Joseph of Arimathea

I want to be like Joseph of Arimathea.

“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.” Luke 23:50-53 NIV

Joseph of Arimathea. Loyal to Christ in being a dissenter to the decision to crucify Him. A man who looked forward to the kingdom of God, Jesus’ reign. A risk taker, as seeking Jesus’ body could further polarize him from the other members of the Council, make it clear where he stood on the issue of Jesus, the problem of Jesus. A man who loved Jesus enough to tend to His body, respectfully, a true act of worship.

Good Friday brings good reason to reflect on this example of worship and love. John 19:38 shows us Joseph indeed feared the Jewish leaders, and certainly requested Christ’s body at risk, because of his fear of the other Jewish leaders. He went secretly to Pilate to make the request. Matthew 27:57 shows us, he was a wealthy man, but Joseph humbled himself and asked for something apparently more important to him than position.

Looking at this man’s actions, and heart, as revealed in the Bible, I thought about what a faithful follower he was. I wondered why the phrase faithful followers came to my mind, so I looked it up on biblegateway.com. I learned that I’ve not only heard it before, but also I’ve certainly read it before.

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.  Rev. 17:14 NIV

Joseph of Arimathea will be with Jesus Christ in triumph, along with all of us who are “His called, chosen and faithful followers.” What a moment of honor and victory that will be.

On Good Friday, I reflect on the danger following Christ held for Joseph of Arimathea, and others. I reflect on the sadness, and my responsibility for Christ’s death.

I know a day lies ahead when Christ vanquishes Satan. For now, I want to nurture examples, ancient and modern, like Joseph of Arimathea. And I look ahead to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, Easter. 

©2012 Helene Bergren All Rights Reserved.

A Child Waits

One warm, summer slumber party day at my house, my dad and I set up a makeshift picnic table out of two sawhorses and a piece of plywood. I remember one girl whispered to another of our friends, “I didn’t know Helene was so poor.”

Well, me either, not really. Life sure wasn’t perfect. The farm crisis of the 1980s was upon us. Farm debt was growing as the responsibility to care for our family, and provide food for the world, weighed on my dad. Our house hadn’t been painted in years.

But I went swimming every Wednesday, and took piano lessons from my great aunt during the school year. Mom took us to church and Sunday school. I wore cute clothes because my mom worked in a small department store, and received a generous discount because of it.

My parents provided for me. But around the world, a lot of parents experience many more challenges in giving their children what in the United States we take for granted.

Compassion International offers a child sponsorship program, one that brings kids health, nutrition, life skills training and education benefits, givens in our American lifestyle. When a church in the developing world establishes a relationship with Compassion International, parents go to the church and put their children’s names on a waiting list for sponsors, a waiting list that offers the hope of those benefits.

Sometimes sponsor-child match-ups happen quickly. But not always.

Some children wait longer than six months. But the people at Compassion want these kids’ needs covered.

Sponsor a Waiting Child from Compassion International on Vimeo.

Pray about it. Are you the one to befriend a child who’s been waiting a long time for a sponsor?

Look into the process here: http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=123601

I love the experience of sponsoring a boy in Guatemala. I don’t just love the experience, though. I love the boy. You’ll grow to love your sponsor child, too.

Eyes

I love the human eye. What a gift God gave us in the nifty contraption. I’m thankful at 41 (Yes, I said that out loud.) that I don’t require glasses.

Still, sometimes I just don’t see. Actually, I guess now I’m not talking about differentiating between individual leaves as I drive through the woods. Not even close. I’m talking about God’s view, and my view. Often two different things.

You know what a search for the word eyes returns on the Biblegateway? Genesis to Revelation, 21 pages of results.

Tears streaming from eyes. Eyes that see, but don’t obey. Eyes that fail. Eyes that gloat over Zion. Seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the Earth. Eyes too pure to look upon evil. Eyes healed by Jesus. Hmmm.

Mark 8

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

 ²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

 ²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

 ²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208:22-25&version=TNIV)

I admit I had to read some commentaries to understand this better. This is a story of intercession, for one thing. The healing parallel is obvious, I think. We need those around us to lead us to Jesus, if not for salvation, for healing, for understanding, for wisdom and more. The passage shows God’s healing sometimes progresses gradually, and when that happens, it too is miraculous.

But the ending surprises me. I just don’t interpret the situation the same way as God, at first. After Jesus healed the man, he sent him straight home, admonishing him not to enter the village. Why not? If I received some form of healing, I would party. Immediately.

But a closer look at the context shows the people of the village could have followed Jesus outside town with the blind man and his friends. They could have wondered what Jesus intended to do. But they didn’t.

So, if I’m not curious about my God, he might not spoon feed me spiritual food. If I don’t seek Him, too, why would He let me see His work? He wants his Bride to be as passionate about Him, as He is about me – about the Body of Christ.

That passion involves seeking Him. Asking questions. Opening His Word so I can get Him a little more all the time.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll always understand. It doesn’t mean He’ll work in my timing, which I tend to prefer. It doesn’t mean I’ll get my way. And that hurts.

Sometimes getting my way means doing what I want to do on a date with my husband. It might mean God heals my knees of arthritis so I can run again. Perhaps it means my husband and I buy our dream house, without sacrificing our children’s college plans, our tithe, or our kids’ feelings of security and friendships they love. Maybe it means graduate school for a helping career, like counseling or social work. Sometimes, I do want it all; I admit it.

Still, getting what I want also means elementary-age children aren’t subjected to R-rated movies. It means children I know (and don’t) aren’t neglected, abused and berated. It means the government doesn’t blow taxpayer dollars. My way points toward noble results, too. I can keep asking, pestering God.

But I don’t get my way all the time. I often don’t see His purpose in specific situations. I just don’t have His eternal perspective. I don’t have the eyes of the Lord.

But I still won’t give up, at least not permanently. I hesitate. I falter. I mess up in very big ways. Yes, I do realize that my friends might just hold me to my word. Oh, dear.

I’m called to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) Tough call. But important, and humbling.

Journey

When years ago I first heard the word journey used to describe life with God, I felt relief. I found it beautiful. It still illustrates for me the promise of His ever-presence. Of adventure.

The idea created some friction, also. I see that now, because I always wanted to arrive. Ta-Da! Then, everything would be all better. Band-Aid unnecessary for myself and for those I scraped along the way. Arrival meant smooth sailing. But that’s not what God promises.

Neither does He promise that we will achieve His wisdom, His intelligence, or His understanding, far from it. Certainly, He gives wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Read Proverbs and James. Still, He is the Lord, all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful. And, oh-so-loving.

But it takes time. Of course, I knew that on a brain level for years. But my heart bubbled up as the issue. Still does, though God’s done great works in me. Wanting to achieve. Wanting to stay on top of things. Wanting to be the smart one. To be sought after, that would be nice. To keep up. To achieve or establish something outstanding for Him. Wouldn’t that bring God glory?

But guess what. When I think that way, when we think that way, we’re measuring in human terms. By numbers. By appearances. By the physical world. Those can give us important clues, but sole reliance on those brings pressure.

The term journey refreshes. 

Sure, it indicates commitment, and questions still arise. To truly journey with God means we enjoy a relationship with Him through His Son. He has reservations made for us in Heaven. Look in the book of John. The journey starts here, but continues in Heaven.

We follow His purpose to glorify Him. We perform good deeds not to impress Him or achieve sweat equity to get into Heaven, but out of gratitude, love and direction from God. That’s why the relief. That’s why the fun in the journey. And it’s a humbling honor. The gift lies in just being His.

Right now, I am living in the middle, the beautiful middle, of a leadership class called Emerging Journey. Today, we finished an emotionally challenging step in our class, sharing our personal spiritual narratives.

The narratives, abbreviated autobiographies, include spiritual impacts and lessons from life events. We all shared with great openness. We weren’t required to share every detail, every sin, every wound. But the content showed our humanity. We shed tears, and we prayed. We encouraged one another. Through this, I gained a deeper respect and love for people I already looked forward to seeing each week.

Human relationships make up a critical part of the journey. God doesn’t ask us to go it alone. In fact, quite the opposite. Check out the book of Acts.

Last week, I shared my spiritual narrative, sharing more details, certainly at once, than I’ve ever shared with any other group of people. It wasn’t easy. It was safe.

I see value in the writing process, because God revealed ways He works with great continuity in my life. He even brought to mind some sweet memories that made me giggle. I see better now why I love kids, what and Who motivates me to help friends and others in crisis, and how I feel satisfied when I express myself creatively.

I believe more deeply and know more gratitude for God’s reign over me. I love the journey, with His people, and with Him.

©2012 Copy and Photo Helene Bergren All Rights Reserved.

Not Alone Parenting Teens

Back when our oldest daughter was climbing into her wooden swingset tower wearing a princess costume, the thought of parenting teens seemed akin to driving through the Rockies with bald tires, a broken power steering belt, no guardrails and a thin layer of black ice.

I joked about boarding school.

It’s not a ‘Kids today, geesh,’ sort of attitude. Adolescence brings so many challenges to young people, and to their parents.

As time passed, my attitude changed. Friends with kids older than ours enjoyed the process, and their budding young adults. The teenagers weren’t always surly. They bubbled over with energy, compassion, and, oh, yes, humor.

Every stage of parenting brings with it elements that could make it my favorite. My husband and I are raising two lively, warm-hearted teenage girls, and their bouncy, sweet, watchful-of-his-sisters, 10-year-old brother.

Before we entered the parenting teens arena, I noticed the people involved in our church’s youth group, PRAY, Prairie Ridge Awesome Youth, drew close to the kids. Now, this ministry has been feeding our girls for several years.

Our youth director and the team of PRAY small group leaders and sponsors encourage and model intimacy with God. The group offers ways for the kids to reach out to their peers, the community and the world at large. These friends of ours weren’t alone in the journey of parenting teens.

Neither are we. Praise God.

As Mom, I try to delicately balance helping our kids find and develop their God-given passions, and respond to His leadings. Right now, our oldest, a senior in high school, is looking at colleges in places that seem more distant than, “Once upon a time in a land far, far away. . . .”

I understand her desire to go on an adventure with God and grow. She’s even looking at a university in a city that doesn’t need snow plows. Pardon?

Our eighth-grader loves music, horses, friends, PRAY, social media and God – not in that order. So, for her, we need to teach making choices, and showing her the importance and blessing of rest.

Not easy, imparting these important values and habits, protecting and inspiring, but for our family, better in Christian community. Thanks, PRAY-ers.

www.ridgelife.org

Missions in Action web series from Compassion

Compassion International. Goodness, those people at Compassion can’t help themselves. When it comes to helping others, they just gotta help kids.

Take a look at Missions in Action, the new interactive web series, and see in its first edition how sponsorship through Compassion International helps children in the Philippines.

Did you know Manila is the most densely populated city on the planet? 

Did you know the slums there are growing? 

Neither did I, but individuals in ministry at Compassion understand the complexities of the problems there. Many of them live close to these situations.

Take a look.

But who are those people I mentioned? Those people include everyone from staff and volunteers to sponsors, who could be you. Yes, y-o-u. And m-e.

Compassion staff launched the web series to keep people like you and like me updated about how well sponsorship works. How it helps children. How it makes a real difference to families living in poverty. How you can touch a life on the other side of the world. How it all brings glory to our Living God. It'll keep rolling. So keep checking back on YouTube, or on their site, missionsinaction.tv.

Hebrews 6:10 encourages us by pointing out that our just God sees our work and our love in how we help His people.

I invite you to share in the joy of child sponsorship, for the child, and for yourself. And to put a smile on the face of our great God.

Servant Leadership and a World Food Prize Laureate

In October, I studied Mark 10:42-45 on a sweet neighborhood walk with God. From the clear words of the passage, I knew in my head the contrast between how the world so often leads, and how Christ leads as a servant. It's a passage that has touched me since I was a mother of young children. 

At about the same time as this review and deeper look, I saw a glimpse of a leader who, I think, was trying to lead the way God desires.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2010:42-45&version=NIV

Stepping in as a chaperone during a segment of the World Food Prize Global Youth Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 13, I was privileged to hear from one of the two 2011 World Food Prize laureates. The World Food Prize is often referred to as the Nobel Prize for food and agriculture. Its prestige is unquestioned. 

Brazil's former President, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, addresses teachers at the World Food Prize Global Youth Summit, suggesting the importance of compassion in leadership. Left, World Food Prize director, Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, head of the World Food Prize, and right, is President Da Silva's interpreter.

I listened as I learned about the projects of Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, former president of Brazil, who sparked and led great change in his country, fighting against hunger and poverty, and starting feeding programs for school children.

I don’t agree with redistribution of wealth ideas in general, and I’m certainly not financially liberal. Still, it seems to be interesting timing to me, as I look back, that I would study this passage about servant leadership, and be listening to a former president just days apart.

Addressing the room full of teachers where I sat, the former president said a country’s ruler should be so compassionate that to see a starving child should move him to tears. He spoke of problems of starvation in our world, and the loss of unborn children because of it. And he did reference infants in the womb in a manner that acknowledged them as living.

Please understand, that while I was inspired by the heart Da Silva portrayed, I don’t know him, and what’s in his heart for sure. His politics, I probably disagree with in many ways. He has, however, been a strong leader in Brazil’s democracy, and left office with an 87 percent approval rating. And I was left with the impression that his motivations were rooted in a Christian faith.

As Da Silva spoke through an interpreter, he listed a failed attempt seeking governorship of Brazil’s state of Sao Paulo, and the times he ran for presidency in Brazil, and fell short. He said he probably failed because he wanted the job too much. It wasn’t until the ambition for the position faded to a degree, that he was elected president of Brazil. His motives, he hinted, had changed. He was more ready then, than he had been when he sought the office with zeal.

Doesn’t that happen sometimes in life? Suddenly we realize what it really is that we so ambitiously, and arrogantly desire, and start to evaluate if we really want it. Perhaps then understanding about leadership or a goal unfolds.

With a thorough understanding of an important, even daunting task or role requiring sacrifice, we’re better prepared to systematically pursue these specific positions of influence, and projects that change lives.

Feeding programs. Vaccines for the poverty stricken. Crisis centers. 24-Hour prayer support in our churches. Education. Wells for those without safe water supplies. Blankets and coats for the cold. Children’s programs for the rich and poor alike. Sharing the gospel.

Facing reality, we’re no longer led just by a blazing ambition. We’re led by the knowledge of a need. For us as followers of Christ, we’re spurred on by the Spirit.

And with a greater depth of understanding, in my case, as I realize the importance and count the cost, I grow more willing to serve, to help in the daily needs that arise and in the long-term endeavors.

I want to live helping others. I pray God sustains me in that desire.