Emails to God – God’s Wisdom is Foolish to Man (1 Corinthians 2:14)

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

Dear God, what is it about submission to you that changes one’s perspective on life? I think, when it comes down to it, our unredeemed selves just cannot imagine a world-view where we should not promote ourselves and our own self-interests at all costs. On the other hand, a person who submits her or his life to you knows that there is peace in turning loose of selfishness and embracing a cause greater than one’s self, even at your own expense.

I know a few teenagers, and I think the difference shows up most in them. There are a few (just a few) who have submitted their lives to you (or are, at least, doing the best they can as teenagers). They seem to have less to prove to others, and are more comfortable in their own skin. Remembering back to my own high school days, I think of myself and my friends as being so desperate for approval from others. We wanted to be cool and achieve things. We wanted to impress our friends so we would embellish stories or do daring things to make them think we were cool. The truth is, we just wanted to be accepted. But there is something about the peace that comes from knowing you that leads us to an acceptance that so few seem to know.

Father, I know that there are things that I do that certain non-Christians around me reject. I know they see me as naïve even prude. But the truth is that I don’t have a desire to be any other way. That’s not to say I am above being tempted by sin or giving into it. I can gossip, show off, and even lust just as much as anyone. But I guess the difference is that the deeper the Spirit grows in me the more I can turn loose of these things and accept that I don’t need them, nor do I want them as much as I used to. I hear your still small voice when I say something I shouldn’t, look at someone the way I shouldn’t, or accept compliments and glory that rightfully belong to others and you. It tells me to turn loose and let go. There is more peace to be had in decreasing as you increase instead of you decreasing so that I can increase.

 

Emails to God – God’s Gonna Cut You Down (by Johnny Cash)

God’s Gonna Cut You Down – By Johnny Cash

Before you read any further, you need to watch the music video.

Dear God, recorded in 2003, but released posthumously in 2006, this song might be my favorite of Johnny Cash’s songs. There is a mood in the singing of this song that not many women or men could create. But what really struck me about this song was how someone envisioned and produced the video that goes with it.

First, here are the lyrics to the song (as if you don’t already know them):

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time, run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar,
go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down

Well, my goodness gracious let me tell you the news
My head’s been wet with the midnight dew
I’ve been down on bended knee
Talkin’ to the man from Galilee

He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought, I heard the shuffle of the angel’s feet
He called my name and my heart stood still
When he said, “John, go do my will”

Go tell that long tongue liar,
go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time, run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Well, you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin’ in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What’s down in the dark will be brought to the light

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time, run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar, go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down

The video, however, is interesting because it shows a host of people lip-syncing the song. Here’s the list from Wikipedia in order of appearance: In order of appearance; Iggy Pop, Kanye West, Chris Martin, Kris Kristofferson, Patti Smith, Terrence Howard, Flea, Q-Tip, Adam Levine, Chris Rock, Justin Timberlake, Kate Moss, Sir Peter Blake, Sheryl Crow, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Amy Lee, Tommy Lee, the Dixie Chicks, Mick Jones, Sharon Stone, Bono, Shelby Lynne, Anthony Kiedis, Travis Barker, Lisa Marie Presley, Kid Rock, Jay-Z, Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons, Corinne Bailey Rae, Johnny Depp, Graham Nash (holding photos of Johnny Cash), Brian Wilson.

Frankly, I wouldn’t have thought of most of these people as God-fearing. Maybe Bono. But as I read the rest of the list I wondered what these people think of the lyrics. How do they see you? How do they see themselves? How did the video producer (Tony Kaye) come up with this list, what was the message he was communicating by choosing these people, and what was his pitch to each of them as he got them to do it? For example, he calls Keith Richards and says, “_____.” I can’t even imagine what I would say to Keith Richards to get him to participate in a video talking about you cutting sinners down and bringing them back to yourself.

I guess I think Tony’s message to me is, “There is something in all of us, no matter how ungodly and wicked, that knows we need to come back to God.” At least that is my inference. When I see some of these people, whom I must admit I have pre-judged as being Godless, participating in this song I wonder if the message isn’t, “Even the most staunch atheist has a little part of her or his conscience that knows they are running from God.”

Father, the truth is, I try to run away from you all of the time. My submission to you is a constant battle. Every day I make decisions that try to help me increase and you decrease. It is a moment-by-moment struggle. In the end, my name could easily be added to the list of celebrities above as just as big of a long tongue liar, midnight rider, rambler, gambler, and back biter as any of them.

 

Emails to God: Leap of Faith (Starring Steve Martin and Debra Winger – 1992)

Dear God, I remember when this movie first came out. I was just out of college working for a Christian music publisher. I was also newly married. As I recall, I saw it more than once in the theater. I would put this movie in my top ten of all time. As I watched this movie recently, I was asking myself why I find it so compelling.

I think that what I like is the idea of someone mocking you by using your name to con people, and then you show up and turn their world upside down. I like the idea that you cannot be mocked. I like the idea that you are bigger than those who don’t believe in you. Steve Martin really does a masterful job in the movie. I wonder if his role had any impact on him, or if any of the message that the film communicates gets lost in the production of a movie.

Being in a public role with the nonprofit where I work, one thing I did start to wonder is if there is any Jonas Nightengale in me as I do my job. I spoke to a group of about 200 people last week and I talked about you and your role in our nonprofit. Was I being honest? Was there any part of what I did that was more show than substance? While I do my best to be as earnest as possible in my private life as I am publicly, I am also aware that there is a part of me that knows how to present things well.

Father, I want to be like the choir in Leap of Faith. They are part of the show, but they are there earnestly. In fact, they are as much the victims of Jonas’ con as the audience is, but they are also part of the show. While I don’t want to be conned, I do want to be part of giving you glory through my work, which is all they were trying to do. Probably the most frequently way I get conned in my job is by patients. They lie to me to get my help, and I often help them anyway. I don’t mind as much because I feel like, just like to touched Jonas, you can touch them through their con as well. You will not be mocked, and if you are touching their lives in any way, then it will be for their good.

 

Emails to God – Spirit, Come Flush the Lies Out (Hebrews 10:32-36)

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Dear God, the phrase “joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property” in verse 34 caught my eye this morning. It reminds me of passion lost.

I was on a bike ride yesterday and listening to a song by Charlie Peacock called “Monkeys at the Zoo.” It’s a weird title, but here is the first verse:

Will it be different now, or the same
Will I have learned anything
Or was it just a way to spend a day or two
Set aside for thinking thoughts about You.
If that’s all it was, I had a good time…

One time I was on my way to a retreat when this song came on my radio. I realized how perfectly it describes the retreat/mountain top process. We often get off somewhere like that and really feel your presence, but do things change later? Will we have learned anything? So Charlie, in the chorus, purposes in his heart to do it right this time:

But that won’t be enough for me
Not this year, not anytime soon
I have got to clean house
Gotta make my bed, got clear my head
It’s getting kind of stuffy in here
Smell sorta funky too, like monkeys at the zoo
I’ve been whoring after things
Cuz I wanna feel safe inside
That’s a big fat lie
No amount of green, gold, or silver
Will ever take the place of the Peace of God
Spirit, come flush the lies out
Spirit, come flush the lies out

So I don’t know if I have any retreats in my near future, but I know I am in constant need of renewal. Father, help to renew my soul. Renew my spirit. Spirit, come flush the lies out. Spirit, come flush the lies out.

 

Emails to God – Thank you for autumn rains (Joel 2:23)

23“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”

Dear God, it is good to be reminded to look for your goodness in the midst of trials. It is good to reminded of your gifts in the midst of stress. It is good to be reminded of your provision in the midst of worry and fear.

It has been a stressful week. My wife and I have both had a lot going on with our jobs. As I sit here on a Thursday morning, I am pretty spend. It is 6:20 and I have to speak at a Rotary Club meeting in about 30 minutes. The week has already taken a lot of my energy, and there is still much more to do. I didn’t sleep well at all because I was afraid of oversleeping for this presentation this morning—and I was a bit stressed because I knew I had to come into the office earlier than the presentation to pick up my handouts, which I forgot.

But this verse reminds me that I need to rejoice in you. It reminds me that you have given us autumn rains. In this case, you literally gave us autumn rains this last week, but you have given them to me figuratively as well. Frankly, it’s been a good week relationally with our children. That has been a nice reprieve from some of the combat we have done for a while. At work, I am strained about the donations coming in, but when I look back on the year, you have provided for us and continue to provide for us. You are good. You have brought us a good staff who works together for our patients. And you are still bringing us gifts. You have a retreat in store for my wife. You have given me a good, dependable job in the midst of economic chaos elsewhere.

Father, I will rejoice in you this morning. Please help me to not overlook all of the little things you do to bless me. Help me to see every place that your hand touches my life and to not take you for granted. I want to see you in everything around me. I want to be your blessing to others. I want to channel your Spirit to everyone I touch, including those to whom I will talk this morning. Be glorified in me so that others might rejoice in you and your good gifts as well.

 

Emails to God – Ambition and Conceit (Philippians 2:3-4)

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 4Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Dear God, today has to be all about others. Nothing can be about me. Our organization is about to have a big party at which we will celebrate 20 years of your provision for those in our area who have no means for affordable healthcare. Since I am the current leader of the organization there is a tendency to give me too much of the credit for what we do. And, frankly, I have a tendency to take it.

But today and tonight must not be about me. There is no glory for you in that. I must remember to value all others above myself. I must not look to my own interests, but to the interest of our patients and all of those who work so hard to make our services available.

Father, help me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Help me to be at peace and to work hard for your glory and the benefit of others. Help me to leave it all on the table today and ask or look for nothing in return. Thank you for what you have done for us through the years. Thank you for what you have done for our patients, volunteers and donors. You have made a difference in countless lives, and we are grateful for all that you do.

 

Emails to God – Keeping Yourself Pure (Ephesians 5:1-20)

5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear God, something is happening with the Spirit within my house. Frankly, over the last several months (years?) I have felt like we have been under a very specific spiritual attack. It has surprised me. Probably what has surprised me the most is how I have seen the different ways that I was hurting my family that I didn’t realize. I was (and, I guess, am—although it is apparently getting better) critical and difficult to be around. My loud-ish personality and the popularity that comes with my job made it difficult for my family to be with me in public. And at home I think they never felt like they could do it right enough for me. It was hard for me to see at first, and now that I can see it, it has been hard for me to change. But I think I have done it slowly, but surely.

Now, I have started to feel a bit of a shift. Is it you moving? Is it something I can believe in? I am seeing my children responding to me a little differently. As if the change in me that I have been praying about over the last months and years is finally starting to take hold and they are starting to believe in it. My wife, being more mature, has allowed herself to believe in the change in me a little earlier, but the kids finally seem to be coming around.

One thing I am finding, however, is that I will need to be extra careful to guard my heart. I can see the positives that are happening and I know that Satan will attach in other areas. From where will his attacks come? Am I girded with your armor? Am I ready to follow verse 15 here, and live not as unwise but as wise?

Father, help me to be pure. Help me to have pure motives, thoughts, and deeds. And by pure, I mean help me to have your heart. I am sorry for the pain I unintentionally caused. I can only ask now that you will use it for your good in my life and my family’s life. Let your presence reign and help us to all submit ourselves to your authority and Spirit.

 

Emails to God – Remembering to Thank God (Philippians 1:3)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Dear God, my life is so beholden to different people. From my wife, to my family of origin, to donors, to volunteer, to staff, to my children, etc. My life is blessed many, many times over. But do I remember to thank you every time I remember these people? Do I remember to thank you whenever I think about the blessings you provide to me? Do I remember to give you the glory you deserve when I talk about the blessings in my life?

Father, there is so much for which I can be thankful. I have a patient wife who loves me richly. I have one or two good friends who speak your words to me. I have parents who bless me with love. I have a job where you have raised up people to work alongside us to do your will. Help me to be ever mindful of the grace you show me through all of these people. Help me to remember that you are the one from whom all blessings flow. And help me to remember to thank you for all of this because you are worthy of thanks and praise.

 

Emails to God – Spirit-filled (Matthew 26:38)

“Stay here and watch with me.”

Dear God, Oswald Chambers’ commentary on this passage links it with Acts 2:4, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the faithful. His premise is that we cannot watch WITH YOU before we are Spirit-filled because we need to Spirit to better understand who you are. Until that happens, he says, the best we can really comprehend is the idea of you watching WITH US.

There is a step in there between making a decision to follow you and the moment that the Holy Spirit comes into us. Ideally it should happen at the same time, but I think that, sometimes, our hearts are not quite yet ready for it. Frankly, it’s a bit of a hazy mystery to me, but I can certainly see how it happened in my life.

I think part of the issue is that, at least in my life, I needed some additional maturity before I was ready to embrace the Holy Spirit. I was nine years old when I first asked you into my heart and became “saved”, but my soul was not yet ready to be Spirit-filled. I think you put a mark on me at that point, and I think that my soul was saved, but I was still too confused to really understand what watching WITH YOU meant. It wasn’t until I was seventeen that my life really transformed. I was finally ready to begin to accept your Lordship in my life. I was ready to accept the idea of you reaching me instead of me being able to reach you. I was ready to accept the idea of submission in a new way. At that point, in July 1987, I felt the Holy Spirit enter in.

Father, as I watch my children grow, neither of whom are yet even seventeen, I know that each of them made decisions to submit themselves to you and accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins at earlier ages. But now Satan is doing his best to make sure that the seeds planted then do not find fertile soil. He wants them to be eaten by the birds, choked by the thorns, or baked by the sun. So I pray that you will protect the soil of their hearts, and cultivate the parts that are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. Help my wife and me to love them richly, even beyond what they see with our physical eyes. And, of course, protect our hearts as well. Spirit, move within us so that our hearts might be pure, united, and completely yours.

 

Emails to God – Fanning the Flame

No verse

Dear God, I think the best preacher I have ever heard is a guy named Louie Giglio. He currently leads Passion Ministries out of Atlanta, but I first knew him when I was in college and he lead a weekly “Bible study” at Baylor. I put Bible study in quotes because it was really more of a church service on a Monday night than it was a Bible study. There were 600-800 people filling up the 7th and James Baptist Church sactuary, and it ran from 7-9pm. It was quite the experience, and, frankly, better than church on Sunday. Louie always seemed to be “on” and I could listent to him preach for an hour and never look at my watch.

I mention this because I took a bike ride this weekend and listened to one of Louie’s podcasts. It wasn’t preaching, but there he was just being enthusiastic and fired up for you. His ministry is called “Passion”, and it is aptly named because his passion for you never seems to dim. I was thinking as I listened to him speak, How does he keep his fire burning so consistently?

I know part of it is regular prayer, but I think the other parts are regular time with other believers and regular mountain top experiences. I think it is true that a piece of charcoal that is left with other coals will burn longer than the coal that is left alone. I think this has been the biggest thing I have missed since I have lived here. I have not found any men with whom I can bond spiritually. I have visited close to fifteen churches and haven’t found one that really inspires me. I feel a lot like a coal that is fighting to fan my little flame, but there just isn’t enough cumulative heat to keep it going.

Father, help me to surround myself in a life that will fuel this fire. Help me to find you in my journey. Help me to feel your presence, not only through my wife, but also through friends, church, work, etc. I don’t know that what I am doing is sustainable. I’ve kept the fire going for the almost seven years we’ve lived here, but is it really burning to the point where I am being effective as a husband, father, employee, and friend?