Thursday, February 06, 2020
Thinking about death, Jesus, jail, and this world is not my home...
Some weeks are just harder than others.
He was in his late 40's when he died. Incredibly gifted. Loved God and people. Fought his demons. Sometimes they won. But he wouldn't quit. Not on Jesus. And he is home.
It was a youthful mistake. Wrong. Sin. But she got caught and there were some legal consequences. She loves God and wants to serve him. It's hard sometimes. Especially when you are honest about things with people who are not trying to help you. Now facing worse consequences. Still determined to live the way God wants but life looks bleak now.
Teenagers have a hard time figuring out life and Jesus. It is harder for some than others. And sometimes they die. His family is heartbroken. Asking hard questions for which there are no easy answers.
He was away from the Lord for a long time. But he came home. Tackled his demons and pushed them out of his life. Sober, working hard on his marriage, active in church. And having to deal with the consequences of things done before he returned to the Lord. Determined to figure out how to honor God. Determined to remain faithful. And ashamed, guilty, and devastated by things that happened not that long ago but a long way from the life he now lives.
I hadn't seen him in 40 years but I knew him when he was a teenager. Christian, really good at his career. And battled his addiction demons. Sometimes he won, could hardly stand it when he lost. Made it hard to figure out what his purpose in life really was. Hard to see the mountains when he slid into the valleys. And he is dead at 60.
I knew all of these in some way. Deeply involved with some of them. I don't know that I have answers or wisdom, but here are some things I am thinking about...
Jesus is the only answer. For all of us. We have got to help each other focus on loving God with all we have.
We have to love each other and hang on to each other.
Life is hard and we need to be cultivate an environment in our faith community where it is OK to ask for help.
We have to share our stories of sin forgiven, of restoration. Living grace. Wounds that are now only scars. Healing.
Christians can really put on a mask. I don't mean hypocrites. I mean hiding the pain, the struggle, and the need for help.
Real community. Messy church. Maybe more crying, confessing, and holding on to each other.
Lots more prayer. More listening to God's word. Real fellowship. Tough love, but maybe tough LOVE, not TOUGH love.
This world is not -- and never will be -- our home.
I don't know. I just hurt for those who are fighting battles.
So I am going to ask how people are doing. Pray more. Ask what I can do. Be with people. Model grace and restoration.
And pray every day for the Lord to come back.
He was in his late 40's when he died. Incredibly gifted. Loved God and people. Fought his demons. Sometimes they won. But he wouldn't quit. Not on Jesus. And he is home.
It was a youthful mistake. Wrong. Sin. But she got caught and there were some legal consequences. She loves God and wants to serve him. It's hard sometimes. Especially when you are honest about things with people who are not trying to help you. Now facing worse consequences. Still determined to live the way God wants but life looks bleak now.
Teenagers have a hard time figuring out life and Jesus. It is harder for some than others. And sometimes they die. His family is heartbroken. Asking hard questions for which there are no easy answers.
He was away from the Lord for a long time. But he came home. Tackled his demons and pushed them out of his life. Sober, working hard on his marriage, active in church. And having to deal with the consequences of things done before he returned to the Lord. Determined to figure out how to honor God. Determined to remain faithful. And ashamed, guilty, and devastated by things that happened not that long ago but a long way from the life he now lives.
I hadn't seen him in 40 years but I knew him when he was a teenager. Christian, really good at his career. And battled his addiction demons. Sometimes he won, could hardly stand it when he lost. Made it hard to figure out what his purpose in life really was. Hard to see the mountains when he slid into the valleys. And he is dead at 60.
I knew all of these in some way. Deeply involved with some of them. I don't know that I have answers or wisdom, but here are some things I am thinking about...
Jesus is the only answer. For all of us. We have got to help each other focus on loving God with all we have.
We have to love each other and hang on to each other.
Life is hard and we need to be cultivate an environment in our faith community where it is OK to ask for help.
We have to share our stories of sin forgiven, of restoration. Living grace. Wounds that are now only scars. Healing.
Christians can really put on a mask. I don't mean hypocrites. I mean hiding the pain, the struggle, and the need for help.
Real community. Messy church. Maybe more crying, confessing, and holding on to each other.
Lots more prayer. More listening to God's word. Real fellowship. Tough love, but maybe tough LOVE, not TOUGH love.
This world is not -- and never will be -- our home.
I don't know. I just hurt for those who are fighting battles.
So I am going to ask how people are doing. Pray more. Ask what I can do. Be with people. Model grace and restoration.
And pray every day for the Lord to come back.
