Supporting vs Doing

by Timothy Howe

Getting Involved
Summer is fast approaching. It will soon be time for picnics and family vacations. And for many churches and charities it will be one of the busiest times. Like many church leaders, we have traditionally been very involved in kids ministries during the summer since parents are happy to find activities for their bored children. Personally, it is fun for us to participate in sports, music and fun kids programs. Yet it is always hard finding volunteers to help with these activities. Understandably, the timing is off for some of these activities since people work or are out of town. In these cases, individuals often contribute resources when they are not able to help. 

Supporting vs. Doing
Some people have shared with me that they cannot do such and such, so they give to an institution to accomplish that purpose. Giving to agencies which carry out Christ's teaching is good. My family regular donates to such charities. These valuable and effective ministries require this sort of support to carry out the work that they are designed to accomplished. Supporting this work extends our capacity to minister because charitable ministries are often created with specialized strengths that maximize our charitable gifts. Supporting ministry, however, should not replace doing ministry. We are called to serve. Supporting ministry is valuable, but it should only be a part of our ministry effectiveness. 

Increasing Capacity
Supporting ministry that accomplishes what we are not capable of doing extends our overall effectiveness. Yet, each of us possesses gifts and strengths that allow for us to make our unique impact in the world. This does not mean that we have to be the expert of anything that we do. In all likelihood there will always be room to grow in whatever we do, but the continued exercise of our gifts and skills develop them over time to allow us to be better servants. If we allow our gifts to remain idle they will remain inadequate. As we utilize them, they grow and we increase our ministry capacity.

Faith Impact 
Our faith should affect our behavior. What we say we believe about Jesus and His teachings should be evident in how we live our lives. As people of faith we have the intrinsic hope in Christ and of the day when He will return. We know that His Spirit goes before us in ministry, His call is already on the lives of the hurting around us, and His work is going to achieve His purposes. The degree to which we employ our gifts towards that work speaks either to the degree to which we truly believe in Him or to which we are really committed to walking in discipleship. 

Are you ready to serve as well as support ministry?
Are you ready to increase your ministry capacity?
Are you ready for your faith to have an impact outside of yourself?

Following Directions: Living in Harmony

by Timothy Howe

One of my greatest joys has been working with new believers in Africa. Where we worked, there are many cultural divisions. No one language is spoken universally in the country and there is much animosity between different language or tribal groups. The church served as one of the only places where these tensions were erased. Believers from various backgrounds came together to worship and celebrate their faith. Outsiders were often struck by the fact that people who would normally not socialize together would dine, laugh, sing and pray together. This harmony provided a great witness to the message of Christ. 

In John 17:20-21, John records:

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

These words make up part of a prayer that Jesus prayed over His disciples. Jesus prayed these words during His last moments with them, only hours before the crucifixion. He was fully aware of the nearness of his departure and this last prayer captured some thoughts found in His key teachings. These verses show that Jesus was concerned in part about how His followers would get along with each other.

Two observations stand out regarding Jesus' thoughts on harmony.

Our harmony draws a picture of God.
In Jesus' prayer, he requests that His followers may all be one. He wants us to be unified. The reason He gives for this is astounding. Our unity demonstrates God's unity. The Son and the Father are two parts of of the Trinity, an eternal co-existing Triune God. The relationship between the different Persons of the Trinity is complex and difficult for us to understand as we try to make sense of how each Person is separate and yet all three Persons are one. Interestingly, Jesus explains that our unity forms a picture of the Holy Trinity. The act of living in harmony with other Christians is itself a living form of theology. 

Conversely, 
If our harmony draws a picture of God, what does disharmony among His believers demonstrate? Far too often, churches are characterized by divisions, factions, dissension, anger and bitterness. These divisions certainly do not draw a picture of God. Instead, they portray the lack of God's presence as churches depend on human instincts and talents, not the work or presence of God.

Our harmony points to God.
In addition, to serving a theological purpose, our harmony with other believers serves to give evidence to the message of Christ. One of the greatest proofs of the Christ's work and word is a life that has been changed by Him. Our ability to live in unity with other believers shows the life-changing and community-chaning power of the Holy Spirit. It gives testimony to Jesus' message. 

The harmony of the African church mentioned above points others to God as people from different cultures set aside their differences to worship together. They lived out a faithful unity with people who were different and thereby offered a good testimony of Christ. 

Conversely,
If our harmony points to God, disharmony among His believers weakens their witness. How differently would we treat each other if we recognize that church fights not only cause people to turn away from church, but they can cause some people to turn away from God. 

So, let's live in Harmony
Jesus taught His disciples that the world would recognize Christ through the ability of His followers to live in harmony with each other (John 17:20-21). He explained that our ability to remain in unity would demonstrate to the world the unity of the Father and the Son. His followers should be characterized by operating in harmony with each other.

This may not be easy, we are all still people. We can all be opinionated, obstinate, lazy, grumpy, frustrating or frustrated. Yet, Jesus' teaching remains. The world will know that we are His followers, it will recognize God at work and some may believe on account of our unity. May we take seriously this teaching of Jesus. 

Following Directions: Meeting the Needs of Others

by Timothy Howe

Recent posts have dealt with the question of "What did Jesus expect from his followers?" As we have seen, these expectations are not mysterious. Jesus gave clear guidance for those who want to follow after him. The clearest directive from Christ was to love. We know this by the fact that when specifically asked what was the greatest commandment, Christ offered the command to love God and love others. I have spent time with each of these components. Jesus had more to say, though, on what it takes to be a follower. 

Meet the Needs of Others
Jesus explained to His disciples that how they treat other people is very important to Him. He makes this teaching very clear. Feed the hungry, welcome the foreigner, provide clothes for the needy, visit the sick, visit the incarcerated (Matthew 25:31-46). In no uncertain terms, He indicates that one's participation in these action reflects which eternal path one is traveling on. His followers are to be characterized by such actions, those who neglect these actions are not functioning followers. 

We can find the heart of Jesus' teaching on this subject in the Old Testament. God provided many regulations regarding taking care of the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. Jesus' teaching builds on the Old Testament foundation. He explains that when we minister to these, we are in effect ministering to Him. 

Effective Ministry

Feed the Hungry

Welcome the Foreigner

Provide Clothes for the Needy

Visit the Sick

Visit the Incarcerated

The above list is an excellent checklist for us to evaluating how effective we are in ministry. In using the term "ministry" I am not referring to those who serve in the clergy, but rather I am referring to the work all followers of Jesus are called. Jesus didn't applaud having good intentions towards those in need, he extolled turning intentions into realities. We do that in three ways.

Praying Ministry
The first thing we can do is pray. There are many facets to prayer, too many to cover in detail here. But regarding ministry, prayer accomplishes at least two things. First it puts ministry on our hearts and minds. Our prayers focus our attention on the needs at hand. Our prayer demonstrate what is important to us. Second, prayer turns our attention from what we are capable of accomplishing to what God is capable of accomplishing. Prayer demonstrates our faith. It moves our eyes from our capacity to God's capacity. 

Who are you praying for specifically by name today? 
What ministry are you praying for specifically by name today?

Supporting Ministry
As potent as prayer is, the Lord expressed that more is required of his followers. We are to actively support the causes that make a difference in this world. It is easy to take for granted all the agencies out there meeting the needs of people without realizing that these agencies only exist on the basis of voluntary donations of our resources. We are to employ our financial resources, our energy, our time and our attention to meeting the needs of other people. It is easy to find a ministry that fits your interests and passions. There is a charity for every cause. Get behind one and support it.

What ministry are you supporting with your time?
What ministry are you supporting with you finances?

Doing Ministry
Prayer is important. Support ministry is important. But neither of these actions completes the calling. Christ explained that what we did to the "least of these" equates to ministering to him. We regularly pray and support many ministries. But this does not substitute for actively participating in ministry. Make it a priority to actually engage in helping those in need. 

Where have you gone out of your way to meet needs?
Who are you specifically meeting the needs of today?

Each of us have been called to make a difference. Are you doing your part? What can you write on your calendar right now that will be an activity that will make a difference?

Following Directions: Loving

by Timothy Howe

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is one of our favorite places to visit. Of course, we made it a point to plan at least one visit during the summer months when the lavender was in full bloom and all the senses are fully engaged. The aroma captures attention the moment you step out of your car. The sounds of bees buzzing about and the song of the cicadas reminiscent of an ancient Gregorian chant lull the traveler to another place and time. After a brief walk one peers into field of lavender set in the bottom of towering green valley walls, the scene almost too much to take in. Taste and touch are not to be excluded as lavender honey and lotions await to be tried inside the Abbey.

Arriving at the Abbey was not a simple task from where we lived. It requires travel through a very picturesque region where one interesting hilltop village follows after another, but it also traverses a mountainous area with very narrow roads on cliff's edge or between extremely narrow ravines. Clearly, the monks did not have large numbers of visiting tourists in mind when they built the structure a thousand years ago.

Good Directions
Proper directions are a requirement for obtaining the prize of sensing Sénanque. Apparently, local authorities have concluded that the beautiful country roads retain their charm at least in part by the infrequency of directional signs. This is compounded by the fact that the snaking shape of the valley between to rows of mountains easily throws off one's perspective of North and South. So a word of advice, if you want to get to the Abbey, follow good directions. Really, this is good advice in all of life's journey, isn't it? To arrive anywhere we need to know where we are going and we need to know how to get there.

I have written about following directions for the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I listed a few of the major directions that Jesus left for His followers. Last week I highlighted His command for us to love other people. Today, I want to touch on the first part of that command, loving God.

The Great Commandment
When specifically asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus answered in two parts. Love people and love God (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus was actually quoting an ancient principle found in Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV):
          Love the Lord your God
          with all your heart and
          with all your soul and
          with all your strength.

I believe in a Creator that is not only all powerful, but who cares for His creation. We are part of His creation. One of the things that this Creator desires is devotion. Yet, how do we show love to an invisible, seemingly not present Being? I offer a few thoughts below.

Keep His Commandments
Jesus tells His followers in John 14 that the simplest way to demonstrate love to God is to keep His commandments. This is why I search the Scriptures to understand them and then try to line up my life with what they teach. His commands range from how we treat other people to how we spend time with Him. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, but I can daily strive to be better.

Spend Time in His Presence
We are commanded to spend time in the presence of the Divine. Why? Does God need us? No. Rather, I am convinced that we are created to need Him. Prayer, fasting, meditation and worship are spiritual disciplines that bring us into an encounter with God. The Scriptures are full of teachings regarding all four of these. Sometimes I will hear a person say something like, "I don't feel very close to God." After which, I ask, "How are you doing in these four areas?" All relationships require spending time with the other person. Our relationship with the Divine is the same.

Work Hard
The monks who built Sénanque valued hard work. They saw that part of their devotion to God was in manual labor. Hard work in and of itself is not a classic spiritual discipline, but I would suggest that it functions quite similarly. By devoting ourselves to hard work, we improve ourselves. Long hours of solid effort has an effect on the final product and on the producer. Proverbs 13:4 describe the result of laziness as "getting very little" out of life, but the result of hard work as "satisfaction."

Take Care of His Creation
Part of God's command to humankind was to rule over creation. This charge does not mean that we are to exploit it, but that we are to take care of it. When God created the world he stated that it was "good." Unfortunately, most of humanity's interaction with nature has been more akin to exploitation of the land and not taking care of it. We are called to be God's stewards. The monks at Sénanque worked to create a place people want to visit. I enjoy gardening in my yard because it makes my plot of earth a little better place to be. How are you taking care of God's creation?

Personal Checklist
How are you doing at Jesus' teaching to love to God? What are ways that you can think of write now that will help you do a better job?

Remember, we can show love to Him by
     keeping His commandments,
     spending time in His presence,
     working hard, and
     taking care of His creation.

Following Directions: Loving

by Timothy Howe

Throughout my work, I have often found myself in large cities that were new to me. One of the things that I love most is traveling through unfamiliar streets especially ones that were off the beaten path in order to better understand a host culture. One consequence of this is that I have been lost a lot. I have wandered a lot of narrow streets in Casbah's or Old Medina's all throughout North Africa. One constant has been the helpfulness and kindness of people I have met. They take the time to meet me, show me hospitality usually with something to eat or drink, and instruct me on how to find my way. 

Last week I wrote about following Christ's instructions on life's way. Although, He left many directions for His followers, I keyed in on four of them. It is apparent that these were very important to Jesus. If they are so important, then a good follower will be consistent in carrying them out. So time to measure up. Today, I want to look at the first command of the four - love. 

Love
Jesus instructed us to love God and love others. Of his teachings, this seems easiest. There are no explicit intricate commands to follow. Just love. Who can't do that? Well, the events in our world suggest that this is much harder than that it appears. The evidence of love is too often in short supply. 

There is much hatred, vitriol, and anger in this world. If only we could demonstrate the principle command of Jesus. It is not surprising that this command has its counter parts throughout all religions. God created His people to be in relationship. The cornerstone of relationship is love. 

Love Defined

Love can be defined many ways, but I like the way Jesus defined loving one's neighbor. When he was specifically asked who is one's neighbor, Jesus did what He was good at. He told a story. This story was about a person that history has come to call the Good Samaritan. 

The story is familiar to many people, even those who don't follow the Christian faith. Hospitals are named after this nameless individual. There are even laws named after him. You can read Jesus' story in full in Luke 10:25-37.

Here's what can be taken from the story. 
Jesus taught that love was not just an emotion aimed at someone. It is more than just thinking positive thoughts or good wishes towards those around us. It's more than tolerating someone. Jesus makes clear than love is demonstrated by action towards others that embraces mutual care and respect mixed with mercy and kindness.

Personal Checklist
To accomplish this means much more than saying you love someone. Demonstrating love of this sort requires personal investment of time and effort. To how many people have you demonstrated this sort of love today? How about during this past week? If you are not satisfied with the answer, you can make a change. 

Start by asking, 

"How will I demonstrate love today 

that shows care and respect 

mixed with mercy and kindness?" 

Directions

by Timothy Howe

Walking with Directions
I love walking through the city. There are so many interesting sights to see. On a trip not too long ago, there was a specific store that we wanted to take our children to visit. The parking around that area is expensive and hard to find, so we parked some blocks away and walked there. It was an area that I knew fairly well, so I served as the guide for the family on this trip. I was aware of the most direct path and I also knew what way to go in order to see the most interesting things. So, I led and the family followed. We walked past parks, fountains, beautifully designed architecture, markets, cafes, a museum and an old church. Each turn around a corner offered a new vista and adventure. We took as much pleasure in the going as we did in arriving at our destination. How much better our walk went because I knew the way to go! 

Walking without Directions
Contrast this with how a trip goes when you are in an unfamiliar place, when no one knows where to go. That is a less relaxed trip. You can spend all of your time trying to find the correct path and you care much less about seeing the sights along the way. There is much more anxiety. Directions make a big difference!

Directions for His Followers
Last week I mentioned that as a follower of Jesus, I have life directions on account of my faith. Jesus is the leader that I follow. And as one would expect of a leader, he left us many clear directions to follow. As I looked throughout the books that describe his ministry (called Gospels), I notice that he actually left a lot of directions. Some were specific to those around him, like when he told his disciples to go and prepare a meal for him or to go fishing. Other commands were aimed at crowds gathering around him, such as when he tells them to change their ways of living or simply to sit down. 

The directions I am most interested in are those that He gave in general to anyone who wanted to follow after him. What did Jesus expect of his followers? Various people have tried to count precisely how many commands Jesus issued. I have seen lists that contained 50. He offered much teaching in a famous speech called the Sermon on the Mount. For various reasons, I'll pass over it at the moment. Besides that, there were many other direct teachings that he offered His followers. There are four that I perceive to be among His most important. 

Love
When specifically asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus answered in two parts. Love people and love God (Matthew 22:36-40). This was a good typical answer of His faith community of His time. Jesus was not surprising anyone with this answer. Yet, the answer is profound in its simplicity. Our faith is based on a simple truth - love. The chief characteristic of the followers of Jesus is love. 

Meet the Needs of Others
Jesus explained to His disciples that how they treat other people is very important to Him. He makes this teaching very clear. Feed the hungry, welcome the foreigner, provide clothes for the needy, visit the sick, visit the incarcerated (Matthew 25:31-46). In no uncertain terms, He indicates that one's participation in these action reflects which eternal path one is traveling on. His followers are to be characterized by such actions, those who neglect these actions are not functioning followers.  

Live in Harmony
Jesus taught His disciples that the world would recognize Christ through the ability of His followers to live in harmony with each other (John 17:20-21). He explained that our ability to be remain in unity would demonstrate to the world the unity of the Father and the Son. His followers should be characterized by operating in unity.

Make Disciples
One of the most often identified commands of Jesus is found in Matthew 28:19-20. The essence of this command is to focus on making more disciples. He elaborates on this directive in three parts. Go to those who have not heard, share your faith, teach them how to live it out. 

How are we doing?
These are only a few of His teachings. I think they are among the most important. How do we measure up to just these four? If we are really His disciples, won't we do what He teaches? In examining your faith, are you fulfilling each these commands? How? I'll consider that in more detail in my next blog. For now, I encourage you to consider the following question.

How am I actually living out these directions?

Following Directions

by Timothy Howe

Another Fine View
We were walking in the city when a glance down this street reminded us that awe-inspiring views strike us from all angles everywhere we look. This street is up near the hill that has the famous "Crookedest Street," Lombard Street. It overlooks the Bay into Oakland with a shot of one section of the Bay Bridge. 

When we decided to take the photo, I looked for the perspective with the least obstacles in sight. I wished that the view didn't have all the street signs and such so that I could capture an unobstructed shot at the Bridge and Oakland. I took several photos, including this one. 

Upon later reflection, though, I realized that I preferred the image with the signs. They seem to give it character. And in a bit of irony, it was the red light visible in the photo which caused all traffic to stop so that I could get the photograph in the first place. Imagine here the Howes literally standing in the middle of an intersection with cars all around us.

The signs in the image offer important information. Certain signs tell drivers and pedestrians when to go and when to stop. Other signs explain which street you are on. Not visible in this photo but all around this very location are signs which indicate where and when you may park your car, who to call in an emergency, that you are to "curb your dog" (always an odd phrase to me), and what time trash pick-up and street cleaning exist for that area.

Life is full of such directions. I made dinner with a new recipe last night. The recipe gave precise directions on how to make the marinade, how to prepare the meat, and how long to cook the meat. Medications we take give precise directions. Assembling furniture from a box store comes with a sheet of directions, often minus one screw. 

Faith Directions
Faith also comes with directions. I am a follower of Jesus. This means that I have placed my trust in Him. I know many people who claim to have done the same thing. What I have discovered is that someone who says he or she follows Jesus doesn't always act like Jesus. Now, I know that none of us are perfect. I am far from it. But shouldn't being called the follower of someone suggest that we do what they did? 

Jesus Gave Directions
More importantly, Jesus did not just live an exemplary life for us to emulate. He actually spelled out how His followers should behave. Shouldn't being a follower of Jesus mean that we do what He commanded us to do? Many people say that they are Christians and yet do not give evidence that they are following Christ's directions.

So, what did Jesus tells us to do? My next blog will list some of those commands. But I am curious as to what you already feel that Jesus commanded us to do. Please let me know what should characterize the life of a follower of Jesus.