 When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds.
-Luke 6:17 On Sunday we had a conversation that reflected the way God forms us. We looked at a simple passage in Luke 6, where Jesus moves from prayerful solitude at night, to community with his disciples in the morning, to healing the world around him in the afternoon. There's a flow there: Solitude, to community, to ministry. And it seems like God has made us to thrive when our identity in God is deeply rooted before we move outward. There was much more to it as we reflected on the role of belovedness as the foundation of it all, but that podcast is freely available, so I want to reflect on a verse in there that didn't come up until our post-message dialogue time. As we were sharing together after the message, one of our community members mentioned that he was struck by a phrase used in one of the verses, where it mentioned that Jesus and his disciples came off the mountain and stood "on a level place" as they began to care for people. He wondered if that phrase may have just been an odd way of translating the original language, but suggested that either way, it struck him as a significant insight about God's approach to us, and our approach to the world around us. So I did some linguistic digging. This passage is the lead-in to what theologians often refer to as Luke's "sermon on the plain," where Jesus shares radical teachings about caring for others and loving enemies, overlapping the same themes found in Matthew's "sermon on the mount" in Matthew 5-7. It's labeled the "sermon on the plain" because of this verse. Jesus walks down a mountain and stands on a "plain" (like a wide open field). But the actual Greek and the most direct translation is simply "a place where the ground is level." So a completely fair way of saying this would be: Together, Jesus and his disciples came and stood with the people on level ground. What a little gem is held in that statement. As my friend shared, "God is with us on a level place... and so we need to be with everyone else on a level place." When I look around today, I cannot help but see the anti-Christian idol of power and control all over the place. But the posture of Jesus is so radically different. God's very self enters fully into humanity. Jesus not only embraces human limits, but he refuses to even use human forms of power and control. The theological word for it is kenosis, or self-emptying. In the act of emptying himself for the sake of loving others, Jesus moves into a position where he doesn't stand over people, but under and alongside them. He extends a hand. He invites. He seeks to serve. He challenges people to reject the temptation of domineering judgment that lacks self-reflection. He gives people freedom to come toward him and to walk away from him. He calls his followers brothers and sisters. He eats. He hangs out. The dude abides. On a level place. There is immense power in meeting people at eye level. Every time his own disciples start ranking themselves against each other or against others, he calls it out and brings them back down to level. Taking on this radical posture in our lives does not make us less valuable, but rather elevates the value of all people, who are made in the image of God. The more years that I pastor (over 20 now), the more I realize that I'm not the expert. Those that I seek to serve often teach me more than I can offer them. And those that I am tempted to stand in judgment over have often had a much more difficult journey than I have. So I am reminded that at the foot of the cross, the ground is level. And between me and my neighbor, the ground is level. And between me and my homeless brethren, the ground is level. And between me and those new in their faith, the ground is level. And somehow, by the grace of God, Jesus comes and meets me on level ground too. This is especially helpful on the days when I don't have the strength to look up. I want to live as someone who stands with others on level ground. Today, may we grow in wonder at a God who comes down to a level place. And may we have the humility to share that space with everyone we meet. Jesus, thank you for meeting me where I am. Peace, Keith
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 In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. [...] Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”
-Exodus 16:6-7, 8b I want to tell you about my friend Miguel. Miguel is in charge of facilities at the school that our church has met at for many years. I'm at the school regularly during the week grabbing things from our storage closet or something, and Miguel is one of the people I look forward to seeing the most when I'm there. He's in his sixties and the guy is simply a joy to interact with. Every time I see Miguel, I ask him how he's doing. And every time he gives me this response: "I'm doing well, and getting better every day!!" Originally I thought it was a fun response, but I didn't really believe him. But now I've encountered him enough times to start to think he really is doing better each time I see him. I don't think it's simply optimism. I think it's maturity. Miguel has a spirit that sees life as a gift. I think this is striking to me because I can be a highly skilled grumbler. So when I encountered a well-known story from Exodus this week, I was struck by a statement that Moses makes. It's the first real story that we're given after God liberates the people of Israel from centuries of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians. They are now living free as nomads in the desert, working toward a land where they could eventually settle. It's not cushy, and they have legitimate needs. But their latest habit has become constantly telling Moses and Aaron that they aren't happy with their desert circumstances, even though God has provided for them at each moment so far. Moses tells them that God hears, and will continue to meet and care for them. But he chastises them a bit, saying that their "grumbling is not against us, but against the LORD." You know, the same Lord that, uh, just freed them from slavery. So I started thinking about the grumbling and complaining that we do. There are a million things each day that can make us complain. The weather is too hot or too cold. We never have enough... time, money, energy, etc. If the Eagles lose even one game this season (they will), you can bet that I'll be complaining that they are undisciplined and letting us fans down (go birds). And don't even get me started about the choices being made by those in power. It's easy for us to spend a lot of time grumbling about something or another. I mean, much of it feels completely valid, and I truly just want all of my situations and relationships to be ideal, all the time. Is that too much to ask? Now grumbling is different than lament. It's different than honestly voicing pain. It's different than naming harm and speaking truth to power. Those all have a place. Grumbling is when we start habitually spending our time talking about how discontent we are. And I wonder, in those moments when we are voicing (often petty) annoyance at our circumstances... Perhaps we're actually grumbling against the Lord more than we realize? Eek. I grumble when I stop being thankful for the miracle which has already begun. God has given me life! God has given us hands and minds and energy to work for good in the world! God has given us grace and relationship. If we delight in God, if we are captured by God's kingdom.... will it not change how we speak about present realities? Will it not fill us with faith that our momentary discomforts are not the end of the story? Will it not heal us and make us healers? In Philippians 2, Paul challenges the first generation of Christ followers to live without grumbling... so that they would be children of God. He goes on to say that this attitude would help them shine like stars in the midst of a society that has lost its way. That's why Miguel is such a bright inspiration to me. I'm working on being less of a grumbler, knowing how little it accomplishes. I want to own the fact that a lot of my complaining has actually been "grumbling against God," who is faithful forever. I want to live deeply in the spirit of Christ, and serve with joy. I want to see the beauty of each moment, and realize that when I walk in relationship with Jesus, I'm "getting better every day," even on the days that feel hard. Let's keep working at it and see how it transforms our days. Jesus, today I am thankful. Peace, Keith  So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory.
-Romans 15:7 This summer I stumbled into a new habit after noticing something that had never caught my eye before. I'm out in parks almost every day for at least a few minutes-- running, sitting, or walking-- (otherwise I become a less than ideal version of myself). A few weeks ago I sat down on a bench in a state park with my journal, and I noticed a small metal nameplate on the backrest. I made note of it and the little message on it. The following day, in a totally different park, I noticed another bench with a name honoring a woman's years of service and conservation. And I started to realize: Almost every park bench remembers someone. So, for the rest of this summer, every time I've encountered a name on a park bench, I say their name out loud and give a quick prayer of gratitude for their life. It's been a meaningful practice that reminds me of the many beautiful lives in this world that go largely unrecognized. These aren't presidents, athletes, or politicians. They are just regular people who were remembered by someone who appreciated their presence. I'm guessing not too many people notice those names, since most of my life I haven't. But there's still a beautiful legacy there. Because all of those simple benches together create an entire culture where we can find rest and notice beauty. That's a big deal. Beyond my new prayer practice, I've been thinking about how a park bench is a pretty interesting metaphor for a Jesus follower. I started to think it would be pretty cool to have my name in tiny letters on a bench in some random, beautiful place. I know most people would never read the nameplate but that's ok, because the value of the bench is that it invites rest and reflection. It doesn't discriminate in any way. A park bench is fully available for the stranger, the lonely, the joyful, the friend, the thoughtful, and the troubled. I think it's a beautiful glimpse into what the people of Jesus are called to be. When I sit down on a park bench, I almost always rise back up better than when I sat. The calm, the stillness, the rest.... it restores me in some tiny way. What a vision for how God's love could flow out of each of our lives. I had a conversation with some friends in their 20s last night about the reputation that Christianity has developed over the past few decades. Statistically speaking, emerging generations view Christians as judgmental, hypocritical, and obsessed with political power. A 2024 Pew Research poll found that 6 out of 10 Americans think that churches are too concerned with money and power. We're not exactly known right now for leaving a legacy of welcome, simplicity, rest, and beauty. And yet isn't that exactly what we declare that Jesus did for us? In our grocery list of mistakes, Jesus continually reminds us that we are accepted. In our state of angst and busyness, Jesus invites us to find deep rest and gives us permission to lay down our burdens. In a world that can be cold and cruel, Jesus gives compassion and reminds us that God's beauty is always at work to restore and redeem. In our loneliness and sin, Jesus says, "I am with you. I forgive you. I welcome you." The gospels show us that Jesus is available to anyone, inviting them to come and find a place with him where they can stop their endless efforts. Grace, sort of like a park bench. Even as I write this, I know it's a bit of a weird metaphor. But the next time you see a memorial bench, maybe you'll take notice of the name in a new way with gratitude, and ask... Am I receiving the invitation of Jesus to come rest in his beautiful grace? Is my life helping to extend that same invitation to those I meet today? Just imagine a world full of the park bench presence of God emerging in each of our lives. Isn't it hopeful? Jesus, let your love be multiplied through my life to others. Peace, Keith  So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
—1 Corinthians 12:31 (he’s about to talk about love) I want to reflect on a simple, profound statement I heard this week. During a leadership meeting, I had been inviting our group to reflect on the centrality of love as the foundational expression of faith and growth. At first glance, using love as a catch-all summation of Christian faith can feel simplistic. But the rich theological foundations of this perspective are undeniable. This is the way of Jesus, and the first generations of Christians articulated it clearly. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35) If I have faith that can move mountains but don't have love, I am nothing. (1 Cor 13:2) Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:14) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:12) Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:10) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Gal 5:6) So I invited those around our table to share a way that they were experiencing growth in light of the transforming truth of God’s love. One of our leaders shared that she had recently realized that some old wounds and hurts from her past were being healed. There was newfound freedom and forgiveness in areas that had been pain points for many years. But it’s how it happened that I found so fascinating. She said, “The interesting thing is that it’s not because I’ve been working on it specifically or thinking about these things, but because I’ve been growing in love.” I’m inviting you to just sit with that statement for a moment. Maybe read it again. … I’m assuming that most people reading are wanting to follow the way of Jesus. We want to be people who do, like, a good job at life, right? But the to-do list to get there sometimes seems endless. Dang, I have thousands of things that need fixing still. My parenting needs work. I have things from the past I still need to release. I can be envious of other people’s situations. I can be selfish. This is only a four-minute read, so I’ll stop. But I could take up the rest of your day with my list of ways I need to grow. The good news is that spending my life checking off each area one by one is not actually the way forward. The way forward was, is, and always will be… love. It feels like cheating. But experiencing love is sort of a cheat code, so it checks out. When we grow in receiving God’s love for us, and then learn to let it overflow naturally, there are a lot of byproducts. And sometimes, it happens without us even thinking about it. Are you impatient? You can tell yourself to be more patient every time you get delayed. Or, if you grow in love, you will naturally start to see others beyond your momentary inconvenience. Do you struggle to forgive? Receiving the love of God will eventually lead you to see others with compassion, because you’ll understand they were acting out of their own hurt. Are you harsh with others? Experiencing God’s love changes your outlook on life and fills you with grace, and you may just find that you no longer need to be so critical—because you no longer have a reason to rank yourself against anyone. This is why Paul speaks of the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5, rather than calling it the “tasks of the Christian.” Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control… all of these things naturally emerge from our lives when we allow the Spirit of Christ to work within us. When that happens, things just start getting healed within us and around us. It doesn’t mean we don’t ever have to work at it. But it does shorten the to-do list of self-improvement a whole lot. The byproduct of love is that when we’re impacted by it, everything within us gets impacted too. Every hurt, every vice, every trauma, and every perspective. When the spring starts gushing fresh water, everything downstream gets washed. This week, may you grow in your capacity to receive God’s love, and to express it. And may it come with all sorts of beautiful byproducts. Jesus, help me walk in love today. Peace, Keith |
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