Where is our Freedom?

I didn’t really pay much attention to the Daniel Hauser case until he fled with his mom to avoid court-ordered chemotherapy. The story was already the buzz around the state, but it became national headlines when Daniel and his mom were on the lam. I couldn’t believe the attention the story was getting. Everything short of an Amber Alert. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, super-patriot, or advocate of homeopathic medicine, but I am a parent and a follower of Jesus, and this story concerns me.

The Hausers are not Christians. They belong to a Native American religion called Nemenhah which values natural medicine alternatives over modern Western science. As I understand it, Daniel did undergo one chemo treatment when he was younger and had a severe reaction to it. So understandably his parents weren’t excited about putting him through that again and wanted to seek alternative methods. Whether their reasoning was religious, parental, or both; does it matter? Shouldn’t parents have the right to decide how best to treat their children? And don’t all Americans have the freedom to believe whatever they want and follow those beliefs as long as they don’t infringe on the rights of others? If the courts are allowed to dictate the limits of religious beliefs and how parents must care for their own children, then do we really have any freedom at all? We live under the illusion that our children are ours to guide and discipline as we feel best, but in reality they are just wards of the State. Our parental rights end wherever the courts decide they end. Wherever our beliefs clash with the beliefs of the State, the State deems itself god – absolute, omniscient and omnipotent, but unbenevolent.

I can’t imagine going through what the Hausers are enduring. Having a child struggling with Hodgkin’s lymphona and having to decide between what you believe is right (spiritually and parentally) and what you are told is Right. Today the Hausers are being forced to choose a medical treatment they believe is not the best for their child. Tomorrow we may be forced to make an educational, disciplinary, environmental, or psychiatric “choice” that we do not believe is the right choice for our children. What will we do?

Love is More Important than Life

John 15:13

Jesus said that the way to measure people’s love is in their willingness to give up their life for their friends. Jesus showed us how much he loves us by dying for us so that we can be friends with God. But he doesn’t leave it at that. He also says, “Love each other in the same way that I love you.” Now that’s a tough act to follow!

Not many of us will probably have the opportunity to die for a friend or loved one, but if we did, we’d take it, as many have for this country. But maybe we should consider practical ways we can show our love for others by dying every day – dying to our need to always get our own way; to make ourselves look better than we really are; letting something important to us “die” so that someone we love might experience life. This can be painful. Sometimes true love hurts.

But love is more important than anything, even life itself.

Love is More Important than Prayer

1 Peter 4:7-9

There is a very curious passage in the Bible that says, “The end of the world is coming soon so be very diligent in your prayers.” I’m guessing if we all knew the world was going to end, we’d all be a bit more earnest in our prayers.

But then it goes on to say that in these final days love is even more important than prayer. Why? Because “Love,” the Apostle Peter tells us, “covers a multitude of sins.”

You’ve probably been in a situation where even the smallest mistake you made was criticized and ridiculed. That wasn’t very loving. Because love forgives even the most serious offenses. Love covers a multitude of mistakes.

Ultimately it is Jesus’ love that covers our sins, and it is his love working in us that enables us to forgive others.

Love is more important than anything, even prayer. So love like there’s no tomorrow!

Love is More Important than Talents and Skills

1 Corinthian 13

You’ve probably been to a wedding where you’ve heard that famous poem on love from the Bible that goes, “Love is patient. Love is kind…” And so on.

The real point of that poem is that love is more important than any gift, skill or talent you may possess. That it doesn’t matter what a great athlete you are, great singer, great dancer, or great mechanic. What really matters is how loving you are.

You see, all of those other things are going to die with you, and what your friends and family are going to remember is not what a great cook you were, but what a loving spouse, parent, and friend you were.

Love is more important than anything, even the most impressive talent or skill.

Love is More Important than Money

1 John 3:16-17

Over the course of our marriage, my wife and I have had many financial struggles through which she’s always reassured me over and over again that “our love is more important than money.”

Indeed, that is true, and I’m sure most people would agree. But it is also precisely because of our love that we’ve never had much money. We have always tried to practice generosity – sometimes willingly; sometimes begrudgingly, but always lovingly.

The Bible asks us a very pointed question in 1 John 3:17 that we have always taken seriously: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a person in need and does not help him, then how can God’s love be in that person?” The answer the Bible gives us quite simply is, “It can’t.”

What you do with your money shows what you love. But love is more important than anything, especially money.

Love is More Important than Obeying the Rules

(I recorded 5 “Minute Meditations” that are airing on KTRF Radio this week. I will be posting the transcripts this week.)

Matthew 22:34-40

One day an expert in religion tried to trap Jesus by asking him, “Which is the most important commandment?”

In other words: “Which rule is more important, Jesus? Not stealing or not lying? Not murdering or not sleeping around?

This expert wanted an intellectual answer to an emotional question: When faced with a dilemma like, “Do I steal so I don’t have to lie, or should I lie so I don’t have to steal?” Which should I do, Jesus?

The religious pro wasn’t expecting Jesus’ answer: “Actually, there are two greatest commandments,” he said. “Love God with everything you are and love people with everything you’ve got.”

You see, love is more important than anything, even obeying the rules. Why? Because all of God’s rules are based on love. If you always do the most-loving thing then you will always do the right thing.

Slowing Down

Lenten Journey – Day 36

This week marks the beginning of an even busier season for me and my family. Over the next 6 weeks I will:

• Travel to Mexico for a missions trip (April 2 – 6).
• Celebrate Easter – the biggest and busiest holiday of the year (April 12).
• Launch a new sermon-based small group experience (we call them GPS groups).
• Travel to Orlando for the Exponential Church Planting Conference (April 19 – 24).
• Speak at the missions banquet for Glory Baptist Church in Aitkin (April 28).
• Facilitate the Fireproof Your Marriage conference (May 1 – 2).
• Facilitate a pastor’s leadership retreat (May 11 – 12).
• All the while we are caring for a friend’s baby for the next two weeks.

Whew! I’m getting tired just typing all of that. Already this week it has been very hard to slow down, take time for God, listen to His voice, meditate on His Word, with all the things on my mind – especially the list of stuff I have to get done before leaving for Mexico on Thursday.

I guess that’s why they call certain Christian practices, “disciplines.” Because they are not only contrary to the sinful nature, they are contrary to our culture and society. To slow down amidst all the busyness of life feels like trying to stop a freight train with a laso. A lot of times we just get taken along for the ride.

Although I’m not an expert by any means on the art of slowing down, I have been in a much better rhythm over this Lent season and I am confident that I would crash and burn over the next 6 weeks if I hadn’t been laying the necessary spiritual foundation over the past five weeks.

I just want to share one little tidbit that I have found useful in being able to slow down – pray, meditate, and study God’s Word – in the midst of chaos. Many people struggle with staying focused on God when there is much on the agenda to be accomplished. I am certainly no exception to this. So what I do is I keep a note pad beside me as I’m praying, reading, etc. and jot down any task as it comes to mind. The second thing I do is pray about that task. I incorporate it into my prayers. This does two things. First, writing it down gets it out of my mind so I can return to focusing on God. Second, praying about it takes that item “captive” and surrenders it to Christ.

So when distractions come when you’re trying to pray or read the Bible, don’t feel guilty about it and try to deny it. Just jot it down and surrender it to God. You’ll find it much easier to slow down the train.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I give you every thought, every desire, every task that needs to be accomplished,

And I surrender them all to you.

Let me lose myself in your presence for just this moment in time.

Then grant me the strength and focus I need to work effectively and efficiently at all that is before me.

And in everything I do, may you be glorified.

Knitting

Lenten Journey – Day 31

I’m confused. Lent has traditionally always been 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter. But I’m on day 31 (I started a day early) and there are still 17 days left which means there are 47 days (an extra week). There are various opinions as to why this is.

Anyway, it has really been a good journey thus far. I have been trying many different things over the past year to try and get myself back “on track” spiritually and none of them have really “taken” until now. The extended season of discipline and contemplation has helped me align with God’s heart in a way that I have struggled to for some time.

One of today’s prayers from The Divine Hours (which I just remembered is online here) really struck me today:

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; knit my heart to you that I may fear your name (Psalm 86:11).

Knit my heart to yours, O Lord!

Now, I’m not a knitter; nor, have I really ever known one well, but it seems to me anyway to still be a powerful metaphor. Dictionary.com defines “knit” as 1) to make by interlocking loops of one or more yarns, or 2) to join closely or firmly, as members or parts.

Wow!

Today’s Prayer:

Knit my heart to you, O Lord! Interlock our hearts. Join my heart closely and firmly to yours as one part.

Then I will walk in your truth as you teach me your ways.

I will fear your name by being so closely knitted to you that your heart makes mine beat.

Oh, yes, Lord!

Praying for People

We recently concluded an 8-week sermon/small group experience at our church called “The Unfolding Story” – the art of narrative evangelism. The experience was a journey of learning to see all of God’s activity and creation as part of a master story, finding your place in it, and learning to share it with others naturally.

The 2nd week of the series I introduced prayer as the means of making the story come alive and I challenged people in our small groups to each “pray for five.” Each person made a list of at least five people that don’t know Christ and began praying for them daily. We went through the entire two month experience each daily praying for five people without much visible effects. But as soon as the series ended, it was like the floodgates opened. We may have been done with the chapter, but God isn’t done with the Story.

In just the two weeks since that series ended I have heard of four different stories where people in our church had exciting spiritual conversations with a person on their “list.” One of those people even made a decision for Christ! To quote one of our members: “This prayer stuff really works!” Indeed, it does. Aslan is on the move! So keep praying!

Contentment

Lenten Journey – Day 23

I have totally been digging this spring weather. The sunshine, warmth and melting snow put an extra spring in my step and joy in my heart… That is, until I discovered that it’s been 25 degrees warmer in the Twin Cities where I used to live. Suddendly my joy turned to sorrow and my spring step turned to spring envy.

Why is it that the grass is always greener on the other side? Well… because it’s warmer, obviously. But what is the struggle within me that is content with what I have until I see someone that has something more or better? Why can’t I, as the Apostle Paul says, “be content in all circumstances” (Phil. 4:11)?

Maybe the key is in what Paul says just before that: “I have learned to be content in all circumstances” is what he says. Contentment is a process of learning to detach ourselves more and more from the desires of the world and attach ourselves more and more to the desires of Christ. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that the education often takes place at the “school of hard knocks” – the struggles, pain and suffering of life.

School is open and class is in session. I just don’t want to sit in the front row.

Prayer for Today:

Father, teach me to be content in all circumstances.

Give me neither poverty nor riches.

Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”

And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. (Prov. 30:8-9)

But whatever the situation may be,

May I truly be able to say, “It is well with my soul.”