echoes of redemption

I’m blogging right now from the foot of my wife’s hospital bed.

Nothing too serious, and normally it would just be considered just a massive stomach bug, but when you’re 22 weeks pregnant with your first child, it’s a massive stomach but that requires medical attention.

This is definitely not a good thing, but my understanding of faith when bad things happen has changed over the past few years.

Growing up in church, I pretty much understood from the Christian culture that it was best to pray for God to keep us healthy, safe and blessed. When any of these things are compromised, it’s okay to “slip” a little in your faith. To vent in frustration about your life. To be disappointed in God for “letting this” happen. Etc.

Of course, this way of understanding God is why so many people look at those of us that follow him and laugh.

It’s nonsense that the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe’s job is to make my life more convenient by appeasing my every wish and desire. He’s got to be up to something bigger than me in this world – otherwise he is way too small and I have made myself out to be way too big of a deal.

Central to the story of following this God is the change we go through that allows us to live as different people in the good times and the bad. And honestly, I don’t have this worked out yet. But I think that may have been what Paul had in mind when he wrote, continue to work out your own salvation.

God had not let us down because Emily was violently ill. After all, he had provided health insurance, a good hospital, medical staff who know what they’re doing and all the strength we needed to show the hope our faith brings us in the good times and the bad.

When we arrived at the hospital today, we were laughing. Laughing about the green bicycle flag that was strapped to the wheel chair I was rolling Emily through the parking lot and hospital in. Laughing at how there is no cool way to wear a hospital gown. Laughing because we had peace. And hope.

P.S. A little Phenergan and a bag of Lactated Ringers and Em is well hydrated, resting and doing better.

This year I’m going to spend my time in Scripture focusing on the life and teachings of Jesus… and I would love for you to join me!

The year of reading will start January 10 and go through the second week of December. It is composed of seven six week reading and study sessions with a week of rest in between each one. Each week also only has six days of reading, with a day of rest each week.

Here’s the map:

• 6 weeks reading all four gospels
• 1 week of rest
• 6 weeks studying Matthew
• 1 week of rest
• 6 weeks studying Mark
• 1 week of rest
• 6 weeks reading all four gospels
• 1 week of rest
• 6 weeks studying Luke
• 1 week of rest
• 6 weeks studying John
• 1 week of rest
• 6 weeks reading all four gospels

The 6 weeks reading all four gospels are broken down so the daily readings are about equal in length. I’ll also probably divide mine so I do half in the morning and half in the evening. (The map for these sections is here as a PDF and iCal download.) These blocks are less about in-depth study and more about gaining an overview of the four primary perspectives on Jesus’ life.

The 6 weeks studying each of the four gospels will give you time to drill down on each book individually. There is no set reading schedule, so you can spend as much time in certain sections as you need to. (You might spend a day on all of Matthew 4, but two or three days on the 10  beatitudes in Matthew 5:2-12.) I’m also going to upload a page to my blog of resources that are free, as well as ones you can purchase.

Also, for additional reading plans, check out the reading plan page at YouVersion.

This is a terribly backwards post to start the new year with… but here we go.

Last night Emily and I were shopping at Wal-Mart and I saw powdered donuts on the end-cap of an aisle. Of course, we haven’t bought powdered donuts since we were in college, but I threw in my plea anyway: Ohhh… powdered donuts sound good…

Emily: yeah they do… (mischievous smile) Let’s get ‘em.

Me: No way. It’s January THIRD – everyone has fitness goals right now. You know how much of a quitter you would have to be to buy powdered donuts in January?

It’s the beginning of the year and we’re almost universally uncompromising on our goals. Of course, that might change as time moves on (typically bottoming out around the beginning of summer). But we’re dedicated (at least to the illusion) now.

Which begs the question, why don’t I set more goals around the concept of sustainability?

Our lives are arranged around the idol of productivity and we work until we have nothing left. We don’t rest. We don’t breathe. And after a while, we don’t even enjoy life anymore.

But Jesus lived differently.

Jim Gaffigan said that he wants to live like Jesus because Jesus seems to eat and sleep a lot.

And he’s right.

Jesus took a lot of time to rest. To breathe. To enjoy life.

This year, I’m continuing to refine a goal I’ve had for the last three, but only taken seriously for the past year: sustainability. Can I design my life rhythms for the long run? Can my marriage get stronger over time instead of weaker? Can my body get more healthy because of how I’m taking care of it? Can my gifts and skills be sharpened by times of intense use and committed rest?

On another personal note, I’ll be spending a year studying the life and teachings of Jesus (and I would love for you to join me). The study is designed to be sustainable – and has a lot of rest. Because that’s what Jesus did.

And it’s no good just to read about how Jesus lived if I’m not willing to adjust my life to become more like him.