August 2010 "Sketchings"

“DANCING WITH THE STAR!!”

“Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” are two extremely popular TV series. They capture the imagination of a “nobody” becoming “somebody.” They capture beauty, partnership, flow and movement. They capture the wonder of being with another person and enjoying the gift of their life and passion.

The whole idea of “dance” could apply to many situations in our lives. Obviously, there is the dance of relationships – marriage and friendships – where we want to tend to relationship with our words and actions, our commitment to daily compliments and expressing love and affection. There is the dance of our playtime where we engage in activities with others, giving our full attention to our participation in the event and our role in that event. There is the dance of work and the market place where we give and take and share on a team to give a full day of our energy and attention to the particular project/activity in which we’re engaged. There is the dance of building up a family where we share chores and experiences and built memories together at the same time finding ways to say “you’re special and loved.”

Now take the next step with me to acknowledge that all of life is a dance. In fact, life is a dance with God. Our faith is a dance with God. It is a dance with “THE star.”

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be yours as well.” Jesus said, “Have no fear little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

In our humanness, we see some of this as being a bit too “religious.” We are quick to shrug it off. We are quick to not invest in this faith thing. We are quick to follow the perceived power of our own way, of our own direction for life. For some reason we want to be “the star” of our own dance. Ultimately we find that this simply doesn’t work so well for us.

Why doesn’t it work? It doesn’t work because a dance involves two. The dance of life and faith involves dancing with “THE star”.

You see, everything in life relates to God. God is at the center. God gives us life and breath, gravity and wind. God gives all the little things we take for granted like our heart pumping and our muscles responding to our brains. God gives us comfort and hope. God gives forgiveness, a fresh start and a second chance. God is right smack in the center of everything we do (see my blog on camp and my sermon for 7/25/10).

To pursue the “dance” theme, it is God became our “partner” when God created us. It was God who took us by the hand and blessed and loved us from even before our birth. It was God who gifted us and blessed us and invited us to the dance of life and the dance of faith.

Why is it, then, that we’re so quick to leave God at the sidelines and dance alone?

So, this is an invitation to dance with God. It is an invitation to dance with “THE STAR”. In dancing with God, you’ll have a faithful partner and guide. You’ll find new truth about your life. You’ll know what it means for a sinner to become a saint. You’ll see the Kingdom that God brings for you, your relationships, your recreation, your job and your emotional life. You’ll discover the truth in “have no fear little flock for it is the Father’s good pleasure to bring you the kingdom.”

Dance with “THE STAR” and you’ll never want to dance alone. Dance with “THE STAR” and you’ll never want to dance alone.

Camp, Co-op activities and Christ

I've spent most of the last several days at our church camp near Ashland, NE. Camp Carol Joy Holling is a wonderful space spread across about 300 acres with hard wood forest, open fields and lakes and waterways. It also has wild turkeys, bugs, and all the other wonders of creation. And this week it has, in addition to the multitude of summer camp staff, several dozen "Confirmation Campers" who are studying, playing, eating and serving together. They are doing so around a theme that has to do with community in Christ. I get to interact with our four students and other students and Pastors as we go about camp life together.

One of the more fun activities to observe are the "co-op" activities where students learn to trust each other, work together and accomplish activities together. These activities are designed to assist students to be able to participate in and complete the "high ropes" course, a task that cannot (and should not) be done alone. They need each other for support, encouragement, balance and community. It is fun to see students complete this challenge together.

Springs campers are divided into several "villages". Each village consists of individuals from different churches and communities. Each village will be "Village for the Day." This year what it means to be "Village for the Day" is that the members of the village work together to carry a large wooden cross -- it is made from 2 x 6 lumber and is probably 12 feet tall. It takes some cooperation and effort for all hands to be carrying the cross. When we see the village carrying the cross we can yell, "Why are you carrying that cross." The village will respond, "Because Jesus is the center of my life."

Jesus the center of my life. Isn't that a wonderful response to a whole host of questions? Why have you chosen to make weekly worship a priority? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why have you chosen to share 10% of your resources with others through the church? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why do you notice the poor and the outcast? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why have you decided to pray and read your Bible on a daily basis? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why are you so eager to tell others what God is doing in your life? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!"

You see, when looked at like this, Jesus as the center of my life changes things. It gives me a new way to look at my motivations, a new way to look at my choices, a new way to think about my discipleship and my following of Jesus.

One of our students observed that many of the things we "do" as disciples we do without expecting anything in return. That's really right on. How can we do things without any expectation of anything in return. Because Jesus is the center of my life! Of course. And because Jesus gave it all for us.

Now, isn't that good news!!

And, oh, I forgot to mention that campers, the Nebraska Synod Mission Trip and World Hunger are partnering to put together 32,000 health kits (soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, comb, band-aids, nail clipper, hand towel and wash cloth) for the people of Haiti. This project is on target to reach this goal by the end of camp next week -- this week campers assembled 4,600 + Health Care kits and the total at the end of the week stands at 30,049. Why? Because Jesus is the center of our life!!

Giving our "Testimony"

One of the unexpected doors that opened for me in the last weeks is in the whole area of "testimony". That is to say that many people I've been with over these last weeks have been free enough to give "testimony" to how God works (past, present and future) in their lives. And, in fact, in reading Acts, that's what the Apostle Paul is all about. Time and time again across the whole of Asia Minor the Apostle Paul "testifies" to the power of God revealed in Jesus Christ. He isn't about much else. He just takes every opportunity to testify to this truth.

As we work through this process of coming together for one strong mission and ministry, I think the core of our work will be in the area of "testimony". I'll be "testifying" to the wonders of God's grace and glory from my studies -- that is, the stories I tell will be stories of how God is working in life. And I'll be looking to hear your "testimony" of where God has been active, moving and shaping lives. Our common witness will help us see where God is leading for our lives together.

I'm longing to hear your "testimony". Hopefully I've turned on the "comment" option for just that purpose.

God is good. All the time. All the time, God is good!