CRAZY BUSY!

My life is crazy busy and it always has been.

There’s never been a time in my adult life that a lot of pressures weren’t competing for the time I need to devote to my relationship with the Lord Jesus. I’ve been a fireman, university student, Army officer, seminary student, pastor, Bible teacher, and author. All extremely demanding.

And then there’s family, friends, community…

You know the drill.

My Time and Space for Jesus

This is why I’m so committed to journaling. No other spiritual discipline has kept Jesus at the center of my life more than journaling. If focuses my mind, my thoughts, and my prayers like no other spiritual exercise.

But I’ve found that just saying, “I’m going to start journaling” doesn’t work for me.

I must have a special time and a special place to meet Jesus with my Mead Notebook, my Bible, my pen, and my heart.

For me it has to be early morning before our home wakes up, and in my special chair left of the table in our den so that I can accommodate my caffeine habit left-handed. I keep all my journaling stuff right there, never move it, and never vary from that place and that time unless I’m on the road. (And that’s the topic of another blog!)

Your Time and Space for Jesus?

If you’re crazy busy, journaling is a great discipline to create time and space for Jesus.

I can’t know what your best time and space will be. But I do know that if you’re serious about keeping the Lord Jesus at the center of your life, He’ll show it to you.

Oh, and another thing: NO LAPTOP, MOBILE PHONE, OR OTHER DISTRACTING INSTRUMENTS ALLOWED.

That’s what works for me. I’d love to hear about your special time and space where you meet the Lord to journal.

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:5

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day 5, Verse 5. You may want to subscribe or go to edunderwood.com to keep up with the series daily.

Day Five: You prepare a feast before m in the plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full (Psalm 23:5, NET Bible).

Best Christmas Ever!

“This is shaping up to be a pretty good Christmas.”

“Best Christmas ever!”

These are the sentences we all use. Sentences that betray our deep need to maximize the experience of this special season.

Problem is that when we’re honest with ourselves, there just aren’t that many “best-ever Christmases.” Even when we’re in the middle of a good one, we know that this is a happiness that can’t last.

All I have to do is think about some of our friends around the world or in our church who walk with Christ. In spite of their devotion to Christ, 2011 has been a year they’d just soon forget. Their prospects for a “perfect Christmas” are bad, very bad.

This is where verse 5 of David’s song about and to his Good Shepherd comes in.

Really David?

When I read the narrative accounts of David’s life, I have a hard time placing Psalm 23. When exactly did he experience all of this goodness? King David was constantly at war and dealing with the political intrigue and pressures of life “within the beltway” of Jerusalem.

His family was a mess. His own son tried to take his throne.

He sinned terribly. His adulterous and murderous behavior scandalized his administration.

He lost a baby.

So when exactly was this time when his cup of life was completely full?

A Good Shepherd in a Bad World

The secret to David’s joy in verse 5 was that he chose to focus on his Shepherd rather than his circumstances.

On his worst day, David knew that his Shepherd was still good.

David’s secret can be our secret. If ever there was a season we should concentrate on the goodness of our Shepherd rather than the badness of our life, it’s Christmas.

Question: What are some ways you’ve found that help you think more about the goodness of your Shepherd than the badness of your life during Christmas?

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:4

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day 4, Verse 4. You may want to subscribe or go to edunderwood.com to keep up with the series daily.

Day Four: Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me (Psalm 23:4, NET Bible).

The Dark Valleys of Christmas

For most of us this Christmas, like just about every other Christmas of our lives, will have at least one of those “now you need to walk through the darkest valley” assignments from the Good Shepherd.

• “Now you must trust me as you take your children to your ex-husband’s godless home to celebrate who knows what and be exposed to I hate to imagine.”
• “Now you must trust me as I tell you to go to the bedside to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to your dying friend or loved one, even though you have no idea what to say or how to be.”
• “Now you must somehow make it through this season with the heavy heart of loss since this is the first Christmas without your lifelong partner.”
• “Now you must go to the seventeenth event or get-together with your wacked-out in laws or your dysfunctional family, when all you really want is a simple Christmas at home with your kids.”

I can’t know what your specific “Now you must” assignment from the Good Shepherd that feels like a dark valley of life is, but I know that you have at least one. We all do.

But I do know what you can do about it.

Read on in Psalm 23, verse 4.

“I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.”

The Shepherd’s presence and guidance–the reassuring touch of his rod and staff–calms the fearful sheep, giving them confidence and courage to follow him through the darkest valley.

I’m on my fifth dark valley assignment from the Lord Jesus this Christmas, and today’s the big one. I’m not looking forward to it because memories of dark experiences in that valley from Christmases past. I’m pretty sure this is going to hurt.

A lot.

But I am looking forward to being with my Good Shepherd, and feeling the reassuring touch of his rod and staff through the dark valley that is December 23, 2011.

Questions: How can I help you through your dark valley this Christmas Season? How can i encourage you to trust the Shepherd’s care? 

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:3

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day 3, Verse 3. You may want to subscribe or go to edunderwood.com to keep up with the series daily.

Day Three: He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation (Psalm 23:3, NET Bible).

Every Christian needs the Good Shepherd’s strength during the demanding days ramping up to December 25th.

But verse 3 makes me think about some friends and loved ones who are facing more than the every-year pressures of Christmas.

These are those precious disciples of the Savior who are walking with Him through life’s toughest days.

The newly-single mom trying to somehow make this Christmas less painful for her children now that “daddy” (and I use that term grudgingly) decided he wants a new family.

The Bible teacher fighting for her next breath from a body full of cancer.

The spouse stuck in a loveless marriage because of a “life-partner” (and I use that term grudgingly too) who has decided they’re not going to live for Christ, their marriage, the children, and others but for their own interests, career, and fulfillment.

For these dear followers of Christ, Christmas hurts too much to get all festive.

Does this describe your life this year?

If so, Psalm 23:3 is your verse.

Your Good Shepherd wants you to know that he will restore your strength, even when the pain of life takes your breath away.

Your Good Shepherd promises that if you will take his hand and trust him with the pain of the next challenge, the next hurt, the next day, hour, or minute, he will take you down the right path for you.

He can’t promise that it’s going to be okay this Christmas. But he does promise that if you trust him enough to follow, he will redeem your pain in ways that enhance his reputation.

Question: Does this describe your Christmas this year? Write me and I promise to pray for you. 

The Good Shepherd Came Down

Meditations on Psalm 23:2

On Christmas morning I’m going to lead Church of the Open Door through meditations of the wonder of Psalm 23 in light if the Incarnation. Because of Christmas, King David’s words describe the reality of our lives as Christians. The Lord is my Shepherd.

I’m journaling through a verse every morning this week, meditating on the actuality of Christ being my Good Shepherd who showed up in a manger in Bethlehem so that all that David says and feels about his Good Shepherd is true of me.

Here’s Day Two, Verse 2. You may want to subscribe or go to edunderwood.com to keep up with the series daily.

Day Two: He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water (Psalm 23:2, NET Bible).

Sometimes I forget that David was a king. Imagine the pressures on his schedule—the endless meetings, the long lines of people needing their king, the palace operatives demanding an audience. And all of this while trying to appease the too many wives and too neglected children of his highly dysfunctional family.

Still, in the blur of his kingly schedule, David prioritized his personal time with his Good Shepherd. Whether on the battlefield, around the palace, with his flocks, or in the charged atmosphere of his home, David made time for his Shepherd.

Why?

Because David knew that only his Shepherd could take him to that place where the two of them could be alone, that place of rest and refreshment.

Right now, on the 21^st of December, I’m so unlike David I’m ashamed to admit it. Unlike David, I’m exhausted. Not from leading armies into battle or settling arguments between the Secretary of State and a Senator, but from celebrating the birth of the Good Shepherd!

But it’s not his fault; it’s mine.

There’s not one sentence in his entire Bible that says, “Okay, Ed, when my birthday comes, make such a big deal about it that you stop just short of killing yourself and everyone else with special events, parties, and activities. That’s what I want from you in December. Wait, that’s not enough, I want you to start all of this right after Thanksgiving…or better yet, before Thanksgiving!”

No, all he wants from me in December is what he wants from me the other eleven months of the year.

He just wants me.

To stop what I’m doing, look up at him, and say, “Hi, Jesus.” And he will take me by the hand and lead me to the same place he used to take David to. That quiet place where the two of us can be alone so he can give me rest and refresh my soul. That place where I lie down and completely relax because I trust my Good Shepherd. He knows what’s best for me, loves me deeply, and cares for my every need because I’m his special concern.

I need to be more like King David as I celebrate the birth of the Good Shepherd who only wants to take me to lush pastures and lead me to refreshing water.

Time to stop what I’m doing, grab my Bible and my journal, and spend an hour with my Good Shepherd.

Questions: Have you lost sight of the Shepherd’s goodness in trying to celebrate his birth? What are some ways you have discovered that you can pause to let him lead you to your place of rest and refreshment? 

The Perfect Title

Rarely do the media get something right from a biblical perspective. Usually, what pop culture calls good, the Bible calls bad; and if the Bible says it’s bad, pop culture exalts it as good.

But the popular title for the day after Thanksgiving is biblically precise:

Black Friday

For it is the Friday after Thanksgiving when the dark night of the soul of our materialistic culture asserts its true allegiance, unashamedly worships its true god.

Here’s your Saturday morning headline:

Black Friday madness: Shopper pepper sprays crowd to get deal at L.A. Wal-Mart, shootings in CA, SC (Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/black-friday-madness-shopper-pepper-sprays-crowd-deal-a-wal-mart-shootings-ca-sc-article-1.982565#ixzz1epW5gq6E)

How else do you explain such bizarre behavior?

It’s idolatry.

And like all idolatry, it exposes the emptiness of life without Christ.

We’re raising a generation of idolators in homes where no one talks, but everyone has a screen to relate to. Junior’s in one room dedicating his life to the life-critical skill of flying angry birds to their objectives. Sister sits in another room texting her love and devotion to the latest pimple faced heart throb of her personal high school musical subculture. Mom’s trolling Facebook. This is all fine with dad because he has to get his fantasy team set so that he can compete in a league that only he and a handful of fellow fantasy players will remember…for about two weeks.

But, they gather often at the throne of the screen that really counts: The screen that presents pages and pages of the “stuff” they may want to buy. No, the stuff they must buy. No, the stuff they have to have. And the stuff they will get.

Even if they can’t afford it.

Even if someone else gets there first.

That’s why mom carries that pepper spray.

We Became a Voting Bloc

A strange thing happened to so-called evangelical Christianity in the 1970s, a rarity in church history. We became a voting bloc with a lot of political power and an exceptional opportunity to influence our society for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, what too many leaders were telling Christians to do with this power and what way too many of us were excited to hear is that we should become the “Christian right” and use this power to demand our rights and impose standards of biblical righteousness on society.

And Defended Our Turf

I would argue against that message, that we should use our influence to defend our rights and impose standards of biblical righteousness on society.

I would argue that the New Testament teaches that we should indeed use our political power to influence society, but that we should use it to defend the rights of others and to demonstrate biblical righteousness, justice, and mercy in the name of Christ.

I write about this in my book, Reborn to Be Wild. I think our Jesus Movement revival may have stayed more on track if we would have thought more about Christ and others and less about us and our rights.

In his Letters to Marc, Henri Nouwen says, “Success has isolated a lot of people and made them lonely. It seems sometimes as though meetings between people generally happen on the way to something or someone else.”

We live in a world where we’re all on our way to something else and someone else.

Just last month I asked Judy if there was any way I could love her better. She didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Eddie. You could put up that stupid iphone. Sometimes I feel that I’d get more of your attention if I were an app on your iphone”

Ouch!

It’s true, isn’t it? We’re hardly ever present with the one we’re with. We’re always on our way to someone else or something else.

The message to our hearts from early on is, “Nobody really has time for me. They’re all on their way to someone else or something else more important than me.”

“Stop interrupting me, can’t you see I’m on the phone…or watching the game…or on the computer? Go in your room and play, or put on a video. Just find something to do!”

Message to child? “I’m on my way to someone or something more important than you.

Those messages just keep on coming for the rest of our lives.

And then we meet Jesus.

Who is never in a hurry, never preoccupied, never impatient.

In fact, what He wants most of all is to spend time with us.

He gathers us in communities called churches.

And what do we do?

We turn church into the busiest place on earth where everyone is on their way to something or someone else…more important, more spiritual, more significant, more worthy of my time.

Just one more place where lonely people gather wondering, “Does anyone have an app for me?”

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:3-5).

Question: Can you remember a time when you felt alone and isolated at church? What would you have wanted to say to your leaders?

How do you reach into a heart with the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus? My thoughts:

Speaking the Truth in Love from :redux on Vimeo.