Happy

While driving into work recently I noticed that the welcome sign of the Ester Lee motel was obviously in transition… it simply read, “Happy…” I’m sure it was either saying goodbye to a happy birthday, anniversary or similar occasion or getting ready for such. But all it said was… Happy. I was very “happy” to receive that message and under my breath said, “Thank you Linda and Paul for starting my day off so well… I think I will take your advice and be happy today!” And if by this point you haven’t found yourself humming “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” I’d be surprised. Worries set aside a day of happiness is a golden opportunity to not just feel good but to be productive and share the wealth of positive energy. Yes, we all like a “happy” day!

The apostle Paul in a sense leaves a happy sign for the church in Philippi. Well, at least he keeps coming back to the word “rejoice!” The verse that may come to mind for you is in chapter 4 and verse 4 where he exhorts, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” But what follows is the most revealing about the secret of happiness and a life that rejoices. Paul tells the church “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether will-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).” Happiness is a choice not a result of perfect conditions void of any conflict, stress or consternation. Happy is a place we create with being content because we believe that our strength is in Jesus and nothing else! Because that is so and because we believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God then we are at rest (happy) where ever we might find ourselves.

Paul certainly illustrated with his life the value of this secret to contentment. Remember in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas are thrown into prison? They had been beaten, shackled and cast into an inner cell most certainly bleeding, cold and hungry. But what do they do? They have church and start praying and singing to God! Don’t worry be happy! Happiness wasn’t dependent upon their surroundings (it couldn’t get much worse) but they we filled with praise and joy before the Lord. Their strength wasn’t bolstered by adrenaline but rather by knowing that in their misery was the choice to draw on the Lord’s strength to be happy! So, my sign to you this glorious day and every day is “Happy!” -DAN

The Flip of the Coin

The afterglow of the Super Bowl for most is either a sorrow or joy for the victorious I’m going to Disneyland triumphant or a residual chuckle over the ever hyped commercials. I’m still enamored with the toss of the coin. Not just the possible advantage of winning the toss but who is it that determines which is heads and which is tales. That is, why is the trophy heads and the stadium tails? Maybe they toss a coin to determine which is which? My real point here is that… yes, there are two sides to a coin.
Recently, I listened to N.T. Wright’s lecture at Bristol entitled, “Putting the Gospels Back Together: How We've All misread Our Central Story.” Bishop Tom Wright’s point in this lecture is that we have missed much in the gospels by not connecting kingdom and cross. That is, we have either interpreted the kingdom through the cross or the cross through the kingdom and have not seen that they are two sides of the same coin. Such an interpretation or better yet, understanding of the completed promises of God allows God’s people to embrace the connection of God’s reign on earth as it is in heaven through the resurrected Jesus and the implications of redemption revealed in a cross that anchors a radically new creation in the recipients of eternal life. I would not for a moment pretend to interpret N.T. Wright for any and all but would highly encourage you to go to his web site (http://www.ntwrightpage.com) and listen to the rich and challenging discussion of the connection of cross and kingdom in the gospels.
The food for thought that brother Wright left in my spiritual bread basket forms into the question, “What would the church look like if we embraced both kingdom and cross as two sides of the same coin?” That is, what would the church look like if we talked as much about kingdom citizenship and responsibilities as we do about salvation and accompanying holiness? I think at least one change would be that we spend less time debating what happens in corporate worship and more time contemplating how the kingdom of God can break into a world that is lost! I think we would be more focused on who Jesus must be for the world than who he must be for us. And I think if not moved to action we would at least have our conscience prodding us to be salt to the earth. But possibly the most important change would be that instead of seeing ourselves as guardians of orthodoxy we would truly be more than conquerors through him who loved us! -DAN

The Gospel of Legos

This morning I read in the publication from Agape Villages that Frank Inscore, one of the founding board members of Sierra Children’s Home (now Agape Villages) had passed away. Frank and his wife Charlotte were one time members at the Roseville Church of Christ. Frank knew my Dad and we often shared memories and an occasional lunch. I had not thought of Frank in many years but just seeing a picture of him reminded me the warm spot he silently held in my life. Frank was a “gentle” man and rich with the Spirit of Christ. Heaven is brighter by his presence. Frank got me thinking of how many good brothers and sisters have filled my life that silently lay in my memory but are ever present in my formation.
My kids and now my grandkids are big time fans of legos. I should have bought stock in their corporation because I believe through the years I have kept them financially solvent. Each child has discovered not only the power of their imagination and the development of fine motor skills but a confidence in building. That is, the seeming ruble pile of plastic blocks that sprawl across the floor are perceived not as disaster but as opportunity and foundational for making dreams come true. As each child has matured and gone on to other building adventures in their lives they have left their legos in tubs tucked away in a dark corner of a closet. However, I believe these forgotten friends have been instrumental in building their lives. I call them friends because I have seen their eyes light up when on occasion they have had a chance to dust them off and share them with their children, nephews and nieces. There is a warm spot they silently hold in their lives for these old friends.
Paul in testimony to the gospel tells the church at Rome, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16, 17).” What the NIV translates “by faith from first to last” is literally in the Greek, “out of faith, into faith.” That is, the gospel is a shared experience… one faith giving to another’s faith the building blocks of life and faith. Some of the pieces are remembered and some are not but all are part what has built our lives. And maybe most importantly… some of those forgotten ones are truly foundational to the structure and stability of our lives! Thanks Frank and so many others who have led me back again and again to the cross that anchors our lives. -DAN