Perspectives on the Spiritual Journey

As I drove from Des Moines to St. Louis to spend Christmas with my family, the fog was, as they say, thick as pea soup.

During the early morning foggy drive, a number of parallels came to mind between my drive to St. Louis and my spiritual journey. These include:

Early in the journey there is uncertainty

While you can’t see the end, there is a clear path ahead

It is helpful to travel in groups

It is helpful to follow experienced travelers

You will gain courage and light as your journey continues

On journey, people make mistakes. Cut them some slack

You will pass some people and some people will pass you

There are rest stops along the way. Stopping stops your progress

Don’t miss your turnoff

Music helps

Take notes

There are perils around every corner

Push ahead hard and don’t lose patience with your progress

As you gain experience you will be able to lead others

Even after a long way, there are still foggy patches

Going too fast is dangerous

Too much focus on personal comfort will slow your progress

It is dangerous to follow anyone too closely

Pay attention to the signs

Focus, effort and discipline are required throughout the journey

Comparing Catastrophes

Recent reports on the situation of homeowners displaced by wildfires in the southern California, prompted some thought.

An update from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, a make-shift refuge for some 12,000 people, detailed that: food and water donations have greatly exceeded the need; police/security is readily visible in significant force; the crowd has been extremely well-behaved. And it seems like the national media was present on the scene very early in the happenings.

It makes me wonder about the contrasts experienced during hurricane Katrina in the greater New Orleans area. Refugees at the Superdome had little food, water, police supervision, and in some cases—personal restraint. It also seemed that the national media was slow to pick up this story.

While the situations are different, some of the differences may bear consideration.

Why was the media slower to pick up the story in New Orleans? Why was there less enforcement of civil order in the Superdome and surrounding New Orleans? Why have food donations been so plentiful on the west coast? How is the difference in personal behavior among the affected residents in the two catastrophes to be explained?

Aside from logistics and disaster preparedness, the two groups of people present a number of other differences. These include social and cultural differences, economic and educational differences, and even differences in expectations. And it is true that some people are harder to love than others.

However, if I believe that ALL PEOPLE bear the imago dei, the image of God, then none of these differences should matter. If these differences did make a difference, it is a tragedy much worse than the hurricane itself.

Brett Farve Reminded Me of Sowing Seeds

Two weeks ago the football world, and especially fans of the Green Bay Packers, celebrated a new record. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre threw a record-setting 421st touchdown pass. This is a tremendous accomplishment for the 38 year old veteran of 16 seasons playing professional football.

What is really significant—and important enough for our church newspaper, is what happened this past Sunday. Brett Favre set another historic passing record! Unfortunately fans did not cheer. You see, Favre threw a record-setting 279th interception. It is here that this football veteran brought to mind the parable told by Jesus in New Testament book of Matthew, chapter 13.

In Matthew 13, Jesus explains the trials and triumphs of the believer who goes out to tell others about Jesus, faith, and eternal life. The parallels of this story and the two recent records set by Bret Favre are astounding.

Jesus explains that when you attempt to explain your faith sometimes people will not catch on and Satan comes and “snatches away” the seed you’ve sown (v. 19). Just like 279 of Brett Favre’s passing attempts intercepted by the opponent.

But at the conclusion of His explanation (v. 23), Jesus says that some of your attempts to share your faith will be caught and produce remarkable results! Just like a number of Brett Favre’s successful pass attempts: many are caught that gained good ground “some thirty, some sixty” as the parable tells; and in Farve’s case, 423 have gone for touchdowns.

What is striking in both the parable and in Bret Farve’s career is the idea of persistence. Last season, Brett Favre had a terrible year, throwing 29 interceptions and only 20 touchdowns. Many thought he should retire; hang it up; give in to old age and discouragement. This is Satan’s goal for you in the area of sharing seeds of hope. He wants to intercept your passes, discourage you, and send you into retirement.

The parable serves to remind us that not every effort to tell others about our journey of faith will be successful. Some of our efforts will be received, but we will see little progress. And some will be significantly blessed by God and produce great results for His kingdom.

It can be helpful to remember that there are a multitude of people who need to hear the transforming message of salvation through Jesus. Satan wants to keep you out of the game. Be persistent. Who would you most like to see in the end zone?

Spiritual Exercise

After a busy two weeks, I returned to my routine of morning exercise at the YMCA. I know I am getting out of sync when this discipline falls by the wayside.

On Wednesday, I arrived much earlier than is my normal practice (since I got out of my usual practice, my timing was a little off). In fact, I arrived at 4:55 am, five minutes before the Y opened. I really don't like to get there and have to wait to get going because it gives my mind time to focus on the pain, sweat, and exhaustion that will be my world for the next hour (and that is just climbing the steps to the gym).

As I waited, trying not to focus on all of that, I counted thirteen people there. Waiting, eager and excited, passionate, about whatever form of exercise they would pursue in maintaining and furthering their physical health.

Later I wondered: why aren't more people this passionate about their spiritual health? How does the church get people to make exercising their spirit a priority that gets them up at 4:55 am? What does it take to get people locked into that type of committed relationship with Jesus? The author of Psalm 63 in the Bible writes about pursing that relationship with God "early" in the morning and late at night. He says he is refreshed by his encounters with God.

Anyway, the workout was hard, but I felt great the rest of the day. And then, maybe that is part of it--does your spiritual exercise leave you invigorated for the rest of the day?

What Captures Our Attention

Rosie quit The View. This seemed to be the major news story of the last few weeks. Yesterday I read a Letter to the Editor of the Des Moines Register pleading with Rosie to take the higher ground and make amends with her foe, Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

All kinda sounds like the story line to a not-to-interesting soap opera.

Here's the question: If Rosie O'Donnell quitting the daytime television talk show The View is the major news story of the week (or even the day) what does that say about our society and culture?

Here's some sage advice from long ago: Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

I don't think the story of Rosie O'Donnell quitting a talk show qualifies.

More on Faith in the Public Arena (Iowa State University)

There seems to be a growing interest in the idea of a privately funded Chaplin for the Iowa State University football team. Actually, it is more like a groundswell of opposition based on the idea of separation of church and state.

In the M*A*S*H television series, I remember something Father Mulcahey once said. Father Mulcahey, played by Bill Christopher, was the Army CHAPLAIN!

So where is this imaginary line separating church and state?

Personal Faith in the Public Arena

On Sunday, May 2oth, Sean Keeler reported in the Des Moines Register that new Iowa State Head Football Coach Gene Chizik told a group that he was seeking a full-time Chaplin for the football team.

Keeler also reported that Athletic Director Jamie Pollard supported Chizik. Pollard also was quoted as saying that the Chaplin's counsel "will be provided to only those who desire it, by an outside agency, not a state employee." Further, Pollard said that "The position is being completely funded by donations made by private individuals."

The Des Moines Register's Sean Keeler then wrote, "You have to be careful. Faith, to many folks, is a very personal thing. Iowa State is a very public institution."

What Keeler does not understand is a concept taught to me by Doug Cecil, who headed the Alumni Office at Dallas Seminary (www.dts.edu) until recently. Cecil helped me to understand, and better be able to communicate that a Christian's faith is personal--but it is not private.

My faith or your faith or the faith of your forefathers is indeed a personal possession acquired through individual trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is not a group or family possession. And the stories of how different individuals came to accept and own that faith is as varied as can be. How you got to that place in your journey is indeed personal. It is not private.

If you have that personal faith, you are called to be a witness to that fact. In the Bible, Jesus tells those who have that personal faith, "You will be my witnesses..." Being a witness means to testify to what you have seen, experienced, or know to be true. If you have a personal faith in Jesus, it cannot be private.

I would hope that more writers would come to understand the semantic difference between personal and private. I also hope that more witnesses would be encouraged to share their personal faith in the public arena.

More than a "Bad Choice"

About a week ago I was saddened by the news that St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock died when his car struck a tow truck that had stopped on Interstate 64 in St. Louis.

I immediately assumed that he had to be drunk off his gourd to run into a parked tow truck. However some friends said they heard alcohol was not a factor. Then I thought we live in what Guy Gray (Riverwest.org) often calls "a broken world."

Later police reports indicated that Hancock was "legally intoxicated" and had nearly twice Missouri's legal blood-alcohol level. St. Louis Cardinals General Manager Walt Jockety said it was "a bad decision" for Hancock to drink and drive.

First, if Hancock had not been drinking, his tragic death would have reminded me that we do live in a broken world. Even if you have no faith-base you still have to admit that sometimes life sucks (the life out of you.) That things should be better than you experience. In the world of Christian faith it is termed the Fall. Sin, death and Satan entered the world and messed up the paradise God created. Now life is hard and bad things happen. My Bible says that Satan prowls around seeking who to devour (1Peter 5.8). If Hancock had died in a tragic accident I would have been sadly reminded of this fact.

Second, however, Hancock made more than a "bad decision." It was a tragic decision...a horrific decision...it was a fatal decision. What Jockety failed to mention is that we are responsible for our decisions...that there are consequences for our decisions and actions. Even if you simply believe that this life is all there is, you recognize that this is how the world works. You understand the reality of life in a broken world and live how you choose. Eugene Peterson in The Message (Hosea 8.7) likens this to planting seeds of wind and harvesting tornadoes. In the life of faith, in contrast, you have a choice...

The death of Josh Hancock brought reminders of another Cardinal's pitcher, Darryl Kyle, who died suddenly in 2002. Kile died of a heart attack at the age of 33, a victim of living in a broken world. Hancock died from harvesting a tornado.

Spirituality and Capitalism

First, thanks to my good friend John Stark who is the technical wizard behind my ability to be here. I'm sure this will be an interesting adventure.

Second, the evening news yesterday reported a widening gap between America's richest and the "working class" poor. For Christians who favor the free-market system and support capitalism to its fullest, there is a little problem here. We want to promote freedom--especially economic freedom, and the image of the success that can be attained via the "Christian work ethic." This is basically a good idea.

However, it may be beneficial, based on the economic climate in which we live--where there are a lot of "have nots," to think through the totality of our view. For while we may support the free market system and the virtues of capitalism, it may be helpful to remember that God says that "the righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor," (Proverbs 27.7).

It seems that one of the challenges for us (Christians) is to balance our desire to reach up to a higher level of economic prosperity with the understanding that each of us individually also has a responsibility to reach back and lift up "the poor."

Joe has a few things to say...

A couple days ago Joe wondered if he should start blogging. I thought... cool.
So, I've set him up and now it will be up to him to provide better content than this.
John Stark