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May 18, 2012

Category: God

March 11, 2010

Seeking the Giver

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, marriage, Melissa, prayer, South Africa — Tags: , , , , , — 2 Comments

My wife Melissa is demonstrating an amazing amount of maturity these days.  I am both in awe and frustrated!  Here’s why…

As many of you know, we are finishing up our sabbatical.  Entering our last months, we are making multiple decisions – big ones, small ones, and many that open up a multitude of other decisions. These decisions relate to where we will be, what we will be doing, when… little things like that :)   So, important stuff.

And the PROCESS of these discussions and decisions is as telling as the results.  We are giving some of the work we and God have been doing in our lives and marriage a pretty good exercise.  How is our intimacy, how is our trust, can we say what we think, can we hear things we don’t like from one another, can we apologize?

I have to admit, I am a little more anxious than Melissa to get these conversations and decisions happening.  And although I wish we knew everything yesterday, I am proud that she is committed to waiting until she is confident in some things before moving forward.  Frustrated a bit, but proud.  She is bringing her strengths of thoughtfulness and discernment to our shared process.  And as I was telling a friend on the phone the other day, in watching her process I am reminded of a very good maxim… Seek the Giver.

back-story: when I was growing up in church, one of the principles that always came up when talking about spiritual gifts (those ways God supernaturally empowers people to serve) was, “don’t seek the gifts, but the gift-giver.”  In other words, don’t get overly-fixated on these specific gifts God can give (essentially a self-centered approach). Instead, seek God, and let His Spirit give gifts as God deems appropriate (see 1 Corinthians 12).

This came to mind as I was saying how one of the ways Melissa is discerning God’s desire is by being involved in a local Bible study on Jesus.  She isn’t only sitting with God and asking, “should we move to X?” every day.   Instead, she is connecting well with God, for the sake of their relationship alone.  I’m pretty confident that as she does, God is and will speak to those specifics because God loves her and knows they are important questions.

Thank you beloved for this reminder.  So glad to be doing this with you!

March 10, 2010

Theology After Google Conference

by arthurstewart — Categories: Church Next, Culture, God, Theology After Google — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — 2 Comments

I am attending this conference for the next few days in Claremont.

description…

Why “theology after Google”?

Progressive Christian theologians have some vitally important things to say, things that both the church and society desperately need to hear. The trouble is, we tend to deliver our message using technologies that date back to Gutenberg: books, academic articles, sermons, and so forth. We aren’t making effective use of the new technologies, social media, and social networking. When it comes to effective communication of message, the Religious Right is running circles around us.

Hence the urgent need for a conference to empower pastors, laypeople, and the up-and-coming theologians of the next generation to do “theology after Google,” theology for a Google-shaped world. Thanks to the Ford funding, we’ve been able to assemble a stellar team of cultural creatives and experts in the new modes of communication. We are also inviting a selection of senior theologians, and well as some of the younger theologians (call them “theobloggers”) whose use of the new media (blogging, podcasts, YouTube posts) is already earning them large followings and high levels of influence. For two and a half days, in workshops and in hands-on sessions, in lectures and over drinks, these leading figures will be at your disposal to teach you everything they know.

Excited to be with like-minded people and exercise my thinking a bit.  Must also admit I’m wondering how this conversation can stretch beyond academics and the “haves” of this world.  Will the playing field really be leveled by our postmodern reality, or further stratified by technology and wealth?  My presupposition coming in is that people WANT to be more active and include the whole body of Christ in formation and theology,  but will probably attempt to do so using new means that are not any more effective than the old ones.

They are streaming the conference

Stay tuned for posts from the conference…

February 16, 2010

changing habits

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, marriage, Melissa — Tags: , , , , — 2 Comments

Melissa and I have never been one of those couples who consistently spend time praying together each evening.  Don’t panic!  Yes, we pray – together and alone… often.  But it’s never been a scheduled every day practice for us.  Anyone else out there in this category??

It’s been one of those areas that both of us have wanted to change.  And for years we’ve talked about it, tried all sorts of different ideas, and remained frustrated with ourselves that we couldn’t do what we actually wanted.  However, like a lot of other areas in our lives and relationship, we’re taking advantage of our sabbatical to make a change.  Change takes time to sink in, but it requires us to make consistent decisions one day at a time.

During Lent (the Church season leading up to Easter), we are committing to doing a short meditation together each evening.  We are using a resource produced by Church Resource Ministries (our missions organization).  We think this will help us establish a new rhythm, a new habit, that we want to be part of our lives.

If you are like me, it’s easy to over-plan, over-commit, and give up too soon.  That’s why I like having something we are both excited about that is do-able.  Wondering if you have things you would like to be [more] part of your life?  Doesn’t have to be something spiritual.  Can you start with something small like we are?  Would love to encourage you any way we can, so feel free to send us a message and let us know!

btw, if you are interested in CRM’s Lent devotional, you can signup online to receive the daily reflections via email here – http://www.crmleaders.org/lent/

January 20, 2010

In Between

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey, Kingdom of God, sabbatical — Tags: , , , , , — 1 Comment

I’m learning to live better in the time/space between… aka “now.”  This is a strange place for me.  I tend to clarify and plan for what is ahead, then move toward that.  “Without a vision, the people perish.”  Generally, this is an acceptable practice.  However, I find that I can be too focused on what lies ahead, ignoring or minimizing the present (especially when it doesn’t fit with the future I see).  Further, it is easy for people to become secondary to plans.  Never my intention, but too common when I get so focused on the future that  achieving it becomes my only aim.

Part of what makes my sabbatical so good for me is the necessity to live in the now.  Yes, this time will end and we will move into the next season soon enough.  And yes, we will have to do certain things – even make a few plans – to begin the next adventure.  But for now, I am living where I am.  Spending lots of times with my wife and kids.  Seeing friends.  Reading.  Resting.  Getting caught up.  I believe all this and more will indeed prepare me for what’s next.  But I’m not doing all this SIMPLY TO GET READY, as if this is only a means to an end.  It is all good for what it is.

Hear me – I’m not just biding my time or waiting until something better comes along.  I am enjoying each day for what it is.  True, it’s not my dream place or situation.  But there is so much I CAN enjoy.  I am reminded of when Jesus ascended to heaven in Acts 1 and his disciples were looking into the sky where he had disappeared.  Two men in white (angels?) appeared to them and said, “men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?”  In other words, get on with life.  Not because Jesus isn’t coming back.  He is.  But there’s a lot of life to be had in the meantime.  Don’t just wait around for the future to arrive.

Every day matters:

  • a habit can change
  • a word can lift someone’s spirits
  • an accident can be prevented
  • something big can be accomplished
  • decisions can be made that affect everything else
  • a million moments take place that will never come again

God wants us to live now.  Yes, there’s forever too.  But it doesn’t start when we die.  It’s starts now.

January 11, 2010

Out with the old, in with the new

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey, sabbatical — Tags: , , , , — 1 Comment

Doing anything new with the start of 2010?  On one level, I am looking at this year as an opportunity to start everything new…. moving to a new city, loving my wife and children as if for the first time, new ministry.  But on the very specific level, I am committing to read the Bible through again during the year.

I am severely restricting the making of new plans for my life because I generally do that too much.  I make plans.  I have sets of plans, often overlapping.  I have so many plans that I take a stab at several and succeed at few.  And they are all good plans!  Then I feel bad that I am not following through with all my good plans…

Furthermore, I am realizing how much I lean toward always adding new things, never stopping negative things.  I have a friend who says that all of life is starting some things while stopping others.  The Bible describes this as putting off and putting on (Ephesians 4).  I like the putting on part – fits with planning.  Problem is, you can’t keep adding and adding without making room AND getting rid of the stuff you don’t want.  It’s like having a bucket with some sediment in the bottom, and thinking that if you keep adding more and more of what you want, it will push the bad stuff out.  It doesn’t work that way though!  You have to get that crap out – my mechanic calls this a system flush.  You can’t just keep adding radiator fluid.  At some point, you have to clean out the whole system to eliminate the dregs.

I know this, but I don’t do it enough.  I need to.  In a way, this is one of the things God is doing in my life during this sabbatical – helping me clean out all the junk.  Not just adding new good stuff, but doing the hard work of rooting/tearing out what needs to go.  Sometimes painful – yes.  But cleansing and good.  I think this is one aspect of “working out your salvation” as the Apostle Paul calls it (Philippians 2).  There is work to be done – work of making ourselves available to our loving God to change us.  And often this change means getting rid of the things that get between us, Him, and our destiny.

I see it with my children more easily than myself.  I can see what they need to stop doing in order to start doing the better thing.  I am learning to better identify this in myself, and respond to others who help me to do the same.  I am sad that this doesn’t come more naturally for me, or that I don’t more readily embrace the input of others.  God has put so many people into my life that can aid in the process, and I still seem to resist at times.  But I am growing.

I am also facing the disconcerting (frightening?) truth that the great joy in life I have always craved doesn’t come through my schemes, but through a much more simple, humble, unassuming life.  This would seem to require cleaning house, wouldn’t it?  So for now, this is what I am committed to.  Yes, God has put a few pictures into my mind, and I am excited about what is ahead.  But I am holding these loosely and avoiding working out all the specifics…. at least for now ;)

December 31, 2009

I love this book: “It’s Really All About God: Reflections of a Muslim Atheist Jewish Christian” by Samir Selmanovic

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, books, God, heart journey — Tags: , , , , — 1 Comment

Due to my self-imposed ban on new book purchases and my family’s voracious reading appetite and therefore constant trips to the library, I decided to look up some books from my Amazon wish list on the Fresno County Public Library’s website.  I scored on this one – It’s Really All About God: Reflections of a Muslim Atheist Jewish Christian by Samir Selmanovic.  This book was published in September 2009 and I just got to read it for free from the library!  I have to tell you, I liked it so much I am going to buy it.

I will spare you a book-report-style summary except to say the book relates the author’s journey of faith, focusing especially on family, culture (he is originally from Croatia), and religion.  Each of these are significant and Selmanovic weaves these throughout his book so well that I can only ask that you read the book to hear his heart for and in each.  We also find the postmodern pillars of the call to embrace God and honestly face our uncertainty at the same time, not making our own religion an idol in place of the God our religion follows, and the value each religion can bring when we enter into meaningful dialogue.  While these are no longer revolutionary ideas to me, the author does a good job of providing relevant story and insight to these fundamental concepts.  You’ll have to read the book for all this good stuff.

The 2 parts that I DO want to talk more about are areas that have challenged my own heart.

The first is a fundamental question to my faith (and I suppose all others), but one that we spend too little time attending to, or answer too quickly.  Q: What was Jesus promising to his followers?  If you’ve been involved in this Christianity thing for a while, you recognize that your answer to this question might differ from what you first believed (or were taught.  When you read Jesus, he talks about being without a home, seeing disruption in the state of our relationships, being persecuted…The author says it this way of Jesus… “Follow me and you might be happy – or you might not.  Follow me and you might be empowered – or you might not.  Follow me and you might have the answers – or you might not.  Follow me and you might be better off – or you might not.  If you follow me you might be worse off in every way you use to measure life.  Follow me nevertheless.  Because I have an offer that is worth giving up everything you have” (p. 210).  My experience would agree with Selmonovic’s reading of Jesus’ call.  What does Jesus say we will get from following him?  Learning to love well.

Would you trade everything in exchange for learning to love?  I am haunted by this question for several reasons.  First, I do not love as well as I would like.  If that is the point, what have I been doing instead?  Not that doing it perfectly is the validation, but it should at least be a main focus.  Loving God, loving my wife, my kids, those I am responsible for, those I work with, the needy right in front of me.  There is no shortage of opportunity!  Do I see each person as an opportunity to learn to love? AND, am I helping others in the same pursuit?  Are my means of discipleship, training, mentoring, or simply relating actually helping others learn to love well????

I want this to be true – more true of my life.  I feel like I am on this path, especially right now during our time of Sabbatical.  What does it mean to remain on this path regardless of place, job, or other responsibilities?  What I love about this call is that it deals with life now.  My focus is not on a reward that comes later.  Rather, it has affect on my life, and the lives of others, now.  I need this.

The second part of the book that relates quite a bit to some of what God is teaching me concerns how we go about “doing.”  This is very significant to me as I learn to separate my sense of value, being loved, and identity from what I accomplish.  In a sense, it’s basic and I would espouse and teach that.  But I am only BEGINNING to truly believe and live by this truth.  The author, also a vocational minister, relates that ever since becoming a Christian, he has been taught to give, love, minister, care.  This is what we are supposed to do, right?  So, he asks, why isn’t this working?  “Since we have been teaching and acting in our Christian churches to love others and to organize others and to organize our lives to love others, how curious, I thought, that polls report that non-Christians perceive Christians as not loving!  How can that possibly be?” (p. 240).  His answer speaks right to me.  We don’t really love because we don’t know how to receive.  In other words, we are not willing to let others affect us, especially in areas (like about God) that matter.  We like to give because givers are in control.  We bless because blessers are in control.  “To receive, on the other hand, means to lose something.  Everyone wants to teach and no one wants to learn.”

For me, I can only be in a position to receive when I don’t equate my value with what I do.  How could I?  If what I know, accomplish, and teach is what gives me my identity, how could I possibly take myself out of the driver’s seat?  And so, as I am learning (again) who I am (and am not), I can be with you and just be.  I can hear.  I can learn.  I can change.  Heck, I can RELATE without trying to fix you.  I want that, and am pretty sure that you do too.  So, when I am with you, I give you permission to check that.  Am I with you, or just trying to “help” you?  I feel like God is really teaching/changing me.  I hope you experience me more this way and invite you to let me know how I am doing.

December 11, 2009

For I, the Lord, love justice

by arthurstewart — Categories: advent, God — Tags: , , , , , — Leave a comment

Continued reading of Isaiah 61 to focus our attention on Jesus and his coming during this Advent Season.

Intro

Justice & blessing…. which do our heart’s desire?  And God’s heart?

This week: Sunday, December 13

What you need

  • 4 candles that are the same color (for the four weeks of Advent’s expectation of Jesus), 1 candle that is a different color (representing Christ, the fulfillment)

Light three of the 4 similar candles as you begin.  Two are for the previous weeks.  The other is for this week – week 3.  Keep them lit throughout your time, and you may re-light them throughout the week if you set aside special time for prayer.
Bonus points if you can keep them in the same space over the next weeks, preferably somewhere you can see them and be reminded of your commitment to focus on Jesus this season.

Begin

Say a prayer to focus your attention on Jesus and asking Him to meet you during this time.

Read: Isaiah 61:8-9

Think

The progression of this passage is very important:

  • God’s Promised One comes to bring healing and salvation (verses 1-3),
  • those who receive this blessing respond – bearing fruit from the touch of the Messiah (verses 4-7),

Notice, God is the initiator.  Why?  Because God loves justice and hates robbery & iniquity.
He sends the Anointed One to make things right.
But He doesn’t stop with eliminating what is wrong (demonstrated so well in verses 1-3).
He ultimately makes things right by establishes an everlasting covenant with His people
This covenant produces blessing that is evident to all the nations.

We all want this.  But what happens first?  Jesus makes right that which is wrong.  Evil must be rooted out to produce the good soil needed for God’s blessing.

Do

Think about a specific time God made something right.  This could be with you personally, or perhaps a person or situation you are familiar with.
What was the iniquity?  How was it made right?  It is good to remember the ways Jesus has made things right!

Pray

Pray for a situation you know or are experiencing that is unjust.  God loves justice, so ask Him to make it right (even if you don’t know what it will take).
Pray God’s blessing and presence in this situation.  Not only must wrong be eliminated, but it must be replaced with right.

In the upcoming week

  • Share the story of God faithfully righting a wrong.  We don’t hear enough of these stories.  Let this season be a good time to remember Jesus coming this way.
  • Continue to pray for God’s justice and blessing where it is needed.  Jesus, as we remember you coming, I ask you to come to….

December 4, 2009

Longings – Meditation for Sunday beginning Advent Week 2

by arthurstewart — Categories: advent, God — Tags: , , , , — Leave a comment

Hope realized.  An advent meditation for this upcoming Sunday (Advent week #2) based on Isaiah 61:4-7.  Just some simple thoughts on our own hope for healing, looking forward to the celebration of Jesus’ birth…

Intro

Continuing with our preparation for Christ’s coming, we return to Isaiah 61 – a prophetic passage of scripture describing the Messiah and his mission.  May we align our hopes and expectations with the heart of God.

This week: Sunday, December 6

What you need

  • 4 candles that are the same color (for the four weeks of Advent’s expectation of Jesus), 1 candle that is a different color (representing Christ, the fulfillment)

Light two of the 4 similar candles as you begin.  One is for last week.  The other is for this week – week 2.  Keep them lit throughout your time, and you may re-light them throughout the week if you set aside special time for prayer.
Bonus points if you can keep them in the same space over the next weeks, preferably somewhere you can see them and be reminded of your commitment to focus on Jesus this season.

  • Access to music.  You will be choosing and listening to a song for this meditation and throughout the week.

Begin

Say a prayer to focus your attention on Jesus and asking Him to meet you during this time.

Read: Isaiah 61:4-7

Re-read Isaiah 61:1-3 for context
Slowly read (and/or read several times) Isaiah 61:4-7
If you prefer, you may read all of Isaiah 61, then re-read/focus on verses 4-7

Think

Imagine YOURSELF as one mentioned in verses 1-3.

  • What would you hope the Messiah’s coming would change in your life?
  • Verses 4-7 may not be the particular longings of our heart, but they signal the concrete, significant change brought about by God’s Promised One.

Notice too that those touched by the Messiah respond in various actions as a result.

  • What would you do with your healing?

Do

Find a song that captures some of what you hope for.  Maybe it shows the change you desire.  Maybe it reflects the life of a healed one.  There is no need for there to be resolution, or even that it be a “Christian” song.  The point is that you resonate with the longing.

Pray

Listen to this song and let it be a prayer, asking God for these desires of your heart.
Take as long as you need.
You can also use this time for any other special prayers you have right now.

In the upcoming week

Play this song once a day, allowing it to take you to a prayerful place.  Perhaps God will speak to you differently as the week goes on.
You might set aside a specific time each day for these special Advent prayers.

November 28, 2009

Advent Week 1 / November 29

by arthurstewart — Categories: advent, God — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — 2 Comments

Yes, just under the wire… something to use tomorrow for the start of Advent!  I hope you can use this simple exercise to help you focus on Jesus during this season.  Feel free to share with anyone and do it by yourself, with friends or family, at church, etc.  I will have something for the subsequent weeks of Advent and Christmas Eve/Day available next week.

Intro

I was looking for something fresh for Advent this year.  I appreciate the themes, characters, and traditions that we remember year after year.  They are all very helpful in preparing ourselves for Christ’s coming.  But I find that these can sometimes lose their impact due to the repetition and overly-simplistic way we are lead to remember them.  They just don’t seem to speak to our longing for Jesus in the real world.  Also, I am struck by how often we create our own expectations of God and sometimes forget to see what is on His heart.  As we prepare for the birth of Jesus, it is a good time to align our hopes with His.

So, I created something new.  It’s actual a pretty simple set of Advent-sessions, centered around a central text, some reflection, a [hopefully] fun activity, and prayer.  I’ve left out nearly any explanation or “teaching” because I believe this forces us to think and sit with God ourselves.  Also, because I got unbelievably sick just days before having this ready to launch, I haven’t spent ANY time making it look pretty.  Sorry – no formatting, pictures, etc.  Just some stripped-down thoughts that I hope you find helpful.

The reading comes from Isaiah 61, a wonderful prophetic passage about what the Messiah would fulfill at his coming.  It was a source of great hope for the Jewish people through times of war and tribulation.  The pictures of restoration and beauty – things made right – continue to inspire people around the globe for what is yet to completely come.  This passage was famously quoted by Jesus in Luke 4, where he followed the traditional reading of scripture in the synagogue by declaring that today, in him, this Scripture had come true.  And so began this new chapter in God’s plan of redemption.  I thought this scripture on the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom, something I still long to see completed, would be appropriate to focus on during this Advent.

I would love any feedback, especially how it is significant for you during this Advent season.  I’m a big fan of sharing stories – real, honest, and hopefully encouraging to one another.  There are LOTS of people who are seeking Jesus this Advent season.  Maybe our stories will help one another on this journey.

This week: Sunday, November 29

What you need

4 candles that are the same color (for the four weeks of Advent’s expectation of Jesus), 1 candle that is a different color (representing Christ, the fulfillment)
Bonus points if you can keep them in the same space over the next weeks, preferably somewhere you can see them and be reminded of your commitment to focus on Jesus this season.

Begin

Light one of the 4 similar candles as you begin.  Keep it lit throughout your time, and you may re-light it throughout the week if you set aside special time for prayer.

Say a prayer to focus your attention on Jesus and asking Him to meet you during this time.

Read

Isaiah 61:1-3
If you prefer, you may read all of Isaiah 61, then re-read/focus on verses 1-3

Think

Many are mentioned in these few verses that benefit from the Anointed One.  We so easily think of the poor, brokenhearted, prisoners, and those who mourn in general terms.  The problem is, this often causes us to think of God’s promise to them/us in general terms as well.  “Jesus will do good things for lots of people.”  Boring.

  • Stop for a moment and read again who is mentioned here – write them down.
  • And, what is promised for them?  Write that down too.

If you’re like me, wouldn’t you LOVE to see God’s hand at work in these ways for those mentioned here?

Do

Go and look for some of the people mentioned in this passage.  Maybe you know some personally.  Perhaps, because of time and circumstances, you can’t physically go look right now.  If so, watch the news, read the paper, or even jump on the internet.  Pretty sure you will find some people like we are talking about.
The point is that God is talking about REAL people, people with names, people all around us.  Who are they?

  • If possible, place a picture or name on a piece of paper by your Advent candles to remind you to pray throughout the week.

Pray

Pray that Jesus would do now what God said he came for.  Pray with faces and names in mind.  You might be able to pray with people, but it’s ok if you simply pray on their behalf.
You can also use this time for any other special prayers you have right now.

In the upcoming week

Continue to pray for those God brought to mind, and keep looking for others.
You might set aside a specific time each day for these special Advent prayers.

October 27, 2009

learning from pain

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey — 1 Comment

If we move too quickly from pain, try to make sense of it in too simple of terms, we lose the opportunity to learn from our heart’s experience.

This has been so true of my life and I avoid pain as much as possible.
How much have I failed to learn or experience as a result?
How much of a barrier has this created between myself and others because I can’t relate to THEIR pain?

Oh, that I would experience all of life more fully, accepting the depth of pain that comes along with the heights of joy.

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