A Quiet Plea

For some time now, I have labored to find my voice. No, that's not quite right. Labor implies a level of effort resulting in a visible outcome - a product if you will. It may be more accurate to say that I've been living in a stunned silence over the past many years, observing the increasing vitriol and Pharisee-ism on ready display in our ever-increasing modes of social interaction. To publicly offer an observation, even in the interest of true inquiry, is to unleash a flood of presupposition that quickly renders the attempt at dialogue unfruitful and unpalatable. This, even among "friends."

 

I remember many a spirited discussion, in a once blue-couched room in a building near a campus I love, where issues of politics and war, religion and theology, love and sin, scandal and football were hotly contested. And yet, in the aftermath, almost without fail we would walk out en masse for chicken fingers or a slice or two at a local pizza buffet, our fellowship and camaraderie never truly threatened. Perhaps that's too rosy a picture, but nevertheless it generally rings true to my recollection.

 

As a believer, as one who believes that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again to sit at the right hand of the Almighty, I find myself wrestling with the question of how to speak into this age - or if I even should. How does one go about being a "peacemaker" where even the most mundane of issues turns into a rhetorical battlefield and everyone nearby a self-styled knights-polemic? How does the Church speak into this age where few lend any credence to its once-perceived authority, especially given that its members wield the same weapons against one another daily, in full public display?

 

Here's what I know, and what I believe. You and I are not going to agree on every facet of policy or politics, nor on intricate matters of theology and denominational order, nor on a host of other issues. We're just not. Does that make us adversaries? Does that make us enemies? I submit that if we succumb to such an outcome, we thus succumb to the decadent spirit of the age, rather than the Spirit of the Living God.

 

There is a hymn from my childhood that begins, "Blest be the tie that binds / our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds / is like to that above." Would that we be less passive and more active in this. Can we not commit to being the agents of this blessing, caretakers of this holy bond without regard to whether our paths diverge for a time, or whether we find ourselves with opposite views of one or more issues of the day, the circumstances of which are bound to change tomorrow?

 

I harbor few illusions, but I still choose to hope. I know I am deeply flawed, but perhaps even a flawed messenger is capable of speaking truth. To borrow from a somewhat more contemporary verse, "Let it begin with me." Amen.

Christmas Meditation: What Can I Give?

I thought this would be easy. Foolish me. Having years of written devotions and reflections at my disposal, I figured it would be a simple matter to select and adapt one to suit my purposes for this year's Christmas meditation. And yet, out of all of that precious raw material, none seems to satisfy, none seem suited to the moment.

I grew up in a stable family with loving parents, with means afforded to that of a military officer coupled with wise saving and financial discipline. Gift giving at Christmas, while never extravagant, was nothing I would ever consider meager. I suppose I could write about Christmases past, shuttling between grandparents and Christmas Eve services in Chicago, sharing a plethora of memories that are warm and comforting, but in the end these offer little material for public consumption.

In the years between my childhood and young adulthood, I began to place less value on both the receiving and giving of gifts. I'm really not sure why. The act of giving brought some joy, and the act of receiving, while a little more difficult, brought some pleasure too. But for whatever reason, the gifts (the objects themselves) became less important or precious. A personal failing perhaps. Or perhaps a simple reordering of personal priorities. I began to take a little more seriously this idea of laying up treasures in heaven, rather than accumulating them on earth. Gifts continued to be given and received, but always with the knowledge of their temporal nature. We continued to prosper, and in turn, where we could, we endeavored to share that prosperity. In a word, we have been comfortable.

The past few years have been particularly trying, putting to the test that comfort. Early in 2011, a severely ruptured appendix that was nearly missed as the result of inconclusive ultrasounds and CT scans put me in the hospital for a week. That same spring, a couple of months later, another near miss as a massive tornado outbreak swept across the south, coming as close as half a mile, leaving us in the dark - but safe - for seven days. In the summer of 2011, I came home with one son from a camping trip to find my wife and other son bruised and sore from a car accident from which they somehow walked away. And then finally, in 2012, standing above the rubble of my home - destroyed by a direct hit from a high-end EF2 tornado - I could do nothing but give thanks for the fact that the love of my life and our children were safe. The outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and community - locally and online - was a gift beyond measure. And today, we are once again living day by day, with jobs and kids and crazy calendars, in a rebuilt home on the spot where so much could have been lost. And yet wasn't.

I have been given so much. Indeed, the greatest gifts I have ever received is the air I breathe, the family I love, and the faith to which I cling.

What should one do with a life that, when compared to so many, seems so fortunate and blessed? What can I give that could compare to the mercy and grace I have received, and continue to find sitting on my doorstep? I can give things, money, time … all this could help make me feel better, but to feel better is to attempt to assuage a guilt that I need not carry.

No, the burden is not one born of guilt, but rather one born of debt. For one who has been given so much, what can I give? What light can I bring to push back the darkness, today and everyday? What joy, what hope, what love can I extend that will touch the lives of those who so desperately need those things?

What can I give? Things, money, and time? Yes. Perhaps a kind word, a prayer, or even a holy kick in the rear.

In the end, I have been given life. I have been given love. I have been given grace I have never once deserved. I have been given modest means, and I have been given a voice. And yet, to hoard these gifts would be to squander them.

The picture below is of an ornament in the heart of our Christmas tree. Recovered from the storm, this is the ornament I most cherish. Not because of the thing itself, but because of the scene it captures, the truth it represents.

What can I give? Perhaps, as the old hymn says, simply this: my soul, my life, my all.

How can I possibly live up to such a high ideal? I don't know that I can. But I will try, and pray that grace covers the rest. Such is the promise, such is much my hope.

To you, and to your families, peace and grace.

Merry Christmas!

"He's Alive!"

“He’s alive!
He’s alive!
He’s alive,
and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide!
He’s alive!”

–Don Francisco

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
(Luke 24:5-6, NIV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you!” (1 Peter 1:3-4, RSV)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NIV)

He's Alive! Have a blessed Easter!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every day brings incontrovertible evidence that what we have is not so much the product of our own making, or the privileges deserved from our misguided sense of entitlement. But rather it is the grace of God, and God alone, that extends to us blessings that we have not earned, but are given nonetheless. Knowing that our treasure is not found in the things of earth, but rather in communion with our Father, His Son and His Spirit, we give thanks today and every day.

What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
I shall lift up the cup of salvation
And call upon the name of the Lord.

- Psalm 116:12-13

Give thanks today, with a grateful heart!

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

- Psalm 95:1-7

This is My Story

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you …" (John 15:16a, NASB)

So begins what I consider to be my "life verse," that one special piece of Scripture that anchors me in my faith, that spurs me on as a Christ-follower. John 15:16, indeed, was at the very center of my return to Christ after my own prodigal journey some 20+ years ago.

In this chapter of "A Portrait of Me," I tell this story. Indeed, you could say that I have been building up to this moment on this blog for a couple of years now. I am fortunate enough to be able to present this story in a special audio format.

Over ten years ago, I served as a substitute speaker on occasion for the Wednesday night 2:42 services at Chase Valley Church. While Chase Valley no longer exists as a unique entity, its DNA lives on after a fashion in the Chase Campus of Cove Church. I had the opportunity to teach at least 4 times, each message recorded and stored on CD. It was to my great relief that all of these CDs were found in the rubble of my house after the storm destroyed it back in March.

Finding these CDs impressed upon me that left in a box, they serve no purpose. In time, as the opportunity warrants, I will awaken these messages from their digital dormancy and share them here on this blog. Indeed, we have the technology. The last message I gave shall be the first.

We love to tell stories. Some stories we tell over and over again. Others, we don't share often enough, but clearly should. This is my story, although it is not mine alone ("all creation tells the story, and testifies of His great glory"). Some of you were there when it was told. Others of you were there when it happened. Still others of you played a direct part in the plan to bring me back home. To each of you, my deepest thanks. To my family, I love you all, more than you know.

Run time is about 35 minutes. You have a couple of options: you should be able to play the mp3 file directly using Windows Media Player, or whatever player you have as your default media player. Or you can right-click on the link and select Save Target As and download the file.

So here it is. Thank you for listening.

April 10, 2002 - Chase Valley Church
Jim Chase - "This is My Story"

Other chapters:

A Portrait of Me: The Key
A Portrait of Me: River Walk
A Portrait of Me: Journey's Dawn
A Portrait of Me: I Am Prodigal
A Portrait of Me: This is My Story

Bonus: Mr. Blue

Peter Robinson of Ricochet has a beautiful post today, an excerpt from a book called Mr. Blue, published in 1928 by Myles Connolly. I won't copy the post (it's short, and I encourage you to read the whole thing at Ricochet.com). But I will excerpt just the smallest of portions, if I can:

He threw his hands up toward the stars: “My hands, my feet, my poor little brain, my eyes, my ears, all matter more than the whole sweep of these constellations!” he burst out. “God Himself, the God to Whom this whole universe-specked display is as nothing, God Himself had hands like mine and feet like mine, and eyes, and brain, and ears!....” He looked at me intently. “Without Christ we would be little more than bacteria breeding on a pebble in space, or glints of ideas in a whirling void of abstractions. Because of Him, I can stand here out under this cold immensity and know that my infinitesimal pulse-beats and acts and thoughts are of more importance than this whole show of a universe."

Thanks, Peter. Simply wonderful.

Happy Easter!

Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! For Christ the Lord died, but He has also risen! And Christ will indeed come again!

May the joy of Easter fill your heart and your day!



"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!" (Luke 24:5-6, NIV)

The Death of Jesus

Adapted from a devotion published in 1996.

Intense, anguished prayer...."Not my will, Father, but yours".... "Are you the Messiah?".... Shouts, accusations from every direction, taunts..."Let's see a miracle, Son of God!".... "This man is innocent, I will release him".... "No! No! Crucify! Crucify! We have no king but Caesar!"...."I wash my hands of his blood, let it be on your heads".... The robe, the thorns piercing his flesh, the terrible agony of metal grinding through bone, being driven through flesh.... A stranger carrying his cross.... "Don't weep for me".... "Father, forgive them".... "Save yourself, if you are the Christ! Come on, you worthless piece of scum, call for your angels! Come, Oh high and mighty King -- save yourself!! He's quite clever at 'saving' others, but he can't save himself! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!".... "Hey, let's cast lots for these clothes, they'll bring a good price down in the temple market".... "Hey there, Messiah! Come down from that cross and we'll believe you!".... "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom".... "Today, you will be with me in paradise!".... A darkness deeper than any night fell upon that site. The air became oppressive, stagnant. And as it fell, the people became quiet, the taunting died away, even as evil rejoiced. For 3 hours, the darkness smothered the land. The only sounds were the agonized breathing of the dying. Suddenly, there was a loud cry from the mouth of God, shattering the eerie silence and shattering the hearts of those who heard it. "It is finished." The
veil was torn in two. A spear thrust into His side brings forth a flow of blood and water.

The Son is dead.

It had to be done. It was the only way. Jesus died. He died so that we might live. We can never understand the joy of the Resurrection if we fail to understand the Death. In three days, the Victory was made known. But you cannot appreciate the Victory if you don't experience defeat.

"Now I have given up everything else -- I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and die with him. So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11, LB)

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ..." (Ephesians 1:7, NIV)

"... and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7, NIV)

"Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there." (Galatians 5:24, LB).

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me;" (Galatians 2:20, RSV)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Originally published 05 April 1996. Encounters! Ministry, Copyright © James A. Chase

Freedom From Religion Foundation Turns Sights Upon Huntsville

We live in a country with hundreds of millions of people, all of divergent views on matters of religion and politics. In communities large and small, the tradition of prayers or invocations before citizen-based meetings, town halls, sporting events and graduation has been a staple of local civic life. Perhaps for some, over time, these brief moments have become more symbolic than substantive. But for years upon years in these communities, those who don't consider themselves religious demonstrated a healthy tolerance or respect for the tradition. Until recent decades, that is. Indeed, while I would wager that the vast majority would not get their feathers in a ruffle over the matter of a short prayer or invocation before civic events, there is a tiny, anonymous minority whose intolerance of such expressions (symbolic or otherwise) creates a firestorm of controversy that ensures their victory by mere intimidation.

This minority has now brought the battle to my area. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, an organization based in Wisconsin, is bringing its mission to destroy expressions of faith in civic life against the long-standing tradition of opening prayers at the Huntsville City Council. From The Huntsville Times:

In a Feb. 16 letter to Council President Mark Russell, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation argued that prayer at government meetings is "unnecessary, inappropriate and divisive" and should be stopped.
…
The letter infers that the group will sue Huntsville in federal court if the policy is not changed.

The city, of course, is taking the threat seriously. In an era of tight fiscal budgets, no local government or agency can afford to spend taxpayer money to fight such cases in court. The remarkable thing is, the city might stand a decent chance to win in court. But the cost is prohibitive, so it is more likely that the city will lay down without a fight. Oh, they'll revert to a moment of silence or the like. Because that would be the politically correct, tolerant thing to do in the face of virulent, antagonistic intolerance.

I have not been to a Huntsville City Council meeting, so I cannot speak with authority as to the typical nature of the invocation. But at various events where an opening prayer is offered, it strikes me that they are often 30-45 seconds in length, and focused more on the appeal to providence rather than proselytization. From the paper:

"The prayers currently invoked at Council meetings impermissibly advance Christianity," Schmitt wrote, "and lead a reasonable observer to believe that the Council is endorsing not only religion over non-religion, but also Christianity over other faiths."

Unidentified Freedom From Religion Foundation members who live in Huntsville complained to the national office about the City Council prayers. The group says it has more than 17,500 members nationwide, including about 150 in Alabama.

This is part that bothers me the most. Out 150, how many members of this foundation actually live in Huntsville? Suppose it is 10%. Of those 15, how many would bother to attend a city council meeting? In all likelihood, less than 5, and that may even be too high an estimate (it's not like the council meeting is heavily attended by the public). So a couple of "unidentified" local citizens decide to hide behind the skirts of a Wisconsin-based organization that operates on the basis of intimidation to tear down a local civic tradition. We'll never know who the accusers are, because this will never go to court, and the FFRF will protect the privacy and the intolerance of its members. All over the matter of an invocation or prayer that lasts less than a minute.

I want to be charitable to those with opinions that differ from mine, even on a topic like this. But I really can only shake my head in wonder at the ongoing surrender to the tyranny of the minority in our civic life.

Sunday Reflection

A tree stands still as stone before me
As the clouds race by.
But for the clouds, I would not perceive
The moving of the winds above me.
Thus I know, and will trust
That the Spirit of the Lord God is moving
Whether or not I always perceive Him.

"The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." (Lamentations 3:24)

Holiday Reading and Rime

During my little end-of-year sabbatical from the office, I have with some difficulty managed to largely put next year's uncertainties out of my mind. Uncertainty, only because in my field there is always uncertainty and questions of resources, funding and expectations. Yet other than an errand I have to run today that is directly work related, by and large it has been a nice little break.

I have even managed to indulge myself in some light reading - light in this case meaning relatively short works. Upon recommendation, I read an extended essay on Understanding American Exceptionalism. Because everybody should, I read Thomas Paine's Common Sense. And for sheer enjoyment, I re-read the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

There are times I wish my work was more labor-oriented than it is. Doing what I do takes a great deal of cognitive energy that at the end of the day often leaves me mentally fatigued. This condition negatively affects my desire to read, especially those works that take some effort to understand. I grieve over this, because with the increasing unlikelihood that I'll ever go back for another degree, reading for the purpose of expanding my education is the only logical path I have. For me, continuing study is essential, as it is the only sure means to counter the inadequacy of whatever knowledge and wisdom I possess. Without study, I find that the wellspring from which I write easily goes dry.

This thought brings to mind two paragraphs I first read just before the holiday break, and have re-read several times over the last two weeks. From Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, "Approved Unto God":

If you cannot express yourself well on each of your beliefs, work and study until you can. If you don’t, other people may miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth. Strive to re-express a truth of God to yourself clearly and understandably, and God will use that same explanation when you share it with someone else. But you must be willing to go through God’s winepress where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle, experiment, and rehearse your words to express God’s truth clearly. Then the time will come when that very expression will become God’s wine of strength to someone else. But if you are not diligent and say, “I’m not going to study and struggle to express this truth in my own words; I’ll just borrow my words from someone else,” then the words will be of no value to you or to others. Try to state to yourself what you believe to be the absolute truth of God, and you will be allowing God the opportunity to pass it on through you to someone else.

Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.

In its proper context, and even expanding the context, the second paragraph resonates with me. I can know a thing without really knowing, but I can't truly know that thing apart from the ownership that comes with the struggle or the striving. The lesson to be learned may even require suffering the consequences of a folly (Water, water every where, And all the boards did shrink;), until we recognize that so much of what we think we know does nothing to quench our deepest thirst (Water, water every where, Nor any drop to drink). But once learned, the lesson and the wisdom it bequeaths becomes our own, with the credibility and authority to speak it. All we need then is courage at the appointed time.

Venite Adoremus Dominum

"Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

Merry Christmas!

Last Minutes

Today is a day of last minutes. Last minute shopping. Last minute baking. Last minute wrapping. Last minute cleaning. Every year it seems, so many of us find ourselves utterly unprepared to savor the spirit of the season. How tempting it is to overcomplicate the simple, to fill every minute of every day with worries that rob us of peace, with activity that swallows whole the opportunity for contemplative respite. We have long since lost the art, the discipline of simply being still.

As night falls on this hallowed Christmas Eve, after the kids are off to bed and presents are safely tucked under the tree, when your last minute concerns are all laid to rest, carve out a few more last minutes to just be still, for as the song says, "'tis the eve of our Saviour's birth." A holy night, indeed. May we treat it as such, and find hope renewed in our weary hearts.

Thanksgiving Reflection

I find myself in an interesting place this Thanksgiving, and for a number of reasons I am deeply reflective. Some of it is just life: work, family, being 40. I find that I've done a lot of striving, reaching for things based on my own search for significance. And while I don't often fall into the trap of over-estimating my worth, I do sometimes under-estimate it to a certain degree. What I still seek to perfect, however, is that balanced, objective measure of myself.

Romans 12:3 says: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” 2nd Corinthians 13:5 says: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?”

Romans 12 (3:4-8) goes on to say: “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

I am frequently reminded of my own need for a sober examination of mind and heart, in the context of what I am called to be and the person I aspire to be in the faith. This examination is essential as we journey through the process of sanctification, a journey that we each must take as we grow ever more closer to conforming to the image of Christ. It matters not whether it compares to the journey or experiences of another. It is the insight and wisdom we gain through this journey that matters, as it is the work of God in us. To the extent that what we experience and learn inspires or educates others, that is the seed and the fruit that comes from the testimony of the Holy Spirit’s work in us. It is really a remarkable thing, actually, that our journey toward the fullness of Christ – through all our struggles and our humanity – becomes the transformative work that lights the way for others to see the Truth.

In Matthew Henry’s commentary on the Romans 12:3-8 passage, he wrote: “Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.”

I like those words. But I have to almost daily remind myself of their importance.

What does this have to do with Thanksgiving? It is a fair question. I suppose it is simply this: I indeed have much to be thankful for - more blessings than I can count - and I have been given much. What better way to honor such blessings, such gifts, than to endeavor to live a life that seeks not selfish gain, but rather seeks something greater - fruit that others may enjoy, fruit that will last (John 15:16).

Food for thought. Happy Thanksgiving!

Protesters Stand with Jesus?

To be honest, I haven't given much thought to this so-called protest movement called Occupy Wall Street. To me, it just seems to be another flavor-of-the-month rally that attracts mostly those who want to rail against capitalism, rich people, and government. In the past, such protests usually include elements and/or organizations with Marxist or socialist agendas, and thus are typically less likely to include those who truly hail from freedom-loving America. Generally speaking, folks have the right to protest in the name of whatever they choose, and whether I agree with them or not, I can live and let live.

But there are those who, if you'll pardon the irony, try to capitalize on the opportunity presented when a bunch of easily impressionable people take to the streets to protest. Far too many of these protesters are out there, without any reason or principle driving them other than it seems like a cool thing to do. These people rail on about things they don't understand, chanting phrases and slogans from the 60's, and issuing demands for whatever it is they feel entitled to. And that is the essential element: entitlement. Demands for free college education, demands for jobs, demands for free health insurance, demands to tax the rich guy, demands for fairness; all these are ripe for manipulation by socialists and Marxists. The political left considers Occupy Wall Street a legitimate uprising, while the Tea Party (which has been far more demonstrably civil and representative, in my opinion, of the American middle) is labeled as extremist. But again, if people want to be pawns, that's their choice. Live and let live.

Where I do get some heartburn, however, is when those elements of the Church who lean heavily on liberation theology attempt to imply that protest movements like Occupy Wall Street "stand with Jesus." Jim Wallis, posting at Sojourners, serves as an example. (Sojourners is a publication group formed in 1971 to "articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world." I read their material every now and then, although I rarely find myself in full agreement.)

In a recent post, Mr. Wallis wrote the following:

We will likely see images and hear things from Occupy Wall Street demonstrators that will offend us and some that will inspire.

We’ll hear demands that we agree with and some that we don’t.

And that’s OK.

The Occupy Wall Street protests make some people nervous, while others scratch their heads, and more than a few grab their sleeping bags and join in.

There is a lot of speculation as to who the "Occupiers" are and what they might accomplish. There is much I still don’t know about the movement, but undeniably it has caught the imagination of a generation -- and that matters.

Here are a few things I do know about the Occupy Wall Street protesters:

When they stand with the poor, they stand with Jesus.

When they stand with the hungry, they stand with Jesus.

When they stand for those without a job or a home, they stand with Jesus.

When they are peaceful, nonviolent, and love their neighbors (even the ones they don’t agree with and who don’t agree with them), they are walking as Jesus walked.

When they talk about holding banks and corporations accountable, they sound like Jesus and the biblical prophets before him, who all spoke about holding the wealthy and powerful accountable.

Pray for those out on the streets.

Where to begin? First, Jesus did not come to this planet to provide a path to social justice. He came to save sinners from eternal separation from God Almighty, to provide a path to redemption and sanctification and everlasting life. Jesus did not take to the streets to protest governments, or demand entitlements from Rome for His chosen people, Israel. There is only one type of person who can "stand with Jesus" - the one who professes Jesus Christ as Lord, descended from Heaven, risen from the dead.

The one who "stands with the poor" does not necessarily stand with Jesus. What good does it do for us to take to the streets with our wallets, our cars parked in a paid parking deck, cellphones logged into Twitter, demanding that the rich and powerful provide for the poor? Would it not be better to serve quietly, where the truly poor are, be it through ministries in the church or local charities? You are not likely to find the "poor" online and following social media on their cell phones.

The one who "stands with the hungry" does not necessarily stand with Jesus. Mr. Wallis suggests that we the Church should go out to the streets, visit with the protesters, and take THEM food. Are you kidding me? You want to stand with the hungry, then feed those that are truly starving. That is one of the more important roles of the Church - it does little good for us to take to the streets and demand that the government or the rich feed the hungry. If you have means, and passion to serve, work through your church and just do it. Standing on Wall Street holding a sign does absolutely nothing for the hungry.

The one who "stands for those without a job or a home" does not necessarily stand with Jesus. We are entitled to nothing in this world. Nothing. Neither the rich nor the government owes us anything. At all. In economic hard times, people lose jobs and sometimes lose their homes. It can indeed be tragic. But sitting on the street demanding that the rich and the government give people jobs and homes accomplishes nothing. Can the church help those who are unemployed and homeless? Of course we can. But we would be better served - and blessed - if we actually helped them, as opposed to protesting as if the world owed us something. Because the world owes us nothing - and if you haven't figured that out yet, it is time to grow up.

As far as Mr. Wallis' comment about those that are "peaceful, nonviolent, and love their neighbors," guess what, I don't have much argument with that. But to walk as Jesus walked takes more than being civil and kind to others: Philippians 2:1-11.

But then he says that those who "talk about holding banks and corporations accountable, they sound like Jesus," he loses me again. Jesus and the prophets did not talk about holding the wealthy and powerful accountable - not in the sense that Mr. Wallis claims. Everything Jesus preached on this matter had to do with 1) the individual's tendency to place greater value in material things than in spiritual things, and 2) taking issue with the teachers of the law, the religious leaders of Judaism who had been corrupted by power and money. Jesus did not rail against the Romans - although many among Jesus' followers desperately wanted him to lead a protest-based rebellion against Rome. What Mr. Wallis ascribes to Jesus is precisely what Jesus did not do. Jesus did not call for the wealthy and powerful to be accountable to the people. He called them - and all of us - to be accountable to God. Jesus was there to save men's souls - not to foment a populist rebellion or to establish an earthly kingdom that provided material equality and benefits and justice to everyone. Such a kingdom is one made in man's image, not one that proceeds from the throne of Heaven.

Perhaps there are pockets of people on these streets who are truly gathered in Jesus' name. And if so, without doubt the Holy Spirit would be present. But to ascribe alignment to Christ by those who may not acknowledge His Name, but who only profess to "stand" with the poor, hungry and jobless is false. This doesn't necessarily make them bad people, nor does it make their ideals suspect. Anybody can be good and stand for good things. But standing for good things doesn't equate to standing with Christ. It very much comes down to motive, and I know for certain that I can claim no special knowledge to what drives these people to these protests. But as 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "… for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

With apologies to Mr. Wallis, standing with Christ is a far higher, and a far more transformative standard than what his observations suggest.

Covenant Stone

This Sunday marks the final worship service for Chase Valley Church. For the next two months, the parking lot on Sunday mornings will be empty, the building dark. Come August, Cove Church@Chase will launch on the 28 acres bequeathed to it by the former ministry.

Despite my best attempts to put on a happy face, I find myself grieving, and looking to Sunday with not a little dread. Obviously not the right frame of heart for approach worship, but nevertheless, the emotion is real.

Several years ago, we as a church body entered a season called 40 Days of Purpose, during which we were encouraged as leaders and as a body to commit ourselves to prayer, small groups and ministry with the goal of "Crossing Jordan." The idea of "Crossing Jordan" was in part founded on the passage in Joshua 4:1-9. During a leadership retreat just prior to this time, a number of us leaders were invited to select from a pile of large, smooth riverbed stones. These stones, one per leader, were to be kept for a period of time until one day, we as a church crossed over into the next phase of our ministry (likely the next tier of numerical and spiritual growth). In that appointed time, we would return with the stones to set up an altar, a memorial, as a testimony to the work of the Lord in our midst, to the furtherance of His Kingdom in the hearts of our community, our city, and beyond. Sadly, seven years later, that stone still sits on a shelf in my garage. And by far most of those leaders who carried those covenant stones are gone.

I keep that stone, in the hopes that perhaps someday, the opportunity will come to lay down that rock as a marker to what Chase Valley was, and what Cove Church will be. But it also serves to remind me of just how easy it is to make choices that keep us wandering in the desert. That stone, and the covenant I made, takes on greater meaning for me each time I question whether it is time for us to look for a new church home. For while so many of my fellow laborers have walked away from that covenant (and despite how that might sound, I don't judge them for it), I as yet do not feel able to give up on the potential that is before us. That stone, that covenant, it anchors me. And I am grateful for it.

As Sunday approaches, I know my heart is broken. But I serve a Lord who knows how to mend a broken heart and make it new. It is that hope, that promise, on which I will stand.

Easter Praise

Admittedly, Carrie Underwood is not my usual cup of tea. Yet as I watched the video below through teary eyes, I could not help but notice the crowd coming to its feet during the final chorus of this most powerful hymn. People rise with some perhaps not even knowing why. It seems that wherever and whenever it is sung, if it is sung well, an atmosphere of worship breaks out. The hymn has a deep resonance with me, for a variety of personal reasons. On this magnificent Easter morning, I pray that we may all stand in awe of the Lord our God: How Great Thou Art!



(h/t): Gus Marvinson

A Day of Joy

I have been trying all day to put together the words to best express what's in my heart, and remarkably, I find myself unable to turn the phrase. I have some thoughts, but they are for my son, and my son alone.

So I'll let the pictures below speak for themselves. On this Palm Sunday, my oldest son, of his own accord and at a time of his own choosing, made a public profession of faith and was baptized. While he has seemingly carried an inner light and understanding regarding the Truth for several years, a few months ago he made his decision, to my great joy. And I am, indeed, rejoicing!







"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (3 John 1:4)

"… and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and fully of glory, …" (1 Peter 1:8)

The Coming Reboot

In recent years, movies and television have been filled with quite a number of "reboots." A reboot goes beyond the typical "remake" of a classic movie or show. Instead, the reboot is a complete refresh on a franchise or a character or a storyline. ABC's "V" is a reboot of the campy '80s miniseries. Smallville was a reboot of the Superman franchise. How many versions of Batman have hit the big screen? My favorite reboot, however, was the reinvigoration of the Star Trek franchise at the hands of J.J. Abrams.

I was an ardent fan of the original Star Trek series (TOS) and its movies. When Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) came out, I was a slow adopter, only buying in when the Borg entered the storyline. With the TNG universe, we got DS9 and Voyager, which I also enjoyed. Paramount tried yet another series (Enterprise), but cancelled it when it finally started to get interesting. But note that all of these series existed within the same universe, as it were.

Abrams reboot of the franchise with 2009's Star Trek, while tapping the same characters as TOS, changed the dynamics of the story by the application of a difference perspective, almost a counterfactual exercise: "what if" these characters had developed differently due to different life experiences? I remember being quite skeptical about this new look, not sure I'd like the suggested changes to the Star Trek "canon." To my surprise, the movie is by far my favorite of them all (with a place of honor still reserved for The Wrath of Khan). Abrams succeeded, despite the pained efforts to explain the changes and maintain continuity with TOS. Star Trek (2009) is a reboot - same people, but with different perspectives, different relationships, and an unwritten future. And now for the segue….

The same people, with different perspectives, different relationships and an unwritten future. This is the state of the church I've called home for the last 17 years. By June of this year, Chase Valley Church will cease to exist, its current membership and properties becoming a satellite of Cove Church. I won't go into all the reasons for this, but suffice it to say that the merger is in the best interests of continuing ministry in our particular location. I've struggled for an appropriate analogy or metaphor to describe this moment, and for now I'm going with the reboot - same people, different perspectives, different relationships and an unwritten future.

From our early days in storefront facilities, to the construction of our building on 28 acres of land, to dynamic statistical and spiritual growth, to a dramatic diaspora and decline, only a handful of us are left who span the relatively short life of the church. We have seen many people come, and many people go. We have witnessed the transformative work of God in our midst, touching and changing the lives of many. We have also suffered through pain, scandal, and the turmoil of disunity. These are experiences we will forever carry with us, with memories that deserve to be treasured and stories that need to be told and retold, and hard lessons to remember. It is a fortunate thing that eternity is forever, so that who we are (or were) will perhaps be remembered in the Light of the things that truly matter.

But we are still here. We are the same people, viewing almost 20 years of ministry in the rear view mirror, faced with envisioning the church with a different perspective, developing a new and different set of relationships both to the institutional parent church and to individuals under whose authority we will now serve. For some, this change will be too difficult to take, and they will probably leave. But there will be many who will, although perhaps with some trepidation, step into this new world and embrace the opportunity of an unwritten future. Because in the end, it is not about institutions, territory and control. I have asked myself frequently whether I'm up for the reboot. I will admit to a certain sadness over our state, and I confess I'm grieving over the potential loss of who we are (or were). But then again, some of that sense of "self" left with those that walked out the door years ago. But here I catch myself, remembering that it's about furthering the Kingdom of God where we are and where we can. Our identity is not found in Chase Valley, nor will it be found in Cove. Our identity is in Jesus Christ. To take any other perspective would be detrimental to us and to our ministry.

As I said, there are stories to tell, and perhaps over the next few months, I'll share some of those, if appropriate. Until then, I'll choose to look forward toward that unwritten future in the life of our church, knowing that in a very real sense, the future has already been written by He who stands both inside and outside of time. The raging waters of change will undoubtedly be choppy, but with faith, they are navigable. This reboot of our church can be a good thing, and reinvigorating to our purpose as followers of Christ. That is my hope, anyway, and my prayer.

For Unto Us

Adapted from a devotion published in 1997.

I was up late one night this past week admiring our Christmas tree. No doubt, it is the best one we've had since we've been married. An artificial Douglas Fir, the tree is adorned with wonderful decorations. There is the angel on top, lightly glowing; there are a number of glitter-speckled balls; an iridescent garland wrapping around the tree; and a number of specialty ornaments of both the unique and cute variety. With Christmas music playing softly in the background, I watched the colorful lights light up the room, some flashing slowly, others staying brightly lit. It was a peaceful moment, and as late as it was, it wasn't long before I allowed my imagination out to play.

I was very close to the tree, looking deep inside its branches, past the garland, past the ceramic angels, past the glittery balls and lights. Suddenly I was passing through a galaxy of lights and decorations, speeding ever faster toward the heart of the tree. All came to a stop, where before me was a simple, nondescript ornament hanging in space. It wasn't flashy or shiny, cute or iridescent. It lay there silently, almost hidden from sight. But once past all the distractions, the worries, and the substitutes, I could see it. A lowly manger, with a Child and his earthly parents. Yes, in that moment, the true meaning of Christmas filled my senses.

What about you? Has Christmas become too routine, filled only with the annual rush and the shiny, flashy façade? I pray that you will find a quiet moment to look down, deep into the heart of Christmas, and rediscover the true meaning and hope of this special time, meant for you and all the world. For unto us, a Child is born, and a Son is given.


The heart of Christmas is the hope and promise of one man, one Lord, and one Savior, Jesus Christ.

"The angel reassured them, 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!' Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others -- the armies of heaven -- praising God: 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors'" (Luke 2:10-14, NLT)

May you each have a blessed Christmas!

Originally published 24 December, 1997. Encounters! Ministry, Copyright © James A. Chase