LifeVesting

Fish for Breakfast: What Jesus Did With a Disgraced Leader

Andy Wood — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:50:51 +0000

I think I’ve found another reason to identify with Simon Peter, that famous-for-so-many-reasons disciple of Jesus. I can already relate to the fact that I feel like I’m supposed to be the first to show off when I think I know the answer to a question.

I can so relate when it comes to answering supernatural statements with in-the-natural answers or observations.

Most of all, I can relate to wanting so bad for my screw-ups to be the secret kind, only to have them aired out for the whole dang world to see.

But there’s another characteristic I see in this impetuous, impulsive, impassioned fisherman that I totally understand:

His randomness.

You just get the idea that Peter’s mama must have had a time trying to get him to do his homework. The very image of Andrews’s brother planning ahead for anything is laughable.

Ready. Fire. Aim. Uh oh. Sorry. Shutting up now.

Resurrection Randomness

So get this scene. Jesus has been crucified and risen from the dead. Peter, having denied the Lord publicly had become a reproach and embarrassment to the Lord, himself, and his companions. But he had also met the risen Christ and experienced the wonder of being forgiven by Christ.

So what now to do?

“I’m going fishing,” he said.

Seriously? No meditations on the theological ramifications of what they’d just seen and heard? No “told you so” sermon prep for the Scribes?

“We’ll go with you,” six other disciples said.

Alrighty then.

In a scene right out of the ministry playbook, they fished all night and caught nothing. As the sun was rising over the Sea of Galilee, a friendly fellow calls from the shore and asks whether they’d caught anything.

“No,” they answered.

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” said the friendly voice.

Hey, wait a minute….

“It’s the Lord!” John said to Peter, and out the boat Mr. Impulsive flew, leaving the others to haul in the 153 large fish. How does He do that?

Peter’s Turn on the Grill

They get to the shore and discover Jesus has the Kingsford going, and bread and fish (another fish-and-loaves scene) on the barbie. “Bring me some of the fish you’ve caught,” He says, insisting they have some buy-in to this breakfast.

What a scene. What a feast. Don’t you just know they laughed with wonder and joy and gratitude and – dare I say it – relief?

And the randomizer? This was right up his alley. He ate surprises for, well, breakfast. He just didn’t know he had another surprise waiting.

After bellies were full and the conversation lulled a bit, Peter became aware of those eyes, looking at him again. The last time he’d felt a gaze like that, a rooster crowed at his cheating heart, and Simon Peter went from The Rock to the ruined.

Now here were those quiet eyes, fixed on him again.

Here Christianity’s most public failure is confronted by a God of mercy and purpose. Three times – no accident there – he is asked by the One he denied, “Do you love me?” The language pattern is fascinating:

“Peter, do you love me?” “Yes, I like you.”

“Peter, do you like me?” “Yes, I love you.”

And the challenge to Peter was always the same: Shepherd My people. Feed my sheep.

Lessons from the Coals

This speaks to me on several levels.

It reminds me that I will answer to the holiness and mercy of the Lord Jesus for my failures. Not just the church. Not just the world. But Jesus Himself.
It reminds me that the prevailing issue to God is always – always – the love relationship we share.
It shows me that God is willing to meet me where I am (“like”) in order to lead me to where I am supposed to go (“love”).
It reminds me that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. Peter was still called to lead, and the idea of disqualification is a human invention.
It shows the priority of people in the heart of the Lord Jesus. (“Feed My sheep.”)
It says to me that shepherding people does not require a formal office. Yes, Peter wound up with one. But the activity of a shepherd of people is based on relationship, whether the formal office is there or not.

Living in a world of just desserts, Peter would have been permanently branded a failure. But the Random Angler discovered he was living in a different world – the world of Fish for Breakfast. He lived in a world where the Savior he denied and betrayed and failed was waiting to serve him. Eager to point out where the fresh fish were. Wanting to hear Peter say what Jesus already knew:

“Peter, do you love me?”

“You know I do.”

Chew on this:

He had betrayed Christ three times, and he knew that he didn’t deserve Christ’s love. But Jesus did love him and forgave him. He made him breakfast on the shore and they fellowshipped together. Then, when Peter responded in love and repentance to Jesus’ love, Christ not only forgave him for the betrayal, but put his trust in him by making him responsible for his own sheep. Peter, who betrayed Christ so openly in his worst hour, was not only forgiven, but made the rock of the church and asked to lead it.

I wonder what Jesus knew (and still knows today) that we don’t and Peter didn’t? Maybe He knew that arrogant shepherds lead sheep astray, but broken and repentant ones have learned where the green pastures and still waters are.

Maybe He knew that Satan’s desire to sift us like wheat didn’t thwart God’s scandalous plan to use Satan-sifted people as pillars in the Church.

Maybe He knew that, regardless of his failures as a leader, a follower, and a lover of Jesus, this Random Fisherman was still destined to be a fisher-of-men. And that in just a few short days, this man who always had something to say would be ablaze with Holy Spirit fire. And thousands of people would be asking him of all people… “What do we do?”

And meanwhile, some Pharisee from Galilee whispers to his scribe buddy, “Wonder what got into him?”

(Pssst… Thanks, Kara and Rob)

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So Change It! Eight Steps to Making a Difference, Beginning Where You Are

Andy Wood — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:01:02 +0000

I want to take you to a place where, frankly, we aren’t invited. For just a minute, let’s be one of “those” people we often gripe about – those rubberneckers on the highway, who seem fascinated with somebody else’s messes.

In this case, we’re creeping up to a closed bedroom door, where on the other side, we can hear muffled sobs.

A man’s sobs.

A few days ago, somebody from home had rocked his world. The news was bad, and every ounce of optimism he once had was crushed.

You should have been here yesterday. He was really blubbering then. And he will be again tomorrow. Fasting, too. And praying. Lots of praying.

But as he cries and prays and cries and fasts and cries some more, something happens. Most people in grief situations come to a place of acceptance. This man – Nehemiah – went to a place of opportunity instead. While others were living with embarrassment and humiliation, he was living with a vision and an emerging plan.

Nehemiah became a change agent. And so can you.

The Bible’s Language for Change Agents

Life is a dance with change, where the music gets faster and faster as we go. And to be honest, most of the time we’re running to keep up with it – and we’re usually responding to somebody else’s initiative.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the next time somebody was trumpeting ch-ch-ch-changes, that somebody was you? And it was actually a change you not only could appreciate, but one you helped make happen?

The people we admire most, whether in history or in scripture, had one thing in common: they changed something, or influenced change somehow. Here’s how one Bible writer described it:

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, and women received back their dead raised to life (Hebrews 11:33-35, NET).

In studying some of the most effective change agents I know or have learned about, let me share eight lessons I have learned from them. Regardless of your experience, gifts, or personality, anyone can apply these ideas to make a difference in your world:

1. Look for the gaps.

Constantly survey the difference – the gap – between “what is” and “what should be.” What’s missing? Where is the need? Countless organizations have been formed, laws have been passed, lives have been impacted, or relationships strengthened because somebody noticed something missing.

2. See the gaps as opportunities.

There is no shortage of people in the world who can identify the problems – just go to your local McDonalds or small-town coffee shop at about 9:30 in the morning. You can get – or give – an earful. But nobody ever solved a problem by just talking about it. Change agents see gaps as opportunities for something better.

3. See yourself as the bridge builder between what is and what could be.

You’re headed for a big disappointment if you assume the change that needs to happen is somebody else’s problem to solve. Or worse, that you are incapable of doing anything about it. The very fact that you see the need is a big fat hint that you are at least one of the bridge builders.

4. Establish a clear vision for meaningful change.

It’s here – with vision – that your mind crosses the gap and imagines an ideal future. What is your ideal view of the problem solved? How detailed can you make that view? Write it down. Nehemiah had that wall around Jerusalem so clearly pictured, he knew exactly what kind of building materials to ask for when he made the trip. THAT is vision.

5. Enlist the help of others by sharing your vision with them.

Our most meaningful dreams are much too large for us to accomplish alone. This is no time to be a Lone Ranger! Begin identifying a personal “dream team” – a collection of solution people who have similar vision, but different skills. Communicate your vision early and often. Specifically, clearly, ask for their help.

6. Go first! Be an example of the change you want to influence.

Everybody is somebody’s leader. And every change agent starts as an example of the change they want to influence – or the change never happens. You must model the role, Mister President, Senator Whoever, Mister CEO, Miss Sunday School Leader. You must be the example, the first to volunteer, or influence others out of the overflow your own drive or passion. Otherwise, you’re just a preacher(!) or a whiner.

7. Take action. Do something – anything – to get started.

I believe in planning. But I have seen countless plans that were never executed (which makes the time and effort planning a huge waste). Here’s a thought: start moving – just a little – in the direction of your vision. Make the call. Host the meeting. Start the conversation. Make the reservation. Schedule the event. Something! You can always adjust and plan in more detail as you go.

8. Strive for excellence. Don’t settle for mediocre, but don’t demand perfect, either.

In whatever solutions you apply, have a standard of excellence somewhere this side of “perfect.” Don’t be paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection. But don’t “mail in” your efforts, either. Look for ways to improve (new gaps). Welcome constructive feedback. Be teachable. But celebrate also the success you enjoy.

I have seen this process establish churches, launch annual meetings or conferences, even change the public smoking regulations in our city (launched by a teenage girl). I have seen mentors and coaches use them to transform or influence individuals or organizations. They can work for you as well.

Change is going to happen. Why not be the reason it does?

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Bread in My Oven: Seven Half-baked Ideas I’m Working On

Andy Wood — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:15:47 +0000

No telling how many times I’ve said to someone, “Put this in your oven and let it bake for a while,” or “I don’t have this all sorted out yet – it’s still in the oven.”

I thought I’d share some of the “bread” that’s in my oven right now. Here are seven half-baked, half-raw ideas I’m heating up. I may toss ‘em. I may cook ‘em up. Put them in your oven too, and let’s see what comes out. You can help, if you’d like, by sharing your thoughts in the comments below.

+++++++

There is no such thing as a porcelain healer. There are expert healers, wounded healers, bloody healers, spiritual healers. But if your goal is to look pretty on a shelf or remain detached from the broken, the sick, the wounded, or the dying, you aren’t much use. For God’s sake, stay out of the way of those who are.

+++++++

“The Lord has made everything for its own purpose…” (Proverbs 16:4). If God is purposeful, He must be faithful to complete His purpose. Otherwise, He’s an idiot or impotent, a scoundrel or attention-deficit, careless or passive. In other words, if He is purposeful but not faithful, He’d be created in our image.

+++++++

Even my dog hates closed doors.

+++++++

The Ultimate test of a leader is whether he will “lay down his life for his sheep.” In other words, will he say no to his instinct toward self-preservation and do what is best for the people he leads? If you must maintain your position, your salary, your perks, or your title at all costs, you are no leader.

+++++++

“Have you ever considered how often we judge ourselves by our intentions while we judge others by their actions? Yet intention without action is an insult to those who expect the best from you.” –Andy Andrews, The Noticer.

+++++++

Having a wallet that’s an inch thick is NOT a status symbol. (Wait for it… wait for it… Here it comes… What’s in YOUR wallet?)

+++++++

Overheard on “Criminal Minds” a few weeks ago: “Scars remind us of where we’ve been, but they don’t have to dictate where we are going.”

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What if “All” Means ALL?

Andy Wood — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:23:30 +0000

Take a look at this, and read it thoughtfully. As you do, count the number of times the words “all” or “every” appear.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you.

They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever (Psalms 145:8-21, NIV).

I don’t know about you, but when I read this, my first instinct is to argue. “You can’t mean that literally. What about…?”

But what if He did mean it? Straight up. Face value. Think about it…

If I can believe the Lord is good to all, then I can believe He is good to me. I can then be good to all in His name.

If I can believe His mercies are over all His works, then I can trust that His mercies are over the works that affect me, whether they appear to be mercies or not. I can then be an expression of His mercy by being tenderhearted and forgiving toward those who hurt me.

If I can believe that all His works will give thanks to Him, then I can trust that whatever He is doing in my life, the day will come when I can celebrate His faithfulness – even when I can’t see what He’s doing now. I can then be an expression of His faithfulness by having a contagious spirit of gratitude around others.

If I can believe that the Lord sustains all who fall, then I can trust him when I’m lying face-down in shame and defeat. I can then lift up the fallen in His name.

If I can believe that the Lord raises up all who are bowed down, then I can trust Him to be “my glory, and the lifter of my head.” I can then help lift the countenance of the downcast, regardless of the reasons for their brokenness.

If I can believe that the Lord opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing, then I can trust Him to meet my needs and satisfy my hunger. I can then be generous with the resources He has given me.

If I can believe that the Lord is righteous in all His ways, then I can trust His ways to be right and holy as He deals with me. I can then be an instrument of righteousness and truth in all my relationships and dealings.

If I can believe that the Lord is kind in all His deeds, then I can trust that whatever I am seeing or receiving from Him is driven by kindness. I can then be an expression of His kindness to all people, regardless of whether they have “earned” my kindness or not.

If I can believe that the Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth, then I can believe that He comes near me when I call on Him in the name of the Truth. I can then be an expression of that nearness as I pray for and in agreement with all who call on His name.

If I can believe that the Lord keeps all who love Him, then I can believe that He’s keeping me, even when I feel thrown away. I can then be a reminder to those who love Him that He will never leave them, nor forsake them.

If I can believe that all flesh will bless His name forever, then I can get an early start, and bless His name today – now. I can then join with every brother and sister in Him throughout the world in singing praise to the Name above every name.

Hmmm. Maybe “all” really does mean ALL.

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The Scenic Route

Andy Wood — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:24:35 +0000

A rewrite of an old (and probably true, since I heard a preacher tell it) story…

What do you do when you know God’s call on your life is vocational evangelism, and your wife dies, leaving you with two sons, ages 8 and 10? Will Martin decided to seek out a way jto be both Dad and faithful evangelist. He rearranged his schedule to make sure he was never gone more than four days at a time, and made arrangements for a highly-trusted caretaker. And he made himself a promise: whenever he’d been away overnight, he would always bring his sons a special gift.

Then came the day that Will was wheels-up on the plane and it dawned on him: he’d forgotten to pick up something for his boys. So Will conceived a plan.

The boys were so ready to see their dad, and so excited to get inside his suitcase.

“Don’t even bother, guys,” Dad said. “There’s nothing in there. This one’s special. Tomorrow morning, as soon as Target opens, I’m taking you there to buy anything you want.”

“Dad, you don’t mean it!”

“I mean it.”

It was Christmas in August. And true to his word, Will and his sons were there at Target when the doors opened.

First stop – the candy and nuts counter. Already this morning there was a collection of hot nuts, popcorn, and candy snacks. The boys had already landed on what they wanted.

“Dad, can we have some candy?”

“I told you,” Will replied, “you can have anything you want. But before you decide that, let’s look a little further.”

The next stop was clothes and shoes. The boys found some pretty cool-looking things they really liked.

“Dad,” they said, “you think we could get whole new outfits?”

“Sure, if that’s what you want. But let’s keep looking.”

Around toward the sporting goods section, where the boys were playing with new basketballs. (Priced a good basketball lately?)

“Oh Dad,” one exclaimed. “Could we possibly get a new basketball?”

“I told you, you can have anything you want. But let’s check one more place before you decide.”

To the back of the store they went, in the electronics department. They stopped in front of the video games cabinet, where the boys got lost in their favorite Xbox 360 titles. One was a big “Madden” fan; the other loved “Halo.” Both turned to peer into their dad’s eyes – almost instinctively to see if he really meant what he’d promised.

“Daddy. Oh Daddy! Do you think it’s even possible that we could each get a video game?”

“Boys, I told you,” Will said. “You can have anything you want. And I keep my promises.”

It was then that it dawned on one of them.

“Oh. But we don’t have a console. We can’t play the games if we don’t have the Xbox.”

“Well, let’s go talk to that man behind the cash register,” Will suggested, seeing no game consoles in the cabinet.

“Hi, I’m Will Martin,” Will started.

“Oh yes, Mr. Martin. We have your console right here under the register.”

Never have two sets of eyes opened so widely.

“Oh, Dad! No way!”

“Way!” Dad replied. And they walked out the store with two games and a new Xbox 360.

Will had intended to buy that the entire time – even to the point of calling to ask that they hold a game console behind the register, just in case. But he took them on a scenic route to take them to his ultimate destination – his, uh, will.

Bet they were glad they didn’t stop at the candy counter.

Point A to Point Somewhere Else

There is a reason I tell you the story, with obvious implications. You may well be on a scenic route of your own, but not of your own making. I don’t know about you, but I like my directions and answers in straight short lines, thank you very much. If I’m at Point A, and I’m asking God where Point B is, I want the nearest and fastest line there.

Funny how He has His own plans about how to get me there. You too, I suspect.

But wait! I saved the biggest surprise for last (no, you’re not getting your own free Xbox or iPad).

The biggest surprise about the scenic route is what God will use to get you to your destination.

He will use war.

He will use failure (yeah, He even knows ahead of time when you’re going to flunk a test).

He will use overwhelming obstacles.

He will use rejection – even by people you love and trust.

He will use favor in the eyes of ungodly people.

He will use temptation.

He will use false accusations.

He will use mind-numbing delays.

He will use need – even as dire as famine.

He will even use the evil intentions of others.

There’s more, but I think you get the point. God will take you to where you’re going. But sometimes you have to start from somewhere else to get there.

You’re going to be tempted to quit. Get angry at God. Give up. Get stupid.

Even more dangerous – you’re going to be tempted to stop at the candy counter when He has a much greater prize waiting.

I have a suggestion (he said, talking first to himself). Why not just keep following Him, and find joy in the journey? Why not listen for His voice, and by all means, trust His heart. He really does know what He’s doing.

I guess what I’m saying is, If God has you on the scenic route, maybe there’s something He actually wants you…

… to see.

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Wisdom is Boring

Andy Wood — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:23:24 +0000

Wisdom is boring.

Wisdom is a nag.

Wisdom is a boring nag.

Wisdom sucks the life out of the party.

Wisdom is a boring, party-killing nag.

Wisdom asks questions about consequences when all I want to do is enjoy myself. What’s wrong with a little fun, know what I mean? Wisdom uses words like “safe,” “abstinence” and “consequences.” Now THAT’ll get your blood pumping. Zzzzzzz. Look, all I want to do is have a little pleasure in my life. I know there’s more to life than feeling good. But I can control myself.

Wisdom kills the economy.

Wisdom is a boring, party-killing, sleepy money nag.

Wisdom doesn’t seem to realize that it’s our duty as patriotic Americans (or whatever “free” society you may live in) to keep the wheels of the economy going. We simply MUST spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like and provide jobs for people we don’t know. It’s the American Way! I can keep the folks at the Discover Financial network busy for 36 years by just making the minimum payments on those Christmas presents I just bought. And don’t even get me started on cars. If wisdom ruled the day, we’d probably look like Cuba. “Save, give, invest” – blah, blah, blah.

Wisdom robs me of my independence.

Wisdom is a boring, party-killing, sleepy money, independence-robbing nag.

Wisdom talks about the safety that comes from a multitude of counselors. It says that pride goes before a fall. What the heck’s wrong with a little self-respect? A little “I did it my way?” Wisdom talks about service and hard work and creating value and a good name. Woo hoo! I can’t wait for the 20 years it will take for that to pay off. Look, if I’m not promoting me, who will?

And yet…

I can’t remember seeing any wise people fired for cutting corners.

Or arrested for embezzling money.

I can’t remember hearing any wise people mocked on late-night comedy shows for sleeping peacefully in their beds after a productive day or a life of service.

I have never noticed any wise people desperately clamoring for the government to fix their financial mess or filing for personal bankruptcy.

I’ve never seen any wise men (politicians or otherwise) admitting, “Yes, I did it, and the baby is mine.”

Or tearfully confessing, “I only had a couple of drinks. I thought I was good to drive.”

Or muttering… “I wish to God I’d kept my mouth shut.”

Yeah, you only live once. But without wisdom, it sure seems like you can die a thousand times or more.

Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy (Proverbs 3:13-18, HCSB)

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The Hole

Andy Wood — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:51:23 +0000

Our granddaughter, Laura Kate, with Elmo’s help, is learning about holes. The square hole, the round hole. The star-shaped hole, the rectangle hole. She’s learning to put the square piece in the square hole, and Elmo tells her how awesome she is.

At 20 months, that’s pretty good. Before long, she will graduate from Elmo and his octogons and stars. And she will discover new holes to fill. Deeper holes. One downright abyss. And many more complex shapes.

Who Said That?

There’s this quote that’s been ascribed to all kinds of people over the years. I’ve heard that Billy Graham said it. Then Augustine. Or maybe C. S. Lewis. But most popularly, Blaise Pascal. The quote reads,

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

Problem is, Pascal never said it. Or wrote it. And nobody seems to know who did. Sigh… I guess I’ll just have to settle this. I said it.

Seriously, here is what Pascal did say:

What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself” (emphasis mine).

This is no vacuum. It’s an infinite abyss.

Another Look at the Holes

Millions of people through the generations have found in Jesus Christ the answer to the “infinite and immutable object” we need to fill the infinite abyss in our spirits. By trusting our lives and death to the message of the gospel, we have come to a place of peace with God.

Financial peace? That’s another matter, Dave.

Peace with our spouses? Uh, no.

Peace with our dreams and sense of significance? Another hole.

There is another side to the gospel that often goes misunderstood in Church World, except in platitudes and simplistic sermonettes that reduce it all to “whatever you’re lookin’ for, the answer’s Jeeeeezus.” To understand the other side, you have to understand the holes.

Back in the Garden

When humans were created, three things characterized our lives:

The unhindered presence of God. We found acceptance in the exchange of love and intimacy with our Creator.
Absolute dominion over all the earth. We found significance in the fact that we were created for a purpose.
Complete transparency. “Naked and unashamed,” we found security in giving and receiving love without fear or shame.

After the Fall, the human race was subjected to three incomprehensible, devastating consequences – three “holes” that haunt us throughout our lifetimes, if we let them:

Pain. Adam and Eve were rejected by God and introduced to physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.
Poverty. Adam was sent into a world he was not made to survive in, dependent only on his ability to provide for himself.
Shame. Their first “act of knowledge” was to hide – to cover up. We’ve been doing that ever since.

Would it surprise you to know that the world has come up with answers to its own trouble? For pain, the solution is the pursuit of pleasure. For poverty, the world responds with a materialistic “lust of the eyes.” The answer to shame is pride – the relentless attempt to be adored.

The Shape of Your Hole

Imagine an entire world of people, hopelessly caught on treadmill-type cycles of pleasure-pain, poverty-prosperity, and shame-pride. Jesus Christ came not just to fill the abyss, but to break those futile cycles. But often in our brokenness, hurts, and deception, even Christ followers fail to recognize when we’ve returned to those destructive cycles.

And so we try to fill the holes. And they’re anything but Christ-shaped.

I know somebody who was raised in real-deal poverty. And in spite of the fact that he earns a very nice living, he lives with a poverty mentality to this day – constantly in fear of what could happen in the economy or the administration or the global markets. He has a money-shaped hole in his heart.

I know a single woman who has defined herself by her ability to remain in a relationship with a man. Any man. At any cost. She has a man-shaped hole in her heart.

I know a man who loves to be loved. But he has been betrayed and humiliated on more than one occasion. In his insecurity, he isolates from others – hiding his true self because of a fear of rejection. He has a security-shaped hole in his heart.

Holes, Elmo, come in a myriad of shapes and sizes. And here’s what we all desperately need to know:

Jesus didn’t just come to fill up the abyss that was shaped like Him. He came as well to fill the holes formed and shaped by our own brokenness.

See, here’s the problem with your money-shaped hole: There will never be enough money to fill it.

That woman-shaped hole? No woman alive can fill that.

Until you and I learn to find in Him the answers to our significance, security, and acceptance, the brokenness-dug holes in our hearts will keep us broken. And for people on their way to heaven, that’s a pretty pathetic place to be.

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Hands-Free

Andy Wood — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:09:43 +0000

Oh, the breathtaking joy of living hands-free!

Of living without seizing control – of my life or yours.

Of dropping my guard and relaxing my fist and my grip…

And trusting that He is my shield and healer, my righteousness and guide.

Oh, what these hands can do if Someone else is at the controls of my life!

Raised to Him in worship…

Extended to you to serve…

Opened to you to touch and support…

Holding the hands of those we cherish most…

Ready to hold you or that which is precious to you…

Pointing the way for others to follow.

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Hindsight is for Idiots

Andy Wood — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:58:34 +0000

Tense Truth: Those who fail to learn from the past are condemned to repeat it. But we are virtually helpless to reinterpret history for ourselves. We need a Source of truth that isn’t subject to the distortions we bring to hindsight.

+++++++++++++++++++

Ms. Past, she’s such a wicked lady,

Ms. Past, she’s always there a waiting,

She’s the Devil’s favorite tool,

She’ll play you like a fool,

She’ll try until she rules.

-Michael and Stormie Omartian

Whoever said hindsight is 20/20 needs new glasses.

Hindsight is blind as a bat.

It’s a house of mirrors.

You can get more accuracy from a weekend weatherman about a 10-day forecast than you can from looking at life in the mirror.

If hindsight is 20/20, why do historians always argue?

If hindsight is 20/20, why do two people in conflict always tell two completely different stories? (And tell two more a week later?)

If hindsight is 20/20, why does the same event speak to you completely differently from the perspective of a day, a week, a month, a year, or a generation?

If hindsight is 20/20, why does God repeatedly have to remind the children of Israel about their rescue from Egypt and the whole Red Sea episode? I’ll tell you why. Because three days – three days! - into the wilderness, that crowd got thirsty and had no water in sight. So they looked backwards with “20/20 hindsight” and suddenly got it! God brought them out there to die because there weren’t enough graves in Egypt!

Oh. Good. Grief.

“We see in a mirror darkly,” Paul says. Uh huh. That’s what looking backwards gets you.

So does that mean that all reflection about past events is flawed or wrong? No. But it means you’d better hold your interpretation of them very loosely.

The problem with hindsight isn’t the events or experiences themselves. It’s the lenses we view them through – all of which claim 100 percent accuracy. They all lie. Here are a few examples:

Failure

The lens of failure interprets your entire past in light of your one or more significant failures. “I guess I’ll spend the rest of my life being the moral to somebody else’s story… I wish just once I could get it right… No one will ever love me because no one will ever trust me… All I have ever done is screw things up….”

Helplessness

The lens of helplessness looks at past events and sees our own actions as the only possible, logical outcome to a situation. “I was left with no other choice… I was helpless to do anything different… I had to defend myself!… I did what anybody else would have done….”

Opportunism

The lens of opportunism looks at past events as ways to profit or gain from the future. “This will make a heck of a story one day…. I’ll expose all and tell all… I don’t get mad – I get even…”

Rejection

The lens of rejection interprets past events as proof of, or the threat of, personal rejection. “I knew it was just a matter of time…. I knew if she became friends with her this would eventually happen… I think he knew all along this would turn out this way… He’s writing about me, isn’t he?…”

Self Righteousness

The lens of self righteousness holds up a standard – God’s or somebody else’s – and filters out our own failures in order to focus on the sins of others. “I can’t believe they would accuse me of that… All these years of service to God, and this is the thanks I get… Does anybody other than me really serve the Lord any more?… In all of their stuff, not once did I fail to do the right thing….”

Shame

The lens of shame sees yourself as unworthy of love – that you yourself are fundamentally flawed. “What’s wrong with me?… Why should I expect God to love me – nobody else ever has?… I’ll find some way to screw it up – I always have… If you knew about me what I know about me, you’d believe what I believe about me… Nothing good has ever happened to me because nothing good should ever happen to me….”

Victimhood

The lens of victimhood sees every past event as evidence that people are users and abusers, and that life is painful. “I should have known they would do me this way…. Everybody I love winds up breaking my heart… I knew I shouldn’t trust them… Why does every relationship I have wind up jerking me around?…”

There are others – plenty of them. The lens of pride. Achievement. Rebellion. Criticism. Betrayal. Fat. Sexuality. Punishment. Bitterness or anger. Grief. Magical thinking. But hey, those are just mine. I’m sure you have your favorites, too.

The One True Mirror to the Past

You want accuracy? Wisdom? Try this: “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Wisdom comes from looking at the horizon and hearing the clock ticking and the bell tolling for your cold, dead carcass.

With hindsight, there is one and only one way to have any accuracy at all. Check this out:

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 20:19-20, NLT)

The one source of insight from hindsight is God. And until you or I hear what He has to say about our past events (and He doesn’t always disclose that information right away), we would be wise to hold our interpretations loosely and humbly.

Like my geometry teacher used to say… “Y’all check me now. I may be wrong.”

The psalmist put it this way:

I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints (Psalms 85:8, NIV)

In other words, before you presume to have insight or foresight from hindsight, shut up and listen.

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Get Up!

Andy Wood — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:52:08 +0000

When you’re wounded in the battle, knocked down and winded, get up.

When you’re shamed and blamed, defenseless and without excuses, get up.

When your “friends” abandon you in the darkness or point out the obvious by accusing you in the light, get up.

When the enemy comes in like a flood to kick you when you’re down or to rejoice over your wounds, get up.

When the easiest thing in the world to do is just to lie there and bleed, get up!

“A righteous man will fall seven times.” But he will rise again. Get up!

Get up!