Volume 27: Rest in Kindness

 

The sun is out! The bees are buzzing! The trees are blooming! The days are longer! 

May we not overlook the new life that spring brings about all around us! And allow it to refresh us with new joys and loves and gratitude! A new season!

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Every Sunday at church, there's a time in the service when someone from the congregation will lead us in a prayer of thanksgiving. Today, Marshall exemplified the power of vulnerability, as he got up on the stage and quickly admitted his shortcomings of loving his family well in the past few days. Marshall had happened to come to church alone this morning due to his family having other obligations. So, it hit him - that if he continued on a path of choosing himself first, above his family, he would end up alone. And no one wants that. Then, in his weakness, he led us in beautiful prayer of gratitude to Jesus for all that He did and continues to do for us. 

Marshall had shared that he had hurt his son's feelings. He wasn't proud of it. But he was admitting to a whole group of people who could so easily relate. How often does our human flesh take over? How often are we mean and gossip and angry and lack patience.... especially with the people that are closest to us? 

Pastor Eric began his sermon on 1 John 2:1-14 with this quote from The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. And then led into a beautifully articulated reminder of how important it is to be kind to the people around us. That John reminds us over and over again in Scripture to love one another. 

1 John 2:5-6 and 10 : But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.... Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble."

If we really love Jesus, we will overflow with his love for others. For the people around us that are hard to love. For the people that are closest to us and get the worst versions of ourselves. If we are quick to remember the love Jesus exemplified for us by dying on the cross, how could we not love others well! 

Speaking of love, this weekend I saw the movie Jesus Revolution (Rating: I really loved it. It was definitely a little longer than it needed to be and they crammed a lot into the last half, BUT it was a great movie!) The underlying message of the movie and the revolution in the 70's is still so applicable to today: 

A lost generation seeking truth in the wrong places. 

But how were they to find the truth if church doors were closed to them? 

In the movie, Lonnie (a hippie) and Chuck (church preacher) have an eye opening conversation. Lonnie was addicted to drugs and then found Jesus and his life was forever changed. Chuck had been a preacher for a long time and was righteous in his eyes, doing all of the "right" things but his church was not growing and was exclusive. So Lonnie challenged Chuck, how would the hippies find Jesus if the church is closed to them?

Despite the drugs, there was a lot to learn from the hippies inclusivity and love for strangers. They didn't cast judgement on others and made friends easily. A version of kindness that is rare to see these days. 

And when Chuck opened his doors and welcomed them, the church grew like crazy!!! 

Our culture today is still FULL of people looking for truth in the wrong places... sexuality and alcohol and so many other things. Yet, we are often quick to turn our backs to them because we don't agree. So I was convicted to love the people around me, even if I don't agree with them. Who am I to limit Jesus in how He can move in and through people! In a MOMENT! 

And I think about how Jesus would treat the people around him, especially those that may not agree with him or be his "kind of people." Well, look no further than the gospels! The way Jesus loved tax collectors and lepers and sinners and women and outcasts. Showing compassion and kindness to all! Accepting them just as they were. Touching them. Healing them. Welcoming them in. Yet, never backing down from sharing truth with them. Because he loved them that much. 

So here's to kindness! 

At the end of church this morning, as we were singing our closing song, Marshall was standing by himself in the front row. And then, I watched as Eric walked over to Marshall, in the middle of the song, and invited him to come stand with his family. 

Marshall may not have had his wife and children by his side this morning. He may have been feeling some shame for his actions from the past week. But, he was not alone this morning. He had a whole group of believers behind him, quick to invite him in. And even quicker to accept him in his vulnerability. 

Whether inviting your friend at church to join your family or opening your church to barefoot hippies, there is power in kindness. And man oh man, do small acts of kindness go a long way these days! 

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For the most part, I am a pretty disciplined person. When it comes to reading or writing, I am all in. But one area I always struggle with is prayer. There's something about my black and white brain that struggles to grasp prayer. It's something I continue to strive to lean into more and more. Right now, I am reading the book "Praying like Monks, Living Like Fools" and I'm thankful for the simple reminders of the importance of prayer. 

This week, I read: 

"God doesn't need intercessors managing his creation. He's not overwhelmed by all the responsibility of overseeing the world. He's all-knowing, all-powerful and completely outside of time. He's got this. God doesn't need intercessors: God chooses intercessors. 

We dream of a God who brings heaven to earth: God dreams of praying people to share heaven with.

I'll pose the simplest question: If God gave you everything you've prayed for in the last week, what would happen?

The only reason I ask is that you are a ruler, a co-heir with Christ, a manager of heavenly resources. What are you doing with all that authority?"

Woah. I definitely downplay the power that is within me! May I be quick to pray and have faith that God is listening and cares. 

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We started Luke this week in the Gospel Study! Originally, I was worried that it would seem repetitive to read through the gospels... but let me tell you, I was just as excited to read about Jesus healing the paralytic this morning than I was back in January. Here's to Jesus and the wonder of His miracles and kindness to others!