The Reason for Fireworks

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —”

The fireworks celebrate a revolutionary idea: Government exists because the people it seeks to govern consent to it.  People possess power. Without the consent of the people, Government dies.

The fireworks celebrate a foundational statement of faith: that God created all people equal; with Rights that cannot be taken away: Life; Liberty; the pursuit of Happiness.

The fireworks celebrate  a simple truth: People consent to Governments to secure these God-given human rights. 

The Fireworks are an annual reminder to the Government why the Governed allow it to share their power.

Tell you children. Tell your grandchildren. Tell your closest friends, your neighbors, the stranger next to you.

There is a reason for fireworks.

VBS: "The Encouragement of Light"

“How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light against its being, otherwise, we all remain too frightened.” –Hafiz, The Gift (Translated by Daniel Ladinksy; posted by Jim Marsh at inward/outward.org)

Can there be better encouragers of light to budding hearts than the people who make Vacation Bible School happen?  For ten summers now it has been my privilege to observe the opening of roses as laughter, praise and wonder rise up from the eyes, mouths and hands of children displaying their unique brand of enthusiasm for Jesus.  Their praise blesses the church and world.

For ten summers now I have watched our building be transformed into forests, jungles, oceans and more by the most creative, hard-working servants of Jesus you can find.  I have witnessed a couple dozen gifted women and men lead many dozens of children through five mornings of learning the story of the Bible, using their many gifts to stretch bodies, minds and imaginations.

Why would these friends of Jesus offer a summer week, and all of the hours and hours that lead up to it, year after year after year, for children they often do not know and may not see again? Because they are possessed, in the best sense of that word, by the Light; a Light so powerful that it cannot remain within them; a Light which must be set free to press against the darkness, into every corner inhabited by fear, so that the Light can reach the roses within the hearts.

The world is a more beautiful place today because the encouragers set free their light for no better reason than this: God has sent them with a message of his goodness.

When the world is dark, God sends the light.  When the rosebuds are shy, God is good.   

A Love Story About Golf

I was scheduled to play a competitive match against another golfer, so I was focused on being focused. Then the pro shop put another single golfer with us, which is perfectly fine. Except.

My partner’s first question was whether I minded if he played music on his big speaker. As politely as I could, I told him that in fact I did mind. Not the best start to building a friendship. It soon became obvious that my friend really needed his music or he was not nearly as good of a golfer as he imagined in his own mind, so after every bad shot (of which there were many) he uttered some sort of expletive, each one growing louder.

My new friend was playing expensive Titleist Pro V1 golf balls. He lost two of them in two holes, and he became even more upset with Jesus.  We searched far and wide but, alas, they were lost.

After nearly four hours together, he asked me what I did for a living. I had been waiting for this moment.  As soon as I told him I was a pastor in a local church there was this very awkward silence.  He asked me which church, and when I told him he suddenly became very interested in our location and history.  What a transformation!

On the final hole he hit his ball well behind the green and we thought it landed in a parking lot.  But, as we drove toward the area we saw a ball lying on a cart path. I jokingly said he should go check out the ball because perhaps someone had found one of his expensive lost Pro V’s and left it for him. He walked over to it, picked it up and returned to the cart with this strange smile, saying, “You are going to like this. It is a Pro V1. Read what it says.” He handed it to me and I saw that someone had inscribed it with green felt tip ink and the words, “Jesus Loves You.”

I could not have laughed harder or louder.  He offered me the ball.  I said, “No, I think that is one you should keep. Because it’s true.” He put it in his pocket. The rest is up to the Spirit.   

'Rubber Time', or Never Be Late Again

Does ‘time’ own you or do you own ‘time’? I am annoyed when people are late; I get upset with myself when I am running late, manufacturing excuses as I zoom down the road trying to make up time; if I wait on a service provider more than 10 minutes for an appointment I will usually complain and/or leave.  So, yes, ‘time’ owns me.

Maybe I have it all wrong, and the people who don’t worry about being on ‘time’ are the smarter ones.  Doug Bratt, who writes commentary for a Calvin Seminary website, describes how his Indonesian friends refer to ‘rubber time’.  Meeting times are just suggestions.  Indonesians are, Bratt writes, often 30-45 minutes later in appearing than the time originally agreed upon. But, and here is the key, when they show up they are really ‘present’ in the moment.

I think this is a brilliant approach to punctuality.  You will never be late again if you simply train your friends to know that you live by ‘rubber time.’  You are stretching the definition of being ‘on time’ to arrive, say, within the hour.  But, and this is critical, when you show up you will not look at your mobile device; you will not be thinking about where you need to get next; you will be fully engaged in being present in the moment and in the lives of the ones you are with. 

Now, if you decide to try this (or maybe you are already living in ‘rubber time’), I make no promises about how often you will be invited to dinner parties. I give no assurances that your dentist will see you when you arrive.  But, I guess if the ‘cable guy’ and delivery companies can give us three hour windows for a so-called ‘appointment’, why can’t we all try it?

Bratt suggests that perhaps we should look at Jesus’ promise that he is ‘coming soon’ (Rev. 22:20) as a ‘rubber time’ event. Jesus isn’t late, as we in the western world define time. He is going to show up ‘soon’. He isn’t ‘late’ to the promised party, he is just fully engaged elsewhere for now. But, when Jesus does arrive, we will see him face to face. And time will matter no more.

I cannot wait!