Miracle

Heal the lame. Raise the dead. Or befriend someone shunned by society.

Which one seems the most miraculous to you?

Before reading Acts 9:32-43, my money would have been on one of the first two, but now I’m not so sure. Take a look at the following passage.

As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years [eight years!]. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

So let’s set the scene. Peter takes the disabled, the diseased and the despised and blesses each one in mighty ways. With Aeneas and Dorcas he performs miracles in the name of Jesus to give them new life (Aeneas is able to walk again, Dorcas is literally brought back to life). You can imagine their lives afterward.

But for Simon, well, it’s a little more tricky.

See, Simon was a tanner which was seen at the time as a dirty, despised job, one that was very looked down upon. Because his business was dealing with dirty animal carcasses day in, day out which meant Simon was seen as “unclean” among the Jews. Along with shepherds, tanners were on the fringe of society. And Peter’s decision to stay with Simon was an act that showed he was willing to reject traditional Jewish discrimination.

Which is what I want to address. A lot of times we read about the miracles that Jesus performed and are in awe. Or we read about the disciples like Peter who healed in the name of Christ and are taken aback, maybe even wishing we could experience something of that magnitude. Something that special.

And as we see from Peter, we can. He doesn’t just befriend the unfriendable, he rejects prejudice in Christ’s name. That’s big. Because we all have our prejudices. Our own judgements. Sometimes we “size someone up” and don’t even know why (I do it all the time). And it’s Christ that says there is only one judge – God Himself.

So my challenge for you this week is to experience the same miracle Peter did, “befriend” someone you currently see as unbefriendable. No, you don’t have to hang out with them or become their new best friend, just do something nice for them. A simple compliment. Ask them how they’re doing. Buy them a cup of coffee. If you find yourself judging, stop and pray. For you and for them. Start small and let God do the rest.

Who knows, maybe you’ll experience your own miracle – healing against judgement – in your own life.

Fran and Janet

Funny how things come full circle sometime.

One of the first (and most popular) "60"s I wrote was how people tend to paint Peter as a goat because he lost faith while walking on the water and began to sink. Now, my personal view is that Peter should be counted as a hero for at least getting out of the boat in the first place. Taking a chance on Christ. Not staying in the safe, and throwing a leg over in faith - white knuckle faith at that.

And this weekend I wanted to point out two people who are "getting out of the boat" - Fran and Janet. Fran and Janet have been an instrumental part of the Hispanic LA La Viña Outreach since its inception. Every week there they are, with diapers, bubbles, toys and hugs for every single person we serve. When Doug and I started the outreach we had hard time because here we are, two white guys who speak no Spanish, looking for all the world like Border Patrol cops and we needed a way to soften the experience. Fran and Janet do just that.

Now this weekend, with Doug and I being in the U.P., they are going to lead LA La Viña and I know they'll do a great job. Because they're not doing it for themselves. Or to impress others. Or to score some points with God. No, they're doing it because it's work that needs to be done in the name of Christ. Must be done. Because our amigos at the Willows look forward to us showing up, checking in on them, offering them prayer and, yes Fran, especially offering a smile and a hug. For them, it's proof of the power and grace of Christ.

Philippians tells us, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction". Most of us know the first verse (13), but don't know the next (verse 14). "Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction."

How's that for some roll-up-your-sleeves, lift 'em up from the depth inspiration? See, we need to reach out to people – all people – in their trouble, in their pain, in their darkness, in their silent agony. Christian and non-Christian alike. As our teaching pastor Joe Boyd says, "We need to walk through the gates of hell and walk people out...to Christ". I can't say it any better than that.

So please pray for Fran and Janet. That they are inspired through Christ and He shows then something new in Him. 'Cause that's what happens when you get out of the boat and take a chance on God - He comes through. Read that last part again. He comes through. And my challenge is if you've been getting a nudge to get out of the boat, throw a leg over and plant your foot solidly on the water in the name of Christ. It's scary. It's weird. It's the best chance you'll ever take.

Have a great week! Now go do something scary for Christ.

Getting out of the Boat

So we all know the story of Jesus walking on the water. Peter sees Him and says, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." He gets out of the boat, takes few steps on the water, gets distracted by the storm, looses his footing, Jesus rescues him and they get back in the boat together as the storm subsides.

Most people take this experience and pin Peter as a "goat", because he took his eyes off Jesus and therefore failed. I'd like to say, "Let's not be so hard on the guy." After all, he was walking on water, not exactly a natural thing to do. He was seeing Jesus walking on the water, which would really trip me out. And, here's what I think is so key, he got out of the boat. He saw Jesus, took action and got...out...of...the...boat.

For so many of us, we get into a Christian Comfort Zone and. seldom. do we truly get out of the boat. We take a small chance, it doesn't kill us, there's some good that happens and we kind of "stay put". And then we stay in a hold pattern. I don't think that's what God wants us to do. To be sure, he doesn't want to put us in a place of peril, but a place where we take some action on faith and let Him do the rest. Our own "walk on water" experience. To simply help us grow in Him.

For example, my friend Mark befriended "the new guy" at work. Others in his department were too busy to worry about him, but Mark got out of the boat and befriended the guy. Turns out this guy's wife had just died from a heart malfunction – and she died carrying their yet-to-be-born child. Can you imagine how empty and lost this guy must be feeling? So Mark's "getting out of the boat", befriending and mentoring "the new guy" has given him some new hope and promise. By the way, the guy's name is "Christian", please pray for him.

Another friend of mine is getting out of the boat by trying out as a contestant on "Deal or No Deal". No joke. But here's the twist, she's going into the tryouts locked and loaded with tons of information about "H2O Nigeria" and all the good it's doing right now. Seven wells dug so far with more to follow. Lives saved. Futures transformed. After decades of false promises by the government, God shows up and in 4 months shows them His love and mercy. And Amy, my friend, doesn't care if she gets on TV or wins a million dollars. She just wants to spread the word about the work that God is doing in Jos, Nigeria any way she can. She's truly out of the boat.

So I guess what I'm asking you to do is to pray for God to show you ways to get out of the boat. To take a deep breath, say "God, I really, really need you to show up" and let Him do just that. Doesn't have to be big or grand, it could be as simple as buying a stranger a cup of coffee or saying "Hello" to a neighbor you've never met. But let God lead you. After all, I can't think of anything cooler than walking on water with Jesus. Even if it's only for a moment.

Have a great weekend!