Jocundity

If as a child you read the encyclopedia or picked up the dictionary for fun most thought you were on your way to being a card carrying member of NAGOA (Nerds and Geeks of America). Your were quickly issued a pair thick black plastic glasses, a pocket protector and a tube of Clearasil. But now in the Post Bill Gates era it is okay to mention in mixed company (i.e. Geeks and Regular folks) that you are fascinated by the ever expanding universe of knowledge and lexographic nuances of written communication (which is nerdese for, “I like exploring the dictionary”). So, for fun I have been known to open the dictionary to peruse the often overlooked vocabulary that patiently waits for its turn. My word for this week is “jocundity.” A word that means to speak or act in a light-hearted or merry way. I don’t know about you, but my recession, troubled world could use a little jocundity!

Now don’t get me wrong… I don’t want to marginalize problems or mask them with a frivolous devil-may-care attitude. I just think that the life that knows a peace that surpasses all understanding should be able to rejoice in the Lord always! That Christian joy is too easily abandoned for somber brow-furled spiritual cynicism. I think Christians should have eyes that sparkle with the assurance of their faith and the joy of salvation. I think a little spiritual jocundity is the absolute and most resolute way to preach the gospel. Seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6) puts a smile on one’s face and permeates one’s soul with what the Beach Boys call “good vibrations.”

Now, I said all of that to say this, “God loves the playful, the spirit of jocundity is heaven sent.” Jesus had some not so cheerful disciples who were overwhelmed with crowd management and church decorum, so they rebuked people who brought children to be blessed by Jesus touch (Matthew 19:13-15). Jesus in turn rebuked them because they failed to see that the jocundity of youth belongs in the Kingdom of God! When life in the Son becomes too dour and grim let your inner-child out and sing, “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…” Let go and answer the delightful musical question, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart –WHERE? Yes, down in my heart to stay! -DAN

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens’ classic tale of two similar looking men with opposing destinies surrounded by the upheaval of the impending French Revolution begins with describing what often seems like a modern account of our own world.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…

I had a tale of two cities this past week. I was getting my oil changed and patiently waiting when I overheard a conversation between the desk guy and a lady who called in to get smog repairs. When informed that she would have to contact a smog certified specialist because she had failed her initial test she asked for a referral. I heard the desk guy explain, “I don’t know that information, Ms., but they are a reputable shop.” Then I heard him turn to a co-worker and say, “She just hung up on me because I couldn’t tell her if he was a Christian or not… apparently she got our number from the Christian Yellow Pages.” I wanted to cry out, “We’re not all like that! We don’t think we have some exclusive club.”

Later that day I was in a restaurant and overheard two young men discussing the opportunity of sharing the gospel. One young man had decided to enter ministry and was vocal about how excited he was to share the good news with all those who would call on the name of the Lord. I wanted to cry out, “I pray we’re all like that! The gospel is for all.”

You might think this tale of two cities is more about me being a nosey people watcher eavesdropping in on people’s conversations. Maybe… but what this tale reminded me was that people are watching us and wondering if our faith makes us open or closed, the best or the worst, the wise or the foolish, light or darkness, reaching out with a message of hope in a winter of despair. What tale is in your city?

Barbie Is Fifty

Sometimes when I watch the evening news I find myself somewhere between shaking my head searching for sanity and scratching my head wondering if there is any sanity. On March 9th the Mattel Corporation celebrated the 50th anniversary of their best selling toy, the Barbie doll. In covering this event the evening news spoke of this long time American icon as if she were an actual person. They even showed an artist rendition of what Barbie might look like if she was fifty years old. “I’ve got one word for you… plastics.” Barbie is and forever will be a stylized caricature of the shallow world of fashion. Barbie is neither the standard of beauty nor the idealized representation of womanhood. She is a plastic toy that facilitates dress up play for little girls. O, I’m not naive enough to think that Barbie hasn’t contributed to a shallow view of beauty by a youth oriented society… but she is just a doll… and ultimately overpriced plastic!

So is this just Barbie bashing or is there an important spiritual lesson embedded in this nonsense? The answer is resolute in that godly women who grace our pews and anchor our church family have well demonstrated Peter’s exhortation, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3, 4).” My mother’s legacy to my sisters was, “Pretty is as pretty does.” Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder but “real” beauty emanates from within. Look at the great art of the world and you will quickly see that the standard for beauty is ever changing and cannot stand the test of time. Only that beauty that flows from the heart springs eternal. Ask any youth who they think represents beauty… Twiggy or Marilyn Monroe and you’ll get a blank stare. Who is hot and who is not is a social quicksand that no one can stand on for long. Beauty is a spiritual state of mind that is produced when we instill in our children the love of God and the security of their worth in His eyes.

Now, don’t get me started on G.I. Joe… suffice it to say, may God bless all our families with those who mentor our youth by true examples of beauty and strength that are filled with the Spirit and centered in Christ. Thank you lovely ladies for being so lovely and gentlemen for being so gentle! -DAN

From the Mouth of Babes

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger (Psalm 8:2).

The heading read, “From the Mouth of Babes.” I like babies and the forum post on our Roseville church of Christ web site was by Sylvia Garza and I always like Sylvia’s comments. Can’t go wrong here… so, I check it out. To my delight it was a Lizzie story. This proud mom reports the following recent conversation with her three-year old: Lizzie: "Mommy, I so happy!" Sylvia: "You are? Why are you so happy?" Lizzie: "Because... I love God!" Sylvia: "You do?" Lizzie: "Yeah, I want to go to His home." Sylvia: "In Heaven? Why?" Lizzie: "Because... I miss Him."

What a great illustration of exactly what David meant in Psalm 8. God has, will and will continue to silence the mouth of the unbelieving, the callous-hearted, and those who refuse to acknowledge His divine presence. His creative presence will twinkle in the stars and His praise will be sung from the heart of children. Even the coo of an infant resonates with His Spirit and loving presence. Hold a baby in your arms just like Mary held Jesus and the world is reduced to one radiant truth… innocence holds at bay the harsh, cynical, hate-poisoned world for at least that moment and reminds us of how precious is life. How happy is the place where God dwells… in heaven… in the eyes of a child!

Psalm 8 begins and ends with the convocation: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! God’s majesty is not just in the beauty of a sunset or sunrise. His presence is not unfurled only in the starry night or streaming beams of sunlight through billowing clouds. His sovereignty is revealed in all He has touched and nothing exists without His touch! May God bless us all with eyes to see His presence wherever we find ourselves… whether in the presence of three-year olds or stuck in traffic. Open our eyes Lord so we may let You in!

Number Your Days!

Are you a little tired of Octomom, Oprahland, Paris Hilton dribble that fills the airways with such silly nonsense that it leaves you glassy-eyed and stunned? War, Recession, and Global tension seem to be passed over for more meaty subjects like should Rihanna forgive Chris Brown for hitting her (I don’t know who they are either!)? In a week where a nine year old girl with leukemia married (i.e. ceremonially vowed eternal friendship) a seven year old boy with leukemia and Hollywood laments the death of greasy haired actor Mickey Rourke’s dog, Loki… well, loki, loki, where we’ve landed! Moses’ prayer (Psalm 90) seems to scream out at us –“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (v.12).”

Psalm 90 is this wonderful poetic reminder that life is too fleeting and fragile to be bogged down with nonsense and misdirected energies. God grant us the wisdom to buy up the opportunities that measure our lives and honor God with hearts filled with His wisdom and His direction. I recently was in a conversation with a young man in his senior year in college and he expressed how anxious he was for his life’s goal and dreams to begin to take shape. I reminded him that life moves by way too fast and that he should enjoy the time he now has in college. I didn’t say number your days but then again I did. Each day should be weighed not in light of future goals but embraced with the present joy and delight of the moment. O, I know some days are dog days and some days are rainy, curl-up until it’s over days but I think even those days build an important part of our lives. But only when we are searching for God’s voice in all that we do and say!

Now, I said all of that to say this, “Worship is best when it is a state of mind!” I can’t read minds nor am I the judge of anyone's heart but I do often see what appears to be worship catatonic syndrome (i.e. pew snoozing) where it appears that worship has been nudged out by boredom. It could very well be the preaching, or the singing, or the air conditioning… but my guess is that it’s a disconnect from the moment! Random thoughts, concerns and an endless list of distractions have robbed us of Psalm 90’s most important point. “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us –yes, establish the work of our hands (v.17).” Never forgetting that He is with us in the pew keeps worship alive… it keeps life on track! -DAN

I Cry Out!

Christian musician, Craig Musseau, wrote the stirring song that our youth often sing. It begins, “I cry out, for your hand of mercy to heal me.” We’ve all been there emotionally, physically and spiritually. It’s all too much and from somewhere deep within we cry out for God’s healing touch! Last Monday was a rollercoaster ride… Pam and I were off and running until it caught up with us. First we heard that Jim Spencer who we were laughing with and praying with Sunday evening had passed away. Then finally another call catches up with us to let us know our little Lilly was in emergency on IV’s and oxygen so we rushed to emergency. Our unhappy redhead was glassy eyed while mom and dad stroked her lovingly assuring their big girl all would be okay! A battery of tests, x-rays and fluids drawn were accompanied by the sound that breaks even the toughest among us hearts… a child’s cry! Pneumonia discovered… but with the fever down and fluids up and those awful tubes and needles gone Lilly finally smiled. And then she said the words that always fill my heart, “Pappy.” For several hours Lilly’s Pappy had been crying out to God for his hand of mercy to heal her!

The title of Craig Musseau’s song is not “I Cry Out.” It is, “Good to Me.” The refrain of the song affirms that God has been good to him… that God is good! Here’s the rest of the story I need to tell you… You see while I waited patiently by Lilly’s bedside holding her hand I kept fighting off the story that had been told to me the day before. Someone had told me about a little girl in the very hospital we were in who had come in with pneumonia and they were unable to stop the damage it made to her lungs and the child died. Now, my granddaughter lay in a bed fighting against the ravages of pneumonia. I’ve not prayed and promised and petition so long and tear filled with my God in a long time. Lilly is getting better… my God is good… but what about the family that lost their precious little one? Is God just good to a few?

That’s a hard question. Many shout it away with resounding faith that testifies to the ever present God of comfort who rescued them even in the valley of death. Yes, our God never fails but life and the consequences of fallen mankind often rip away from us what is most precious. In this life tragedy will sometimes prevail but God who feels its weight stands by waiting to offer His greatest gift… His presence! I’ll keep praying for Lilly and each prayer will include a whispered ache of sorrow and a hope for comfort for the family who lost their little girl! I’ll do this because… my God is good! -DAN

Worst Christian I Know?

What qualifies you as the worst Christian someone knows? Ask Mike Garza and you are treated to a creative communion talk that grabs your funny bone so it can sneak up on you with a Nathan the prophet sucker punch that leaves you reeling with the reality that “you are the man!” Like the apostle Paul we are left with the resolve, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners –of which I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15).” Fortunately, Paul also concludes, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 7:24-8:2).” Such freedom however, cannot be taken for granted or cheapened by disregard for the costly price that had to be paid in our behalf. Our place in Christ spans from the lofty assurance that we are seated with him in the heavenly realms to the sacrificial call to be crucified with Him. Being conformed to the image of Christ is a daunting challenge that requires more surrendering than it does rendering. That is, the sinner redeemed never forgets the sins that kept him from his God. Like Isaiah we cry out, “Woe to me… I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5).” And so we live our lives in grateful stride hoping that our meager offerings of obedience and love will be acceptable to our God not because of who we are but who we have become in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I’ve spent a lot of time recently with three brand new grandkids holding, rocking and drinking up the beautiful innocence of a newborn. How can these precious little ones ever be viewed as part of sinful mankind? It is their innocence that highlights the woeful reality of our lot of being the worst Christians we know! They remind us that not only do we need the cleansing blood of our Savior but we must be reborn… we must discover the birth that is from above that strips us of our arrogance and releases us from a selfishness that is self-destructive. We must rest in God’s hands and trust in His Spirit’s lead.

Now, the rub here is that all I have said is a spiritual truth that you know, believe and trust in. How is it that even though we have crucified the old man and put on the new man, we continue to struggle with sin? The good fight of faith is as much internal as it is external and only when we accept that we are the worst will we embrace the one who is the best! So let us gather around His table again and again to be reminded of where we were, who we have become and where we are going as we proclaim His death until He comes again! -DAN