The Real Clowns of God

  A favorite book is "The Clowns of God" by Morris West, author of  "The Shoes of the Fisherman".  A favorite song is "Where are the Clowns" by Barbara Streis, especially the closing line, "bring on the clowns. (pause) don't bother they're here". In my office is a bust of the famous  clown Emmett Kelly.
  Clowns have an important place in my life. They catch me when I take myself or life to seriously. Times when a person’s remark lifts me to the mountain top or plunges me to the valley floor. Whether I am going up or going down the frowning smile on Emmett's face reminds me there are downs after ups and ups after downs, or "Relax! This too shall pass."
  Periodically, I have been known to mutter things like, "Mmmm just once I would like to have access to the clowns, who allow all the Congressional waste.”  Or even closer to home, " Lord,  I’d like a long talk with the clowns who let the church fall into the hands of those bunch of clowns." Then a lovely voice whispers in my ear, "don't bother they are here." My own ignorance and apathy allows them, the clowns, to remain in power. The song ministers to me, as it seemingly says, "Relax! All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
  The active pastoral ministry has been a great joy as well as a great sadness. Joy because people are always searching for God and the truth about God. Sadness because within the denominations of Christianity we still bicker amongst ourselves while the world drifts farther away. Heaven forbid, in just our little area alone, we have divided so much we now have about six Methodist Churches, five Presbyterian, five Assembly of God, twenty-eight Baptist, three Christian, thirteen Church of Christ and about thirty assorted others, and still dividing and multiplying.
  Who is causes these divisions among the people of God? In "The Clowns of God" the main character discovers the culprits are the petty church leaders, pushed by a thirst for power and hunger for financial security. They habitually do peculiar and selfish things contrary what to is good for the whole body of believers in God's kingdom.
  These little power centered creatures, who by selective reading reject the whole of the gospel of God to worship their petty little religious corner of the world, are called "the clowns of God". Morris West seemingly is saying, "Relax! Different gifts and workings, but the same Spirit and Lord."
  Clowns can be funny or sad. Clowns can be out there or in here. Clowns can be me or you. My guess is, God probably sees us all as clowns in life's circus.
  When our God says, "This too shall pass", is it said with light humor or with profound sincerity? I have heard it both ways. At times the message is "don't sweat the small stuff, look at the big picture." Other times, while in the depths of despair, the arm of God seems to slip around my shoulders with a comfort that says, "Hang in there, there is nothing in life that you and I can't handle together." Do you think Emmett taught that to God or God to Emmett?
  Did you ever suspect that when God informs us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," there follows at times a "heavenly chuckle"? For certain there is a chuckle when a clown of God, who thinks he or she has a direct link to the truth, is informed they are also sinners! History of God's people has demonstrated over and over that the holier than thou people were usually the first ones who yelled, "Crucify Him!"  They are the true terrorists.
  Sad but true, some clowns wear smiles on their faces and frowns in their hearts. A funny word here might be hypocrite, phoney or pharisee. God just laughs a belly laugh at self righteousness.
  When God declares, "Different gifts and workings, but the same Spirit and Lord." It is not funny to oppose or alter that principle. The clowns who put denomination or theology or practice above the whole people of God are not funny. They wear frowns on their faces and frowns in their hearts. God definitely frowns on their behavior. These clowns of God drive away the followers of God and replace them with clown followers. No it is not funny! It's a cult of clowns.
  So, Dennis, quit clowning around and get to the point. You got it! First, life is too short to take yourself too serious. Put on a happy face and a happy heart. Loosen up, God loves you! Second, we are all the same, we want love and freedom from death. Relax with the knowledge that in God's eyes you are normal! Finally, the clowns were allowed to divide the church universal (body of Christ). God wants us to stop clowning around and bring the people of God together again. God wants a family reunion. So bring on all the clowns,(pause) don't bother we are all here.
 
 

The True Judgement Seat

Tired of reading about what is bad with people? Did you know God only judges us on our holiness (goodness)? There are no heavenly scales that weigh our good acts against our bad. God addresses solely the goodness in our lives at the judgement seat.
  This seat as identified in Scripture in the Book of  Revelation is solely for those people, who have successfully finished a race. They come and stand in front of the judgement seat to receive their awards for performance.
  In the Christian faith and most all other faiths the only people, who finish the race are the ones, who have somehow gained eternal life and citizenship in the Kingdom of Light (Kingdom of God). In the Christian gospels, they are the ones, who have been born from above (“born again” is an inappropriate translation). They are the ones, according to Jesus, who love God above all things and their neighbor as themselves. Jesus understood the Holy Spirit is needed to do those two things.  The same Spirit that gives eternal life.
  At judgement, God will judge us as to how much of our lives we have turned over to the control of the Spirit. In other words, how holy are we?  Which is truly good news, when compared with the works concept which balances good against the bad. Oh, I know there are people, who believe their good works out weigh their bad works. In the Spiritual realm they are immature beings, who actually believe they can gain eternal life on their own faith. They totally ignore the essential place of God’s Spirit in the great scheme of things.
   Whenever we pray believing and ask God to forgive us, God is just and forgives us. Now comes the tremendous news of God’s grace. When God forgives a person, it is forgotten about for all eternity. It is gone! It is out of my life! This constant cleansing allows God’s people to work more on their goodness, instead of agonizing over their badness. That’s the basic good news I find in Christ Jesus, who God used to make this extra-ordinary formula work.
   For this reason God challenges us to love one another. By this God means not judge, which means no evaluation or concern for my negative side, because that is between me and God. Instead we accept people for the goodness they have, no matter what level it has obtained.
  What a wonderful world! A place where we only see good in people! Children will no longer tease others for their imperfections. Adults will not go to war to prove others wrong.  People of God will join hands and let their light outshine all the darkness of this world. Yeah, I like that idea.  We only deal with the good, just like God does it.

Father Abraham's Children (all of them)

  Each day I awake and think, "I don't have a clue!" A clue to what it really takes to be a child of God in this life. Each day I awake and wish I had enough faith to be a disciple of the Christ. You know a follower, one who tries to discipline themselves after the teachings of Christ Jesus. Historically they have been called Christians and God's people.
  Paul taught that a person is justified before God by faith,  independent from any obedience to the law. Baptism of any type, works, and any religious practices are only responses to our salvation. It is faith alone that saves us. For no one can confess Jesus as Lord except through the gift of faith from God's Holy Spirit.
  If we want such a faith, one that relies fully on God (like Abraham) and frees us from the pressure of trying to justify and save ourselves (religious law), we begin by admitting openly and honestly that none of us has enough faith (at least all the time) to either justify or save ourselves.  Our daily prayers are, "I believe. Help me in my unbelief." If we truly have faith we are praying each day to receive faith.
  Such a faith (trust in God's love) becomes possible when we put ourselves in a situation or position in which we hear and experience God's love over and over again. Such a place is in the middle of God's children, who are descendants of Father Abraham. They are the historical community of faith. Today we call it the church universal or people of God.
  In short each of us, who don't have a clue, admit our faith comes totally from God. It, not works, keeps us in the universal community of faith.
A community that includes all children of Abraham: Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, as well as their descendants.
  Christ Jesus acknowledged he came to fulfill the covenant of Abraham. Christians believe he was the worlds Passover lamb. As that lamb of God, Jesus made salvation by faith a reality for the people of Abraham. He was the Christ or Messiah in Jewish history.
  Do you acknowledge you do not have enough faith? Not a clue? If so you are on the first leg of being a descendant of Abraham. Do you accept the gift of faith from God, since on your own you have none? If yes, do you understand you now belong to the community of faith and are a member of the covenant people of God as was  promised to Father Abraham?
  If you so will you now put yourself into a position in that community where you must have faith? Where God can use you as a member of his covenant people. Those who totally rely on God to fulfill their call or purpose in life. Our Father Abraham did.
  Admitting you don't have a clue is the first act of humility. Humility is required if God is to ever use you, like he used Father Abraham. Even Jesus recognized this shining example of the faith God seeks in people. His life fulfilled this covenant relationship. As disciples we are to follow his example. So growth begins with, "I don't have a clue!"

Lent is a different view

  Tradition! Tradition! Sings the Fiddler on the Roof. And no season holds more tradition for the majority of Christians than the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. There are five main traditions within this period: Ash Wednesday (which is Wednesday February 13th this year); Lent (40 days till Easter not counting Sundays); Palm Sunday (Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem); Holy Week (includes Maundy Thursday [Last Supper] and Good Friday [Crucifixion] ending with Easter (Resurrection).
   Ash Wednesday : The ashes remind us at the beginning of Lent that none of us have ever done a great work in the church. If the world applauds you for your Christian work, humility helps us to remember that it was work was done by God.  We just happen to be the instrument of choice at that particular moment. The ultimate humility of the ashes is a gentle reminder that we are not Gods and therefore we do not know what is best for others. We leave that to be between them and their God. The final sign of humility associated with the ashes is the words ashes to ashes spoken at most funerals. They remind us that no matter what we think about how great we are, it doesn’t mean a thing at death. Only God controls that part of our lives.
   Lent: Lent is the only path to Easter. It is a special time for prayer, meditation and confession.  During this period many people will fast in some fashion or another during the forty days till Easter. Sundays are not included in Lenten practices. By the way Lent comes from a Middle English term “Lente” or “Springtime.” Hence this is a period of spiritual renewal.
  Palm Sunday: This is a day when we remember in humility how Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The same people, who later cried “Crucify Him!” were standing on the sides of the rode waving palm branches. The waved palm branches to honor royalty. The shouted Hosanna, which means God save us!
  Holy Week: We remember the last week of Jesus on Earth. On Maundy or Whits Thursday we remember the last supper in the upper room and Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Friday is remembered as God’s Friday or Good Friday when Jesus was crucified. We believe he was the Passover Lamb for the whole world.
  Easter: This important season of tradition ends with celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, whom we declare to be the Christ.
  In summary we begin with humility, practice repentance and a renewal of our spiritual nature, experience the work and sufferings of Jesus, and end with a victory over death! It is a unique time and yes it is something we should do all year long. However, we are human and it is good to have special days during the year.