Fan Into Flame

Our church family is thinking a lot these days about a line from an elderly Paul to his young friend Timothy: "fan into the flame the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6). For all the "light, heat and energy" we desire for our lives... for all our efforts to "fan" any embers of life into such flame for greater life... what exactly is the "fire"? 

Don't miss this: it's not us. It's not our plans of what we'll do. It's not our hyped-up inspiration to get us doing it. It's not the resources we collect to do it with. It's not "this little light of mine." 

The fire is God. Nothing less. And as the Giver of all gifts, nothing more. 

The fire is the One who spoke blazing light into the dark void of pre-creation. The fire is the One who raised his Son out of the cold night of death into an explosion of new life. The fire is the One who pours out his Spirit to share this light and energy and life, indwelling all who will receive him and let him be free to burn. 

In the words of the old Canadian folk-rocker Bruce Cockburn, here's my prayer for myself, my family and friends, and for the community called Centennial Covenant: 

                           

                                  O Love that fires the sun keep us burning.     

With you in the Fire of Holy Love,

Steve Thulson

Slowing Down to Run Well

Senior Pastor Steve Thulson

I once heard a Chinese proverb: 

When you walk, walk. 
          When you sit, sit. 
                    Whatever you do, do not wobble.

I suppose it means to do what you do clearly, intently and fully: whether it’s diving into work or pulling back into play.

I have a way of “wobbling.” My multitasking can end up fragmenting me more than fulfilling some focused purpose.  My breaks can land me in escapes like TV that barely cover-up a restless stewing about the tasks that didn’t get done. There’s neither fruitful labor nor peaceful rest. I could blame our driven, busy and hurried culture; except that culture is in me as much as I in it.

Yet all the more, I am in Christ. And he is in me.

I hear the still but strong voice of Jesus say “Come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:29). He gives a deep rest even as we also take up his “yoke” of actively working with him, and take up our “crosses” of sharing in his suffering that’s redemptive. He leads us into work and rest that’s not “wobbling.” As we hear the Apostle Paul say: “Whatever you do… do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 3:17). That’s a way of saying “Do all you do in the presence of Jesus – with him, not just for him, much less apart from him.

Part of our church family’s focus this Fall and beyond is slowing down to run well. That’s not about being slow because you don’t run well – even if that’s the literal case for some us now! It’s growing into a freedom to let God run the universe and find peace in the place you get within that – no more, no less. It’s finding a pace – sometimes moving fast, sometimes being absolutely still – that’s “in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). In the words of Eugene Peterson paraphrasing Jesus, it’s learning  “the unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:30 in The Message).  

By his grace, that’s the “run” Jesus has me on. How about you?

How to Avoid God?

Senior Pastor, Steve Thulson

Writing 50 or so years ago, British author C.S. Lewis wrote an essay called "The Seeing Eye" -- a response to atheist Soviet Cosmonauts who said they had not seen God in space. He compared that to assuming you might meet William Shakespeare by reading Hamlet. 

Lewis also talked about "avoiding God."  It's "extremely easy," he's said. "Avoid silence, avoid solitude, avoid any train of thought that leads off the beaten track. Concentrate on money, sex, status, health and (above all) on your own grievances. Keep the radio on. Live in a crowd. Use plenty of sedation. If you must read books, select them very careful. But you’d be safer to stick to the papers."

It's even easier in our time, isn't it? We're bombarded with information, voices, media, and noise that flood their way into any potential silence and solitude. 

Yet God himself does not get crowded out. He's more than "there." And he's ready to welcome our open hearts to fill them with his grace and truth. 

This summer, why not stop avoiding God and step into his loving search for you? Go on some walks with him. Let what you see reflect his glory. Let what's on your mind be channeled into a conversation. Open a Bible and listen. Get with a friend and ask about any God-sightings. 

"My times are in your hands" (Psalm 31:15). What about this time for you?