Archive for October, 2017

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him. Matthew 20:34

“A cleft has opened in the pitiless walls of the world, and we are invited to follow our great Captain inside. The following Him is, of course, the essential point. That being so, it may be asked what practical use there is in the speculations which I have been indulging. I can think of at least one such use. It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor.

The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour’s glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.

It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations — these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit — immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn.

We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously — no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner — no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment.”

C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory (New York: HarperCollins, 1980) 45-46. Click on the title to read this classic short essay by Lewis. It’s only twenty pages or so.

For our lives to grasp the sheer gravity of glory and care about the glory of our neighbor, we must live out child-like faith with humility and charity. As Lewis puts it, this does not cause life to become solemn. We must play. But our play, as well as our charity (which is generosity rooted in the unmerited kindness of God) must be real. It must take people and situations seriously.

This post is fitting today because it’s Halloween. It’s a day when people put on costumes. Immortals cover up themselves with something that is not real. Sadly, many wear costumes throughout the year, even some followers of Christ. This flippancy causes many to miss glory altogether. How might it change how you treat your neighbor if you cared about their eternal glory as much as you care about your own?

May our charity flow with a real and costly love from our child-like faith in the living God. May we live in light of the glory that will someday be revealed to us and care for our neighbor’s glory as much as for ours. Let us position ourselves to reflect the compassion and charity of Jesus Christ to the world. It’s real, and it leads people to merriment of the best kind. And it’s far better than any Halloween party!

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. Romans 15:2

“Those who would do good to the poor must attempt it in the way in which best they could do good to people of their own standing. They must make their acquaintance first. They must know something of the kind of person they would help, to learn if help be possible from their hands.

Only man can help man; money without man can do little or nothing, most likely, less than nothing. As our Lord redeemed the world by being a man, the true Son of the true Father, so the only way for a man to help men is to be a true man to his neighbor and that.

But to seek acquaintance with design is a perilous thing, nor unlikely to result in disappointment, and the widening of the gulf between the individuals, and the classes to which they belong. It seems to me that, in humble acceptance of common ways, we must follow the leadings of providence, and make acquaintance in the so-called lower classes by the natural workings of social laws that bring men together.

What is the divine intent in the many needs of humanity, and the consequent dependence of the rich on the poor, even greater than that of the poor on the rich, but to bring men together, that in far-off ways at first, they may be compelled to know each other? The man who treats his fellow as a mere mean for the supply of his wants, and not as a human being with whom he has to do, is an obstructing clot in the human circulation.”

George MacDonald (1824-1905), Scottish author and Christian minister in Weighed and Wanting (New York: HardPress, 2006) 73.

There’s a lot in today’s meditation. It’s one worth reading again for at least three reasons.

First, our generosity must flow through relationships. Help of neighbor happens best through acquaintance. Powerful to think that “money without man can do little or nothing, most likely, less than nothing.” As we see others with needs, let us be like Christ in knowing them and ministering among them in order to best help them.

Second, when we follow “the leadings of providence” or that divine nudge to go, to minister, to help, to assist, something happens within us. We are brought together with others in a manner that leaves both us and those we serve transformed. We realize experientially that before God there are no “classes” per se. All people are on the same level.

Third, it is ironic that the rich depend on the poor more than the poor depend on the rich. Think about it. The rich expect the poor to do things for them for money. The rich become nothing more than an “obstructing clot in the human circulation” because they expect all others to serve as means for the supply of their wants. God forbid!

MacDonald brilliantly addresses three key elements to generosity: it requires relationships, everyone is on the same level, and those who want to remain rich are actually the problem when they could be part of the solution. No wonder Jesus commanded the rich man to sell everything. He was not trying to rob him, but help him (cf. Mark 10:17-31).

Follow “the leadings of providence” out of your comfort zone and you may actually take hold of life.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Cultivate the thankful spirit! It will be to thee a perpetual feast. There is, or ought to be, with us no such thing as small mercies: all are great, because the least are undeserved. Indeed, a really thankful heart will extract motive for gratitude from everything, making the most of scanty blessings.”

J. R. MacDuff in The Christian Register, Volume 95, 6 January 1916, Page 13.

Jenni and I are giving thanks for a peaceful weekend together with each other, with moments with dear friends, and time for worship and rest. We have so much for which to be thankful. MacDuff is spot on when he says that cultivating a thankful spirit becomes a perpetual feast.

What are you thankful for today? Until we grasp all we have in Christ, we often don’t think we can be generous. When we give thanks for even “scanty blessings” we realize that we always have margin for generosity. Thank you God for all our blessings large and small.

On the large side, I am thankful for my mother, Patsy Hoag. I won’t say her age, but today is her birthday. I love you mom! Happy Birthday. On the small side, I am thankful for the gift of rest in the form of the afternoon nap I am planning to take later today!

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

“Kindness often gets thrown in with niceness, manners and etiquette. But it’s altogether something different. Those things are of earth. Kindness is of heaven. Kindness isn’t quaint. It’s not for image maintenance or keeping feathers unruffled. Kindness is love manifest in action. Kindness is in fact so inseparable from love that early Bible translators coined a single term: lovingkindness. “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” Love is patient. Love is kind.

Etiquette is about rules; learn them, follow them. Kindness isn’t always so obvious. It looks different toward different people at different times. To the hard-hearted religious leaders Jesus said, “Brood of vipers.” Kindness. To the rich young ruler, “Sell all you own.” Kindness. To Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” Kindness.

It’s easy to recognize Jesus’ tender words and actions as kind. These other moments can seem brash, mean almost. But we must see Jesus always speaking with the fire of pure love burning in His eyes. He did nothing simply to provoke, nothing from fear, nothing to prove anything, nothing out of woundedness. All was from an unshakable awareness of His belovedness and for the eternal good of another.”

Brian Morykon in “Kindness Isn’t Quaint” on Renovare blog dated 10 March 2017.

Jesus was generous with kindness. He told everyone what they needed to hear because He cared about “the eternal good” of each one. His words, as such, likely often came across as shocking because His aim was to wake them up, convicting because He wanted them to change directions, or even downright politically incorrect because they were leading people astray. No wonder the famous saying says, “Kill them with kindness!”

As His followers, we too must be generous with kindness. But perhaps there is a bigger question for each of us to consider first. What would Jesus say to each of us? Sit quietly with the Lord for five minutes and ask the Holy Spirit to open your ears to hear. Do what He says to you first, then ask God to fill you with lovingkindness to share with others, which always has their “eternal good” in view.

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22

A dear brother and daily reader of these meditations read yesterday’s post on “reciprocal listening” and sent the following reply to his mother for her birthday. However, instead of forwarding it to her, he accidentally sent it to me. I was so moved by it, that I got his permission to share it anonymously as today’s daily meditation (and if you missed yesterday’s post, you might want to read it first by scrolling to the bottom of this post and clicking on the link).

“Mom, Happy Birthday. I was prompted after reading this email that I need to apologize to you. Often when we talk I am so excited to add thoughts that I cut you off and end your thoughts. I have not been a good listener with you and I am sorry. I want to ask your forgiveness. I love you too much not to pause, focus, and hear everything you have to share. I am going to work on this in general, and hopefully you will experience the work of God in me next time we are together. Which I hope is soon. Have a great birthday.”

In today’s Scripture reading, Jesus basically tells Peter that while those close to us will often sin against us over and over, wronging us such as failing to listen time after time, we should not keep score but must graciously and lovingly forgive them. This is only possible with God’s help so my prayer today for myself and others will be for the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us obey this instruction from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and grow as generous listeners!

Father in heaven, help us become generous listeners. For those of us who struggle with this, pour out your grace and work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We want those closest to us to “experience the work of God” in us through how we “pause, focus, and hear” what they have to say. And for those of us who have been wronged in this way, help us forgive without keeping track in gratitude for the forgiveness we have experienced from You. In your mercy, hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

“Healthy relationships require reciprocal listening — each party gives and receives attention. Listening is more, though, than simply participating in a ping-pong-like exchange of speak-listen-speak-listen-speak. It may look easy. After all, what can be difficult about taking turns practicing the passive act of hearing another speak? All we need to do is sit quietly and take in what the other person is saying, right?

But listening is anything but passive. It requires being actively present to the person we are with. When we listen well, we become present to our partner in a significant, deep way. Listening is a rich art that provides the recipient with much more than an open ear…The first step toward listening more effectively is preparing to listen. This involves setting aside personal preoccupations, admitting preoccupations, and focusing.”

Rochelle Melander in A Generous Presence: Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching (Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute, 2006) 96, 102.

I shot the new header photo at Union Station in downtown Denver on my way home yesterday. The sky was stunning it was so blue! I’ve been riding the train home from the airport as Jenni and I are in a season where we are sharing one car. I am thankful to not have any travel for the next three weeks.

Today’s post touches on a facet of generosity that I am learning to lean into more intentionally: reciprocal listening, the generous giving and receiving of attention. Doing this well requires us to be actively present with God and with other people.

For some this means we must set down our phones and/or close our laptops. For others it means that we must look people in the eyes, shut our mouths, and open our ears. For all it requires setting aside what’s on our minds to consider what is on the mind of someone else.

The fact that people wrestle with listening tells me that we all must also find it difficult to interact with God. I am learning that it requires identifying the things that preoccupy me so I can attune to God and others. When I am not listening well, I find I react rather than respond.

Father in heaven, help all of us be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry so we generously show your love through our reciprocal listening. Make it so by your Holy Spirit we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

“I want to live generously in every setting and circumstance. So what does it look like to have a generous heart? It means extending grace and seeking to understand. It means letting go of expectations and initiating acceptance.”

Glynnis Whitwer in “Lord, I feel stingy today” post from Proverbs 31 Ministries on 20 October 2017. Special thanks to my mom, Patsy Hoag, for sharing this with me.

In short, just like today’s Scripture also known as “the golden rule” sums up the Law and the Prophets, today’s daily meditation sums up what it means to be generous everywhere, in every situation.

We get to extend grace to others and seek to understand where they are at, while letting go of expectations and loving them for who they are, where they are. In short, we treat them how we ourselves want to be treated.

The more I read the New Testament (on the foundation of the Law and the Prophets), the more I see that this is Christ’s posture toward us. To be generous is simply to follow and imitate Christ in every setting and circumstance.

I get to head home today after a fruitful ministry trip and an unforgettable World Series game with close friends. On this journey, I had a hotel receptionist that radiated kindness and reminded me of this post!

God, thanks for the favor you have shown each of us in Christ Jesus. Some, however, do not know of your generosity. Help us be generous in every setting and circumstance so they see You in us. Make it so by your Holy Spirit we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2

“Living our lives on purpose means we live free from the bondage of sin and in generous service to God and others. The Holy Spirit is the great protagonist of theological reflection, helping us to better understand the world in which we live and the spiritual powers at work around us. Through mentoring, we invite the powerful work of the Holy Spirit to retrain the way we think, and that develops us in a holistic and active theology and Christian worldview that stands against the schemes and messages of this world.

Intentionally developing a Christian worldview means that we acknowledge that changes in time and culture in light of the biblical truth we know. Theological reflection challenges us so that biblical truth dictates how we respond rightly in the world…So what does theological reflection and developing a Christian worldview look like in a mentoring group? Theological reflection often begins by asking the right questions. Through mentoring, we cultivate our minds and explore the answers to life’s important questions with the reading, study, and understanding of God’s Word as our foundation.”

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson in Mentor for Life: Finding Purpose through Intentional Discipleship (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016) 112-113.

Rather than return home from serving God in San Diego, I took the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train yesterday up to Orange County and shot this header photo along the way. It was quite a peaceful journey. I am remaining in Southern California two extra days to unite with five guys who are more than friends, they are a sort of “mentoring group” with whom I seek to change the world for Jesus Christ. We are going to World Series game one together tonight in Los Angeles.

I get to go with (1) Wes Willmer, a godly pioneer in Christian stewardship, co-author, mentor and friend to me for half my life; (2) Greg Henson, a wise young man that I have mentored for about a decade who serves as president of Sioux Falls Seminary; (3) Jon Yasuda, a new friend over the last five years who serves as vice president of development at Fuller Theological Seminary and whose keen insights have sharpened my own thinking; (4) Chi-Chung Keung, one of my closest friends over the past twenty years and a co-laborer in Christ with whom I do international missions work; and (5) Randy Kung, an attorney and Christian brother that has become a friend for more than a decade and that I want to mentor more intentionally and engage in global ministry service.

What makes this a great mentoring group is that these brothers are deeply rooted in God’s Word, they ask the right questions, and they reflect thoughtfully on how we should live and lead others with a Christian worldview!

Are you a part of a mentoring group that helps you live in generous service to God and others? Find people older than you from whom you can gain wisdom. Locate younger colleagues to assist. Saturate your heart, soul, and mind with the Scriptures. Follow the leading of the Spirit in your interaction. And perhaps, like we plan to do today, make memories together as God gives you the opportunity in order to strengthen life-long relationships as fellow workers in God’s kingdom.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

“Dominique learned he had inoperable cancer and asked permission to relocate from Saint-Rémy to Paris, where he had close family and relatives. In a move totally unsurprising to those of us who knew him, he took a job as a night watchman in a nearby factory, 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the graveyard shift.

The story goes that as Dominique would travel home each morning following his shift, he would visit the park across the street from his house, an area filled with what society calls “the riffraff”: winos, the old and young and homeless, losers. My good friend traded in his old habit for a new one, that of passing out candy to the least of these, listening to their stories, and always leaving them with good news, words I’d heard a hundred times: “Jesus Christ is crazy about you. He loves you just as you are, not as you should be.”

One morning marked the end of Dominique’s graveyard shifts. Friends discovered his body on the floor of his flat. The cause of death was determined to be a heart attack. I believe, however, that Dominique died of just the opposite—his was a heart surrender. Here was a man who had surrendered, who had given pieces of his heart to others for a lifetime: a good word here, a gentle touch there, an encouragement always. Dominique’s journal was found with this final entry:

All that is not the love of God has no meaning for me. I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If God wants it to, my life will be useful through my word and witness. If He wants it to, my life will bear fruit through my prayers and sacrifices. But the usefulness of my life is His concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that.”

Brother Dominique as recounted in All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir by Brennan Manning and John Blase (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2011) 105-107. Special thanks to my wife, Jenni, for sharing this one with me, and to James Hoxsworth, our pastor for sharing it with her.

On Monday mornings many people question the usefulness of their lives and their work. Some with poor health can feel like throwing in the towel. Whether or not that’s you, focus on the love of Christ today. Celebrate that you know Him and consider ways to make Him known generously to others with every ounce of energy that you have. The news that Jesus Christ loves you and me is not just good news, it’s the best news. Make it known through how you do your work today and every day and to all you touch along the way.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

“For most youth workers and congregational leaders, the typical question is, How do we get more young people involved in the service project next week or the work camp next summer? While it is important to get young people involved in concrete opportunities to give and serve, a much more fundamental question is, What experiences and relationships do young people need now to form a foundation for a lifetime of generosity?

Ideally, those life-forming experiences should include repeated involvement in service and giving during childhood and adolescence. But nurturing generosity requires a broader perspective, highlighting the importance of connecting youth with caring, generous role models, experiencing a healthy family that is engaged with the world, and experiencing the congregation as a caring, challenging, nurturing community of faith.”

Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Elanah Dalyah Naftali, and Laura Musegades in Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Living and Serving (Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute, 2000) 93.

Today in Carlsbad, California, we are speaking on generational generosity. I will share my family heritage of the Christian generosity of my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents. Jenni will share intentional experiences we have done to nurture generosity in our family. Sophie will add ways she has learned to live within her means so she can be generous and help her peers along that pathway. What a joy to speak together!

Our aim, as Roehlkepartain, Naftali, and Musegades suggest, is to help the CBMC group see that intentional “experiences” rooted in obedience to the commands of Christ (which are not burdensome but for our good) coupled with “relationships” rooted in humble transparency and authenticity (both in family and church settings) help each generation “form a foundation for a lifetime of generosity.”

What about you? Regardless of the generosity of your ancestors, what experiences can you pursue and relationships can you deepen to help your family and congregation reflect the generosity of Christ to the world? This largely does not happen through doing a few projects. Rather, it takes shape when we do many small things with the love of Christ compelling us, not for ourselves, but collectively for Him.