Day 1 in Acts

I've always heard Acts described as being the story of the early church.  While it describes events relating to the early church, it is hardly a story about the early church.  What I mean is, the early church is not the main character of Acts.

So, who is the main character?  Well, let's think through an outline of Acts...

We begin with Jesus, post-resurrection, pre-ascension.  He talks with the Twelve, reminding them of the things He had told them before.  He reminds them of the "Great Commission" and then He ascends. 

(On a side note, when Jesus ascends, the disciples - and others - stand googlie-eyed, staring at the sky and a couple of angels - uh, men in white robes - come and say, "hey guys, what's up?"  And they say "Uhh... Jesus? (this is said in a perplexed tone filled with bewilderment) He just ascended into the clouds..." (of course they do this without taking their eyes off the sky) and the angels say "in the same way He left, He'll come back."  Most sermons will teach us that Jesus will descend from the clouds.  Could be.  But its more fully supported to argue that "in just the same way" means that He will come unexpectedly, just as He left unexpectedly...  Food for thought.)

So Jesus is gone, and who takes the main spot next?  The Twelve, with Peter at the forefront.  Pentecost happens and Peter and the Twelve preach and many are saved.  Peter remains in the spotlight for a while, but before you start to think Peter is the main character he more or less leaves the story.  In chapter 6 the Twelve select the Seven, two of which are Stephen and Phillip and we find Stephen taking the spotlight and by chapter 7, he is preaching (a very eloquent speech if you ask me!) and becomes the first martyr.  So, Peter is out and Stephen is out.

The story doesn't turn back to Peter, but instead briefly introduces Saul and then we find Phillip preaching.  The narrative then returns to Paul and, with few - if any worth noting - exceptions, follows Paul from then on.

So some argue that Acts is about Paul - his conversion and his ministry.  But that doesn't jive.  He isn't even present, except for a brief mention of his presence in chapters 7-8, during the first 1/3 of the book.  Hard to believe he is the main character.

So who is present throughout?

The Message.  The Message which Jesus reminds the Twelve (which is actually down to Eleven at this point) of before His ascension.  The Message which Peter preaches.  The Message which the Twelve - err, Eleven - preach.  The Message which Stephen and Phillip preach.  The Message which Saul receives and Paul preaches.

So, what is the book of Acts about?  The Message and its spread throughout Jerusalem, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth.

Waiting

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
(While I'm Waiting, John Waller)

These lyrics have touched my heart this past week.  Sometimes, waiting is a choice.  We have the option to wait on the Lord or to forge ahead with our own plans when His lag behind "my" schedule.  But sometimes, waiting isn't a choice.  A friend is waiting for the Lord to answer her prayers for a child; there is nothing she can do to "make it happen."  She must wait on the Lord.

But these lyrics don't just touch on a willingness to wait - they also touch on the attitude of waiting.  There is a willingness: "though it is painful, but patiently I will wait" (the second verse says "faithfully I will wait").  Waiting is hard.  And, yes, often painful.  It can be painful to watch friends younger than you marry and have children while you are still waiting for God to provide a spouse.  "But patiently...faithfully... I will wait."

Yet the attitude of waiting in these lyrics go beyond that.  They are also active.  "I will move ahead bold and confident, taking every step in obedience.  While I'm waiting, I will serve You... I will worship... I'll be running the race even while I wait."  I love that the "moving ahead" is only in obedience.  Sometimes, even as we wait, there are steps we need to take that are steps of obedience.  I have to ask myself: am I rejoicing with those who rejoice?  Am I being faithful in my relationship with God?  Am I being faithful to pray for others and not just about my own dreams and desires? 

Am I serving God in and through my waiting?  Am I worshiping God in, through, and because of my waiting?

"I'll be running the race even while I wait."  I deeply desire to be faithful to God as I wait.  I may be waiting for a spouse.  And maybe at some other time in my life, I might be waiting for a child or a job offer or who knows.  But even while I'm waiting for one thing, God has a task for me in the meantime.  I want to run the race He has set before me, serving Him with a heart of worship.

Relaxing Productivity

It seems like an oxymoron.  But there is something about scratching off items on a to-do list which can bring such a great relief that I finish the day feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Today was such a day.  I am sure I lost count of the loads of laundry I completed - towels, blankets, sheets, clothes... Last terms' notebooks were emptied and the notes were filed away.  Summer shoes were packed away for the winter (I still needed them when classes started in August!) and scarves were pulled out.  It was a highly productive day!

On top of that, I also was able to stop by my grandma's and visit her for a couple hours this afternoon.  With my mom we munched on coffeecake and grandma gossiped about church and her family and reminisced the wonderful days she used to share with grandpa.  Its good to have her home and out of the hospital.

What makes a day like today, which was so full, feel so relaxing?  On the one hand, I think it feel relaxing because, at 6:30 in the evening, I can relax with a days' worth of tasks completed.  Additionally, I can also look at tomorrow and tomorrow's list is extremely shorter than today's list was!  Its a breath of fresh air to have accomplished so much.  It is a day which was filled with relaxing productivity.

The Power of Music

My heart was heavy this morning.

Sometimes my heart is heavy and my soul weighed down and I don't know why.  That was this morning.

As I was getting ready for church, I decided to turn on some music.  I love preparing for my day with music - not necessarily worship songs, but simply worshipful songs.  It just starts my day on the right foot.  It puts my life into the perspective of God's goodness.  Unfortunately, I am rarely able to do so without waking up the entire house.  But this morning I was home alone, and turning on the music while I got ready was just what I needed to take the weight off my heart and lift my soul.

In moments when I feel heavy, I've found that the most helpful thing I can do is to begin to worship.  It may not begin in my heart, but as I sing out a joyful noise to the Lord, my heart begins to follow.  The words become intimately true as I exalt God for who He is.  God is who He is, regardless of my circumstances.  It is the power of music to not only remind me of that, but also to wipe away my circumstances as I narrow in on God's undefinable presence.

The Importance of Involvement

I was reminded this morning of the importance of involvement and serving in the Body of Christ. 

Growing up in the same church from the time I was 9 until I turned 27, I became involved in serving when I was 12.  While there were brief moments when I was not involved due to my work schedule, for the most part I served at the church for 15 years.  In the process of serving, I was fulfilled.

Serving was not only emotionally satisfying, it was also where I built relationships.  Every Wednesday evening, Sherry and I would chat between activities with the children.  Before I knew it, we were fairly close.  A few times a month, I would play bass with the girls for worship.  Before I knew it, we would be looking for each other on Sunday mornings.

A few months ago, through a series of events and circumstances, I have been looking for a church to call home.  And this morning, it hit me: the reason why I don't feel "at home" in the churches I've visited is quite simply because I am not involved.  I haven't invested myself in a home group and I haven't served inside the church either.

Serving and using my strengths will provide me with the opportunity to connect with other members of the church and begin to fulfill my purpose in the Body of Christ.  After all, isn't that what we were called for?

Crying like Crazy

I'm not sure why, but my emotions have been absolutely crazy for the past week!  I've been crying at the drop of a hat.  Its been insane.  And rather annoying since I'm not typically an emotional person!

On another note, I've found a renewed glimmer of hope for my health.  I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday morning and there's a surgeon I will meet with after the MRI images have been read by the radiologist.  I just hope this doesn't end up leading to more tears!

Friends, Rejoicing, and Babies

After a great time with one of my best friends the other night, I drove us back to my house where she had left her car.  As we said goodbye, she thanked me for being excited about her pregnancy and the upcoming birth of her first child...

How could I be anything but excited? 

She recognizes that I am older than her... and it should be my turn first (or something like that).  I will admit - it would be easy to think this way.  I should have been married first; I should be the one preparing a baby room.  But I'm not and she is.  She is expecting a baby while my left hand remains naked.  She's right.  It would be easy to be upset, disappointed, and hurt.  It would be easy to feel left out.

But, again I ask... How could I be anything but excited?

Would it be fair of me to try and take her joy away from her simply because I do not have a joy of my own?  Would it be right of me to try and make her feel guilty simply because she has something that I don't?  Instead, I think of the great advice from God on this subject...

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

This is the way our friendship works.  That night, she wept with me as I grieved over my singleness (and finding yet another guy who will not be "the one").  We wiped our tears and hugged.  She grieved with me and comforted me.  That night, I rejoiced with her as she placed my hand on her stomach to feel the baby kicking.  We laughed at her story of her trip up the elevator at work and how a co-worker noticed her entire stomach move with the kick of her baby inside.

I may not have a child inside my barren womb.  But I will have the joy of visiting her in the hospital in a few short months.  I will be able hold and cuddle with that bundle of joy.  I'll have the pleasure of visiting her at home and taking care of the little one while she takes a much needed nap or shower.  I'll even change diapers for her.

I am blessed beyond measure.  I may not have a ring on my finger and I may not have children of my own.  But I have two best friends - one who has already given me three little loves and another who will be giving me a bundle of joy in a few short months.  I am blessed because these wonderful friends love me enough to share their joy with me. 

Yes, I am blessed and I will rejoice with my friends as they rejoice.