Revision March 30 column



Editors – This new copy reflects a revision in the 10^th and 11^th graph from the bottom.

 

Win or Lose – Easter Plays the Long Game

 

Last Sunday, I was disappointed to see the men's basketball team of my beloved alma mater, Baylor University, get pushed out of the Sweet 16 by the stronger Clemson University team.

 

Nevertheless, I think I'm OK with losing. Clemson kept their ten-point advantage most of the game, but in the last few minutes, Baylor pushed within two points of tying. But, sadly, Clemson stuffed Baylor pride with enough foul shots to make the win definitive.

 

It just goes to show you, that no matter which team you root for, you must be prepared to lose.

 

In some ways, I think that's the lesson of Good Friday. The Jesus-followers, my favorite team, lost.

 

Wait, wait. Don't burn your newspaper yet.

 

I just think we'd do well to consider that Jesus lost in the sense that he was nailed to a cross. Nearly everything he said in his final three hours dripped with a conciliatory tone.

 

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do... Today you shall be with me in paradise. ... Woman, behold, thy son! ... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ... I thirst. ... It is finished. ... Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

 

Yes, he graciously began his talk on Calvary Hill by praying for his murderers, "Forgive them."

 

But after that, his whole "love-thy-neighbor" campaign seemed headed downhill.

 

He concludes his Last Will and Testament with – Take care of mom.

 

He calls out his Father for not watching his back.

 

And then by the time he announces, "It's finished," his spirit seems in full retreat.

 

I mean, come on man. From a military outlook, this is defeatist talk.

 

But here's the thing, the resurrection of Easter actually tells me that God didn't lose. He categorically won.

 

The losers of the day were the power-hungry folks who sought the winning favor of an earthly king. The real losers were those who'd only followed Jesus hoping he'd lead armies against their Roman oppressors, feeding his soldiers with five bread loaves and two fish.

 

The absolute losers of the day were the ones who wrapped their populist ideals in God language. Five days before, they shouted "Hosanna" in hopes Jesus could help them crush their enemies.

 

As our national elections approach, it might be good to remember the lessons of Easter.

 

Sadly, these days, Christian Nationalism has asserted the same misplaced allegiance shown by the religious people of Jesus' day.  The church has become entrenched in tribal affiliations between left and right resulting in the breakdown of relationships.

 

These folks find it easier to garner votes by demonizing the opposing political party. Players on both sides of this political game seek to restore Jesus to a seat of power that he totally rejected from the cross. 

 

Gratefully, as a follower of Christ, I can tell you that our battle is not with this world.

 

The Apostle Paul understood this because, before he was a good guy, he was AKA Saul. He lived by the sword, executing Christians for the sake of winning the struggle.  

 

But not long after his conversion, he would tell the church at Ephesus that "…our struggle is not against flesh and blood but … against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

 

Easter means that God has already won the battle. He conquered death and all the fear that goes with it. That is victory enough for me. How about you?

 

The message of Easter is a win-win. God so loved the entire world that he gave his son.(John 3:16)

 

But we all know that verse.

 

What we fail to quote is the following verse, John 3:17. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

 

See how that goes? No condemnation.

 

Love wins. It always does because God plays the long game.

 

Happy Easter, everyone.

 

___________________

 

I found inspiration for this column in Tim Alberta's book "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism." (Harper Collins 2023)

 

Talk to your church about sponsoring The After Party, a free six-part video course designed to provide churches with a biblically based approach to navigating today's challenging political environment. https://redeemingbabel.org/product/the-after-party/

 

Contact Chaplain Norris at comment@thechaplain.net or 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602 or voicemail (843) 608-9715.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 30 column

Win or Lose – Easter Plays the Long Game

 

Last Sunday, I was disappointed to see the men's basketball team of my beloved alma mater, Baylor University, get pushed out of the Sweet 16 by the stronger Clemson University team.

 

Nevertheless, I think I'm OK with losing. Clemson kept their ten-point advantage most of the game, but in the last few minutes, Baylor pushed within two points of tying. But, sadly, Clemson stuffed Baylor pride with enough foul shots to make the win definitive.

 

It just goes to show you, that no matter which team you root for, you must be prepared to lose.

 

In some ways, I think that's the lesson of Good Friday. The Jesus-followers, my favorite team, lost.

 

Wait, wait. Don't burn your newspaper yet.

 

I just think we'd do well to consider that Jesus lost in the sense that he was nailed to a cross. Nearly everything he said in his final three hours dripped with a conciliatory tone.

 

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do... Today you shall be with me in paradise. ... Woman, behold, thy son! ... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ... I thirst. ... It is finished. ... Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

 

Yes, he graciously began his talk on Calvary Hill by praying for his murderers, "Forgive them."

 

But after that, his whole "love-thy-neighbor" campaign seemed headed downhill.

 

He concludes his Last Will and Testament with – Take care of mom.

 

He calls out his Father for not watching his back.

 

And then by the time he announces, "It's finished," his spirit seems in full retreat.

 

I mean, come on man. From a military outlook, this is defeatist talk.

 

But here's the thing, the resurrection of Easter actually tells me that God didn't lose. He categorically won.

 

The losers of the day were the power-hungry folks who sought the winning favor of an earthly king. The real losers were those who'd only followed Jesus hoping he'd lead armies against their Roman oppressors, feeding his soldiers with five bread loaves and two fish.

 

The absolute losers of the day were the ones who wrapped their populist ideals in God language. Five days before, they shouted "Hosanna" in hopes Jesus could help them crush their enemies.

 

As our national elections approach, it might be good to remember the lessons of Easter.

 

Sadly, these days, Christian Nationalism has asserted the same misplaced allegiance shown by the religious people of Jesus' day.  The church has become entrenched in tribal affiliations resulting in the breakdown of relationships.

 

These folks find it easier to garner votes by demonizing science, libraries, or the opposing political party. Players of this political game seek to restore Jesus to a seat of power that he totally rejected from the cross.

 

Gratefully, as a follower of Christ, I can tell you that our battle is not with this world.

 

The Apostle Paul understood this because, before he was a good guy, he was AKA Saul. He lived by the sword, executing Christians for the sake of winning the struggle. 

 

But not long after his conversion, he would tell the church at Ephesus that "…our struggle is not against flesh and blood but … against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

 

Easter means that God has already won the battle. He conquered death and all the fear that goes with it. That is victory enough for me. How about you?

 

The message of Easter is a win-win. God so loved the entire world that he gave his son. (John 3:16)

 

But we all know that verse.

 

What we fail to quote is the following verse, John 3:17. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

 

See how that goes? No condemnation.

 

Love wins. It always does because God plays the long game.

 

Happy Easter, everyone.

 

___________________

 

I found inspiration for this column in Tim Alberta's book "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism." (Harper Collins 2023)

 

Talk to your church about sponsoring The After Party, a free six-part video course designed to provide churches with a biblically based approach to navigating today's challenging political environment. https://redeemingbabel.org/product/the-after-party/

 

Contact Chaplain Norris at comment@thechaplain.net or 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602 or voicemail (843) 608-9715.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 22 column

Is Your Legacy In the Bag?

 

It seems the marketing folks won't leave us alone. They are constantly trying to sell us something.

 

They follow us everywhere. "Buy, buy, buy!" It's the mantra of a marketing world where the word "miracle" is defined by how quickly our plants grow or how white our teeth become.

 

The solicitations blast through TV commercials, emails, voicemails, texting, even through recorded infomercials wailing in medical waiting rooms. Thankfully, I can ignore most of those sources.

 

But there's one place I can't escape – the gas pump.

 

Service stations often use video displays on the pump pontificating such things as the wisdom of buying good rain tires.

 

Yet, despite all the pleas to buy things, my hospital chaplain experiences tell me that whatever I buy will likely one day be packed away in a plastic garbage bag.

 

I know this from the numerous times I was present for the end of life. Thosemoments usually started with a squawk over the public address system.

 

"Code Blue, 5 North. Code Blue, 5 North."

 

That announcement was my cue to join medical staff running toward the Intensive Care Unit. Inside the unit, the resuscitation team would surround the patient while I'd stand a few feet away beside a frantic family member.

 

We'd watch together as clothes were cut off. IVs inserted. Chest compressions made.

 

The doctor often held defibrillator paddles and rubbed them together, merging confidence and chance.

 

"Charge – clear – shock – charge – clear – shock."

 

Nothing.

 

"One ampule epinephrine," called the doc to the nurse.

 

More compressions and more shock.

 

Heads turned to the monitor. Nothing.

 

The doc placed his stethoscope on his patient's chest.

 

"I'm calling it," he'd say. 

 

This was the official pronouncement for everyone to cease their lifesaving efforts and allow the time of death to be recorded.

 

As you might imagine, I'd spend the next few minutes with the family in closing rituals and prayers.

 

Those were highly meaningful moments to the family, but eventually we came to a rather awkward time of gathering the loved one's belongings.

 

Of course, the family was unprepared for this duty, so the nurse would offer the easiest packaging available -- often a plastic bag.

 

After the family filled the bag, staff would say their goodbyes and I'd walk the family out of the hospital through the main lobby where the TV typically wailed another pitch to buy one more thing.

 

Those walks often had me wondering what it might be like when my time comes.

 

Will my bags be filled with things the marketers persuaded me to buy? And what will my children do with those bags?

 

Whatever they decide, I hope my physical possessions aren't the only things I'll pass on to them. I hope they carry a part of my faith as well.

 

Of course, faith can't be inherited from parents. That's why it's been said that "God doesn't have grandchildren, only children" — meaning a person must find his or her own faith.

 

However, it is still a legitimate part of my faith journey to regularly ask myself questions like: Will there be a part of myself worth commending to my children? What part of me do I wish they would become? And what part of my faith ends with my death?

 

I guess all those questions can only be answered superimposed with Jesus' question in Mark 8:36 and repeated throughout modern history by Gandhi, King and Kennedy.

 

"What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?"

 

Keep that question in sight and the answers you find will become a legacy worth sharing.

 

-----------------------------

 

Last call for volunteers to support Chispa Project in Honduras June 16-23. More info at www.chispaproject.org/volunteertrip.

 

Send email to comment@thechaplain.net or message at (843) 608-9715 or 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Order books by sending $20 to same address or online at www.thechaplain.net.

 

 

 

 

March 15 column

The ABCs of Prayer Are Elementary

There have been times that I've been found napping in my office.

My chaplain response to that is, "No, I'm not napping. This is my prayer time."

That's because in reality, I may be doing both – napping and praying. 

I call this time my "ABC prayer nap."

 

The meditative technique follows the Jewish tradition of acrostic prayers where each line of the prayer starts with a consecutive letter of the alphabet. It's a bit like playing Theological Scrabble.

 

I have three prayers I can choose from (limit, one per nap.) Each prayer begins with one of these three introductory phrases.

1. God, help me to be . . .

2. God, thank you for . . .

3. God, forgive me for being . . .

As I ease back in my office recliner, I choose one of those opening phrases followed by a request that starts the alphabet.  For instance, the first phrase might begin, "God, help me to be Assuring. Followed by, "God, help me to be a Benefit to others.

The second ABC prayer follows the advice of an old hymn: "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done."

These are prayers in which I thank God for my Children or something intangible like myDreams. Each letter stands for whatever word floats into my mind that inspires an "attitude of gratitude."

My first and second prayer formats are meant to be inward and restorative. I try to do one prayer phrase per breath, so they bring sleep quickly.

However, the third prayer – "God forgive me for being" goes deeper, helping me face my own inadequacies. 

During one recent nap, I voiced this prayer fairly quickly until I got to three letters not commonly used – I, J and K.

The letters had me searching my conscience for what I needed to ask. I remembered my wife commenting about the time I spent on the phone away from our family.

"God, forgive me for being Inattentive. Help me to be attentive and remember where you've placed me in the moment."

Since I had justified my phone usage as important business, I found it necessary to also ask God to "Forgive my desire to be Justified. I don't like being wrong. I like being right and just – sometimes at the expense of my relationships."

The next letter was much harder. "Forgive me, Lord, for Killing. Forgive me," I prayed, "for the times I've killed – or at least squelched –  the image of God I saw in others."

This word was inspired by a hard saying from Jesus. Recorded in the modern translation of the Bible called "The Message," it reads:

"I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill."

When I use the first two prayers, I'm usually asleep before I'm halfway through. However, the forgiveness prayer will often keep me awake as I work through the entire alphabet.

But like most naps, these ABC naps often keep me awake a bit past my evening bedtime. These are the moments I've tried to explain to my wife how my "praying" is keeping us both awake.

"Hmm," she says, "Maybe next time you should reverse the alphabet. Start with "Z" and ask God to 'Forgive my desire to be so Zealous.'"

If you'd like to receive my weekly column by email, send your request to my email below.

You can read more about spiritual practices in my book, "Thriving Beyond Surviving." Buy any of my books online at www.thchaplain.net or send $20 for a signed copy to 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Comments received at same address or by email: comment@thechaplain.net or voicemail at (843) 608-9715.

 

 

 

March 15 column

The ABCs of Prayer Are Elementary

There have been times that I've been found napping in my office.

My chaplain response to that is, "No, I'm not napping. This is my prayer time."

That's because in reality, I may be doing both – napping and praying.

I call this time my "ABC prayer nap."

 

The meditative technique follows the Jewish tradition of acrostic prayers where each line of the prayer starts with a consecutive letter of the alphabet. It's a bit like playing Theological Scrabble.

 

I have three prayers I can choose from (limit, one per nap.) Each prayer begins with one of these three introductory phrases.

1. God, help me to be . . .

2. God, thank you for . . .

3. God, forgive me for being . . .

As I ease back in my office recliner, I choose one of those opening phrases followed by a request that starts the alphabet.  For instance, the first phrase might begin, "God, help me to be Assuring. Followed by, "God, help me to be a Benefit to others.

The second ABC prayer follows the advice of an old hymn: "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done."

These are prayers in which I thank God for my Children or something intangible like my Dreams. Each letter stands for whatever word floats into my mind that inspires an "attitude of gratitude."

My first and second prayer formats are meant to be inward and restorative. I try to do one prayer phrase per breath, so they bring sleep quickly.

However, the third prayer – "God forgive me for being" goes deeper, helping me face my own inadequacies. 

During one recent nap, I voiced this prayer fairly quickly until I got to three letters not commonly used – I, J and K.

The letters had me searching my conscience for what I needed to ask. I remembered my wife commenting about the time I spent on the phone away from our family.

"God, forgive me for being Inattentive. Help me to be attentive and remember where you've placed me in the moment."

Since I had justified my phone usage as important business, I found it necessary to also ask God to "Forgive my desire to be Justified. I don't like being wrong. I like being right and just – sometimes at the expense of my relationships."

The next letter was much harder. "Forgive me, Lord, for Killing. Forgive me," I prayed, "for the times I've killed – or at least squelched –  the image of God I saw in others."

This word was inspired by a hard saying from Jesus. Recorded in the modern translation of the Bible called "The Message," it reads:

"I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill."

When I use the first two prayers, I'm usually asleep before I'm halfway through. However, the forgiveness prayer will often keep me awake as I work through the entire alphabet.

But like most naps, these ABC naps often keep me awake a bit past my evening bedtime. These are the moments I've tried to explain to my wife how my "praying" is keeping us both awake.

"Hmm," she says, "Maybe next time you should reverse the alphabet. Start with "Z" and ask God to 'Forgive my desire to be so Zealous.'"

If you'd like to receive my weekly column by email, send your request to my email below.

You can read more about spiritual practices in my book, "Thriving Beyond Surviving." Buy any of my books online at www.thchaplain.net or send $20 for a signed copy to 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Comments received at same address or by email: comment@thechaplain.net or voicemail at (843) 608-9715.

 

 

 

March 8 column

Nonsensical Prayer Slams into Reality

 

After my recent Sunday sermon, a vehicle parked in front of my church rolled up hill and slammed into the pastor's bumper.

 

Yup. That pickup truck just put itself in gear and gave my Camry a big boo-boo.

 

At this point, I ask that you suspend your disbelief.

 

Let's move on to the spiritual point that you expect from this columnist. 

 

After hearing the all-too-familiar crunching sound, I went to the rear to examine the trunk damage.

As I placed my hand on the door handle, I found myself praying a nonsensical prayer.

"Pull-ease God, just allow the trunk to be operable. Please allow my car to remain drivable until it can be fixed."

 

I have a name for these kinds of prayers – "nonsensical."

 

I call it that because I know that no matter what I pray, the damage is already done. It's a prayer after the fact, as if my plea would change history.

 

I think you'd agree that these kinds of prayers are about as ludicrous as someone claiming they were hit by a parked car.

 

However, while my prayer seemed futile, it also was a very human prayer.

 

Prayers that come from our disappointments and hurt often will not make sense to the casual listener. That's because they're spoken in a language of the heart that's not easily translated.

 

I learned this from a cancer patient who once told me that her prayers no longer made sense. She had stage-three breast cancer and wondered aloud whether it was crazy to ask God to heal her after the cancer had progressed into this advanced stage.

 

I was tempted to spout the "chaplain answer," the answer that would gush with god-speak.

 

Instead, to this very scared mom on our oncology unit, I admitted what I knew to be true: I knew nothing.

 

"I'm not sure that God is looking for dialogue from us that makes sense," I said, "because I'm not sure we are expected to be doing sensible things at a moment like this."

 

Looking for sensible words in our prayers can be as senseless as expecting patterns in the wind. "Sensible" prayers are our attempt to find a formula or to cast a holy spell with which we make God do as we wish.

We've invented all kinds of prayer systems, but in the end, the only thing that gets us through the hardest times are the prayers that resonate in our hearts.

 

When it comes to the language of prayer, God uses the human heart as a universal translator by which he is best able to hear us. The prayers we express at a time like this don't always align with sensible theology.

 

Jesus suggested that the best way to find alignment with spiritual things is to find a closet in which to pray.

 

I love how The Message translates Jesus' words from Matthew 6:6:

 

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace."

 

The gist of the teaching is: When it's just you and God in the closet, you have no witnesses. You needn't care what your prayers sound like. The only thing that will matter is that God hears you.

 

All of which tells me that whether it is backing into a parked pickup or hitting the wall of reality, the prayers of a fearful heart will always find the ear of a loving God.

 

By the way, I was able to open the trunk by following the method of many a TV evangelist. I placed one hand on the ailing part of the car and one hand on my Bible and just "beeeelieved."

 

Sadly, the trunk lid bounced back on my head. You should have heard my knot-headed prayer then.

 

So, may I just say that should you decide to visit our church, we have two parking lots. You might prayerfully consider parking in the rear parking lot, away from the silver Camry.

 

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Readers: Help us create six new libraries in Honduras. Donate or volunteer for next trip. June 16- 23, 2024 https://www.chispaproject.org/volunteertrip

 

You'll find this column in my next book, but in the meantime, you can buy my newest book, "Tell it to the Chaplain," or any of my books, online at www.thchaplain.net or send $20 to 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Comments received at same address or by email: comment@thechaplain.net or at (843) 608-9715.