The Phil Files

Welcome to the season of SPRINTER. Yes, we were in the season of Spring the last few days, when suddenly Old Man Winter re-invaded. Short sleeves and sweat gave way to rain and smoke up the chimney. It’s not less treasured as a time of reading and writing, but a bit confusing on the body and thermostat. The hardwoods have more buds today — probably due to the 80 degree days recently — but the temperature is having a hard time making it north of 40 degrees today. The rain is welcome, but the cold has a hard bite we could all do without. Seasons change, but not smoothly for most of us.

Transformation doesn’t come easily either. We’d like to have reality change with our intentions, but that isn’t the way life is. We point in the direction of a desired change, we lurch off in that direction with the help of the Holy Spirit, and God begins His work in us, but it is in fits in us. We trust that the needed change will come just as surely as the seasons do because of God’s work and our commitment. But we grow impatient with the invasion of past weaknesses and frustrated with stumbles we thought were past. We don’t want the return of Winter in the warmth of Spring!

When the chill of winter blasts us in the face afresh, rather than getting frustrated with the failure, let’s find a way to warm ourselves in the company of those who will both call us forward and also accompany us on the journey. And yes, SPRINTER will shed it’s cold and we will find ourselves in true Spring once more.

Yep, those are camo Crocs & I’m in my favorite writing position!

During lunch today, I was talking with my daughter, Megan. She has a very interesting way of putting things in perspective sometimes. We were talking about how to get churches to wake up and not sleep walk through the motions of Christian faith. She said something like this: “Dad, if Jesus can turn water to wine, then he can surely make water boil!”

That pretty much sums it up, I think, with one exception. I believe we have to want the water to boil … pray for the water to boil … and expect the water to boil. Remember what Jesus said to the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-16)?

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen — the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

I believe Jesus longs to make the water boil, but often is waiting for us to ask for Him to light the fire — I mean really ask by making ourselves available to do what he asks. There is a high cost to asking. We can’t keep rewarding mediocrity and affirming cautious indifference. Our cardinal values can’t be keeping house and maintaining the status quo. We can’t allow the person who always wants to throw a cold wet towel into the boiling pot of Kingdom passion to keep doing it without challenge. “Follow me!” can’t mean less risk for us today than it did for the original disciples who answered that call.

Maybe the biggest challenge of all, is for us — for me — to read the parable of the talents again and again till we truly get it. It’s not just about using our talents, but it’s about how we picture God. He wants us to take risks and not fear. He wants us to realize that he despises us playing it safe. He wants us to take what he has given us and use it and (Click to read Matthew 25:14-30 in a popup window) put it into play. Laying low and being safe out of fear — burying it so we won’t lose it — provokes the same reaction as tepid water!

What do you believe is the reason we are more passionate about the Lord getting us “boiling”?