The Sheep and The Goats

I was visiting one of my favorites sites (www.theooze.com) and found this article.  I love when humor makes a serious point.  

 

	THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS: Revised Version
	by Heather Wax

“Then the sheep will say to Him, “But Lord, when were you naked, and we clothed you, or hungry, and we fed you, or sick or in prison, and we visited you?”
Jesus will reply to them, “For as much as you have done this to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me.”

Then the sheep did a very interesting thing, and replied, “Lord, I remember this story. In the original version, I’m supposed to be all naive as if I never got to read this story, and not know that when I do things for the least of my brethren, I’m doing it to you. So, seriously Lord, for my entire life I’ve sorta been on the lookout for, you know, the “least of these” to um, feed, clothe, and visit and stuff, because I sorta got tipped off when your disciples wrote this stuff down in the Bible and all. But, I gotta admit, I’m still sorta confused.”
Jesus nodded. “Go on.”

“Well, the reality is, no matter how far I looked, I never really found the least of these to clothe, feed, and visit. I mean, I tried to, I really did, but it just didn’t work out.”

Jesus nodded again. “But you did find them.”

The sheep replied, “No, I seriously didn’t Lord. I mean, I thought I was helping one of the least when I picked up that homeless guy, but, he ended up being a pretty cool guy and turned into one of my best friends. He actually was a prophet – remember how he helped me get right with You about that one issue in my life? He’s not one of the least – He’s….Well, he’s just Ed. My friend. My best friend Ed.”

Jesus just went, “Hmmm.”

“And Lord,” the sheep continued,” I gave some clothes to that family, but they weren’t the least either… they were soo cool to be around. I mean, they definitely took some getting used to…but I think that was more me than them. I learned a lot about my messed up ways of viewing people by dealing with the fact that I didn’t want to hang out with them at first. And now once again, I have to say – they sure ain’t the least. They’re my friends…”

Jesus smiled. “And the orphan you took in?”

The sheep replied, “Lord, please! She’s my daughter! We don’t call her an orphan! I mean, you gave her to me – you of all people..I mean…oh whatever… You should know that she’s not “the least!” In fact, I think she’s probably the most important person in my view in the whole world! She’s my baby!

And Jesus smiled again. “Never mind. Forget the “least” stuff. How bout you just sit by my side with all your friends and family here and help me out with these goats here?”

The sheep said ok… still a bit confused. But, ready to change subject to the goats.

So Jesus told the goats – “You didn’t feed, cloth, or visit the least, and therefore you didn’t do it to me.”

The goats objected, of course. After all, they had read the story too, and not only did they know the fate which awaited goats, and earnestly didn’t want it to be them…but they also knew the drill, and had acted somewhat proactively to deal with that. “Lord, we read this story and we went looking for you – We fed a bunch of hungry people, clothed some naked people, and visited some sick and imprisoned people. We got our bases covered. See? “International Ministry to the Least” – that was our 501c3. We had it covered. We had YOU covered, Lord.. We even had ourselves covered…prayer covering, board or elders covering, etc etc. There seriously is a mistake here. Are you sure you don’t want to check again? (Meanwhile, the goats called their prayer network up to start praying about their situation. They were promised it was covered.)

Jesus asked one of the sheep to step forward. “Goat, do you recognize this sheep? She was in your small group.”

The goat nodded. “Yeah, I remember her Lord, but, she wasn’t the least. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I never thought she amounted to very much – but, you know, she wasn’t hungry, sick, in prison, or naked or anything. She was just sorta annoying. “

Jesus asked, “Did you treat her like a friend?”

The goat answered, “Lord, you gave me friends. And besides, I was pretty busy with the ministry to the least. And this sheep here..sheesh… I didn’t even click with this person. You don’t want me to be friends with every person in my church, did you?”

Jesus answered, “In as much as you were not a brother to your sister, you were not a friend to me either. However, since this is the revised story, and I’m just a caricature of the real Jesus, I’m not going to sentence you to fire or anything. But I am going to sentence you to think long and hard about the heart of both sheep and goats – when you lay in bed at night, when you’re in the shower,and driving to work…and ask you to read the real story over again. That way, when you meet the real Jesus, you’ll hopefully be a little more ready. Watch and pray.”

 

Many of us (Christians) understand the story found in Matthew 25.  We get that what we do to the “least” of these we do to him but Jesus never intended for us to view people as less-than.  That no one is less than us but rather they might be on the margins/underbelly of society.  People might have the least but they are not inferior.  To believe that is to the miss the point of the parable.  Something else we miss is that Jesus is speaking about how we treat everyone.  Are we so wrapped up in ourselves that we miss the people God has put in our path.  People who need us to listen/pray/help/be-friend/love/cherish/lift up/and most importantly…they need to see Jesus in their circumstances.  Here is a video we watched Wednesday night (http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/index.php?ct=store.details&pid=V00498)

I believe this idea can help us connect word and deed at its deepest level.  Jesus had friends.  He said “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  So many friendships are based on things like beliefs/economics/likes/dislikes but what if we stopped building these kind of relationships and built them on this text.  What if we built relationships on this principle that there is no greater love than to lay down ones life…that would be a mark of a real/true friend.  What if we like Jesus saw all people as worthy of that kind of friendship.  As we head into the celebration of Christmas let us be mindful of how we treat others and what we are willing to lay down our life for.  Let us each day keep our eyes open to the people in our path and show each of them the love of God through the life/death/resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas

Nate

“Give Life”

   Sunday Morning we watched a video by The Work Of The People (www.theworkofthepeople.com) called “Give Life.”  You can watch it here (http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/index.php?ct=store.details&pid=V00133)  I hear people say things like “the reason for the season” and put “Christ back into Christmas.”  I always wonder to myself what point in their lives was Christ not in Christmas or I guess when was Christ ever about himself?  I understand that we certainly have used this time trying to figure out how we are going to buy/do Christmas this year when we should be celebrating the Incarnation .  I agree that this time should be spent reflecting on the birth of Jesus and the impact it had and still does today.  The other day I went to a gathering of people exploring the subversiveness of Christmas.  Many of them expressed this idea that in the lectionary(http://www.disciples.org/Resources/Lectionary/WhatIsTheLectionary/tabid/232/Default.aspx) that Advent spends a lot more time speaking of Christ’s return than it does his birth.  (Here is little more about why that is important http://www.catholic.org/clife/advent/advent.php?id=6)  This Christmas season has certainly been different for me.  I have spent a lot more time thinking of what Christ would have me do to celebrate his coming into the world.  Would he want me to teach about putting Christ back into Christmas or teach others how to see Christ in the midst of all the crap we pile on ourselves during this time.  This year I’ve had a moment of clarity (and that does not mean that I have all this figured out it just means I can understand on a level I previously had not.)  Christ wants the world to see him not in gift giving but in giving people a chance at living.  Giving all people a chance to experience God’s love/redemption/forgiveness should be the focus.  Christ coming into the world meant all people could come to know God …what a thing celebrate.  I urge you to take a look at what you give your time/talent/resources too.  Are those things empowering people to see God in the midst of their circumstances?  Are we giving life or just more stuff?  What would it look like if we celebrated the Incarnation instead of Christmas?  Living Waters International is doing great work around the world to give life.  They are empowering people to see God in their circumstances.  Providing clean water  for a community does more than just help cure curable diseases it allows the communities to be sustainable (Go here http://www.water.cc/resources/ and see Development Steps PDF)   Best of all they are meeting spiritual needs by meeting physical needs.  We as Christians have for too long been trying to just meet spiritual needs only.  Luckily we are starting to see that they are connected.  It is naive of us (speaking of Christians) to think we are the only ones doing good in the world.  You don’t have to be Christian to care for the poor but if you are Christian you are commanded to love others as Christ loves us (in other words if you claim to be a Christian you should be in relationship/partnership with some group/organization that is caring for the poor.)  I do however believe (since I am Christian) that not all problems can be solved through meeting only physical needs and that is where I believe organizations like Living Waters International is doing.  To sum it all up how we treat the least of these is how we treat Jesus (Matthew 25.)  I invite you to slow down your frantic pace and see God in the midst of your circumstances.  Open your heart to the cries of those on the margins (and that does not mean just financially poor that means people who feel lost/alone/hurt/ignored.)  Finally, Celebrate the greatest gift that was given to all the world… Jesus Christ.  

Things to look at:

www.water.cc

http://www.onedollarwater.com/

http://livingwater.theh2oproject.org/

Christmas Party

December 20th

Tusculum Young Adult Christmas Party

Meet  at Tusculum C.P. Church 5PM

We will be purchasing items (toiletries, socks, underwear, linens) to give to residents of Matthew 25 Inc. 

Since 1986 MATTHEW 25 has been “helping men who are helping themselves”. Yearly, MATTHEW 25 provides over 240 men transitional housing, meals, a drug and alcohol free environment, structured programs, and referral services to help them maintain employment and independent housing.  Currently 60% of those who enter Matthew 25 stay at least 60 days, maintain stable employment, and move into permanent housing.

 http://matthew25help.org/?q=node/10 

Afterwards we will go out to eat.  I hope to see you December 20th!

Lead Now 2008 Day 1 continued

 

After the main sessions I went to a breakout session with Todd Phillips. (http://www.bluefishtv.com/Bio/1057/Todd_Phillips)  His session was on the practice of Sabbath keeping.  The question for a long time has been how do we as Christians keep the Sabbath.  Is it a Saturday/no work/strict observance or is it setting time aside to seek God’s presence and has nothing really to do with day.  One of the things that Todd pointed out was Jesus wants to set us free from bondage on the Sabbath.  Jesus did teach a lot about setting people free on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-27, Luke 13:9-17 are just a few places you read that.)  There are two reasons in the Law in  how to keep the Sabbath.  One (Exodus 20) is to remember God rested, “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”  Two (Deuteronomy 5) is to remember God freeing Israel from Egypt.  In order for the Sabbath to be kept we need to learn that there are two distinct ways of Sabbath keeping.  One, is to rest.  Not just lay around and get some sleep but rest in the presence of God.  To let go of all we have that binds us and find rest in God.  Second, is to seek justice.  God teaches  the people in the commandments that to keep the Sabbath we must remember the justice of God.   Todd spoke about how we just need to let go of the “ought’s” in our lives.  We get so overwhelmed by life and our to do lists that we forget the time we are commanded to be resting and seeking/doing justice.  

Along with the breakout session, Todd spoke at the Main Session.   Here are a few nuggets (I have to say here that nugget is not my term but one of a friend of mine and I just want her to know that I appreciate her use of language:)  Todd spoke on the need for us as leaders to build the inner life (I believe this was based on thoughts by Alan Nelson.)  Ways to build the inner life included thoughts on aloneness.  The idea that getting alone with God allows us to build relationship.  This involves the intentional practice of solitude and contemplation.  Another idea was Communal/Mutual Ministry.  Instead (as leaders have the tendency to do) of being a leader who does it all and equips none is to spend time building ministry with others.  To really learn to be a good leader we have to learn to give our vision away to others and watch it become their vision too.  

Peace,

Nate

Free Market Jesus Part 2

 

A thought provoking Bible study DVD on culture and how it has shaped the message of Christianity.

December 10 we will be watching part 2 of Free Market Jesus

Come join us

Wednesday Night 7PM

http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Adult_Small_Groups/2211/_Free_Market_Jesus_with_Don_Miller

Lead Now 2008

Day 1

November 12-15 I went to Dallas, TX for Lead Now/Fusion 2008.  Lead Now is organized by Right Now (You should check them out at www.rightnow.org) anyways…Lead Now is an event for leaders of 20’s & 30’s to come together hear ideas/share ideas/and get some much needed guidance on Young Adult ministry.  There were lots of Main/Breakout Sessions with speakers like Erwin McManus/Francis Chan/Margret Feinberg/Todd Phillips/Matt Chandler/& Donald Miller to name a few.  I took some notes so I thought I would just share those with you and I would love to hear your comments.

 The first speaker was Todd Wagner.  He is the Senior Pastor at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX.  Here are a few things that stuck out to me. 

-A commitment to be misunderstood. 

My understanding being as leaders we should not be afraid to tell people what we believe even if we know it might not be what someone wants to hear. 

-The ability to speak the Truth in Love

As leaders the Truth (I think he would say Biblical Truth) should be spoken no matter what because that is the Loving thing to do.  He told a few stories as an example of this.  Both of them involved encounters with homosexuals.  One at church, one at an Ice Cream store (or whatever you call a place you get Ice Cream.)  In his “Truth in Love” he kindly explained his personal/congregations Biblical view on homosexuality.  He threw in his conversations that homosexuality was no worse than heterosexual perversion (a nice touch).  I guess you see what his view of the matter is.  

He also made a comment which I don’t have time to really get into but He said that no where in the Bible does it speak against the death penalty (Here is an article by Dr. Pete Gathje my ethics professor in Seminary just thought it might add to the conversation http://www.kcadp.org/Resources/Death_Penalt_as_God’s_Justice.htm.)  He didn’t explain how he came to that conclusion but none the less he did say it.  In my book not a strong start to this weekend but it was certainly honest and we all could learn something from someone who at least was being honest.

The next speaker (and a surprise speaker) was Marcus Buckingham (http://www.marcusbuckingham.com/home.php.)   I had no earthly idea who he was but I am glad I do now.

He talked to us about all the research he had been doing and pouring into his book/DVD The Truth About You.  What he explained is human beings focus on strengthen our weaknesses over improving our strengths and that we should be trying to improve our strengths which in turn improve/overshadow our weaknesses. 

Weakness-  Anything that drains you

Strength-  Something that you do that makes you strong

He told us to take a normal week of our lives and write down on a piece of paper everything we do.  Put them in two sections… Loved It  or Loathed It (I like experiments:)

In doing this you will see the SIGN of strengths       

Success (Things that you are effective at)    

Instinct   (Things you look forward too)  

Growth  (Things that keep your focus)                                                                                   

Needs  (Things that fulfill you)                                           

And you will see the STOP of weaknesses     

Stop  (Doing what weakens you)  and if you can’t stop doing it then…      

Team Up (To help in strengthen your weaknesses)

Offer Up  (steer towards becoming a strength)          

Perceive  (See it from a different perspective)           

He made points that seem so obvious but were things that I had never considered.  I, like most people would see my strengths and go yeah that’s great but what about those weaknesses…doesn’t it just make better sense to spend more energy doing things that invigorate us and less time doing things that don’t.  It does but we sure do spend a lot of time on trying to fix shortcomings and weaknesses.  It reminds of this scripture “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  – 2 Corinthians 12:9   How does that fit?  It would be cool to hear your thoughts…I guess I see it as God has given me those things that fill me, drive me, inspire me (my strengths) and I should feel free to use those in service to Him.  Those weaknesses only serve me when I understand that the less of me and the more of God (the creator of my strengths and my strength for that matter) that shines in me well then as Paul says Christ’s “power is made perfect in my weakness.”  All this to say…go check out Marcus Buckingham

There is more for Day One but I will save that for another day…

Peace, 

Nathan

Free Market Jesus

 

On December 3 & 10 the T.Y.A.C. will be watching a video called

Free Market Jesus. 

A thought provoking Bible study DVD on culture and how it has shaped the message of Christianity.

 

 

The average American encounters more than 3000 advertisements each day

The formula for most ads is:

1. You are not happy
2. You will be happy if you purchase this product.

How has this overwhelming commercial message shaped our view of spirituality, the church and Jesus?

In Free Market Jesus, Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz) illustrates how culture always serves as a lens for our understanding of Christianity.  He then addresses how scripture defines spirituality and why the scripture is still relevant in our modern culture.

http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Adult_Small_Groups/2211/_Free_Market_Jesus_with_Don_Miller

Come join the Tusculum Young Adult Community on Wednesday night at 7PM