On the Journey- Daily Devotional Meditation

On the Journey -Daily Devotional Meditation: “Marinating in the Truth” Scripture: “30 As he spake these things, many believed on him.31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, if ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Observation: I have read this verse numerous times and what I have emphasized do often is the verse, “and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The phrase that Jesus uses is “if ye abide in my word” which Greek scholars call a causative phrase because it sets up a cause and effect. When one abides in His word then one is a disciple and the truth will set one free. The word that John uses for abide is “meinate” which comes from the verb root “”meno.”[1] It translates “to remain to continue, or to permanently abide in one place.”[2] Jesus is exhorting them to continuously abide in His word. The context of this verse is Jesus is speaking to Jews who had the Old Testament Scriptures and he is now redacting their whole notion of God as it relates to him being one with the Father. It is also important to understand that there was no New Testament canon of scripture at this time but the language of the text places emphasis on the person of Christ. Jesus is not just appealing to their cognitive, intellectual understanding of His Word but he is also speaking to their hearts that they would continuously press into a personal relationship of intimacy with He “Who is the Living Word.” This concept in the New Testament is consistent with the use of the word “know” in the New Testament in which there is an objective knowledge (ginosko), and there is a knowledge that is based on experience borne out of relationship (epiginosko). In this verse Jesus is asking them to continuously engage and to remain with Him and those things that He speaks – the Bible that we have today. This is a call to intimacy not distant learning. Application for the Journey: Growing up as a child some of my fondest memories are of my grandmother who would make a soup that she started on Monday. Every day she would add ingredients and the aroma would begin to fill the whole house. On Friday she would place her ham bone into the pot and at that point all I wanted to do was have a taste of that soup. When Sunday would come there would be ten to twenty members of the Soto clan who were ready for the Sunday meal and for Grandma’s soup. The meat in the pot would marinate to the point that the meat was broken down and so mixed with the broth you could not distinguish between the meat and the ingredients. In the same manner this is what Jesus is saying in this verse that as one marinates in His Word it begins to break down those old attachments in our life. Dallas Willard calls this process the “Revolution of Jesus” which is the continuous transformation of the human heart or spirit[3] that does not come from that which external but rather from that which is internal. This is a revolution of character, which proceeds by changing people from the inside through ongoing personal relationship to God in Christ and to one another.[4] When Jesus says that abiding in Him makes you one of His he is taking about being set free to experience a change at the deepest level of one’s ideas, beliefs, feelings, and habits of choice, as well as one’s bodily tendencies and social relations.[5] To marinate in His word is to be set free to be the presence of the kingdom and it’s King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with him. In order to begin this process, like the Jews whom Jesus was addressing in the passage we must be willing to surrender our old attachments and beliefs concerning what we think is good for us. Most of what we embrace is on the outside of our hearts where we think we have control. To abide is to reflectively look at the inside of our hearts and allow Jesus to give us a tour of what must change. Yours on the Journey with you, Al Soto [1] Fritz Reinecker & Cleon Rogers, Linguidtic Key to the Greek New Testament.(Michigan: Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1976) p 239. In this verse it is aorist which means a choice that was made in the past but continuous. Thus, “Continuously Abide.” [2] Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems from the Greek. p 578. [3] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart. p 15. [4] Dallas Willard, p 15. [5] Dallas Willard, p 15.

Rich Moments to Reflect On!

There are those moments in life that cause you to reflect for a moment concerning the rich opportunities that one has to make a difference. Today, I had one of these moments that have deeply impacted me in areas of my soul. This moment took place after our church service today when a family that was a part of our church in San Jose, California came to our home in Lincoln so that I could meet their daughter’s fiancé’ and begin the process of their premarital counseling. As I sat in the chair of my office with this young lady and her fiancé’ along with her mother and father it was difficult not to reminisce have my mind go back well over 20 years ago remembering how my wife and I were in the hospital room the day she was born and having the opportunity to see this wonderfully bright little girl now sit in front of me as an incredibly beautiful and intelligent young woman. Soaking this moment in I reflected on her words to me a few weeks prior when I was on the phone with her and she stated, “Pastor Al, I always wanted you to marry me?” A very rich moment for me as I pondered this thought was that being a pastor allowed me to see how God shapes the story of families generationally as their story engages God’s story and they are transformed. What a marvelous moment to be able to share with my heart with this young man that this woman he desires to marry is a treasure and to share with him that, “he must be incredibly special for her to choose you.” Tears welling up in my eyes and in the eyes of her mother and father we all understood that we were connected at the soul.” Not because of a common history. Not because of common friends that we share. Instead, we were connected because we were able to speak the language of the soul. Larry Crabb calls this Soul-Talk and he defines it as speaking whatever is truly alive in us into another and accepting whatever is truly alive in another when it is spoken into us.[1] One of the rich benefits of Soul-Talk is in the words of David G. Benner builds a “Mutuality” that creates trust and in such a way that one can speak “truth and love” to another.[2] Many pastors get stuck and as a form of protection minister with their heads because to do so with the heart risks to much pain. The beauty of the calling dries up as the “doing” of an occupation called “Pastoring” is weighted down from the survival instinct of performance based on self-absorption that keeps one’s thoughts on their success rather than the success of others. Here is the thought I would like to leave you today. Regardless of whatever your occupation when we move beyond all the survival coping mechanisms that allows one to hide behind the wall of self-protection we are given no opportunity to see the beauty of God’s goodness unfold in the lives of people generationally. Here is another option: When we are vulnerable and our ambition is to see others passionately walk into what God has purposed for them even risking our vulnerability to admit our own failures you will become like an adopted aunt or uncle who has the wonderful joy of being able to see them graduate into new areas of maturity the stages of life. Now you are not doing a job but instead you are living out the richness of your calling.   [1] Larry Crabb, Soul-Talk: The language God longs for us to Speak. (Tennessee: Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 2003), P 18. [2] David G. Benner, Sacred-Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction. (Illinois: Downers Grove, Inter-Varsity Press, 2002) p 76.

Concerning the Lord's Table

It's been awhile since I posted and I needed to discuss some aspects of the Lord's Table. I belong to a movement that is Reformed in it's tradition as it relates to the Lord's Supper. It is somewhat confusing because on the one hand we will state that the elements are completely symbolic and we will not in any way want to be confused with the Roman position of Transsubstantiation "which views the transformation of the bread and the cup literally becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ." Thus in the Roman tradition the sacra or grace is literally transforming the elements to a completely different substance. The other view point that we do not identify with is the Lutheran tradition of consubstantiation "which sees the sacra or grace as being upon the elements." I do not agree with the other two theological view points though I am convinced that the Reformed perspective does not go far enough in identifying what and where is the sacra in the Eucharist. Being in the Foursquare movement we will say that the elememts of the Lord's Supper are symbolic and yet at the same time we will present that there is access to healing and a unique encounter with the presence of Christ that takes place as one celebrates the Eucharist.

It is my conviction that we may want to offer another perspective that does not violate the Reformed Perspective of the symbolic nature of the communion elements but at the same time does allow for the understanding that there is a sacra that is upon the people who Celebrate this powerful event. I would like to present the idea of Anthro-Substantiation which denotes that the sacra is upon the individual people who participate in the Eucharist. In future posts I will lay out the basis for this theological perspective both in my exegesis of scripture as well as looking at the Historic Basis for this perspective. Allow me to finish this post with the the idea that though I would never place History or the creeds of the church on the same level of inspirational authority as scripture itself; it is important to note that such early Christian theologians such as Justin Martyr when discussing the (αναμνησισ) which was the liturgical recollection of Christ. It was Justin Martyr who stated that in the act of rememberance the worshipping congrgation believed Christ himself to be present among them. He would also believe that Christ was present apart from the Eucharist but the adoration and worship that was given during the eucharist did in fact allow for a special presence of Christ during the Celebration (Just.Dial. 41.i; 117.3 Godspeed 138, 235; Pelikan, The Christian Tradition, Vol. I, p. 167-168).

I look forward to this journey with you.

Amazed and Humbled!

Yesterday was an amazing day! I had the opportunity to get up at 5:00AM in order to attend one of our Heritage Church small groups that has men as it's focus. What an amazing experience! Men sharing their hearts and fully committed to the Mission of our Church. The openness and the honesty was incredible. Then last night, just as an exclamation point finalizes a sentence that is pregnant with vocative excitement! The Heritage Church Community Bible Study was incredible. At the end of the evening people were receiving prayer as the Holy Spirit after the expository teaching was dealing with individuals concerning the breaking of their shame! Today, on my Journey I am both Amazed and humbled. I am amazed how God orchestrates our foot steps in which we have divine appointments that impact our lives to be shaped more into the image of Jesus Christ! I am also humbled that even in the areas of my greatest struggle he is my "champion" who is always about me moving toward Him and not becoming stuck. I am convinced that there is no recovery outside of the cross.

Last night I finished up the teaching with Paul's definition of a "Spiritual Person." The key verse is Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, even if a man is caught up in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted." The word for trespass is for those who lapse into sin. Paul is specifically speaking to believers who stumble into sin. The word for spiritual is speaking to those who are spiritually mature and have been endowed with the Holy Spirit. The verb to restore is the same word in Ephesians 4 that is used to denote"the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry." This word is used to describe the mending of a broken bone or the mending of fishing nets. Spiritual people restore those who in the midst of their struggle stumble into sin. They are not given to a pride that allows them to attack those who struggle because of their own sense of shame.

I closed the evening with encouraging people who may be struggling to embrace the cross as the very wisdom of God. Who may still be very critical in their spirit, bringing accusation against their brothers and sisters to consider their ways. just as the scripture states that "No weapon formed against us will prosper." If we become a weapon formed against someone else we will not prosper. The lack of humility in one area of our lives will set us up to give into temptation somewhere else in our lives. Busybodies do not want to take the time to reflect because then they will have to look at their own undoneness. Reflection is a gift of God that one can use to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to them in a gentle way of revealing the brokenness in one's heart!

I close with this short poem that i wrote while in reflection;

"Oh Lord, I have hurt, and my bitterness daily grows,

It is like a poison that infects not just me but others that I know.

I am so afraid to stop my activity because of what is in my heart is so very ugly,

So I criticize my brothers and sisters so that I do not have to reflect and see the brokenness that is alive and well in me!

In my heart I replaced my pain with pride so that I can walk the easy road and live a lie,

I now understand that underneath my root of bitterness is a sea of sin;

What is amazing is that I am Born Again!

I know that one day I will hit a wall and I will face the crash of my own fall,

If I am judged by what I have done to them,

than O God! I must run and embrace your Cross right now once again!

Amazed Because His Grace is powerful enough to transform me. Humbled because at times my pride chooses an ungrace path and He still pursues me!

Considering Others

Today, I had the Opportunity to lead the Heritage Church Staff in Communion. We always finish our time in affirming one another. Once again, I was very blessed to see the sincere love that people have for one another here at Heritage. I have included my presentation in this post.

Who are You Considering Today?
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”
(Hebrews 10:24)

The word for “consider” is from the Greek word katanoeo, a compound of the words kata and noeo. The word kata depicts something that is moving downward; the word noeo (from the word nous) depicts the mind and means to think. When the two words are placed together, it means to thoroughly think something through or to ponder something from the top all the way to the bottom. It is the idea of mulling something over; carefully contemplating a matter; pondering and carefully looking at a particular issue; or examining and fully studying a subject.

This word pictures someone who is so concerned about someone else that he/she has taken the time to really consider that other person. He/she has observed the person’s ups and downs and his/her highs and lows. He/she studied to find out what helps that person feel encouraged and what events tend to pull him/her down. Because he/she has determined to really know and understand that other person, he/she invests a great deal of time and concentration into studying and getting to know that other person. This kind of knowledge doesn’t come by accident, but by determined pursuit.

Not only are we to consider one another, but the Bible goes on to say we are to provoke one another unto love and good works. The word “provoke” comes from a compound word. Para means alongside and it carries the idea of being close. The second part, of the word means to sharpen something, such as a knife, and indicates a very sharp situation. When you put these two words together, it describes someone who has come alongside of someone else for the purpose of prodding and impelling that person to do something.

Provoking can be both positive and negative but in this verse “provoking” is telling us that our relationships with other believers should incite us to become better, stronger, and bolder in the Lord.

In our context here at Heritage Church how can we provoke other believers in a positive way? How can you stimulate your brother or your sister in the Lord in such a way that you make him or her want to walk in love and do good works? Just as Jesus Christ at the Cross “considered us” and gave His best for us to become more like Him. We are to encourage others to run their race well!

Paraphrase of this verse might be the following:

“And constantly be observing one another, seriously contemplating, studying, and examining each other, until you know exactly how to incite and stimulate each other to love and to good works.”

Let the Journey Begin!

Let the Journey Begin!

I have been on this Journey for a while but I thought it was time to record some of my daily thoughts as I daily encounter the Cross. I like many people often times think of the Crucifixion as a past event but really it is a daily occurrence. John Piper calls it a daily execution to those things that need to die in us. Please do not interpret this blog as some thoughts of deep depression or a spiritual melancholy that some how marks one as being more spiritual the blue one may feel. A resounding "NO!" I have found that some of the most richest deepest moments of joy has been after I have been cut once again by the cross. People use so many different terms to define this journey "recovery" "healing" and all these are good but not complete enough for me. The Cross is a wonderful reminder to me how I must daily seek to once again against all human pride that i am not self-sufficient and I am in need of my Savior to engage my heart once again. Self-will is not good enough to help me overcome but rather it is only by the power of Jesus Christ that i can once again take another step forward. Often times it is me failing forward but nonetheless He is with me.

Here is a thought I had today. Grace is the permission to be fully human! God created me and is not shocked by my human frailty.

So, Let the Journey Begin!