Steve's Blog

Who in your world is advocating for silence? Most in our culture do more to avoid, neglect or dismiss the need for silence today. They may not be so blatant about it with their words, but their actions speak loudly…no room to slow down, quiet down, or settle down. For “them” (“you” and “me” too?), an average day is filled to overflowing with relationships and responsibilities from sun up to sun down, all without a single silent pause along the way.
I used to think that silence was only necessary for introverts and/or monks. Now I have come to believe that without silence it’s nearly impossible to live an ever-deepening spiritual life, no matter the age, gender, temperament, or ethnicity.
The values of silence are enormous…learning how to slow down, listen deep, and ponder life in all its richness – the good, the bad, the hard, the easy, and everything in between. In silence we press the pause button long enough to truly listen for the still, small voice of God. In silence, the Word of God comes alive, ready to penetrate the deep fibers of the soul. In silence, we get in touch with our true selves longing to know the true God.
Today I spoke up for silence in our academic community. I gave voice to what the souls of our students are crying out for. It felt good to simply advocate for more spaces to privately meet with God in prayer, to settle into authentic fellowship with a spiritual friend, and heartily foster greater intimacy with Christ.
Spiritual leaders are called to care for the souls of others, out of the spaces, times and places where their own soul comes alive. Silence is a part of the prayer closet experience we all need, so that the soul is properly cared for. Is it time for you to advocate for more silence – for yourself and for those you serve?
Be still (in grace-filled silence) and know that he is God…

Have you ever thought how amazingly ironic it is that Jesus’ great prayer of unity and oneness in John 17 comes immediately before his crossing the Kidron Valley to the olive grove where he would be betrayed, denied, arrested, captured by soldiers, and ushered into the multiple miseries that accompany him at the end of his passion week?



Here in John 17 Jesus is praying for himself, “glorify your Son, that your son may glorify you,”  his disciples, “protect them by the power of your name,”  and all believers, the apex being verse 23, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

But within hours of this prayer each phrase would be put to the test. Here Jesus is praying for unity, when in the final few days of his earthly life it would be anything but unity. The confusion on the streets runs rampant, from the high priest to the Roman governor to the crowds and even among the disciples.  Unity? Hardly visible—until his arms are outstretched in love on the cross.

Unity is the central theme of Jesus’ prayer. Unity of the Godhead. Unity among the disciples. Unity for all the believers. Unity. Oneness. Love.

Unity among the believing community. Have we made any significant progress since Jesus gave voice to that prayer 21 centuries ago? It’s never too late. Choose today to be a uniter and not a divider. Make a decision this Lent to unite the faith community right where you live. Build a bridge of love and mercy. Reach out to a leader in another denomination. Pray for those in the church down the street—by name and with sincerity. Invite someone of a different culture or ethnicity to lunch or coffee. Do whatever it takes to fulfill Jesus’ prayer today.

How ironic. How timely. How so like Jesus.

This entry also appears in Conversations Journal Blog.

The Apostle Paul urges the Corinthian Church to be a body. In 1 Corinthians 12, the word is used 17 times. In verse 12 he writes, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” Unity is the essential ingredient of the body.

How is the body to function as one unit? One body but many parts. God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. All are needed. Weaker parts are indispensable. Special modesty and honor given to those we think are unpresentable parts. No division allowed. Equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers; if one part is honored, every part rejoices. As it should be! But, it so often is not…more disunity in the body than oneness. That’s our true reality.

So, what should be our new norm? Do everything possible to preserve unity and oneness in the Body.

Unity is exhibited in the Body first and foremost in the home. Then, it’s to be expressed in the local church. But, it’s also to be fulfilled in the wider context of the faith community. In what ways is God inviting you to pursue unity in the Body in all of the concentric circles of your relational network of companions? Oneness and unity begin in your heart and mine. But, it doesn’t end there. The goal is unity amidst our diversity…so that the world sees us as ONE. Then and only then will the world know and experience the most excellent way of love…the patient, kind, trusting, hoping, persevering kind of love.

Decide today to contribute tangibly and intangibly to the United Body of Christ. It’s the best choice of all.

LTi’s VP, Rick Anderson, and I leave on Friday for our 5th Annual Mission Trip, our 3rd to the former Soviet country of Moldova. We are going to serve alongside Dr. Vitalie Fedula, senior pastor of Jesus Savior Church in the capital city of Chisnau, Moldova. We have thoroughly enjoyed our times in Moldova in past years, and look forward to deepening our relationships with these dear people this coming week.

In addition to speaking at the Sunday morning and evening services at Jesus Savior Church, we will be facilitating a Soul Care Retreat for young leaders (20’s and 30’s), speaking at the chapel service of the local college and seminary, conducting leadership training sessions for local church leaders, addressing young adults at their mid-week service, and spending a lot of time pouring courage and hope into the hearts of leaders and teams.

We will return feeling “good tired” after several days on mission together. Please pray for us as we travel and minister in the name of Jesus. We go with great and growing anticipation that God will multiply the work of our hands and the prayers of our hearts. But, we know that in order to be on mission, we all need to be in prayer.

As you remember us in your prayers, be assured that the Lord will be working powerfully in the building up of his Kingdom and the strengthening of his Church – all for the glory of his Name!

Often considered a journey, the season of Lent is a time of preparation for Holy Week when we revisit once again the passion of Christ. We’ve been down that road many years already, but once more we’re invited to a 40 day journey with the destination of the cross and the open tomb before us. It’ important that we travel in community, so we don’t miss the signposts along the way that keep pointing us to Christ and his suffering, death and resurrection in all of our behalf.

Like we do when we prepare for a journey, a bag needs to be prepared and packed. What should we consider bringing along for the journey of Lent? Many options abound, but a few are most worthy of our consideration: self-examination and repentance; prayer and fasting; reading and meditating on God’s Word.

We open ourselves to godly self-examination and repent of that which stands in the way of our attentiveness and obedience. We pray and fast so that our hearts remain in alignment with the voice of God and the incredible sacrifice offered in our behalf. We read and meditate on the Holy Bible as the map and compass for the days ahead…all the details right there at our fingertips.

So, how will you pack for Lent 2011? This Wednesday we step forward into this significant season for Christians worldwide so it’s best to begin planning today. None of us want to miss the poignancy of the journey yet before us. Pack up and join hands as brothers and sisters – let’s walk together into this faith-enriching time of year.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” Psalm 51: 10.

I have a sticky note in my Bible that’s been there several years…it’s survived the test of time, and I’m glad. It’s affixed on the page adjacent to Romans 12 and it’s entitled very simply “Sincere Love.”
As I look at this as a “note to self” what I see are reminders of the life God invites me to fulfill everyday.
It’s a compilation of the many ways sincere love is expressed – and all of the words come from Romans 12: 9-18. The passage is full of invitation and affirmation: cling to good, be devoted to one another, honor one another above yourselves, keep your spiritual zeal, serve the Lord, be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction, be faithful in prayer, share with others in need, practice hospitality, bless those who persecute you, rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, live in harmony, don’t be proud or conceited, and live at peace with everyone.
These are simple but powerful words of invitation…oh to love others like this. But, I’m also impressed by how endearing these are for my own soul…oh to be loved like this.
As you and I go about our days in this coming week, let me encourage you to ponder these words, make them your prayer, and practice showing sincerity of love to all who cross your path. In doing so you will reflect the sincere love that God has for you, his dearly and sincerely beloved child…for indeed you ARE loved like this!

I’m slowly rereading Thomas a Kempis’ classic, The Imitation of Christ. It’s impossible to read this quickly; the depth of wisdom and insight on each page is phenomenal. I’m already overwhelmed and I’m only a few chapters in.
Here are a few gems so far…the opening paragraph begins, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, saith the Lord (John 8:12). These are the words of Christ; and they teach us how far we must imitate His life and character, if we seek true illumination, and deliverance from all blindness of heart. Let it be our most earnest study, therefore, to dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ.”
A few other priceless jewels: “It is vanity to desire a long life, and to have little care for a good life…Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life refresheth the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence towards God…The proud and the avaricious man are never at rest; while the poor and lowly of heart abide in the multitude of peace…Let thy company be the humble and the simple, the devout and the gentle, and let thy discourse be concerning things which edify.”
Are you truly desirous of imitating Christ in all aspects of your life? May the words, life, and sacrificial atonement of Christ refresh, renew, and replenish your soul today and everyday. Receive the embrace of his outstretched arms of love and you’ll never be the same again…a delightful reflection of his grace, mercy, joy and peace.
PS I’ll keep you posted on more pearls of wisdom from The Imitation of Christ in upcoming blog entries.

…is love! On this Valentine’s Day, when greeting cards, roses, chocolates and diamonds are being bought up everywhere, it’s important to realize afresh that the focus of today is not to be on cupids and gifts, but on the joyful privilege of sharing love with one another. It’s been that way since the 3rd Century when this holiday first began as a celebration of romance, courtship and marriage.

Of course I’m not opposed to gift giving, especially for our wives or girl friends (husbands or boy friends as the case may be!), but when they are given in lieu of what means the most to our loved ones, we miss out on a grand opportunity to express the gift of love in heartfelt words and deeds.

What is the language of love which makes the biggest difference for your loved one today? Is it a word of affirmation, a gentle touch, time together, an act of service, or a simple gift? Speaking the love language of our spouse or loved one is by far the best gift to share today and every day for that matter.

Will you choose to be a bearer of gifts for your sweetheart? Then remember that the greatest gift of all may not look like a chocolate or a diamond (as wonderful as they are!), but instead may look more like pure love. That’s the greatest gift of all.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13: 4-8a).

How ironic that today I’m facilitating a leadership development session with a church leadership team on the subject of Conflict Resolution…and the psalm of the week in our prayer guide is Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me…blot out my transgression…wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…against you, you only, have I sinned…wash me and I will be whiter than snow…let me hear joy and gladness. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
When the words I, me, and my matter most is when I am willing to be broken before God and others I have hurt, disappointed, or am in conflict with. In this psalm it’s King David who finally comes clean of his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the resulting sins of deception, murder and injustice. It took Nathan the prophet to expose his true heart, but thankfully David responds with a contrite spirit and seeks forgiveness, restoration, and reconciliation with God.
When we are finally willing to own up to our sinfulness, brokenness and desperate need for forgiveness, we can’t help but use the words I, me and my…no more finger pointing allowed.
Want to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor (spouse, child, sibling, parent, friend, colleague) as yourself?
There’s redemptive power in the phrases “I’m sorry” “I was wrong” “Please forgive me” and “I love you.”
Use the proper pronouns and you’ll be well on the way toward meaningful conflict resolution…and ever enriching relationships with God and those you love the most.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11: 28-30, The Message)

I burned out on the spiritual disciplines. At one point in my spiritual development I had sought to live out about multiple spiritual disciplines simultaneously. My list of spiritual “to do’s” was all consuming, guilt-producing, and definitely life-destroying. And all along I kept asking myself: Am I doing enough? Is there more to consider?

How can this be, you might be thinking.

Well, try reading the Bible through in a year, and add to that memorizing verses along the way, praying over the daily newspaper one major article at a time, memorizing the countries and capitals of the world to better inform your prayers, listening to radio and TV preachers (and of course purchasing their follow up materials), facilitating small groups, attending conferences, praying for and supporting missionaries, journaling, retreating, fasting or feasting (depending on the season of the Christian year), reading every possible recommended Christian book… just to name a few! If you seek such a lofty endeavor, your soul will be unnecessarily and undoubtedly become burdened and consumed with anxiety.

As a result, I hit my wall spiritually. I had to step off the treadmill of spiritual disciplines that felt more like bondage, and instead I embraced practices that brought freedom, life and joy. What ended up as priorities were simply the regularity of time in God’s Word (with the view of less is more), prayer (with a desire to listen more than talk), and reflection (with a longing to remember and give thanks). I realized that trying to consume too much of a good thing can actually cause spiritual indigestion. I’ve discovered that these three rhythms (Scripture, prayer and reflection) are really good for the soul and lead me back into other disciplines as I’m led by the Lord.

This is your brother speaking: don’t burn out on the spiritual practices that are designed to lead you into the abundant life. Instead, learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

This entry also appears on the Conversations Journal Blog.