Do we ever "really" graduate? We certainly can be proud to earn degrees from academic institutions that indicate that we have demonstrated a set of skills that reveals our ability to do well on a variety of tests. However, is that the only graduation needed? Academic endeavors? When do we ever "graduate" from marriage school, or from parent school, or from relationship school with those who are adversarial in our community and even in our church? Do we ever demonstrate that we have "mastered" the necessary ingredients to be proficient and expert at ALL relationships? I think not! There is always more to learn, more disappointments to experience, and more joys to celebrate when we experience unity and communion even on rare occasions. Go ahead and get used to studying. You will need to learn to love learning and listening in order to become more and more proficient at seeing the breadth of God's Spirit and the breadth of humanity's brokenness!
In Christ,
Dr. Fitzgerald
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Who will roll away the stone?
I find it interesting that in Mark's account of the Easter story (Mark 16:1-8), the women went very early in the morning to honor the body of Jesus. They went in adoration and worship of the one that they thought was their Messiah. "Who will roll away the stone?" they pondered. However, earthly impediments to their mission didn't squelch their journey. How about us? There are many stones placed in our paths to block the way to God, to hinder our ability to live in adoration and worship of what God has accomplished in Jesus, the Christ. We all love to blame the world for robbing us of our ability to worship God as school and at work, or in public. However, the greatest stones blocking our ability to live in pure adoration and worship of God are the ones we create ourselves. We are enamored with success and fearful of being considered "failures." Maybe the women had nothing to lose. Maybe we have too much to lose. What does that say about what we really have and what we're really missing in our lives? Who will roll away the stone? God rolls away the stone when we honor God through humility and God offers miracle in the midst of mystery (note the women in Mark do not encounter Christ, only the promise and command to accomplish a new mission: to go and anoint Jesus' disciples with the Good News: He is Risen and He will appear to you in an appointed place). Too many stones in your path for you to experience miracles these day? Ask yourself, "why?"
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Your roots?
I was talking with a young friend today about how he went spelunking into a cave beneath a tree trunk in the Dominican Republic. He said that they had to literally climb underneath and through the roots of a large tree that led into a cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. Once inside the cave they discovered a ladder that went further down. They slowly descended this ladder that had thick mold covering each of the rungs as if untouched by humans for years. At the bottom of that ladder they discovered a beautiful crystal clear flowing river. It was like entering a new world, only visible with squeezing and carrying of a light to show the way through the darkness.
Above is a picture of cypress knees formed from the roots of the cypress tree reaching and growing toward light and hope. Such are our lives. Beneath the roots of our lives, somewhere deep through and beneath the darkness that pervades the week of Jesus' passion, lies the source of water that springs forth with eternal life. We must use the light of God to reach "down" rather than "up." When we keep looking up we miss finding Christ who is best found in the dirt of the human journey, beneath the foundation and roots of all that exist and live.
What do your roots look like? Are they poking forth from the surface of life stretching for hope? Is there some mysterious new world lurking just beneath the surface of your existence waiting to be found? God has already been there! The way has been arranged for you to find this place. The steps and rungs of the way gather mold awaiting your journey to the depths of life, through the darkness of Good Friday and toward Easter Sunday!
Dr. Fitz
Above is a picture of cypress knees formed from the roots of the cypress tree reaching and growing toward light and hope. Such are our lives. Beneath the roots of our lives, somewhere deep through and beneath the darkness that pervades the week of Jesus' passion, lies the source of water that springs forth with eternal life. We must use the light of God to reach "down" rather than "up." When we keep looking up we miss finding Christ who is best found in the dirt of the human journey, beneath the foundation and roots of all that exist and live.
What do your roots look like? Are they poking forth from the surface of life stretching for hope? Is there some mysterious new world lurking just beneath the surface of your existence waiting to be found? God has already been there! The way has been arranged for you to find this place. The steps and rungs of the way gather mold awaiting your journey to the depths of life, through the darkness of Good Friday and toward Easter Sunday!
Dr. Fitz
Thursday, March 19, 2009
"Test Failure"
Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:1-13
I recently received a phone call from Atlantic Security at 1:30 a.m. indicating that there was a “test failure” for our alarm system at the church. This same call has been made at least a half a dozen times to names on our “security call list” during January, February and March. This is a test run from the security headquarters to make sure our security system is working properly (something we want in case of a fire or robbery). After receiving a number of these untimely calls, the church staff called Atlantic Security and asked for them to come fix the reason for “test failure” so that we would have it working properly. We also asked not to be called anymore during the wee hours of the morning for this signal (as they indicated we could request). They sent a technician to the church who reported that he discovered just what the problem was and that he would have the problem fixed by the end of the week (well over a month ago). Our church staff has not seen the technician since his diagnosis and the phone calls during the wee hours of the morning continue. Therefore, I got a call at 1:30 am to tell me we had a “test failure,” essentially telling me that Atlantic Security has not done their job and I needed to be aware of that at 1:30 in the morning. I was not a happy camper and could not go back to sleep until 4:00 am and then had to arise at 5:00 am that particular day. The security system that we have is not working as was intended. So goes the people of God. Frequently we who call ourselves “children of God” do not function as designed and intended!
The Israelites were led out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery by God’s presence, power and promise. They were called to be a holy people, wholly dependent upon their Creator, YHWH, for worship and life. However, they did not function as intended (see Numbers 13:26 – 14:45). They doubted and preferred slavery to trust, faith and obedience. Free will was too much for the children of God!
Who is ultimately responsible for our security system not working properly? I say it is the installer! Who is ultimately responsible for our failure as children of God? The One who installed us with free will? While installers, business owners (AIG), government officials, and greedy consumers do not like to take responsibility for their mistakes, God does take responsibility for His creation and humanity, even after we sinned and sought equality with God through eating from the tree of knowledge (of good and evil). Our sin and disobedience, our “failure to test,” led to the incarnation of God in the flesh and the crucifixion of God on a cross. God took free will upon Himself and passed the test for us, the one that we keep sending out in the wee hours of darkness a distress signal identified as “test failure.” In Christ, we have victory! Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness when he did not flinch from suffering through hunger. Jesus overcame rejection when tempted to use spectacular miracles and divine calls for angelic intervention when tempted by Satan to use Scripture for His own benefit to test God. Jesus overcame the life of power for the life of monotheistic worship of God when tempted by Satan to bow down before him and receive the world’s power and wealth. Rather, as He told his disciples that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer, be rejected and die, and then rise again after three days, he demonstrated his commitment to God and God’s will alone for the direction and purpose of His life. He passed the test. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In Jesus we have “test success” through the love and grace of God! God, the owner of all that is, was and ever shall be, does not wither from His love for us and what it takes to offer us life eternally! Praise God, in the wee hours of the morning and all hours of life!
I recently received a phone call from Atlantic Security at 1:30 a.m. indicating that there was a “test failure” for our alarm system at the church. This same call has been made at least a half a dozen times to names on our “security call list” during January, February and March. This is a test run from the security headquarters to make sure our security system is working properly (something we want in case of a fire or robbery). After receiving a number of these untimely calls, the church staff called Atlantic Security and asked for them to come fix the reason for “test failure” so that we would have it working properly. We also asked not to be called anymore during the wee hours of the morning for this signal (as they indicated we could request). They sent a technician to the church who reported that he discovered just what the problem was and that he would have the problem fixed by the end of the week (well over a month ago). Our church staff has not seen the technician since his diagnosis and the phone calls during the wee hours of the morning continue. Therefore, I got a call at 1:30 am to tell me we had a “test failure,” essentially telling me that Atlantic Security has not done their job and I needed to be aware of that at 1:30 in the morning. I was not a happy camper and could not go back to sleep until 4:00 am and then had to arise at 5:00 am that particular day. The security system that we have is not working as was intended. So goes the people of God. Frequently we who call ourselves “children of God” do not function as designed and intended!
The Israelites were led out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery by God’s presence, power and promise. They were called to be a holy people, wholly dependent upon their Creator, YHWH, for worship and life. However, they did not function as intended (see Numbers 13:26 – 14:45). They doubted and preferred slavery to trust, faith and obedience. Free will was too much for the children of God!
Who is ultimately responsible for our security system not working properly? I say it is the installer! Who is ultimately responsible for our failure as children of God? The One who installed us with free will? While installers, business owners (AIG), government officials, and greedy consumers do not like to take responsibility for their mistakes, God does take responsibility for His creation and humanity, even after we sinned and sought equality with God through eating from the tree of knowledge (of good and evil). Our sin and disobedience, our “failure to test,” led to the incarnation of God in the flesh and the crucifixion of God on a cross. God took free will upon Himself and passed the test for us, the one that we keep sending out in the wee hours of darkness a distress signal identified as “test failure.” In Christ, we have victory! Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness when he did not flinch from suffering through hunger. Jesus overcame rejection when tempted to use spectacular miracles and divine calls for angelic intervention when tempted by Satan to use Scripture for His own benefit to test God. Jesus overcame the life of power for the life of monotheistic worship of God when tempted by Satan to bow down before him and receive the world’s power and wealth. Rather, as He told his disciples that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer, be rejected and die, and then rise again after three days, he demonstrated his commitment to God and God’s will alone for the direction and purpose of His life. He passed the test. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In Jesus we have “test success” through the love and grace of God! God, the owner of all that is, was and ever shall be, does not wither from His love for us and what it takes to offer us life eternally! Praise God, in the wee hours of the morning and all hours of life!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thank You & God Bless You!
I want to say thank you to all who have been praying for me as I have wrestled with my horrible right eye problem. I finally got the implanted glaucoma device "turned on" today in Raleigh. I love my godly MD, Leon Herndon & highly recommend him to any and all who suffer from glaucoma. The procedure today was less than exciting and I had to skip Ash Wednesday night church! Sorry church folks! However, I am now well on the road to recovery and would not be doing as well as I am were it not for the many prayers, cards, calls, food and love from both God, church and nuclear family. I do not know why I am so blessed to be immersed in such love, but I am most grateful for all that I receive, undeservedly, both vertically and horizontally.
God bless you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Steve
God bless you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Steve
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Clothing and Sandals that never wear out? Deut. 29:5
I was just thinking about the Israelites who wandered through the wilderness for forty years without their clothing or sandals wearing out. I have just been twenty-six years since I was first diagnosed with glaucoma and now my right eye seems to have literally worn out. When taking the patch off my eye the day after surgery, on February 10th, it was like peering out on the world from the inside of a Vaseline jar. I wasn't expecting that, nor to have an extremely high eye pressure. A battalion of drops haven't helped the pressure, so I've had my eye pressure relieved by needle each of the past two weeks. In another week or so I'll have an implanted device turned on so as to permanently lower the pressure in my right eye. Will vision return, or is that eye just shot/gone/worn out?
What happened to the sandals and clothes when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land? Was it like a Hollywood movie where their clothes and sandals just all of a sudden turned to dust? Or did they just begin to quickly fall apart, needing to be replaced with the newly found resources provided by God for living in a new land flowing with milk and honey?
If God allows my eyes to wear out, along with knees, hips, etc., will God not also provide resources that enable me to live in the place where I am called to reside? Is the Promised Land a literal place on earth, or is it more of a state of being -- immersed in grace and mercy, praise and thanksgiving? It is kind of hard to be filled with praise when you've just lost your vision, or when you are screaming in pain from a torn ligament or ruptured body parts. I praise God that we do not stay in the same place forever. No matter how good I feel right now, someone, somewhere, is screaming in pain for hope, help and change. Someone, somewhere wishes they had adequate sandals and clothes and food (milk & honey), while I still have plenty!
May the resources that God gives us as gifts for the journey provide out ability to make it all the way across the river, and may we offer those same resources, through our God, to all others in this world!
In Christ!
What happened to the sandals and clothes when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land? Was it like a Hollywood movie where their clothes and sandals just all of a sudden turned to dust? Or did they just begin to quickly fall apart, needing to be replaced with the newly found resources provided by God for living in a new land flowing with milk and honey?
If God allows my eyes to wear out, along with knees, hips, etc., will God not also provide resources that enable me to live in the place where I am called to reside? Is the Promised Land a literal place on earth, or is it more of a state of being -- immersed in grace and mercy, praise and thanksgiving? It is kind of hard to be filled with praise when you've just lost your vision, or when you are screaming in pain from a torn ligament or ruptured body parts. I praise God that we do not stay in the same place forever. No matter how good I feel right now, someone, somewhere, is screaming in pain for hope, help and change. Someone, somewhere wishes they had adequate sandals and clothes and food (milk & honey), while I still have plenty!
May the resources that God gives us as gifts for the journey provide out ability to make it all the way across the river, and may we offer those same resources, through our God, to all others in this world!
In Christ!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Greatest Knowledge
As I read 1 Cor. 8:1-13, I recognize that the word knowledge, or its root, is used ten times. There is a knowledge embraced by all those in the Corinthian church: that of food sacrificed to idols. Some folks could not eat this food due to its negative impact upon their seared conscience. Then there is a greater knowledge: knowing that there is really only one God, the Father, who is the One for whom all things were created and for whom they exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we exist. This is a great knowledge that should relieve our conscience when eating foods that really have no ultimate impact upon our relationship with God. There is yet a greatest knowledge: for God to know us. In vv. 1-3 we read that 'knowledge puffs up, but love (agape love) builds up." We also read that anyone who loves God is known by him, and then in the rest of the chapter Paul goes on to challenge us not to take for granted the weakness of some of our brothers and sisters in faith. Even though we are free in Christ, to do some things might cause a weaker believer to stumble.
It is in the love of God and love of brother or sister in Christ, and the exercise thereof, that God gets to know us!
Matt. 7:21-23, "No everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?/ Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers."
So here is the question for you and me: how well does God know us? Only as well as we are practicing unconditional love for Other/others. It is in this act of loving and giving ourselves away that God knows us. John 17:3 reads this way, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Is our knowledge great, greater, or greatest? When it becomes greatest, we stop trying to be so smart and imagine that we really know anything. What matters is being known, known by God and Jesus Christ!
Dr. Fitz
It is in the love of God and love of brother or sister in Christ, and the exercise thereof, that God gets to know us!
Matt. 7:21-23, "No everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?/ Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers."
So here is the question for you and me: how well does God know us? Only as well as we are practicing unconditional love for Other/others. It is in this act of loving and giving ourselves away that God knows us. John 17:3 reads this way, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Is our knowledge great, greater, or greatest? When it becomes greatest, we stop trying to be so smart and imagine that we really know anything. What matters is being known, known by God and Jesus Christ!
Dr. Fitz
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