Lukewarm

There's not a market for luke-warm coffee.

 

Gas stations, coffee shops, and fast food restaurants heat their coffee to 1.38 degrees below lava and people seem to be ok with that.  They also have iced coffee.  Coffee with ice cubes on purpose!

 

It's interesting that we're o.k. with the extremes but the in-between (for most people) is... yucky.  I sit at my desk this morning with a mongo-sized-multi-bathroom-trip  thermal coffee cup that is now effectively holding my coffee at that swampy fuel oil temperature.  I thought about warming it up but that would involve a walk.  Drinking it like it is only involves a scrunched up face to swallow the sludge taste.

The words of the Angel of the Lord to the church Laodicea in Revelation 3:15&16 come to mind, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish that you were either one of the other! So, because you are luke warm... I am about to spit your out of my mouth."

 

Nearby Laodicea was Hierapolis, known for its hot springs that were medicinal and healing.  Also near by were the pure mountain cold waters of Colossea providing refreshing nourishment for the weary.  Laodica is being called to task for its works ("deeds") not its spiritual temperature.  I don't think God would want anyone to be "cold" in their spirit.  The believers are being warned about being indifferent and ineffective in their actions.

 

Not being a place for healing and refreshing is a dangerous place for a church to be.  Christianity needs to be about bringing wholeness and nourishment into the lives of the people who come in contact with us.  It's that stinky mediocricy that is of no value.  What mocks God is an attitude of, "I don't care" that shows up in actions of, "I don't care" even if our mouths say, "I'm a Christian."

 

What engages a Supernatural gag reflex is providing grace and power that remain unused while they're talked about as if they are being used.

 

"Lord, this Sunday may an exhausted traveler find the pure springs of your strength.  Lord, this Sunday may a wounded soul bathe in the healing springs of your love."

 

Walking My Coffee to the Microwave,

Pastor Dave

The Arena

I went to my cousin's memorial service this week.  You would've loved Ed, he was a great pastor and a fun guy.  I find myself sitting next to some of you in the stadium of questions.  You know the place - it's the crowded arena that holds all of us who have had an experience that doesn't seem to fit in the game of life.

 

I hugged Ed's wife, who now is without a husband, a father for their kids, a pastor, and even a church.  I stood in the stadium next to her and felt a fraction of her pain.  We cried.  I walked and talked with my other cousin who is now without his younger brother and himself racked with pain from cancer - we talked about God, about questions, about hanging on.

 

The stadium is often quite full.

 

As I work my way out of the stadium I'm looking back making some observations.

1.  The stadium of questions rarely has answers.
I went in with a list of things that didn't make sense to me.  I went in with a bunch of suggestions for God on how he could have handled this one differently.  I went in thinking I should be exempt from having to be there again.  I went in knowing I wasn't alone - but feeling like I was.  Being answerless makes what I "feel" bigger than what I "know."

 

2. The stadium is often the birth place of anger.
It is amazing to me how close we are to an angry response.  Please know that God can handle our anger, but in most cases it's a huge waste of our energy.  We get angry over what we can't change and don't like.  The danger is that anger not given to God grows into a poison that infects all of our life and is usually expressed on innocent bystanders.

 

3. The stadium of questions is where I am most selfish.
I couldn't count how many people were there.  When I'm in the arena I'm not usually aware of anyone else.  I see people, but I don't notice souls if I'm not careful.  My questions become my identity and the absence of answers is my evil twin.  We're not good for each other.

 

4. The stadium of questions some how grows me.
After I sit in my chair for a while and search for illusive answers I eventually notice that Someone is sitting close to me. 

At some point He asks if I am ready to leave.
"But I don't have an answer yet," I reply refusing to get up.
"You know, you can leave without one don't you?" He kindly asks.
"But if I have questions doesn't that mean I am weak and have no faith?"
"No," He didn't hesitate to answer.
"Are you willing to keep walking without an answer?  Are you bold enough to let my Father have the answers and not share them with you?  Are you able to have faith and questions at the same time?"  He asked the series of rapid fire questions not waiting for my response.
"Yah, I think I am." I finally said.
"I'd love to have a person like that walk with me," He smiled.

We stood together.  I don't have answers - I have a Friend.

 

Leaving the Arena Again,

Pastor Dave