Security in insecure times

Continuing to read A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. We read the chapter on Security and I lead a short study on it today. I will share my study with you and the quotes from the book. Start by reading Psalm 125. This Psalm deals with feeling a sense of security in a world that is not very secure, and the fact that security comes from an authentic relationship with God. Below are some quotes from the book and some questions to consider:


Backsliding Christians (p. 84 & 91)
"Backsliding was everywhere and always an ominous possibility. Warnings were frequent and the sad consequences on public display. The mood was anxious and worried. I was taught to take my spiritual temperature every day, or at least every week; if it was not exactly “normal,” there was general panic. I got the feeling that backsliding was not something you did, it happened to you. It was an accident that intruded on the unwary or an attack that involved the undefended. . . When mountain climbers are on dangerous terrain, on the face of a cliff or the slopes of a glacier, they rope themselves together. Sometimes one of them slips and falls – backslides. But not everyone falls at once, and so those who are still on their feet are able to keep the backslider from falling away completely.”

How do we stop our own backsliding?
What impact does backsliding have on our sense of security?
How do we help keep other from backsliding without being judgmental?

Someone else built the fortress (p. 84-85)
“Living as a Christian is not walking a tightrope without a safety net high above a breathless crowd, many of whom would like nothing better than the morbid thrill of seeing you fall; it is sitting in a secure fortress. . . People of faith have the same needs for protection and security as anyone else. We are no better than others in that regard. What is different is that we find that we don’t have to build our own.”

Do you accept that fortress and all that it means?
Is it hard to accept the fortress that God provides?

A Saw-Toothed History (p. 87)
“But all this time, as we read that saw-toothed history (of Israel), we realize something solid and steady: they are always God’s people. God is steadfastly with them, in mercy and judgment, insistently gracious. We get the feeling that everything is done in the sure, certain environment of the God who redeems his people. And as we learn that, we learn to live not by our feelings about God but by the facts of God. . . My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel.”

How do we divorce our feelings from the facts?
How do we focus on who God is, not how we feel?

A Damoclean Sword (p. 88)
“Psalm 125 was written by a person who did not have anesthetics in his hospital or aspirin in his medicine chest and whose government did not have hundreds of billions of dollars to spend on national defense. Pain and suffering were most certainly part of his daily life. Why did they not destroy his confidence?”

A Nonnegotiable Contract (p. 90)
“We have our ups and downs, zealously believing one day and gloomily doubting the next, but he is faithful. We break our promises but he doesn’t break his. . . All the persons of faith I know are sinners, doubters, uneven performers. We are not secure because we are sure of ourselves but because we trust that God is sure of us. The opening phrase of the psalm is “Those who trust in God” – not those who trust in their performance, in their morals, in their righteousness, in their health, in their pastor, in their doctor, in their president, in their economy, in their nation – “those who trust in GOD.” Those who decide that God is for us and will make us whole eternally.”


Thinking of our ups and downs and the way that we stumble as Christians, yet the security we still have because of our relationship with God, the DC Talk song What if I stumble? came to mind. You can hear it here:


There are two parts of this song I really like, the introduction (which is on the original song and album, not just added):
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today
Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips
Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

And one of the last lines that gets at the heart of security in a relationship with God:
I hear You whispering my name [You say]
"My love for You will never change" [never change]

No matter what we do as Christians, God's love for us will never change as long as we seek to be in an authentic relationship with Him. That, my friends, is security.

Cool Geography Game that helps get safe drinking water to people who need it.

http://www.freepoverty.com

8 Year Anniversary!

My wife Jessica and I are celebrating our 8 year anniversary today.

A brief rundown of the places we have lived since getting married:

-2 weeks in Kreidler Hall (Dorm at PLU in Tacoma, WA)

-3 months apart (me in Ecuador, Jessica finishing her degree at PLU)

-7 months in Cuenca Ecuador

-2 months house-sitting in Lakewood, Washington (when we got back from Ecuador, free housing)

-3 months apart (me in Juneau, AK working for Alaska Airlines, Jessica finishing her teaching contract in Kent, WA)

-1 year in Juneau, AK

-7 months in a rental house in Denver

-5 years in our current house in Englewood, CO

What a fun and incredible ride it has been! My wife has been an amazing partner through all of these moves, times apart and my myriad of career/job/life direction changes. If you want to test the durability of a marriage, I strongly recommend the moving schedule above combined with one spouse getting laid off and changing jobs 4 times in the past 8 years. (Can you say adult-onset ADD?)

Along the way we have:

-Earned a combined total of 3 masters degrees (I won't tell you who has which, but you can probably figure it out.)

-Adopted an incredible dog who is like our child, "Sol."

-Traveled and/or lived together in: Ecuador, Peru (2x), Mexico(3x), Dominican Republic, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, 7 other western States, 5 mid-western states

-Sea-Kayaked in the Northern Pacific ocean, Sea of Cortez/Gulf of California, many lakes and the South Platte River

-Owned a Bronco 2, Volvo 240, Ford Explorer, Subaru Impreza Sedan (for 1 month), Subaru Impreza Wagon, Ford Escape Hybrid

Some wisdom/advice after 8 amazing years of marriage:

-APPRECIATE your partner; appreciate everything that s/he does for you and for the relationship from the daily mundane of unloading the dishwasher or picking up the dirty clothes to the big stuff like supporting you when you get laid off or your family is falling apart. ALWAYS express that appreciation.

-BE there to support your partner. Sometimes that means just listening at the end of the day. Jessica doesn't always want me to solve her problems, sometimes she just wants to get them off her chest.

-CUDDLE. Physical contact has amazing powers of healing and connection.

-DELIGHT in each other. Really take joy in your partner and look forward to the time you get to spend together.

-EAT meals together. You really have to be intentional about this. Sit at the table and turn off the TV.

-FIGHT FAIR. Sounds strange, but be comfortable with having disagreements and arguing about it. That is healthy. But don't bring up past events and don't keep something bottled up inside until you blow up. Bring it up when it makes you mad, fight about it, but fight fair.

-GO on dates. Again, be intentional about this, but make the time and space to reconnect. It doesn't have to cost a lot, but it has to be an intentional time for the two of you to do nothing but focus on the two of you.

-HOLD HANDS. Back to that amazing power of physical contact.

-INVEST in the relationship. A good relationship is truly an investment of time and energy, but it is so worth it. Small, intentional investments in the relationship can pay long-term dividends.

-JOVIALITY Staying cheerful to each other in spite of what life may throw at you

-KINETIC. We are always in motion, but working at moving together. Synchronize your actions.

-LINE-ITEM VETO. Ok, this may take a little explanation, blame the political scientist in me. When your spouse is critiquing or criticizing part of an idea you have, don't immediately get defensive and take it as a criticism of you or of your whole idea. Give your partner the benefit of the doubt and allow them a "line-item veto" while not undermining or feeling criticized about your idea as a whole or you as a person.

-MAKING OUT. Don't ever stop kissing, hugging, touching. Remember when you were first dating and everything was fresh and new. Don't lose or forget that feeling. Sometimes it is fun to just make out like a couple of teenagers.

-NOSTALGIC. Don't forget the good times. When the going gets tough, it becomes easy to focus on the negative, but be nostalgic for all the positive parts of your relationship and work to recreate those

-OPEN-MINDED to the possibilities God may have for you and your partner.

-PRAY together, and pray specifically for your relationship, even when it is going well, don't forget to thank God for that.

-QUEEN, treat her like one, not the band, the royalty

-ROAM together. Traveling together strengthens a relationship

-SIMPLICITY. The most important relationship in the world is the two of you. It is that simple.

-TAKE TIME for each other and your relationship. This is a recurring theme, but be intentional about building, supporting and protecting your relationship by making and taking time for it.

-UNDERSTANDING is so key. Really work to understand your partner and what s/he needs from you to be the best s/he can be. Then provide that.

-VENTURE to new places and try new things together. Keep it fresh by sharing new experiences together and build your life around what you learn about yourself and each other from those experiences

-WAIT for each other. Sometimes you and your partner will not arrive at the same place together, so be patient and wait for each other. (both metaphorically and physically) Also, WAIT on each other, serve your partner with no expectation of anything except for the joy you should get from serving your partner.

-XYLOPHONE Couldn't come up with an "X" word, and xylophone is always my default.

-YEARN for each other. Yearn for the success of your partner, the happiness of your partner and the love of your partner. Yearn together.

-ZANINESS. Described as foolishness or passion, be comfortable being a passionate fool for your partner.

In the "better half" equation, there is no doubt that Jessica is my "better half." She moderates me in a good way and loves me more than I could ever hope for. Thanks for 8 great years, and here is to 80 more!

Working for a non-profit in an economic recession

Filling a 5 gallon jug of safe drinking water at one of Healing Waters systems in the community of "El Puerto" in the Dominican Republic.

Kids taking their bottle of water back to their family

I had some hope the economy would start to turn around or at least level out and stop dropping with a rise in confidence from the stimulus getting passed last week. No such luck.

My working theory on the economic recession is that it is a combination of 2 factors:

1. Legitimate economic problems/issues associated with banking, foreclosures, etc.
2. Lack of confidence in the economy

When people lack confidence, they turn inward and stop spending. Even I have started saving more and spending less in the past few months, so I guess I am part of the problem.

My hope was that with Obama's election and the subsequent stimulus/bailout package, that confidence would start to return. I had no illusions that it would be immediate, or that things would turn around by March, but I had hoped we would see some signs of hope.

Working for a non-profit, all of this is compounded. We have seen a major drop in donations. The need for safe drinking water in developing countries continues to grow, but our ability to meet that need and install new systems depends on getting donors to help pay for the installation costs. Needless to say, my job and salary are also donor dependent, so there are some real concerns there as well.

I read this article in the Denver Post and thought I would share it with you. There are some really good points in the article, so read and enjoy!
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_11762219

Can't get this song out of my head

For those of you that know me, I have a special place in my heart for country music. Maybe it was growing up in Northern Arizona, maybe its my love for the storytelling tradition, maybe I just find it catchy. Anyhow, there is a relatively new country song that I really like, and I can't get it out of my head, so I thought it would share it with you.



My favorite verse in the song is:
And its funny how it's the simple things in life that mean the most
Not where you live or what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind
This I've come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise you glasses for a toast

So much we can learn from these simple kernels of wisdom and truth all around us. Just need to stop to take the time and listen to them.

A call to service

This is a photo of me and Ed Anderson, the CEO of the non-profit I work for, Healing Waters International. Ed exemplifies the idea of Servant Leadership and demonstrated that to me so much this week. . .

Social service organizations and non-profits are really getting hit hard right now due to the economic downturn. The bitter irony is that their services are needed now more than ever. Soup kitchens are seeing a drop in volunteerism and a rise in people that are coming to them in need of food. Low-cost and free medical clinics are experiencing the same thing, drop in support and rise in patients. I heard a statistic that 20% of all non-profits will cease to exist within the next 18 months. Victims of the economic recession. . .

As Christians, we are called to service, and as the economy continues to kick us while we are down, I challenge you to look up and look out and see how you can help.

I am still reading the "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" and just got done leading a study on chapter 5 this morning at work. Chapter 5 focuses on Psalm 123 and the notion of service. I really liked this quote on page 67-68:

"God's people are everywhere and always encouraged to work for the liberation of others, helping to free them from every form of bondage - religious, economic, cultural, political - that sin uses to stunt or thrwart or cramp their lives. . . Those who parade the rhetoric of liberation but scorn the wisdom of service do not lead people into the glorious liberty of the children of God but into a cramped and covetous squalor. ¶ As Psalm 123 prays the transition from oppression (“kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men”) to freedom (“awaiting your word of mercy”) to a new servitude (“like servants alert to their master’s commands”), it puts us in the way of learning how to use our freedom most appropriately, under lordship of a merciful God. The consequences are positive. I have never yet heard a servant Christian complain of the oppressiveness of his servitude. I have never yet heard a servant Christian rail against the restrictions of her service. A servant Christian is the freest person on earth."

In these tough times, let's strive for our freedom by becoming better servants of God and serving others. That could mean volunteering, or just sitting and listening to a friend or neighbor who is struggling. As hard as it is to focus externally while we are hurting so much internally, that may just be what will get us out of this crisis and turn things around.

A quote that gives me peace in turbulent times

This is a photo of a child in Guatemala at one of the water purification systems installed by Healing Waters in the Landivar community in Guatemala City.

Still reading the book "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" by Eugene Peterson. Wanted to share this slightly long quote with you from page 62:

"Too often we think of religion as a far-off, mysteriously run bureaucracy to which we apply for assistance when we feel the need. We go to a local branch office and direct the clerk (sometimes called a pastor) to fill out our order for God. Then we go home and wait for God to be delivered to us according to the specifications we have set down. But that is not the way it works. And if we thought about it for two consecutive minutes, we would not want it to work that way. If God is God at all, he must know more about our needs than we do; if God is God at all, he must be more in touch with the reality of our thoughts, our emotions, our bodies than we are; if God is God at all, he must have a more comprehensive grasp of the interrelations in our families and communities and nations then we do."

Wow! What a relief. It is a test of faith to see how deeply I believe this.

I am generally a very sound sleeper, but I have not gotten a night of really good sound sleep in over a week. It is time to "Let go and Let God!"

A prosperity gospel I can live with

Kids at a school in Guatemala that is partially funded through the water system that was installed by Healing Waters International.

Many churches in the past few years have been preaching a "prosperity gospel" that I don't agree with. It is essentially the concept that God desires the material prosperity of those He favors. But to be in God's favor, you must give freely and sacrificially to the church. Essentially, I have seen pastors say this, that if you give $100 dollars to the church today, God will bless you with $1000 in the future, even if that $100 was designated for paying rent, or a heating bill, or for food for your family. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_gospel

I really take issue with this spin on the gospel. My primary critique is best summarized in this quote: "Any Gospel that cannot be preached in a Third-World country is not the True Gospel of Jesus Christ" -- Dr. David Jeremiah

Today, as I was continuing to read A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson I came across a different "Prosperity Gospel" that is much more in line with my own faith. Peterson writes, "Prosperity has nothing to do with insurance policies or large bank accounts or stockpiles of weapons. The root meaning is leisure - the relaxed stance of one who knows that everything is all right because God is over us, with us and for us in Jesus Christ. It is the security of being at home in a history that has a cross at its center. It is the leisure of the person who knows that every moment of their existence is at the disposal of God, lived under the mercy of God."

That is my prosperity gospel!

Convicting Quote

My co-worker at Healing Waters International and good friend Tyler Clark, playing with some kids in Guatemala - Alleluia from head to foot!

I am reading the book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. This book is a great read.

There is a quote I found in it by Augustine that really convicts me when I am feeling down or not living the life I am called to live:

"A Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot."