Disciple Number One

When you think about Number One, you think about the Greatest.  The Top of the Heap.  The King of the Hill/The Queen Bee.  The Last One Standing.  That’s how the world sees Number One.  Being Number One is a mark of power, popularity or persistence.

            In this view, Peter would be the Number One apostle.  As some interpret Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says that Simon’s name will be Peter, and that on this rock (ptros in Greek) Christ will build his church.  The Western tradition has used this statement to justify (or condemn) the Pope as the Head of the Church, the First Among Equals, the Voice of the Church.

            Whatever one thinks about such a claim, I believe that the idea is couched in Western notions of authority.  There is another way to think of Number One.  I pose the idea in a question:  who was the first disciple whom Jesus called?  His name:  Andrew.  His name is rooted in the Greek word for the person:  Andros.

            In the Gospel account told in in the first chapter, it is not incidental when he relates the calling of Andrew—and that Andrew was the first to respond.  And what did Andrew do right away?  He called his brother to come and see what he had discovered.

            Andrew is the Number One Disciple.  He was the first one whom Jesus called.  He set the example for the rest of us in wasting no time sharing his faith in and love of Christ, the mystery of God in human form.  God took our flesh to bring us to God.  God called Person to bring other people to the truth of God in Christ.

            Andrew is the prime example for me as a Christian and a human being.  My main task as one who is baptized is to be Andrew to others so that they can know the love of God and be more like Christ in their lives.

            Lord, help me to be Andrew to others today, and bring my brothers and sisters to Christ.

Positively Powerful

The great salesman Zig Ziglar passed away just the other day.  I have to think that he now is living out the title of his first book, See You at the Top!  I imagine he is having a great time chatting with the apostles about their amazing successes in the conversion of the pagan world in their time to follow Jesus Christ.  I imagine that Paul, in particular, is spending a lot of time with Zig comparing notes.

          After all, it was Paul who told the Philippians that, whatever their condition, they do not focus on the condition but on Christ.  From prison, Paul said that he appreciated the kindness of the Philippian church and that he was content with whatever he had.  He then says, “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

          That’s one of my “life verses.  Sure, there are many things that I would like to do, people I would like to know, things I would like to change, and circumstances that I would like to alter.  Some I can, and some I can’t.  But God in Christ can change anything and everything.  I just need to be in tune with what God desires much more than what I desire.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me—but they are all things that God in Christ wishes to accomplish through me.  I have to be willing to be an open vessel.

          I always have liked the old AA/Al-Anon prayer, “Lord, help me to come to terms with the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

          People like Zig Ziglar serve as cheerleaders.  He always insisted that I could achieve far more than I imagined.  And then it was and is and will be God who gives me the power and the ability to do it to honor and glorify God.

          So, Zig, here’s to you.  Yes, I CAN!  By God’s grace, I’ll take that another step:  Yes, I WILL!

Holy Scriptures Diet

Yesterday, one of my favorite prayers was the appointed Collect of the Day at the Eucharist:
 

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

            Like nearly every American, I have been on a diet over the years.  I learned ways to eat well but in moderation.  You could say that I strive to be on a healthy diet.  We have some idea of what it is to hear the Scriptures, or read and learn from them.  What does it mean to inwardly digest them?  That indeed is the core element of a spiritual diet.

            A spiritual diet is essential to one’s well-being.  In my youth, I heard the Scriptures read aloud in worship.  But I never read them for myself.  Indeed, as a youngster, the only time I opened a Bible was to look at the giant family Bible stored in a closet.  The typeface was what I called “holy Gothic,” quite impossible to read.  There also were “sacred pages” where my mother entered important family dates—baptism and confirmation anniversaries, my parents’ wedding anniversary, and dates of the passing of my grandparents.  This Bible was a sacred relic in my family.  It was to be viewed rather than read.

            When I had a conversion experience in my college years, my friend who discipled me those first steps with Christ gave me a “study Bible.”  I began, quite literally, to mark the Scriptures with a yellow highlighter (and then, other colors) to note certain passages that I needed to mark in my heart and mind.  Some verses became “life verses” to return to as reminders of God’s promises to me as a person of faith.  In a daily program of Bible reading, of group Bible studies, and devotional study, I took in all I could get.  I’d been starving spiritually—and now I could not get enough of the true bread by which I could live forever.

            Over the years, I have been on a daily diet of Scripture so that I could fulfill this prayer so that I could embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth truths of God in Christ. 

            Are you hungry also?  Read, learn, mark and inwardly digest the Holy Scriptures.  The only hunger you’ll have is to have another serving.

Christmas Projects 101

I'm a guy when it comes to being a craftsman.  Give me a tool, and I am a happy man. 

            Or so I think.

            Last night, my wife and I went to a Christmas open house at a nearby gift shop.  We’re friends with the owners.  They featured some hors d’oeuvres and hot cider for customers.  Very tasteful holiday music played in the background.  Different areas of the store featured beautiful tree themes and lovely gifts were everywhere to be seen.

            Then my sight fell on a centerpiece for a Christmas table.  It was beautiful.  But when I saw the price, I thought, “I can do that—and for cheap!”

            So here’s what I’m working on for my I’m a Guy Christmas Projects.  I have a lot of ideas—so here are a couple of them.

            How about the Christmas centerpiece ?  The one I saw was cone-shaped and had life-like plastic cranberries from the base to the point on top.  I don’t want plastic.  I don’t want Styrofoam—too expensive.  I thought first about taking a cardboard paper towel tube and mashing it into shape.  Won’t work.  No, I’m gonna’ take an old oil funnel out of my auto supplies.  Oh—I’ll clean it up so that it’s nice and silvery-looking.  Then I’ll get some little Christmas ornaments at the dollar store and glue ‘em on tight, maybe some red and green ones alternating.  Beautiful!

            Or how about my I’m a Guy Christmas sno-globe?  I’ll take one of the empty plastic cartons from our supply of juice bottles and saw off the bottom half.  Then I’ll go down to the beach a couple of blocks from here and see what wood the tide brought in.  I’ll get out my hacksaw and cut it so that the bottle bottom fits.  Then I’ll shred all those little plastic cards we get from credit card offers and I’ll run ‘em through the shredder.  They’ll be so colorful!  Then I’ll fill the bottle bottom with water, put in the bits of fake credit cards, and clue on the wood.  And there’s my I’m a Guy Christmas Sno-Globe.

            Yep—I’ll let you know how it’s all working out….