Your Love is Strong

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you’ve found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

-Jon Foreman

Recycled Change

Isn’t that a metaphor for American life?

I saw this while taking out the trash yesterday morning and I started thinking about the word ‘change’.  In presidential elections of course, it is a slogan that means “Our administration will be different than the last guy’s…so vote for us.”  Coupled with the right marketing, shrewd presentation of an alternative platform, and a personality that a diverse population can rally behind, you get ‘change’.  But what about our lives?  What does real change look like?  Can we measure it?  Should we even talk about it?

When most people talk about changing their life, they usually mean “I want to be different.”  Usually this has to do with an unfulfilling job, relationship, or something about their body.  But when Jesus announced the availability of the Kingdom of God to his followers, he wasn’t talking about tweaking our exercise regime or taking pottery classes on the weekends.  We typically equate the word ‘repent’ with individual sins - repent of your greed, lust, anger, etc.  But what Jesus meant by ‘repent’ was much more political and comprehensive.  He was saying, “Give up you agenda, your solutions to yours and the world’s problems, and follow me.” His call to repentence certainly had personal, moral implications, but it also required allegiance to Jesus - to in effect give up your life.

Surrender is something Americans don’t do very well.  We truly believe that if we work hard enough, we can fix our problems and then take on the world’s.  But Jesus’ idea of change is obviously quite a bit different from ours.  I’m not sure you can measure change, but I think I know what if feels like.  It’s not pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps kind of stuff.  It identifies with the broken - the losers, the spit-on and shat-on, those without hope that anything of significance could ever be different. Jesus came announcing his Kingdom - a place where things truly are different and transformation is real.  Instead of recycled change, he promises resurrection.  And that’s got my vote.

My Wifey Kills It…

One of the best things I’ve read related to the election recently and one of the best things she’s ever written.  I’m a proud hubby…

Gentle Words Give Life Part 3

Time to Wake Up

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” - Mark 1:15

Tomorrow is November 3, 2008, the general election.  There will be millions of Americans streaming in and out of polling booths…many with rabid enthusiasm for their candidates.  When it’s all over, a new president will be chosen, along with thousands of other political office holders.  Contrary to some people, the world will not end…or become a paradise overnight.  The stark reality is that the sun will rise on November 4th and we will still have houses we can’t afford, credit cards we can’t pay, addictions we can’t shake, marriages we can’t save, wars we can’t end, and questions we can’t resolve.

Tomorrow will be a quiet day for me.  I’ll go to work, eat dinner with my family, go for a run with some friends, enjoy some time with my wife, and go to bed.  (If you must know…I did vote by absentee ballot a few days ago).  But my mind will not be on elections or the bright future or the dark days ahead.  Tomorrow I am going to carry a little card around with Jesus’ words from Mark 1:15.  I am going to meditate on those words, pray them, live with them.  The time has come, he says.  Repent and believe the Good News…

I’ll let you know how my day goes.