Author: DwightClough

 

But the father wasn’t listening. Luke 15:22 The Message

To me, this is one of the most moving moments in all of scripture. The prodigal son had ruined his life. He was returning home, a failure for all to see. When he met his father, he was begging not for his rights as son to be restored—he knew he could never dare ask for that—but rather that he might be taken on as a hired hand.

But the father wasn’t listening.

Eugene Peterson in The Message, captures the spirit of this verse so well with this phrase: “But the father wasn’t listening.”

The Father had better plans, and, even today, He has better plans for you and for me. “Quick! Bring clean clothes. Bring the family ring. Identify this man as My son. Celebrate!”

This is one of those great paradoxes in life. When we begin to see how unworthy we are, the Lord begins to show us how much He treasures us. It is true that we don’t deserve, but all the while we tell the Father that, He isn’t listening. Instead, He is calling for celebration.

Dwight

PS. For decades, porn has been a major problem in the church. In recent years, we’ve finally started looking at this elephant in the room. But are accountability groups and promises the best way to battle porn? On Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Inner Wealth we’re going to explore another way to get leverage to overcome this persistent addiction.

 

…who will get what you have prepared for yourself? Luke 12:20

An evangelist was traveling from church to church in Mexico. As he concluded his meetings at a small village church, he told the congregation, “I need to purchase an airline ticket to fly to my next destination. I don’t have any money to do that, but I believe God will speak to one of you and this need will be supplied.”

After the service, everyone filed out of the church except one person. A poor widow remained. She walked up to the pastor and the evangelist and offered to pay for the airline ticket.

“How will you do that?” the pastor asked. “You have no money.”

“I will sell my milk cow,” she said.

“You can’t do that,” he said, “That’s your livelihood. If you sell the cow, you will have no means of supporting yourself.”

The pastor and the evangelist both did their best to talk her out of it. But she would not be dissuaded.

“You’ve always said we should listen to God’s voice and do what He says,” she told her pastor. “And I believe God is telling me to do this.”

She sold her cow. Meanwhile, the evangelist tried his best to raise the money some other way, but no funds came in. Finally, he reluctantly accepted her offering, and flew on to his next destination.

He almost forgot about this widow, until one day many months later he was preaching in a church in Mexico City. After the service, a woman invited him and others into her beautiful home for a meal. After the meal was over, she said to him, “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Then it dawned on him that this was the widow who had given up her livelihood to buy him an airplane ticket. “Tell me the story,” he said.

So she told him what happened. “When my husband died, his brother cheated me out of my inheritance, and left me with nothing but one milk cow. But when I sold it, an angel of God found my brother-in-law in a bar. He stood there with a flaming sword, and helped my brother-in-law understand that he needed to give me my share.”

Sometimes we need to push into the unknown with God. I don’t think this widow had any idea of what was on the other side of her sacrifice. But when you know that you know that the real Jesus is telling you to step out of the boat, know also that He takes responsibility for what will happen to us.

Dwight

PS. For decades, porn has been a major problem in the church. In recent years, we’ve finally started looking at this elephant in the room. But are accountability groups and promises the best way to battle porn? On Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Inner Wealth we’re going to explore another way to get leverage to overcome this persistent addiction.

 

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21 NIV

In the animated Disney version of Peter Pan, Peter is puzzled because Wendy cannot fly. He cannot figure it out, until it dawns on him that she was never sprinkled with pixie dust.

Like Wendy before pixie dust, money keeps us earthbound until it is given to God. Like tentacles reaching up from the grave, so also the lies we believe about money twist and tangle around us, until we cannot escape their gravitational pull without God mercifully hacking us free.

What do we truly believe? Money is the meter that reveals the content of our hearts. What are we, for example, without stylish clothing, a newer car or a nice house in the suburbs? What damage will we sustain if those things are taken away from us?

(I realize that our readers come from many countries and many cultures, so you may have to substitute something that makes more sense for your culture.)

Where exactly is the fear line in your heart? I know where mine is. And why does God sometimes pull us across it?

Let me suggest that He wants to show us the truth we never quite grasped before: He is on the other side. Our fears seem so real, but they are illusions. God is the reality.

It seems like we will plunge into the recklessness of giving all alone. But we are not alone. He is there to catch us.

Dwight

PS. For decades, porn has been a major problem in the church. In recent years, we’ve finally started looking at this elephant in the room. But are accountability groups and promises the best way to battle porn? On Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Inner Wealth we’re going to explore another way to get leverage to overcome this persistent addiction.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Luke 12:13-14 NIV

As we bring Jesus into our world, we may be tempted to put to right situations we are not called to correct, injustices we are not called to resolve.

In this passage, a man from the crowd is trying to get Jesus to act as a probate court—dividing an inheritance. Jesus flatly refuses to get involved.

This is a tough one to unravel. Why does Jesus turn down this request?

Let’s start with what we know and what we don’t know. We know that two brothers disagree on how and when an inheritance should be divided. But we don’t know which one is in the right and which one is in the wrong. All we know is that the man in the crowd thinks he’s been wronged.

We also know that God loves justice. If injustice has been done, God will someday, somehow make it right. And we know that the people of God are called to “loose the chains of injustice” (Isaiah 58). But exactly how and when we are to do that isn’t always clear from scripture.

Maybe the clue is in the next verse: Then he [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Here’s the answer. Sometimes, settling an injustice builds the kingdom of God. Sometimes, it’s just a distraction. I think the Lord was showing this man that he had lost his mooring. He was so focused on getting what he wanted that he was unable to see the true wealth that stood right before him.

Dwight

PS. For decades, porn has been a major problem in the church. In recent years, we’ve finally started looking at this elephant in the room. But are accountability groups and promises the best way to battle porn? On Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Inner Wealth we’re going to explore another way to get leverage to overcome this persistent addiction.

One advantage of having a weakness is this: It gives God an opportunity to show up.

Here’s one of my weaknesses: All my life I’ve been afraid of dogs.

I tell you that because years ago my then 9-year-old daughter and I went on a missions trip to Mexico. During our trip, we spent a lot of time at a childcare center in a Mexican village. My daughter played with the other kids, and not knowing Spanish really didn’t seem to be a barrier to friendship.

Compared to the people in Mexico, I felt like my prayers were anemic. At noon the children received what was probably their only meal of the day. It was some kind of pasty substance, like a cross between oatmeal and gruel. Most American kids would turn up their noses and refuse to eat it. But the Mexican children and childcare workers gathered around and simultaneously offered up fervent thanksgiving aloud to God for His provision of food. This heartfelt prayer of thanks went on for several minutes before the children sat down to their meal.

One day my daughter and I were at the childcare center alone with the children and the Spanish-speaking workers. The rest of the Americans were a mile or two away helping someone renovate their home.

Suddenly one of the workers came to me and motioned for me to follow her at once. She brought me into another room where one of the little boys was writhing in pain on the floor. Workers were gathered around him–tears in their eyes. It was clear that they wanted me to pray for him.

Wow. They were asking me to pray, when I felt like I needed to be taking prayer lessons from them.

I’ve prayed for many sick people over the years. Once in a great while, something supernatural seems to happen. Most of the time–nothing spectacular. This was no exception. I prayed. The boy cried.

Suddenly it became clear what I needed to do. I needed to walk a mile or two through the village and fetch the nurse who was a member of our group. I couldn’t call; we didn’t have a phone. I couldn’t drive; we didn’t have a vehicle. I needed to walk.

Only one problem: This village was crawling with dogs. If I got in trouble with one, I would have no way to call for help. I didn’t even speak the language.

But here was a little boy in pain. God help me. I started walking.

It was eerie. The dirt road was completely empty. I didn’t see a single dog. I didn’t hear a single bark. I made it all the way without experiencing the thing I feared.

On the way back, the dogs were everywhere once again. But it was okay now. People were with me. They were comfortable with dogs, so I felt comfortable being with them.

We got back to the childcare center. We found some medication. We gave it to the boy, and prayed for him again. His pain receded, and he soon recovered.

So why didn’t God answer my prayer to heal that boy? A friend of mine had the best answer: “Miracles show us God’s heart.” God chose to heal this little boy in such a way that also showed His love and power for me.

Dwight

PS. We talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? How do you cultivate a meaningful relationship with God? The Inner Wealth resources for Saturday, 6/1/2019 will cover beginning a relationship with God, elements of a healthy relationship, sacred pathways, and how to hear the voice of God.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

I heard the story of a famous man who met the queen of England. He was so nervous he forgot his own name.

No wonder we sometimes get a little tongue-tied when we talk to God. At least I do. Probably one of my most frequent prayers is this: “I don’t know what to say.”

And I don’t. Maybe that problem doesn’t plague you, but I am clueless much of the time when it comes to prayer. Other times, I’m too slick for my own good. I pray the formula, and then I can’t even remember what I said.

Anyway, I’m glad the Holy Spirit prays for me. I need it. He knows it. He prays, and, wow, I end up with an amazing life that I wouldn’t trade for anything surrounded by beautiful people. Like you.

Thank You, God, for Your kindness to me.

Dwight

PS. We talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? How do you cultivate a meaningful relationship with God? The Inner Wealth resources for Saturday, 6/1/2019 will cover beginning a relationship with God, elements of a healthy relationship, sacred pathways, and how to hear the voice of God.

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52 NIV)

You may know the story. Jesus had been arrested. This would never do. Hands off! This is God’s man! Peter jumps into the crowd with a sword and starts swinging. In the process, he manages to lop off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away, and He reaches out and heals Malchus.

There’s an old saying: You don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. In other words, you gotta know what kind of battle you’re facing and arm accordingly.

Peter didn’t know what kind of battle he was facing. The real battle was the hatred of humanity vs. the love of God, the sin of the world vs. the spotless Lamb of God, the schemes of the enemy vs. the triumphant Son of God.

He was way out of his league.

Anyway, sometimes you need a different weapon. Let me give you an example. There was a person in my life who had a problem with alcohol. This made me angry. Alcohol was destroying the life of someone I loved. So I tried to intervene to stop it. I bullied her into giving me her booze. She gave it to me. I begged her to get help. I yelled at her for getting drunk.

Her response? She drank even more. I was with her in the emergency room once when the doctor said to me, “Based on her blood alcohol level, I don’t know how she’s still alive.”

Anyway, I was fighting with the wrong weapons. Like Peter, I was only making things worse. I can’t tell you the whole story, but I can tell you that God slowly started changing my heart. He helped me to see that she and I weren’t really that different. She was looking for a little bit of peace in her life just like I was. She made some dumb choices, but then so did I.

I tried out a different arsenal. Understanding. Respect. Patience. Kindness. Listening. Forgiving. Love.

Much stronger weapons. Much better results.

May God give us wisdom to know what kind of fight we’re fighting, and what weapons will really win.

Dwight

PS. We talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? How do you cultivate a meaningful relationship with God? The Inner Wealth resources for Saturday, 6/1/2019 will cover beginning a relationship with God, elements of a healthy relationship, sacred pathways, and how to hear the voice of God.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (Ephesians 6:5-9 NIV)

Okay, we have this troubling question: If slavery is wrong—and I think we can all agree that it is—then why didn’t the New Testament writers take more of a stand against it?

First this: Every troubling question you take to God. I’ll give you the answer that works for me, but I don’t pretend it will work for you. To get the answer that works for you, you need to get it from God.

Much of the Old Testament was addressed to national leaders, to people in power. By contrast, the New Testament was directed to people with little or no political power. The New Testament is a guide for marginalized peoples.

And in this passage, the author brings up the question: How do you deal with a bad situation you don’t have the power to change?

Here’s his answer (in Dwightspeak). Imagine you are on the beach in Hawaii. You hold in your hand a tiny drop of liquid. When you drop that drop of liquid into the Pacific Ocean, the entire ocean will change color.

Take a moment and imagine that.

This is the difference between your earthly life and eternal life. That drop of liquid in your hand is your earthly life. It’s very, very small compared to the vast Pacific Ocean. But it has the power to color your eternity. So take this very small life, this drop of liquid in your hand, and make the best of it because pretty soon you’ll be swimming in the ocean of your making.

Dwight

PS. We talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? How do you cultivate a meaningful relationship with God? The Inner Wealth resources for Saturday, 6/1/2019 will cover beginning a relationship with God, elements of a healthy relationship, sacred pathways, and how to hear the voice of God.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4 NIV

We look across the generational divide, and we know this: No parent is perfect. No child is perfect. Painful truth.

Yet we are to honor. When we are young, we are to obey.

Did you ever notice how much of the New Testament is written to people who have little or no power?

And God calls on us to use our lack of power as a tool of influence—not through uprisings and revolts—but by quietly winning over those who do have the power.

But I digress.

Of course there are evil and abusive parents, and children who need to be protected from them; there are misguided social justice warriors who want to “protect” children from good parents—the whole thing is muddled.

But I’ll stick to the main course and say this: Learning to honor my parents is one of the main ways in which I have grown as a person. Learning to embrace their humanity, see beyond their imperfections, and comprehend what a gift from God they were to me—all of this has helped me land in a settled place where I can be patient with my own shortcomings, and find ways to respect those around me.

Dwight

PS. On 5/25/2019 our Inner Wealth topic will be how to overcome guilt, shame, and condemnation. Since many people don’t understand the difference between true and false guilt, and the very different strategies we use to resolve each, we’ll be explaining that in detail.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:25-33 NIV

Marriage is a lifelong educational process; the main subjects are understanding, respect, trust, and love. And sometimes we men are slow learners. I certainly have been at times.

Yeah, several months after we got married, the love drug wore off in my brain just like it does for everybody. I remember my supervisor at work saying to me, “You used to talk about your wife all the time. Now you don’t talk about her any more. Why is that?”

I don’t know. Maybe I was trying to fix her. Maybe I was trying to change her so my brain chemistry would change and I would feel in love again, just like the beginning.

As you might imagine, that didn’t go well. Spouses are not objects to be fixed. They are people with whom we journey through life. They change. We change. We learn to fall in love with that new person they have become.

How do we do that? For me, I found the answer in a place I didn’t expect. I let myself be loved by God. Instead of fixing my wife, I let God fix me. Along the way, everything changed. When I no longer needed my wife to be a little god who made me feel good about myself, then my eyes were opened to see what a beautiful gift God gave me by allowing me to live my life with Kim. Wow!

I feel like this blog post needs to be a book, and, in a way, it is. My book, The Gift of Transformation, talks about how God healed our marriage, and helped me fall in love once again. You can find out more here.

Dwight