Beautiful Feet

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

The prophet Isaiah writes,

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings Good News, the Good News of peace and salvation, the Good News that the God of Israel reigns.” Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)

Imagine living in a remote village or mountainous area where the only news of the outside world came, not through a smart phone, text message, twitter, or Facebook, but came by a messenger on foot or traveling through the area. It could be weeks or even months between hearing news from neighboring regions. Especially in an age where many of us cannot go a few minutes without checking our Facebook/Twitter feed because of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), can you imagine how exciting it would be to have a messenger or traveling passing by your home who could share news- and hopefully Good News! The arrival of a messenger would be celebrated. It would be anticipated- to the point that Isaiah writes, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger…”

Isaiah words are not just about any messenger, but the messenger who would bring Good News of peace and salvation. The Good News that the God of Israel reigns. If you live in a time or place where war and violence is the norm, a message of peace and deliverance would truly be Good News. In a world rife with sin and the brokenness that comes in a sinful world, news of Peace (with God and with our neighbors) and Salvation (from our sin and the death that accompanies it) is THE Good News!

In this season of Advent, who are the messengers who have brought us Good News of the peace and salvation that comes through Jesus? Have we given thanks to God for those who shared with us this Good News? Likewise, who are we sharing this message of Good News with- that they might think we have “beautiful feet” for bringing Good News of peace and salvation to?

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The Absence of God

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

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I’ve been reading Eugene Peterson’s book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, very slowly this Fall. The other day I came across a line that has been on my heart and mind ever since. He writes,

“The story in which God does his saving work arises among a people whose primary experience of God is his absence.” -Eugene Peterson

The quote is about the Hebrew people who were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years before the Exodus. While enslaved, they cried out to God for God to intervene for 430 years. That is a long time. Where was God during this time? Did God hear their prayers and their cries for mercy?

I’m going to hazard a guess that most of us have experienced what we might call the absence of God in our lives. The times when we go through trials and the painful parts of life and we wonder where God is; whether God hears our cries; and whether God cares about what we are going through. Peterson goes on to suggest that this absence, though painful, is a normal part of the salvation story contained in the Scriptures- and especially the book of Psalms. Peterson list many Psalms, Ps. 22:1-2, 10:1, 13:1, 42:9, 74:1, 89:46, just to name a few, which speak of the absence of God. Have you ever felt those emotions? Uttered those words?

There have been times in my life where I have cried out to God, wondering where God was in the midst of a trial or personal pain. God’s absence in those moments is not something we like or long for, but they are a reality. I have faith that God never leaves us- but there are times, like the Exodus, when God is quiet. It is in these times that our faith is tested by fire. Do we really have faith that God is present even when we can’t hear, feel, or see God? Even when we suffer? Even when relationships fail? It is in these times where it is possible that our faith can flourish as we trust God’s plan and God’s timing in our lives. It’s not easy. It’s not fun. But we have hope that one day God will bring salvation to His people. Peterson again writes,

“But given our consumerist tendencies to shop for a god or goddess who will cater to our appetites for coziness and good feelings, they [periods of God’s absence] are necessary. Necessary to keep us alert and attentive to the mystery of God whose “ways are past finding out.” Necessary to prevent us from reducing God Almighty to god-at-my-beck-and-call. Necessary to place disciplined constraints on our collective (especially North American) “spiritual sweet tooth.” Necessary to enlarge our readiness for salvation beyond our carefully fenced in and devoutly tended backyard spirituality gardens.”

We are in the season of Advent- a season set aside where we wait on God. A season to build our expectation of Jesus’ return where he will restore Creation and sin and death will be no more. What is evident is that we wait. We long for the day of redemption. The day of restoration. We have hope, that even in a world full of sin and the effects of sin that God will again save His people through the gift of love and grace that is Jesus. As we wait our anticipation should built and we should get ready for salvation from God.

The holidays can be a difficult time for many; and even a time where we feel like God is absent. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose your faith. God may be quiet, but God is present in our lives and moving us towards the day when we will be restored. O come, o come, Emmanuel!

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Mike Tomlin and Leadership

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

On Thanksgiving Day, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin inadvertantly step onto the field of play while the Ravens Jacoby Jones ran back a kick 73 yards. It appears that Tomlin’s presence influenced Jones’ route. There were many comments that Tomlin cheated and did this on purpose. Tomlin has said that he was watching the return on the Jumbotron, which offers a TV view rather than the sideline view. You can debate this all you want.

What really struck me was what Tomlin said at his weekly press conference this week. He said,

“My descriptions of my actions on that play are a lot of things — embarrassing, inexcusable, illegal, a blunder, being many of the things I’d use to describe it. I take full responsibility for my actions on that play. I acknowledge that my actions unfortunately became part of the play. I also embrace that as head coaches, we’re held to the highest standards of conduct, and I realize that that blunder fell woefully short of that expectation. In that vein, I embrace the responsibilities that come with my position, and understand the repercussions from a blunder of that nature. I also understand that with my position comes  the charge of preserving and protecting the integrity of the game of football. My biggest error was not realizing that that play jeopardized the integrity of the game from a perception standpoint.”

This is what excellent leaders do- they take responsibility. Coach Tomlin did not wait for the media to ask him about the event. He came out and took responsibility for his actions, the perception of his actions, and the impact they have on him, the organization, and the league. While Tomlin explained why he was where he was (watching the Jumbotron), he did not make an excuse. Tomlin even made a joke about a meme that was on the internet and it seemed to diffuse the situation a bit as he was able to laugh at himself.

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Leaders make decisions all the time. As leaders, the success of our organization, event, or team are impacted by the decisions we make (and do not make). Our decisions impact the public’s perception of our organization and of ourselves. An excellent leader does not look to assign or shift blame. A great leader takes responsibility for blunders and mistakes and distributes the praise when there is great success. While I am sure that Coach Tomlin would like to have that moment back and not be so close to the field, his response at the press conference shows that he understands the responsibilities of being a leader.

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Arcade Fire and the Wedding Banquet

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

I read two brief articles (here and here) this morning that the band Arcade Fire is making it mandatory for concert goers to wear “formal attire or a costume” to their shows. You can go on their twitter page (@arcadefire) and see some pictures of recent shows of concert goers in their formal attire and costumes. While the statement and articles mention that the formal attire and costumes are mandatory- I haven’t seen what happens if you show up at the concert without a tie and jacket.

There is a parable in Matthew 22 that Jesus tells. It’s a parable of a wedding banquet. Not quite a concert- but both were communal celebrations. In the parable, an invitation goes out to the banquet and no one shows up. In verse 8- the king tells his servants to “go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” And they did this until the banquet hall was full.

The king went around to see his guest until he came upon a guest that was no properly dressed for the wedding banquet. Anyone, including peasants, would know to wear the proper attire to a wedding banquet. To show up without the proper attire was disrespectful towards the king-who was already slighted by the guest who ignored the first invitation. The king then had the ill-dressed guest bound up and thrown out into the darkness.

If the king is God, and the wedding banquet our life (eternal) with God- then we can say that many are invited to participate in God’s Kingdom, in the God-life. As we see in the first set of invitations, some reject the invitation to participate. Likewise, God continues to extend the invitation to participate in the God-life- reaching out to those that others might find undesirable.

We must come prepared, dressed in the “right” attire. That attire is Christ. In Galatians 3:26-29, Paul writes:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

When we cloth ourselves with Christ, it doesn’t matter whether we are Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female- we become heirs to eternal life with God. We are welcome at the wedding banquet.

The next time you hear an Arcade Fire song, or see a story about their “dress code” for their shows, remember that our dress code, our attire is Christ Jesus. That we are to take off the old self; our sinful nature and practices and put on Jesus.

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Church Is

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

I have always been a fan of Rob Bell. Yes- the same controversial figure that gave us Love Wins (and also Velvet Elvis, Sex God, and Jesus Wants to Save Christians) Rob was recently interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on her Super Soul Sunday (Which is a terribly cheesy name).His messages have always challenged me to dig deeper and see things that I’ve heard since I was little in a new light. I think Rob’s creativity in the way he presents his messages is a drawing point to me as well.

Case in point is the Nooma video series that Rob did awhile back while he was still at Mars Hill. Last night, I watched the video entitled “Sunday.” It’s a short twelve minute film on Sunday morning, and worship, and whether we worship out of duty or because of our love for God- and which one is more desirable. At the 9:40 mark in the video, Rob gives a definition of the Church that I really like. He says,

“When you realize you can do something about the suffering in the world; when you realize there is work to be done, and you can do it- then your heart is starting to beat like God’s. Is Church a building, like an hour once a week? Church is people. People whose hearts are beating more and more like God’s.”

The Church is comprised of people whose hearts beat, and break, and are filled with love, compassion, grace, and mercy for the people that God loves. It is not about four walls, or programming, or rules- but being the hands and feet of Christ to the people that God loves.

How would you define Church? What does the Church look like when it is filled with people whose heart beats with God’s?

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The Jerry Maguire Marriage Myth

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

I wanted to write somewhat of a followup to my previous post (found here), which was a response to the Seth Adams Smith post (found here). It’s a post about marriage and one of the myths about marriage- that is perpetuated in the film Jerry Maguire and other romantic narratives. If you’ve seen the movie, you remember the line when Jerry tells Renee Zellweger’s character, “You complete me.” It’s a moving scene (especially if you have dust in your eyes already) and easy to see why one would want someone to complete us.

As I write, I come from a Christian world view and as a pastor, I teach and counsel on this world view. The Christian world view teaches that each person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We are created male and female in the image of God. As individuals, we have sacred worth and we are whole beings. We are not created incomplete. We are not created lacking something that we must find in some relationship. While we each have sin in our lives (Rom. 3:23)- any wholeness that we seek comes from Jesus in our lives who takes away the stain of sin in our lives.

So what about marriage?

The best marriage advice I ever received was this: to pursue your faith in God and your calling with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Be the person God created you to be. As you live this life, look around and see who is running in the same direction and with the same passion that you are. When you find that person- you might see if there is a connection- a spark- an interested to commit to one another in love and commit to glorify God with your relationship. It’s not so much about being completed- but finding someone you love who you can complete the journey with. (I believe I heard this from a video from Tommy Nelson)

Genesis 2:18 says, “The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” All the creatures of the earth were brought to Adam and none were found to be a suitable companion. So God created something new- from Adam’s rib. A woman who was created to be a companion and a helper. A helper to fulfill the purpose that God had created them for. Not someone to fulfill an inadequacy or to make Adam whole- a helper and a companion as they lived out what God had created them for.

Back to us: In marriage, we seek a partner and a helper to help us fulfill the purpose we were created for. We choose a partner who is heading in the same direction as us with the same passion- or else we end up heading in opposite directions. We aren’t to look for a partner to fill a hole in our life- but someone do live

I cannot think of anyone I would want to do life with than my wife, Andrea. We’ve been doing this together for 13 years in December. Life is better with her in it- that is true and there is no arguing that. She makes me want to be a better person. But we do not complete each other because we are lacking- we complete each other in the sense of chasing after God’s divine purpose for our lives together. And loving each other every step of the way.

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No Person is Incognito

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

I have been following the controversy down in Miami where Richie Incognito is accused of bullying fellow offensive linemen, Jonathan Martin- reportedly making him pay for meals, vacation, and using racial slurs on a voicemail. You can read an ESPN article here. As a former high school and college athlete (sadly, not a professional athlete!!)- there is a level of hazing that takes place- usually to welcome or initiate/welcome someone as part of the team. It’s a right of passage- but what has happened in Miami has obviously crossed the line into bullying.

My daughter, Abigail, is currently in 1st grade. In October, there was an initiative at school to teach students not to bully their classmates. We know that bullying takes place in our schools, our communities, and our workplaces.

As Christians, we are called to treat each other in a different manner. When humankind were created in Genesis we read, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” One of our basis beliefs about humanity is that we are created in the image of God. Because of this, each person, has sacred worth and value. It doesn’t matter about our skin color, differences, gender, ability/dis-ability, etc. Every person has sacred value and worth. In the second part of the “Greatest Commandment” (Mark 12:30-31) Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we view others with sacred worth- and love others as we love ourselves- our world would have a much different feel to it!

For this reason- no person can be Incognito- no person can have the identity concealed or treated as a person of no value. No person should be invisible. God has created each of us, knows each of us, and desires for us to know Him. As believers, we must recognize the sacred value and worth that each person has. We must love our neighbors and treat them with the respect, honor, dignity, and worth that each person has from being created in the image of God.

The situation in Miami has rightfully brought bullying into the spotlight, especially for adults in the workplace. Those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ have a unique opportunity to speak life into our communities and workplaces by viewing each person we encounter as persons with sacred worth loving these people as we love ourselves. We have the opportunity to love those who are marginalized by the greater society on a macro and micro level- from our cities to our schools/churches/workplaces.

 

 

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Marriage Isn’t For You: A Response

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

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It’s possible that you’ve already read Seth Adams Smith’s blog post, Marriage Isn’t For You. I cannot look down my Facebook feed without seeing someone “liking” it or commenting on it. I think he gets it wrong.

To be fair, there is a lot that he gets right. Marriage is not the place to be selfish. Marriage is about caring, honoring, and cherishing the person we marry. I love his conversation with his dad from the post. There are some positive things here- but from a Christian perspective on marriage- I think this post needs to go farther.

The Goal of Marriage is Not Making the Other Person Happy: This sounds shocking a maybe counter-intuitive. The goal and point of marriage is bringing glory and honor to God. Christian marriage, just like our personal faith, is about loving and honoring God with our life. Our marriage should be a reflection of God’s unconditional, unrelenting, never-ending love for the world. The reason we practice mutual submission in marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33) is not just to make our spouse happy- it’s because Jesus submitted to death on the cross to show us love. We honor God by practicing the same love in our marriage. When people see our marriage, when they see the way we love our spouse, it should point them to the love of God, the Groomsman waiting for his bride- the Church.

Here is what happens when marriage is about glorifying and honoring God: Rather than happiness- we find joy. Happiness is contingent on external circumstances (how I feel). Happiness is an emotion. Joy is a state of being. Joy is deeper because it is centered upon Who God Is and What God Has Done for us through Jesus. That is why we can have joy/give praise in difficult situations- this is why we can have joy in the midst of mourning- because our joy is found in the Lord.

When a husband and a wife can view their marriage as a way to honor and glorify God- there will be happiness, there will be a real sense of not being selfish in marriage. But the deepest result will be joy. Joy found in God is what helps us through the difficult times in our marriages and sustains us to work in love to grow our marriage.

Here is our approach heading into our marriage: Andrea and I believe that to have a successful Christ-centered marriage means you run the race that God has called you to run with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. As you run that race, look around to see who is running with you. Who has a similar call? Who can you partner with in honoring and glorifying God? When you find that person, you begin to discern and see if a life-long commitment to marriage is what you are called to. It’s in serving God, honoring God together that we find joy in our marriage (and ultimately this becomes satisfying and brings a lot of happiness). It is honoring God that leads us to care for one another for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. It’s our relationship with God that calls me to lay down my own desires/will and not be selfish in marriage (not saying I do that well!).

Marriage isn’t for you- and that is correct. Marriage is about honoring God through the marriage relationship and through the formation of a new family.

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first

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

I had an encounter with a parishioner at a former church after a message that I won’t forget. As I greeting those who attended that morning a woman came through and said, “You were stepping on some toes this morning with your message- gently, but just enough to get my attention. I needed that.”

Yesterday’s message likely stepped on a few toes. Hopefully with care. Of course, the biggest toe that was stepped on was my own!

In yesterday’s message, we sought to name the idols that we have in our lives that we put a priority on over our relationship with God. Mike Slaughter, in Shiny gods, writes that an idol is “anything, or anyone, that receives the primary focus of my energy or resources that first should belong to God.” Using that definition, we can quickly come up with several, if not many, potential idols: money, careers, success, alcohol/drugs, TV, Sports, relationships, and the list could go on.

My big idol confession- technology. I am connected in so many ways to my computer, iPad, and iPhone. It tempts me to waste away my time doing things that do not amount to anything personally or spiritually. (There is great irony that I write this confession on a computer connected to the internet.) Let me be clear, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong or evil with technology- but when it receives the primary focus of my time and resources, it becomes a real issue (and that doesn’t get into “what” we use/look at on the computer!)

As a father, the last thing I want is to become “that” parent. You know the one- at the park with their kid on the swing or slide while they sit on the bench looking at their phone rather than engaging in building an even better relationship with their children. Or to be “that” Christian who spends all their time finding articles, stories, and music on the internet that can inspire a deeper faith in God without actually spending time with God.

As a Christian, my relationship with God must come first- before all other things. When I put God first, my life prioritizes around what is primary. I need to consistently ask myself whether or not I am putting God first in my life or something else.

What idols do you struggle with? How do you keep God first on a daily basis?

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Why My Wife is Teacher of the Year

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Steve LaMotte

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On Tuesday night (Oct. 29), I had the opportunity to attend a banquet honoring the 19 District Teacher’s of the Year from the (you guessed it) 19 districts in Delaware. There were about 500 people in the room with many dignitaries such as Governor Markell and Lt. Gov. Matt Denn. Also included in the room was my wife, Andrea, who is the 2014 Caesar Rodney Teacher of the Year and one of the evening’s 19 candidates for State Teacher of the Year.

It was a fun evening. We got to bring our children along, as well as our good friend Laura and spend the evening together. This whole process has been fun for me because usually I am the person in our family that is more in the public spotlight. Through the process and especially on this evening- it was Andrea’s night. Even though Delaware is a small state, it is still pretty cool when the Lt. Governor sought out Andrea personally to invite her to be part of a special education task force. This was an evening where I happily took the title of “Andrea LaMotte’s Husband” or “Abbie and Chloe’s babysitter” while Andrea rubbed elbows with administrators from our district and some other friends.

After opening remarks, dinner, a really good video presentation, and more (and more) remarks- Governor Markell came to the podium to announce the State Teacher of the Year. I had my camera ready to snap a picture of the moment the Governor announced Andrea’s name- but it didn’t come. Another name was announced. For a brief second, I was disappointed. I wanted her to win. But then I smiled because I know how great of a teacher she is and how blessed I am (and Abbie and Chloe) to have her in our lives. While Andrea did not win the State Teacher of the Year- she is the Teacher of the Year in my book.

Here are a few reasons why:

  • She Sees Things Others Don’t See: I think many teachers do this- but I’ve seen this so many times in Andrea. Andrea teaches students with disabilities at the John S. Charlton School in the Caesar Rodney School District. During her first two years teaching- she taught some of the lowest functioning students in the district. There were several times when Andrea would communicate to parents on what their students were able to do and the parents were in disbelief. So Andrea would take video of the children doing task their parents didn’t believe they could do. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Andrea talk about a student’s limitations (their dis-ability)- but her focus has always been on what they can do, and what she believes they will be able to do.
  • She Expects Excellence: Andrea works with a population of students where excellence may not be the first thing one talks about. Andrea expects her students to do their best everyday- and honestly, I don’t think she is afraid to call her students on it. It’s been excited for me to watch her work with some of these students for several years- and having a few of them transition out of Charlton and back into the mainstream buildings and population. She works hard to bring out the best in each of her students. And honestly, she works hard to bring out the best in our family- though I am more of a challenge to her than her students!
  • She Loves Going to Work: Again, she’s not the only one who loves to teach- but I know that she loves what she does. During this whole process, Andrea has had to be out of the classroom at meetings and other activities and the thing I hear the most is “I just want to get back to teaching my students.” She says this not because she doesn’t want to do the other things, but because she loves her students and she loves the relationship she has with them and her para-professionals. If half of the stories I hear are true, Andrea and her paras (Joe and Melanie) have way too much fun some days working together!
  • This is her mission field: There was a time in Andrea’s life and in our relationship where we wrestled with where to serve God best. Ultimately, we ended up in the church. Andrea has always had a heart and a calling for ministry. When Andrea was in college, she spent six months working with the poorest of the poor in India where she encountered the dying and disposed of in Mother Theresa’s Home for the Dying and taught English in Nepal. She care for those who had been marginalized by society. Andrea’s work in her classroom is her mission field. Each day, she has the opportunity to “be Jesus” to her students and colleagues. Part of Andrea’s philosophy of teaching is including students with disabilities into the mainstream education process- taking the marginalized and including them in the greater community because we have so much that we can learn from each other. I am blessed to see the care and compassion, the love that Andrea has for her students, and how she reflects Jesus in her classroom.

I don’t think I could say enough how proud I am of Andrea, and I have told her that often since she knew she was her District Teacher of the Year. I am excited to see how God continues to use her to touch lives inside and outside of the classroom!

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