Posture, Promises, and Possibilities

A long time ago, I came to understand that the Bible was not a magic book of righteous spells that I could cast on people, problems and places.

I had to learn the hard way though.

I also realized that in the Bible there were promises God made to specific people, promises He made to His people at the time, promises He made to His people for all times, and promises He made to mankind, so reading the Bible as one giant book of promises proved to be inaccurate and even counterproductive. There is nothing more disheartening than claiming what one believes is a promise only to see the opposite happen. Where many people see promises, I see possibilities, and possibilities stir my faith and imagination!

I love reading the Scriptures because I love reading about God's track record with humanity.

I simply love learning about God.

When I read a passage of Scripture, even if it was not directed to God's people for all times, it still points me to the fact that God has done this before and perhaps He would consider doing it again...or even topping it!

I have spiritual roots in the "name it and claim it" folk and I have no shame in saying so. I even still believe there is some value in it, but I don't do so in arrogance as if God were my divine butler and my voice were a sweet-sounding bell in His ears.

I confess that I still "name" things and "claim" things, but I do so from the posture of humility knowing that God may or may not bring it to pass, and that He can be trusted at all times.

I don't demand guarantees from God.

I don't demand ANYTHING from God.

I am not a spoiled brat, but a grateful son and hopeful a wise prince.

I talk to God like He is God, my Father the King and not my genie or errand boy.

He has given me a world of possibilities in His Word and that is what makes the journey of faith so exciting.

He might do it...

He might not...

But since He is good ALL of the time and God all by Himself, whatever He does is sure to be extraordinary or as the New Testament writer said, exceedingly, abundantly above all that I could ask or think.

That alone is enough to drive me wild with faith and hope and wonder!

Here are some verses that have served as pillars on this leg of my faith journey:

Pillar #1: Isaiah 30.15-35

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, "Be gone!" And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures, and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke, his lips are full of fury, and his tongue is like a devouring fire; his breath is like an overflowing stream that reaches up to the neck; to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction, and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads astray. You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones. The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he strikes with his rod. And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them. For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready,  its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

Pillar #2: Exodus 23.20-33

"Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. "But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."

Other Key Verses:

Psalm 103

Genesis 26

Isaiah 29.19

Psalm 34.8

Be encouraged, folks!

Things I used to do that I don't do anymore-Part 1

1.       Debate about the Holy Spirit’s activities in our times: How we handle the topic of the Holy Spirit really speaks of our reverence for God since the Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is not to be debated but to be submitted to. Wrestling and engaging out of a sincere love for truth will not spark debates, but rather grace-filled, and even perhaps passionate, revelatory conversation. The way I have seen people discuss and debate the Holy Spirit borders on blasphemy and that is something I am not willing to risk.

2.       Try to convince people of the Gospel:  I can share. I can plant seeds. I can pray…even for decades if need be, but convincing and convicting is not my job.  God has thousands of years of experience with results. I’m not after His job anymore.

3.       Take sides on the abortion and homosexuality arguments of the day as they are presented: I know what I believe about abortion and homosexuality. I am firm in my Biblical convictions. And because of my stance, it is sad to see that these are political hot-button issues and that the church has not elevated the argument to the level on which it should be discussed. I can’t take official sides because neither agenda of the two sides appears to be dedicated to the truth, only to the advancement of their political causes. There is no real care for the souls in these scenarios. These two issues are social, psychological, and even biological, but more than anything, they are spiritual. There is activity taking place in an unseen world when it comes to issues as such. Conservatives seem to have placed political activism above the power of prayer, Scriptural definitions, and the sovereign justice of God. The rationale of the liberal is much more emotional than logical, which has the potential to open doors that they did not intend to open. Neither side has done a decent job of constitutionally defending their positions.  I find both sides of the arguments steeped in arrogance and that causes me to seek a path of thought truly based on the entirety of Scripture.  

4.       Go to church just for the teaching: I am a teacher and I love good teaching. But I have come to see that church is where I come not just for instruction but for a corporate experience as well. I have always loved the movements of the Spirit in a worship service, but have put the heaviest weight on the teaching.  I don’t really see a Biblical support for making singing and sharing less important that teaching and instruction. The Word of God and the presence of God are one in the same. When He speaks, He is there. If I can “feel” Him, then His Word is going forth and I need to listen and be changed. Singing, dancing, announcements, offering, preaching, altar call—all of these have the potential to accomplish God’s goals for a Sunday morning whatever they might be.

5.       Praise other countries and trash-talk the United States: The grass always seems greener on the other side. Canada and Europe look great when one is struggling with the costs of healthcare and education. It is easy to identify all of the problems of the United States when in the middle of a recession. But Europe and Canada have their deep challenges as well.  It is cheap to point out all of the shortcomings of a presidential administration. It is wrong to praise our constitutionally-guaranteed political freedom yet seek the tyranny of one’s party/ideology. Our government has its flaws, but even in its flawed state, it is a pretty extraordinary construct that has served as a beacon and model for decades upon decades. I have traveled to nations on the African, European and South American continents. I have lived in the amazing country of the Dominican Republic which I will always love dearly and teach my children to love as well. But I have experienced the reality that American society is characterized as self-absorbed, superficial, wasteful, cold, degenerate, immature, narrow-minded, and warmongering. This is not the America I have contact with on a regular basis. I have small encounters with those parts, but my 32 years as a citizen of the United States has been lived among the frugal, the decisive, the disciplined, the faithful, the humorous, the brotherly, the efficient, the innovative, the creative, the intelligent, and the spiritual.

Obama, BET Awards, and Tyler Perry movies

I am the great-great-grandson of African slaves.

I am the great-grandson of field hands.

I am the grandson of sharecroppers and domestics.

I am the son of a mental health tech/nursing assistant and a veteran.

I am an educator who holds two advanced degrees.

And I expect my sons, their sons, and their son’s sons to exceed my achievements as well.

But I am mentally and socially caught between two eras.

Somewhere between the gains of the 1960s/1970s and my formation in the 1990s/2000s, there is a complicated reality that perplexes me, two messages that still dominate my decisions and pursuits: 

Message #1 (older generation): The black race depends on people like me who defy all stereotypes. You must show the world that we are more than athletes and entertainers. Assert your intelligence in all situations. Reject anything that casts a poor light on the black race. Put the best foot of the race forward when in mixed company. Only let loose in black company. Don't take us backwards in word or deed.

Message #2 (current age): Self-expression trumps responsibility to any group. Stereotypes are not the problem of the object but of the ones making the assumptions. True equality means having nothing to prove to anybody. Just be who you are no matter how it is perceived.

Watching the BET Awards throws me into the tension of these two messages. Part of me is ashamed and outraged at the self-perpetuation of centuries old stereotypes, yet another part of me is fascinated with the creativity and distinct expressions of my culture. But these two sides battle—fiercely.

Should I be embarrassed?

Should I be outraged?

Should I engage?

Should I be entertained?

Should I be proud?

Would I feel the same way if I knew only blacks were watching?

Tyler Perry movies throw me into the same uncomfortable inner battles.

But I will let Spike handle Tyler.

Watching the BET Awards show, Tyler Perry movies, and the intensity of having a president of color bring me to one critical question in my life: Can black Americans afford to live with a post-racial mentality?

Of the two messages, I lean towards #1 while appreciating (and secretly longing for) #2.

Remember, I am the first generation in my family to be completely free in the United States, experiencing neither slavery nor Jim Crow (legal segregation), and perhaps this is the true cause of the battle.

My parents and I didn't seoe eye-to-eye on race issues at times.

Generation gaps.

Being the first anything will produce hard questions, high expectations, and awkward navigation.

Black in America.

America in blackness.

Irony.

Paradox.

Us.

We.

They.

Me.

Black me.

American me.

Me.

President Obama, BET, and Tyler Perry all meet at the same place in my thoughts as I continue my social journey in the Great Experiment-- The United States of America.

Jesus and My BlackBerry

My world has changed and according to many authorities, my technology-rich existence has also changed the way my brain processes and functions, but there is no need for me to join the anti-social networking/anti-technology revolutions that seem to be the trend among small pockets of the 20- and 30- somethings. See, I have made a great discovery in my life: living a technology-rich existence helps me grow spiritually.

I do not mean the usage of my Bible apps, and I am not referring to the great men and women of God that I follow on Twitter. I am not talking about the wonderful status updates that my wise friends post on Facebook.

My color-infused, image-dominated, visually-appealing, quick-moving, information-saturated, globally-scoped world that I hold in my hand by way of my smartphone enables me to walk into the house of God seeking what no man can create, replicate, duplicate, or imitate. 

I come to God's house ready to worship and to experience His power. 

I can get a good message anywhere...

I can get good music anywhere...

I can give my money anywhere...

I can interact with people anywhere...

But I look for the real deal in God’s house.

Technology has made me an even more avid reader and researcher, so when I listen to a sermon, it is the anointing accompanying truth that moves me, not so much style and presentation. 

Technology exposes me to musical giants on a regular basis, so when I am being led into worship, it is the residue the leader's depth of consecration, connection to the heart of God and dedication to perfecting the call that causes me to open my heart in corporate worship, not so much style and presentation.

Technology regularly offers me mankind's best ideas and expressions.

Technology keeps me aware and informed and engaged.

Technology entertains and educates me.

I literally have the world in my hand when I hold my BlackBerry.

But in those moments when the Spirit comes in like a mighty, rushing wind...

When He makes His presence known...

When His power is made manifest...

When His love is being poured out...

When souls are being born-again before my eyes...

When healing is taking place...

When someone is being baptized in the Name of Jesus for the remission of their sins…

When deliverance is in process...

When the cross, the Name, the blood, and the altar take center stage in a sermon...

When my shackles are falling...

When my gratefulness gets the best of me and I dance before the Lord in high praise...

When worship and prayer take me into speaking the mysteries of God in a language no man ever taught me...

When these and more take place, technology takes a back seat where it belongs in that moment.

The anointing can go where technology will never go.

The presence of God can do what technology will never be able to do.

The Gospel still offers what Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates could never offer.

Jesus is more relevant than any Android, BlackBerry, or Apple device will ever be.

It is through my interaction with technology that I have come to appreciate faith on a whole new level.

So, yes, in a way, my love of smartphones and tablets and e-readers and social networking has refined my spiritual appetite, creating in me a yearning for and instant recognition of the anointing...the presence...the power...the glory of God!

Is it so crazy to think that my BlackBerry is helping me to be a more authentic Christian?