MikePaschall.com

This Spring I acquired a crucifix. I was looking for one, but it had to be the right one. The moment I saw it in an old warehouse in Fredericksburg, TX, I knew! No, I’m not Catholic and there are no immediate plans to become Catholic at any time, but I really do welcome the image of the Suffering Servant who identifies with what we deal with because we’re humans and we live on this planet. Yeah, yeah, I know all about THE victory(s) that followed the cross. No single moment in the story is more important than the rest. All of it is divine.

Last week, while sitting with my crucifix, coffee, and current devo material, I read a passage that I’ve read hundreds of times. Here is what got my attention:

Colossians 3:12-14: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you…”

That’s pretty good stuff right there. The new apostle had to be in the zone to pen something this beautiful and true. It really is anointed, mesmerizing, and dripping in Father-juice. If we could just get this into our spirits! Then he adds…

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

That last line is what shook me.

The first time I heard the words “City Church” my heart leapt. Back in the early ‘90s, when the modern Apostolic movement was still licking its birth slime off itself, we started talking about “City Church” and “Apostolic Sending Centers.” Before it was just another network marketing strategy, there was so much prophetic juice on the suggestion, that any young man or woman who had a heart for unity, a passion for diversity, or an excitement for setting the stage for the supernatural, would be sucked into that draft in a heartbeat. I sure was, and I gave my soul to the possibility in that little community where I was a pastor.

In a radical attempt at unity, nine pastors in The City of Churches (the actual motto of that city’s founding fathers), myself included, made a glorious attempt to become one—to become brothers. As long as it stayed mostly casual and primarily relational, the thing had legs. But once we tried to establish a proper order of headship i.e. theocratic pecking order, it turned into just another political cesspool. All eyes (our churches, those we influenced, and interested wilderness outsiders) were looking to see how the adults were going to handle the children’s bread. Honestly, we failed miserably.

Why? Well, there are probably a multitude of reasons. Looking back, I think the key component missing in the whole equation was too vital to ignore and still reach our objective: LOVE.

Unity without real love is not the stuff Paul was talking about. Unity that is put together only by a cause, yet ego and pride are the sexy mechanisms of the machine, are doomed to a certain failure. Real love prefers, covers, and lays down its life for others. Without that kind of spirit at the core of unity’s hope, it’s only an arrangement of personal convenience that feeds selfish ambition. It’s “church business” at its worst.

“…put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

If we’re not feeling the bonds of unity in our spiritual communities, we probably need to go back and examine the love element. Hug me all you want. Kiss me, preach at me, pray for me please. But do you really love me? Telling me you love me doesn’t always quench my need to feel loved by you or anyone else.

This love factor is a bigger challenge that we probably realize. Real unity is out of reach until we’re willing to make some serious heart changes. Just because we’re holding hands doesn’t mean we’re unified. We’re all sons and daughters. Our lives dwindle where there is no evidence of love flowing from us. Sorry, but that is in our spiritual DNA. It’s been that way from the very beginning [see crucifix].

MDP

xo

Honestly, our doorbell doesn’t ring that much. Other than the UPS drivers who seem to be able to ring the doorbell and then evaporate before you answer the door, there isn’t much solicitation in our neighborhood. Giles rings every Monday morning because he wants to mow the backyard. It’s a weed-patch back there and he needs the money, so he mows whether it’s necessary or not. Sometimes he’ll ask for something to eat and a soda. It seems that the Lord has a few of us in our neighborhood that are providing him work so he’s got a reason to put money in his pocket. Ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong. Giles is a trifecta ringer at my house.

Yesterday, as I was leaving to go to the club to workout, the doorbell rang as I simultaneously opened the front door. My hasty exit startled the three strangers standing on my front porch. The bibles and the big pamphlet announced who they were before I asked. I wasn’t in the mood for a big showdown. Before they could get into their pitch, I made sure that they understood that I have a fairly strong belief system and what they were selling wasn’t suitable to my theological palate. I’m sure they got the point rather quickly, but I doubt they felt love in any of my words.

As they moved on to the next house and I drove towards the club, I thought about the difficulty of trying to love people who are on a religious mission to move you to their camp. I’ve got my own problems with religion and regretfully my tolerance for religious dialogue and theological grain splitting is at an all-time low. I didn’t feel great about that encounter on the porch, but I’m also unclear how it could have been better. They were not going to hear one thing I might have said to them. They weren’t there to listen. They weren’t there for a conversation. I was the target of a religious agenda and quite frankly it feels gross.

Once I got to the club there was a guy roaming the parking lot carrying a fairly large box. He spotted me and headed in my direction. It was as if I had rang his doorbell and he was obliged to answer. I was beginning to think that I might be in some kind of weird pizza dream. He said, “Hey buddy, are you a fisherman?” “Well sorta, but whatever you’re selling, I don’t even have my wallet.” (true statement)

This guy was frumpy, unkempt, dirty, and I was fairly certain that whatever was in the box didn’t get there by just cause. He paid no attention to my words, “Look in here. I need to move these plastic worms.” It looked like stuff that had been in an old tackle-box for years. For some unknown reason I responded with, “Dude, I’m a fisher of men. (kind of true, but it’s overtly religious) I don’t get to the lake anymore.” I have no idea where that came from other than maybe I was just trying to get the boy out of my grill. He scratched his head and looked me over and said, “Man, I’d figure you for a fisher of women… not men!” OMG! I couldn’t stop laughing. His toothless grin confirmed that I had been busted and he had totally owned me in that skirmish. I giggled for a few more moments and then I realized that it was all too odd not to pay attention.

I thought about all that weirdness most of the day.

ISN’T IT STRANGE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO COMBAT A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT WHEN IT TRIES TO INVADE OUR RHYTHM, AND THEN WE TURN AROUND AND USE THE NASTY THING WHEN IT BENEFITS US IN SOME WAY?

If I’m not mistaken, that is hypocrisy. Sigh

When I posed the dilemma to the Lord, I sensed a small word about treating everyone with respect regardless of the baggage. We usually see the baggage first and the people second. As life happens all around us it takes a lot of discipline to laser in on the major stuff and not get distracted by the minor things. Unfortunately religious zealousness messes with everyone’s lenses. If you participate with religiousness, it messes with your lens. If you hate religiousness, it messes with your lens. And people usually get bashed in the process no matter where you are in that spectrum. I’ve wondered if it’s remotely fixable in this world.

I’m tempted to offer additional thoughts, but I’d probably only muddy the waters. Besides, someone is ringing the doorbell. Gotta run.

Mike

xo

Journal entry 3/31/15:

Choosing where we attend church is a very personal matter. Church isn’t a team sport. It’s not a place where we root for our team or it’s superstar players. It’s the space where we allow the bindings to unwind from our tired and battered heart. A sacred communion is in process. Heaven meets earth. It requires a lot of faith to believe that any church space truly welcomes that dynamic. Personal indeed! So personal, it’s like underwear: It has to fit me perfectly or it’s more irritation than comfort.

-MDP-

MLK. The man had a dream. He wasn’t the only one that had that dream, but his voice was the catalyst for a shift. What that dream cost him was fatal—expensive. What that dream afforded America was hope and opportunity for change which is never easily accomplished.

I hear and read constantly on social media about dreams. It seems we all have our favorite little saying on the subject. For the most part we think something is wrong if we’re not dreaming. The entitlement of our dreams is off the ledge. I too was once captivated by my dreams, but now looking back I can’t figure out if I had real dreams or selfish ambition or both. The lines between the two are vaporous. Most of the stuff I see on social media is selfish ambition that we’ve cleverly dressed as “my dream.” Be honest. When is the last time you dreamed for something that didn’t include you being at the epicenter? Does your ego require propping up and recognition every day? Can you create without anyone being enticed to notice? It takes a lot of guts to answer those questions honestly.

The brilliance of the MLK dream—he wasn’t at the center. It was for the greater good of something bigger. Sure it would have benefited him, but it has also benefited all of us. Let’s talk about that dream.

-MDP-

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her. “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty. Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.”

 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

 Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God” (Luke 1:26-35, MSG).

Surely we’re missing something here? Luke told us everything, and then he told us nothing. How can it be that the one who birthed THE supernatural of all that is supernatural, did so without proper credentials and qualifications? There is nothing in the text that specifies Mary’s morality, credibility, or preparedness. For heaven’s sake! No ministry school of any kind? No training for supernatural ministry—nothing even close to it? How can this be? Honestly, that would not fly in most of our spiritual cultures. We place a high premium on our confidence in being “qualified” to host supernatural activity. Right? See our degrees and certificates? Bring it, God! We’re ready and able!

I wonder which has more weight—Was Mary chosen to be the bearer of the Greatest Gift ever given because she was void of certitudes, or was it because she was more than willing to just say “yes” and stay out of the way of what God ultimately wanted to do? Yeah, it’s probably both.

I’ve thought more about the Baptizer and that young virgin a great deal this Advent season. Pivotal players, to say the least. John (thunder in the desert) knew he was only a voice and somehow he had already embraced his own descent. While most of us clamor for our ascent, John fulfilled his job and reached his destiny by embracing descent. What? When is the last time you encountered that spirit in a religious system? When is the last time you encountered that spirit anywhere?

Then, you have a 13-year-old girl, who stands before the angel of God, and only mumbles her agreement. “Ok. Whatever you think is good with me.” Although she was confused (who wouldn’t be), she demanded nothing. She didn’t shout, she didn’t solicit clarity, nor did she withdraw because she didn’t have enough data. Can you imagine her social complications in that religious environment? Talk about a cluster of problems. Wow!

We’re trained to manage our spiritual lives. That is what we do. It’s so opposite of these people who were helping transition this world to grace, which again is totally supernatural.  It almost too much to consider.

I love this quote by Richard Rohr:

“We tend to manage life more than just live in it. We are all over-stimulated and drowning in options. We are trained to be managers, to organize life, to make things happen. That is what built our culture. It is not all bad, but if you transfer that to the spiritual life, it is pure heresy. It is wrong. It doesn’t work. It is not gospel. Whatever God gives us is always experienced as totally unearned grace and never a salary, a reward or a merit badge of any sort. In fact, if you do experience it that way, it is not from God and will not expand your heart, mind or soul.”

Maybe we need to rethink our approach in trying to facilitate the supernatural, kingdom, or plain ole spiritual health. Maybe we should reconsider our management of God? Who loves and cares for the people on this planet more than He does? Should we wonder more about what He is doing before we crank out another dose of, “I got the answers… so, what’s your question?”

-MDP-

Patti and I are wrapping up the interviews for our new book project – SPOUSE:  Until death do us part.  I can’t even begin to prepare you for the stories in this book that will pretty much liquify your heart.  It has been one of the most amazing seasons that we’ve been privileged to participate in.  There is something for everyone in these stories if you’re willing to absorb the wisdom.  We are pretty stoked about the possibilities.

Jordan & Danielle 2009

Last week, I interviewed Jordan. He lost his first wife in 2011 because of a rare form of cancer.  She was only 28 years old when she died. They had been married for 10 months when she was first diagnosed, and then died 10 months later. The overall story is hard to wrap your mind and heart around. The interview was brutally honest and beautiful, yet it had nightmarish elements. One specific question I asked Jordan centered on his advice for newly engaged couples.  His words are indeed a WORD!  Holy mackerel!  Check out the seasoned thoughts of a guy who has been to hell and back:

“Take all your ideas of marriage that you gathered from romantic comedies, put them in a vita-blender, let it run for 10 minutes, and then throw them all away.  Sprinkle them like the ashes of a burnt corpse. Your spouse will absolutely disappoint you if that is your expectation. Then you’re going to have to make a decision on whether or not you’re going to remain true to the promise of love that you made.”

DAAAMMMNNN!  Yup, he nailed it.  Honey, if you’re supporting a new rock that defines how much that guy really loves you, you might want to pay attention to what Jordan shared.  Dude, if you’re about to purchase that rock… it applies to you too.  I’m telling you, this is spot on!  It’s not going to look like what you think, but it will only be what you two are willing to make it.

This project is full of this kind of insight about the gritty cost of real love and staying at the table no matter what.  I can’t wait for you to meet these people.  They’re really something.

-MDP-

Gasp!  If this is even 50% accurate, it would explain why church people aren’t taken seriously by the world.  Frankly, it’s not even remotely funny.  It’s more along the line of being disgusting and nauseating.  I broke out in a cold sweat while watching this video the first time.  Obviously, it’s to poke fun, but it’s too real to blow off as theatrical.  And, if we just don’t care if we’re taken seriously or not, then we should just continue on with this odd gibberish.

I told the guy who sent me the link, “We did this to our kids.  Somehow our religious nonsense encouraged this kind of religious head speak.”  This is not normal.  Normal people do not talk in that fashion.  We probably need to get a grip.  A serious grip.

I’m sorry for my part.

-MDP-

This past Sunday, I brought a message to the people of ECF that flowed directly from my devotional work last week. The focus was on “true humility.” Frankly, I wasn’t crazy about the reflective readings for the week. It felt to me that the flavor of piousness was a little too strong in the recipe for humility. Our trying to be humble usually doesn’t sit right in any situation. It’s like an adolescent female trying to manage a tight dress and high-heels in a formal setting. I saw this exact image at a wedding just a couple weekends ago. She so wanted to be graceful, but she was like a newborn fawn attempting to cross a frozen pond. The poor girl was so uncomfortable and unsure. You could actually feel her awkwardness.  That’s what forced humility feels like.

The cues we notice the most, the ones that carry the fragrance of real humility, are in what we feel in an encounter… not necessarily what we specifically see or hear. In fact, it may not dawn on us until much later that we’ve brushed up against that sweet essence. It’s not that easy to describe or explain. That’s probably because we encounter so little of it in our culture. It pains me to say it, but in the place where it should probably be the most prevalent, i.e. “church,” it’s almost non-existent. That shouldn’t be shocking news to anyone. I’m not trying to kick the pooch here, but there are some legitimate reasons why the spirit of humility doesn’t hover in our spiritual systems. If you’ll do the math and just think of the things that are opposite of humility, you’ll probably draw your own conclusions on why humility is so elusive and sparse.

I hadn’t really thought about it a whole lot until I picked up Scott Peck’s book entitled, The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace. I’ll spare you the quotes, but he makes a strong case about why humility is rarely seen among church folk. I had the shivers as I read through the pages, and thought more than once, “We’ve got to do something here! Physician, heal thyself!”

So, for last Sunday’s message, I compiled a list of questions for myself, that I ended up sharing with the people. There is nothing more uncomfortable than meddling questions. After the service, one of the elders walked past me and cracked out of the side of his mouth, “Why did you have to go and stir all of that up?” He was laughing, and I was glad he was… I guess. Here they are:

CAN YOU BE BOTHERED WITH ANOTHER PERSON’S DRAMA?

IF ASKED TO HELP, WHAT IS YOUR DEFAULT: FIRST FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXCUSE YOURSELF, OR HOW TO GET INVOLVED?

IS DIFFERENT AUTOMATICALLY WRONG IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY IN A CONVERSATION THAT IS NOT ABOUT YOU?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO HIJACK A TRAIN OF THOUGHT TOWARDS YOUR DIRECTION?

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU VOLUNTEERED FOR ANYTHING?

CAN YOU ENJOY ANOTHER PERSON’S STRENGTHS WITHOUT LAMENTING YOUR LIMITATIONS?

CAN YOU APPRECIATE YOUR LIMITATIONS?

HAVE YOU ACCEPTED YOUR INADEQUACY AND IMPERFECTIONS, OR ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO COVER THEM UP?

WHEN EXPOUNDING ON YOUR FAITH IN PUBLIC, DO YOU FIRST POINT OUT WHAT YOU’RE AGAINST OR WHAT YOU’RE FOR?

HOW MUCH “US AND THEM” VERBIAGE IS IN YOUR VERNACULAR?

WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OF YOU WHEN THOSE WHOM YOU WANT TO BE NOTICED BY DO NOT NOTICE YOU?

WHO WERE THOSE PEOPLE… THE ONES THAT YOU WANTED TO NOTICE YOU?

THE PEOPLE THAT JESUS WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO BE AROUND… ARE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE IN YOUR INNER CIRCLE?

DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS WHO DON’T, WON’T, OR CAN’T RECIPROCATE WITH ANYTHING… AND YOU’RE GOOD WITH THAT?

HOW SAFE ARE THE WOUNDED AROUND YOU?

HOW SAFE ARE THE WOUNDED WITH US?

DO THEY HAVE TO GET FIXED IN ORDER TO STAY?

I don’t really like all my answers to these questions. I’m sure you’re much better with your honest answers, but I need to work on some things. Serious work.

-MDP-

1 Pet 3:8-9 “Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” MSG

On Sunday, October 19th, I preached a message at ECF-McGregor entitled Linked: Service and Your Devotional Life.  You can listen via podcast if you want, but the main thing is that I want to offer the list of devo materials that I have found to be very helpful to any person who might have a passion to deepen their devotional life.  Here’s that list:

Our Daily Bread – http://www.odb.org – Email – Mobile App – Mail (donation)

The Upper Room – http://www.devotional.upperroom.org – Email subscription – Mobile App – Mail $13

Oswald Chambers – http://www.utmost.org – Paperback – Mobile App $5

Richard Rohr – http://www.cac.org – Email subscription (donation)

Rueben Job – A Guide to Prayer – Paperback & Kindle

Phyllis Tickle – The Divine Hours

Mike Paschall – http://www.rawtalksdevo.com – Paperback & Kindle

Their mommy authorized me to post one pic.  Here it is.

“Esther Jane, we are so happy you are here.  You have reminded us once more that life’s biggest blessings flow from love.  We love you baby girl.  We love you so much!”  Ba