IN MY WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH ANGER PROBLEMS, I HAVE LEARNED THAT ALMOST ALL ANGER CAN BE TRACED TO CERTAIN KINDS OF UNRESOLVED LOSSES.  IN FACT, THERE ARE EIGHT KINDS OF UNRESOLVED EXISTENTIAL LOSSES THAT CAN LEAD TO RAGE OR ANGER.  ONE OF THOSE LOSSES IS A LOSS OF HOPE THAT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN WE ARE IN A CRISIS AND CAN SEE NO OPTIONS, CAN FIND NO FRIEND, CANNOT SEE AN END TO OUR PAIN, OR FIND ANY REST.  WE NEED HOPE TO BE ABLE TO FACE THE DAYS THAT STRETCH INTO THE UNKNOWN FUTURE...HOPE THAT THINGS WILL SOMEHOW BE BETTER OR DIFFERENT TOMORROW.

LEWIS SMEDES' NEW BOOK STANDING ON THE PROMISES, IS A BOOK ABOUT HOPE.  IT IS THIS BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED THIS NEW SERIES OF MESSAGES AND IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, SMEDES RELATES THE ANCIENT STORY OF PANDORA AND HER BOX.  IT IS A STORY ABOUT HOW THE GREAT GOD ZEUS CAME DOWN FROM MT. OLYMPUS ONE DAY TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE EARTH.  WHAT HE FOUND WAS A FORMLESS GLOBE OF MUCK AND SLUDGE...NO DRY LAND, NO PURE WATER, NO LIGHT, NO LIFE - ONLY BLACK LIFELESS MUCK.  HE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAW SO HE SET TO WORK TRANSFORMING THE EARTH INTO THE ONE WE KNOW TODAY.

THERE WERE NO ANIMALS OR HUMANS ANYWHERE, SO ZEUS INSTRUCTED TWO LESSER GODS TO CREATE SOME ANIMALS AND TO MAKE A MAN TO LIVE ON THE EARTH.  THEY DID THAT, AND MADE A FINE MAN, TOO, BUT THE EARTH WAS TOO DARK FOR HIM TO SEE AND TOO COLD FOR HIM TO BEAR.  SO ONE OF THE GODS FLEW UP TO THE SUN AND STOLE A FLAME, CAME BACK TO EARTH, AND GAVE IT TO MAN.  NOW HE HAD LIGHT FOR HIS MIND AND WARMTH FOR HIS BODY.  BUT HE STILL LACKED A COMPANION...A WOMAN.

ZEUS SAW MAN'S GREAT NEED AND SO HE ORDERED HIS FINEST ARTISTS TO MAKE A WOMAN FOR HIM.  THEY CREATED ONE OF THE MOST LOVELY BEINGS IMAGINABLE AND GAVE HER, BESIDES HER GREAT BEAUTY, ALL THE GRACES OF WISDOM AND ART.  THEY NAMED HER PANDORA, A NAME THAT MEANS "SOMEONE WITH ALL THE GIFTS."

ZEUS GAVE PANDORA A TREASURE CHEST CRAMMED WITH EVERYTHING A MAN AND WOMAN WOULD NEED TO LIVE HAPPILY FOREVER.  THE CHEST WAS SEALED AND PANDORA WAS WARNED THAT ONLY THE GODS WERE ALLOWED TO OPEN IT.  THEN HE SENT HER DOWN TO EARTH WITH HER CHEST TO BE A BLESSING TO MAN.

BUT WHEN SHE GOT TO EARTH, HER CURIOSITY GOT THE BETTER OF HER, AND SHE PRIED OPEN THE LID TO STEAL A LOOK.  ALL THE BLESSINGS FLEW OUT OF THE CHEST AND SCATTERED THEMSELVES ABOVE THE EARTH JUST OUT OF MAN'S REACH.  HE COULD SEE THEM, AND HE HAD A GREAT DESIRE FOR THEM, BUT HE COULD NOT GET THEM IN HIS GRASP.

ONE BLESSING STAYED IN THE CHEST, HOWEVER, FOR BOTH MAN AND WOMAN TO KEEP.  IT WAS THE BLESSING OF HOPE.  AND AS LONG AS MAN AND WOMAN KEPT HOPE ALIVE, THEY WOULD HAVE THE WILL AND THE STRENGTH TO KEEP ON STRETCHING AND STRIVING AND WAITING FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT HAD FLOWN BEYOND THEIR REACH.

THIS ANCIENT STORY ABOUT PANDORA'S HOPE CHEST TELLS US THAT HOPE IS NATIVE TO ALL CREATION AND THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT HOPE.

OUR MAKER MADE US ALL TO LIVE BY HOPE...WE HAVE TO KEEP HOPING TO KEEP LIVING.  IF WE STOP, WE DIE INSIDE.

GOD HAS SET US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE; A JOURNEY THAT TAKES US INTO A UNKNOWN FUTURE FILLED WITH BOTH GOOD THINGS AND BAD.  WE HOPE FOR THE GOOD AND FEAR THE BAD...THE GIFT OF HOPE KEEPS US GOING ON OUR UNCERTAIN JOURNEY.  BUT HOPE CAN GET SICK AND DIE...IT CAN BE KILLED WITH A SINGLE MURDEROUS BLOW TO THE BACK OF THE NECK OR IT CAN BE CHIPPED AWAY PIECE BY PIECE. AND WHEN IT DIES, WE DIE, SO IT IS IMPERATIVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HOPE IS, HOW IT WORKS, AND WHAT IT CAN BE BASED ON THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN.

SMEDES HOLDS THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF HOPE CONSISTS OF THREE INGREDIENTS: WISHING, IMAGINING, AND BELIEVING.

HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT "EVERY WISH IS CONCEIVED UNDER THE SHEETS OF DISCONTENT.  WE WISH FOR WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE AND WITHOUT WHICH WE CANNOT BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE DO HAVE."

WHEN WE ARE SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE HAVE OR WHAT WE ARE, WE HAVE SETTLED TOO SOON FOR WHAT IS.  WE HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS WITH A SOUL THAT IS ALIVE WITH THE WISHES FOR THE LIFE THAT IS BETTER AND FULLER...THE LIFE THAT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.  UNTIL THEN, WE MUST LEARN TO BE CONTENT WITH OUR DISCONTENTMENT.  ONLY THEN CAN WE HAVE ANY KIND OF PEACE.  TO BE CONTENT WITH OUR DISCONTENT IS TO HAVE PATIENCE.
 
THERE IS A PARADOX IN BEING HOPEFUL IN THAT WE CANNOT BE CONTENT WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE AS LONG AS THINGS ARE NOT THE WAY WE WISH THEM TO BE.  BUT WE CAN BE CONTENT TO LIVE WITH OUR DISCONTENT UNTIL THEY GET TO BE THE WAY WE HOPE THEY WILL BE.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY SERMON I PREACH, I PREACH WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WILL INSPIRE SOMEONE TO TURN TO JESUS AND TO BECOME HIS DISCIPLE. EVERY TIME I MEET WITH SOMEONE FOR COUNSELING, I HOPE THAT HEALING AND INSIGHTS WILL COME AND THAT THEY WILL BE SET FREE TO LIVE LIFE WITH NEWFOUND FREEDOM AND WHOLENESS.  ON RARE OCCASIONS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.  BUT THOSE OCCASIONS ARE TOO RARE AND SO I REMAIN DISCONTENTED WITH MYSELF WHILE I HOPE THAT I CAN LEARN AND GROW INTO MEETING WHAT IT IS I WISH FOR.

I LIKE WHAT FREDERICK BUECHNER HAS TO SAY ABOUT WISHFUL THINKING.  HE SAYS THAT "CHRISTIANITY IS MAINLY WISHFUL THINKING.  EVEN THE PART ABOUT JUDGMENT AND HELL REFLECTS THE WISH THAT SOMEWHERE THE SCORE IS BEING KEPT.

DREAMS ARE WISHFUL THINKING.  CHILDREN PLAYING AT BEING GROWN-UP IS WISHFUL THINKING.  INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL IS WISHFUL THINKING.

SOMETIMES WISHING IS THE WINGS THE TRUTH COMES TRUE ON.

SOMETIMES THE TRUTH IS WHAT SETS US WISHING FOR IT."

AS GOD'S PEOPLE AND HIS CHURCH, WHAT ARE WE WISHING FOR?  ARE WE CONTENT WITH WHERE WE ARE?  MAYBE WE NEED A LITTLE MORE DISCONTENTMENT SOMETIMES...A FEW MORE WISHING ANTS IN THE SEATS OF OUR PANTS THAT WILL KEEP US MOVING IN GROWING AND HEALTHY WAYS.  HAS OUR CONTENTMENT CAUSED US TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN WHAT COULD BE?  WISHING ALSO SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED SOMEHOW TO PRIORITIES.  WHAT WE WISH FOR WILL BE A PRIORITY IN OUR LIVES.  ARE OUR PRIORITIES THE SAME PRIORITIES THAT GOD HAS FOR US?

THE SECOND INGREDIENT TO HOPE IS IMAGINING.  TO SEE BEYOND THE REALITY THAT IS TO WHAT CAN BE.  OR TO SEE WITHIN WHAT SEEMS TO BE TO WHAT REALLY IS.  THIS IS IMAGINATION. AND ACCORDING TO SMEDES THERE CAN BE NO HOPE WITHOUT IT.

WHEN WE LOOK BEYOND THE REALITY THAT IS TO WHAT CAN BE WE LOOK TOWARD A DISTANT HORIZON AND DREAM ABOUT THE WAY THINGS OUGHT TO BE: BEYOND PRESENT EVIL TO FUTURE GOOD, BEYOND PRESENT PAIN TO FUTURE HEALING...PROBLEMS BECOME POSSIBILITIES AND STRUGGLES BECOME TRIUMPHS.

WHEN WE SEE WITHIN WHAT SEEMS TO BE TO WHAT REALLY IS WE SEE THE POTENTIAL IN THE PRESENT BROKEN WORLD FOR BEING THE BETTER WORLD IT CAN BE.  WE SEE THE POTENTIAL WINNER IN THE ONE WHO HAS FAILED, THE PAIN BEHIND THE BRAVE SMILE, THE CONSCIENCE BEHIND THE STONY FACE OF INDIFFERENCE.

IT WAS IMAGINATION THAT CAUSED PRESIDENT KENNEDY TO DREAM A DREAM THAT HE DESCRIBED IN A NOW FAMILIAR AND FAMOUS SPEECH AT RICE UNIVERSITY WHEN HE SAID:
 "BUT WHY SAY SOME, THE MOON?  WHY CHOOSE THIS AS OUR GOAL?  AND THEY MAY WELL ASK WHY CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN - WHY THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO FLY THE ATLANTIC - WHY DOES RICE PLAY TEXAS?

WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON...WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON IN THIS DECADE, AND DO THE OTHER THINGS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD!  BECAUSE THAT GOAL WILL SERVE TO ORGANIZE AND MEASURE THE BEST OF OUR ENERGIES AND SKILLS.  BECAUSE THAT CHALLENGE IS ONE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT, ONE WE ARE UNWILLING TO POSTPONE, AND ONE WE INTEND TO FULFILL."

IT WAS A DREAM IMAGINED.  THIS WAS LOOKING BEYOND THE REALITY THAT WAS TO THE REALITY THAT COULD BE...A GOAL BORN OUT OF A VISION THAT COULD BE.  HE ALSO SAW BENEATH THE CRUST OF AMERICA'S DOUBT AND RELUCTANCE TO RISK, A SPIRIT WAITING TO BE AWAKENED...A SPIRIT THAT WOULD RISE TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF REACHING FOR A HERETOFORE UNREACHABLE GOAL...A SPIRIT THAT WOULD UNITE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN A CAUSE GREATER THAN THEMSELVES...AND WE BEGAN TO HOPE THAT IT COULD BE POSSIBLE.  AN EMBRYO OF HOPE BEGAN TO STIR WITH NEW LIFE OUT OF WHAT WAS ONLY IMAGINED.
 
MORNING STAR IS BORN ON THE WINGS OF IMAGINATION.  WE IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE BATTERED AND BRUISED BY LIFE CAN COME AND RECEIVE THE CERTAIN HOPE OFFERED BY A GOD WHO LOVES US ENOUGH TO DIE FOR US...A PLACE WHERE THOSE WHO ARE WOUNDED AND IN PAIN CAN COME TO RECEIVE REST AND HEALING...A PLACE WHERE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN BEGIN TO FORGE THE VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT WILL TRANSFORM OUR WORLD INTO A BETTER PLACE.  WE DREAM ABOUT A CENTER FOR WITNESS AND MINISTRY AND MISSION...A SANCTUARY WHERE WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH ALL THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND SIGNIFICANT IN LIFE AND WHERE WE CAN FEEL THE BRUSH OF GOD'S HAND AS HE DRAWS NEAR...A QUIET PLACE OF REFUGE AND REFLECTION WHERE OUR SOULS CAN BE REFRESHED AS WE ENCOUNTER THE RISEN CHRIST AND LISTEN TO HIM TELL US HOW OUR LIFE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  WE SEE A GOD GIVEN VISION THAT GIVES NEW SHAPE AND PURPOSE TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW WE LIVE OUT THE DAYS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED TO US.  AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO HOPE AS WE STEP THROUGH THE DOORS THAT GOD IS OPENING.

THE THIRD INGREDIENT OF HOPE IS BELIEVING.  SMEDES SAY "THAT HOPE IS BORN THE MOMENT WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD THINGS WE WISH FOR AND IMAGINE HAVING ARE POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE.  THE ODDS MAY BE AGAINST US, BUT HOPE DOES NOT CALCULATE THE ODDS.  ALL HOPE NEEDS IS A BELIEF THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR IS POSSIBLE.
 
HOPE IS SO CLOSELY LINKED TO FAITH THAT THE TWO TEND TO BLEND INTO ONE.  THE BIBLE SAYS THAT 'FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN.'  THIS IS TRUE OF FAITH IN GOD, BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE OF ALL OTHER FAITH.  NO MATTER WHAT WE PUT OUR FAITH IN, WHEN FAITH GOES, HOPE GOES WITH IT.  IN SOME WAYS, HOPE IS FAITH - FAITH WITH ITS EYES ON POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE."

I RAN ACROSS AMBROSE BIERCE'S DEFINITION OF FAITH RECENTLY.  HE SAYS THAT "FAITH IS BELIEF WITHOUT EVIDENCE IN WHAT IS TOLD BY ONE WHO SPEAKS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS WITHOUT PARALLEL." (ULTD)

WILLIAM PLUMMER AND BONNIE BELL WROTE IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE: "THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS SHOCKED THE WORLD OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN 1995 BY MAKING IT TO THE ROSE BOWL TOURNAMENT.  THE MAN BEHIND THE TEAM'S TURNAROUND WAS COACH GARY BARNETT WHO WAS DETERMINED TO PROVE THAT KIDS AT THE BIG TEN'S SMALLEST AND MOST ACADEMICALLY DEMANDING SCHOOL COULD PLAY FOOTBALL.  HE ORDERED A TOURNAMENT OF ROSES FLAG FOR THE FOOTBALL BUILDING AND KEPT A SILK ROSE ON HIS DESK TO REMIND EVERYONE WHERE THEY WERE HEADED.

'AT THE FIRST MEETING,' SAYS KICKER SAM VALENZISI, 'HE TOLD US WE NEEDED BELIEF WITHOUT EVIDENCE.'  THEN HE ASKED, 'DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?  THAT'S FAITH.'" (FRESH)
 
THE BIBLE TALKS A LOT ABOUT HOPE.  THE APOSTLE PAUL HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT IT IN OUR PASSAGE FOR TODAY.  AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT EVERYTIME WE RUN ACROSS THE WORD "HOPE" WE CAN READ "CONFIDENCE."  IN THAT PASSAGE HE SAYS THAT WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.  THIS MEANS THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE OR HOPE OF SHARING THE GLORY OF GOD.  HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT GOD HAS A WAY OF BUILDING CHARACTER IN US THAT IS ROOTED IN GOD'S PLAN FOR US.

IT BEGINS WITH OUR SUFFERINGS OR TRIBULATIONS...THE WORD LITERALLY MEANS PRESSURES.  GOD WANTS US TO HAVE PRESSURES IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT WE GROW ONLY WHEN THERE IS A TENSION IN OUR LIFE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

THIS PRESSURE RESULTS IN ENDURANCE OR PERSEVERANCE.  THE WORD HERE MEANS TO "ABIDE UNDER" AND SUGGESTS THAT CHRISTIANS LEARN NOT ONLY TO LIVE IN CHRIST WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL BUT ALSO LEARN TO LIVE IN HIM WHEN THINGS ARE PRODUCING PRESSURE.

ENDURANCE THEN PRODUCES CHARACTER.  HERE THE WORD CARRIES THE CONNOTATION OF BEING PROVEN...LIKE A METAL ALLOY IS PROVEN BY PASSING IT THROUGH THE FIRE OR A WARRIOR IS PROVEN ON THE BATTLEFIELD.  WE ARE PROVEN BY PASSING THROUGH A TRIAL.

AND FINALLY CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE.  HOPE THAT IS BASED ON CONFIDENCE AND CERTAINTY BECAUSE GOD'S SPIRIT IS POURED OUT UPON US WHO ARE HIS PEOPLE.  IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO OPENS US TO THE RECOGNITION THAT OUR LIFE IS DESTINED TO BE GOVERNED BY THE UNLIMITED LOVE GOD HAS FOR US AND ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, WILL BE RELATED TO AND DEALT WITH ACCORDING TO GOD'S LOVING PURPOSES.  THE RESULT IS A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING.

I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT SMEDES PUTS IT.  HE SAYS, "I BELIEVE THAT ONE DAY LIFE WILL WIN OVER DEATH, THAT GOOD WILL WIN OVER EVIL, THAT LOVE WILL WIN OVER HATE, THAT JOY WILL WIN OVER SADNESS, AND THAT THE WHOLE WORLD WILL WORK THE WAY ITS CREATOR INTENDED IT TO WORK.  I WANT IT DESPERATELY, I CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE, AND I BELIEVE THAT WITH GOD IT IS POSSIBLE.  I HAVE NO HARD EVIDENCE THAT SUCH GOODNESS IS LIKELY TO HEAL OUR BROKEN WORLD.  BUT I DO HAVE MY REASONS FOR BELIEVING IT CAN.  THE REASONS ALL COMPRESS INTO ONE: GOD.  GOD IS; THEREFORE I HOPE.  I HOPE; THEREFORE I AM."
 
WHAT DO YOU WISH WOULD BE CHANGED IN YOUR LIFE?  CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT YOU WOULD BE LIKE IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN?  DO YOU BELIEVE IT CAN EVER BE LIKE THAT?  WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR HOPE ON?