Sharing the gospel

Sharing the gospel 

Is not preaching at

But preaching with

It is not an angel coming from on high

To command the people 

With stern authority

It is more like sharing the journey

More like Moses 

Who lived with the people

Than Gabriel 

Who appeared for a few moments

And was gone

As Paul said 

It is an offering of 

The very self

Not just words

Lord help me to share 

In that way 

From your Spirit

Imitation

"And you became imitators of us and of the Lord"
--1Thessalonians 1.6

When my sons were little
They imitated our facial expressions 
They imitated the way 
I ran and kicked a soccer ball
The way I shot a basketball
They imitated our speech 
And phrases, our tone of voice
Our gestures

We all need someone to imitate
We all become unique individuals
And ultimately, we look to the
Model of Christ
But we all need models of the faith
With flesh on
People who can show us 
The expressions, the patterns of speech
The gestures, skills, and action
Of a Jesus follower

That's one of the miracles 
Of the Jesus movement
He did not leave us alone
But by the power of the Holy Spirit
Left us people to help us learn
The Way

Who are you imitating today?
And who is imitating you?  

All praise

All praise to you

Brilliantly beautiful Father

All trophies laid at your feet

Pure loving Son

All glory to you

Terrible and mysterious Spirit

You search all things

You sift the hearts of mortals

To you belongs 

The far flung galaxies

Every single star

In the myriad expanse

Of the heavens

Every single atom in the Universe

Every proton, neutron, and electron

Glorifying you

By their very existence

Life force, power, unending motion

I only ask one thing

To behold your sheer brilliance

All the days of my life

And indeed forever more

Wait

Wait on the Lord
Wait?
Really, Lord?
But we're supposed to have things . . .
Instantly!
When Israel had to wait
On Moses
They cast a calf idol of gold

When we have to wait
We try to cast idols too
Idols that will speed things up

I was eating out at a nice restaurant
And the people behind me
Complained to the manager:
"We didn't enjoy our meal!"
"Why not?" the manager asked
"Because we told them
We had to eat in 30 minutes or less!
And they took longer!"

Can you eat a fine meal in 30 minutes or less?
Nope

O, Lord, help us wait on the fine meal
You are preparing for us
A meal of bounteous goodness,
Grace, and Love
Help us when we
Must . . .
wait 

Confession

"Who can detect their errors?"

O Lord, I am aware of my errors

My anger, my impatience

Saying ugly words 

Demanding my own way

But I'm sure there are 

Other sins that I am not aware of

As Julian did, 

I happily confess them to you

Happily because 

There is vacancy at the cross

For my sins

Happily because 

I can unload them from me

And lay them down at your feet

Happily because I'm tired of trying

To be good

And ready to have a

Justifying and sanctifying 

Injection of the Holy Spirit 

Purify me by your grace

Because my efforts are not enough

But you are all sufficient