O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you; I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but in you there is patience; I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Lord God, Creator of all,
in your wisdom,
you have bound us together so that we must depend on others
for the food we eat,
the resources we use,
the gifts of your creation that bring life, health, and joy.
Creator God, we give thanks.
Holy be the hands that sew our clothes so that we do not have to go naked;
sacred be the hands that build our homes so that we do not have to be cold;
blessed be the hands that work the land so that we do not have to go hungry.
Creator God, we give thanks.
Holy be the feet of all who labor so that we might have rest;
sacred be the feet of all who run swiftly to stand with the oppressed;
blessed be the feet of all whose bodies are too broken or weary to stand.
Creator God, we give thanks.
Holy be the sound of children laughing to take away our sorrow;
sacred be the sound of water falling to take away our thirst;
blessed be the sound of your people singing to heal our troubled hearts.
Creator God, we give thanks.
Holy be the bodies of those who know hunger;
sacred be the bodies of those who are broken;
blessed be the bodies of those who suffer.
In your mercy and grace,
soften our callous hearts and
fill us with gratitude for all the gifts you have given us.
In your love,
break down the walls that separate us
and guide us along your path of peace,
that we might humbly worship you in Spirit and in truth.
Amen.
Excerpt From: Book of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals
Walking through life with Jesus is hard. He goes to places we don’t want to go. To places that don’t make sense to us. He goes to the poor, the broken, the war-torn. The Pharisees were not unhappy because Jesus spent too much time with them, but rather because he spent His time elsewhere. Jesus spent his time among the “other.” This is hard to grasp for me. If Jesus were physically on this earth, would he come to my church? Would he come to my school? Or would he be found amongst those whom I write-off? Would Jesus and I hang out at my house, or would he invite me to the streets? Is his invitation to come and follow for me? Is there a way of following Jesus that is comfortable? Is God calling me to middle class American churches? They need to be directed toward Christ as well… I have so many questions, and more questions are raised in our world every single day. The more that I know Christ, the more I know that I don’t know much at all. This is maybe the most confusing thing about it. Since when did, “I don’t know,” become the truest answer I can provide? I remember when everything was black-and-white and I had a clue about the world, but that was a while back now. In all the controversy, sometimes I find myself standing in the middle, in the ever-expanding gray area because I think that’s often where Jesus stood. Jesus rarely answered questions in the way people wanted. He often told a story or asked a question showing that the issues were not as simple as they may have seemed. So in this world of choosing sides, I have to choose Jesus, the truest of all truths.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
–Thomas Merton
Lord, come quickly.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
So about a half hour ago, I had a pretty weird experience with prayer. I had just gotten out of a meeting on campus, and started to head back to my apartment. As I walked out the door, I realized the solid amount of rain falling from the sky. I had no jacket, no umbrella, and the next few minutes looked bleak at best. I stood under the overhang for a minute, trying to accept the obvious truth that I would soon be cold and wet. So I looked up and prayed (it couldn’t hurt, right?). I prayed, “God, it would be pretty cool if you stopped the rain for the next two to three minutes so I could make the quick walk back to my apartment. I know that’s kind of high maintenance, and it is my fault that I didn’t plan accordingly for this rain, but that would be awesome if you took care of that.” Then I stood there for another minute or so waiting for either the will to walk through the rain or for the rain to lighten up. Neither one of those things happened, but something did.
All of a sudden, Ben, a friend of mine, comes up through the rain with an umbrella. I gave him the old, “What’s up, man?”
He looks at me and says, “Nothing much, what are you doing?” I’m sure I looked pretty strange just standing there alone…
“Just trying to get up the courage to walk through the rain,” I reply.
Then he extends his umbrella to me. I look at him like he’s crazy, and he simply says, “Take this.” I’m sure I gave him a really weird look, so he added, “It’s not mine…I found it. (Ben’s that friend that everyone has who is always finding weird stuff)”
So I took the umbrella, told him I would get it back to him, and walked off towards my apartment. And I was dry!
I tell this story for a few reasons, and the more I think about it, the more reasons I have for telling this story. I’ll try and give these reasons in an organized manner so that you can understand my seemingly disconnected, but possibly connected thoughts:
And I don’t tell this story to say that every time you pray for rain to stop, somebody will show up with an umbrella for you. We are never going to fully understand the working of God in the world, and sometimes waiting on Him to reveal Himself to us is so hard. But tonight was a cool reminder of the mysterious working of the Lord in my life. I hope that if you’ve read this, you feel encouraged about prayer. God is always listening, no matter how small the request, and He is always paving new paths for us. The Lord is faithful.
Father, thank You for working in ways that I would never choose; for Your ways are far greater than mine.
-MC
This is a piece that I wrote last week for the Otter Creek Stir blog (http://ocstir.wordpress.com):
If you’re like me, you’re nostalgic. When I’m with my friends, I could go on and on about the times we’ve had. I know everyone thinks this, but I have the best memory when it comes to details of a funny moment. I love to tell stories.
Occasionally, I find myself with those who I went to high school with. We can tell all kinds of stories about playing jokes on each other, messing with our teachers, and ridiculous memories from the football locker room. And in those moments (which are becoming fewer), there is a slight wish to go back. To get to experience pep rallies, football games, and the many fun times once again. See, because when I’m with my friends laughing and catching up, I’m not thinking about the arguments with my parents over my grades or the difficult teachers. I’m not thinking about those times when I wanted to pull my hair out over the dumbest things, but rather I’m thinking about when I had hair to pull. The way we remember things is often seen through a rose-tinted lens. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” has a lot of merit to it. Anyone and anything can seem appealing from afar, and we as people are so often tricked into believing that the grass is greener on the other side. I believe this is a trap we often fall into in our faith.
In Exodus 14, we find the story of Israel immediately after being freed from the Egyptians. They are encamped next to the sea, and Pharaoh, realizing what he had done, takes his army to go get them back. Of course as this huge number of angry Egyptians is rapidly approaching, the Israelites look up and are terrified. They say to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” At the first sign of trouble, these people who had just been delivered by the HAND OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY doubted Moses. After seeing the Lord’s faithfulness play out firsthand in a way that no one else in the world had seen, they still doubted, believing that at this point, Egypt doesn’t sound that bad. Moses answered, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still,” and the Lord did just that by parting the waters for Israel and crushing Egypt under the crashing waves.
Maybe we’re not backed up against a sea with an army racing towards us, but maybe we feel like that sometimes. In those moments of fear when maybe following God isn’t as easy as we anticipated, the road is exhausting, and temptation looms, don’t our old selves look enticing? The Lord’s deliverance isn’t always swift, and it certainly isn’t without some worrisome times along the way. In those moments of fear, temptation, or sorrow, STAND FIRM. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance of the Lord.
As Christ-followers, we are always being drawn back to what the Lord has called us out of. Rejoice because the Lord has given us new life! The Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, saw us as we were and said, “You are not that person anymore, YOU ARE MINE.” While we were still slaves, sinners with no hope, Christ died for us! Our chains have been crushed by grace, and we have been set free! We cannot choose to return to slavery.
We are constantly tempted to return to what God has called us out of.
So today and everyday, choose freedom. He has led us to greener pastures and beside far quieter waters.
Even when everything is going wrong and I feel discouraged…
Even when a life of surrender is tough and I want to quit…
I will trust in Your unfailing love;
My heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
For He has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6
-MC
“Father, I come before you today as a wretch. I come as one who has repeatedly, continuously turned from your grace. For so long have I run from you. For so long have I kept returning only to leave again. Time and time again have I fully known what is right and good, and time and time again have I chosen the other way. Father, for so long have I requested green pastures and quiet waters only to choose to remain in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. My life has only occasionally been lived in a way that matches Your Gospel. For so long I have been hypocritical of hypocrites with a plank lodged in my own eye. I have been impatient in the things of Your will. I have not trusted that Your plan is better than mine. I have turned my nose up at the sight of Your will in my life for Your people.
Father, I often do not even see people who are different than me. I have become so desensitized to the hurt in Your world. I have taken detours to avoid Your plans. Over and over again, I have turned away at the sight of those in need. Constantly I set my mind on the things of this world and block out the things of heaven. I have turned to the wrong places for comfort. I have told myself that I belong here. I have pointed the finger at others. I have excluded those who need belonging the most.
Father, I have been ashamed of the cross. I have been terrified of what people will say and what they will think. I have given you only pieces of who I am. I have cheated You. Day in and day out I have put myself ahead of You. I have proclaimed the words of Your Gospel but failed to live it. I encourage people to share their faith while masking my own. I have told half-truths. I have blamed You for my shortcomings. I have projected anger at myself onto others. I have hurt those whom I love. I have used my words to hurt others. For so long I have longed for personal recognition. I have accepted praise. I have repeatedly fed my own ego by tearing others down. I have put my wants in front of the needs of others. I have been afraid of the future. I have been afraid of my departure from this world. I have been afraid of Your calling.
Father, for all of these things, forgive me.”
Son, I know. I know your faults. I created You. Since the beginning, I have had a plan for you, yes you! You are so valued. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I know everything that you have done and everything that you will ever do, and I still want you. You are mine! Do not be impatient, for everything that you could ever need is already taken care of. I got this! In your time on earth, there are tough times, but I will never leave you! Come to me, I am all that you need. I am all that you will ever need. I created the sun, moon, and stars, but you, you are in my own image! I have given you a heart, a heart with which to love my creation. You were not created to count your flaws, but rather, you were created to reflect me! You are imperfect, you make mistakes, and you always will, but I have made you righteous! I have washed you and made you clean! I know how many hairs are on your head, I know all of the sins that you left out, I know what you did last week, and son, even after all of that, YOU ARE MINE!
In all those things, I AM. From the beginning until now, I AM. From now until forever, I AM.
Doesn’t growing up kinda stink sometimes?
Life used to be so easy. There were no decisions to be made, or not many important ones anyways. Questions of morality were so black and white. Back when the words ethics, prejudice, and bias meant nothing to me. That was a time in which following God was a decision, not a lifestyle. There was an obviously correct answer to every question as well as an obviously incorrect answer. Everything made sense. The choices set before me were easy. Eat healthily or unhealthily. Do the homework or suffer the consequences. Lie or tell the truth. Every action had a pretty clear consequence.
But now I find myself swimming in a sea of gray. Almost anything can be justified in my mind. Any action can be supported by logic. And the difference between obviously right and obviously wrong has become a lot of maybes. All of a sudden, making decisions has become an intense debate inside my head. Nothing is clear.
But as far as I can tell, this is just part of becoming who I am.
When I came to college to study the Bible vocationally, I thought a lot of things would get cleared up. That more study of the Bible would lead to a more black and white view of the world and what happens in it. It surely hasn’t. The more I study, the more I realize how little that I know. The more I study God’s word, the more I understand the vast spectrum that Christians fall onto. Often I have heard people talk about the Bible as if it is something that anyone with a brain can agree as to what it says. More often, I have seen people heatedly disagree about its truths. Truthfully, we cannot know for certain that our ways are correct.
So what can we do?
In the current age, we can live by faith. We can live boldly in a way that glorifies our Lord. We can lean on grace.
So often, we extend grace to others for moral stumbles, but do not extend any grace for genuine intellectual/interpretation differences. Is salvation dependent on perfect interpretation? On perfect understanding? On perfect obedience? If that were the case, we would all be lost.
So today, I challenge those reading this to live boldly by faith.
Hebrews 11 speaks directly to this topic covering many who, by faith, were used to accomplish the Lord’s perfect plan.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.“ Hebrews 11:1-2.
Boldly following Jesus is something that the Lord will prosper, not punish.
Run after Jesus through the gray. Faithfully trust Him. Count on grace for the missteps.
Written to the Church, the Bride of Christ,
Many would say that there are a lot of prejudices in our American church culture today. I so often see people speaking out against socio-economic divides in our churches, against racial divides, and even many against gender divides, but there is an interesting norm in our churches that many seem to take no notice of. A part of Christian culture that has changed drastically, even making, in many cases, a 180 degree turn from the early church. This is the Church’s view on marriage and singleness.
Most all Christians expect to someday get married. It has become an expectation of those growing up in our churches that someday it would be they who would be dressing their little children up in their adorable little Sunday attire and coming to church. And why would so many have that expectation? Because that is what they see at church. They have watched so many before them go through that experience of finding that person whom they can team up with as they chase after Jesus. What else plays into this mindset? The overwhelming thought in our churches that this is the normal next step in life. From youth group to college to marriage to children. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom These are the “natural” steps that are taken in the life of a normal Christian.
Just in the past week, I have read article after article about how to reach millennials. Why are our churches losing millennials? Why do some come back? Why do many not come back? I have no complete answer, but I can say that many millennials come back when they have someone to bring back with them. They come back when instead of hearing, “Still single? Oh well, you’ll find that person eventually,” they hear, “Congratulations! Do you guys need anything? I can help with the shower! When’s the wedding???”
There is a distinct difference in the responses I just mentioned. The first is derogatory, and the second is congratulatory. The first implies that this person in some way needs to have that relationship. That single people are in some way lacking or incomplete.
Being at a small Christian college in Nashville, I find myself in the hotbed of it all. The pressure that some feel to have that relationship is insane. There is a common phrase thrown around: “Ring by Spring!” Though in almost every case I have heard this used it has been in a joking matter, there is truth to it, or else it wouldn’t be a commonly used phrase. Every summer there are tons and tons of people who get married. This falls before the eyes of every single person via Facebook and Instagram (and those weird people who live Tweet weddings). For the record, I in no way want those getting married to feel as though they should not express happiness on social media. What I am saying is that if not for the pressure of getting to that point, single people would feel far more inclined to celebrate with those celebrating as opposed to stress eating in the corner. One is not in any way less because of their singleness.
Now I’ll tell you about myself.
I am a single, 21-year-old Christian. I someday think that I might be married, but who knows. I am loved by the Creator of the universe. I have awesome friends. Recently while hypnotized, I told hundreds of people that I am passionate about romance. Who knew? ANYWAYS, I think there are some things that we can do as Christians to better our culture and foster an atmosphere of encouragement for all. Here’s some things:
1. Change our attitude! If we find out someone is getting married, is in a new and exciting relationship, or is still happily married, let’s celebrate with them! This is a joyous occasion! God is doing awesome things! If we find that someone is single, let’s celebrate with them! Singleness is an awesome gift from God! God is doing awesome things!
2. Do singleness right! I have a friend who feels called to singleness. He does it right! God uses him in some really unique ways. Even those who may not feel a specific call to singleness, but find themselves in that category (me!) have something really awesome to offer in the kingdom of God. Do not be scared away from jumping into the family of God because you feel awkward or weirdly pressured. God has an incredible plan for you filled with opportunity to love and feel loved!
3. Integrate! In the Body of Christ we all have unique gifts and talents. How foolish have we been to so quickly divide ourselves into the “Singles,” the “Young Marrieds,” the “Marrieds with Children,” the “Parents of Adolescents,” and the “Seniors.” These categories alone leave so many people out! Of course there are great things that can come from spending quality time with those in similar walks of life, but aren’t we missing out on something??? I guess if Jesus came to many of our churches, He’d end up in the “Singles” class for the Sunday School hour. We each have so much to learn from each other, we cannot afford to be constantly divided.
Anyways, this has been a doozy of a letter for me to write, but nonetheless well worth it. I hope you have found my words encouraging.
God has an immeasurable amount of love for all of us. Let us take delight in it!
Forever His,
MC
Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something
that won’t compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion – put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?
Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.
–Wendell Berry
my own understanding 