chrishansler

[chrishansler]

Marriage in Retrospect (Part 1)

Lisa and I were married for 36 years and were together for over 40 years.  Tomorrow would have been our 41st Valentine’s Day together, and the next day (Feb. 15th) marks one year since I lost her. All of my memories of those 40 years are good memories. But it has me thinking about what I learned about love in those 40 years. Here are some thoughts…

Be great friends. Love your spouse, yes. But always work on liking each other! Do things the other person loves to do, go places the other person loves to go, and find things you love to do together. Lisa, never a woodsy person in her life (her idea of camping was a motel instead of a hotel), went camping with me and grew to love hiking in the woods. And I spent countless hours walking the floors of malls with her eliciting an irrational fatigue in my legs. And we skied, and we traveled, and we danced, and we ate at our favorite restaurants together. We genuinely loved being together because we decided to love being together.

Be great lovers. It is great to be friends, but the uniqueness of a love relationship is a depth of intimacy that must go beyond friendship. There were times Lisa and I were good friends but lost the spark of intimacy. Intimacy takes work and has to be cultivated. And though great sex should be a part of a great marriage, intimacy must start long before sex. Lisa called it “into-me-see.” Get to know each other. We talked about 5 levels of communication that lend themselves to intimacy:

Level 1 – Cliches. “How are you doing? Fine.”  “What’s up? Not much.”

Level 2 – Facts. “What did you do today?” I went to work, picked up the kids, etc.

Level 3 – Opinions. “What did you think about what he said?”

Level 4 – Feelings. “How did it make you feel when that happened?”

Level 5 – Needs. “This is what I need from you”

 Each level requires greater trust, comes with greater risk and results in deeper intimacy. When the trust is broken or the risk results in pain, you will stay in the safer levels and never experience true intimacy. So be sensitive, listen, apologize, forgive, and keep being vulnerable. This type of intimacy will result in a great and meaningful love-life.

 Keep dating. Have a date night every week. There will be all kinds of reasons why you can’t – I know them all. But if it is a value, you can. You don’t have to spend money or even go out. Lisa and I were poor and had 3 kids under 7 when we decided we needed to have a date night every week. We chose Saturday night, and sometimes that meant putting the kids to bed early, telling them not to come out of their rooms and finding creative ways to have a special dinner, meaningful conversation and time together. But the effort expressed the value. And it is in those dates where we could have the level 4 & 5 conversations that I talked about above.

Don’t entertain the possibility of divorce. Put it out of your mind as an option. Don’t ever use it as a threat. I understand that there are reasons to consider  divorce such as adultery, abandonment and abuse. But outside of those, don’t even speak the word. You made a covenant. You are going to fight, and there might be some terribly difficult seasons. In those seasons, get help! Lisa and I had our share of those times when no matter how adorable I was 😉 she didn’t like me much. And I remember times when I was so frustrated that I thought, “I’m just going to get in my car and drive to Minnesota where nobody can find me.” Why Minnesota? I have no idea except that I didn’t know anybody there. I’m sure it’s a lovely place, but I’m so very grateful I never moved to Minnesota.  

Be a whole person. The idea that you need the other person to complete you or that you can’t live without the other person might seem romantic, but it puts way too much pressure on your spouse to do & be what she/he was never intended to do & be. Continue to work on being a healthy, whole, secure person on your own. The greatest way for this to happen is to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and to find your identity in who He has created you to be. He is the One who can make you whole. Lisa and I continued throughout our marriage to work hard on cultivating our own personal relationship with Jesus. When we were right with God, we were good with each other. Because then we were able to give of ourselves in the way Jesus modeled His love for us – sacrificially, always helping the other person become what God intended them to be (rather than what I needed her to be).

There is much more to say, but I will save that for another day. 

Love is something you do. You choose to love your spouse every day. You choose to treasure them every day. So choose them again today. Love them today. I promise you, it will be worth it.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

[chrishansler]

February Funk

February is to months what Almond Joy is to candy – a bummer.

For much of my adult life I have experienced what Lisa called my “February funk.” The holidays are over, the enthusiasm of the new year has passed, it is generally gray, dark, cold and drizzly in the Pacific Northwest, the yard is harried and sullen from the toll of winter, and baseball is still too far away. See!? A bummer. Oh sure, it will tease us with a nice day here and there and then slap us in the face with a cold snap or a late snowfall. February is obnoxious.

Add to the forementioned absolute truths that February 15th will be the one-year anniversary of Lisa’s passing. But wait, at least I have Valentine’s Day the day before…  (For those who don’t know me, that is sarcasm). The anticipation of this particular February has been looming with an added weightiness to it.

In her book, “Living into Community: Cultivating Practices that Sustain Us” Christine Pohl speaks of the power of gratitude and writes, “Practicing gratitude helps us to interpret our pasts differently.” As I have reflected on the practice of gratitude I am reminded of what a beautiful, good life God has given me. There is too much good to name but among them are my incredible kids, my family, my expansive church community, my friends, and my neighbors. I love what I do, and I love where I live.

So this February, beginning today, while my kids and I will not ignore the reality of the sorrow and the weight of this next impending “first” without Lisa, I will make room for intentional thankfulness. And I am praying that somehow, even in the midst of this inferior month among months, this month that is like the butt ends on a loaf of bread, that this will be a “Flourishing February” rather than a February funk.  P.S. And today, February 1 in the PNW, the sun is shining. :) 

“Flourishing are the mourners because they will be comforted.”              - Matthew 5:4

Playlist:

·       Time for Flowers 

·       God is Good

[chrishansler]

My 2022 Takeaways

2022 was quite a year, but I believe there are always things to learn or reflect on  from our experiences. Here are a few of mine. 

Whatever you are going through, Jesus will be with you through it.

     I realize not everyone is a believer in God. And I understand many don’t know Jesus in a personal way, not only as a Savior but also as a “friend who sticks closer than a brother.” But I wish you did, hope you do, or hope you will. He told us he would be with us forever, and in a mysterious, supernatural way that can’t be explained until it is experienced, He is. He is my creator, so He understands me, but He isn’t distant. He is personal – He knows me, better than my family, better than my friends and even better than myself. He is with us and He speaks through His word - the Bible, reveals Himself in creation, guides and prompts us by His Spirit and listens to us in prayer.

    While He will be with us through it, we may not get over it. I’m not over the loss of Lisa, but Jesus has been with me through it. I will always miss her, but Jesus continues to reveal that He has purpose for me for this day and hope for tomorrow.

Don’t wait to do the things.

     Experience trumps stuff every time. Have experiences, both planned and unplanned, with the people you love. Don’t put off that trip or that special event you have in mind, but don’t underestimate or overlook the daily “mundane” experiences you have. Treasure them. Go to that place you’ve wanted to go. Take that time off. Start that hobby or take those classes. Don’t just do the things you have to do. Do the things you love to do. What you’ll remember is the experiences you’ve had – your own experiences and those you’ve had together with the people you love.

Covenant love will always cost you more than you expect, but it will always be worth it.

     I’m so thankful Lisa and I worked hard on our marriage right until the end. It wasn’t always easy. We had some normal disagreements, and we had some major seasons of difficulty. We are both strong-willed and stubborn. But you know what is amazing? All of my memories now are good ones. 

     Marriage will give you the greatest joy and satisfy some of your deepest longings, but it will also make you lay down your own desires again and again. It will reveal the depth of your selfishness and your great capacity for selflessness. You’ll have fights with your spouse. Sometimes they’ll be bad and extended and you’ll be tempted to walk away. Work through it. Go to counseling if necessary. If both are willing to work on it, each battle overcome takes you to greater depths of intimacy and a greater understanding of yourself. And never underestimate the power of having that person next to you who has walked with you through the stories of your life and understands every twist and every turn; who knows the secret things; who has some common battle scars; but at the end of the day is sitting with you in quiet understanding.

Fight like hell for your family.

     If at all possible be with them – your kids, your siblings, your parents. Spend more time with them than you think you need to. Call them. Stop by and visit. Find common ground and get over the things that bug you. Be bigger than the politics, social issues or beliefs that divide you. There are so many things that my kids and I have in common, and there are also major things about which we disagree. But I’ve never been more grateful for my kids. Work through whatever keeps you at a distance. If there’s been hurt, forgive.

Get your finances, accounts and will in order.

     Start saving early. Talk to a financial advisor even if you think you have nothing to advise about. I lost nearly 40% of my income when Lisa died. Thankfully we had somewhat of a plan in place. You never think you’ll need it. Evaluate your insurance policies. Go get your will done. Make sure all of your accounts have a death beneficiary clearly spelled out – don’t assume they do.

It’s the people – it’s always the people.

     Love the people around you – your neighbors, your co-workers, your church family. A little kindness goes a long way, and relationships take intention to cultivate. But there are great people around us if we would just take time to stop for a little while and get to know them. It’s easy, especially if you tend to be introverted like me, to just keep to yourself, stay home, not go to that get-together, and isolate. But people around me have been so kind, thoughtful, and supportive over this past year, and they have made some very dark days a little brighter. I’m so very thankful for the people in my life.

Here’s to 2023. I pray that this year will be filled with the clear presence of Jesus, and surprising doses of joy and hope. 

[chrishansler]

My Imperfect Holiday Observance

     I didn’t grow up observing Advent. I was a Baptist, then a Pentecostal (which is funny in itself), neither of which observed Advent. I didn’t know anything about it. Even through Bible college and my first 20+ years of ministry I was apparently under an Advent rock because I knew relatively nothing about it. I was a Christmas guy. I did all of the Christmas things - carols, lights, trees, decorations, sledding, presents, stress - all of it. And then in about 2007 at the age of 44 I stumbled across an initiative called Advent Conspiracy, and I began to learn. And I fell in love with this historic, widely-observed practice that is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. I learned that it starts four Sundays before Christmas. I learned that it is a period to slow down and to  reflect, even somber reflection as we recognize the darkness in the world and admit to our part in it. I learned about the advent wreath and the weekly themes of hope, peace, joy and love. But I also learned that those are a particular Western approach and that there are other themes and rituals in other historical parts of the church. I learned that Advent comes from the word “parousia” which means “appearing” and that Advent is a time of anticipation of the coming of Christ - not just His first coming at Christmas, but also His second coming where He will make all things new. Advent is a time to remember that we are in the in-between time and we wait with great anticipation for His coming. And then I learned that December 25th is actually the 1st day of Christmas, and all of the sudden the song “The 12 days of Christmas” made sense to me. The first day is Christmas, and the 12th day, January 6th is Epiphany - the reminder of the coming of the Wise Men.       But my observance of Advent is imperfect. I would drive an Advent purist crazy, because while I observe Advent and do a daily Advent reading and light my Advent wreath each Sunday, I also put my Christmas decorations up around Thanksgiving. I get my Christmas tree, hang my lights and play Christmas music. But then I also play Advent Hymns. Perhaps I am defeating much of the purpose of Advent in my imperfect observance. I am impatient in my waiting for His coming and I want to bask in the celebration of His first coming.       But there are no perfect holiday celebrations. Sometimes the lights don’t work right or 1/2 of a strand decides to go out in mid-December after they are on the house. Sometimes I can’t find the right Advent candles so I make do. Some believe in lots of lights and some don’t put lights up. Some think they should be every color and some think they should only be white. Some love Christmas trees, some don’t believe we should have Christmas trees. Some play only “Christian” Christmas songs and some mix in a little Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby or even the dreaded “Santa Baby.” Some think Santa detracts from the focus and some think He adds to the celebration.       I have a big manger scene in my front yard, lights on my house (white, red and green which of course are the right colors), stockings hung on my fireplace mantle with some other little manger scenes inside the house, a Christmas tree in my living room with ornaments that mean more to me this year than ever, a little Santa by my fireplace and an Advent wreath on my dining room table. It’s a little of everything. I know it’s not perfect and maybe I’m not doing it “right.” But who is it all for? It is all to remind me of Jesus. I don’t have kids at home. My wife is gone. It’s just me in this house. But it all reminds me that I’m not alone because Jesus came, and I’m not without hope because He’s coming again to make it all new!      Maybe your holiday observance isn’t perfect either. Maybe it’s been a hard year. Maybe like me you’ve experienced loss. Maybe your decorations aren’t just right, some of your lights are tangled beyond your level of patience, or maybe you just don’t have the energy this year to put them up. Maybe you have a sort-of-Advent, sort-of-Christmas thing going like me. But what matters is who you are celebrating. Jesus will not frown on your imperfect observance. Jesus did a lot of things that broke with religious convention to remind us that God is for us. So be free and do what helps you celebrate Jesus. That’s what matters, and He’s worth every light, candle, ornament, manger scene, wreath, tree, fruitcake, Christmas cookie, song or silent moment that you have. 

#Advent #Christmas

[chrishansler]

Election Day 2022

Today is election day. I have so many thoughts about this but nothing particularly new or profound. I considered making a simple social media post but then I considered the comment section and I’m not interested in furthering the polarization that already exists. My social media friends span the vast spectrum of political and religious ideology and I  knew there would be comments like “red wave! vote blue!” and less sensitive comments in reaction to those comments about whatever particular issue that the commenter feels is the most moral,  spiritual or important. This is the problem with our discourse. There isn’t much.

So why write this? To process my thoughts in writing, and give others who may care a window into those thoughts.

God isn’t confined to or aligned with any particular political party or governmental system. I see people who keep trying to box God into a party platform and demonizing people in the other party so that their side can “win” as though somehow God needs political power to move His mission forward. But God doesn’t fit in those boxes and God doesn’t demonize those made in His image - no matter what side of the political spectrum they are on. The devil tried to offer Jesus an earthly kingdom and Jesus rejected it. Jesus’ followers wanted him to exert power over the governing authorities and establish political influence. Jesus rejected that too. Instead, Jesus spoke of a different kind of Kingdom - one marked by love, humility, spiritual authority, sacrifice and death. Where does that rule reside? In our hearts, not in the power of the state. 

But I have also considered much about how fortunate I am and the privileges I have enjoyed when it comes to my thoughts about voting. It is easy for me to say, “Don’t worry about the outcome of the vote, God is in charge! We are not defined by an earthly system but we are citizens of God’s Kingdom!” And while those statements are true, I recognize that they come easier for me than for many others. I have been the beneficiary of established power. I have worked, but I have not had to fight for most of the  things I have enjoyed - the ability to vote, to worship, to marry, to rent or buy in virtually any part of our country, to receive medical coverage, to be given the benefit of the doubt because of the way I look, etc. I have not really suffered economic, social or religious injustice. But many do. That is why the vote we make matters. Because it affects real lives in real ways. Because it can be a pathway to justice and equity and it can serve the common good. That is why I believe that when we vote we should consider not only how it will affect me - my finances, my tax burden, my privileges - but those most vulnerable, marginalized and unjustly treated among us. Because while God’s Kingdom is not contained within a political party or system, and while His intent was never to impose the good news of Jesus through law, real lives are affected by our votes.

“Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.”  Philippians 2:3-4 (CEB)

[chrishansler]

Easter for Pastors

As we entered the restaurant, I was filled with a familiar mixture of adrenaline and exhaustion because after all, it was Easter! We had celebrated the resurrection with a record crowd at our young church plant, and all of the planning to give our very best had yielded good results and had taken a great amount of emotional energy. On this particular Easter Sunday, we were going out for lunch with some family. As we were being led to our table we saw another local well-known pastor of a large church and said hello. He asked what I taught on and though I don't remember the specifics, I'm fairly certain it had something to do with the resurrection of Jesus. I've never forgotten his first two words: "That's it?!" He went on to talk about the predictability of my approach and proceeded to explain how he had masterfully unfolded the life-changing, historical, contextual nuances of the Via Dolorosa (or something like that - honestly I didn't hear much after, "that's it?"). Suddenly a beautiful celebration turned into an internal battle of my own insecurity and questions about my leadership capacity. That's the problem with Easter for pastors. I've heard it called the "Superbowl of the Christian year." Now we know that's true because we are reminded that Jesus wins the "big one" every year. But too often for pastors it means that they better deliver a Superbowl-level performance. It is the Sunday when pastors hear, "I'm bringing my neighbor/friend/co-worker/family member to church so I really hope he/she likes it!" And for the previous 4 weeks the pastor has been pounding the need to invite into the congregation, so he is thrilled people are being invited. But he also feels intense levels of responsibility for whether these visitors "like" it or not. And then he sees the advertisements of the extravaganzas that other churches are holding on Easter weekend: "8 million eggs in our Egg Hunt!"; "Come to our church because we don't suck like most churches do!"; "Michael Jordan will be here  sharing his personal testimony in our Easter Service." And the pastor drinks a toxic cocktail of feelings of inadequacy, guilt that he's not more excited about Jesus' resurrection, and worry that the last minute $6 Easter video illustration he just purchased won't have the knock-out impact that is needed. So pastors I urge you to rebel against the temporal, carnal, worldly pressure to perform. Pray, prepare, and give your best to this beautiful opportunity. But don’t  compare your results to the hype you'll read on your twitter feed. The power of Easter is Jesus! You aren't the agent of change, the Holy Spirit is! God has been pursuing those folks that will sit in your service since before they were born. God is the one who opens their windows of opportunity. Their eternal destiny is not in your hands, it is in His. And at Easter, regardless of what we do, Jesus wins! So relax. Resolve to soak it in and truly enjoy the celebration. And if you share the gospel, if you talk about the resurrection, I can assure you that your Father in heaven will applaud and say "Yes, that's it!"

[chrishansler]

Our Kids are Watching

I wrote this in 2016 but this seems like a good time to re-post it. 

Our kids are watching.

Please don't tell them God has been "kicked out" or "removed" from our country and particularly from their schools. God is not that small and He is certainly not that weak. Yes, there is evil in this world. Yes, we have not acknowledged God's blessing or treated Him as holy.

But we must remember, and our kids need to hear us say that God is not only present, He is IN THEM, and He is powerful! He loves people and He is greater than he that is in the world. They need to hear that in this world we will have tribulation but take courage, (He) has overcome the world. This is good news!

Good News.

 In the bleak, gray hues of brokenness and confusion, good news is like a bright, color-filled garden of hope and life. In a cacophony of sirens, cries and bickering voices, it is like the distinct, calming voice of a child’s song.  Good News. We could all use some good news. Good news is the literal meaning of “Gospel” and it is the profound, life-transforming, culture-shifting message of Jesus Christ that we carry.

A cursory glance at any news cast or a quick scroll through the pages on our social media reminds us every day of the brokenness of the world we live in. These are troubling times and if we are not careful we can get buried & jaded under the weight of those troubles. They hit our communities and they touch our families. Rightfully, at times, our hearts are broken when we consider the implications of these troubles and the spiritual condition of our nation.

How should we respond? I’ll enumerate three of many possible responses that I wouldn’t recommend:

We can resign. “This is just how it is. It has moved beyond my power to make a difference so I will simply keep my head down and get through another day.” This does not speak well of our breakthrough-Jesus and is not exactly a compelling testimony.

We can get angry. We can post our disdain for all to see and fuel the anger with carefully selected news clips and videos that “prove” our justified indignation. James 1:19 tells us “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” All of the positions for “angry Christian” have been filled. We don’t need any more angry Christians.

We can become apocalyptic. “I wish Jesus would just come and take us and wipe out all of this immorality and injustice!” First of all, we need to stop with the “us and them” language. The idea that all of those people are the “bad” ones and that we are the “good” ones is an affront the reality that we are all broken and in need of a savior. We must have a level of humility that realizes that we haven’t done anything to earn God’s favor. The reason Jesus hasn’t come yet? “The Lord is patient…not wanting any to perish.” 2 Peter 3:9

 God is powerful. God is present. And God loves people. He pursues them with His transforming love. How does He do it? He has given us the good news. We are the bearers of the greatest news in the world! We are His plan A to get this news out! And wherever we go, we bear His name and we carry His presence. How we respond in this moment in history will teach our kids something about God’s power through them and God’s presence in them. How we talk about hope for our nation, the tone we use when interacting with ideologies different than our own, and the words we choose when we speak of those in positions of authority will all be indicators to them of either the penetrating power, or the impotence, of the good news within us – and within them. The presence of Jesus with us is neither weakened nor strengthened by who resides in the White House, or by who sits in the seats of the Supreme Court or Congress. Our strength, our hope and our life is in Christ.

We can change the tone of the conversation. We can teach our kids. Please don't scare them with the false belief that God is not there – in their school, in our country, or for them. Remind them with the gospel truth that He is with them always. Give them that sense of peace and that confidence of His power.

Because our kids are watching, and they are listening.

[chrishansler]

[chrishansler]

Out of the Snow Globe

Over Christmas weekend we had an unusual but celebrated falling of several inches of snow. Our community is on a plateau and surrounded by tall forests of fir trees. It was truly a winter wonderland. The temperatures remained below freezing in the days that followed so the snow also remained. There is only one way in or out of our community and that entails some significant hills, and since we don’t live on main thoroughfares, our roads don’t get plowed, making travel in the snow an adventure. Today Lisa had a medical procedure that required travel about 45 minutes from our home, and as we prepared to leave it was snowing heavily again with a projected 3-5” of additional snow. Her doctor called asking if we would be able to get there, and since I have a 4WD truck I was fairly confident we could make the appointment, although I will admit that I was prepared to turn back if necessary. The local news, as it is prone to do, was painting a daunting picture of travel.

I shoveled my sidewalk and driveway, cleared the snow from my truck and warmed it up, and we ventured out. The roads in our neighborhood were slick and covered in snow and more was coming down so I engaged the 4WD. We made it carefully out of our community, up the first big hill and carefully down the next one. The further we got from our neighborhood the better the roads. I was able to shift back into 2WD and as we got to the highway and then the freeways the roads were simply wet and speeds were normal. There was much less snow as we got closer to the medical office and we arrived safe and on time for Lisa’s appointment.

Our neighborhood this week is like our own little snow globe but it isn’t everyone else’s reality. This got me thinking…

Is it possible that we often stay confined to our own little “snow globe” world and lose sight of the fact that there are completely different perspectives out there that we could learn or benefit from? 

Because of my job, over the last couple of years I have done a fair amount of travel. What I have been reminded of is just how different the culture can be from state to state and city to city. For example, when I travel to the east side of the mountains in Washington state, the culture in those towns is in some cases significantly different than many of the cities on the west side – particularly the larger cities. One of the clearest demonstrations of these differences is the way that the Covid precautions have been received and applied in the various communities. When I have ventured around town in Tacoma, Seattle and even Puyallup, the vast majority of people wear masks in public places. But when I have been in smaller towns on the east side of the mountains, in some cases you would not see a single person wearing a mask. It certainly isn’t because Covid only exists in certain places, it is because of a different culture. Sure, there are people in both places that are exceptions. But the norms are different. And when we never venture out or have a meaningful conversation with someone from a different culture, we tend to assume everywhere is like it is here. Or worse, we assume everyone should see things just like we do.

We tend to be tribalistic and respond in accordance with the culture of our particular tribe. This isn’t new but seems to be exaggerated with the wide-ranging influence of social media. We see this in political affiliations, religious affiliations, and racial and ethnic norms. And too often we assume that others should see things through our limited lens as well. We get comfortable in our own little “snow globe” and we are “shocked” or “dismayed” when someone has a different point of view. But perhaps we should get in our truck, get off of our hill and see that maybe there are other realities to understand that the news won’t give us or that social media won’t encourage.

This is the amazing thing about what Jesus did. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” He came into our community. He wore our shoes, shared our stories and walked our streets. We are comfortable with Jesus because He didn’t condemn our cultural uniqueness. He lived within it. He understands it. And He showed us how to bring Kingdom life to it. He showed us that others belong too – others with different political affiliations like Matthew and Simon, or others with different religious affiliations like Paul and Cornelius.

Leave your snow globe once in a while and get into somebody else’s reality. Have a conversation and listen to them; try to understand why they think and see things the way they do. You may not agree with them but maybe you will understand them and have a little grace, a dash more kindness, a bit of humility and a broader perspective of reality. And I’m not suggesting that everybody is equally right - that is a fallacy. But chances are you are probably wrong too in some ways. I was pretty sure everyone had 8” of snow and the roads were all covered. Turns out, that just over the hill it wasn’t as treacherous as I expected.

[chrishansler]

Thoughts on Jesus’ Incarnation

Jesus is. He was there in the beginning of time (John 1:1-3) creating, shaping all that we see and can’t yet see (Col 1:16). He made us in His image to be partners in the ongoing work of creative beauty, and he called us “very good” (Gen. 1:26-31). This is how he sees us. And though we are distorted by our sin, “very good” is what Jesus intends to restore us to. When I remember that Jesus has always been there – designer, creator, King – His coming as a baby blows my mind.

Jesus was born as an outcast. Shortly after his birth his parents had to flee their home and seek refuge for fear of their baby’s life. The tyrant king Herod had ordered a massacre of Jesus’ contemporaries. The reputation of his hometown of Nazareth gave him no status or advantage. He could have been born anywhere, at any time, to anyone. He chose a life in the margins.

Jesus was a baby. He had to be fed and clothed and changed. He had to learn how to walk. He stumbled and fell down. He cried. He got bumps and bruises. He had to learn how to talk. People probably made weird faces and noises when they picked him up. He didn’t understand adults who spoke around him. As a human, suddenly His circle of knowledge was very limited like any other baby.

As a 12 year old boy, Jesus worried his parents and made them mad (Luke 2:41-52). He had to learn how to submit and be obedient (not from disobedience, but from never having to experience this level of human obedience). His parents probably talked about him with exasperation sometimes. They probably sent him outside to play to get a break from him, just like we do with our kids.

Jesus was a blue-collar tradesman. He was raised to be a carpenter like his dad. He had to learn the skills. He made mistakes. Not every cut was straight; not every measurement was true. He probably hit his thumb with a hammer. And he was tempted to swear, but he didn’t. 😉  (Hebrews 4:15-16). You might say, “How can that be? Wasn’t he perfect?” He was without sin, but he was human in every way. In other words, Jesus wouldn’t have batted 1.000 or baked a perfect cake. He would have to learn.  

It is likely that Jesus lost his dad as a young man. Raised as a devout Jew, by the time he was 30 he was living out his faith in a new and revolutionary way, calling out respected religious leaders for their hypocrisy and for misrepresenting the God they taught about in the temple. By the established church, he was seen as an arrogant, rogue heretic. Religious twitter would not have been kind to Jesus.

The broken, the hurting, the abandoned, the impulsive, the despised, the crude, the poor, the sick, the unclean and the sinners – these were Jesus’ unlikely crew. He loved them. He ate with them. He walked with them and taught them. He healed them and forgave them. These weren’t all the polished elite of society. But He gave them hope, voice and influence.

Jesus couldn’t do whatever he wanted to do. He was limited (Phil. 2:6-8). He prayed and asked His Father. He only did what His Father in heaven instructed. And sometimes His prayers didn’t get answered the way He wanted.  (John 5:19, 30; Mark 14:36; Heb. 5:7-8). Amazing.

Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, belittled and abandoned. He felt the brutal emotion as a target of human cruelty. He was arrested and beaten. He was bruised and bloodied. He felt the ache of the betrayal from the people he had loved and invested in. He was scorned and accused by the religious leaders, arrested by the governmental authorities and killed by Roman soldiers.  And he took it. The Son of God became our sin so we could be restored to the “very good” partners He created us to be. (2 Cor. 5:21)

Jesus showed us what it meant to live a fully human life (Colossians 1:15). He wants us to follow Him – and like Him, to yield our life to our heavenly Father – to live like He did (John 13:15; 1 John 2:6). And he’ll give us the ability to do it, and He believes we CAN do it! Today Jesus is still with us (Matt. 28:20) working on our behalf. He never forces us to follow Him, but He sure loves us!  

#Incarnation #Advent #Jesus #Christmas

[chrishansler]

Then My Neighbor Mowed My Lawn.

Today was my first day back from a pretty terrific, relaxing vacation. I’m thankful for a job to which I look forward to getting back. But there were things about today that left me frustrated - maybe even discouraged. I know too many people with Covid again and it seems to be rampant. I want this to be over but it isn’t. I spoke with two pastors today who have to make the difficult decision to go online only this weekend because of Covid in the leadership. A missionary is in critical condition with Covid. A friend I haven’t spoken with in several years called me today asking me to pray for him because he and his wife are very sick with Covid. And another friend can’t go to places where church people are gathered because it “seems to be the least safe group to be among” because his wife is in a vulnerable health condition. I found myself thinking, “shouldn’t the church be the safest place for those most vulnerable among us?” I certainly don’t profess to have the answers to a very complicated and persistent pandemic, but what I do know is that we should do all we can to serve and have compassion for one another - whatever that may be. I was feeling the weight of all of this, people I care about who are sick, the disruptive nature of the pandemic and its attending consequences, etc. At the end of my work day I went out to mow my lawn on this beautiful early autumn evening in the Northwest. Mumbling to myself about the troubles of the day, I went into my backyard, trimmed some roses, took out my weedeater and prepped the edges for mowing and then opened my gate to the front yard, and to my surprised delight I found my front lawn neatly mowed with clean lines. I just stood there and looked at it, and it gave me such joy! This simple act of kindness flipped the script in my heart. I was frustrated and discouraged, and then my neighbor mowed my lawn. It’s amazing what an act of kindness can do to reframe a discouraged heart.

Thank you neighbor. “...and the second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt. 22:39

So I took my dog for a walk and we found this beautiful sunset to end the day, because my neighbor gave me the unexpected gift of a little extra time.

[chrishansler]

Grateful at 58

Reflecting on 58 years, I find myself so very grateful. Even writing this I do so with an understanding and hopefully a sensitivity to the fact that there are so many who do not enjoy the opportunities that I have been afforded. There is so much I have been given by the grace of God and the kindness and sacrifice of others. I have opportunities, privileges, blessings and freedoms afforded me that I have done nothing or very little to earn. I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of great men and women who have gone before me and of my grandparents and parents. I have siblings and an extended family whom I absolutely love, who love me and who love one another. My wife Lisa gives and serves and works and loves, and I am the primary beneficiary. My kids are capable, kind, thoughtful, and  responsible adults who have worked hard to get where they are, who honor one another and are best of friends. And I have friends, some close and some distant, some from current ministry relationships and some from past ministry together, some from as far back as elementary school, some that I have stayed in contact with, some that I should have stayed in better contact with, and some that in retrospect I could have treated better - but still, who have extended kindness towards me through social media posts,  messages and phone calls on this birthday. 

My life has not been without hardship, loss, disappointment, pain or difficulty. But even those times have provided opportunity for new perspective, better understanding and hopefully greater empathy. And it isn’t that I haven’t worked hard. But I don’t deserve all of this. This is both privilege given to me because I was born in a beautiful place at this particular time in history where I have been given advantages that so many others do not share, and it is the boundless grace and mercy of God poured out on my life giving me breath, provision, and strength to do what He has created me to do. 

So thank you for your kindness. And thank God for his grace, mercy and love. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - I Thess. 5:16-18

[chrishansler]

Witness

“I am the light of the world.” - Jesus, of Himself - John 8:12

“You are the light of the world.” - Jesus, of His followers - Matthew 5:14

The very first thing we learn about humanity in the bible is that we are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26). Our assignment was to partner with Him in the creative work He had begun. We are his image-bearers; his representatives; we take on His name. As such, we are not to make an image of God (Ex. 20:4) - because we are that image, and we are not to take his name in vain (Ex. 20:7). In other words, as his name-bearers, don’t live in such a way that we bear that name carelessly. This is a high calling. Jesus in his life on earth showed us what it meant to live as “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). And He told us, “as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21). Our role as Jesus-people and as the church is to be a blessing, an ambassador, a light. 

I love the church. I believe that the church is God’s plan A to communicate His love to the world. What is more important to me than our country, than the constitution, than the condition of our economy, than Supreme Court justices and than my religious freedoms is the witness of the church. What happened at the Capitol on January 6th was an exclamation point on what has been my concern since the summer of 2016. Just yesterday I stumbled upon my journal entry from Jan 20, 2017. It was titled, “Inauguration Day.” Part of it read, “Today, Donald Trump becomes our president. It is hard to wrap my head around this...the glimpses into his exclusionary worldview and his petulance are a cause for deep concern. I find myself without a place...The seeming willingness to excuse or at best overlook Trump’s indiscretions seems inconsistent with the values of the church I know and the way of Jesus...And I’m concerned for the witness of the church.” My concern was that if the evangelical church ties herself to Donald Trump her witness to the world outside of that church will be terribly damaged. And here we are. Ask people - especially young people - about their perception of the conservative evangelical church. Our credibility, moral authority, witness has never been more damaged. And we can try to rationalize by using the words of Jesus in John 15:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” But they don’t hate us because of our commitment to Jesus. They actually like Jesus. They just don’t like us because we’ve compromised our testimony in a desperate grasp for earthly, political power.  I don’t even necessarily blame Donald Trump for what has happened. This is who he is and it is who he has always been. He thrives on a fight. Like a bully on a playground, he intentionally provokes and demeans to get attention. Then he points the finger and cries, “well they started it!”

But on that Wednesday of the insurrection, after far too many Christians had for months swallowed and promoted what proved by every court and legal process to be baseless and unfounded conspiracy theories which sullied the reputation of the church even further, we saw flags, some bearing the name of Jesus breaking into the Capitol building. This is not Jesus. This is taking his name in vain. In a violent attempted takeover people were threatened and lives were lost. And even since that day, though many have condemned the violence, too many are still deflecting (”censorship!”), rationalizing (”what about the riots last summer!”) and justifying. I don’t necessarily believe that conservative evangelicals (I am one, by the way) were or are in support of what happened on January 6th. But too many in the evangelical community, and certainly too many very public, conservative, evangelical leaders have, by their rhetoric and by their seemingly unbreakable link with hard-right republicans, emboldened those (like the man in this video) that stormed the Capitol. 

“What were we to do?” some have asked, “we couldn’t vote for the Democratic platform.” I understand those who believe it is a practical, binary choice. And I’m not suggesting there is anymore virtue on either side of the political aisle. The system is broken. But has the unholy marriage between white conservative evangelicals and the Republicans helped the church’s witness to the world? No. We are more marginalized and less trusted than ever before. We have bought the lie that the ends (maintaining the church’s privileged position of comfort and power in the American society, securing Supreme Court Justices, etc.) justify the means (an alliance with an immoral, broken political ideology.) That failure has been a growing crack in the foundation of our witness and in many ways that crack led to crumbling on January 6th at the insurrection at the Capitol and the ensuing response. And now I hear evangelicals calling for unity. I understand the need for unity and there is a time for that call. But I agree with Beth Moore when she said in this tweet, “ calls to unity without serious regard for what broke us to pieces is like pouring fresh concrete over a collapsed bridge.” Our call in this moment should not be for unity; we need to apologize and repent as the conservative evangelical church for any part we have played in creating a culture that would buy into unfounded conspiracies that have led to damaged credibility and a broken witness for Jesus. 

We often say, “our Kingdom is not of this world,” which is absolutely true. But our behavior belies that statement. We have been trying to use worldly means to achieve Kingdom realities but those will never take us there, and they will certainly never point people to Jesus. I watch as the church continues to demand that the government pass laws that conform to specific biblical values. But this question doesn’t seem to cross our minds: why would a secular governmental system pass those laws?  Is it just because we are a powerful voting block, or is it because the church has been so effective in communicating the message of Jesus that hearts and minds have been shaped by the Gospel? If it is the former we are simply wielding worldly power for our own selfish privilege. The latter is the work of the church. When we truly carry the banner of Jesus what people should see is the light of the world;  the counter-cultural revolution that Jesus displayed for us: humility, servanthood, self-sacrifice, yielding our rights for the benefit of others, generous grace, healing, honor, dignity, truth, love. We have work to do. We need the Holy Spirit to convict us and to empower us back to our originally calling: to be God’s image-bearers, His representatives, partners in His ongoing work of life and love in the world. 

Jesus, forgive us, and heal our witness that we may in fact be the light of the world.   

[chrishansler]

When we lose our privileges, and others gain their rights.

In the last few years I have traveled quite a bit, mostly for my job. Because I am on the West Coast, I fly almost exclusively with Alaska Airlines, and because of the frequency of the flights I am classified by Alaska Airlines as an “MVP.”  This is the lowest level of the frequent flyer classes, but it does allow me certain privileges: I get better seating options; I don’t have to pay to check bags; I get the occasional bump up to first class, and I get to board the plane earlier than others. I’ve been an MVP for 3 or 4 years now. I didn’t really earn it. My job pays for most of the flights.

     A few years ago I had to fly across the country to Pittsburgh and I couldn’t fly Alaska Air. I did fly with a partner airline, but the flight I took was operated by yet another airline. They didn’t recognize my MVP status. I found myself irritated that I had to pay for my checked bag. I had to wait with the masses to get on the plane as I watched all of the privileged people happily and smugly saunter onto the jet way ahead of me. I was frustrated that I couldn’t get my normal exit row seat with extra leg room unless I paid extra for it! So there I sat with less leg room than I had a right to – after all, don’t you know I’m an MVP?! But in this airline world, I was relegated to a lower class.

     It is hard when you lose privileges to which you’ve become accustomed. It is especially hard when you have begun to believe that those privileges that you enjoy and that give you an advantage are a right. And the longer you’ve enjoyed that privilege, the more it feels like a right.

     I know much about privilege. My whole life has been privileged. I am a white, middle class, American, heterosexual, married, Christian man. Every one of those adjectives comes with either privileges I’ve enjoyed that I didn’t earn (I was born into), or rights and opportunities that I’ve been given (also not earned) that have been kept from others. 

     The truth is that many in this county have been living MVP lives – we enjoy privileges that have been granted to us. I’m not talking about luxuries (or even essentials) you enjoy because of hard work (but even that, I could argue is because of the privilege of being born in a country that gives that opportunity). I’m talking about things like tax benefits associated with being a Christian or being married.  I’m talking about simply being born white or male and the societal benefits that come with that. 

     So now, when we begin to lose the upper hand because a privilege is removed that we treated as a right; or because others are afforded the same opportunities that were once exclusive to us, how should we respond? Doesn’t it seem silly to demand our privilege? Doesn’t it seem small to refuse to admit our privilege? Don’t we look like spoiled children when we do that?

     A solution for anger or resentment over these kinds of sweeping cultural changes and challenges is gratitude for what we have. When we truly get perspective for how blessed we have been for those things which we did not earn, our hearts should be filled with gratitude. Gratitude quiets our wanting ways and dispels the arrogance of self-promotion. It causes us to fight for justice for those who’ve been robbed of their rights and their dignity. It reminds us that so much of what we have is a gift. Sure, we may lose some of the privileges we’ve enjoyed as an “MVP,” but let us never forget they are privileges.

"What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?" - I Cor. 4:7 NLT

[chrishansler]

The Kind of Church I’d Want to Return to.

These are my thoughts as a former pastor who now works with other pastors. This is not addressing the kind of theology I am looking for - that’s a different article. This is my personal opinion of the kind of heart I hope we as the church will have and the kind of church that I believe is a faithful presence and a prophetic witness of Jesus in the world. 

As scientists and government officials learn more about the Covid-19 virus, and as the safety protocols begin to be loosened, pastors and church leaders are faced with the incredibly difficult decisions about when and how to re-open their facilities so that their church can gather in some form. I work with pastors every day. I believe pastors love their people and love their communities. I believe pastors truly want to protect their congregations perhaps even more than the government wants to protect the people. But as time has passed patience is waning. Some states have allowed churches to begin to gather. Here in Washington state and on the West Coast that is not the case, and there are indications that it could be weeks or months before those restrictions are lifted. There are rising accusations of violations of religious liberty or at least inconsistencies in how and where restrictions are applied, and there is mounting pressure from congregants on elected officials and on pastors to “open up” the churches, regardless of what the governor declares.

I’m glad people want the churches to open. This is a good thing. It means the churches matter.

I assume there will be celebration as churches re-gather. It may be lively in some places and more subdued in others. Celebration is an appropriate reaction when we get to be present with people we love as we share in the worship of Jesus. But as churches consider opening, there are some things I would be looking for in the kind of church I’d want to return to.

Care. I’d want to return to a church that took the science seriously. I’d hope that they are taking extra precautions to protect the most vulnerable segments of our society – not just the ones that will attend their church as they open, but the elderly and the immuno-compromised ones that the church attenders will encounter knowingly and unknowingly in their homes and in their communities when they leave that gathering.

Empathy. I’d want to return to a church that would, upon first gathering, take time to grieve the enormous loss of life we have experienced to this virus, and to pray for the loved ones most closely affected. I would hope they would see it not only as somebody else’s loss but as our common loss. I would also want to hear the concern for those who have lost their jobs and businesses and who are dealing with the very real anxiety and consequences of lost income. As the body of Christ, this too is a shared loss.

Honor. I’d want to return to a church that would honor our government officials. I’d want to hear them genuinely thank God for them and pray for them, understanding the weight of responsibility they bear.  Whether we agree with them or not, our elected officials are faced with the impossible task of decisions that have monumental impact on lives and on the economy. When we sow honor and respect, we will reap the harvest of a culture of honor and respect in the congregations we lead.

Patience. I’d want to return to a church that isn’t in a hurry to “get back to the way things were.” I’d want to see a careful, thoughtful plan that focuses on the most important things and sets aside those activities that are not central to the mission of the church.

Hope. I’d want to return to a church that reminds me that Christ is our hope, that He is our joy and that He will see us through. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Pastors, I think it is important to realize that the spirit with which we open will inhabit the congregation that you will be pastoring six months from now. If we open with and cultivate a defiant spirit, we will attract a defiant spirit. If we open with and cultivate a tender spirit, we will attract a tender spirit. Our spirit matters.

I believe in the church. I believe in our pastors. I don’t believe it will be hard to find a church like the one I’ve described. The one I attend has this heart, and for that I am very grateful. It’s the kind of church I’d want to return to. 

[chrishansler]

Mourn

Mourn with those who mourn.

People die every day. It is a fact of life, a horrific consequence of the curse of sin, the frailty of our bodies, and the brokenness of our world. We are used to it. Every year there are guaranteed causes of death: heart disease, cancer, automobile accidents, etc. Unless we know someone personally, these deaths have become numbers, statistics, nameless and faceless. It is understandable,  we couldn’t live if we were expected to mourn every death.

But it is not every year that a new virus comes along passed from person to person that shuts the entire world down and causes over 300,000 deaths in a manner of 3 months, 90,000 in our own country. Even as this is read there will be those who dispute those numbers, citing a source, an ulterior motive, a deep conspiracy. There will be others who “what about” any number of possibilities: “What about abortion? What about the economy? What about those who have lost their jobs?”  These are real tragedies too, but none of those, true or imagined, change the fact that so many lives have been lost among us in such a short period of time.

If there is anything that exemplifies the premium we have placed on gaining the political advantage, the heartbreaking undervaluing of the most vulnerable among us, and the blatant ways we idolize individual liberty, it is the lack of mourning of this monumental loss of life. Every argument and action is lobbed like a grenade at the “other side” trying to prove just how right we are. But what about those who have died and are dying? Can’t we at least stand together, mourn together, and admit this is a horrible tragedy? That is somebody’s mom, dad, grandma, grandpa who had time ahead of them that is lost forever.

We stand at the brink of opening our country back up and there is relief and celebration and a determined exercise of freedom, perhaps as there should be. But where is the mourning? Where are the moments of silence? And I find myself counted among the guilty tonight. I want to go out to dinner with friends and I want to go dancing with my wife. I want things back to “normal.” But I find that my heart has not broken over the reason we find ourselves here. This pandemic has taken over 300,000 lives so far.

God, help us, and please give us soft, empathetic hearts that will mourn with those who mourn.

[chrishansler]

Things I’m encouraged by and hopeful for during Covid-19.

As much of my life is centered around the church and working with pastors, here are some things during this Covid 19 crisis that I am encouraged by and hopeful for as it relates to the church.

Things I’m encouraged by:

I’m encouraged by how the pastors I know have adapted quickly to a dramatically changing ministry environment.

I’m encouraged by the strong emphasis on prayer.

I’m encouraged at the care and love expressed in very tangible ways for those who are most physically vulnerable in this crisis.

I’m encouraged by the willingness of congregations to engage online.

I’m encouraged by the creative ways that churches have learned how to serve their communities in the midst of this crisis: online prayer gatherings, feeding distributions, mask-making endeavors, zoom support meetings, providing devotional guides, etc.

I’m encouraged by the desire to stay connected through phone calls, video small groups, daily online devotions and bible studies, etc.

I’m encouraged that so much of the church is overcoming her intimidation and fear and sense of inadequacy when it comes to the use of technology and social media.

 Things I’m hopeful for:

I’m hopeful that the church will continue to provide a now-improving online presence and would see their online congregation as an actual congregation as well.

I’m hopeful that congregations will have a renewed appreciation for how precious it is to gather as the family of God.

I’m hopeful that after this time that the church couldn’t gather, she would see the things that weren’t really missed and aren’t really necessary and will not re-implement those things. What an opportunity to reset!

I’m hopeful that even after we can gather again, we will stay less often in the church building and more often in our homes among family,  in our neighborhoods among friends, and in our communities among those in need.

I’m hopeful that the church will continue to leverage technology in creative ways for the sake of the mission.

I’m hopeful that online giving will become even more normalized in our congregations.

I’m hopeful that we will realize that a booming economy, strong health, and a well-produced weekend church experience is all just a house of cards if discipleship has not been a top priority.

What are you encouraged by? What are you hopeful for?