northpoint notes

We are beginning the year with a focus on prayer and fasting – 40 days to focus on a deeper walk, to seek Him for direction for individual and corporate ministry and for a greater harvest.

So I will begin the year with a series of messages on prayer. A part of my  study has naturally taken me to the prayer life of Jesus. As I looked at various passages, it seemed to me that the Father ministered to Him in several different ways.

I have a friend who writes on wordpress (levite) who is very good at creating lists to think about and it is almost always a list of 8 so here is a list of eight related to prayer:

• Prayer is a place of affirmation – as Jesus prayed at his baptism, He heard his father say, “you are my son whom I love; with you I am well-pleased.” Luke 3:21-22
• Prayer is a place of sanctuary – In Luke 5 Jesus had taught from a boat because of the pressing crowds, called his first disciples, healed a leper and in spite of attempts to keep the news quiet – word spread. In Luke 5:16 it says that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Like most of us, He sometimes needed to get away.
• Prayer is a place of expectation – It is the place we go expecting that God is going to hear and answer prayer. Jesus spent an entire night in prayer before choosing the 12 – I assume asking the Father who He should choose. – Luke 6:12
• Prayer is a place of regeneration – Jesus had been training the 12 – had sent them out with authority over demons and power to heal the sick. He received word of the beheading of John the Baptist and though he tried to get away to the mountains the crowd followed. He healed their sick, fed 5,000 and then sent the disciples and the crowd away while He went to a place of prayer. When evening came He was still there alone. – Matthew 14:22-23.
• Prayer is a place of transformation – Luke 9:29ff – while this is the story of the transfiguration, I think it is also a story of transformation for Peter, James and John. There can never been true inner transformation apart from prayer.
• Prayer is the place of adoration – When the disciples wanted to learn to prayer, Jesus began with adoration and praise of the Father. – Luke 11:1
• Prayer is the place of intercession – John 17 is perhaps the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. It is here that He pleads with the Father on our behalf.
• Prayer is the place of petition – the place where we bring our personal desires to Him. In Luke 22:39ff Jesus is praying in the garden – asking, if possible that this cup pass from Him. Petitions are those requests we leave in the Father’s hands and trust Him for the right answers.

Obviously much more could be said. Prayer is as complex and as simple as the relationship we have with God. It is simple to approach Him and yet there is so much He wants to do in this place of prayer.

I was traveling across town today with my grandson – he is 5 and is visiting (along with his 10-year old sister) until this week-end. We were listening to a Christmas CD by a group called Straight – No Chaser. I don’t remember which song it was – perhaps “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – but Ethan knew the words. At first he quietly sang along and then seemed to get lost in another world and was singing with a kind of abandon that reminded me of someone singing at home when they knew no one was around.

It was an expression of pure delight as he belted out the words. For those few minutes I think he was the only person in the world. He was on his own little stage and enjoying every minute of it. I’m not sure who was having the most fun, him or me. I drove and listened and smiled and even chuckled to myself and wondered when I had lost done anything with that kind of carefree abandon.

I’m sure it was when I was a child – before the world around put restraints on having too much fun – before everything had to be taken so seriously.

As I watched and listened I was reminded that my heavenly Father takes delight in me. He is delighted when we enjoy His blessings with a sense of abandonment – enjoying worship as though He and I were the only ones in the room. Conversing about anything on my mind just between the two of us.

Perhaps singing a hymn of praise at the top of my lungs for only His ears. I think I’ll go look for a hymnal.

The typical, expected Christmas activities for us took place at Thanksgiving. So we didn’t go to bed last night nor wake up this morning with the excitement of opening presents. The house is not full of people or even lots of food. It’s a quiet day.

I awoke early and wondered about the day. Should the day be solemn, joyous, reverent, reflective or celebratory?

So often our attitude toward Christmas depends on our circumstances. In times of plenty and receiving our desired gifts, Christmas is more joyous and celebratory. For those who have loved ones serving in war zones, it might be a bit more reflective – perhaps hopeful.

Christmas becomes all about us. When I visited my ministry colleague (whose wife is in coma today) and expressed concern that this wouldn’t be a very good Christmas, he was very quick to remind me that Christmas must still be celebrated. It was a good reminder that Christmas is not about my circumstances but about a gift that has been given.

The only part of Christmas that has to do with me is that God loved me enough to send His son. That makes all the other stuff seem much less significant. When I think about all He has done, then I can:

• Reflect on the implications of the birth of Christ for me
• Celebrate the life and hope we have in Christ
• Sit-kneel-stand in reverence as I contemplate the birth of a King
• Have solemn moments as I consider why He came
• Have times of joy as I share time with family and enjoy all the other blessings His life makes possible.

Like my ministry colleague, I am convinced that Christmas needs to be observed – that isn’t determined by our circumstances. If we aren’t careful our circumstances will determine how we celebrate or observe this Holy Day instead of allowing this Holy Day to touch us in the midst of our circumstances.

That’s why He came – He came to enter or circumstances. It is this we celebrate – not the circumstances – but His presence in my circumstances.

During this recent blast of winter that left Fort Wayne with a covering of ice and at one point 90,000 homes/businesses without electricity, we were able to remain in our heated and lighted home. Several times during these past few days (as we heard of another family without power)we talked about how fortunate we were that our power only went out for perhaps a total of 5 hours. We were and are thankful.

Earlier this week I received an e-mail prayer request regarding friends who now live in Idaho. They have a new baby with life-threatening birth defects. Our children are both grown and our grandchildren are healthy but I did stop and reflect on how fortunate we have been through the years. I am thankful.

I just came from visiting a ministry colleague whose wife is ICU in one of the local hospitals. She fell 10 or 11 days ago and hit her head. She has been in a coma ever since.  As I left the hospital I remember feelings of thankfulness for the health we enjoy.

The more I thought about it, the more “gratitude” seem like such a small thing. Gratitude is about me and not about these friends who are suffering. I think it is important to be thankful but I also know my gratitude pales in comparison to those who have power for the first time in 5 days; or compared to a young couple when they are finally able to carry their new baby home; or a husband who will have his wife back with him.

As I expressed my loss for words to my ministry colleague he told me of a friend who said that in a particular language in Africa there is a word for those speechless times when we want to comfort but can’t find the words. Roughly translated it means, “I am here.”

So I am wanting to find ways to let others know “I am here,” rather than simply being thankful that I am not experiencing what they are experiencing. I want to be there.

It is interesting that for thousands of years God had been speaking to suffering people through prophets and angels. And then one day, He decided to come in person and announce “Immanuel” – “I am here.” Perhaps what makes me truly thankful is not that my circumstances are better than another but that I have assurance that He is here.

Since He is here, I think I will sit with Him awhile.

 I took a walk in the bitter cold to take some pictures of the ice storm that has had such an impact on our city. The storm hit Friday and as of this morning 20,000 customers were still without power. That is down from over 90,000 at one point. Trees and power lines have been broken. Parking lots and driveways are covered with ice. An insurance agent was trying to service customers from a coffee shop because the power was out in their home and offices. They had all their calls forwarded to a cell phone and while they were dealing with their own losses, they were attempting to respond to the losses of others.

In spite of the inconveniences and in some cases losses (trees, damaged cars, house roofs, food in stalled refrigerators), the landscape is like a winter wonder land. It is beautiful to see the light reflect off the ice in the trees. Although as I commented on the beauty recently, one lady responded that it was beautiful the first day. Now it is getting old.

Jesus came into a very stormy world. Jews, oppressed by the Romans were not at their high point, spiritually. The Romans were cruel rulers. In the middle of this darkness, hostility and spiritual barrenness, Christ came.

We like our pictures of Christmas to be “Hallmark” moments that are idyllic and innocent. But it was a tough world. Jesus’ entrance was that one spark of light – of hope – the beauty in the midst of political, social, and spiritual storm.

When I look at a few berries encased in ice, I see such beauty that I can forget for a moment about the fallen trees, downed power lines and homes without power.

The reason we can have those Hallmark moments is because we focus -rightfully on that one event, that one person who has made all the difference in the World. When we focus on Him, wars, economies and other human struggles seem so much smaller. He comes in the midst of our storms and reminds us to celebrate – It’s Christmas.

A friend of mine spent last week in Gulfport, Mississippi as part of the continuing clean-up after hurricane Katrina. The ice-storm we have experience happened while he was gone. His home lost power on Friday so when he came home Saturday, his house was quite cold in spite of his wife’s efforts with various kinds of auxiliary heat.

He called a few minutes ago to tell me that his power was back on. Three days in bitter cold, windy conditions with no power has become a common story around here.

When I talked with him at church yesterday morning, he was not complaining. His comment: “This may last for a few more days. The Katrina victims have been dealing with loss for three years.” We talked a bit about the inconveniences some have experienced in these past couple of days. While we certainly don’t minimize what some have experienced, many of the people in coastal Mississippi and Louisiana have been “inconvenienced” for three years.

My friend reminded me that people in our area may lose sleep trying to protect water pipes and perhaps a few groceries because refrigerators are without power, many of the victims of Katrina have lost everything.

I am always looking for evidences of the Spirit of Christ in the people around me. I saw Christ in my friend. He had given of his time and resources to help others and while doing so, experienced personal loss and inconvenience back home. I know of some who would have complained and said something like, “Here I am trying to serve God by serving others and look what happens – my house is one of those that loses power.”

It is refreshing to meet a thankful person – one who can see beyond their own circumstances to the needs of others. To me it is evidence of Christ being formed in him. I am hoping his number multiplies.

A friend of mine (www.levite.wordpress.com) wrote a post earlier today about being “powerless” – describing their adventure of being in one of the houses in our community without electricity. Jon lives on the north side of town and I live on the south side. We have electricity (sorry Jon) but his post stimulated some other thoughts.

There are several tasks I need to accomplish today but the virus I am fighting keeps my motivation low enough that I am getting very little done. I am not powerless but certainly have little energy to get up off the couch and get to work.

I know of people who are rendered powerless by fear – fear of failure – fear of success – fear of harm or of criticism. If I look carefully, I could probably remember some times when I have allowed fear to stop me from doing something.

I visited a young man in the local jail a few months ago. He described some of the abuse that took place. He felt powerless to get help because of the consequences he would face.

I once visited a man in one of the Lexington, Ky hospitals. He was a farmer who had fallen into a gravity wagon and had his leg chewed by the auger in the bottom of the wagon. By the 2nd time visited him, doctors had amputated the leg. What could I say to a now one-legged man who was accustomed to climbing on and off of tractors, over fences and up silos. If there was a man who appeared powerless, it was him.

I asked him how he was doing. He began to describe what adjustments he could make to each tractor to allow him to climb on and off. He had figured out how he would drive each one. There weren’t many of his farm tasks that he hadn’t figured a solution to.

Power is not external nor circumstantial but internal. It is about who we are on the inside. The Apostle Paul expressed it this way, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

People draw their strength from a lot of places. I have found the one source that is always faithful is Jesus.

I think He is prodding me to begin a couple of those tasks. It’s time to get off the couch and go to work.

We took a couple of days of vacation with our grand children this summer. The most frequent question: “are we there yet?” In their minds, it was time. They had waited long enough.

This morning I went out to clean the driveway of the nearly 2 inches of snow. I have a snow blower that my father-in-law bought in 1980; which means it is 28 years old. My father-in-law died in 1984 and I inherited it a few years later when my mother-in-law could not longer use it.

This morning, it wouldn’t start. I pulled and pulled on the rope but nothing… It has an electric started so I tried it. No luck. In fact I am certain the gears stripped on the starter (I replaced them once before so I know the sound).

I resorted to the handy shovel. After I had cleared about 2/3 of the driveway, my neighbor offered his snow blower.

Do I put money into getting this 28 year old snow blower running or do I bite the bullet and buy a new one? Is it time to let the old one die? I realize this is not an earth-shattering, life or death decision but it reminds me that we are frequently looking for the right timing for events, connections with people, job openings, etc.

The Bible talks about time. In Galatians 4:4, Paul says that God sent His son at just the right time.  Ephesian 1:10 suggests there is coming a “time” when God will bring heaven and earth together under one Head – Christ. Another place, He tells us that we cannot know the times of that event.

If there was such a thing as a perfect time to buy a snow blower, what would be the determining factors? Price? Death of an old one? Relative health and age of the potential operator? Economy? Would all of those have to align themselves just right for it to be the perfect time.  If there was a perfect time, could we know it?

Most of our time decisions are made with the best information we can gather. On the other hand, God, who sees the beginning from the end, knew the perfect time to send His son and knows the perfect time to bring things to completion.

Having said all of that, I think I’ll go shopping.

I walked into the local library – the Dunkin’ Donuts side – this morning to get some coffee and then find a corner to study. I ordered coffee and decided to get a muffin (low fat blueberry) to go with it. There were two ladies working the counter. One got my coffee and muffin while the other totalled the order.
When she announced the amount, the other lady said – “oops, he gets a discount. He’s a volunteer.” The other lady immediately recalculated and gave a new total while I stood with a confused look on my face.

Seeing the look on my face, they decided to confirm if I was a volunteer. I do volunteer to do a lot of things but they had mistaken me for a “library volunteer” and “library volunteers” get discounts at this branch of Dunkin’ Donuts. (I offered to do something to qualify for the discount but…)
As I sat down to drink my coffee and eat my muffin (which has now been consumed as I write) I was reminded of Jesus’ mistaken identity. He was thought by some to be a “wine-bibber” and glutton because of some of the people he associated with. He was thought by others to be a subversive. Some thought He was a great teacher. It was only those who got to know Him well who understood who He was.
The same is true today. There are so many misconceptions about Jesus – who He is and what He came to do. It is only as people take time to get to know Him that they begin to see Him for who He is.

The greatest privilege we have is to introduce people to Him so they can get to know Him personally.

We don’t get to see our grand-children nearly as much as we would like. They live three hours away and jobs tend to keep all of us busy.
This week-end our grand-daughter has the lead part in the Christmas program at their church. Our grandson is also in the program. Since I have my own responsibilities on Sunday we knew we couldn’t attend the performance.
Soooooo we decided to make a quick trip to watch the dress rehearsal. Last night we saw the uncut, somewhat unpolished program. I was able to move around easily and take pictures and I think I enjoyed the uncut version more than if we have been able to see the finished product.
Most children’s programs are noted for their imperfections – miscues – forgotten lines – out of step choreography – all contribute to the appeal of a children’s program. We laugh at the imperfections and yet the message somehow comes through.
Perhaps there is a lesson in all of that for those fearful of sharing their faith or of attempting to disciple someone. We become paralyzed by our desire for perfection. Perhaps we need to put a bit more confidence in the ability of the Holy Spirit to lead, and take our apparent feeble efforts and communicate to the hearts of others. When you think about it, there is really only One who is perfect and it isn’t me.