"This successful life we're livin' got us feuding like the Hatfield and McCoy's" -- Waylon Jennings

This was war! Every war had a beginning! KU-MU: the boarder war, started with Quantrill's raiders attacking (killing 200 citizens) and burning the town of Lawrence. Once the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri began lacing up the hightops, the war has taken shape on the basketball court. As a Jayhawk fan, I want to be honest with you readers: we hate losing, but if the choice was between KSU and MU, I would much rather lose to KSU than Mizzou! The Hatfield and Mccoy Rivalry of the mid to late 19th century began over the killing of a Union soldier after he had returned from the war. In the prologue of Shakespear's Romeo and Juliette, we learn that this is an "ancient grudge" between the Capulets and the Montagues. One can only assume what started that war. Was it wealth? power? fame? a car wreck?

The point is this: Every war had at least on triggering factor. What if it was a person? What if you were the Helen of Troy? The reason for the fighting. Homer's Illiad (with huge nods to other ancient historians) recounts the battle of Troy as Paris, the Trojan Prince, has taken (Sappho claims she came willingly others would argue she was taken by force) Helen, the beautiful wife of King Menalaus. This war was massive. Men from all over the world would fight in this war. How would you feel if you were the cause? If you were Helen?

This is the very dilemma that John Mark (know as Mark from now on) faced in Acts. Though his decision would not cost any lives, he did cause a schism in the team of Paul and Barnabs (or should I say Barnabas and Paul?).

Mark was from Jerusalem. He had seen Christian Church from its infancy. His mother's house was a place of prayer and worship (Acts 12.12). Once his cousin Barnabas (Colossians 4.10) had taken a bigger role in the ministry of Jesus, Mark knew he wanted in. Barnabas was the one who had brought Saul into the mix with the apostles (Acts 9.27) here in Jerusalem. Now years later Barnabas and Saul ask this man, Mark, if he wants to be part of the first missionary journey! That's like being asked to go to the moon, or if you wanted a pulitzer? Its not something you scoff at or hesitate on. You jump at the first opportunity, just as Mark did.

The honeymoon period for missionaries doesn't last too long. Soon the newness wore off and Mark had a problem. What that problem was we can only speculate. Perhaps it was the reallocation of power between Paul and Barnabas (notice the names are now reversed, with Paul taking a leading role for the rest of the book) probably didn't sit too well with the cousin. Maybe it was fear. They were headed to a place (Pisidia Antioch) known for its bandits. It could have been sickness or a family crisis. For whatever reason, Mark leaves (Acts 13.13) to return to Jerusalem.

This action doesn't sit too well with Paul. When the idea came up about returning to all the places they visited on the first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas began assembling a team (Acts 15.36). The subject of Mark came up. Barnabas wanted him, Paul didn't (Acts 15.37). He had deserted them in Pamphylia (Acts 15.38). The greatest team of missionaries to the date was now split up by the disagreement over Mark. Barnabas took Mark to his home of Cyprus and Paul took Silas (Acts 15.39-40).

That had to be rough on Mark. To be the one who is fought over. The one causing the dispute. Chronologically this is the last we will hear of Barnabas. He isn't mentioned again. How would you feel if you were Mark? The dispute had to have some kind of lasting effects. Paul was probably just as disappointed in him as he was that Barnabas wanted to take him. These are the kinds of wounds that linger for some a lifetime.

Though Barnabas fades away, Mark resurfaces. Nearing the end of his life; perhaps just days or hours before his execution, Paul asks for Mark to come to Rome with Timothy, because he is helpful to his ministry (2 Timothy 4.11). Paul mentions him from an earlier imprisonment in Colossians 4.10, and we have to wonder if the instructions were about his rehabilitation for Paul? It matters not, at the end of Paul's life, he wants Mark to come to him! Paul just spent time telling Timothy about those that have deserted him: Demas, Crescens, and Titus. We aren't sure of all the circumstances here or whether they left on good terms, but needless to say, Paul is alone (aside from Luke). Bring Mark!

So many times our arguments are final. All to often our differences are relationship ending. We harbor resentment and anger; hatred and aggression. Paul, during a hectic first missionary journey, was deserted by a guy he thought he could trust! Like the rope that is holding a mountain climber, often the resentment and anger are the only thing that still attaches us to relationships. I don't know what Mark did to get reinstated or whether it was Paul's grace and mercy towards an old friend, whatever it was it is an example.

We can't hold onto our petty ministry differences any longer. No longer can resentment rule the attitudes of our heart. We may not agree on everything, but no matter how great the wound, forgiveness and understanding can fill it. Ministry philosophies and ministry dedication differs; family troubles are handled differently by all; and some people are just hard to get along with. They will abandon, infuriate, and tear down. They will act apathetic, lethargic, and illogical. Paul felt all these from Mark, but in the same way that Jesus felt and bore all these as well, Paul found ability to forgive.

Bring Mark, for he is helpful to my ministry (2 Tim. 4.11)! The original title for Mark was: "helper" (Acts 13.5). Good to know he ended the same way he started.

Persecution in Central Park

For the last couple weeks in Jr. High Youth group, we have been studying thankfulness (see my last post). Two weeks ago we discussed how Paul was thankful for the community that he was a part of.

This week we discussed Paul's thankfulness for salvation. I think Paul had a little bit better grasp on salvation than we do. Why this is I can only speculate; however, I think it is because getting saved by God was an every day occurrence. If you read through Paul's list of tribulations in 2 Corinthians 11.24ff.:

Five times lashed by the Jews

Three times he was beaten with rods (Acts 16.23)

Once he was stoned (Acts 14.19)

Three times he was shipwrecked (Acts 27)

He was in danger from Jews (Acts 9.23ff.; 9.29; 13.50; 14.5;

He was in danger from Gentiles (Acts 14.5)

He was thrown in prison or under guard (Acts 16.23; 23.35)

Paul seemed to be saved by God a lot during his work. I wonder if that is why Paul seems so much more thankful for the work of Salvation. Salvation, for Paul, is a constant occurrence.

This is what I wanted our jr. highers to understand when we talked about being thankful for salvation. On Wednesday night, our jr. high students met at the north end of Central Park Park. Each group 0f 4 or 5 students was led by a sponsor or parent. Their job was to make the perilous trek 800 yards to the south in to the back room of our church. The room has no windows and only one entrance. Their enemies were 8 of our high school kids with the mission of persecuting our jr. high kids to no end (purple nurples, chest taps, noogies, whatever it takes). Once our students entered the back room I spoke to them about being thankful for their salvation, not only for their evading the persecution, but for their eternal salvation.

I played some gunfire in the background and the muslim call to prayer to let them experience what other Christians are going through around the world. It was a lot of fun. We took communion to end the night; as a celebration of what Jesus did for us to save us from our sins.

Thanksgiving and the Epistles

What was Paul thankful for? On what occasion did he find to give thanks to God? And what does it matter to Jr. Highers?

Tough questions that will all come to a head in the next couple weeks of Jr. High youth group.

Paul was thankful for all these things and it was very clear that he understood the place of thanksgiving in his life (the attitude not the holiday). It is a constant attitude and action. Paul mentions it third in his list of continual actions in 1 Thessalonians 5. It isn't the only time that he looks for thanksgiving in every action. Colossians 3.17 says: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Paul not only saw thanksgiving as an attitude for life but also an integral part of prayer life. It is interesting how often thanksgiving is attached to our prayer life. Paul reminds us in Phil 4.6 to present our prayers of thanksgiving to God. All to often our prayer lives return to our needs and concerns; but time is rarely spent on thanking him for the work he has already done. But what did Paul really have to say about thanksgiving and what was he thankful for:

(1) Paul thanks God because of the community he is in. In many of the letters that Paul writes he affirms the community of believers with thanksgiving for them. Granted, he upholds different aspects of that community in his thanksgiving (to the Romans he is thankful for their faith [1.8]; to the Corinthians it is the grace God has given in his dealings with them [1 cor. 1.4]; to the Ephesians he is tankful for their faith and their love for one another [1.15]; to the Thessalonians not once but twice [1.2; 1.3]; to Philemon [1.4-5]) but ultimately it is the chance to be in a loving community to of faith that Paul is drawn to. He instructs Timothy to pray and give thanks for all people during the course of his worship (1 Tim. 2.1-2).

(2) Paul is thankful for the gift of salvation. Romans 6.17-18: "But thanks be to God that, through you used to be slaves to sin...you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 7.25 seems to echo that same sentiment. Thankfulness for the gift of salvation is rampant through the works of Paul. The life that he was saved from through his encounter on the Damascus road is a gift that he is thankful for.

(3) Paul is appreciative of the grace that God has lavished upon him (2 Cor. 9.15). Paul is no stranger to the grace of God. He refers to himself as the "worst of sinners" (1 Tim. 1.12ff.). He holds himself up as an example of God's patience and grace. The same can be said of us. We have tested and expended the grace of God...and if God weren't all that he is our lives should have ended by now. Paul understands that the gesture of grace and the gift of grace is a call for thanksgiving.

Paul's thanksgiving was foundational to his contentment in life (Philippians 4.12) and it is key to our own contentment. If we are able to give thanks where thanks is due, it shows that we understand who is in control which allows us to recognize the provisions of God. Contentment lies in knowing the effort; love; and lengths to which God has striven for us. This isnt just a problem for Jr. Highers but for all of us.

What did Paul pray for?

What ever he prayed for, I can guarantee you that the prayer life he cultivated was far from the "God bless my family, keep me safe, and be with the starving children of Darfur." that has infiltrated my prayer life. As an American people, our recent prayers have been for the nation, the economy, for peace, and for prosperity. For along time, I have really wanted to study what it was that Paul devoted his prayer life too. If there was ever a guy who seemed to have the attention of God, it would have been Paul (second only to Jesus probably). So what was it that Paul prayed for?

Throughout the letters of Paul, he is constantly praying for the recipients of his letter. As I studied his prayers for the church, I couldn't help but notice that mine seem so shallow in comparison. Something, be it depth or outlook, seems strangely absent from my prayer life.

Two things that Paul prayed for seemed to come to the fore front yesterday. Two items seemed at this time of the year to shine brighter than the others.

1. Paul gave thanks for the people in his life. It is of no coincidence that many of Paul's prayers found themselves in the midst of his thanksgiving. Holidays are a stressful time. Tensions run higher, schedules are more hectic, and we find ourselves in close contact to the people around us. Paul takes his relationships with people to God, and gives thanks for them. A healthy habit for us to partake of near this time of year. That is what this holiday is about, giving thanks for the people around you.

2. Paul prayed for power and love in the recipients of the book. This weekend was Persecuted Church Sunday. Stacy talked about her friend in China and the way that Christians live over there. I talked a bit about my friends in North Africa. We talk constantly about missionaries who go to persecuted countries, but overlook the fact that their children go through the same things. We prayed for them. That their love may increase and that God's power will take them over. On Persecuted Church Sunday, we talked about Paul's continual prayer for the power and love of God to come upon people.

Do you now see how a prayer life like mine can pale in comparison? I offer up egotistical prayers for self preservation and blessings for those who wish to aid and abed me. As for praying for your enemies, not so much. Praying for others to know Christ, falls behind my own prayers for my own comfort and security.

I found myself greatly convicted by this study. As for the high schoolers that studied this as well, I cannot be sure what they were thinking. It is my hope that prayer lives have changed, as I know mine has.