Duck Tape

How far do you think duck tape can stretch...metaphorically speaking?

Last week I helped out with a youth talent show near the Church I work at. It was an amazing event. Really cool.

One of my first tasks was to duck tape a hazzardas extension cord down to the ground. Next I help put up a tent. Then I broke up a fist fight between two teenagers. Then I dealt with a VERY angry disabled resident who didn't want "all the noise". Then I handed out food while some of the youth volunteers snuck food over to their friends who weren't in line.

The needs in this community are huge. But how far will taping a cord down to the ground go to advance God's kingdom; for people to see a minister on his hands and knees while people walk about not noticing my good deeds?

Duck tape isn't about me, or ministers or good deeds. It is about joining God in His work in the world.

As I volunteered at this community event with hundreds of needy people looking for food, entertainment, direction and friends, I wondered to myself, "where is our Church? Why isn't our Church here volunteering, serving our community?"

Next year I hope we can all dust off our duck tape and join God in His mission in the world.

Dirty Work

Okay. So I know you've all been in suspense this past week wondering, "I wonder how Matt's tennis game is?" Thanks for asking.

I played again shortly after writing my last post. I split the match. Won a set and lost a set. For those of you not into sports stick with me. In the set I lost we were tied at two games a piece. I lost the next game and lost it mentally. Glorifying God is hard to do when you're losing or when you make mistakes. This got me thinking.

What tools, what reservoir, do we have to live out God's hopes for us? Especially when living for God goes against the grain of our human nature and sin.

Our culture and hence us demand results...NOW. But what impact does this presupposition have on our understanding and ability to form spiritual habits and disciplines?

What's your plan to stay spiritually strong in times of weakness and temptation?

Here's a verse to chew on from the Apostle Paul:

2 Timothy 2
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Glorify God

I hate losing. At anything. I hate it.

Last night I played tennis with a good friend. I love playing tennis, but I hate losing. I lost last night.

Tennis, like golf and practically every sport, is a mental exercise. Staying mentally strong is key to playing well physically.

Last night I was afraid to lose...for many reasons. My play was dominated by fear. I was tentative, worried and therefore made mistake after mistake.

In times like these I wrestle mentally, trying to find a way to "stay strong". But when it comes down to it I am pretty negative towards myself when I play poorly. Some times this frustration can generate focus and therefore good play.

But lately in the midst of telling myself how awful I am playing and what an idiot I am, I've heard a still small voice. "Is this really the way God would want you to talk to yourself; to view yourself?"

Well I know the answer is no but I didn't like that answer so I avoided it. It's easier to hate myself. However, by some divine spark of spiritual revelation...okay, maybe that's dramatic, but I somehow learnt something through listening/praying.

My mental fear tactics while playing tennis, and I believe with many things I/we do, was about me. I finally realized that I'm afraid to lose because it will taint my image of myself; others image of me. I don't want to be seen as a loser. I don't want to be a failure.

But somehow God showed me, I believe, that to form my identity or tennis again around what I don't want to be or around what I am afraid of being is pretty...well, futile. It's not very life giving.

So I believe God gave me an idea. "Why don't you just play to glorify me?" God bugs me sometimes. "But God, if I did that it wouldn't all be about me. And does a recreational tennis game really matter? Can't I just enjoy my self abasement?" "Everything matters," God said. "Glorify me in everything you do. Be the best tennis player you can be. Enjoy my creation. Enjoy me. Then you will glorify me, experience me and enjoy life to the full."

And I have a feeling that it could help me win a tennis game or two =)

Eating Jesus

John 6:53: "Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink".

Sounds appetizing eh? Eating another human. Mmmmm.

I first heard this phrase in the Anglican service of communion where it says something like, "that we might eat the flesh of Jesus and drink his blood." I always cringed in my seat when I heard this. "Sounds cannibalistic", I thought. "Sounds crazy. Is this even in the Bible? Are Anglicans heretics? Can I believe this"?

Let's be honest, I think Jesus was trying to raise some eye brows. If not ours then definitely his Jewish audience’s. This statement probably should offend us. It probably should stop us in our tracks for a double take. Does it?

I'd love to hear what you think about this passage. It's fascinating. There is so much packed into the summary of this passage when Jesus says, "I am the bread of life". What does "eating Jesus" actually look like? Is Jesus trying to be some morbid cannibal? I don't think so, but he is probably trying to offend you...us. Are we offended?

As a follower of Jesus the take away for me at this point in my life is this: Is Jesus a part of my very being, like the food and water that I consume? Is the historic, living Christ involved in the very blood flow of everything I do? Sadly the answer is no. Yes, I do receive communion most weeks but often in vain. When I eat the bread and wine am I actually inviting Jesus into my very body, into everything I do? If I did that well then I couldn't...If I did that then I shouldn't....

"Jesus, are you really serious? Do you really want to be a part of my body...my life...my junk"?

I guess so eh.

"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you".

Prayer

Jesus, help me to feed on you. May your body sustain me. Live in me. Guide me. Amen.