We Interrupt This Blog...

Let me say upfront that I was asked to review Interrupted ... the latest book by Christian speaker/author Jen Hatmaker.  So this is a shameless plug.  Let me also say that this book is one you don’t want to miss! 

For quite some time now, I have felt “Spiritually unsettled”.  I became disillusioned with the contemporary-style worship service we were attending, even though I served on it’s “Praise Team” for eight years and found it to be the perfect fit at that time in my life.  This “season” passed...and with it went my passion for this style of worship.  As we became congregants, the music seemed to get louder...those attending worship became almost hyperactive - with this one getting up for a cup of coffee and that one going to the bathroom - and it happened all throughout the service, including during the sermon.  To say I was distracted would be an understatement.  More times than we could count, Greg and I came away asking each other, “What just happened?”  We certainly could not recall much of the message...and I began to carry a “tension” about church, as Jen Hatmaker describes it.

I’ve read countless books by “Spirit-filled motivators” and pastors...and I know that many say that we are not to attend a worship service expecting to “feel” something – or get something out of it.  These people maintain that this is not the true purpose of worship.  But I felt plenty...tension, angst, emptiness...and a deep longing to truly reconnect with God...on Sunday...in.His.house.  

About the same time, our nephew Timothy reached an age where I felt he should be attending church.  The primary children’s Sunday School program at our church was taught during the 11:00 a.m. hour, which coincided with our traditional worship service (a service I lovingly referred to as “High Church” because of the rituals and traditions).  So Greg and I made the decision to begin attending worship at this hour while Timothy and his little sister Zola attended Sunday School (Zola goes to the nursery, but she is loved and nurtured there and wouldn’t miss it!).

This has been great...we sing the old hymns.  We hear beautiful anthems sung by the choir.. and incredible piano offertories presented by my former piano teacher touch our hearts.  The sermons are delivered in peace and quiet...we can actually internalize what the pastor says.  Everything is perfect...right? 

Actually, it’s not.  There is still this deep “tension” within my heart and soul.  Don’t misunderstand me...I’m very attuned to God.  I study His word daily as I read devotionals and write my own.  I keep a running dialog with God about prayer concerns and praises.  I listen for His voice...and I truly believe I am following His lead and serving as He directs.  So why the struggle?  What am I missing?

Enter Interrupted...the latest offering from Jen Hatmaker.  As she puts it, “If you are plagued with tension or discontent or a nagging sense that there must be more – that there has to be a faith somewhere that rings true and hopeful and gracious, a faith other than this mean, ugly, partisan, judgmental, self-indulgent version of Christianity, which has to be total bunk – then get down on your knees and thank your lucky stars.  God has blessed you with this inner conflict.  He isn’t leaving you in complacency and boredom to check boxes and do church.  He has enlisted you in the cause of your generation and is calling you forward.  You lucky thing.  You will not be left and lost, wondering what all the fuss is about, wishing things would never change.” 

A little further, she writes, “The interruption did not make us saintly or infallible or extra-incredible or above reproach.  It just made us raw.  It made us hungry for justice, healing, God’s loving-kindness released to the nations.  It made us humble, uber-aware of our selfishness – which wasn’t cured by said awareness, by the way.  You can bring all your confusion, confliction, and hypocrisy to this conversation; I will hold it all with careful hands as one who struggles with the same tensions.”

I was hooked.  I had to know what Jen Hatmaker was talking about, because she was describing ME!  As I read through her book and studied what she outlined...as I read the inserts written by her husband, Brandon, and contemplated their comments and ideas...I began to get the picture.    Here’s how Jen Hatmaker describes it...”The world is increasingly uninterested in our Christian story.  Our current presentation is just not compelling.  We launch public shame grenades with abandon and claim to ‘love the sinner but hate the sin,’ which translates to ‘we are enormous pompous jerks’.  Remarkably, most outsiders are not anti-church (our gospel isn’t provocative enough to incite backlash anymore); they simply dismiss the church as irrelevant to their real lives since it seems mostly irrelevant to the people who go there.”

Have I struck a chord with anyone yet?  Hatmaker maintains that Sunday “church” is not the be-all, end-all.  This is not true “church”.  Our gathering on Sundays to worship together has purpose and meaning...but it’s not what you think!  REAL “church” takes place in our everyday lives.  It is missional.  Jesus has given us a mission...and we are to fulfill it.  And Hatmaker says that this mission is clearly outlined in Matthew 25, where Jesus talks about ministering to the least...and in Isaiah 58, where verse 2 says, “For day after day they seek me out;  they seem eager to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.”  Hatmaker says, “There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ anymore.”

I’m on my second pass through this book of some 240 pages.  I’m marking and highlighting...and studying the scripture references Hatmaker provides.  I am seeking God’s guidance and asking Him to show me how and where to be “the church” to His people.  And in discovering my “mission”...I am hopeful, and I feel the tension leaving.  My “church” won’t necessarily look like yours...and it most certainly will not be the same as Brandon and Jen Hatmaker’s.  God has a distinct and detailed mission plan for each of us...and collectively, we create His church. 

Interrupted will not give you all of the answers.  You will have to dig deeply and do your homework.  But this book might be the catalyst to propel you to the next level...to alleviate your inner tension and stimulate a more profound relationship with Jesus...and with those you encounter on a daily basis.  This might be just the tool you need to spark a change in yourself...your family...your neighborhood or community...or even the world at large.  You can still attend worship on Sundays (or whatever days/nights your group gathers).  This is not a substitute for corporate worship, Bible studies or prayer groups.  This book is designed to make you think about what Jesus has called you to do for Him...and how you are accomplishing His goals.

Are you ready to interrupt your life and shake things up a little?  Are you ready to radically serve “the least” in Jesus’ name?  Click here to order your copy of Interrupted and get started.  Order from NavPress through July 31, 2014, and receive a 20% discount.

Daily Devotional for July 19, 2014

Acts 4:8-12
With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

A few weeks ago, I signed up to receive e-mails from Christian author/speaker Jen Hatmaker.  Several days ago, I was notified of the opportunity to be one of 250 bloggers to review an advanced copy of Hatmaker’s newest book, Interrupted*.  This is actually a rewrite of a Bible study by the same name.  I submitted my contact information...and I was selected to become one of the reviewers.  I received a downloaded copy of the book, and I will be sent a hard copy in the mail later.  In exchange for reading this book, I must post at least one review of it on my blog (http://auntdebsattic.blogspot.com).  I am more than halfway through the book now, and I have already begun sharing information to alert readers of a formal book release in August.

Interrupted tells the story of how Jen and Brandon Hatmaker came to redefine their idea of church...how God spoke to them and revealed new (to them) insights into what He wanted the church to be.  In other words, God “Interrupted” their cozy “as-we-know-it” Christian faith and challenged them to think differently.

In one particular chapter, the Hatmakers refer to their epiphany as a discovery of “barefoot church”.  The Hatmakers were invited to attend an Easter Sunday night service at a small church in a rough area of Austin, Texas.  They nervously left their car in a roughshod parking lot and hurried past a weird-looking homeless guy (who turned out to be their speaker in disguise).  During one of the opening songs, Brandon Hatmaker had a vision of a homeless guy yelling from the sidewalk, “Hey, give me your boots!”

It so happened that this was an unusually chilly evening in Austin, Texas, and the Hatmakers were both wearing cowboy boots...nice, expensive ones they had given each other for Christmas.  As the service ended, the speaker told the group that he had ministered that morning to homeless people in San Antonio.  He had asked the homeless what their biggest need was, and they told him...shoes.  It seems that homeless people are on their feet a lot, and the shoes they receive from Goodwill and shelters are used – and often worn down.  They do not offer adequate support for people who are walking or standing on their feet a lot.

So the speaker said to his group, “...if you want to, you can leave your shoes at the altar when you take Communion.  Oh!  And leave your socks, too.  We’ll wash them and deliver them to the homeless community in San Antonio tomorrow.”  Now imagine...there stand this young minister and his author/speaker wife, desperately seeking a closer walk with Jesus...wanting to go “all in” for Him...yet being asked to surrender some expensive, and admittedly treasured possessions – not to mention they would be stepping out into the cold night completely barefoot.  But as Jen Hatmaker explains it, she felt Jesus telling her, “I want you and Brandon to figure out what it means to be a barefooted church.”  And Brandon Hatmaker says of his earlier vision, “God had spoken loudly and very personally. ‘Yes, Brandon, I’m in this.’”

What does this story have to do with the disciples healing a sick man on the Sabbath?  Pretty much everything.  Because the disciples who had mercy on a sick man and healed him without any consideration for what day it was served the same Jesus who would have us give up our shoes and go barefooted so that homeless people - who have literally NOTHING - can at least walk more comfortably.  Until we start to operate in the grace and mercy of Jesus rather than the ritualistic rules that have governed us for so long...until we step out of our comfort zone when Jesus calls us to do something and listen for HIS voice instead of others’...we won’t truly get it.  As Brandon Hatmaker explained it, we need to take the focus off of ourselves and place it on others, specifically “the least of these” as described in Matthew 25 (specifically, verse 45).

Are we “all in” for Jesus?  Is He truly our cornerstone...the foundation on which we do everything?  Do others really see Him in us?  Do they experience His grace and mercy through our words and actions?  Or are we so busy keeping up appearances – both personally and as a church – that we have neglected to truly operate in the teachings of Jesus...much less represent Him to others? 

How far are you willing to go for Jesus?  Would you be able to give up a valuable pair of shoes for Him – much less something more significant?  Are you prepared to be judged and ridiculed for your faith in action?   Are you ready to be a “barefooted disciple” for the one Who gave His very life for yours?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2014 Debbie Robus

*Order your copy of Interrupted before July 31st and receive a 20% discount.  Click here to order.

Daily Devotional for June 26, 2014

Psalm 127:1-2
If God doesn’t build the house,
    the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
    the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
    and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
    giving rest to those he loves?

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

I have started reading a Bible study guide written by Jen Hatmaker, called Make Over. This girl speaks my language!  In the first few days’ lessons, she talks about all of the “busyness” that fills our days…and she calls us to question why we do what we do…in the way that we do it.  She likens many of us to “dancing monkeys” who try to be all things to all people…”performers” of sorts who rise early and go to bed late – and work our fingers to the bone in between.  She asks the question, “Monkey, who are you dancing for?”*

This is a reasonable question.  And in light of today’s scripture passage from Psalm 127, I would like to add, “Who is your ‘supervisor’ on the job?”  If we are busy trying to do all of the things that we think will make us – and others – happy…and we fail to recognize God’s desires and/or His joy in helping us accomplish all that is necessary and important…we are going to end up bone tired, discouraged, defeated – and maybe even a little disgusted!

Hatmaker asks…”What if our value exists because God takes pleasure in us?”  More to the point of this scripture lesson, “What if we focused on pleasing God and asked Him to help us prioritize our days?”  So often, we are too busy trying to keep up with others – or what we perceive to be their expectations of us.  We put all kinds of demands on ourselves that are not of God’s making. So we build “shacks” rather than God-ordained “houses”…and we just as well have taken a nap instead.

Jen Hatmaker concludes that “God never asked for dancing monkeys.”  He also never told us we had to do this all on our own!  Isn’t it time to bring Him in on the design for your life…your daily “calendar”…the creation of your life’s “blueprint”?  Wouldn’t a little help with all of the burdens and challenges one faces in any given day be refreshing and restorative?  Are you ready to truly rest in the LORD and let Him shoulder the heavy stuff?  Isn’t this the perfect day to begin?

©2014 Debbie Robus

*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm

Daily Devotional for May 8, 2014

John 17:17-18
Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours.  I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Last year, my cousin Natalie introduced me to the writings of Jen Hatmaker, a wife and mother of three children who is also an author and Bible teacher.  I will admit that I have not read any of Hatmaker’s books or Bible study guides…yet!  But her blog posts are compelling AND entertaining, and she speaks the truth about real life and how we Christians can navigate the “troubled waters” it often brings.  So when Natalie posted a link on Facebook to Hatmaker’s blog about teachers*, I was naturally “all in”!

I encourage you to take a few minutes and read this blog post.  It’s not just for teachers – or former teachers.  EVERYONE needs to read it!  And here’s how I believe it applies to this scripture passage...

Hatmaker points out that we often fail to recognize all of the “truths” that are imparted to us and our children via teachers.  She writes of teachers…”If only you were evaluated on what you do best and what actually matters: teaching kids to love learning, to love books and authors and words, to love numbers, to embrace science, to discover history, to create art, to think critically and practice good citizenship and leadership and resourcefulness and determination.” 

Teachers are the vehicle for sharing truths and knowledge with students.  Hopefully, they motivate and encourage their students to go out into the world and use this knowledge…to share their wisdom, skills and abilities with others and to be productive, citizens who “pay it forward”.  Teachers are supposed to make the lessons “leap from the page”, so to speak…to clarify difficult math exercises and give “life” to historical events…to unlock the scientific mysteries and to help their students to develop the “whole person”.  My piano teacher, Mrs. Little, taught me so much more than how to play the notes that were printed on a page…she unlocked the secret of making the music “sing”.  I learned how to fully understand what the composer intended…and how to convey that message to the best of my ability.

Jesus came to earth to unlock some of the mysteries of God’s word…to explain many of God’s teachings with personal demonstrations of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.  He clarified God’s laws and encouraged us in our missions and our ministries.  Jesus showed us how to “pay it forward” in our witness to others…and He unlocked the secret of carrying the Holy Spirit with us and living for God each and every minute of the day.  Jesus was the ultimate Teacher…in Him, we truly find God.

Hatmaker makes a number of important points in her blog post…in particular how teachers’ efforts are often under-appreciated.  She writes, “Because we have no idea how to appropriately thank them for their incredible labor, we say, ‘Here is this mug and also a gift card to Chili’s. Be blessed.’”  I believe this is how we often treat Jesus and the incredible lessons and messages He has given us about God’s word.  We give Him “lip service”…we talk the talk, but we fail to walk the walk. The time has come for us to recognize the lessons of Jesus…to hear His truths concerning God’s word…and to put them into action.

If only we evaluated Jesus on what actually matters: teaching us to love learning about God’s word...to love the Bible...to embrace the beauty and sanctity of God’s creations.  If only we discovered how the history of the scriptures knits together to create the perfect picture of God’s orchestration of people and events to bring about His plans. If only we looked to the models Jesus gave us for creativity, critical thinking, and the practice of good citizenship and leadership - resourcefulness and determination.  These are the truths and lessons from God that He brings to us.  OUR JOB is to recognize and appreciate them…and to carry them forward.

Will this be the day that you begin to fully appreciate the teachings of Jesus?  Will this be the day that you listen to His truths and really begin to find God?  Don’t you think it should be?

©2014 Debbie Robus

* http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2014/05/06/my-wish-list-for-teachers