Why does Jesus talk in parables and “Pastors” always have the answer?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  There is no right answer to advance the Kingdom – just righteousness.

Key Words:  Obedience, Listening,  Purpose, Values

Passages: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Psalm 78:1-7 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13

Most of us want God to tell us the right answer, yet it never seems to come. Most of us know people who always seem to have the right answer, yet we don’t want it… Make a list right now of the 10-12 people in your life that you hear their voice (either good or bad) as you make decisions. Are they doors, walls or mirrors?  The doors provide guidance and give direction. The walls create obstacles both emotionally and physically. The mirrors are those who help you see yourself as you are.  However, Jesus is the only true door, and many find themselves surrounded by walls or walls pretending to be doors.

Here’s what I mean:  If we know the right “answer” and we attempt to “control” another person by convincing them that the answer we have is right – we are acting as a wall. If we know the right “answer” and we hope to “lead” another person through change in the discovery of that answer then we are acting as a mirror.  (It’s one thing to be told you are beautiful. Quite another to look in the mirror to discover you are beautiful.) If we know the right “answer” and we attempt to clear the way so that others can get there as we did, while it is not control, it is playing the role of God in their life. (Trying to convince someone they are beautiful, by pointing out all the things about them that are beautiful, rarely convinces the doubter that they are in fact beautiful.)

(skip this paragraph if your in a hurry) I have had numerous conversations about infant baptism regarding parents who don’t want to baptize their children as babies, because they want their child to have the same experience they had when they were baptized as an adult. Most often their answers stem from either the fact that they rejected God at some point in their life, then returned to be baptized or their adult baptism was a reality of discovering of God later in life. My reply to them, “If you want your child to have the same experience as you did –in baptism- please remove them from the Church, guide them to make the same mistakes you made, then let the Lord draw them back later to be baptized. But if you are going to raise them in the church, creating an environment where all of their life they know that Jesus loves them and has chosen them regardless of their own good or bad decisions then their adult baptism will not be like yours.” There is no way that they can have the same dramatic experience that you had as an adult unless you hope, expect or plan for them to fall away from Jesus only to discover later after making major mistakes that God does love them.  This reflection has nothing to do with baptism as an infant or adult, rather about how to pass-on our values to others (including one’s children.)

Recap last week – leaders, lead people into change.  Regardless of who we lead, our children or people at work, anyone who is yet to know the King intimately and to fully discover their God given missional purpose, needs another to lead them to this discovery. If this leadership is a controlled environment, where the leader has the answer, and the follower is constantly trying to find it, the leader is a wall, or trying to be the door. (This poses a great challenge for most parents)  A leader as a mirror is willing to be present in someone’s life allowing there to be room for success and failure, where each person discovers more about themselves in the process.

Joshua was a mirror to the Israelites – asking whom will you choose to serve, helping them to see that their actions were not aligned with their attitudes toward God.  God removed Abraham from his home land and create a door, that did not exist, then led him as a mirror through the up’s and down’s of life. The Lord speaks in parables to create a mirror-like experience and in this parable – the Virgins with oil in their lamp acted as a mirror to those without, not attempting to be the door, nor a wall – rather reflecting the reality of their situation.

The focus this week is about looking at those around you, before you attempt to make any change in your life. This is not to blame others, only to “mirror” of what is your current reality of relationships around you.  Which people always tell you “No” or discourage you from following your dreams.  Which people tend to have the answer for you –  These are people who can improve your life, or tell you “if you would only do _____ things would be better”.  For each of these people, don’t be a wall in return, or a door that tells them how to fix their life, but realize that they are not truly helping you discover intimacy with the King or your personal compass for life.

Which of the people in your life are willing to listen, and reflect with objectivity? These people are not quick to judge or predict an outcome of your actions. They can walk with you through a door or let you bounce off a wall, even if they had a better answer. Mirrors reflect what “is” rather than trying to improve what is broken or predicting what is next. (Obviously it is a temptation for me to be a door, but if I am in your life – don’t let me.)  In the Kingdom of God, we are called to be image bearer’s of the King,  to reflect His Glory. This reflection is seen as righteousness, not right answers or actions.  We can learn to reflect the King’s Glory by being a mirror in other people’s life, in this His righteousness will be passed from our lives to those around us.

If you have too many walls in your life – learn to put up mirrors….  As a Kingdom leader – learn to be a mirror in someone else’s life.  Can you listen to another without giving an answer?  Can you help someone discover they have the answer in them – without telling them what it is…?  Attempt to sit in silence with God and let Him reflect you – what do you see, what do you want to see?

Posted in Year A | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Roots of “Do as I say, not as I do”

Posted on October 25, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Leadership is a balance of being and doing.

Key words:  Parenting, Leadership, Control, Change

Joshua 3:7-17 Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Matthew 23:1-12

It is one thing to know what to do, and quite another to do that very thing. I can boast and celebrate that one thing I know not to do, and have not done is to say to my kids, “Do as I say, not as I do”… However just saying those words or not saying them – is not really the point. The point is, am I living out the very values and expectations I desire and expect for them to live out. If not then regardless of what I say, the message is “do what I say and not what I do….”

When Parents verbally or non-verbally communicate “do as I say not as I do” they are confessing that they are not leaders for their children, rather they are managers of the house. While on the surface this may seem acceptable or only option for a parent, the reality is that they have been placed in the life of that child to lead them through the changes of life. This is the very context that Jesus found himself with the leaders of the Church in his day. They had become managers of the church, not leaders of the church and in essence he said – you can do as they say, but not as they do….

The Pharisees and scribes in Jesus time tried to manage their way into leadership. The result was an attempt to control others and demonstrate superiority based on that control. But control is the enemy of change and leadership is about leading people through change. The Pharisees prided themselves on being the managers of the people, while saying follow the ways of Moses. However, Moses did not manage or control, in fact Moses released control and lead people to change the very way of life they had come to trust.

Kingdom Leadership is a unique balance of many things. Notice the balance of Paul in the Thessalonians passage. One element in leadership, is the leaders own comfort level with change. I am an advocate that people, especially parents, need to learn to expect change in life rather than working against change or being surprised by it. Before you say, “I’m not a leader”  I believe that all Christians are called to be leaders and that parenting is the highest calling of Christian leadership. To lead and to be comfortable with change, a leader must have their own personal compass that does not change. This compass is their calling. Calling is uncovered in the becoming of a leader. Joshua’s becoming of a leader if found in the annuals of Moses life. (much like children find their becoming in the context of their parents life.) This becoming is found in the repetition of experiences that draw a leader’s heart to the surface. This heart is matched with the success and validation of others that the leader’s efforts are producing the desired outcome. Leadership is an art of bringing about change in a way which others will conform to a new way of thinking and behaving.  Again, a leader who is not bringing about change is a manager. There is nothing wrong with managing, but leadership is different than managing. Managers control things, Leaders change people.

Leaders learn to find balance in their being and their doing.  This is identified by:  Consistency (being) + Credibility (doing) = Change (becoming).  Beginning with the end in mind – Who do you want to become in the Kingdom of God?  Then back up to apply consistency and credibility. Consistency is your time – (read last week’s blog) Credibility is a combination of your ability and God’s favor on you (read two week’s ago).

Questions for this week: Do you have a personal compass? This calling does not change based on success or failure nor does it change from season to season. It is conviction that motivates you to press on and pull through and gives you the mantle of leadership.  To help you discover your personal compass – 1. Find 3 Scripture passages that inspire you. 2. Find 3 Scriptures that have comforted you in crises 3. Write 3 goals or outcomes that you are willing to lead yourself to over the next 3 years.

Posted in Year A | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Need more time in your day?

Posted on October 18, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Updated 10/24/14

Kingdom Principle – Time in the Kingdom is not linear, nor limited

Key Words: Busy-ness, Balance, Time Perspective

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 22:34-46

Every year in August, rough 30 new families enter my life for a season. During this season these families will be with me three times a week, we will have a number of extra gatherings and celebrations. The parents entrust their children to me, to develop them, encourage them and to train them to be the best they can be. Then the season simply ends 4 months later and they go on their way, only to repeat the process next year with 30 new families. I love being an AYSO Soccer Coach.  It is about the game and not about winning – even though the point of the game is to win.  Most years my teams lose many games early on in the season, because I am developing them to be soccer players and to understand the whole game and every position. By the end of the season they become a team and begin to win…

Are you able to live your life in seasons or do you rise and fall on every game? The way of the world is to celebrate a win, and to cover up a loss. We live in world that thinks win-lose – meaning if I win, someone else has to lose and vice versa if I win someone else has to lose. But in the Kingdom of God, losing is not a loss and winning is not the only goal.  Moses did not enter the Promise land, but his life was rivaled by no others, and his body did not wither –He did not reach the goal of the promised land. Paul did not go to the church of Thessalonica in vain, he went to share his life regardless of the outcome. God does not view time (or life) in the same way that we do as is made clear in the Psalm…. Life in the Kingdom of God is not measured by a linear time-line that is supposed to improve or get better, nor is it limited to being defined by the events that are taking place at the moment. The mistake of the Pharisees in the passage here is they accept failure as defeat and fail to see the bigger picture of the development that Jesus is bringing to their lives.

The Kingdom of God moves on “Chronos” Seasons that is filled with “Kairos” moments.  To move in the Kingdom you must not mistake a “kairos” moment as having the same significance of the “chronos” season.  This is most clearly identified in people who do not have enough time to get everything done. When you are going through life always out of time, you are being defined by “kairos” moments.  While each moment is to be fully lived into, don’t ever let a moment define you. God moves in seasons and some seasons are filled to many moments while others seem to simply flow. We have just come through a season that is traditionally filled with many moments. (there will be late post referring to Hebrew Calendar / Celebrations)  So step back and look at the season of the past 45 days not simply the up’s or down’s.

Do you feel like you’re always running out of time – take 2 min at the end of each day to make three bullet points. 1. One person who crossed your path that day that made you smile or simply pause to reflect in a positive manner. 2. One karios moment you are thankful for from that day. 3. One act of kindness you can add to your day tomorrow.  (This can be to smile at the person that crossed your path that day. It does not need to be big, keep it very simple.  – Say Good Morning to the barista at Starbucks or your co-worker you usually walk right past)

By doing these simple acts – your perspective will move from kairos to chronos. Yes, I am adding activities to your day to answer the question of running out of time. This is the paradox of the Kingdom and you must come to the perspective of life (time) is not linear or limited by actually adding moments and time to your day.

Posted in 9/4/11 | 3 Comments

Why is life easy for some and not others?

Posted on October 11, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  The King covers his faithful servants with his favor

Key Words:   Favor vs. Frustration, Paradox, Prayer

Key Verse:

1 Thess. 1:5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 1:7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Exodus 33:12-23 Psalm 99 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22

A mark of those who have authority in the Kingdom of God is that His favor rests on them. This favor can take many forms, but it is often observed by others as, “things seem to always fall into place for them; they have a joy about life that others don’t, or simply as their life is easy.”  While the reality of life for those in the Kingdom is that their life is not their own. In fact their life belongs to the King, and they have recognized that the favor of the King far outweighs any reward they can earn or outcome they can produce.  As we highlighted last week, the Kingdom of God is the place where God rules and reigns, and in His rule and reign there is often challenge, change and crisis. Therefore the very favor of God and the authority of those in His Kingdom will have lives filled with challenge, change and crisis. However it is the mark of his favor that is remembered and recognized not the circumstance.

It is the paradox of the Kingdom that:  the favor of God makes it look like everything is perfect in your life, and the rule and reign of God continues bring challenging circumstances that yield dependence on God.  It is from this reality that Paul states:  be imitators of us and the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The Favor of the King comes from within, placed there by the Holy Spirit, giving His favor in such a way that you can go without.

Do you believe that you are set apart in this world, as a Servant of the King of Kings? What would it look like for others to notice this favor you have in life? Would you be embarrassed by a mark of favor? There are principles and patterns in your life that either reveal this favor or restrict it from flowing.  Favor is not an exchange for Worship & Service, rather Favor is a distinction, a sort of mantle that you wear as you are worshipping and serving. Favor is not something that you possess. Rather it is possesses you at every moment you move in the Kingdom. The most intriguing aspect of the Favor of God is that it is more noticeable to those outside the Kingdom than those inside….  Therefore: if you want to know if you have the favor of the King, go and be in relationship with people who do not know the power of God and the rule and reign of the Kingdom.

To Consider:  Where in your life would you like to experience the favor of the King? (Pause and answer that question now…_ The follow-up  questions is  – why have you chosen that aspect of your life? The King will pour out His favor not for your benefit, for those in the Kingdom have received all they need, rather His favor is for you to display the power of God to those around you.  So… To whom in your life would you like the favor of God to be revealed?  Now begin to pray for that person that God might open their eyes to His Glory.

Posted in Year A | 3 Comments

Is worship Sunday @ 10?

Posted on October 4, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: The King rules and reigns over the Kingdom

Key Words: Choice & Change, Will and Worship

Key Verses:

Exodus 32:1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

Matthew 22:8-9 Then he (the king) said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.  Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’

Psalm 106:3 Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.

Exodus 32:1-14 Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14

C.S. Lewis in Narnia’s the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, captures the essence of this post, “Aslan is good, but Aslan is not safe”  later in Prince Caspian we learn “Aslan never does anything the same way twice”.  Aslan the Lion, is the King over the Kingdom of Narina. The passages above present for us a challenge – Do we want a King that rules and reigns over His Kingdom or do we want a King that is safe and secure?

Much of our world today is defined by what is safe, and safety has far out weighed most interactions in life. For our kids to no longer be able to swing or play tag at school recess for safety concerns shows how restrictive safety can be. Our King does not focus on safety as a motivation for our well-being. In fact the King focuses more on taking risks and presenting us with challenges that can develop us rather than to prevent us from failure. For the Kingdom of God is the place where God rules and reigns, and in His rule and reign challenge, change and crisis are the teaching blocks of life. In these passages we are confronted with challenging truths about God’s rule and reign  1. The King has chosen people. 2. The King can choose to destroy his people 3. The King can change his mind.

For the King to rule and reign over the Kingdom, the King must be in total control, but that control can be seen in many ways. If I have total control over what my kids eat, and then I decide to let them choose whatever they want to eat while they are at home. Who is in control? Digging deeper, if I allow them to choose whatever they want to eat at home, but I decide what food is in the cupboard for them to choose from – I have complete reign over the food, and I have ruled to let them choose. Now if the child says – I want to bring a new food sample in to the house – is it their choice to do so – No. It is not their house and they have complete choice of the food they eat in the house, but if they go outside to eat, then they have ventured outside the rule and reign of the household. This is the path that leads to destruction.

Questions for us to consider: Where is it clear in your life, that God is the King? In this place God, rules and reigns over the outcomes and decisions of your life. This rule and reign is not God is blindly determining your path, rather God is bringing choices before you and supplying you with “cupboards” full of options to choose from. On the other hand – Where is it clear that God is not the King? In these areas – you find yourself looking over your shoulder as you make decisions, wondering how things will work out and if someone is watching in judgment. In the Kingdom of God – there is no fear of judgment.

The King invites all to his Kingdom, his chosen ones are clothed with his righteousness and their thoughts are as Paul directs in the Philippians passage. In short – our role in the Kingdom is to serve the King, in our service our life becomes an act of worship. This worship is not based on actions, rather it is based in submission and obedience. For you further refection: Where in your life is a place/area that you would rather not consider God going there with you? Is there any area of your life, that if God wanted to “remove it” your answer would be unequivocally NO!?  and Consider when you worship; is worship for you defined to a place or time? If so, it is that time/ place that sets the boundaries of God’s Kingdom for you…

Posted in 9/4/11 | 3 Comments

Week of Oct. 2

Posted on September 27, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Fruit grows from Kingdom Root

Key Words: Reverence, Perseverance, Motivation, Rewards,

Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Psalm 19 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46

Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”

Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

The Pharisee’s knew the right answers about the Kingdom but it was taken from them, the Tenants of the Vineyard knew how to produce the fruit, but they didn’t fear the King. So true today, many know the right answers of what the church is about and its power and yet they do not see Thy Kingdom Come, and many today actually serving only to give up wondering why the fruit never produced. How can it be that the right answers are given, and the right actions are taken, but these efforts altogether miss the reality of the Kingdom of God. The reality is that we must dig for the root, not reach for the fruit.

The 10 commandments are an act of gratitude not a means to guilt. When I live a life of obedience to the King and expect to be rewarded for that – I have reached for the fruit, without the root. Obedience is to be motivated by thanksgiving and result in compassion.  Serving and knowing God is to be its own reward not a requirement. If I love my wife because I made a vow – then my love is rooted in obedience (and yes it is right), but if I serve my wife because I love her – then thanksgiving is my motivation and compassion is the result. When thanksgiving is the motivation, the compassion will never run dry. So often we never look at what motivates us to action we simply justify our actions and conclude it was good enough. Where this becomes most obvious is the revelation that serving the King is not only a reward it produces new resources that replenish the Kingdom rather than being a drain on society. Have you ever stated serving in some capacity only to burn out with it a short time? I would encourage you to look at your motivation; it may be that you were looking for a reward that never came. The same is true when we serve the King in obedience yet looking for a reward that was never intended for us to have. Therefore when you serve the King in the following of the 10 commandments – you are both enjoying the reward of walking with the King as well as placing renewal resources back in the community. This act moves you from being a consumer to a contributor. As you look at your life, are you finding that your efforts are contributing and increasing the resources of the Kingdom?

Do you get tired of serving and following the King? If so  – I am going to suggest you may be reaching for the fruit. In the Parable the fruit of the labor is for the landlord, not the tenants, but what happened is that tenants saw the fruit and said “we want the fruit for ourselves” (this goes back to the garden….and being a consumer rather than a contributor) Compassion is a renewal resources that is produced when the elements of the Kingdom are merged in our lives. We as servants are the factories/vineyards that produce such fruit. Our reward in the Kingdom is being in the Kingdom with the King. We don’t produce compassion for our own good; it is for the good of others.

If you want to be more compassionate – begin to search for the things in your life to which you are not thankful. Ask God to show you why they are in your life and learn to be thankful for them. Then in obedience ask God what to do about those situations and your willingness to respond will result in compassion – maybe not to the situation in question but as a by-product in other areas of your life which will increase thankfulness… and the cycle continues.

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Week end 9/25/11

Posted on September 19, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Key Words – Hypocrites & Happiness, Hardships & Holiness

Key Verses:

Exodus 17:7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Phil. 2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 21:23-32

Kingdom Principle: Authority comes from Christ’s Righteousness not Right Actions.                    (Don’t waste your time doing right actions, if your attitude is not that of Christ)

I no longer wonder how it could be possible that Israel, after they crossed the Red Sea and were delivered from the Egyptians, could suddenly forget and begin to grumble. For, I am an Israelite at heart. I can see how the  more you see the hand of God – move you, rescue you, forgive you, save you, etc…. the more likely you are to be faced with the heart of Israel in you – grumbling for more of His provision and His deliverance rather than to face your own inconvenience and challenge. It is at this point where our attitude is forged into that of Christ or a Complainer. There remain two options at this point: 1. Embrace the challenge and submit yourself to a life of transformation and growth in the Kingdom where you peace is not dependent on your circumstance. Or  2. Chose not to believe in a God who has the power to deliver, raise from the dead, heal the sick and broken, and at times does not act in such a way, rather believe in a God who is pleased to reward and move based on your own actions rather than His own. Pharisees and Hypocrites have chosen #2 and complain that Christ was not righteous enough.

Israel saw God move and wanted more. The Pharisees saw God move and wanted it to stop. The Psalm tells us to pass on the power of God through story to all generations, which includes the story of suffering and hardship in the wilderness. Without suffering and hardship there is no need for deliverance. It is far better to say my life sucks, then later discover the joy of the Lord, than to say my life is perfect, only to be empty inside and cover it up in shame or pride.

The King has us in a process of holiness not happiness. He is Holy and wills for us to be Holy, lip-service is merely a means to happiness. It was not lip-service that brought Jesus to the Cross, and Jesus was willing to weep and express his heart-ache, “that there might be another way”. The way of the Kingdom is not for the weak, it is for those who embrace their weakness and cry out for help. It is not for those who have it all together, it is for those who together know that they need a King to save them. It is not about what you have done or what your are able to do for the King, it is about embracing the change of your heart in service to the King.

  1. Where have you said no to God, and He is nudging you to look again?
  2. Where have you said yes to God, and have failed to move into action?
  3. The Process of Holiness is one of change… How are you different today vs. 1 year ago?
Posted in Year A | 1 Comment

Fun at the fair? life is not!

Posted on September 13, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Key Words – Contentment, Prosperity, Peace, Expectations

Key Verses:

16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.

Matthew 20:11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 20:12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 20:15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16

Kingdom Principle: The Peace and Prosperity of the Kingdom are not in conflict, nor for the purpose of personal gain.

The Peace of the Kingdom of God is not dependent on the Prosperity in the Kingdom. In the Kingdom of God, the King’s servants have Peace in times of great prosperity as well as in the absence of prosperity. However, the Prosperity of the Kingdom is limited by the servant’s clarity in seeing Peace as coming from God and not based on the circumstances of this world. For the Kingdom of God is not of this world, yet financial prosperity will be measured by this world.  Therefore: our Peace in the Kingdom of God sets the limit on the Prosperity we shall enjoy, but does not give a guarantee of the Prosperity.  For a guarantee of Prosperity is to remove the enjoyment of Peace. Therefore: Seek Peace not Prosperity, but know that the Father longs to give you Prosperity – as defined by Wikipedia – Prosperity  is the state of flourishing, thriving, success, or good fortune, not limited to wealth but also to varying degrees of health and happiness.

To seek Peace in the Kingdom is to release my control over the outcomes of my efforts. We can see that most efforts of  increasing Prosperity are established based on agreement and control. If I work so many hours I get so much money. If I invest in such and such (this includes relationships) then my return is my reward.  To release my pursuit of Prosperity is not to become lazy or indifferent, rather because of my pursuit of Peace which surrenders the outcome to God, I find new measures of Prosperity in all my work. It is not about a paycheck – it is about a new relationship. It is not about a return on investment – it is about an exchange of life and lesson learned. Pursuing Peace and even decrease my need for Prosperity altogether.

When the Lord provided the Manna for the Israelites, it was daily bread so that they would remain dependent on God and increase their peace to know that he will provide. This Peace was essential key to entrance into the Promised land (prosperity). As Paul stated, “for him to live is Christ and die is gain,” he is proclaiming the peace he has in life, that his life is not his own. And for the sake of others and their peace and prosperity it is better that he remain in their lives. There is a very simple word that causes us to compromise the very Peace and Prosperity that we have to received from God in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is called Expectation.

When we place our own expectations in front of our needs and more often in comparison to those around us, we lose the opportunity to enjoy that which the Lord has already given to us. Jesus told the parable here to highlight how our expectations can override the very provision which the Lord has promised unto us. The workers in the field were content until they compared what they had to others and allowed their expectations to overrule their peace. We want to be treated “fair” and we want to decide what is fair. And in the same breathe we will tell others – especially our children – “Life is not fair.” Therefore: Let us release our expectations that are based on comparison, and be content with the gifts that the Father has provided unto us.

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Week of 9/11/11

Posted on September 5, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Psalm 114 Exodus 14:19-31Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35

Key Verses:

Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?

Romans 14:7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.

Key Words – Judgment, Forgiveness, Mercy, Reverence

Kingdom Principle: The King Rules & Reigns over the Kingdom – As servants of the King, we are subject to the King.

In our lives we are often expected to perform and to meet if not exceed others expectations. When this comes to living in the Kingdom of God, the King has made it clear that His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts – yet we are called into obedience in reverence and awe for the holiness and splendor of the King is matched by no other. This is not how we raise our children: For many the obedience of their children is based on the fact that, if the children do not obey they will be punished. This type of obedience is short lived, because if the punishment is removed, there is little reason or need to obey. In the Kingdom of God – God has established His rule and reign on the foundation of Mercy and Grace, not Judgment and Punishment. Clearly understand that in God’s Kingdom there is not an absence of Judgment and Punishment, rather we learn that Mercy is the withholding of Judgment and Grace is the Forgiveness of Punishment.

If we begin with the understanding that our life is not our own, then performance is removed as an expectation and in its place, our service is an act of obedience. This obedience is not to prove ourselves or earn our spot, for our relationship with the King has been secured. Rather the obedience is an expression of reverence due to the awareness we have of the judgment and punishment that we have been saved from due to our Wonderful King’s gift of Mercy and Grace. Therefore: take a moment to reflect on what you do for others and why you do it? Are you hoping to be paid back? Also reflect on what you do for God and why do you do it?

For many of us much like parents using punishment to bring obedience in children use the same thinking and expect that obedience in our lives should bring reward. But in the Kingdom of God  – Obedience is its own reward. This is most clearly seen based on the motivations that move you to obedience.

Do you show up at work on time, because you love and honor your boss/work or do you fear punishment and the loss of your job?

Do you remain faithful to your spouse based on your love and devotion or the fear of loss and heartache of pain due to the consequences of actions?

Do you attend church on Sunday based on habit and expectations set by others or because this is an opportunity to serve others and honor the Lord in humble obedience?

Posted in Year A | 1 Comment

Welcome

Posted on August 31, 2011 by chaplaincasey

I am comfortable living into the paradox’s of life. For me  – the Kingdom of God is both now – and not yet, in my weakness – strength is found, I seek to lose my life – so that I might find it. My life is moved by the Spirit of God, in Him I move and have my being which means it  will be as the wind is blown  – it does not get much more chaotic. YET – I am here to Confront the Chaos – God is not random and He has structured this world and my life in such a way that I might follow a pattern, established in the Tabernacle of Moses and Resurrected in the Life of Jesus Christ and Redeemed in my life as I am the very Temple of the Holy Spirit today. This Pattern is made clear though the Paradigm of the  Gospel of the Kingdom and the Holistic healing and transformation that the King seeks in my life and in my community. In order to live into the paradigm of this pattern, God has laid out Principles for my life that establish a cause and effect relationship of the choices I make in life and the reality of the Kingdom in me and that which is yet to come.

This blog will be a journey through the Word of God as I live into those very principles and seek to articulate them in a way the transforms my life and my community as we apply them to our lives.   I will gather with those interested to discuss and discover further truths of these Scriptures in each of our lives each week on Sunday @ 301 E. Arrow Hwy. #100, San Dimas Ca 91773 at 10:00 am. I will be drawing my selection of Scripture as outline in the Revised Common Lectionary  – this three year outline will guide us through the entire counsel of the Word of God using four unique passages each week. From these passages of Scripture I will hope to draw out a principle of the Kingdom which can be applied by all who seek to embrace a paradigm which was established by the pattern laid out most clear in the Life of Jesus and spread throughout the entire Bible.

Posted in 9/4/11 | 1 Comment