Garry Mullen

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 7, 2010): Isaiah 55

In the church, we think of this concept as the invitation or the call to community. Everyone is welcome, and we have what you need. Come. The problem is that those being invited often don’t understand the invitation. Why would they want to come? it doesn’t make a lot of sense. And so those of us inside the church do what we always seem to do. We say it louder. But the problem is that there is still no understanding.

So I wonder why we (those of us who collectively form the church) have accepted the invitation. I think the reality is that at some point we reached bottom. We realized that we needed something – forgiveness, love, a place to belong, We were tired of playing the game. It was at that moment we heard the invitation – and we responded – we came.

It is too bad that we sometimes forget that. We get carried back into the game we left – for no other reason, really, than we have always played it. And when we get back into the game we lose the genuineness of the invitation that attracted us in the first place. For that, I am sorry. At the same time – I really want you to hear the invitation. For our part – I hope we will speak it with love and as fellow travelers on the journey - because that is our reality. No matter what your background or belief system – we are in this together.

The reason why I want you to here the message – is because I need to hear it too. I am thirsty for more. Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters. It is there for us. 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Zechariah 4

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 6, 2010): Zechariah 3

I believe that there is a serious disconnect between what the world seems to think is important and the truth of what is important. We seem to put a lot of emphasis on what has happened. We want to emphasize what have you done in the past? What experience do you have? Somehow we believe that what has happened is a good indicator of what will happen. And sometimes we are right. But the problem is that the emphasis assumes that we live in a static world – that we don’t grow or learn – and that change is impossible.

But the truth is that we don’t live in a static world – and we change. Often our failures are more important than our successes – because our failures become the best teachers that life has to offer. As a result, those that have struggled in the past are sometimes better equipped to meet the future then those that have found easy success. And in the end – what is really important is what happens tomorrow.

That is a principal that is not lost on God. What is important is not what has happened – we have all struggled and failed and stand in filthy clothes and in need of forgiveness. What is important is what we will do – what actions we are brave enough to take. And sometimes those that have struggled in the past make the best foray into the future – if they are willing to learn from what has happened in the past and allow God to move them into the future.

God has never wanted your past to define you – he always looks to your future for the definition. And that is why we always need to stand in of repentance – in need of saying to each other and to God that we refuse to let the past define us. We agree with God that our lives are about the future. God has taken away our sin – and absolutely nothing else matters.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 5, 2010): Zechariah 2

Where do you belong? It is one of the fundamental questions of our lives. Is there a place where we can just – well – be? A place where when we walk in through the door, no one is surprised, we are supposed to be there. Is there a place where you belong?

It is the social question of our lives. I love the idea of the old sitcom “Cheers.” There is a place where everybody knows your name. Wouldn’t it be great to be Norm? Well, I mean, his life is kind of a mess, there is absolutely nothing cool about him – but when he walks in the door everyone knows him – he belongs. There exists a place where even Norm belongs.

If what we need is a place where we belong – why do we create places that are exclusive? It is almost as if deep down we believe that if we belong in a place – then others can’t. Israel did precisely that. They were the children of the one true God and that was a very special and honorable place to be. It was a place where they belonged was together and with God. But they formed the belief that they were exclusive. Zechariah seems to disagree. He speaks of a future day when many nations will be joined with God. In that day many nations will be called his children. They will finally find a place where they belong.

There are many things that can separate us, but in God the barriers are torn down. God’s desire is that we can call each other brother and sister – no matter how different we are. And when that happens, it really is evidence that he is with us.

Our purpose should be to create places and situations where people belong. It is time to start to tear down the barriers that separate us.

 Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Zechariah 3

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 4, 2010): Zechariah 1

I have struggled with the practice of writing in my Bible. I get that it is a tool and that I need to use it that way – and that there is a journey that I am on and my bible can be part of the roadmap that I am following. I understand that it can keep some of the things that I have learned in the past fresh in my memory – I get all of that. And yet I still have trouble writing in my Bible. Somehow the knowledge of what I should do doesn’t translate into the appropriate action.

I tell myself that part of my reticence in writing in my Bible is that I keep wanting something fresh from God. What I learned last week, or last year, is important – but it is part of yesterday. Those thoughts I can keep in a journal – or in a file on my computer. What I need for today isn’t what I needed yesterday – what I need is something fresh and I don’t want what I have discovered in the past to interfere with that.

Having said that, in my Bible Zechariah 1:3 is underlined. It is a concept and promise that I never want to forget. And the separation between me and God is on me. God has promised that he will come to me the moment that I turn around. And he has promised it for everyone that I know. No one is so far separated from God that God won’t return to him if they will simply turn around.

The myth is that it may have taken me a long time to walk away from God – and it should take me just as long to walk back. But the myth is untrue. God returns when we simply turn around and walk toward him – long before we deserve him (by the way, we never deserve him.)

That should be a very encouraging thought for us – it is for me. And it keeps me driving into the future. God is with me, so I can face today.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Zechariah 2

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 3, 2010): Exodus 10

My Apology – There was an error in yesterday’s blog. The reference was from Exodus 11 instead of Exodus 10. Today we will look at Exodus 10

The idea that everyone is created equal seems to be so central to humanity. We believe it should be that way. We see the inequality – but I think deep down we really think that inequality is wrong. We may define the inequality in different ways – but inequality is never okay. We aim for the standard of equality. And sometimes we forget that it wasn’t always that way. In fact, the idea that every person is created equal is a very recent development in human society.

Sometimes we interpret the Bible as not being strong on human rights. But the only way that we can come to that conclusion is by interpreting the Bible with a 21^st century attitude. When it is read according to the day – God’s Word is always found pushing the cultural ideals when it comes to rights. And so we come to this great passage – even your women and your children are allowed to go and worship. Culturally that was not an attitude held by the people. And yet the bible sets this standard of inviting women and children into the presence of God.

Today we just accept that. Women are keys to the health of our churches, we insist that our kids are not the church of tomorrow – they are the church of today. But that pushes another question. Who is it that the church doesn’t accept with equality? Who is it that we maybe secretly wish weren’t there. They answer to that question is the human rights battle field of this century.

Christianity – in its purest forms – will always stand at the edge of culture with its arms open to the marginalized and issue the invitation to come and worship. In God’s eyes we are all equal – and none are more equal than others. And as the Christian moves through culture, it isn’t with an air of superiority – it is always a meeting of equals.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Zechariah 1

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 2, 2010): Exodus 10

I continue to want things to be easy. I know that they can’t be – and I also know that what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger (or something like that) – but I want things to be easy. I don’t think I am alone in the desire. The culture in which I live seems to insist on everything being easy and fast – and last a long time.

It really shows up in our relationships. Aristotle said that “wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.” If he was right then maybe the reason why true friendship is so rare is because we often don’t wait for the fruit to ripen –all we ever get is the bitter taste of the unripe fruit.

There is truth in the idea that we get stronger through the trials – but there is a second truth that we sometimes miss – God gets stronger too. In the middle of the trial – his strength is multiplied. When things get to the point where we can no longer handle them – then we are ready to see God work some of his best miracles. And he is ready to move.

Sometimes the tough times are not evidence that God has deserted – but evidence that the power of God is about to be revealed around you. Be patient and wait on God. He will be there in the moment that you – or I – really need him.

Have a great day!

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 11

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 1, 2010): Exodus 9

I wonder how much of what goes wrong in our lives is because we have knowingly decided, against our best judgment, to make wrong decisions? I mean, we talk about bad luck and not being able to catch a break – but is it possible that at least part of the time we simply made wrong decisions - and that we made those decision, not because we lacked the knowledge to make a right decision, but because we wanted something different.

I have watched more curling during the Olympic Games than I think I ever have before. And I was impressed with the number of decisions made in a game – and how sometimes the right decision and the one the one that you may want to make are different – and have very different results. Often it seems that the game doesn’t hinge on the ability to throw the stone – but about making the decision of where to throw the stone.

Sometimes our desires take us away from the right decision. Sometimes we are just too lazy do the right thing. For the people of Egypt, that seemed to be the problem. They were warned, they had seen what God had done, the answer was simple and yet some chose not to make the right decision. Even though they knew what that decision was.

Some things are simply out of our control. But I have a suspicion that if we just took control of what isn’t out of our control – life would be a lot easier and we wouldn’t have to complain about ‘things not going our way.’ Take responsibility for your decisions – own them – and things will get better.

Have a great week!

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Exodus 10

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 28, 2010): Luke 13

I am not a garden person. If the flowers and vegetable gardens at my house depended on me – well there wouldn’t be any. I often can start off well, I make pledges that this year I will get out and do more – I mean there are some positive benefits. I love the outdoors and can be addicted to the sun – and the exercise can’t hurt. But it doesn’t take long for my enthusiasm to fade. Life always seems to intrude. The draw of the garden and its benefits isn’t as strong as the draw for other things. And so the responsibility for the garden slowly begins to fall to someone else – my wife.

So Jesus tells a story about a man and his vineyard. In the vineyard is a vine that isn’t producing. The owner wants the vine removed – but the caretaker pleads for the branch. What it needs is not to be torn up – but to be loved and cared for – it needs to be nurtured by the hands of the gardener. Somehow I don’t think that Jesus was giving us gardening tips.

Some tender care is what most of us need more of. The problem is that we are also damaged – often too damaged to be able to give the love that is needed. So our plan is often – not always – to leave the task to someone else. We demand the love and concern but never give it. As a result our communities are often stressed with a lot of people needing love and a few faithful souls looking to give it. And it doesn’t work.

I think Jesus had a different model in mind. Notice it isn’t the owner of the vineyard that was responsible for giving the care. It is the gardener that fights for the garden, he is the one that recognizes the need. Is it possible that that is Jesus point? If you are the one that sees the need, your responsibility isn’t to tell someone – it is to take care of the need. We need to walk thorough life with our eyes wide open looking for people that need to be cared for. And I suspect that if we do – we will find ourselves cared for as well.

Open your eyes for someone that just needs your love today – and don’t be afraid to give it.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 9

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 27, 2010): Luke 12

I know I have talked about culture a lot on this blog – but for me it is just incredibly important. It doesn’t matter what it is that you are trying to do – unless you know how to connect with the predominate culture that surrounds you, you won’t be successful. There is a list of companies that have died because they have forgotten to make that connection. At one point they had found a way to connect with culture – but refused to change as the times and the predominate culture changed.

So this makes Jesus words here interesting. Not being able to interpret the signs of the time – not being able to understand the culture – Jesus relates with being a hypocrite. It is not a definition to the word that most of us would come up with. We would probably define a hypocrite as someone who refuses to walk what he talks. But Jesus says he is also one who doesn’t understand the times. A hypocrite is literally an actor on a stage. An actor goes through the motions, but there is no real impact to his action. When we don’t understand our times, there is no way that we can make an impact.

In the church we have too often taken a stand that says not connecting with culture is desirable. Jesus seems to disagree. Without the cultural connection, we are not more holy – we are hypocrites. Without understanding culture our actions are without impact – just like actors on a stage.

We just weren’t designed to just go through the motion. We are designed to make a difference. Sometimes that might bring criticism – but at least we know we are creating impact.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Luke 13

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 26, 2010): Luke 11

Have you ever asked for something – or had someone ask you for something? I admit that it is sometimes a hard thing for me to do. I don’t mind when people ask me for something – but making the ask of someone is sometimes hard. I don’t want to be an imposition – and sometimes I am afraid of the rejection. If I don’t ask you for anything – I don’t give you a chance to reject me.

But sometimes we have to make the ask. Sometimes the issue is too important not to. In the last few months it seems that I have been forced into the ask too many times – and I few times I have been rejected. But I am thankful for the times that the answer has been yes.

Why is it that we sometimes don’t make the ask of God. Is it the fear that he will reject us, is it a lack of faith, or maybe even a belief system that says that God doesn’t listen to our prayers – that somehow the future is all mapped out and there is nothing that we can do to change it? I think it is a bit of all three. But the problem is that God tells us to make the ask. It is the point of this parable of Jesus. Not only are we to make the ask – but we are to make the ask boldly and persistently. Somehow this honors God who wants to give to us.

It is one reason why I am not sure that the future is really fixed. I know it sounds heretical – but what if God knows the possibilities of the future – all of them – but not the ones that we will choose. What if what we ask for – or refuse to ask for – really shapes our future and shapes the person we become? What if God expects us to be persistent in our prayers for the things that are really important? What if …?

I think the answer will change your world. What is it that you need to pray for today?  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Luke 12