…as I seek to have integrity in representing the entire, complex nature of simplicity in these posts:

“There was once a time when I urged simplicity of life upon people indiscriminately.  I would cajole, shove, and push, and often they would indeed change their lifestyle; but I found that is was all quite destructive  I discovered that simplicity is just another anxiety-laden burden until people have experienced God’s gracious power to provide them with daily bread.  Only as kingdom power breaks in are we free to live in trust…

We struggle to understand how we are to live.  Few of us would buy into the naive notion that the accumulation of bigger and better things will give us joy or purpose.  Yet neither are we comfortable with the rigid ascetic who thunders down denunciations on the evil of possessions…

Jesus was so far from being a rigid ascetic that he was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34).  The accusation was obviously a malicious smear, but it pointed to the fact that joyous celebration was an important element in his life…

Simplicity is an inward reality that can be seen in an outward lifestyle.  We must have both; to neglect either end of this tension is disastrous.

If simplicity were merely a matter of externals, things would be quite easy.  We would then need only to formulate a system…that defines the boundaries: Christian faithfulness would allow us to live in this income bracket but not that one, to purchase this house but not that one.  We would have a clearly definable arrangement, even if it would need periodic adjustment to keep abreast of inflation.  It would be clear who is in and who is out, who is faithful and who is not.  Presto, a new pharisaism.  Very fine, thank you…

The letter always kills; the Spirit alone gives life.  Gospel simplicity gives freedom and liberation…

It is learning to walk in the Spirit that builds the life of purity, unity, and grace.  There is an inwardness that is central to our task; without it all is lost.  We delude ourselves, however, if we think we can possess the inner reality of simplicity without it having a profound effect  upon the way we live.  The tension must be maintained.”

– Foster, emphases mine

See what I mean?  There is a complexity in this issue and I want to be careful to reflect that as I seek to document this whole thing.

Okay, big day ahead!

My prince is home today!  Yipee!

My big boy is at Mom’s Day Out and my little boy is napping.  Later today I teach a class and then we’re taking a family swim.  (Our gym’s indoor pool has family hours on the weekends.  And all 3 of my guys enjoy the water.)  What a fun Friday!

I was all fired up to write this post as the second installment of simplicity.  Then I started thinking about sharing some details of our time overseas and I got all protective.  There are just some lessons that don’t need to be broadcast to the whole world.  And most of the ones He taught me there qualify as between-me-and-Him.

But it was interesting to see our American selves through the eyes of others.  We by far bought more groceries and put out more trash than several of our neighbors combined.  The consumer mentality we took for granted was seen for what it was.

Different people questioned why we needed a 2-bedroom apartment just for us.  Even when Caden was born, most of our friends saw no reason for such a big living space.  Which makes sense because our neighbors had raised both their daughters in a 2-bedroom apartment their whole life.

It’s just things like that which made us question what we’d never questioned before.  Our “rights.”  Expectations of a comfortable life.  The American dream.

But more importantly, we were being weaned from the “bigness” of our spirituality.  How much did we need other people around in order to commune with God?  If we didn’t have a typical Sunday morning worship service, were we okay with an iPod and our 5 friends?  Could we find Jesus in language study, pride-crushing cultural mistakes, and limited friendships?

We were being centered down on the core of our faith.  And I loved it.  It all felt so authentic.  I began to look forward to the next difficult personal lesson He wanted to teach me.  I came to delight in seeing character issues so they could be dealt with in His power.  And I adored having like-minded people surrounding us.  No.  It wasn’t perfect.  But it was wonderful.  I really felt like I was aware of what a gift it was even at the time, and attempted to soak it all in.

The hardest part?  I couldn’t earn any of it.  As a recovering legalist, in my flesh driven to somehow earn grace and perform for love, I had to accept the fact that I couldn’t.  I had to rest in the fact that it was a gift that couldn’t be earned.  Oh, I tried.  I’m always trying.  But He isn’t impressed with all that.  And He insists on out-giving my desire to be some sort of martyr.

He’s still doing that, you know.  As much as I want to make up for mistakes or out-serve my sin, He won’t let me.  Then, once again, it would be about me.  I just need to rest.  In His love, his provision for my needs, and the way He wants to bless me.

I just love Him so much.  I want Him to know how grateful I am for everything He has done and is doing in my life.  The way I do that?  Daily faithfulness.  Our church is so good about putting wisdom back in our face week after week.  I want to take that wisdom and join Him in how He’s at work in my life and others’ lives all around us.

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/644/

I’m excited.  I’m doing my first blog series.

What’s a blog series?

It’s when you regularly write about the same topic over a period of time.

That’s what it is.

So my blog series is on Simplicity.  I read a book.  Yes, I did.

But I’m excited to document the series of events that had to do with this book ~ and how God used those events to change some things in my perspective.

So.  The book.

Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster.

What is interesting about the timing of my reading this book is four-fold.

First, he taught me a rough draft of the book’s premise while we were overseas.  3 years before I read it.

Next, he worked some of the details of the book into my life.  When I wasn’t even looking.  And then I read the first 4 chapters in the book.

Then, I went through an intense personal time in 2009.  And then I read the rest of the book.

And then, sadly, I lost some focus and veered off in a similar, but dangerous, direction of hoarding/competition with finances this past year.  So, needless to say, I’ve picked back up the book and am re-reading with vigor.

And that’s where you come in.

Dan & I are reading it out loud to each other when we get/take the chance in the evenings.  So I’m getting some verbal discussion about it.  But to record lessons I’m reviewing will help cement the thing in my brain.  So as to hopefully not lose focus again.  Make mistakes?  Sure.  Completely lose focus?  I really hope not.

A bummer thing about all this is simplicity is kinda trendy right now.  Which, if you’re like me, may make you dig in your heels and resist the whole concept.  The idea seems to be a reaction to our economy and the next generation’s answer to some problems.  But true simplicity has so much more to do with your insides than the size of your house or your willingness to take public transportation.

But I’m getting ahead of myself…

That’s enough of an introduction for today.  The next time I get my sentences strung together, hopefully it’ll be some personal reflection on a wonderful time in our lives I like to call “overseas.”

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.  Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’

‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’  Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’

The commander of the LORD’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy,’  And Joshua did.

I love it.

Whose side are you on?  Ours or theirs?


Neither.  I came to take control.

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/646/

…I made something called “Mexican Lasagna.”  But since we had no ground beef I used leftover, grilled hamburger patties.  It tastes like Burger King snuck into Taco Bueno.

Caden to Dad beyond locked bathroom door: “Knock, Knock!”

Dad: “Who’s there?”

Caden: “Caden!”

Dad: “Caden who?”

Caden:  “Caden gotta pee!”  (Sometimes obvious punch lines are the funniest.)

And finally a story from water class this morning:  A lady and her choir group are performing a Gershwin/Rogers & Hammerstein type remix this Sunday.  And she got out of the pool early to put on a floor-length skirt and announce the performance time from the deck to the other students.  Then she got in the pool in her skirt and sang, “Off to See the Wizard” with another guy in class.

I love that group.

Hope you’re having a good day!

It’s not a new lesson for me.  It really isn’t.

My faithful God is constantly reminding me of something.

Namely, that if I have my act together and can perform well, I get the glory.

But if I can’t.  If I’m broken and faltering and (often) failing, but something Good happens…He gets the glory.  (2Cor4)

I’m such a slow learner.

Actually, I’m a pretty quick learner.

Unfortunately, I’m an even quicker forget-er.

But you know what?

No matter what I’m loved.  Cherished even.

Because His vision is greater than me.  But – amazingly enough – He has a plan that includes me.

It’s about Him.  This I know.

But Jesus loves me.  This I also know.

The Bible tells me so.

And He shows me.  Regularly.

The reason that we’re blessed when we mourn is because we can be comforted.

Don’t really need comfort if you never mourn.

So here’s to everyone whose Easter weekend was full of juxtaposing emotions:

Absolute astonishment at pure forgiveness…plus grief over missing their loved one this year.

Breathtaking gratitude at the freedom we have in Him…combined with melancholy over their struggles.

A good ache at how He conquered our sin…in line with a heavy ache that “meanwhile we still groan.”

It’s all poetry.

I had so many highlights this weekend.  And I’m learning gratitude for the lowlights as well.  Cause joy and suffering are pretty intertwined.  And I am truly learning how I’d hate to miss out on either one.

You are so good to us, Jesus.  Thank you that we have scandalous hope no matter what.

And You are worth it all.

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/648/

“You get to choose which side of the curve you will live on.”  ~ Pastor Dave

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/649/

There is just something about life-long friendships. 

I hung out at my best friend’s house tonight. 

Let’s see. 

Her middle child was running a fever, which her youngest caught before the night was over.

She’s reading Generous Justice by Timothy Keller and we had a profound beginning discussion of what she’s learning.

We ran to the store and discussed sales, prices & what she buys where to save.

We discussed what it looks like to shepherd your children after a certain age.

We briefly hit on marriage and parenting with our spouses (her hubs was reading Bringing Up Girls during most of this…it was sweet…plus, he’s learned over the years to tune us out)

And she fed me candy and Pepsi.  She loves me. 

I hope you have people in your life who know you inside and out.  Who have been there through everything.  I’m grateful tonight for one of mine.   

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/650/

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,” {why?} “because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”

I find it fascinating that this amazing, courage-inspiring promise God gave Joshua is what He inspired the writer of Hebrews to quote in the context of contentment.  The reason we don’t need to love money or stress about provision is because He’ll never leave us.  Of course, there are things we need to do to cooperate with Him, such as seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness first (Matt 6:33), humbling ourselves (IPet5:6), and choosing to be faithful with others’ and a little (Luke 16:10-12) if we ever expect to be put in charge of our own and much. 

But even if {when?} we fail these things, He doesn’t leave us.  His Spirit can be quenched and grieved, but He’s still our Father.  He may discipline us as children He loves (Heb12:6), but He won’t forsake us.  That’s definitely a reason not to love money for the seeming-power or deceitful-security it may bring (Luke 12:13-21).     

I hope it goes without saying that these things I write are for myself as much as (or more than) for anyone who may read it.  It helps me to investigate and seek out things in the Word, and write it out.  Never wonder if I’m directing something at you (whoever you are reading this) in some sort of passive-aggressive way.  Nope.  It’s almost always for myself, and if it speaks to someone else, awesome.

Have a good day!