Saturday Morning Men’s Prayer Report – SM²P

“Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower – bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. Mountain glories of Lebanon – a gift. Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon – gifts. God’s resplendent glory, fully on display. God awesome, God majestic. Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!” Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly.” Isaiah 35:1-7 The Message Bible

---

I had been away, hibernating in Vermont through the holidays. It was wonderful but at the same time there was a growing feeling of disconnect. Disconnect with regular routines, family, friends, brethren. I did not have a real reason to come back home for another few days but there was something calling me to come home.

I came back to get caught up on things. The next day was Saturday so I decided to get up early and go to the Saturday Morning Men’s Prayer meeting at our church. That would be followed by the Saturday morning Dad’s ministry meeting. Both are ministries I love to support.

The next morning about half way through another sweet time with the Holy Spirit flowing through praying men, I exited to join the Dad’s ministry. Heading from the Prayer Room I noticed a lone figure standing in a distant corner of the Church foyer.

My eyesight isn’t what it used to be so I couldn’t make out who it was. I waved and the person waved back. Normally, I set my plans and that’s what I do – it was time to go to the Dad’s breakfast. I was going to just keep going but there was something in the person’s wave. It wasn’t a “Hi, I’m excited to see you” wave but more of a swipe of the hand saying, “I’m in no mood. Keep going.”

In spite of my impulse to go to the Dad’s breakfast (after all the food was getting cold), something (or someone) told me I should engage this person. I turned and headed over to realize it was actually a good friend/spiritual brother of mine. He was just shaking his head with a painful look on his face. I asked, “Dave, what’s going on?” He couldn’t hold back and all the sadness, disappointment and despair poured out of him.

Dave D is a guy who’s seen God do miracles in his life and intervene to saved his marriage and family. He has been dedicated to serving others in real tangible ways while never looking for recognition and accolades. But, today was his birthday. He and his “wingman” Keith had just cooked breakfast for 50 guys with no other help and no one coming into the kitchen to even say “Hi” or acknowledge them. Another year had just clicked by and feelings of being unappreciated, used and abused had taken over.

Much of what he shared I could relate to. As Christian men, we aren’t supposed to expect to be appreciated. Service for the Lord should be enough, right? But, sometimes it just isn’t. Sometimes, even in a large congregation we can feel like we are all alone.

Just before I saw him, he was on his way to walk out the door saying, “Forget this.” The Holy Spirit prodded me to intercept him. After he shared what was going on, my first impulse was to console him. But, God had a better plan. I asked, “How about we go into the Prayer Room? God’s got something in store for you there.” Dave agreed to go in.

What I love about this is that I had COMPLETE confidence that God would speak to Dave through the men still in the Prayer Room. There are few spiritual matters that I don’t have at least a hint of uncertainty and doubt as to what may happen. Not in this room – not with these men.

I brought Dave in, introduced him and asked if they could pray for Dave D. The guys -Dan, DB, Pete, Dave, Dennis, Hal and others gracefully allowed us to interrupt their prayers, immediately recognizing the Holy Spirit’s leading. I shared some of what was going on with Dave and he filled in the gaps.

The guys jumped right in. One after another prayed over Dave and shared what God was giving them for Dave – words of affirmation, comfort and hope.  They shared scriptures about God’s love and joy for Dave and specifics about what God has in store for him. I looked over at Dave and he was like the dried sponge spiritually soaking up the living water – stretching and expanding him back to spiritual vitality and life. The streams of living water were reviving the parched desert. The guys concluded their prayers and Dave was a new man.

I suggested we go in to catch the end of the Dad’s Breakfast. Our Pastor G was sharing and as soon as we sat down the Holy Spirit continued to minister to Dave through the Pastor’s concluding remarks. Finally, to Dave’s total annoyance, I announced it was his birthday and the men sang a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday with guys coming up to him to express their appreciation for Dave and all he does. He was totally embarrassed but, God now had the chance to tangibly show His appreciation for Dave through these men.

It’s a difficult thing to do – to “ask” for appreciation. How hard is that? We simply want to just be appreciated. Still, the onus is somewhat on us to establish relationship within the community where we can honestly express and talk/pray through our feelings. If we are not willing to do that we are not being fair to ourselves and to the community – not giving the community a chance to “love one another.”

Of all the “commands” spoken by Jesus in the Gospels, I believe that this is His one actual Commandment as written in John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul writes in Ephesians 4 that we should “bear” with one another in love. That doesn’t just mean that we are “puting up with” or simply accommodating one another, or even appreciating one another, but lifting each other to an exalted place and celebrating each other’s uniqueness in Christ.

I believe that the men in the Prayer Room with Dave D were living out the instructions from James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

This is Loving one another with Love like a River of Living Water.

 

“Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12-14

---

About a month ago my wife and I attended a wonderful inaugural service for a church-plant in a particularly challenging city in New England. My son has come on staff at Vox Church – a youthful, vibrant and growing inner-city, multi-site church that assigned him to lead this task as Campus Pastor. We went to be a part of it.

Our son also invited our mutual neighbors with whom he has become close friends. About 6 months earlier this couple went through a devastating experience. One of those “how can a good God let such a thing happen” experiences. After going full pregnancy with their baby girl, they experienced the tragedy of an intra-uterine fetal death – delivering their baby who had died just the day before in the womb.

The trauma of birth, the crushing disappoint and then to have to bury the child they never had a chance to even meet. Our hearts broke for their devastation.

While in the hospital the only one they could think of to call was our son. He showed up and oozed God’s love upon them.

Now, six months later, this couple was attending the first evangelical service they’d ever been to in support of our son.

They were happy to find us – familiar faces in the large auditorium. As they sat down I felt myself being transported back to the first Christian concert/event I ever attended. Memories of that evening flooded my senses – the surge of awkward confusion mixed with tingling excitement sensing that some spiritual reality was being birthed. The heart-pounding challenge to come forward to make a lifetime commitment. Then the sweet surrender. Was this going to be that night for them?

The evening began with a powerful worship set. I tried to stay in the moment, to focus on worshipping God but I couldn’t help but have my focus on what this couple was experiencing. This was probably their first introduction to contemporary Christian worship music – of the louder and edgier variety. Was it too loud? Were the words too religious – too repetitive. Was this kind of music something they would enjoy? Were they getting tired for standing so long? I kept resisting the temptation to check in with them to reassure them if they were experiencing any discomfort. I was actually relieved when the music ended and they could finally sit down.

I had to remind myself that this was not about their comfort but about ushering in the Holy Spirit – the almighty surgeon to come and do his deep healing and restorative work. (Jesus declared in Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” The Machaira – a knife used for cutting of flesh as for the crude surgery of the day)

Our son came forward and provided a welcome and introductions. We were beaming. I looked over and our neighbors were also beaming – excited to see their friend and neighbor doing what he does.

Then the Senior Pastor came out and shared some prophetic words and words of knowledge for those in the crowd – for people hurting and needing healing. I love this stuff but I found myself growing anxious. How would our neighbors take this? Was it too weird? I tried to gauge if any of the words were targeted for their wounded-ness? Not so much.

The pastor then preached from one of my favorite sections of scripture in Philippians 3. At the end of the service the pastor shared a story about enduring through trials. He called out to no one in particular, “You have been going through a hardship as never before. God will reward you as you press forward.” Hmmm?

The service ended and people started connecting with one another or drifting out of the auditorium. Our neighbors left their seats and stood silently in the isle. I awkwardly brushed off a few friends in order to be with our  neighbors to gauge where they were at. Were they confused? Overwhelmed? upset? turned off? Stunned? I asked. “So, What did you think?”

They looked at each other with a bit of a blank look and agreed, saying the proverbial, “It was great.”

I could have left it at that but I was prompted to push a bit asking, “Was there anything that really spoke to you?”

They, once again, knowingly looked at each other and nodded but this time with certainty both said, “Oh yeah!” The wife then added, “Tomorrow is a big day.” With that, the dam broke and they both burst into tears.

I kind of freaked. My mind began to race. Tomorrow? What’s tomorrow? Oh no, is it some anniversary of their tragic loss? I was struck dumb. I frantically waved to Eleni to come join us. She saw the emotion and asked “What’s going on?”

Our neighbor blurted out. “We are pregnant and we are having tests tomorrow at the doctor’s office to confirm. We are a little scared.” (Of course my wife’s “Spidey” sense had already told her that the neighbor was pregnant.)

We rejoiced and hugged and then circled and prayed for them that God would comfort and reassure them of His goodness and for protection and blessing over the mother and child.

Just when we concluded a couple we had not seen in a while came up to us to say hello. We introduced them to our neighbors. The two women looked at each other and asked, “Do I know you?” after probing a bit, it turned out that our friend is a nurse at the very Doctor’s office they were going to the next day! Our nurse friend then spoke to our neighbors with words of comfort and reassurance. Wow! Talk about God immediately responding to our prayers! Amazing!

Our neighbor’s experience struck me as a perfect example of the scripture the Pastor had just preached from in Philippians 3. Paul wrote of laying hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. I had always taken this to mean that it was about grabbing ahold of something God has grabbed ahold for me. But it is not “for me” it is “of me”. God has seized hold of what he created us to be. That’s what he hangs onto, not the garbage we have accumulated in our life. That’s what Paul wants to grab hold of – all of what God intended for him to be.

How does Paul say he does that? By doing one thing! It appears that Paul may not be a math wiz when he then seems to talk of doing 2 things – 1. forgetting those things which are behind, and 2. reaching forward to those things which are ahead. But, it is actually one thing, saying that while forgetting he is reaching forward. They are part of the same thing like the many motions comprised of swimming or mountain climbing. While you are pushing away you are propelling forward.

This is what our neighbors are allowing God to do in their life. As they do not let the pain of the past bind them but press forward to embrace what God intended for them.

Postscript:

Just this past Sunday we attended the second Vox service as part of the church plant in the city. Once again we sat with our neighbors. All is well – mother with child in perfect health. As the worship was in full throttle, I couldn’t help but sneak a peak at our neighbor with her hands raised high, singing and tears glistening down her cheeks.

She is truly doing the “one thing” – mountain climbing. Leaving the lower regions behind while reaching up for the heights of God’s glory. Awesome!

Happy New Year 2019 – For God’s Sake!

 

If I haven’t sung Auld Lang Syne every year, just about every year I’ve heard it as the ending to the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life.

I’ll assume that I’m not the only one in the world who has not understood the song’s meaning. Not being a real Scotsman, I had been ignorant about the song we’ve sung at the passing from the old into the new year. I had always assumed that it was an ode to some memorable Scottish figure that represented good friendship.

What I found is that it was the writer, Robert Burns who is recognized as the first to write down the ancient song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in the year 1788.

The phrase ‘auld lang syne’ roughly translates as ‘for old times’ sake’. It is all about preserving old friendships and looking back over the events of the year.

The old Scottish tradition is to sing the song just before midnight. Everyone stands in a circle holding hands, then at the beginning of the final verse (‘And there’s a hand my trusty friend’) they cross their arms across their bodies so that their left hand is holding the hand of the person on their right, and their right hand holds that of the person on their left. When the song ends, everyone rushes to the middle for a big group hug.

This is the Original (shortened) Version (Mimicking Scottish Brogue)

• Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
• an nivir brocht ti mynd?
• Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
• an ald lang syn?
• CHORUS:
• Fir ald lang syn, ma jo,
• fir ald lang syn,
• wil tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
• fir ald lang syn.
  • An sheerly yil bee yur pynt-staup!
  • an sheerly al bee myn!
  • An will tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
  • fir ald lang syn.
  • CHORUS
    • We twa hay rin aboot the braes,
    • an pood the gowans fyn;
    • Bit weev wandert monae a weery fet,
    • sin ald lang syn.
    • CHORUS
      • We twa hay pedilt in the burn,
      • fray mornin sun til dyn;
      • But seas between us bred hay roard
      • sin ald lang syn.
      • CHORUS
        • An thers a han, my trustee feer!
        • an gees a han o thyn!
        • And we’ll tak a richt gude-willie-waucht,
        • fir ald lang syn.
        • CHORUS

In Modern English

• Should old acquaintance be forgot,
• and never brought to mind?
• Should old acquaintance be forgot,
• and old lang syne?
• CHORUS:
• For auld lang syne, my dear,
• for auld lang syne,
• we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
• for auld lang syne.
  • And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
  • and surely I’ll buy mine!
  • And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
  • for auld lang syne.
  • CHORUS
    • We two have run about the slopes,
    • and picked the daisies fine;
    • But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
    • since auld lang syne.
    • CHORUS
      • We two have paddled in the stream,
      • from morning sun till dine;
      • But seas between us broad have roared
      • since auld lang syne.
      • CHORUS
        • And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
        • And give me a hand o’ thine!
        • And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
        • for auld lang syne.
        • CHORUS

I love his song and what it represents. The song is intended to evoke a sense of belonging and fellowship, tinged with nostalgia. It certainly does that for me. It strikes me as a good celebration for a church body – fellowshipping to celebrate the past year together.

The question is “for who’s sake?” In the song, it’s for “old time’s sake” – the things we’ve shared together in the past we celebrate.

Should it be ‘for old times’ sake?’ It’s great to celebrate the past together but not at the expense of the promise for the future. For me, the imagery is much like from my last blog post, suggesting we hoist a ‘pint’ to celebrate the past because the future can never be as good as the past.

Yet, what I glean from the Bible is to not get stuck in the past, even for the great things God has done through us and for us. He promises even greater things in the future. In Isaiah 42:9 God declares, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Even promising to tell us about it before He does it. Are we listening?)

God isn’t dwelling on the past. He goes on to say in verse 19, “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”

Again in Isaiah 48:6 he promises to give us a vision of what He has in store, “You have heard; See all this. And will you not declare it? I have made you hear new things from this time, Even hidden things, and you did not know them.”

Back to the question of, “For whose sake” do we celebrate?

The Greek word most often translated as “Sake” is Heneka. At its core, it is about doing something for a “cause”, for a “purpose”.

From a Christian’s standpoint, it is still a celebration of the closest of friends – Jesus’s “cause” is about restoring a right relationship with God for all people – for our sake. And now we extend that relationship to the world for every individual’s sake and, most importantly, for His sake.

This circular cause/purpose is reflected throughout scripture but highlighted in Psalm 23:3 – “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” His restoration of our lives is not only for our sake but primarily for His sake – so that we and He may enjoy relationship together.

Why, primarily for God’s sake? because, He is our creator and while we have rebelled and walked away from him, it’s all His work to draw us back into the relationship God intended. It’s all on His effort and His strength and His loving persuit. He therefore deserves for it to be for His sake.

So, at the stroke of midnight we ‘hoist a pint’ together – to celebrate what we’ve shared (the good, bad and ugly of life) this past year. For His blessings and sustenance. But, even more so, to celebrate His vision of what He promises to be even better for us in the next year – for as much as we draw closer to Him.

Hebrews 12:22 says to those who trust Christ, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering and to the assembly of the first born, who are enrolled in heaven.”

Given that our God has been referred to as “The God of Zion” I will beg our dear Scotsmen friends for their indulgence, as I try not to butcher the old classic with a not-so-slight revision to the end of Auld Lang Syne:

• And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
• And give me a hand o’ thine!
• And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
• for our good God of Zion
  • Chorus:
  • For our ‘good God of Zion’, my dear,
  • for our ‘good God of Zion’,
  • we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
  • from our ‘good God of Zion’.

A very Happy New Year to you all and more so I pray for your sake what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 122:8

“For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”

for all of 2019 and beyond!