about life and death

We packed up our bus and headed out early in the morning with a new region to explore- the area around the Dead Sea. More specifically, Qumran and Masada.

Our first stop was Qumran. This is thought to have been home to a Jewish sect, perhaps the Essenes, from about 100 years before Christ until its destruction in 68 AD. They were were a strict and disciplined group, committed to the Word of God and to extreme faithfulness to Him. They separated themselves from society at large, living communally, seeking purity and waiting for God's return as they meticulously copied portions of His Word daily. 

The greatest contribution of this reclusive group occurred in 1947, when a shepherd, looking for his stray goat, tossed a stone into a cave and heard it clink against something. Clay pots were soon discovered containing what we now call the Dead Sea Scrolls. These documents were well-preserved and contained (among other items) extensive copies from the Old Testament. They had been stored in these caves for hundreds of years and their concurring content gave authenticity to our previous OT documents.

The second community was found at Masada. This mountain fortress was constructed as a palace by Herod the Great in the first century BC. It was a truly outstanding site, but following Herd's death in 4 BC, the area was little used. This changed as Jewish revolt against the Romans broke out in the first century. Jewish extremists fled to Masada to make their stand against the powers of Rome. The occupying army surrounded this fortress whose cliffs rose some 1300 feet. The Romans laid siege, and after three years were able to breach the walls. To their great surprise, they discovered the 960 inhabitants had set buildings ablaze, then killed each other and committed suicide. They chose death instead of defeat and slavery.

What did these two extremely divergent groups have in common? Purpose. One group found something worth living for, the other something worth dying for. Each group's reason for being molded its actions and direction, providing its motivation and accomplishments. And commitment to their purpose allowed them to focus and achieve what was of greatest importance. The Essenes unintentionally preserved Scripture that, nearly 2,000 years later, would give credence and evidence to the authenticity of God's Word. The Jews' commitment to not be taken alive left an imprint upon its people that has carried them courageously into this present time.

Likewise, we each need purpose, a reason for living. Without it, we can coast or wander aimlessly through life, achieving but never connecting what we do with what we might be called to do. But with purpose, we're able to focus and fine-tune our lives in order to accomplish something greater than ourselves.  

Don't settle for just going through the motions- discover or determine a reason for why you are here, then give all you have and are to seeing that purpose realized.  It's not enough to live...you need a reason. A purpose.

Because it really a matter of life and death.

the power of a picture

Reflecting in the Holy City:
Yesterday we visited Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. This church is built on the traditional site of Jesus' birthplace. It was commissioned by Constantine in the early 300's, but recognition of the site is referenced as early as the second century by Justin Martyr. The basilica is actually built over the cave where Jesus is thought to have been born, and we entered that grotto by descending a short flight of stairs. It is more sobering and profound than I can describe, and my mind and heart were overwhelmed as I stood in that small, hewn-out area, in what could well be the place where Jesus entered this world. More on that another time, perhaps. But first, there was something else that impactedme before I even reached this spot.

This building, massive and impressive, has somehow survived centuries of war and conflict. When the Persians attacked the region in the 600's, they destroyed every house of worship they plundered. But as they approached this church, they stopped. This place was different. This place had meaning, even to marauders from the east. Not because they recognized it as Jesus' birthplace. But on the front of the building (at that time) there was a large mosaic depicting the coming of the wise men to worship the newborn king. And those wise men looked like Persians...because, in all likelihood they were! Upon seeing such a rendering, the army spared the church and moved on.

The significance of this story? It's not just the fact that this special site survived the onslaught of a foreign power, although that's of great importance. Rather (as simple as it seems), it's that this group of people saw themselves in the Story! That a group of "outsiders" were able to place themselves within the very message of the Gospel, and it so impacted them them that their hearts were turned in that moment. 

And I thought about how we paint the picture of the Story with those around us today. Do we share that Good News in such a way that people see themselves in it? Do we communicate in such a way that it makes sense to their life situations? So they are drawn in and make a personal connection, causing them to change direction? The message of Jesus is not a fable, not simply historical, and not designed to help us be better people. It is power! Power to change life courses. Power to provide a new path. Power to bring and preserve life, even when death is at the door.

I want my friends to be able to see themselves in the story of Jesus. And they will, if I embody it in such a way that the Story is alive, current and relevant to me. If it empowers me to be what I could never be without it. If it changes my life and leaves an indelible mark, making my appearance something different than it would otherwise be. And if it reflects, not only the Story, but the faces of those who see that Story in me.

Do people see themselves in the Story because of the way it's painted upon your life?

 

it's all about the timing

Following a "day off" in Galilee, our last full day here...

This morning during my Galilee sunrise, I prayed that God would lead me to someone to talk to about Jesus. That's not as easy as it might sound, since "proselytizing" people (Jews, in particular) is considered an illegal activity in Israel. Nevertheless, I asked God for the opportunity and went about my day.

I decided to do lunch at the local McD's (yeah, I know, but I usually try it once in any country, just to see what it's like!). I went with two friends, Mike and Ruben. Afterward, we decided to get coffee at a little place where Ruben had made friends with the young lady working there. 

We went in, met Ruben's friend, Chen, and as we were the only customers we asked her to sit and talk with us. We asked her about Jewish culture, tensions with the Muslim community, political issues and the like. She asked us about America and things she didn't understand about our culture. 

Eventually, the conversation turned to spiritual matters. We asked her what it's like to live in the place where Jesus lived and what she as a Jew thought of Him. She told us that she loved Jesus because she thought the little she knew about His teachings and lifestyle was beautiful. More than that, she has a Jewish friend who recently chose to follow Jesus as her Messiah. Her friend's life has so changed for the good that there is no mistake in Chen's mind that this new commitment is responsible for it.

We were talking about Jesus being called the Lamb of God, the ultimate Passover Lamb who restores our relationship with God, when a Korean woman entered the shop and gave Ruben and Chen a booklet. She left as quickly as she came, and as we looked at the book, we saw it was Christian (written in Hebrew) and contained a drawing of Jesus as the Passover Lamb, the very subject we were talking about!

We continued to dialogue, each of us sharing our hearts, and Chen talking about her journey toward God...and Jesus. At one point she asked me if we believe in signs (something her friend had told her about), and we all agreed that some might consider the timing of that Korean woman's gift a certain sign. She heartily agreed and was extremely open to the possibility of God revealing Himself to her in ways like this.

As we concluded our nearly 2-hour conversation, we encouraged her to continue in her journey and to seek God with all her heart. And to take the New Testament that she happens to have at home and read of the life of Jesus. It was plain to see that Chen was grateful for the time to talk, and her journey's door was opening ever wider in her life.

We walked out giddy and excited, knowing that God chose to use us this day (my prayer answered!), but even more, that He has His people already here living their lives in such a way that their example and influence are impacting their friends, who then bump into three goofy Americans who were simply watering seeds that He had already planted. How great is that?!

Please pray for Chen and her courageous journey to the heart of God- and for her allegiance to her Messiah, Yeshua.

Ruben teaching Chen and Ben to throw an LA sign!

fighting fire with fire

Yesterday's excursion got me to thinking...

We visited Caesarea Phillipi, northernmost in Israel, and the site of Jesus' conversation with his men about his identity. (Matthew 16:13-20). This location was significant, for although an official Roman outpost, it had also been the site of worship to the Greek god, Pan, for almost 300 years. At the site is a cave that once housed a great spring which flowed from nearby Mount Hermon. The opening was thought to be an entrance to Hades, the underworld. It was known as the mouth of Hades. People would sacrifice both animals and babies here, hoping to engage the favor of the gods. And it was against this backdrop of foremost paganism and worldliness (both Greek and Roman) that Jesus initiated the discussion regarding his actual identity to those closest to him.

What initially struck me was the idea of power and power locations. It seems that there were, in Jesus' time, areas that evoked greater measures and demonstrations of spiritual power. I know there are such issues in all places, but some seem (for reasons I'm not always sure of) to be of even greater concentration. The focus of of such pagan spiritual fervor and activity here undoubtedly created such a nexus in Caesarea Phillipi. The area of the Gerasenes (Mark 5) may be another location of similar spiritual power.

Whenever and wherever Jesus encountered these kinds of power centers, he met them with like (and overcoming) power. I believe he gave particular time, effort and personal attention to the people and situations in these places, and demonstrated a power greater than what was enslaving those being held captive. Therefore, truth rang out even more loudly in the centers of spiritual deception, people troubled and tormented by evil spirits found release from their captors, and those crippled by disease were released from its grip. People discouraged and defeated in life battles found victory about which they may have only dreamed, and those stumbling in spiritual darkness discovered new light for their paths.

All this to say that the fiercer your battle, the greater the opportunity for the power of Jesus to be unleashed in your life. The more spiritual forces seek to pound and pulverize you and your walk with Jesus, the more intensely his presence and resources are at your side to gird you for victory. The more you face temptation and trial that would pull you under, the more his grace empowers you to overcome. It's never a matter of if those battles will take place, but rather when. Peter knew that: "When the fiery ordeal arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you." (1 Pet.4:12)

Remember, Jesus meets power with power. The greater the attack, the greater the response. Just make sure you go to the source, so you're not trying to fight the fire on your own. And know that there is always more at stake than meets the eye. 

It is, after all, a spiritual battle.

unfair odds

One of the things that struck me (and there were multiple strikes) today, May 24:                                                                         We were on the boat in the Sea of Galilee, floating effortlessly about 200 yards off shore from the traditional site of Jesus' appearance to His band of men following His resurrection. The place he told them to toss their nets on the right side of the boat and watched them haul in so many fish (153 according to John) that their nets began to rip. Where He smiled (probably) as He saw Peter leap from the boat and excitedly swim to shore to meet Him when he recognized Him, and where He reaffirmed Peter's place in the Plan ("Feed my sheep.") 

As we stared wordlessly at the shoreline, I envisioned this site two millennia ago with its simple structures, pastoral feel and people milling along the banks. I saw fishermen dotting the water's edges, cleaning nets, with boats bobbing up and down, ready for the next evening's excursions.  And I saw a man talking with those people, laughing and sharing life with them, daring them to hope in something, greater than themselves. I heard him challenge some of those fishermen to drop their nets- their livelihood, their security, their sure thing- and follow him. And that if they did, he would teach them to catch people.

And I was stuck by the thought that it was in this obscure, insulated, seemingly insignificant speck of the world, God inaugurated a kingdom that would change the course of history. How unlikely that it begin here. With these participants. With its upside-down life manifesto. How could so few with so little be expected to accomplish so much?

Which brings me to the painting above, containing a verse I only yesterday viewed in a new way. The passage referenced is from John 6 and speaks to the paucity of provisions prior to the feeding of the 5,000. "But what are they (the fish and loaves) among so many?" It struck me that these words are at the heart of the issue regarding God's kingdom- resources that always seem so few in the face of opposition that always seems so great. Israel in Egypt, Gideon, Elijah at Carmel. Twelve men, Paul and Silas. You and I. 

What are we among so many? But it's never been about numbers or size. It's always been about purpose and power. And God's purpose gives rise to His power released through His people who are most often outnumbered and overmatched- just how He's always wanted it. Because that way, there'll be no mistaking who's behind the victory.

And I realized in a new way today just how much I like those odds.

somebody pinch me

From May 22:

Walking along the shores of Galilee. Being in Jesus' "home town." Standing in areas where you know He stood. Discovering that some of those strangely-named places that you've read for years in the Bible  are actually real. Finding a deeper historical connection with your faith than you may have even thought about before.

All this and more is running through my head right now. As I overlook this sacred terrain, I'm at a loss for adequate expression of my feelings and thoughts. There is just so much to process and think through, even in the short time we've been here. Much to take in, categorize and apply. And I'm working to find that balance between tourist and pilgrim in all of it. Some of my need is to give myself permission to slow down enough, to get off of my "freeway life pace" in order to hear God's voice. And to know that it's OK to simply sit. And listen. For a long time.

My mind is somewhat jumbled at the moment- and I believe that to be a good thing at the moment- with so much great stuff swirling around. But I'm going find the right rhythm soon, I believe that. Until then, it's absorb it all and hold onto as much as I can! 

 

                 -along the Sea of Galilee-

My Christian Haj

One of Islam's five pillars is the obligation of every male to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his lifetime. This trip is known as a Haj, and it is foremost in the mind of every devout Muslim. Today (May 20) I began my own pilgrimage, a trip to Israel for spiritual renewal. I'm going with a group of 20+ Los Angeles-area church planting pastors, with the intent of hearing from God and discovering a sense of refreshment and growth.

Historically, people have undertaken pilgrimages in hopes of encountering God, or meeting Him in a new way.  In some belief systems and traditions, the presence of God is stronger in particular locations.  But as a follower of Jesus, I recognize that His presence does not inhabit a certain geographic spot.  You can't GPS God's place, because His presence is within and among His people.  He does not live in a building made with human hands, but in the hearts and lives of those who claim allegiance to Him. 

Therefore, I can encounter God anywhere, as I journey through life, regardless of where I might be. Yet a trip like this has significance because it takes me to the physical roots and beginnings of my faith.  To be where Jesus once was, where he walked, taught, laughed, wept, and poured himself out is to find him all over again.  Some call this experience the Fifth Gospel, able to add a three-dimensional reality to the other four...as well as a new dimension to our faith.

My Muslim friends make their Haj because they must.  It is an obligation of their faith.  Such an exercise is not required of our faith (we are, after all, perpetual pilgrims in this world)...but it can be of great benefit.  I hope to discover some of that benefit over the next two weeks.  My aim is to not simply visit sacred sites and find excitement in experiencing that of which I have read and studied for so many years (although I'm certain that will happen), but to discover a real renewal in both body and spirit. To rest from a hectic life schedule that too often obstructs the discipline of being still before the Lord. To hear God in freshness and find Him anew. To strengthen my spiritual roots and life in Him. 

And to renew my call to pilgrimage...each day of my life.