The Tangible Jesus

Jesus is undoubtedly regarded as one of the greatest men who ever lived, even by those who don't profess faith in Him as the Son of God. He was kind, loving, altruistic, and wise--all qualities people admire and might aspire to imitate. There have been numerous claims that Jesus was married or had a lover (Mary Madeline), that He was secretly gay, that He faked His own death and started a family somewhere. None of these have been proven, but their aim, it seems, is to make Jesus just like everyone else. Not someone who exhibits such a pious personality that it's discouragingly impossible to imitate, but someone who is no different than us. Someone we might read about it our local newspaper, or go to school with:

"Hey Tariq, did you do your report for Mrs. Hutchins?"

"Nope. I tried to finish it last night, but I got caught up with Modern Warfare. You know how it is"

"Certainly. You know what? I bet Jesus did it. He's always so prepared."

"Jesus, did you get your report done?"

"Nope. March Madness was just too captivating last night."

"For real? (I feel so much better now that I'm not the only one.)"

It's comforting to know that even the best people are still just people. Yes, they challenge us to be better human beings, but they're no different than we are--not a threat to our self-esteem at all.

But the miraculous, and most comforting thing about Jesus (to the human condition) is that, while He was God, He was, in a very human sense, just like us!

The life He lived was the same tangible life that everyone else lived and lives. His Sonship did not warrant a spiritual silver spoon, barring Him from the actual struggles of everyday life. Many times, I've heard Christians say (myself included), "Yes, I know Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, but He's Jesus!" What they mean is, "He's not tempted in the same way that everyone else is. Actually, His Sonship to the Father made it a little bit easier." In essence, we assume that because Jesus was God, life was just easier for Him. The truth about this is; it's cheating. If we're honest with ourselves, none of us would want a cheating Savior. We might not mind a cheating friend to take the fall with us; but a cheating Savior? How much safety, hope, and eternal trust can we place in a Savior who skirted the gravity of the fall that we know and feel everyday? No one runs to bunco artists in the face of imminent death--not knowingly.

Thankfully, Jesus was no cheater! He resisted temptation to the point of death, with the same Holy Spirit those who profess Him possess themselves. He had every opportunity to sin, just as we do, and He was without sin. Every mental, physical and moral faculty of His being was tempted to hunt for treasure apart from His Father, and He would not descend to it. He did not shrink back from the effects of the Fall. He subjected Himself to every vulnerability that makes you and I broken people, and He finished His life, at the Cross, a sinless, honest, morally and spiritually perfect human being.

Praise God that we have a Jesus who can identify with the very things that perplex us, bring us pain, and cause our hearts to want for heaven.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 Hebrews 4:14-15 

James and the Storm (reflection on Not By Sight by John Bloom)

The Gospel is the Enemy of Sense. (Luke 8:24-25)

Time has provided me with so much experienced, tangible logic and stored it away in the cache of my memory, that active faith in an unseen God (whom I believe and love) is a daily struggle. I have years of felt pain, learned behavior, and realized consequences to support my trust in the things I see.

I've felt the immediate sting of my foolish decisions so many times; to believe in a joy that's to be realized is something that must be fought for. It will not come easy.

But, because my eyes have been opened, it seems that common sense is often an enemy to my faith in an uncommon, holy God and His Gospel.

The Dead Dolphin

My dad tells about the time when an unlikely dolphin and a night out made for an interesting evening.

The Effects of Unfelt Things

The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced.
- J. Piper

Believe The Gospel: Eat, Celebrate, Rest

Below is a link to a sermon I preached recently on the Gospel's implications on how we eat, celebrate, and rest. I pray it encourages you.


Soma Basics: Eat, Celebrate, Rest

The Procrastinator's Power

The Procrastinator's Power

Whoa to inspiration! It lies in the valley of Ezekiel.
Whoa to time, the Great Defector!
Damn those glinting moments of guts and gaul! Theirs is the true poet's.
To hell with love and it's predictable surprises.

Whoa is me. Whoa is me.

Seven Irresistible Words

Over the past two to three years I've been overwhelmed at the sudle power of narrative. Certainly I'm not new to this idea; I've been listening to and telling stories since I could speak. Most everyone has in some form or another. They are woven in the minutiae of everyday life and indeed, they make up everyone's everyday life. Stories are timeless, and their sway, whether good humored or glum, is undeniable.

Here's an example: I teach middle school English and have the bleeding pleasure of having a very lethargic group of pre-teens first thing every morning. At 8:30am, I can think of nothing more exiting than a room full of droopy eyed, disheveled middle schoolers eager not to be eager about anything in particular. I am confident that, even if I am giving free directions to a fountain flowing with sugar potent Kool Aid that promised immortality and a life time supply of silly bands, video games and freedom from peer pressure, I would get no response. Until, from my pocket, I pull out my secret weapon. Seven simple words: "Do you want to hear a story?"

Seven simple words act like sixteen shots of B-12 in sixteen tiny little, wrinkled sleeve covered arms. Backs straighten. Eyes widen. Smiles even begin to grow.

"Oh yea! Yea! We want to hear a story. Is it a funny story? What kind of story?"

I may choose to tell them a story about Darren the Dependent Clause who was lonely and without a friend until Ingrid the Independent Clause came along and they became friends, and of coarse things became very complex. Funny funny, haha. Sure, I've roped them in with the lure of my seven simple words, only to disappoint them with some fictitiously male sentence fragment named Darren whose desires for companionship only lead him into having difficulty with members of the opposite clause. They listened, but they feel more like they've been trick rather than enthused. Let me tell you what really holds their interest--stories about me. Not because I'm great (I'm not) or because my stories should be on the big screen (I wouldn't pay to see it) but because I am real just like they are and the truth is, real stories are the best ones.

So, because I believe in the power of narrative I use my blog and wirting for the purpose of telling real stories. Stories of the minutiae of everyday life; the ones that make up who we are and that will make up who we'll be. I hope you enjoy it and are encouraged by what you read.

Mostly, I am thankful for the greatest Author of the Greatest Story ever told Who captivates the hearts of men and women with His Great Story, changing their stories forever. My story is one that has most certainly been changed.