The Christian Life is a relay race

As the apostle Paul came to the end of his life he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

There is a significant difference between running a solo race and running a relay race. When running a ‘single’ race, winning or losing is totally dependent upon how well you perform against your competitors. A relay race is a team event – winning or losing is a ‘sum’ of each team persons performance and ability to ‘hand off’ the baton well.

Some time ago I began to realize (while reading Hebrews 11) that this Christian life is not a ‘solo’ race, but a relay race. I run my lap to the best of my ability (under the current conditions) and then hand off the baton to those who will run the next lap. My ‘lap’ may appear very successful (verses 4-35a) or may seem like failure (v35b-38) – BUT according to the verses 39-40 the team I am running with WILL win! I am part of a ‘winning’ team that has been running laps for 2000 years. My finish line is not the end of the race.

This gives me great encouragement when I feel like my ‘lap time’is really slow, or I slip and fall in the mud, or a competitor sprints past me or worse, bumps me and knocks me off course for a few strides. I am strengthened to continue because I know my team will win. My responsibility is to run my lap to the best of my ability and to finish it so that I can hand off the baton to the next generation. It also encourages me to know that my reward (as part of the winning team) will be just the same as the fastest person who ran! And it keeps me humble to know that the person who ran much slower than I, and the one who wandered off course for a considerable distance but got back to the track and finished their lap, will receive the same trophy as I do!

So, with my head up, and my eyes on the ‘coach,’ I will keep running my lap. I am not accountable for the conditions (nice dry track, or sweltering heat, or deep muddy slough holes), but only for being faithful to the end. And I am guaranteed the prize! Once again, it’s not about ‘performance’ but about ‘heart’ – the heart to be faithful and to finish well.

Bible Junkie!

I confess, I’m a bible junkie. As soon as a new translation is published I have to have it! My shelves are full of GNB, NLT, NLTse, NIV, God’s Word, TNIV, ASV, RSV, NRSV, NASB, NKJV, CEV, Message, JB Philips, Ampified, Complete Jewish, ESV, Living Bible, NCV, HCSB, and of course a few old KJV around somewhere. I have hard cover, leather cover, (and my favorites in calfskin!), fake leather, bonded leather and duct tape bibles! I have single column, double column, and wide margin editions. I have reference and no reference copies. I have bibles with blue covers, black covers, burgundy covers, brown covers, and a few with no covers!. I no sooner acquire a new bible than someone comes out with a ‘new and improved’ version or edition – which I have to have.

The downside – cost – I probably have enough money invested in bibles to buy an old car. But I justify it by saying, ‘I need it for my work – I am a pastor after all!’ Another liability is that no matter what translation I am reading, I am always wondering how some other translation says it

The upside – I get to read a lot of God’s word! The awesome, powerfilled, life transforming word. I also believe that as I become familiar with various translations, I come to a more balanced and informed understanding of what a passage really means.

Gotta go – time to surf the web to see if there is a new bible coming out soon …..

God loves a party!

For far too long the church has given the impression that God is stern, stuffy, solemn, serious, a spoil sport, and little fun at all. ( A great way to attract people!) However when we examine the Word we find a strikingly (even shockingly) different reality.

As we examine the Old Testament we find that God actually commands the people to party! Several times a year, for days at a time. (Feast days, Sabbath (days and years), Jubilee)

Then in the New Testament we see Jesus first manifest his glory (John 2:11) at a party! And what that 'manifestation?' He performs a miracle that will enliven and lengthen the party! Later he was accused of being a 'party person' (Luke 7:34). Over and over we see him bringing the kingdom of God to light while at suppers, and banquets, and dinner parties.

Several times Jesus states that the kingdom of heaven is like a lavish party. Matt 22:1-10

Several parables compare the kingdom of God to a joyful celebration (for example, Luke 15.)

From all of this, I would conclude that God loves a party! He loves to show up in the midst of celebration. I believe this has implications for how we do church, for our worship, and for how we live out the good news of Jesus. God will be attracted to our worship and our church when it is celebrational (a 'God' party). If we want God to show up and manifest his presence and power, we need to throw a party - strike up the band, get on our dancing shoes, and celebrate. If we expect him to 'help us win the world' we need to be proclaimers (and 'performers') of good news - of joy and celebration. That's where he will show up!

So - get up and do a little dance - you might just find God joining in!

The God who 'turns the tables'

We all love stories where the villan's plots and plans get turned against him. We love it because it is God's story! Throughout the bible we see him do it over and over again.

In Job 42:10 God 'turns the captivity' of Job - uses the very thing the enemy tried to destroy Job with, as a means to double bless him.

In Daniel 3 the very fire the enemy builds to destroy the 3 God worshippers, becomes the very thing that leads to their promotion, and the advance of God's kingdom!

Romans 8:28 reaffirms that we can be confident that no matter what the enemy brings our way, God will 'turn the tables' against him for our good!

Therefore I can live with confidence, peace and even joy, no matter what the circumstances are at the moment! I know that God will use the very things the enemy is designing to destroy me with, to be the very things that will release blessings and further God's work in and through me!

The God who 'turns the tables'

We all love stories where the villans plots and plans get turned against him. We love it because it is God's story! We see him do it over and over again.

In Job 42:10 God 'turns the captivity' of Job - uses the very thing the enemy tried to destroy Job with, as a means to double bless him.

In Daniel 3 the very furnace the enemy uses to destroy the 3 God worshippers, becomes the very thing that leads to their promotion!

Romans 8:28 reaffirms that we can be confident that no matter what the enemy brings our way, God will 'turn the tables' against him for our good!

Therefore I can live with confidence, peace and even joy, no matter what the circumstances are at the moment! Because I know that God will use the very things the enemy is designing to destroy me with, to be the very things that will release blessings and further God's work in and through me!