John, whom Jesus loved

I decided that for December I'd take a look at the book of John. If you ask me why, I'd have to say something about it seeming like the thing to do at the time. The reasons aren't very black and white, but at this time of year, we talk a lot about the "reason for the season" and we sing songs about silent nights.

And that's all so important. But I think that to too many people, Jesus is either the baby in a manger (although they don't pray to baby Jesus like Ricky Bobby, I hope) or he's a sacrifice on a cross (and maybe he's still there for you, but he should be so much more). So I wanted to take a look at the gospel written by the disciple "whom Jesus loved."

John, one of the inner circle, wrote his gospel close to the end of his life, many years after Christ's death and resurrection, and after the other gospels were written. So why write it? He didn't write it for a person or even to reach a group of people. John wrote it to show the world who Christ was, so that every person could know him and believe.

To John, Jesus was a man but so much more. John didn't know the baby and met Jesus as he began his ministry, traveled and worked with Jesus, saw the signs of the Messaiah, saw his death and resurrected body and he believed. And he became a leader of the church. I've mentioned before that I really identify with Peter, mainly because he messed up. A lot. But now I'm curious about John. He may turn out to be one of the perfect people...and he probably should be to be that close to Jesus, but I'd still like to know more.

And to encourage my study, I ran across these quotes.

"Martin Luther said that if we whould lose all the books of the Bible except two--John and Romans--Christianity could be saved."

"An old story suggests that an agnostic was challenged by Henry Clay Trumbell to study the Gospel of John. After emerging from his skeptical analysis, the man told Trumbell, 'The one of whom this book tells is either the Savior of the world or He ought to be.'"

Now are you curious too? Who do you say he is?
Let's take a look at it with new eyes. I want to see the Jesus that John knew.

52 Blessings

So, as usual, I've gotten distracted and forgotten to post the way I should. It only gets worse around the holidays when my true funk kicks in (if the definition of "sickly" is low energy and given to depression, I'm entering my sickly phase. See you in March). Now I have a plan. Everything in my life runs on deadlines, so I'm going to make sure I have to post at least once a week. I got my Photojojo newsletter (for people who like photography) this week, and true to the Thanksgiving theme, it's about things you feel grateful for or there's another assignment called "52 Blessings." So basically, I need one blessing a week. Surely I can swing that, right? I'll start it the first week of December. The best part is that they don't have to be earth shattering...there's nothing better than just being happy and doing good. That comes from the verse below, found in Ecclesiastes, right after the "Time for Everything" list.

From Ecclesiastes 3
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

When was the last time...

I was reading a Christian blog written by the pastor of NewSpring church, Perry Noble, and came across the question, "When was the last time you went to church expecting God to speak to you?"

I think expectation is part of my challenge. I go to church because I'm supposed to. Most of the time, that's why. I guess I expect to enjoy it, to check it off my list, and then get on with the demands of the week. I pray because I'm supposed to. Most of the time, that's why. I expect to check it off the list and then go back to the next problem. There are times when I desperately want to hear God speak, and because of the problems that I have with my expectations day to day, it's difficult to hear God speaking.

One of the things I want to take a look at is the difference in waiting and expecting. I think I wait instead of expect and I just know there's got to be a difference.

I just did a very quick search on waiting, and this verse from Micah seemed to fit...watching in hope...that's probably where I need to step it up a little.

Micah 7:7 (New International Version)

7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.

Inspired

It's been a few days since our last video post, so here's another. I really don't understand why people want to add cheesy graphics and weird "Jesus" pictures to perfectly nice videos, but this is the best I've found to go with this Steven Curtis Chapman song.

I'm posting it because yesterday, as I was driving in to work, this song played, and about the time "you whisper and my heart begins to soar", the tears started. It's such a question: Where is the hope of London? Where is the hope for Africa? Where is the hope for the beggar...or the rich man...or me? I think the timing has to do with my response because we were facing an election where the biggest word is "change" and people are desperate for something better. Politics isn't the answer, but hope is.

Whether it's the on streets of London, the children of Africa, every man and woman, boy and girl...every single person needs hope.

And the fact of the matter is that president-elect Obama is just one man. He has a powerful message, but he's just one man. And the truth is that God is in control. And if we want change, we're going to have to make it. And it has less to do with clean energy or fiscal policy or bipartisanship and more to do with living as we've been called to live. Democrat or Republican, the greatest commandment is the same: Love one another. And honestly, if we could just do that, we could change the world.

(Stepping down off the soap box now.)

Abide: Ask

In John 15, Jesus says:
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

4. When you abide, you ask and God moves.

James 4:3 (NASB) says:
3You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

I was looking up verse 2 which says, "You do not have because you do not ask." And this is a problem with me, for sure. I don't ask...until it's really, really big. And often, when I do ask, it's because I have the wrong motives. Either way, I don't have. And this right here, this issue, this promise is where I get hung up over and over. God is good. I want what God has for me. I ask for His direction.
But...I hold something back. I want the good things for sure. But do I really want to take the steps to get there? Especially when they are unclear?

Today I'm saying I do. Father, I want your will for my life. I want to abide in you, to be close to you, to fulfill my purpose in you. Help me abide in you daily, to see where you are working and understand my part and then give me the courage to pursue it. Help me to ask with the right motives for the blessings that I know that you have for me and to maintain the right heart so that I can be used by you.

Abide: His word

3. To abide, you have to know what Jesus says. His words also abide in you.

Psalm 119:11 (New International Version)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

The more I study, the clearer it becomes the less I know. You know? As I read what Jesus says about abiding, it's clear to me that one of my problems is not knowing His words well enough. In John 15, Jesus says that I should abide in him and his words in me. I have the kind of memory that will sometimes allow me to get the broad idea, but not the word-for-word...and that's probably not so good either. And any test better be on the New Testament because the OT can get a little fuzzy. So, uh, here's a sticking point...I see something to change and it's pretty clear on where I need to go...more words, more OT words, more study period.

So, now what am I going to do about it?

Abide: what sorta fruit are you bearing?

2. To abide means that you will bear fruit.

Am I bearing fruit? I'm not sure. I do know what the fruits should be though.
Remember what Paul says about the fruit in Galatians 5? And we're all supposed to have the fruit.

Form the NIV:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Here's how the Message says it,
22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

As I've always thought about this, bearing fruit seems like an on again, off again thing in my life. One time I get it right, the next time I get it wrong...sometimes minutes apart. So maybe the test on abiding is a minute-by-minute kinda thing. Am I bearing fruit now? How about now? Now? And then practice makes perfect? Even this I think is tied to seeing others the way that God sees them, looking through His eyes. It makes all the difference.