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The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most beautiful works of literature ever written. At least that’s the way I looked at it for most of my life. Now don’t get me wrong, I still believe it’s beautiful. Some of the concepts put forth, however, seemed like something that could only be attained by Christ himself, or at the very least, we believers after we had passed from this life into heaven.

In the past few years, I have felt the Holy Spirit draw me into these three chapters of Matthew’s gospel as if he were dragging me in and saying, “I’m going to hold you here until this becomes you!”

Some of us refer to the Sermon on the Mount as the constitution of the kingdom and I believe that is an appropriate term, but we cannot allow ourselves to merely give mental assent to it, stand back and look at with admiration as we would a masterpiece painting in an art museum. We must let the Artist Himself draw us in and allow this work of art to capture us.

The kingdom life described here once seemed so foreign to me because it’s just not accepted behavior in our culture, especially here in the west. It’s not like Jesus didn’t prepare us for this sermon when he said in chapter 4, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repent – change the way you think, which results in a life change.

My view of the Sermon on the Mount changed when I began to understand that the kingdom of heaven is not some far-away place, but a present reality. Does the Lord’s Prayer ring a bell? New Testament theologian and scholar N.T. Wright so eloquently puts it this way:

“So when do these promises come true? There is a great temptation to answer: in heaven, after death. At first sight, verses 3, 10 and 11 seem to say this: ‘the kingdom of heaven’ belongs to the poor in spirit and the persecuted, and there’s a great reward ‘heaven’ for those who suffer persecution for Jesus’ sake. This, though, is a misunderstanding of the meaning of ‘heaven’. Heaven is God’s space, where full reality exists, close by our ordinary (‘earthly’) reality and interlocking with it. One day heaven and earth will be joined together forever, and the true state of affairs, at present out of sight, will be unveiled. After all, verse 5 says that the meek will inherit the earth, and that can hardly happen in a disembodied heaven after death.

No: the clue comes in the next chapter, in the prayer Jesus taught his followers. We are to pray that God’s kingdom will come, and God’s will be done, ‘on earth as it is in heaven’. The life of heaven – the life of the realm where God is already king – is to become the life of the world, transforming the present ‘earth into the place of beauty and delight that God always intended. And those who follow Jesus are to begin to live by this rule here and now. That’s the point of the Sermon on the Mount, and these ‘beatitudes’ in particular. They are a summons to live in the present in the way that will make sense in God’s promised future; because that future has arrived in the present in Jesus of Nazareth. It may seem upside down, but we are called to believe, with great daring, that it is in fact the right way up. Try it and see.”

 

If the Sermon on the Mount seems too far out of reach to you as it once did me, then maybe you’ve chosen to live outside of the realm where God is king. When Jesus announced that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, it was more than just an announcement, it was an invitation to join him now.

I will be exploring the Sermon on the Mount in more detail in my next several blogs. I hope you’ll join me!

 

In him whose kingdom is everlasting,

 

Kevin

Recently, I was thinking about this phrase that I’ve heard for many years and even said it myself numerous times: “Make Jesus the Lord of your life.” When I consider that he is the Lord of all creation, it seems rather absurd that I could make him anything when he actually made me!

What does it look like in reality when I do acknowledge the fact that he is the Lord of my life?

What if we considered that he (Jesus) is the center of all creation? I love the way the Apostle John begins his gospel –

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  (John 1:1-5)

 

Think about this. Before anything else existed, Jesus was. He was before anything else!

 

And then the Apostle Paul says this –

 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence.  (Colossians 1:15-18)

 

If he is before all things, then if I consider him to be the Lord of my life, wouldn’t he be before me?

In one of my recent times of morning prayer, I wrote these words in my journal –

 

“In the beginning was the Word.

He is before all things, and in him all things consist.

Before I speak, I must consider him.

Before I form an opinion, I must consider him.

Before I act, I must consider him who is before all things.

 

How many words have I spoken and never considered whether it sounded like Jesus? How many opinions have I formed and never considered whether they reflected Christ as presented in the gospels? How many of my actions have demonstrated what Jesus looks like to the world around me?

If we are going to see a spiritual awakening in our day, these are the things we must consider. In light of all the political divisiveness on display recently, I’m convinced that Jesus wouldn’t identify with any political party, despite claims by each to the contrary. You might want to read about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 to find out with whom he really identifies.

I have read John 1 and Colossians 1 many times, but had never seen them in this light before. Knowing Jesus, who is The Light, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ll probably see something new again the next time.

 

Don’t you just love it?

 

In Him who is before,

 

Kevin

There is a revolution underway. It’s not a political one, even though there has been a shift in power which is nothing really new. It’s not the kind of revolution that happens by physical force. I’m talking about another kind of revolution. This revolution is in the way we see and understand the very nature of God. This revolution is not by physical force as I just said, but it is occasionally very violent.

Just write a book called “The Shack” like William P. Young did, turn it into a major motion picture, and you’ll see some conflict break out. Just do like I did and make a post on Facebook saying that you saw the movie and loved it. Swords will be drawn by a few religious folks, most of whom have never read the book or seen the movie, but have already been told that it’s heresy by some who feel it is their duty to point these things out and save us from deception.

So, what is it about this book that has so many people on a “witch hunt”, so to speak? I’m not going to tell you what the book is about, because I want you to read it for yourself.

I would like to tell you about my experience with it, though. When I read the book I experienced a degree of inner healing from some pain that I had from my earthly father. This was not what I was expecting when I picked it up. I just wanted to read a good novel. I saw myself in much of the story. I can’t even begin to tell you how many layers there are to this story.

There were also several layers around my heart that began to get peeled back as I faced my own anger, disappointment, bitterness, and unforgiveness.

Something else I saw that I had never considered before was the relationship that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have with each other. This relationship is hi-lighted in the book and movie. It is a real eye opener if you’ve never considered it before.

I used to have the idea that it was God the Father alone who created the heavens and the earth, and somewhere later the Son and the Holy Spirit showed up and thus we have the Trinity. However, they were there together in creation. (Genesis 1:2, 26)

They have forever been in perfect relationship with one another, and the most beautiful thing about it is this: They invite us into it with them!

Yes, there is a revolution beginning and it is violent because it requires a radical shift in our way of thinking. These ideas however, are not new. They are as ancient as God Himself. I will leave you with this quote from C. Baxter Kruger:

“The life that God lives as Father, Son and Spirit is not boring and sad and lonely. There is no emptiness in this circle, no depression or fear or angst. The Trinitarian life is a life of unchained fellowship and intimacy, fired by passionate, self-giving love and mutual delight. Such love, giving rise to such togetherness and fellowship, overflows in unbounded joy, in infinite creativity and unimaginable goodness. The gospel begins here with this God and with this divine life, for there is no other. Before time dawned and space was called to be, before the heavens were stretched out and filled with a sea of stars, before the earth was summoned and filled with people and life and endless beauty, before there was anything, there was the Father, Son, and Spirit and the great dance of Trinitarian life. The amazing truth is that this triune God, in staggering and lavish love, determined to open the circle and share the Trinitarian life with others. This is the one, eternal and abiding reason for the existence of the universe and human life within it. There is no other God, no other will of God, no second plan, no hidden agenda for human beings. From the beginning, God is Father, Son and Spirit, and from the beginning, this God has determined not to exist without us.”

Beautiful.

Come join the dance.

 

Kevin

I just recently experienced the most extraordinary ten days of my life. I have tried to find words to describe it, such as incredible, wonderful, amazing, but none of them seem adequate. I’ve been on a mission trip to Belize. Perhaps certain images are conjured up in your mind’s eye when I say the words “mission trip” – building an orphanage, assisting in a feeding program for starving children, doing a vacation bible school, constructing a church building, etc.

None of the above.

We laid hands on people and prayed. Most of them were in need of physical healing. Many of them were healed. We conducted healing crusades in four places – Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Dangriga, and in the Toledo Disrtict near Punta Gorda. We travelled over 900 miles in two passenger vans, one of which I was called upon to drive the entire time. Let me just say that I may never complain about road conditions in my own country again.

Having covered the nation of Belize from top to bottom (literally), I can say that there is no lack of presentation of the gospel. The gospel of salvation, that is. There are billboards, signs, and bumper stickers galore proclaiming man’s need to turn from his sin and accept Christ. There are also a great number of missionaries in Belize. As we were travelling out of the city of Belmopan toward San Ignacio, my friend Danny, who lives in Belize, pointed out that this stretch of road is called “Missionary Row” because so many missionaries and ministries are stationed on it. There is no shortage of the gospel in Belize.

When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples and later seventy, he specifically told them to heal the sick among other things, such as raising the dead and casting out demons. He told them to preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They were to preach the gospel of the kingdom.

Jesus spoke a lot about the kingdom of God. Most of us are familiar with these words Jesus taught us to pray – “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  I’ve never been to heaven, but I’m confident there is no sickness there.

Jesus didn’t come just so that we could go to heaven when we die. He brought heaven with him. Now he commissions us to bring heaven wherever we go.

Why did Jesus tell his disciples to heal the sick? Physical healing is a tangible sign of the kingdom. It is an undeniable sign that the kingdom of God is present. Healing seemed to be so easy those ten days in Belize. Was it because we were travelling with a man who operates regularly in a powerful gift of healing? Was it because we were in a country where most of the citizens have fewer options than we do when it comes to physical needs being met? Maybe.

Recently I asked the Lord about this, and for me personally the answer was simply, compassion. A few weeks before the trip, I began asking God to give me a love for the people of Belize. As I laid my hands on and prayed for each person, I could literally feel the love of God go out from me. It is indescribable.

One night in San Ignacio a young man, probably 18-19 years old, came to me for prayer. I asked him what was wrong and he said he had injured his right knee playing football (soccer). I put my hand on his knee and prayed. Then I asked him how he felt. He said “better”, but still had some pain. I thanked God and prayed again. This time his pain was completely gone. There were many people I prayed for who were healed, but this one was a little unusual. I’ll tell you why.

A few hours earlier, some of us had visited the Xunantunich Mayan ruins and while climbing up the steep steps, I tweaked my right knee. What started out as slight discomfort had become severe pain by the time the young man came to me for prayer. He was healed, but my pain was getting worse by the minute. As the ministry time was coming to a close I asked three different team members to pray for my knee. Each time my pain got worse until I could not take a step without wincing in pain. By the time we arrived back at the place we were staying, I could barely make it up the flight of stairs to my room. To my surprise, I resisted the natural inclination to be upset with God for not healing my knee. His grace is so good! Instead, I was remembering the smile on that young man’s face when the pain left his knee. When I woke up the next morning my pain was gone completely and never returned.

But what about the ones who weren’t healed? I don’t have an answer except to say this – they went away knowing someone loved them enough to come all the way from Texas to pray for them.

I really don’t understand why everybody is not healed when I pray for them, but I do understand this – it’s not about healing. It is about releasing the love of God to someone who needs to know they’re loved.

I’ve never been to heaven, but I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of love there.

 

On earth, as it is in heaven.

Kevin

 

Recently, as I was in a prayerful time of contemplation, I heard these words, “Wholeness begins with gratitude.” I immediately thought of this story:

 

Then as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

So when he saw them, He said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

And he said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole.”

(Luke 17:12-19)

 

How astonishing! Ten lepers were healed, but only one was made whole.

What does it mean to be made whole? It is the Greek word sozo, which means to save, deliver or protect, to heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole. Think of it this way, ten men got an outside job, but one got an inside job too.

Why weren’t they all just instantly made whole when their leprosy was healed? My body is separate from my soul. The soul is made up of the mind, the will, and the emotions.

One man returned to Jesus and thanked him. This man acknowledged the source of his healing. This man’s wholeness began with gratitude. Something changes inside of us when we choose to be grateful. Our focus shifts from something bad to something good. Rather I should say it shifts to someone good.

Try it. When you find yourself feeling down because it seems like Murphy’s Law has been put into effect in your day, find something good to be thankful for. There is good all around you just waiting to be acknowledged. When we do this, our soul is acknowledging our Creator who happens to be really good.

 

David, the psalmist, understood this so well when he wrote these words:

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Psalm 103:1-5)

 

Sometimes you just have to say to your soul, “Hey you! Look at all this goodness that comes from God!” We live in a culture that seems bent toward cynicism and negativity. Have you looked at Facebook lately?

A couple of weeks ago, a friend ours started a social media campaign called #findingthegoodin2017. Through this, everyone is encouraged to find the good things in life and post them on social media. I think it’s a fantastic idea! This can be more than just a campaign. We can start a movement. We may not eliminate all the negativity, but we can flood it so heavily with goodness that we drown out it’s voice.

So let’s do this – personally and publicly. You and I were placed here to not only make a difference, but to change the culture. I’ve often said, “you don’t have to look very far to find something bad. Well, you don’t have to look very far to find good. In fact, good is living inside you. His name is Jesus!

 

#findingthegoodin2017

 

Are you with us?

 

Finding good,

Kevin

 

 

I sit down to write this blog, I just spent the past 20 minutes reading a back-and-forth debate over the kingdom of God and politics on Facebook. Who won the debate? Nobody. In fact, I can’t recall any of these discussions (for lack of a better word), no matter how eloquent, where one party suddenly said, “Wow, now I see where you’re coming from and you are right! I’ve completely changed my mind now! No, it’s usually the opposite – we just become more polarized and hardened in our position.

One particular trend I have noticed is what I call the “gotcha” culture. It’s where certain people feel the need to point out and publicize the errors (or perceived errors) of others. It’s like leaven in the bread of social media these days. Somebody’s secret sin gets exposed and we want to make sure the world knows about it. There are even certain news organizations that will throw a catchy headline out there, true or not, just to get your attention. “Shocking Secret Affair Exposed.”

I’ve fallen for it. You may have too. This is nothing new. It has been around since the early days of man. In the ninth chapter of Genesis there is the account of an incident involving Noah and his sons. After the waters form the great flood had receded, Noah settled down, became a farmer, and planted a vineyard. One day when he drank the wine, he became drunk and was laying naked in his tent. His youngest son, Ham, saw his father naked and told his brothers outside. His two brothers, Shem and Japheth, took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered their father’s nakedness. As they did, they looked away and did not see their father’s nakedness. It goes on to say that when Noah woke up and knew what his son had done, he pronounced a curse on Ham’s descendants.

So why was this such a big deal?

There was obviously something in Ham’s heart that wanted to expose his father and make him shameful in the eyes of his brothers. In doing so, he dishonored his father. Honor is a big deal to God.

Unfortunately, we live in a culture that puts a high premium on shame. Just stand in line at your local grocery store and look at the scandalous headlines on the gossip publications. It sells. Great delight is taken in somebody’s failure being exposed.

And of course, let’s not forget the woman caught in adultery who was brought to Jesus. We all know how that story ended.

Love covers.

One son wanted to expose his father, bringing shame upon him. The other two sons loved him enough to cover him.

My wife loves me and I love her. There are things we both know about each other that we could tell others, thus exposing one another and ultimately destroying each other with shame. We choose not to do that because we choose love instead. There are things I know about some of you. I could easily destroy your reputation.

Love protects.

Obviously, I don’t love you at the same level I do my wife, but what if we, who call ourselves brothers and sisters, loved enough to cover one another up?

Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all sins.

Proverbs 10:12

And above all things have fervent love for one another,

For love will cover a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:18

Here are three things I believe will help us to walk in love toward someone who has been exposed:

 

1. Pray for them. In secret!

 

2. Cover them. If they’ve been exposed and shamed, then you be the one to walk backward and cover them up.

 

3. Ask God if you’re the one who should restore them. There is a proper way to do this: Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness yourself before the day’s out. Galatians 6:1 MSG

Let’s create a culture of love.

Love,

Kevin

 

 

 

 

 

In my church, we have recently been practicing the sacrament of communion much more frequently. I like that. I think Jesus likes that. After all, he did say, “as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me.” It sounds to me like he would prefer that we do it often as opposed to seldom.

I remember as a child, sitting in the church pew watching my mother and other church members eating the little cracker and drinking the grape juice, wishing I could join in too, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t allowed to because I had not yet made a “profession of faith.” That happened when you walked down the church aisle, shook the preacher’s hand, and repeated the “sinner’s prayer”, and instantly became a member of the church.

As I reflect back on that time, I think my wishing I could partake was actually Jesus beckoning me to join him in this meal and to partake of him. Of course, that does sound like something he would do. After all, he is known for his willingness to sit down to a meal with all kinds of people.

As I told you a couple of blogs ago, I recently been experiencing a renewed and rejuvenated prayer life. In my morning prayer, there is a point somewhere in the middle of it when I become quiet for a little while and wait for him to speak, show me something, or maybe just to feel his love wrap around me. Some call it contemplative prayer. Brian Zahnd calls it “sitting with Jesus.” That’s what I’m calling it too. It has become my favorite part of morning prayer.

On Christmas morning, while sitting with Jesus, no sooner had I closed my eyes when I saw Jesus seated at the table with his disciples. He looked at me and held out the bread and wine. I heard him say, “this coming year, you will truly begin to understand what it means to eat my flesh and drink my blood.” That may sound rather morbid to you if you’re not familiar with the scripture in John 6 where Jesus actually talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

Of course, we know it’s all really just symbolism, right? Or, is it? Well, apparently those who heard him say it at the time knew it was more than just symbolism –

 

From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more.

(John 6:66)

 

I have already experienced the presence of God in a more powerful way each time I have received communion this new year. There is something very real taking place.

Most of my life, I’ve heard it said that the bread and wine are merely symbols of the body and blood of our Lord. Then, of course, there were the words inscribed on the table in front of most traditional pulpits – This Do In Remembrance of Me.

Over 2000 years ago, the disciples sat with Jesus in the upper room and shared in that meal. For Christians, the disciples who sat in the upper room with Jesus and shared in that meal are us.

When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are doing it in remembrance.

 

“That doesn’t mean just ‘remembering’ Jesus and his death. We do not simply recall the events of Calvary with our minds and hearts in faith and love and awe—though we should certainly do that every time we come to Jesus’ table. It means that somehow Jesus is present; that his one-off death is made contemporary with us. The unique past event rushes forward to accompany us on our journey.”

N.T. Wright, The Meal Jesus Gave Us: Understanding Holy Communion

 

There is so much more that can be said about this topic and surely so much more for me to learn. I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll be learning a good portion of it as I experience it. He invites you and me to the table where he is present. This is one of those places where heaven meets earth, where his will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

He has invited me to the table. I look forward to our next meal together.

This is dining at it’s finest!

 

Enjoying his table,

Kevin

I’ve never been too keen on New Year’s resolutions. After all, why should I need a calendar date to make any change in my habits or lifestyle? I can change something just as well on December 28^th as I can on January 1^st, but the fact is we mark New Year’s day as a new beginning and a place to start over. With that in mind, I’ve made a list of 3 things I want to do better in 2017.

 

1. Love my neighbor better.

Of course this begs the question, “Who is my neighbor?” My neighbor is anyone I encounter. It’s the single mom with her two kids in front of me in the check-out line at the grocery store who comes up a few dollars short to pay for her items and I happen to have a $20 bill in my wallet. It’s the guy on the freeway who carelessly whips in front of me to cut me off (I need a lot of grace on this one!). It’s the homeless man. It’s the guy who has the complete opposite political views than me. In a nutshell, I want to be less focused on myself and more aware that there are those around me every day who need love.

 

2. Be a better listener. (when my wife reads this, she’ll respond with an Amen!)

I want to be a better listener to other people. Instead of hearing a couple of words and immediately making a pre-judgment (prejudice), I could actually listen to them with an open mind and try to understand where they’re coming from. Sometimes we can be so anxious to let our point of view be known, that we fail to really hear the other person.

 

“Whoever answers before listening is both foolish and shameful.”

Proverbs 18:13

 

3. Pray better.

Not more, just better. When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he said –

 

“In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”     

 

Jesus didn’t just give them a suggestion, he gave them an actual prayer to pray. When I pray in this way, it aligns my life with heaven. This is not about praying eloquent prayers, it is about me aligning myself with heaven’s intentions. There is something powerful that takes place when we make time to pray.

I’m not talking about praying over your meal. This is about spending time, one-on-one, with Jesus. And in that time, not only talking to God, but listening to him as well.

This blog has been short and to the point this week. I could probably come up with many more, but these are the three “biggies” right now.

 

What do you want to do better in 2017? I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

See you next year,

 

Kevin                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

A couple of years ago I purchased a song on iTunes. There’s nothing unusual about that, except this particular song seemed so descriptive of where I felt like I was at this juncture of my life. The song was “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, by U2:

 

I have climbed the highest mountains

I have run through the fields

Only to be with you

Only to be with you

 

I have run, I have crawled

I have scaled these city walls

These city walls

Only to be with you

 

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a seeker. For as long as I can remember, there has been a cry from my innermost being that says, “there must be more!”

It’s a search for something real. Something authentic. Something genuine.

 

I liken it to pecan brittle. Yes, pecan brittle. I remember eating peanut brittle as a child and being somewhat unimpressed by it. I’ve seen peanut, pecan, and even cashew brittle fancy in packages in stores and have tried some of it. But then there’s Becky’s Famous Pecan Brittle. It’s authentic, it’s real, it’s original, and it’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted. No fancy packaging, just a little brown paper bag with a red ribbon around it, with a little tag on it. But inside is something delightful and delicious.

 

I, like so many others these days, have grown tired of the plastic, glossed over, loud and flashy, what-can-we-grab-their-attention-with-this-week church scene. Where is the authentic?

 

As this year comes to an end, I will have read 12 books, all of them good, but the last one could be considered the icing on the cake (or maybe the cake itself). The Book is “Water to Wine” by Brian Zahnd. Ironically, in the first chapter he quotes the first verse of the song I spoke of in the beginning.

 

I’ve read a lot of books in my life, but I don’t know that I’ve read one that so resonated with where I am in my search. Here’s what he says about the book on the back cover:

 

“I was halfway to ninety—midway through life—and I had reached a mid-life crisis. Call it a garden-variety mid-life crisis if you want, but it was something more. You might say it was a theological crisis, though it makes it sound too cerebral. The unease I felt came from a deeper place than a mental file labeled ‘theology.’ I was wrestling with the uneasy feeling that the faith I had built my life around was somehow deficient. Not wrong, but lacking. It seemed watery, weak. In my most honest moments I couldn’t help but notice that the faith I knew seemed to lack the kind of robust authenticity that made Jesus so fascinating. And I had always been utterly fascinated by Jesus. What I knew was that the Jesus I believed in warranted a better Christianity than I was familiar with. I was in Cana and the wine had run out. I needed Jesus to perform a miracle.”

 

Brian Zahnd, Water to Wine

 

The greatest impact this book has had on me has been my prayer life. I would be more honest and truthful to say my lack of a prayer life.

 

I have now begun using a liturgy of prayer outlined in this book that has not only changed my prayer life, but is changing me!

 

I’ll leave you with another quote from Water to Wine –

 

“The primary purpose of prayer is not to get God to do what we think God ought to do, but to be properly formed. Prayer is not about advising or managing God; prayer is about us being properly formed.”

 

To be continued…

 

Merry Christmas to all,

 

Kevin

As most of you who read my blog know, I talk a lot about changing the way you think. In one of my earlier blogs I wrote about a 21-day brain detox that I do on a continual basis. I recently decided to begin a series of detoxes based on the Sermon On the Mount found in Matthew’s gospel.

I have probably read these three chapters more than any others in the New Testament the past few years, yet I sense that there’s still something deeper that I need to see, understand, and experience. The Apostle Paul said it so well –

 

“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened…”

 

This, and the passage in its entirety in Ephesians, explains why I need to pick a portion of the Bible that I’m already so familiar with and let it transform me so completely that when I come out the other side, I look, sound, smell, taste, and act like Jesus. I won’t be allowed to turn back to that way of thinking that says, “Oh I know Jesus said that, but c’mon, we live in the real world.”

 

I have decided to follow Jesus.

 

Oh, the many times I sang that song growing up in an evangelical church and thinking it meant, “I have decided to punch my ticket to heaven.” If that is all it means, then it would have been better to have drowned me in the baptismal tank!

I am forty-seven days into this massive detox and I’m on Matthew 5:5 –

 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

 

What is meekness?

The late Warren Piersol gave the best explanation of meekness I’ve ever heard. He gave the example of a horse, which as we know is one of the strongest and most powerful animals on earth. The horse is also one of the most useful animals known to man. But he is only useful if he has been broken and tamed.

Once broken and tamed, he becomes gentle and cooperative. But he still has the power and strength to kill you. Powerful, yet gentle. Gentle, yet powerful.

So it is with a man who is meek. No better example of this than Jesus.

He was God. He had the full disposal of God’s power at His fingertips. He had the power to do great harm to His enemies, even kill them. When the band of Roman soldiers, led by Judas, came to arrest Him in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword and cut off an ear of one of them. Jesus, who could have slain them all with one command, healed the soldier’s ear instead. That is meekness.

I’m not sure at this moment that I would be able to respond like Jesus did, but I want to. I want to be like that.

I believe this world could use some meekness right now. A lot of meekness. Meekness is not weakness. In fact, it is the opposite. You and I have the power to kill our enemies. Not only physically, but with our words. I have that power. You have that power. But there is a power that waits to be unleashed on the world that can only be unleashed through meekness. It is the power of love. The power that comes only from the One who is love – Jesus. It is unleashed when we let Him put the bit in our mouth and let Him gently guide us with His reins.

 

In the kingdoms of this world, the powerful rule.

 

In His kingdom, the meek inherit the earth.

 

Learning meekness,

 

Kevin