I watched Roger Federer school his opponent on the finer points of tennis during the final of the Australian Open in January. A commentator remarked that Federer was in the zone, and I started thinking.

I and others have opined how Christians need to get out of their comfort zones to move past complacency. It can be a good thing to be made uncomfortable. I’ve been there many times, and it’s helped me grow. I’ve learned I can do things I never would have tried if circumstances hadn’t pushed me out of my safe place and into new territory. I also learned which things I shouldn’t do again, as I either didn’t do a good job or felt like a fish out of water who didn’t accomplish much except gasp and flop around.

Being in the zone in sports means everything is working just right. All the training and preparation come together to bring a win or even make a champion. When a tennis player such as Roger Federer gets in the zone, it’s like watching poetry in motion.

Can a Christian be in the zone the same as an athlete? Why not? Perhaps we could call it being in the zone of the Holy Spirit. When we are serving in our area of giftedness, we show our excitement, we see results and most importantly, we feel in tune with the Holy Spirit. Everything works right and good things happen.

How does one get in the zone? It doesn’t happen by magic. Yes, it comes through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, but it also comes through deliberate effort on our part. Dallas Willard—in his book, Renovation of the Heart, suggests the reason many of us do not achieve true inner spiritual transformation is we don’t follow the general pattern of transformation—vision, intention and means.

Vision means we begin to live life in the kingdom of God here and now. This is not something we can do on our own; it comes from God as a gift. He has already given us this vision through his son Jesus and it becomes clearer to us as we trust and rely on him.

Intention means we decide to believe and choose to obey. It’s possible to believe, but if we don’t make a conscious choice to obey every day, chances are we will either on purpose or by neglect choose to disobey.

We find the means for spiritual transformation in the example and teachings of Jesus, in the Scriptures generally and in his people. Willard says while not all of the means are under our control (some are actions of God in and toward us) some are. He recommends off-the-spot training, where we put good principles and actions into practice in the little areas of life, much as an athlete puts in his or her time in the gym during the off season.

If we practice vision, intentionality and means in our daily lives, we will be prepared for the big moments, the championship matches, when everything comes together and we enter the zone. We too can be poetry in motion for Jesus in the zone with the Holy Spirit.

I don’t doubt this verse is true—I’m sure John was inspired! But I would like to offer another perspective, based on my little bit of understanding of God’s loving nature. In Hosea, God told the prophet to marry a prostitute, and he did. Their marriage produced children and Hosea loved his unnamed wife. She eventually went back to her immoral ways. In the same way Hosea didn’t stop loving his wife, God never stopped loving his chosen people. They often repented, but repeatedly turned back to idolatry.

The Good Samaritan who stopped to help a Jew in distress also showed one-sided love. In the course of normal, everyday life, the Jew and the Samaritan would have snarled at each other as they passed on the road. The Samaritan laid aside his hatred and prejudice to help a man who would just as soon spit in his face.

The father of the prodigal son didn’t wait for his son to drop to his knees, begging and pleading to be taken back, even as a servant. He ran to his son crying, elated to have him back, before his son had spoken a word.

We tend to think God is like our parents or teachers, peering over reading glasses, looking down his nose, waiting for us to sheepishly or desperately admit our sins and ask for all to be forgiven before giving us the well, OK, but don’t do it again condescending nod.    And then we may or may not get the ruler on the knuckles before he sends us on our way.

Growing in grace and knowledge means we must put aside our childish notions of an anthropomorphic God who thinks and acts as we do. He is not like us; his thoughts and ways are not like ours. He is not a petty, malicious, self-centered being who gets offended when we sin and then peevishly waits for us to crawl to him on bloody knees. Just as in the examples of Hosea, the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, our God loves and forgives us even while we are sinning! Christ died for the ungodly. His love is not conditional and his forgiveness is ours before we even think to repent.

God does desire our repentance. He wants us to understand our nature and proclivity to evil. But what exactly does repentance mean? It means to change, to turn around, to go a different direction. It doesn’t mean drumming up artificial sorrow, especially when half the time, the sin was enjoyable and we’re only sorry because we got caught. The only way we can truly change our ways is in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Through the Holy Spirit, through him who is also God, we are enabled to turn our lives over and surrender to him to live as new creatures in Christ. Through him we can also surrender our fear and even dread of the angry, vengeful God we’ve been told is waiting to punish us.

God is not mad and he has not turned away from us. He stands at the door, anxiously awaiting our return, though we must return daily or even hourly. He lovingly awaits those who still feed at the pig troughs, no matter how long it takes. His love is unfailing and his grace is never ending.

As ministers of the gospel of grace, we need to let fearful people know—and remind ourselves—who God really is, not a cruelly gleeful, knuckle-rapping schoolmaster, but the loving father of his prodigal sons and daughters.

I’m glad I did this. It’s been years since I had read some books in the Bible. Reading straight through has one major drawback, however. It allows no time for lingering over interesting passages or doing extra reading on the background and context. This year I’ve decided to go back and spend time in the passages and subjects I found intriguing. It’s like walking slowly through a park rather than jogging. I plan to take my time, pick up rocks and leaves, sit on the grass, watch the clouds go by and smell the flowers. Both are acceptable ways to read the Bible. It was good to read straight through because it left me wanting more.

How are you reading the Bible? Are you reading it? It’s easy to put it off, especially if you’ve been reading it for years and feel familiar with it. While we don’t worship the book itself as some do, we realize the Bible is the inspired Word of God. As Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT).

Reading the Bible from this perspective is good. After all, Paul was speaking under inspiration. But if we only read it this way, we may miss something important. If I had approached my year-long Bible reading with the goal of being corrected and taught to do right, I might have missed the overarching purpose of the whole of Scripture. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus opened up the Scriptures to the disciples, showing them how they pointed to him (Luke 24:27). He didn’t point out their sins; he showed how the Old Testament was all about Jesus.

I remember when I stopped reading the Bible simply to discern right and wrong and started reading it to see Jesus. Not only my perspective but my whole attitude toward the Bible changed. I wasn’t reading it as a handbook for living so much as a way to know Jesus. When we read the Word of God, we are reading the Word of God, the living Word, the Logos of John 1. As we read the Bible, the Word comes alive in the form of Jesus and he is the reason, the center and the point of Scripture.

I may not read straight through the Bible again for some time, but I will be spending time with the Word – Jesus – as I walk through the park and linger beside the still waters with him.

My sister and I had a discussion about God. The god she believes in is an impersonal force, out there somewhere; she’s not sure exactly where. She believes in reincarnation, sort of. Through her studies of world religions, she has developed a belief system that works for her. She didn’t agree with what I had to say about God, but she did acknowledge my belief system works for me and she’s OK with that.

Many people look at religions as belief systems and that’s what they are. Belief systems provide a framework for life, defining behaviors and providing guidance in difficult circumstances. Some have nothing to do with religion. Others are based on bits and pieces from many religions and some are all about a religious figure or supernatural phenomena. A person doesn’t have to be religious to have a belief system, but religious people always have one.

Jesus was born into a belief system set up by God himself, one with laws, rules and regulations, and rewards based on obedience. By Jesus’ time, of course, the religious leaders had embellished this belief system, adding a lot of dos and don’ts. It may appear from his teachings that Jesus was merely bringing a new belief system to the world, one that emphasized love, mercy and even poverty. Most people agree he was a great teacher. But a lot of his sayings seemed to lay even heavier burdens on the faithful. Consider his teaching on adultery: Mosaic Law said it was wrong to commit adultery, but Jesus said looking on someone with lust is a sin. Did he wrap the laws even more tightly around our necks, making it virtually impossible to obey God?

On the other hand, Jesus didn’t seem to go along with that belief system very well, did he? He healed people on the Sabbath, picked and ate grain on the Sabbath and kept company with sinners. He pretty much flaunted the rules and called the ones overly concerned with these things hypocrites. So what are we supposed to do with Jesus’ example? Flaunt the rules or keep them even more rigidly?What so many don’t understand is that Jesus didn’t bring a new belief system at all – he brought himself. Christianity is not about rules of behavior or conforming to a set of laws and regulations. It’s not about looking, acting and thinking as a uniform group of brainwashed automatons. It’s about him.

Jesus is not a belief system. From the beginning, he’s the one who was God, with God and through whom everything that exists was created. He’s the Lord of the universe and the Savior of all mankind. Christians follow him, not a set of rules. Now we look to him, not to laws and regulations, walking in the spirit by faith.

Some things we all know and believe: he lived and died for us. His is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved. He finished his saving work on the cross. We will be as he is and we will be with him for all eternity.

When Jesus was born as a helpless infant into this evil world, he didn’t come to enhance the Old Covenant belief system or to bring a New Covenant one. God sent his only son to be everything for us. Thanks to God for Emmanuel – God with us. Merry Christmas!

Several times, Jesus told the disciples they either lacked faith or had very little. When Peter walked on the water toward Jesus, looked down and sank beneath the waves, Jesus pointed out Peter’s little faith. We tend to think Jesus was criticizing and judging him for his lack of faith and then by extension, carry the criticism over to ourselves and others. But maybe it wasn’t so much a condemnation as an observation on humanity. We all lack faith. We all have trouble believing at times.

The man who came to Jesus for help and then admitted his lack of faith is familiar to us. I know I pray his words. I’m sure you do too. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. We believe and we doubt. Sometimes our faith seems strong and sometimes it seems nonexistent.

In both these instances, Peter taking a dunking and the man admitting his faith was weak, Jesus came through. He didn’t walk away in disgust and leave them hanging. He pulled Peter out of the water and helped him back to the boat. He healed the man’s son (Mark 9). In neither case was lack of faith the deal breaker. Lack of faith noted; prayer answered.

It might help us of little faith to take another look at what having faith really means. We already know if God depended on our faith and faithfulness, the world would have ended a long time ago. Our faith is just not enough and never has been. But God hears our prayers and answers us in our unbelief. Why? Because the faith we need is not our own but the faith of Jesus. It’s his faith and his belief that make the difference. We depend on it.

Jesus trusted the Father. Jesus is the only one with perfect faith. The faith of Jesus saves us, heals us and keeps us going. He’s already done everything else for us so it makes sense his faith is what we cling to, not our own. If we make faith a measurable thing that determines answers to prayer, spiritual growth and maturity and how much we accomplish for God, we are changing grace into works. I’ve never been able to get past “very little” on the faith meter. It’s not something we can measure, work up or do on our own. We do live by faith – by the faith of Jesus.

Once again, I’m encouraged to know it’s not up to me. Nothing is. I cling to the Vine with my feeble strength and desire, knowing it’s Jesus who helps me have even that little bit of strength and desire. He’s the one who provides and sustains my faith. Oh ye of little faith? Yes, but he of perfect faith is my perfect Savior.

Have you ever known someone like that? Someone who can’t seem to endure seeing others blessed and who always rains on everyone’s parade? Perhaps you’re like that. I have been from time to time. Instead of rejoicing with others, either out of jealousy, self-pity or just plain meanness, we sometimes say or do things to bring happy people down.

Many Christians, unable to accept the magnitude of God’s grace, add conditions to everything from church membership to teaching children’s classes—to salvation. Being accepted by God can’t be as easy as simply believing! Surely people need to be made aware of just how horrific sin is to God and how angry he is at everyone. No one can get away with anything less than repenting on bloody knees, going through a gauntlet of misery and emotional suffering to prove their understanding of sin, followed by years of doing good works. Being saved is the easy part; actually getting to heaven requires much effort.

Or does it?

Do you still wonder how God can let everyone in on the fun of grace, regardless of how serious their sins? How he can pay the latecomers to the vineyard the same as those who started work at dawn? How he can welcome the prodigal son, who hadn’t even taken the time to have a bath?

The beautiful thing about understanding God as a Trinitarian being is a simple concept called inclusion. Father, Son and Spirit include each other in everything. Each does nothing without the others. The love enjoyed by Father, Son and Spirit overflows to the whole of creation and includes all of us, every living thing from beginning to end. No one is left out. No one must feel the sting of rejection or abandonment – in this life, yes, but not with God.

The import of this truth is enormous. Every single person you see (and those you don’t see – everyone who ever lived) is included in God’s life. There are no exceptions. Some will choose to exclude themselves, but that’s between them and God, and is none of our business. Our business is to love and include everyone to the best of our ability and leave the judging to God.

What a difference this understanding would make to churches everywhere! I can’t imagine how many tracts would have to be reprinted if this truth were embraced. The sinner’s prayer would become the beloved’s prayer or the believer’s prayer. That little bridge used to illustrate the gulf between God and humanity? Gone! Instead you might see a picture of the loving arms of God, holding someone who may still be in need of a bath, clean clothes and a meal, but grateful, happy and loved.

If Aunt Norris had understood this, she could have contributed not only to her niece’s happiness but also to her own. She could have changed the rain that ruined the parade into a rainbow, with blessings for everyone, just as God intends.

Anyone who has been to my home knows I love flowers. They are everywhere—in the backyard, in the front yard and in pots wherever I can find space. I love everything about them from planting them, watching them grow, and enjoying their fragrances and colors, to how they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. I wait all year for spring bulbs and I’m sad when they finish blooming. When a piece of a plant breaks off, instead of throwing it out I stick it in dirt and hope it grows. I talk to my roses.

I’ve always thought my love of flowers was genetic as my parents came from farming backgrounds. My dad was an avid gardener who also loved flowers. My mom’s yard is full of them and she loves them as much as me, or rather, as much as I do. I read a booklet by Baxter Kruger that changed my perspective on my passion for flowers, as well as my other hobbies and predilections. The booklet (available in e-book form on his website, www.perichoresis.org) is titled The Secret, not to be confused with the new age book of the same name.

Kruger tells the story of his encounter on a plane with a biologist. This man was enthusiastic about plants, so much so Kruger received an impromptu botany lesson. That prompted him to ask the biologist where he got his passion for plants. The man said he’d not really thought about it, so Kruger showed him a diagram depicting Father, Son and Holy Spirit and explained that his passion came from God’s passion. He didn’t say what the biologist thought, but I know what my reaction was: Aha!

That’s why I love flowers so much! That’s why artists paint, musicians play, singers sing, architects build, athletes play and compete, writers write and pilots fly. Our passion and creativity come from the passion and creativity of God, through the Son, in and through the Spirit. I was right, my love of flowers is genetic, but it’s DNA passed on to me through the shared life of Father, Son and Spirit.

So when the biologist who loves plants goes on a research trip or I plant yet another bulb or a poet writes a poem, we are expressing the image of God. Why is this important? It means, as many of us have suspected, our lives are not separate from God. As Paul said in Acts 17:28, “In him we live and move and have our being” (NIV). In Christ, all of life is shared life with the Trinity.

As I write, occasionally looking out the window at my flowers and fruit trees (and running out to chase the birds away), I am living “in the circle of the Triune life of God” (The Secret). All people, as we live out our passions or dream of living them, participate with God as he lives in us. He is Emmanuel. Our lives are in him. He is with us in everything we do. I think I’ll go plant something in celebration of God with us!

I have a confession to make: I don’t like housework. I’d much rather be out in the yard mowing, trimming or weeding–even in August. It’s psychological I’m sure. When I mow, at least a week goes by before it needs it again. When I mop the floor or clean the kitchen, the effects of my cleaning can be wiped out in less than a day. I’ve also discovered if I leave my glasses off I can deny the need a little longer.

After years of denial and putting off what I should be doing, I’ve come to terms with it. It must be done whether or not I feel like it. We face many things we don’t want to do. Some can be stubbornly denied for years, like exercising or cleaning out the attic. Some are more urgent, like doing taxes or changing the oil in our cars. Sooner or later most of us grow up enough to suck it up and do what we’d rather not do.

I often think of Jesus when faced with difficult tasks, especially if they are unpleasant or painful. He prayed so hard in the Garden of Gethsemane he sweat blood, asking his Father more than once if he could get out of what he knew was coming. As he was fully human he most assuredly wasn’t looking forward to death on a cross. But he faced it with grace and dignity, knowing he came for that purpose.

Are you facing something you’d rather not do? It could be insignificant or major, with corresponding consequences, but either way you might need to consider Jesus and do them anyway. Everything we do or don’t do has an effect on someone, to the good or bad. When I don’t clean, my house isn’t as pleasant a place to live. If I don’t mow the lawn, not only do I bring down the appearance of my street, but also I could face city code enforcement. Other things we put off or ignore could harm people or the environment.

For believers, putting off Bible study or other spiritual disciplines can have immediate and long-term effects. Growing in grace and knowledge doesn’t come automatically. We must put in some effort and time. Our eternal reward doesn’t depend on legalistically practicing the disciplines, but we could be missing out on living in the grace and joy of a deeper relationship with Christ.

Paul talks about being mature in Ephesians 4:13. In 1 Corinthians 13:11 he says we are to put off childish things, which includes irresponsibly avoiding what we know we should do, either for the good of others or ourselves. It can be difficult to move from childishly shirking responsibility to maturely accepting it. But for us who are in Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can grow up into him and become more like him.  He is our role model even in this.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get busy on some, uh, unfinished business.

Then I thought, how typical. My human nature pats itself on the back for doing something good and then smugly goes away thinking well done; I’ve done my good deed. Now I can please myself the rest of the day.

Most of us would agree this is a legalistic way of looking at doing good to others. Unfortunately it’s how most of us think. But just as we shouldn’t count how many times we forgive someone, we also shouldn’t count how many times we help or serve others. Jesus didn’t stop healing people after reaching a quota. He was generous with himself and his time. He often withdrew to spend time alone with his Father, because he was human after all. He needed physical rest and spiritual refreshment. But he didn’t limit himself to one or two good deeds a day.

Jesus not only brought grace by laying down his life for humanity, he also lived a life of grace toward others. He didn’t keep track of wrongs or rights. He was more concerned with hearts. We aren’t on the same level as Jesus, even though we are his representatives. Unlike Christ we may tend to limit our good deeds, perhaps by judging if people are qualified for our help. Our job is just to help – to offer the cup of cold water, the hot meal, the word of encouragement, the ride or the muscles to lend a hand. Grace frees us to offer ourselves and our time to others, with no thought of return or stopping when we feel we’ve done enough.

For most of us the problem isn’t stopping because we’re doing too much, it’s the opposite. We are by nature on the selfish side and think more of our own needs than those of others. Hence the thought I had the day I rescued the dog. Far from feeling good about how much I’ve done for others, how much more could I do if I were more aware and willing to lay down my life for not only my friends, but also for anyone who needs help.

Living under grace calls for letting go of legalistic, judgmental thoughts and living free of self- or other imposed restrictions. It means being thankful for the opportunity to do all the good we can to all the people we can. Grace frees us to live gracefully toward others and to share God’s blessings with everyone.