Ring of Fire

One thing you need to understand about me is that I'm a slow learner.  Many times it takes awhile before I begin to comprehend what everyone else seems to figure out fairly quickly.  For example, when I was in school it really took me a long time before I was able to even start to understand mathematics.  My poor parents struggled with me as I tried to work through addition and subtraction.  Then it got worse with multiplication and division.  I'm not sure how I made it through school enough to get a degree; I guess it was simply by the grace of God.

But math is not the only place it has taken me awhile to figure what is happening.  Even though I was raised in a church, it took me 28 years to figure out what Christianity and discipleship really mean.  My mind was so focused on myself that I was unable to see beyond what I wanted.  Even though I attended church, read the Bible (occasionally), and sang along with Christian radio, my mind did not figure out the reality of the resurrection and what it means to follow Christ.

We Methodists have a long history of that.  In fact, our father in the faith John Wesley was a slow learner.  Even though he had been raised in a family with strong ties to Christian service, he didn't seem to get it either.  When you read through his journals you can certainly see that he knew the doctrine, but he didn't live it out according to God's desire.  Methodists love to tell the story of John Wesley's faith journey and how his "heart was strangely warmed" while he attended a Bible study.  And we love to show off Father Wesley after this episode of catching on to God's way of living and doing.

When we look back at Church history, it becomes clear that the same thing has happened over and over again for 2,000 years.  After Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, he sent the promised Advocate.  His arrival was nothing short of amazing.  Here is how it happened, "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."--Acts 2:1-4

This coming Sunday we will commemorate this important part of our collective history.  After the Holy Spirit descended upon those disciples, you see them changed.  Peter, who had denied Christ, suddenly became an incredible leader among the others.  All of the disciples who had abandoned Jesus when he was crucified suddenly were able to testify who this man is and what it was that God was doing in their midst.  The danger was still imminent; the Jewish leadership were still riled up; the Roman authorities still had the ability to kill them.  And yet, here are the same men who, just a few weeks before, had fled and are now unafraid.  They are willing to die for what they know and for what they have experienced.  Why the change?

Clearly, the difference is the Holy Spirit.  He has come into their lives and has given them the authority, boldness, courage, and willingness to stand up and tell the truth in love.  He has engulfed them with the very fire of God and they are now equipped to go forth and tell the world the wonderful and amazing news of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Last week the western half of the United States witnessed an amazing natural wonder.  Many of the newscasters described it as a "ring of fire."  Here is a picture my dad took of the event last Sunday.


In the picture, you can see the moon in the middle of the sun.  The sun still shines forth from behind the moon. It makes the entire picture glow with awesome power and glory.  This is how I think of my own Pentecost experience.  Yes, my Pentecost was a ring of fire.  I can honestly say I am not the same person I was when I fell into the ring of fire.  I suppose that I continue to live there within the ring.  I like to think that I am the moon and the Holy Spirit is the sun.  Even though he is behind me, he is the one that matters.  He is the one you really notice first.  He is the one with the power, light, and strength.  Johnny Cash's song "Ring of Fire" pretty well sums up my Pentecost.  I did fall into the ring of fire.  The love of God flows through that burning ring.  I love living my life here.  This burning, fiery love fills me and it helps me to desire to follow God's will in my life, wherever that may lead me.

It seems to me that at some point, every Christian has his or her own Pentecost.  Suddenly, Scripture makes sense.  You realize that life is not worth living without a daily interaction with God.  You realize that every other relationship you have is second only to the relationship you have with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.  You desire to know God better and you are willing to do whatever it takes to know him.  All of that comes about because of the Holy Spirit's activity in your life.  Thanks be to God!  Until next time...

Print Page

Don't Forget...

In 1907 a wonderful ministry was begun by a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (the forerunner of the UMC) by the name of Anna Jarvis.  She organized a special service in her home church in Grafton, West Virginia.  In that service the congregation honored her mother who had died a couple of years before.  Within a year, she began to push that all Methodist churches have a service to honor mothers.  Eventually, the idea caught on and it literally swept across the globe as countries all over the world adopted some form of a Mother's Day celebration.

Just like with many other holidays, Mother's Day can be commercialized.  Stores try to sell more stuff, greeting card companies try to guilt us into buying expensive cards, and flower shops push their wares.  But as Christians, we should rise above the hoopla and regain the true essence of the holiday.  It's really not about the gifts, cards, or flowers.  It's not even about dads trying to fix a nice meal for their wives or children coloring pictures to hang on the fridge.  It's more about saying "thank you."

To be honest with you, I didn't really learn to appreciate my own mom until my wife became a mother.  I will never forget that first night that Myranda and I spent in the hospital after our eldest child was born.  It had been a long day.  We were both exhausted.  That night, the nurses came and picked up our baby to take her back to the nursery and we quickly fell asleep.  And then it happened...at about 2:00 in the morning the phone rang.  We both sat up, bleary eyed and still out of it.  The voice at the other end said, "It's time to feed your baby."  Myranda said, "What baby?" and I thought "Who's calling us at 2:00 a.m.?"  Needless to say, we finally woke up enough for Myranda to nurse the child.  Unbeknownst to us at the time, this was just the first of many sleepless nights and confusion on what we were to be doing as parents.

For the last 13 years, I have watched my wife mother our children.  Each one is different.  Each one is special.  Each one drives us up the wall in her own way.  And each one is loved so much.  As I reflect on Myranda's mothering ability I can't help but think about God's divine love for us.  His love goes deeper than even a mother's love.  He cares for us even when we cry and throw a fit.  He watches over us even when we do really dumb things.  He continues to show us the right path to follow even when we don't listen.  Sounds a lot like a mother loving her children, doesn't it?

In 1 John 5:1 we are told "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child."  I have found this to be true in my human relationships and in my spiritual relationships.  The people who have loved me for as long as I have known them also love my girls.  The people I love their children I love too.  I guess that's what makes Christianity so amazing to me.  I love God with everything I have.  Sometimes I disappoint him.  Sometimes I fail to live up to his standards.  Sometimes I spend more time disliking others than I do trying to understand them.  But the truth is, I no longer doubt his love.  I know he loves me and I am doing everything I know to do to love his other children too.

So this week we get to honor mothers.  We get to celebrate a love that reflects the love that God has for people.  We get to give back in a small way to women who have borne us, loved us, showered us with attention, and watched us grow from needy infants to real people.  May God allow us to catch a glimpse of his love through the love of a mother for her child.  Until next time...




Print Page

Holiness of Heart and Life

The reality of the resurrection should be making a difference in the lives of the people of God.  In fact, it is clear when we read Scripture that God has an ultimate goal in mind with people.  He wants to bring their joys to completion.  He wants to bring true peace and fundamental assurance to the hearts of human beings all over the world.  His one desire is to see people come to him and to allow him to transform them into who he wants them to be.

Many times, we read about God's transforming Spirit in the writings of John.  However, the truth of salvation is sprinkled throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament all the way through the New Testament.  Infusing humanity with God's holiness and love is the point the apostolic witness we read in the epistles.  One example that has spoken volumes to me and continues to speak to me each time I read it comes from 1 Corinthians.  Paul says, "Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived!  Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.  And this is what some of you used to be.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."--1 Corinthians 6:9-11

I love this statement from St. Paul!  This is what you used to be.  I certainly see my former self in that list.  However, because of the love of God, he takes something vile, evil, and dirty and cleans it up.  He washes, sanctifies, and justifies his children and turns them into something new...something clean...something that is worthy of inheriting his Kingdom.  That is what true salvation is.

After these verses, St. Paul instructs the congregation in Corinth that they are to live their new lives in accordance with God's design.  They are are reminded that they were "bought with a price" and that because of this, they should "therefore glorify God in [their] body."

Holiness is what I thirst for.  Righteousness is what I desire.  God's Spirit is active in the lives of his children and because of his love he replaces the former desires we had with a desire to serve, love, witness, and teach about what God has done and what he wants to do.

As you listen to the words of this song, allow God's holiness to wash over you and remind you that you are indeed on the road to perfection.  +May God's full salvation graciously enter into your heart as you continue to walk by faith.  Until next time...




Print Page