It must have been close to Christmas time because our worship leader, Dr. Harris, decided to read a passage from Isaiah 9.

(6) For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(7) Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Then one question; “Isn’t this what we’ve always wanted?”

When I stop and look at the world around us, when I see the corruption, pain, and death, when I see the sin, I am grieved. I also look around and see how much we try to fight these. We are constantly trying to find ways to dodge death, relieve the pain, and end the suffering. We look to churches, governments, politicians, science, and whoever else we can to bring the peace we are looking for. What we are looking for is a savior.

By asking that simple question, I was reminded that all the things we hope for and want for our world are found in Jesus Christ. He is the promise. We don’t need to look to anyone else.

¹Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ²And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. ³So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Remember that old song, “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend?” The point of the song is, well, that everybody works for the weekend. I know I inevitably do this. I put in five days of work so I can enjoy two days off. I often think of this song and am ashamed at times at how true this is of me. The reason I am so convicted about it is because I have spent a lot of time the past few years thinking, reading, and studying about the idea of calling and our work. The idea that God made us to work. It is part of who we are. Even to the point where I see work being an integral part of our lives on the New Heaven and New Earth. And I am actually very excited about this proposition. I am excited that God will give us work to do that fits exactly who we are. The best part is that it won’t be hard.

However, I would be completely amiss if I never stopped to look at a sliver of truth behind the song. There is something completely Biblical about working for the weekend; about looking for that day of rest. In a society where time is money, it is hard for us at times to be willing to admit that taking the weekend to rest is something we need to do.

Just as we were created to work, so we were also given a day to rest. Jesus himself said it in Mark 2:27 – 28.

²⁷And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

God has given us a day of rest for a reason. Where has this idea gone in our modern and technologically advanced society?

Any farmer will tell you the importance of the land needing a rest from its work. That’s why they let fields lay idle for a year. God actually placed laws in the Old Testament for the Israelites to make sure they allowed their land to rest as they were beginning to establish an agrarian society. Creation itself even has a rhythmic rest that God built into it. Winter is not just a season of death, it is actually a season for the earth to rest. Creation screams at us that there is a time for work and a time for rest. If Creation needs it, how much more do we need it.

I won’t go into all the health benefits of rest, but I am sure it is pretty clear that letting our bodies and minds slow down is healthy. We need the break. In a society like ours, though, this is not going to happen naturally. As crazy as it sounds, we are going to have to be purposeful about making sure we have our rest. We will need to learn to say no to things. We may need to even schedule our day of rest in. But it is so important we do this. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a Saturday or Sunday if your work schedule doesn’t allow it. But having that day is so important.

The danger we can have with taking a day of rest, is doing what the Pharisees did and turning into another law that has to be followed. If we remember the word of Christ, however, we can quickly keep ourselves from doing this. “The Sabbath was made for man, nor man for the Sabbath.” The day of rest is a gift from God to us. He knows that we need it. Let’s embrace this gift. Now, I am going to go take a nap.

During the summer here in Loveland, the city puts on free concerts in the park by City Hall. When Kathryn and I first moved here, we discovered them fairly quickly and they become one of our favorite activities on Thursday nights. Every week there is a different local musician that will come in and play all sorts of styles of music. Last year we heard everything from folk to rockabilly. It is a blast to sit around with people from our community on a warm summer evening and enjoy good music.

Last night was the first concert we have gone to this summer. I don’t remember the name of the artist who performed, but it was a strait up Salsa band. I’ll be honest, I have never really been into Latin music. I have heard it before and even know a song or two, but it was never my thing. But surprisingly,  I ended up enjoying a lot of what I heard. Especially watching incredibly talented musicians play the music they love. Watching someone’s passion for something inevitability spreads to the observers and this group slowly began to draw many of the concert goers in.

Throughout the concert, the band would try and get the crowd to stand up and dance a long to the music. Since most of the folks in Loveland seemed somewhat new to this style of music, we were given instructions on some simple Salsa dancing. I was too proud and did not participate in the dancing. I did laugh a lot, however, at some folks who were attempting, but not necessarily succeeding at their Salsa dancing. This also further cemented the idea that I was not going to be doing any of the dancing.

The last song we heard was the classic, “I’m Feeling Hot.” For this song, the band got a conga line started. I also did not participate in this, but I began to smile as I watched the line grow longer and longer. All of a sudden, I caught my glimpse of heaven. In this line of people there were Senior Citizens, elementary kids, and every age in between. There were different nationalities and everyone had a smile on their face. More and more people would jump in and everyone who was watching was smiling as well.

I couldn’t help but think that this is a little bit of what heaven will be like. Only we will not be dancing for the music, but for the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. I suppose that we probably won’t be doing a conga line, but I know that we will all be laughing in wonderous joy of finally being with our saviour. There will be people of all ages and of every race and tongue. We will see friends and family, saints who have gone before, but most of all we will be with our groom… Jesus Christ. Having now experienced just a little taste of what that day might be like, I am even more excited for the eternity our God has prepared for us.

Where have you recently seen a glimpse of heaven?

The two most exciting sightings have been a fox and a pelican. I am not sure why the fox was prancing around the pond in the middle of the day. That’s like being awake at midnight for nocturnal creatures. And from what I remember, foxes are nocturnal. Maybe he was looking for a midnight snack? I don’t think he got one if he was. I scared him off too quickly. He was in quite the hurry as soon as I cam around the corner.

The pelican was awesome. It came awfully close to the bench I was sitting on. It looked as if he was trying to do some laps around the pond. Most likely also looking for something to eat. However, as soon as he saw me on the bench, he took a large detour toward the middle of the pond. That was the closest I have ever been to a pelican. My wife asked me if he happened to have a baby with him. He did not. Though by the looks of how tired he was, I think he may have just finished a delivery.

There is also quite an array of different types of birds that hide in the tall weeds and trees surrounding the pond. Kathryn and I have a strange fascination with birds. I love listening to the various calls and songs that the birds generously share with me everyday. Today I saw a fish for the first time too. I know there are fish in the pond due to the number of amateur fisherman I see and then leave their worm cartons lying around.

Depending on the day, you can smell beautiful wild flowers and blossoms or you can smell typical pond. Some people may be grossed out by that – the flowers that is – but I am not. I love the fragrances God has created at this place.

This pond is my little escape everyday. I look forward to lunch everyday I can do this. I especially love Sundays because Kathryn will come and join me at the pond. I work in an office building with no windows and having grown up in the outdoors at a summer camp, this pond has become a place of refuge. I love my pond. It is not in the middle of nowhere like the pond behind my parents’ house, but it is still a place away. And it is quickly becoming one of my favorite places here in Colorado. Do you have a favorite place that is your escape?

I love hymns because of their lyrical depth and direction. When I sing a hymn with a rich text, I feel like I am singing truth. That truth goes on to fuel my emotions and those emotions then drive my singing and worship to a place based on that truth, not simply the crescendo. I love hymns that teach and speak specifically about God or a spiritual truth. Dr. Wittmer writes often in his blog that we are taught by what we sing in church. This is so true. Some of the songs that have taken me to the deepest level of worship were hymns and it was because of the truths that were found in them.

I love that hymns were written for a congregation so sing. We as a church are called to worship together. I love that many of the older hymns were written with a melody that is singable for everyone. There is nothing more moving and beautiful than to hear a congregation lift their voices to God, singing truth, above the band and the song leader. I love that hymns are written with this in mind.

I love that hymns are written in a way that they can be sung in parts. Now, I will be honest. I cannot sing in parts. I wish I could. My wife can and she does it beautifully. However, I love hearing hymns being sung in parts. Due to the simpler and more thoughtful melody, this is possible.

I love that hymns are timeless. In one service you can sing with Martin Luther’s, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God and then sing Stuart Townend’s, How Deep the Father’s Love. These were written hundreds of years apart, but can be sung together.

I love that hymns honor the saints who have gone before us. Christianity and the church is not new. There are thousands who have gone before us. We would not be here if it weren’t for the faithfulness of the saints who are now with the Lord. Singing the words of their time is a great way to show honor to our history.

I love that hymns can be redone in a modern way that is more musically pleasing to my younger ears, yet they are still faithful to the original in their composition. That’s right, hymns don’t have to be boring and musically uninteresting. They can be done with musical craftsmanship that is honoring to God at its quality (see links to artists doing this below).

These are just a few reasons why I love hymns. If you struggle with hymns musically for whatever reason, I recommend one of the various links to artists that have recently done hymn albums in a more modern style and done them well.

My favorite hymn of all is written by the late Rev. James Montgomery Boice and is sung to the tune of the doxology.

When Far From God and Lost In Sin

When far from God and lost in sin
I took God’s book and looked within
I found a gift from heaven’s throne
A righteousness of God made known

That gift Christ won at dreadful cost
Propitiation for the lost
My substitute condemned He died
And turned God’s wrath from me aside

Now in Christ’s righteousness alone
I stand before God’s awesome throne
And grasp what only God could do
Be just and justifier too

All merit boasting set aside
By faith alone I’m justified
Before God’s throne I take my place
And rest in God’s amazing grace.

Do you have a favorite hymn that you would like to share?

Here are some good albums to check out:

Chris Rice
Passion
Page CXVI
Ginny Owens
Indelible Grace Music
Red Mountain Church

One day I thought to myself, “does he ever miss a day? Or does he ever get bored and move to a new roof, try a new call, or want to sleep in?” Maybe he does, but he doesn’t seem to. He has a routine and seems to stick to it. And it makes sense. Most of creation has a routine. Summer turns to fall, the moon rises to light the night, and baby deer are born every spring. Yet, in my life I tend to buck against the routine. I get bored and want a change of pace. It seems most of my generation is this way. The ironic thing is that if suddenly the rest of creation got as moody as us humans, we wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves.

I have my own routine, though, that I hate when it gets messed up. I get ready the same way every day. I watch my same TV shows every week. I like my holidays to be celebrated a certain way. We are fickle creatures. We love and hate change all at the same time.

I am jealous of that mockingbird. I am not jealous of his routine, but at the contentment he has with his routine. It is the way God made him, I know, but contentment is one of the hardest things to find these days. It is great to have a thing I do everyday, the thing God made me to do well, and to be overjoyed to do it over and over and over. I can find it in my running, at the dinner table, and the time I spend with my wife each night. Once again, I am always drawn back to the little things. And it is there that God has called me. He has called me to glorify Him in the everyday details of life. To be content in the routine I do have.

The theme of this blog has been a particular personal issue for me over the past 4 or 5 years of my life. My purpose in talking about Spirituality and the Christian life is to not only encourage others if they happen to stumble upon this blog, but to work things out in my own life as well. Throughout all the blogging I have done in the past, I have found it to be very devotional. I always have about a million thoughts going through my head at a time, but until they get out, I never feel as if they have lead to conclusions or have even made a difference. I love the world of ideas, but until I can live it, what’s the point (thanks, Ty, for teaching me this lesson while I was still young).

So, if you are one of the few who do read this blog, feel free to join in the discussion. Let’s work together to get rid of the hyper-spiritualized conversation and  over-formulated Christianity and learn to see that our lives our extraordinary because we can glorify God in the ordinary.

Just an ordinary day on main street

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/dr-mike-wittmer-heaven-is-a-place-on-earth-the-im-interview

Let me ask it this way. How should we think about making and eating food? What is the purpose and place of art (fine arts, movies, music, etc.)? What makes art valuable? How should we approach sports and what is its purpose? Is it okay to want and work at having a nice home that is decorated and comfortable? Does Christianity even have anything to say about these things?

I have found that we tend to be very Christian about approaching the Bible, helping the poor, and doing small groups. But then we tend to swing one of two directions in all the other areas. We either end up being completing unChristian or we over-spiritualize everything. How? Let me use one example that drives me crazy.

Walk into your local Christian book and gift store. Find the framed paintings and pictures in the home decor section. You may notice something. First, a lot of the picture of the trees and mountain streams look awfully familiar. They are almost just like the ones in all the other home decor stores. What is different? There is some scripture passage slapped on the bottom somewhere. Now, I understand the good intentions here, but does that verse somehow make the picture more Christian? This is one side of the pendulum that we tend to swing to. We believe that unless there is a Bible verse or pithy Christian quote that the picture is not God honoring. The truth is, when we see good art we are seeing the work of someone who is acting our the image of God that he is made in. God created therefore we get to create. The beautiful photograph is a a photograph of God’s creation. That is God honoring in an of itself. In fact, I think placing a scripture verse on the picture cheapens both God’s Word and the picture. The scripture has no context now and the photograph can no longer speak for itself as art was intended to do. Obviously there is some “art” that is not God honoring because of what it is, but I am referring to art that is generally accepted as being legitimate and beautiful. Here is one side of the pendulum.

The other end of the pendulum says that Christianity has no say over our art and therefore we can enjoy whatever we would like. This shows itself the most in what films we watch. I know of Christians who have incredibly strict guidelines for their films. I am not thinking of these folks here. I am thinking of Christians I know who love, and I mean love, the growing genre of horror/ slasher films. There is no redeeming factor to these films. They are meant to dehumanize the characters. There is no reflection of any aspect of the gospel. It is simply entertainment based on brutality. Yet, because our churches have not taught discernment and how to understand art, these individuals do not see how Christ has anything to say about what they watch.

This is a hard line to walk, between over-spiritualizing and not caring all together, but one I am passionate about, hence the length of this post. Over my next few posts I want to address different areas of life that we go through everyday and explain the two sides of the pendulum we tend to swing toward and then a way down the middle that is truly Biblical.

If you are interested in books that deal specifically with this topic, I recommend two in particular:

Being Human: the Nature of Spiritual Experience by Jerram Barrs and Ranald Macaulay
Heaven is a Place on Earth by Michael Wittmer

After a short time I quickly learned that this guy was a brother in Christ. The more we talked the more I realized we had in common. Eventually I had the chance to share how Kathryn and I ended up here in Colorado. I shared with him the church planting thing and my desire to be in full time ministry one day. He quickly responded, “So, you’re a tentmaker, huh?” I was like, “No, I work at a call center. I don’t make tents. You are sitting next to me, aren’t you?” That’s not true. I didn’t say that.

I was actually blown away by the thought. I often think of my current job as something to hold me over and to pay the bills until something comes along. But, I began to realize I am a lot like the apostle Paul who was a true tentmaker. Paul traveled the entire Mediterranean planting churches and preaching the gospel. Yet, the Bible also tells us that he did this while also making tents. He worked bi-vocationaly. And I thought to myself that this is what I am doing. I may not love my work, in fact it may drive me crazy sometimes. But this is what God has called me to. He has made me to work, first of all. It’s part of being made in his image whether I share the gospel every day or not. I’m human, therefore I work.

He has also brought me to my workplace because there are people there who need the gospel. If I were not there, would they hear the gospel? Maybe they would. Maybe they wouldn’t. Either, way, this is where God has called me. And as long as He asks me to provide for my family by working as a tentmaker, that is what I will do.

How about you? How do you see your job? Do you see your job as something God has called you to do? God has made us to work. Our vocation, whatever it be, is honoring to God simply because that is what He has made us to do… work. What are the ways you glorify God through that. Do you work hard and honestly or just get by? “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all to the glory of God.”