Living Alive

Palm Sunday brings to mind this story, since Jesus rides into Jerusalem, in triumph, on a donkey.

Someone once told me this & it has stuck with me for years. I hope you’ll enjoy a humorous story today.

Once there was a mule. A bit of an ol’ stubborn mule.  He found himself in trouble with the crowd. They threw him in a pit, about 6 feet in the ground.

The mule thought. Well, there’s no way out of this!  I can’t do anything about it. So there he stood.

The people were in a real rowdy, unforgiving mood.  They began to throw dirt on his back.

Well, the mule thought.  I suppose they’re intent on burying me alive. What can I do about it – I don’t know.

Shovel-ful after shovel-ful of dirt landed on him.

Then it hit him. The idea of a lifetime (this doesn’t usually happen to a mule, ya know).

I know what I’ll do.

Shake it off. And step up.

And that’s what the ol’ mule began to do.  Each time they dumped dirt on him, he shook it off and stepped up.

After a long while, he was out of that pit and back on top.

Are you feeling like you’re getting dumped on? down in a pit, underneath it all?  Then shake it off.  And step up.

Have you ever had one of those days? You “got up on the wrong side of the bed”? (Where did that saying come from?) A day where nothing seems to be going right.

The other day I hopped in my car to head to work and it wouldn’t start. Fortunately, my wife works with me. Jennifer gave me a ride to work and later to the auto-parts store to get some jumper cables. It was really no problem at all.

But it made me realize: too often, when 1 or 2 things start to go wrong for me at the beginning of my day, I’m tempted to think “It’s not my day”. That not-so-good attitude starts to grow … I start to look for things that are not going right.

That’s not right, either!

But here’s what hit me: “This is the day that the Lord has made” the Bible says.

Wait. Today (every day) is God’s day! I will rejoice and be glad – no matter what goes “my way”. So, wait…

It’s not “my” day anyway. It’s never “my” day; it’s always *God’s day*

That IS something to rejoice & be glad about. Every day!

Resources: Eugene Peterson, “The Contemplative Pastor”; Tim Keller, “The Prodigal God”; “The Confessions of Augustine,” Augustine.

Are you ready…. to worship God? Are you ready for the Shekinah of God?

“Shekinah” is an Old-Testament, Hebrew concept: the glory of God dwelling – powerfully present – in the midst of God’s people.

Are you *sure* you’re ready for worship? It’s powerful when you really open yourself to God’s reality!

Worship, Richard Foster states in “The Celebration of Discipline”, is “to experience reality, to touch life. It is … to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community.”

I like that idea of worship. Worship is our True Reality.

What do you experience when you come to worship at church? It has a lot to do with what you *expect*. If you’re anticipating “entertainment” or things that you “prefer” to happen in worship (a nice, *short* sermon; your favorite songs), then you may miss the bigger reality of God’s presence.

To prepare your heart, your expectations, for True Worship, anticipate the Shekinah of God more than your own personal desires.

Sometimes, we just there socially. We’re talking, catching up with others. Sometimes the pastor is the one who’s just talking, being social (confession time!).

The Shekinah of God calls us out from the world, and into purpose-full, Spirit-full, Reality – to hear God’s Word & to respond in faith.

Prepare by prayerfully inviting God’s presence to fill you in worship. So, then, you may hear the music, as part of God’s Shekinah.

Then you may hear the Word as a Word from God to your heart – to be applied in your life that day.

Then you may respond in obedience & live in Shekinah, every day!

Worship Resources/References:
Spiritual Reading:  ”The Celebration of Discipline”, R. Foster: This spiritual classic focuses on the acts of faith which we highlight this season: prayer & meditation, scripture study, and more… silence & solitude, guidance and service. Check it out of the church library. Also, Francis Chan, Crazy Love (see www.crazylovebook.com & click the video “the awe factor”).

Dr. Seuss’ birthday was this week. The kids at our preschool were celebrating with all sorts of Cat in the Hat ideas.

“Green Eggs & Ham” was my favorite (the book, not the actual food). The words are so simple – so memorable: “I would not, could not” forget them if I tried.

Then it hit me.

I bet I know the words to Green Eggs & Ham as well as (or better than) the 23rd Psalm! The Biblical words are simple – memorable, even more meaningful!

(Green Eggs & Ham has almost twice as many words, by the way…. 225 compared to the 117 in the 23rd Psalm.)

So, I’m motivated. I’m re-reading the 23rd Psalm. I’m going to try to commit to heart.

Nothing against Seuss. I just want to know the immortal words of the Good Shepherd better than anything else.

So, when I really need inspiration, then “I would not, could not” forget the words of the 23rd Psalm.

Read it with me:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anoinest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me, all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.