of food and/or drink to show particular devotion to God.  The Old Testament shows several examples whether it is Jehoshophat's call for the citizens of Judah in Chronicles or the citizen of Nineveh with weeping and repentance after old Jonah finally showed up to begrudgingly inform them of their sins.

To me, what fasting says about/from us to the Lord is pretty straight forward and simple: "God, I'm ready to get down to business.  I'm messed up. I need to do the little I can make things right.  To show you that I how serious I am about changing, I plan to do without ______ to remind me that I am nothing without You." It could be food.  You could also fill it in with anything from chocolate to bread or soft drinks (hmmmmm, there is a distinct food/beverage theme here) to more recently I gave up Facebook for several days---I don't think you'll find that form of a fast in either the Old or New Testament.  But everytime I thought about checking facebook on my smart phone or computer, I caught myself, stopped and refocused on God.  It made me realize that I spend entirely too much time on social media, for sure!

If you want to take the time to study fasting on your own and the record of it in the Bible, I think you'll be struck by one more hallmark that most Christians fail to consider: it is most often done in coordination with other people.  Recently I had a big situation happen that I had made an extraordinarily large mess out of.  For a length of time I poured out to God by myself with great passion and even more groveling, asking for Him to change me and show me how to make things right if possible.  But I really struggled over whether to ask two or three friends to join me in prayer. Part of  this struggle was admitting that I was human -- and to blame for at least part for the mess;  the other was simply the deception of the evil one whispering in my ear, "you should be able to handle this all by yourself!".

The Lord and I haven't decided what I should give up this year for Lent--- the annual fast that many Christians choose to participate in together.  Some give up things like I've already mentioned.  Others might add an activity as a form of discipline and desire to become more like Christ.  The main goal of fasting is pretty simple: ask God to take an ordinary person like you or me and help us focus on the Creator of the entire universe.....who created us and loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Friends, there are a plethora of alarms all around us, waking us, begging us to pray.  While there is nothing noteworthy about any single person amongst us, there is definitely potential. Remember a rag-tag group of people who went into hiding to devote themselves to continuous prayer in an upper room  (Acts 1).  What happened as a result of their getting serious with God?

It literally changed. the. world.

My Sopa de Pollo

My daughter, for several years, has talked with great love and passion about Sopa de pollo she has eaten several different places.  Our family loves Mexican food.  This is an easy recipe to use on a cold, wintry night.  Thanks, Ginny, for inspiring tu Mama to try new things!

Super Easy 

Sopa De Pollo

(Mexican Chicken Soup)

3 Chicken breasts, whole

Celery and Carrots: 1 Cup each, Chopped

2 Large Onions, chopped

Cover above ingredients in a large dutch oven with enough water to cover ingredients and cook until chicken is tender.  Remove chicken, shred and return to pot.  Add the following ingredients:

1 box (or 3 cans) Chicken Broth or Stock

2-3 teaspoons dried ground cumin

2-3 teaspoons dried oregano

1 15oz. can diced tomatoes

1 bag frozen corn (I prefer white shoepeg)

½ Cup chopped fresh cilantro

Salt/pepper to taste

Simmer 20-30 minutes before serving.  Serve over Mexican or Steamed White Rice and garnish with fresh onion, avocado, chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice and/or hot sauce.  Maybe even serve with fresh fruit salad, jalapeno corn bread or corn chips!

Like most soups, this is much better reheated.  Make a day or two ahead of time if possible!  

The Secret to JOY and CONTENTMENT

If, like me, you have struggled, searched and yearned to consistently possess joy and contentment, I believe that there is a secret to  finding these two elusive yet profoundly necessary elements that millions spend their lives in pursuit of but always find them just beyond their grasp.  It would be easy to say, “Send me $99.95 and I’ll send you my latest book that will unlock the secrets to JOY AND CONTENTMENT.  Call within the next 10 minutes and I’ll double your offer to share with a friend and throw in my magic chopper that slices, dices and makes julienne fries!” 

Would you believe it’s easier than that to access ….and that there is no money necessary?

Over the last 5 decades I’ve heard more than my fair share of sermons, after dinner speakers and even quacks peddling the latest and greatest items, making unbelievable and unattainable promises.  Some say, “God wants you rich and prosperous! Give a gift of (fill in the blank) today to…..” and while parts of that are true, mainly I hear a well-meaning person soliciting funds for their own pleasure and financial gain.  Don’t get me wrong: God will bless you when you give but it’s not necessarily monetary prosperity that you will know.

At a gas station once, we witnessed a father at the counter with a small child who was buying lottery tickets (which in pursuit of joy and contentment, you’d be better off to set your money on fire and douse it with gasoline, but….).  When the child asked for a piece of candy, the father said, “NO! You don’t need it.  And we’re not going to tell your Mom that WE bought these lottery tickets! It’s our little secret!” When someone tells you that you must keep a secret to yourself about anything, it’s rarely a good thing.  Nothing will be kept secret long-term:  “After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone. God will certainly judge everything that is done. This includes every secret thing, whether it is good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

When I read this morning from Philippians 4, I was reminded once again of what God continues to bring to my attention---and I am a such a very, very, very slow learner! The scripture is included at the bottom but I find lists easier to understand:

• 1.      Rejoice in the Lord!
• 2.     REJOICE! (see #1)
• 3.     Be considerate.
• 4.     God is near.
• 5.     Never worry: Pray and
• 6.      give thanks instead (refer to #1)
• 7.    If, by God’s help, you can do #1-6, His PEACE and CONTENTMENT will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

Here is where I differ from some: by God’s grace, I WILL CHOOSE to find something to be thankful for in any situation. While God does not send temptations or bad things to us, we can learn from what the evil one (I will not capitalize the name of the enemy!) uses to distract, detract, destroy or stupify God’s children!

Stop for just a minute and re-read #7.  Read it slowly. 

I’ll wait.

Did you notice that if we choose to give thanks and rejoice what will happen?  I don’t know about you but my thoughts and emotions are generally what gets me in trouble.  If I allow my thoughts and emotions an inch, they will jump on me and deflate my day quicker than a sharp pin on a big, fat balloon.  Yep.  BOOOOOMMMMMM!

Allow me to put it like this: my wonderful, loving and faithful husband is handicapped from birth.  Each year his mobility decreases a little bit more.  Tell me: how or why is that something to rejoice about?  I’ll tell you the truth: in the eyes of the world, it is grounds for anger, resentment, frustration and desertion.  I have struggled with those emotions, believe me. Boom! Burst the balloon and then POW, slap to the face.

BUT..... I am a child of the LIVING GOD. I have a choice to make! Because of this, I choose to rejoice that I have a husband who loves me just as I am.  I choose to rejoice that he is God’s child and that he is God’s gift to me!  When he needs help because of physical limitations, once again I have a choice to make: be considerate and loving or be angry and resentful of how it infringes on “my time”.  I could worry about what tomorrow or next year or the next 10 years holds and how on earth will I ever be able to care for him as we age together? No. I will not go there.  I chose to focus on today.  God is near; while I cannot see or know the future, I know who holds both the future ….and who holds me… in the palm of His hand.  Knowing this, I choose to give thanks. I choose to pray.  I choose to pour out my heart to God and trust the future---whatever may happen---into His loving care.  Let’s face it: there is very little we can do to control the future.  What I can control (by the grace of God) are my actions and reactions as the future unfolds!

Paul states in Philippians 4 how you can insure God’s peace.  Did you know that peace is a choice?  It’s not something God gives only to His favorites; it’s available to ALL of His children!  It’s as simple as focusing on what is right and deserves our praise.  The short list includes whatever is:

    true

+ honorable

+ fair

+ acceptable

+ commendable      

= God’s peace

It costs nothing in the finances of the world but it may change some of your relationships when you choose not to gossip around the coffee pot or the water cooler.  Or when you have a choice of cutting corners to finish sooner vs. doing the job correctly, even though it may cost extra time and/or money.  What about the tv shows you watch or the books you read: is it something you could enjoy with your pastor or a child at your side? When you think no one’s looking, do you still choose to do the right thing?  Do you always give your best? Do you admit it when you make a mistake and then correct it? Do you take time to read God’s Word and talk to Him each day?

These are questions I ask myself over and over.  They are not meant to condemn you but to keep me honest.  When I go to bed at night, I want to know that I have endeavored to be and do the very best that I could because that’s what God did for me. When He created this beautiful world …and when He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die not for his own sin of his own but for my poor, dumb, sorry, rotten, wretched self.  With that in mind, how on earth could I do anything but rejoice?

 “Always rejoice  in the Lord! I'll say it again: Rejoice! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus….keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable. Practice what you've learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:4-8

On the Front Porch of Grace

Have you ever pondered something for months only to come the realization that this is something I will think about the rest of my life and still never wholly understand? I’ve been “chewing” on the concept of holiness for over a year now and believe that holiness has much more to do with God’s grace than any of my feeble accomplishments.

As I’ve struggled with this, my thinking keeps coming back to this: if I were to compare the life of holiness to a house, I would pick something like this home.  From a distance it looks inviting and well cared for; in fact, I might even wander a little closer to get a better look. 

As I draw nearer, I want to kick myself.  I’ve been intrigued with the back porch, and now realize there is something much better and bigger on the other side!  What a great place to hang out and relax.   It looks so comfortable—the kind of place I dream of spending the afternoon or even vacation here? I can easily envision taking a nap, a gentle breeze, laughing with friends and family.  If I could have a porch like this, I know that I’d be very content.  I would be comfortable.

In fact, many of us would be satisfied to stay right there on that great porch.  What’s not to like?  Relaxing, comfortable, and room to stretch out. Lazy like a Sunday afternoon.  Ahhhhhh, I feel that nap coming on!  But, you say, “It’s not our house! We haven’t met the owner, so how could we lay claim to their perfect porch?” Surely they wouldn’t mind if I stayed  just a moment or two!  It doesn’t appear that anyone is at home.  A gifted person who has created something this fabulous would surely want me to enjoy it. Right?

This is how I came into the life of grace.  I watched countless people come and go from “a house” that I had admired all my life.  Yet the vast majority were quite satisfied to live on the front porch. As part of my position, I have made more home visits than I can count to persons in our church family. Most every time I have been invited inside to visit or even sit down and make myself at home---even if I drop by unnounced.  The exceptions that I could count on one hand either met me at the door or in the driveway.  One dear woman, who did not have the gift of housekeeping walked me immediately back to my car after her kind husband invited me inside to visit!

Maybe you have figured out by now that I’m attempting to compare the unspeakable, infinite grace of God to a house; not just any house but a huge, welcoming home where -- if we will but enter -- the family inside will welcome us as if they have waited years for our arrival.  This is a home you’ve
driven by more than once and are caught off-guard each time you pass by something that inexplicably draws you.  Maybe you’ve had friends or family enter that house and follow them; or never before have you have seen or heard anything about the house or the occupants but you just have to know why people want to go there. 

The approach to the house is prevenient grace, a term John Wesley would have applied to the drawing of the Holy Spirit before you were ready to accept God’s love.  This is the grace that seeks, woos, chases, pursues you, even knitting you together in your Mother’s womb as Psalm 139 says.  I believe that you can even step on the porch and spend days or even years there without making a move for the door.

Some folks may debate “I found God….” to which I would cry long and loud “BULL!!!!” God never was, is or will be lost, friend.  See Romans 3:10-11; We were the ones who were lost. We couldn’t

find the nose on our face if it weren’t for the grace of God that has pursued us all these years! But God does wait, He watches and pleads for you put your hand up to knock on grace’s door, your fingers don’t even have a chance to recoil before God has flung the door open wide as it will go to receive you.  Yes, unbeknownst to you, He really has been waiting and watching until the very moment that you were ready to ask. When we call out to him, we find that He was indeed there all the time.

Next post, we’ll walk through the door because you are invited inside!

Just Perfect

John Wesley is best known for his tireless work in founding small groups within the Church of England that were called METHODIST sarcastically because of Wesley's insistance on being methodical in the Christian life: Bible reading, fasting, early to bed and to rise, journaling, etc.  Although it was a term of derision from mockers, it stuck, much like a kid's nickname that makes fun of some quirk.  While Methodism spread like wildfire for more than 200 years, there was one huge thorn on the rose of Methodism that became a real sticking point.

As a scholar, priest and a seeker, he took seriously all the words of scripture for an ordered, disciplined life.  Among those Biblical commands that John Wesley preached and proposed was what he called "perfection".  As used by Wesley, teleioi or τέλειοι, comes solely from the New Testament (Matthew 5:48, 1 Corinithians 14:20, Phillipians 3:15, Colossians 4:12, James 1:4) The Greek origin,  télos,   means traveling toward a destination or a consumation; it is closure or arrival at a goal.  Consider the old barbarian pirates with their eyeglass extending toward their destination--- the telescope.  Before leaving the Greek, I think it's interesting to see it as something that unfolds, stage by stage, a maturation, which is how I see perfection.  But why is perfection important and how does it apply to you and me?


John Wesley took a lot of ridicule because he broke out of the typical mold.   I think 99.9% his problem with the doctrine of perfection is what he chose to call it.  Systematic Theologian: yes. Organizer? Oh yeah! Marketing....not so much.   But when you call it holiness instead of perfection, it's it's easier to swallow, right? An even more palatable way to break it down is to call it growing in the faith.  It should describe all Christians who take the time and energy to read their Bible; who pray and seek to love God more in their heart and through their actions---not just on Sunday---but every day. Tell us we're supposed to be perfect and my eyes glaze over. I give up.  Can I, through Christ who gives me strength, love God and people? I will do my darned best!

Wesley believed that this was worked out in small accountability groups, where those on the same journey could ask hard but honest questions.  How, though, could they measure any progress on the road to perfection errrrr, holiness, I mean? It was pretty simple, actually.  The criteria Jesus would have used would be the greatest commandments (Matthew 22):

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

John Wesley called it perfection.  Yet others have called it holiness. The key word is actually love.  Love God. Love others. As you grow toward God, you become more like Him, which is LOVE.  Just like in the triangle above, as you grow, the distance between yourself and God or yourself and others diminishes. Grow in love!

Pitching my Tent

If you're like me, there are one or two long distance friends that you still---even decades later---still connect with but rarely are able to see face to face.  Although we don't talk on a daily basis, we can pick up the conversation like it was moments instead of months or even years later.  How I hope and pray you have at least one of those friends.  This, and subsequent posts, are spurred by a couple of these recent conversations.

One thing I've noticed as I've grown up and grown older, I fought with my parents and worked hard not to be like them as a teenager and young adult.  As a new mother who had birthed an unbelievably strong willed child and left the hospital with no instruction book, my parents suddenly transformed into a combination of rock-star and brain surgeon wrapped into one. More than 20 years later, now that my Mom has passed and Dad nears 90, I realize how I wasted decades trying to avoid being around them and even trying not to be like them.  As their child, I am not only like my parents ..... I am my parents.  I love chocolate and desserts, seeing where history was made and meeting new people who expand my horizons.  A library is an attractive place where you can see pretty much the world from your own corner without spending a nickle.  I love to laugh and to share that laughter with those I love  as

well as complete strangers.  Some of this I learned; most of it came from simply being their child and being immersed in their particular school of persuasion.  

A large course of study in that persuasive school was church.  We attended Sunday morning for Sunday School and worship.  Vacation Bible School.  Youth Group. If the doors of the church were open, generally, we were there whether we wanted to be or not.  Call me odd, but I liked it.  I still like it.  One of the things I picked up along the way was the idea of growing in grace.  I don't recall that it was particularly taught but something I observed.  People are drawn to Christ and some even pinpoint that along the way there was a redemption moment (some might say a process, because they know they gave their life to Christ but cannot give you a specific date in time).  This redemption includes confessing that I am a sinner and that I need the forgiveness of Jesus to raise me out of and cleanse me from the things I've done wrong.  

For some people that's the essence of their relationship with God.  John Wesley believed that God calls us deeper, very much similar to the Disciples experience at Pentecost.  If you are familiar with this as described in the book of Acts, yes, it was marked by tongues of fire and men speaking in languages they had never spoken before.  Wesley believed---if you'll stay with me---that it wasn't so much about the speaking in tongues as it was the waiting on the arrival of the Holy Spirit.  The disciples were instructed, upon Jesus' departure, to wait.  As they waited together, they prayed.  Was the Holy Spirit present in this process? By all means, YES!  Did they feel the presence? Not necessarily.

 

For those of us who claim the name of Jesus and call God Father, we believe in God even when we cannot see or touch the One in whom we believe.  Many times we cannot see His presence in our circumstances until we look back.  As the Hebrew children finally left Egypt after the plagues of Pharoah, did they feel God's presence when they approached the Red Sea? Had I been in their shoes, I would have been chewing on my heart that was jumping out of my throat and into my mouth.  Even as they walked across and turned around to see Pharoah's army dashing into the path they had just left, it would be hard to see God at work!  Then the water came crashing down and drowned the army that had chased them from Egypt......THAT would be a moment of transformation.  

Like the Hebrew children, the choice is ours whether we cross the Red Sea and pitch our spiritual tents on the shore to settle there OR we continue forward, following God for the journey.  John Wesley followed deeply into the Promised Land, just as Caleb and Joshua encouraged. Will you go as well?

“Thomas loves to sing. Can you teach him voice lessons?” I have received this same call many times over the years.  Sometimes you can substitute piano in place of the voice request, but the question is essentially the same.  After learning the age of the student, I formulate my response based on the student’s personality, the parents and how disciplined I perceive the student and parent to be.  Generally---and this is where my opinion comes in, which is solely my opinion---I would start piano lessons around 1^st-3^rd grade.  Voices lessons should start around 8^th or 9^th grade;  puberty and the hormones that activate in the body (especially in the vocal chords) can really play a large part in this!  Both necessitate practice at home.  If your child is to excel in anything in life, be it soccer, dance, baseball or music, they will need to devote time and energy to it outside of the lesson! Students of anything will be, at best, mediocre without practice. 

This week I got another such request and wanted to share my thoughts after 25+ years of leading choirs and in music ministry.  First and foremost, I am thrilled when any student is singing and wants to pursue music ministry.  It is a tremendous blessing to be involved and to use music as a means to share the love of Christ and have a gift that God uses to touch the hearts of people in unspeakable ways! Music is something that should be studied with an insightful teacher on a weekly basis.  My son (who plans to major in music education), Christian's, lessons are once a week and often times twice a week!

Let me attempt to put into words some of the things I've learned and seen that might be of help to you:

1.  To succeed in anything and especially music, you have to be willing to practice.  I would say at HS level, this would mean a minimum of 3-5 hours a week. Middle School, would mean 2-3 hours a week....split over the course of 7 days. At the college level, this means probably 3-4 hours a day, depending on your instrument.  Let me further specify that when I say practice, this is on actual lesson material.  Getting distracted and launching off into P/W music or something popular, while fun, does not help the student make forward progress in the art. You have to invest time, energy and brain power. Practicing generally "weeds out" those who like music and singing as a hobby vs. those who want to pursue excellence.

2.  Many P/W leaders have studied music very little, if at all.  With some this is obvious, others not so much so.  Care for the instrument that God gave them (and to those they work with) will also be a "marker".

3.  I lead P/W but I am a classically trained musician.  These folks are rare birds!  Most see it as EITHER classical OR P/W and tend to look down on the other side for various reasons.  My view is that God has called me to lead worship....traditional and "contemporary"....and in so doing, how can I offer Him less than my best? How can I dare offer to Him something that cost me nothing---whether it be money, time or energy or all of the above? 

4.  IF God is leading a student toward such a ministry, my advice is to train classically while continuing to enjoy a VARIETY of music and stay involved in church music. Classical training with a heart for prayer, study and praise is a win/win situation to lead in a variety of environments.  I may write a whole ‘nother blog post on just that topic.  It’s too big to pursue in just 2-3 sentences.

In looking for a music teacher:

1. Expect to pay $30-50/hour or more for lessons

2. Call First Baptist Churches in small to large towns and ask for referrals for voice lessons.  The Baptists have done a better job at music education than all the other churches in the world combined—especially the Methodists.  Christian's teacher is a retired Baptist Music Minister.  They often have studied music education at the college and graduate level and moonlight as a private teacher. 

3.  Insist on your student learning music theory, which includes scales, chords, etc.  Too often I have seen well-meaning teachers that are high priced musical baby-sitters: students learn 2-3 songs every 6-12 months that requires no work outside their lessons. 

If your student wants to study anything, try private or group lessons for 6-9 months.  If they like it and take the time to practice without too much prodding, it’s worth it.  All students, young and old, go through difficult times where practice feels like more of a grind with no joy at all.  Try setting the timer for 30 minutes and practice at least that long; many times the biggest challenge is just getting started!  If your student is too busy with multiple activities to practice for one (or possibly all of them), they will never truly be a success.  Choose one or two at a time to focus on and pursue with passion! Continuing to chase a dream from your childhood through your son or daughter who has no interest is the equivalent to setting your money on fire.  Better yet, just give it to me! J