Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • wedding dance

    —

    Dana

    Solomon wrote, “There is a time to mourn and a time to dance…” Jesus said, “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’”

    A spirit of religion can make us miss the moment. What if God wants me to hear a convicting message, but He chooses a messenger that does not fit my standards? “He’s too young; she’s too old; his hair is too long; her dress is too casual; his tattoo is too visible”… and while I examine all things exterior, I miss God’s message. Jesus was judged for hanging out with those many categorized as unworthy. “This guy can’t be from God… look at his friends!” But Jesus plainly told his critics that they were missing everything his Father was offering.

    “God invited you to join in the proper activity at the proper time, but you refused to participate. John came saying, ‘Repent the Kingdom of God is near! Mourn for your sins, turn from what is wrong, prepare your hearts and be baptized,’ but you called him crazy and rejected his message. Then the Son of Man came saying, ‘The Kingdom of God is upon you! Hear the Good News! If you invite Me in, I’ll come eat with you. I offer everyone true Life!!’ but you called him a drunkard, a glutton, and the friend of sinners. You’re going to miss the wedding if you don’t wake up and recognize God’s wisdom. If you want to judge something, look at the fruit!” (see Matthew 11:16-19)

    The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. “Come Holy Spirit… do your work and prepare all hearts to hear the invitation.” Jesus says, “Come dance with Me! I will take you to my Father! We’re preparing a wedding feast and the celebration is about to begin. The world’s dance sucks the life out of you. What lasting good news does the world offer? But I am a breath of fresh air! I am the Author of true Life and you have a purpose… a purpose that is eternal. The people that misrepresent Me don’t know Me… but I will teach you who I am. I am humble and gentle; my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Come as you are, believe in Me, and I will clothe you in righteousness and make you part of my Bride.”

    Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?” Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” A little later John’s followers approached, asking, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees rigorously discipline body and spirit by fasting, but your followers don’t?” Jesus told them, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. No one throws cold water on a bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!” (Matt 9:10-15 – the Message)

  • wedding wine

    —

    Dana

    One of my friends wondered why I didn’t write about Jesus turning the water to wine last week as I shared of our family’s upcoming wedding. I asked my students recently, “Why do you think Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee?” There was an awkward silence. Finally, a hand went up and an unconfident student proposed that maybe the wine represented Jesus’ blood that he would one day shed on the cross.

    I wonder sometimes if we’ve painted such a boring portrait of Jesus that we can’t even imagine him laughing or joking or dancing or celebrating at a banquet. Maybe there is symbolism in John’s story of the wedding feast. Water can represent death… so Jesus changed death into life. He sure does this. ‘Six’ is the number for man… so Jesus used the six huge waterpots to reveal God. Jesus is definitely the Son of God and the Son of Man. Marriage signifies the continuance of human life… so Jesus extended his Father’s blessing on holy matrimony that began in the Garden of Eden. We know God honors marriage. Maybe the wine represented the blood Jesus was to shed on the cross??

    I offered different answers to my class that were not quite as symbolic. “Maybe Jesus enjoyed a good glass of wine. And maybe he absolutely loved to see two children of Israel commit their lives to each other at a wedding. And maybe, at his mother’s insistence, he realized the host of the wedding would be profoundly embarrassed if he ran out of wine at the banquet. And maybe, after thinking about it a little bit, he knew he could make the celebration even better because his Father could produce the best glass of wine ever made. Maybe Jesus would shock us all at how comfortable he was at a banquet and how free he was to love every person that came into his presence. Maybe Jesus wants us to be just as free.”

    So, to answer my friend, I hope Jesus comes to Taylor’s and Emma’s wedding! He is getting the first invitation! I want him to bring the life-giving joy that makes us all happy to be alive. I want him to remind us that the Father in Heaven celebrates when two of his children commit their lives to one another in marriage. I want all our friends and all of Taylor’s friends and all of Emma’s friends to feel welcome and loved. I hope we all recognize Jesus as a loving King who is far from ordinary; One who has the power to give life with a single word! And if Jesus wants to turn a little water into wine, I’m going to get the first glass and propose a toast to the newlyweds and to the Maker of weddings.

    “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” Jn 2:8-10

  • wedding banquet

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    Dana

    Life experiences often help us get a better grasp of the things of God. For example, the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac is powerful, but when you have a child of your own and then think about Abraham’s faith and obedience, true trust in God takes on a deeper meaning.  We know God prevented Abraham from killing Isaac, but He did not stop himself from killing Jesus. What kind of love is this? Who could give up his own child to rescue the undeserving?

    A couple of weeks ago, our son Taylor proposed to his girlfriend Emma. She said “Yes” and now wedding plans are being made. I’m going to be a ‘father of the groom!’ I love weddings! But this one is going to be totally different… because my son is getting married. I’m not in charge, of course, but I know how my son thinks. He’ll want everyone there! “Come to my wedding! This is going to be better than a fishing tournament! Come celebrate with us!!”

    (I’ve got to be careful with my illustration, because I think the father of the bride gets to foot most of the bill and since Susan and I have two daughters and only one son, I think I should be cautious.) So, for sake of illustration, let’s pretend there is no limit to the number of people that come to Taylor and Emma’s wedding and let’s pretend we rent a huge church building and an even bigger banquet hall for a spectacular reception to follow. Let’s say we have an incredible band lined up to play music and chefs lined up to cook gourmet food and flowers and decorations and bells and whistles… No expense is being spared! (Remember, this is all hypothetical…) But as the day approaches, we get a terrible report. The ‘regrets’ in the mail are outnumbering the ‘accepts’ by a huge margin. The church building is going to be empty! The huge celebration is turning into a tiny party. What are we going to do with all the leftovers? Who is going to dance to the music of the incredible band? What is my son going to think?

    I know what I’ll do… I’ll invite others! We’ll not settle for an empty house! We’re going to have a celebration that is unprecedented, even if most of the guests are strangers! “Come to the banquet! My son is getting married and you don’t want to miss it!” (I know those of you who have actually had a wedding in your family are going to point out all the ‘holes’ in my illustration, but Jesus told two parables about a big banquet… below is a mix of the two. Read them for yourself in Matthew 22 and Luke 14 and make sure you say ‘Yes’ when you’re invited.)

    “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find. Go into the alleys and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. For many are invited, but few are chosen.’”

  • reward vs reward

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    Dana

    Many years ago, not long after Susan and I were married, we were at her parents’ house in Chattanooga and I overheard Susan’s mom say that their gutters needed cleaning. Wanting to be a good son-in-law, I found a ladder, climbed on the house, and started cleaning the gutters. I had been working quite a while without anyone knowing I was there, when I realized Susan’s mom had understated the truth… the gutters were packed with leaves and nuts and the job was taking far longer than I expected. I had reached the front of the house, above the driveway, when Susan’s dad walked outside. “Well,” I thought to myself, “at least Mr. Taylor will see what  a good son-in-law I am.” But to my disappointment, he never looked up as he busied himself with something trivial down below. I made a little more noise than usual and I even coughed a couple of times, but Mr. Taylor did not hear or notice me at all. Determined to be seen, I started tossing leaves and nuts out on the driveway as far as I could. Finally, Mr. Taylor looked up and saw what a wonderful man his daughter had married. “Dana! You didn’t need to do that! But thanks for being so thoughtful. You are doing a great job!” Bashfully, I bowed my head and humbly pretended not to deserve such attention or praise. “Oh, it is nothing, Mr. Taylor.”

    If Jesus would have appeared at the bottom of my ladder after I completed the job, He would have shaken his head and asked, “What did you do that for?” “What?” I would have asked… thinking He should have been just as proud of me as Mr. Taylor. “Why did you bring attention to yourself? It was a good thing to clean the gutters, but you messed up your reward.” “What reward?” I would have asked, not expecting any pay for my good deed. “Don’t you know our Father sees everything on earth you do? Have you not read that He loves to reward those who serve him without looking for credit? He would have given you something special… but, instead, you chose to get a compliment. Learn to do what’s right without being noticed.”

    Pure motives… that’s what I want. But to have pure motives, I’ve got to get rid of self. Is Jesus my joy? Or am I looking for earthly rewards? “That other guy and his disciples are baptizing more people than you are!” someone reported to John the Baptist. In the common mode of competition, we might think, “Let’s double our efforts! What are they doing better than us? We’ve got to get back to number one!” But John didn’t think this way at all. “I must become less and He must become greater. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears his voice. That joy is mine! A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.” John understood what his life was all about.

    Jesus taught that his Father is a rewarder. “When you give or fast or pray in order to be seen by men… well… that’s your reward. But if you fast without anyone knowing it; if you pray in a private place where no one even knows what you’re doing; if you give secretly in such a way that your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing… then watch out. The Father will reward you in ways you can’t even imagine! He sees what you do in secret; He knows all motives; and He remembers everything. Trust me, you won’t be sorry you chose his rewards over man’s. Ask our Father for pure motives and look for the opportunities that come your way.” (see Matthew 6)

    “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-15

  • reputation vs truth

    —

    Dana

    “These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” The piercing words of Jesus always hold this powerful advantage: He knows everything. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” The disciples must have cringed when their Rabbi directed Isaiah’s words to the religious leaders of their day. They asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” But what is more important… feelings or the truth?

    The blessing of God is always the truth. He does not exaggerate or spin or apologize. While we spend lifetimes building reputations, he knows continually how things really are. The Proverb says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, but what if my good name is a facade? When God shakes the earth… or shakes our lives… facades crumble. If we stand humbly before him, resisting the temptation to build back an image, God gives the greatest gift: freedom. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

    “Dana, you have the reputation of not caring too much about the praise of man… but I know you. You care far too much about what others think.” The Lord said this to me last week. So what do I do? Is he being mean or uncaring? Of course not. If the Pharisees had received the truth about themselves they could have received sight. Instead, they remained ‘blind guides’ leading others astray. If I am shown the truth and receive it, he will set me free from the fear of man. If I do not argue with him or run from his Word or despise his discipline, he will allow my identity to be totally shaped by what God says rather than the opinions of others.

    The letter to the church in Sardis was a tender message of love calling a group of believers into Light. “Wake up!” is the call to life and purpose. “Remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” I must stand humbly before my Maker and Savior. “Show me, Lord. Wake me up. What have I forgotten? What have I failed to obey? Where must I turn around?” A perfect Father listens patiently with open arms. His ways are beyond our understanding and his call is always to himself.

    “Remember who you are. You are my child and you are in my Son. Jesus is your righteousness, your wisdom, your holiness, and your redemption. As my Son listened to me and obeyed everything I told him to do as he walked the earth, so you can do the same. I have given you my Holy Spirit as a Helper and Comforter and Guide. Walk in the Spirit and turn from those things that are of the flesh. I have given you everything you need to be an overcomer. The Wedding Feast is being prepared… be dressed and ready!”

    “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let he who boasts boast in the Lord.’” I Corinthians 1:27-31

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