May God Be With You
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
Matthew 1:23 New International Version
I am eagerly anticipating the events of Christmas. I am looking forward to talking to my daughter on Christmas day. I am looking forward to dinners with friends, watching the same seasonal movies and giving Christmas dinner to those in need. I can’t wait till the candlelit service at church where Ursula and I will sing old favorites like The First Noel and Silent Night. All of these things among others make up the most of my seasonal celebration. But it wasn’t always this way.
I remember so vividly the night I stood at the top of a bridge and started planning. The late October wind was signaling the onset of winter. The cool night air seemed to whisper a dark message through my pain and isolation that there was only one answer. I remember standing there, looking over the edge and my mind flashing images that, if I had to guess, were future events of what might happen if I stayed among the living. I saw myself speaking on the phone, eating dinner with friends, and sitting with a woman, the two of us holding candles and singing. I think I was lucky that day. Or was it more than luck that I walked away instead of jumping from that bridge? Maybe it was a bit of shame mixed with fear. The shame came from planning to throw away something that is incredibly precious to God. The fear came from worry over the consequences of not bringing the plan to completion.
I think that I left that bridge with Immanuel. I was not yet aware of what or who was with me, but in retrospect, I am sure that God was with me. When I take in a verse like this and think of its meaning, I can’t help but see something so much more special and personal: when I stood on that bridge, I was without something, and when I walked away, I had something.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Electric Jesus
Electric Jesus
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 New International Version
What is Christmas to you? Is it a few days off from work? Is it a time to celebrate? Or maybe Christmas is a hassle to you. Maybe it is troublesome because you have to prepare extra food, there are gifts to buy and you have to contend with difficult relatives. I think some people divorce Jesus from Christmas and call it Xmas or Holiday Season as a crude attempt to be respectful of the beliefs of others. Maybe some remove Christ from Christmas to hide their own atheism. Or maybe Christmas is nothing more than something I saw while checking out the Christmas décor of some neighbors. I saw an illuminated nativity scene. Jesus was flickering and about to go out. Joseph and the black dude were missing. I wondered if my neighbors were trying to make a political statement or if they were so lazy they set out an incomplete and barely working set.
I think that Christmas is more than an illuminated baby Jesus in the middle of an incomplete nativity scene. I think Christmas is when we remember that Jesus was a real and living man. But that he was also the real and living God that made His dwelling place among us; that He was and still is full of grace and truth. I think Christmas is when we remember that God loaned out His son for thirty-three years, and in the end dropped him on a cross for the expressed purpose of buying us back (Isaiah 53:5). Back into His good graces and into a relationship of peace, prosperity, and goodwill.
I think it odd how people might see an electric Jesus on someone’s lawn and think that is all there is to Christmas. I think that Jesus was born to buy us out of our sin condition. And if I am right, it makes sense that these few days in the Christmas season should be a time of celebrating and of comfort and joy--tidings of comfort and joy.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 New International Version
What is Christmas to you? Is it a few days off from work? Is it a time to celebrate? Or maybe Christmas is a hassle to you. Maybe it is troublesome because you have to prepare extra food, there are gifts to buy and you have to contend with difficult relatives. I think some people divorce Jesus from Christmas and call it Xmas or Holiday Season as a crude attempt to be respectful of the beliefs of others. Maybe some remove Christ from Christmas to hide their own atheism. Or maybe Christmas is nothing more than something I saw while checking out the Christmas décor of some neighbors. I saw an illuminated nativity scene. Jesus was flickering and about to go out. Joseph and the black dude were missing. I wondered if my neighbors were trying to make a political statement or if they were so lazy they set out an incomplete and barely working set.
I think that Christmas is more than an illuminated baby Jesus in the middle of an incomplete nativity scene. I think Christmas is when we remember that Jesus was a real and living man. But that he was also the real and living God that made His dwelling place among us; that He was and still is full of grace and truth. I think Christmas is when we remember that God loaned out His son for thirty-three years, and in the end dropped him on a cross for the expressed purpose of buying us back (Isaiah 53:5). Back into His good graces and into a relationship of peace, prosperity, and goodwill.
I think it odd how people might see an electric Jesus on someone’s lawn and think that is all there is to Christmas. I think that Jesus was born to buy us out of our sin condition. And if I am right, it makes sense that these few days in the Christmas season should be a time of celebrating and of comfort and joy--tidings of comfort and joy.
Friday, December 17, 2010
It Takes One to Know One
It Takes One to Know One
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Romans 2:1 New Living Translation
One thing that gives me the creeps about sin is that I can be involved in it and sometimes point the finger at others for doing the same things. Maybe this is possible because when I think of sin, I usually think big. Sin has to be extreme in its expression of greed, hate, theft, backstabbing, gossip, lust, or murder. But the truth is that sin does not need to be expansive and newsworthy; it can be subtle. So subtle in fact that I may be in the act at almost any moment and not know it. Yes, I can and do sin any time. Sometimes I sin while I am in church, at work, or even while watching television. But I know for sure that sin is creeping up on me when I am angry at others for their behavior. When I see someone else’s sin and I begin pointing it out; my anger is usually not inspired by God. My violent reaction to the sin of others is because sometimes I am guilty of it too. I can see their sin so easily because I’ve done it, or am doing it. I believe it is true when people say that it takes one to know one. As one who is well acquainted with his sins, I am keenly aware of the intricacies involved. Sometimes I see it in the way a person responds, or it is in the way they carry themselves. I can see it because I’ve done it.
How do you respond to the sins of others? Do you dispense the truth with a large measure of grace, or are you overly critical and cynical? Maybe the next time you are keenly aware of someone’s failure, also take the time to see your own. Then, when you are fully aware of your sin and you have asked for forgiveness, see to the needs of others. You know, Jesus said the same thing in regards to sin correction. He said that we should take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye. Do you think that a healthy account of your own sin will affect the way you decide to minister to others?
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Romans 2:1 New Living Translation
One thing that gives me the creeps about sin is that I can be involved in it and sometimes point the finger at others for doing the same things. Maybe this is possible because when I think of sin, I usually think big. Sin has to be extreme in its expression of greed, hate, theft, backstabbing, gossip, lust, or murder. But the truth is that sin does not need to be expansive and newsworthy; it can be subtle. So subtle in fact that I may be in the act at almost any moment and not know it. Yes, I can and do sin any time. Sometimes I sin while I am in church, at work, or even while watching television. But I know for sure that sin is creeping up on me when I am angry at others for their behavior. When I see someone else’s sin and I begin pointing it out; my anger is usually not inspired by God. My violent reaction to the sin of others is because sometimes I am guilty of it too. I can see their sin so easily because I’ve done it, or am doing it. I believe it is true when people say that it takes one to know one. As one who is well acquainted with his sins, I am keenly aware of the intricacies involved. Sometimes I see it in the way a person responds, or it is in the way they carry themselves. I can see it because I’ve done it.
How do you respond to the sins of others? Do you dispense the truth with a large measure of grace, or are you overly critical and cynical? Maybe the next time you are keenly aware of someone’s failure, also take the time to see your own. Then, when you are fully aware of your sin and you have asked for forgiveness, see to the needs of others. You know, Jesus said the same thing in regards to sin correction. He said that we should take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye. Do you think that a healthy account of your own sin will affect the way you decide to minister to others?
Friday, December 10, 2010
An Unexpected Continuation
An Unexpected Continuation
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Acts 28:30-31 New Living Translation
This was a weird way to end the story! Why build up to something and then stop it abruptly? In the final chapters of Acts, we can see that the religious gas bags have mobbed Paul and intend to kill him. A “death vow” is made by more religious boneheads to ambush Paul and murder him. Paul, on his way to Rome for the final showdown, is shipwrecked. After a snake bite and a three month layover Gilligan’s Island style, Paul and his companions finally make it to Rome and . . . well . . . he just goes on preaching. That sort of seems like the let down of all endings. I expected Paul to do a miracle, or convince a whole town to become Christians, or do something totally unexpected. But the end was lackluster, I think, for a perfectly good reason.
The end of Acts has not actually happened. You and I are the continuing story of Acts. We keep the story going by praying for, teaching, healing, loving and telling others of Jesus. When we tell our personal stories of how Jesus saves us we are taking part in the ministry to reach the world that is lead by the Holy Spirit. The final words in Acts, “And no one tried to stop him,” bring to mind that no one can stop the spread of the good news except those of us that have learned it, live it, and hide it. How are you continuing the story?
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Acts 28:30-31 New Living Translation
This was a weird way to end the story! Why build up to something and then stop it abruptly? In the final chapters of Acts, we can see that the religious gas bags have mobbed Paul and intend to kill him. A “death vow” is made by more religious boneheads to ambush Paul and murder him. Paul, on his way to Rome for the final showdown, is shipwrecked. After a snake bite and a three month layover Gilligan’s Island style, Paul and his companions finally make it to Rome and . . . well . . . he just goes on preaching. That sort of seems like the let down of all endings. I expected Paul to do a miracle, or convince a whole town to become Christians, or do something totally unexpected. But the end was lackluster, I think, for a perfectly good reason.
The end of Acts has not actually happened. You and I are the continuing story of Acts. We keep the story going by praying for, teaching, healing, loving and telling others of Jesus. When we tell our personal stories of how Jesus saves us we are taking part in the ministry to reach the world that is lead by the Holy Spirit. The final words in Acts, “And no one tried to stop him,” bring to mind that no one can stop the spread of the good news except those of us that have learned it, live it, and hide it. How are you continuing the story?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Holy Hankies?
Holy Hankies?
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts 19:11-12 New International Version
I’m sorry, Holy Spirit . . . .
I need to apologize to the Holy Spirit up front and confess my sin. My sin is that during the original writing for this verse, I was sarcastic. I was making a comical story over the unusual way God’s Spirit (or the Spirit of Jesus as He is called in Acts 16:7) moved and healed many. I made mention that it seemed silly that God would inhabit a napkin or a kerchief to bring healing to someone. I made mention of a religious program on television where they wanted you to mail in a cloth or hankie along with a small donation. The ministry would pray over the cloths and mail them back. And right at that point is when my sin started. I had this sly grin curling itself over my face. I could feel myself not believing that God would work this way. Idiotic ideas popped into my head like, “Does the hankie need to be cotton, or will polyester work? What if all I have is a ripped piece of denim off my jeans, will that suffice?” I was seeing this unusual move of the Spirit as silly and that is where the Holy Spirit convicted me.
I think my joking and attitude about this strange move of the Spirit was my putting down someone’s blessing. If you have mailed out your prayer cloths, and God has blessed you, well . . . , then bless you. If you say it was real, I believe you. It was certainly real for the people that God decided to bless in this situation with Paul. It was and is a unique circumstance. Paul and his crew may have been the only ones for miles that knew God, and this was a very special way for one man to reach a whole town or city. Even though this Holy Spirit endowed napkin thing is unique, I should not be shocked. Unique is nothing new for God. I remember other exceptional moves of God such as Elisha’s bones being filled with enough of God’s power that just a touch brought a man back to life (2 Kings 13:21) and how the Holy Spirit used Peter’s shadow as a healing device (Acts 5:15). I suppose this type of story is telling me that God can move any way He wants, when He wants. He heals so that we can know He sympathizes with our pain, having endured it himself while in the flesh. I think God healed (or heals) so that it acts as a supernatural sign for things to come . . . .
By the way, my knee hurts. Anybody got a hankie? I believe now.
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts 19:11-12 New International Version
I’m sorry, Holy Spirit . . . .
I need to apologize to the Holy Spirit up front and confess my sin. My sin is that during the original writing for this verse, I was sarcastic. I was making a comical story over the unusual way God’s Spirit (or the Spirit of Jesus as He is called in Acts 16:7) moved and healed many. I made mention that it seemed silly that God would inhabit a napkin or a kerchief to bring healing to someone. I made mention of a religious program on television where they wanted you to mail in a cloth or hankie along with a small donation. The ministry would pray over the cloths and mail them back. And right at that point is when my sin started. I had this sly grin curling itself over my face. I could feel myself not believing that God would work this way. Idiotic ideas popped into my head like, “Does the hankie need to be cotton, or will polyester work? What if all I have is a ripped piece of denim off my jeans, will that suffice?” I was seeing this unusual move of the Spirit as silly and that is where the Holy Spirit convicted me.
I think my joking and attitude about this strange move of the Spirit was my putting down someone’s blessing. If you have mailed out your prayer cloths, and God has blessed you, well . . . , then bless you. If you say it was real, I believe you. It was certainly real for the people that God decided to bless in this situation with Paul. It was and is a unique circumstance. Paul and his crew may have been the only ones for miles that knew God, and this was a very special way for one man to reach a whole town or city. Even though this Holy Spirit endowed napkin thing is unique, I should not be shocked. Unique is nothing new for God. I remember other exceptional moves of God such as Elisha’s bones being filled with enough of God’s power that just a touch brought a man back to life (2 Kings 13:21) and how the Holy Spirit used Peter’s shadow as a healing device (Acts 5:15). I suppose this type of story is telling me that God can move any way He wants, when He wants. He heals so that we can know He sympathizes with our pain, having endured it himself while in the flesh. I think God healed (or heals) so that it acts as a supernatural sign for things to come . . . .
By the way, my knee hurts. Anybody got a hankie? I believe now.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Grace Only
Grace Only
So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 15:10-11 New Living Translation
I sat in a Bible study for about a month. Every week we discussed salvation and how it is obtained. I kept struggling with different ideas in my head. Every time I mulled over an objection, another verse popped up about salvation coming from grace. I pondered baptism, living a God styled life and keeping the Big Ten as vehicles to achieve salvation. Of course, we also need to stay clear of the traditional do not things. Do not curse, drink, smoke, lose your temper, and do not hold grudges. But the flaw in that sort of reasoning is that a person can actually obtain salvation through any of those things. How do you earn your salvation? Maybe I should ask if you think you have earned it on your own.
According to Paul and Barnabas, salvation comes from grace. God’s special favor is what brings salvation. Does not the scripture say that salvation is given by grace so that no man or woman can brag about their achievement (Ephesians 2:8-9)? I think we humans, especially we Americans, are driven to succeed. Some people feel the need to succeed even at the cost of others. This high desire to define ourselves by our achievements is not new, and is frankly an obstacle to receiving God’s full measure of grace. I see earning salvation the same as putting the cart in front of the horse. God saves us and then we respond to this salvation by getting baptized, by living with better more godly choices. Imagine falling toward the edge of a cliff, and someone grabs your hand to keep you from falling. Did you have any power in your rescue? No, you were wholly dependent upon the person holding you. I’ll put it a different way, a friend and I were bantering about salvation wholly from grace vs. human assisted salvation. My friend asked me, “Doesn’t the Bible say that we are dead in our sin?” He was quoting Ephesians 2:1, but I did not know it at the time.
“Yes it does” I said.
“Then,” he asked, “how does a dead man call for help?”
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for blessing me with unmerited salvation. Amen.
So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 15:10-11 New Living Translation
I sat in a Bible study for about a month. Every week we discussed salvation and how it is obtained. I kept struggling with different ideas in my head. Every time I mulled over an objection, another verse popped up about salvation coming from grace. I pondered baptism, living a God styled life and keeping the Big Ten as vehicles to achieve salvation. Of course, we also need to stay clear of the traditional do not things. Do not curse, drink, smoke, lose your temper, and do not hold grudges. But the flaw in that sort of reasoning is that a person can actually obtain salvation through any of those things. How do you earn your salvation? Maybe I should ask if you think you have earned it on your own.
According to Paul and Barnabas, salvation comes from grace. God’s special favor is what brings salvation. Does not the scripture say that salvation is given by grace so that no man or woman can brag about their achievement (Ephesians 2:8-9)? I think we humans, especially we Americans, are driven to succeed. Some people feel the need to succeed even at the cost of others. This high desire to define ourselves by our achievements is not new, and is frankly an obstacle to receiving God’s full measure of grace. I see earning salvation the same as putting the cart in front of the horse. God saves us and then we respond to this salvation by getting baptized, by living with better more godly choices. Imagine falling toward the edge of a cliff, and someone grabs your hand to keep you from falling. Did you have any power in your rescue? No, you were wholly dependent upon the person holding you. I’ll put it a different way, a friend and I were bantering about salvation wholly from grace vs. human assisted salvation. My friend asked me, “Doesn’t the Bible say that we are dead in our sin?” He was quoting Ephesians 2:1, but I did not know it at the time.
“Yes it does” I said.
“Then,” he asked, “how does a dead man call for help?”
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for blessing me with unmerited salvation. Amen.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Good Isn’t Good Enough
Good Isn’t Good Enough
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans 3:12 New International Version
I had a strange conversation with a coworker. She came to my desk to tell me that she is a good person. I replied, “That’s good.”
She said, “Good people get into heaven. That’s where I am going because I deserve it.”
“What makes you think that being good is good enough?”
“All the good stuff I do for others earns that for me. I have earned it by now,” she said.
“Well, how do you know you have done enough to earn it?” I said. “Isn’t it possible that you have the amount per deed incorrect? And who set the value of each deed anyhow?”
After a long pause I asked her, “Do you own heaven?”
“No . . . what does that have to do with anything?”
I said, “Well, think of it this way. If your son came home with a friend and asked if the boy could stay for awhile you would normally say yes. Why? Because the other person was brought to you by your son. What if a complete stranger came and asked the same question, would you let him or her stay at your house?”
She said, “No.”
I told her that is the same way with God. He lets people in that come with His son. If you don’t know God’s son, how do you expect to gain entry?
I am appalled at the mentality of some people. I felt like telling her to think these things through. Don’t serve up some half-baked idea and expect me to bless it. Gee Whiz! Think about it. If we had to earn it, we would do what was necessary, and then our good deeds would fall off after that. Also, if we could earn it, we would be arrogant about our accomplishments. What if some are incapable of earning it? How do those get salvation? The fact is none of us can measure up to God’s expectations. According to the Bible, good isn’t good enough, but that’s the good news. The good news is that it was already earned for us by Jesus as he hung on the cross. Our only option now is to accept that Jesus paid the debt or shun the heavenly admission ticket.
The irony in all this is not necessarily that my friend was acting on faulty information about God. But that some people that are educated believers still try to earn admission into Heaven. We should be doing our good deeds out of gratitude, not to deposit more God dollars into our heavenly accounts.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans 3:12 New International Version
I had a strange conversation with a coworker. She came to my desk to tell me that she is a good person. I replied, “That’s good.”
She said, “Good people get into heaven. That’s where I am going because I deserve it.”
“What makes you think that being good is good enough?”
“All the good stuff I do for others earns that for me. I have earned it by now,” she said.
“Well, how do you know you have done enough to earn it?” I said. “Isn’t it possible that you have the amount per deed incorrect? And who set the value of each deed anyhow?”
After a long pause I asked her, “Do you own heaven?”
“No . . . what does that have to do with anything?”
I said, “Well, think of it this way. If your son came home with a friend and asked if the boy could stay for awhile you would normally say yes. Why? Because the other person was brought to you by your son. What if a complete stranger came and asked the same question, would you let him or her stay at your house?”
She said, “No.”
I told her that is the same way with God. He lets people in that come with His son. If you don’t know God’s son, how do you expect to gain entry?
I am appalled at the mentality of some people. I felt like telling her to think these things through. Don’t serve up some half-baked idea and expect me to bless it. Gee Whiz! Think about it. If we had to earn it, we would do what was necessary, and then our good deeds would fall off after that. Also, if we could earn it, we would be arrogant about our accomplishments. What if some are incapable of earning it? How do those get salvation? The fact is none of us can measure up to God’s expectations. According to the Bible, good isn’t good enough, but that’s the good news. The good news is that it was already earned for us by Jesus as he hung on the cross. Our only option now is to accept that Jesus paid the debt or shun the heavenly admission ticket.
The irony in all this is not necessarily that my friend was acting on faulty information about God. But that some people that are educated believers still try to earn admission into Heaven. We should be doing our good deeds out of gratitude, not to deposit more God dollars into our heavenly accounts.
Friday, November 12, 2010
You Should Be Pretty Weird
You Should Be Pretty Weird
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 New International Version
I have heard it said that Christians are no different than anyone else. I imagine they mean that Christians get angry, get divorced, cheat on their spouses, curse, drive erratically and are generally insensitive to the needs of others. I also imagine they mean that Christians participate in Cancer walks, volunteer at the local soup kitchen, care for those less fortunate and spread cheer to others. If all of that is true, then what’s the point? Why become a believer when one is no different from the other? Both can screw up a one car parade and both can do wonderful works to better the lives of others. But, according to this verse, believers should not be the same as the rest of the people on the planet.
The Bible says that we are peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). According to the Bible, we should stand out in an uncharacteristic way because we belong to God. If you examine your life, your friends, your family, are they peculiar or weird in some way? Okay, loaded question. Are they weird in a God centered sort of way? As in, do the details of their lives reflect who God is? Our version of love, which should be a mini version of God’s love, ought to stand out in an extraordinary way. As an example, how we believers treat our enemies should be in stark contrast to the way others behave in the same circumstances. Maybe another way of putting it is to say that others should see our actions as uncanny or strange. Why? Because we mimic a God whose behavior is not like anyone else’s. If you are growing into being the likeness of Christ, you should be different and you should be a little weird.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 New International Version
I have heard it said that Christians are no different than anyone else. I imagine they mean that Christians get angry, get divorced, cheat on their spouses, curse, drive erratically and are generally insensitive to the needs of others. I also imagine they mean that Christians participate in Cancer walks, volunteer at the local soup kitchen, care for those less fortunate and spread cheer to others. If all of that is true, then what’s the point? Why become a believer when one is no different from the other? Both can screw up a one car parade and both can do wonderful works to better the lives of others. But, according to this verse, believers should not be the same as the rest of the people on the planet.
The Bible says that we are peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). According to the Bible, we should stand out in an uncharacteristic way because we belong to God. If you examine your life, your friends, your family, are they peculiar or weird in some way? Okay, loaded question. Are they weird in a God centered sort of way? As in, do the details of their lives reflect who God is? Our version of love, which should be a mini version of God’s love, ought to stand out in an extraordinary way. As an example, how we believers treat our enemies should be in stark contrast to the way others behave in the same circumstances. Maybe another way of putting it is to say that others should see our actions as uncanny or strange. Why? Because we mimic a God whose behavior is not like anyone else’s. If you are growing into being the likeness of Christ, you should be different and you should be a little weird.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Prostitute Spouse
The Prostitute Spouse
Then the Lord said to me, “Go and get your wife again. Bring her back to you and lover her, even though she loves adultery. For the Lord still loves Israel even though the people have turned to other gods, offering them choice gifts.”
Hosea 3:1 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
In the case of Hosea, God wanted him to literally buy back his wife. And, remarkably, Hosea follows God’s directions. When I read something like this, I like to put myself in the protagonist’s shoes to gain better insight. I do this by asking questions. For example, ask yourself if you would buy your cheating spouse back from a pimp? How would your children be affected by being known as the children of the town whore? Do you think the townspeople would treat you and your kids differently at PTA meetings, at the grocery store and at church? I figure that Hosea could save a little face for himself and the kids if he would just follow the Jewish law and stone her. She isn’t worth saving. Just find someone else and rescue your family from the intense pain and shame.
Putting myself in Hosea’s sandals helps me to understand his anguish, the desire for revenge and the embarrassment of having a whore for a spouse. Not to mention that even your kids may not be and probably aren’t yours. When one spouse breaks the promise of the marriage covenant, the other feels like he or she can never trust or love the same way again. In some ways, their life now seems tainted and dirty. I am not sure how one can ever fully recover. I admit though, I have made a fatal flaw in understanding this story. Instead of walking in Hosea’s shoes, I should have also attempted to walk in Gomer’s, (the wife’s shoes), for I am most like her in my faith walk. God wants to express his love for me, so he takes me from nothing and gives me a name, an inheritance and a place that is intimate with him. I realize my boredom with God only after I have chased after and replaced God with self-gratification, with riches, with entertainment etc. When I replace God with anything else, my actions are like that of Gomer.
The tragedy behind this story is not only that Hosea feels shortchanged, that the children have to walk around with names that carry a stigma, that God rarely receives a return on the love he gives to others , but the worst is that we do not know if Gomer ever had gratitude towards Hosea. We never get to find out if Gomer stayed true to her husband and children. In some way I guess, we get to finish the story. We can answer the questions of gratitude and a changed life in how we live today.
Then the Lord said to me, “Go and get your wife again. Bring her back to you and lover her, even though she loves adultery. For the Lord still loves Israel even though the people have turned to other gods, offering them choice gifts.”
Hosea 3:1 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
In the case of Hosea, God wanted him to literally buy back his wife. And, remarkably, Hosea follows God’s directions. When I read something like this, I like to put myself in the protagonist’s shoes to gain better insight. I do this by asking questions. For example, ask yourself if you would buy your cheating spouse back from a pimp? How would your children be affected by being known as the children of the town whore? Do you think the townspeople would treat you and your kids differently at PTA meetings, at the grocery store and at church? I figure that Hosea could save a little face for himself and the kids if he would just follow the Jewish law and stone her. She isn’t worth saving. Just find someone else and rescue your family from the intense pain and shame.
Putting myself in Hosea’s sandals helps me to understand his anguish, the desire for revenge and the embarrassment of having a whore for a spouse. Not to mention that even your kids may not be and probably aren’t yours. When one spouse breaks the promise of the marriage covenant, the other feels like he or she can never trust or love the same way again. In some ways, their life now seems tainted and dirty. I am not sure how one can ever fully recover. I admit though, I have made a fatal flaw in understanding this story. Instead of walking in Hosea’s shoes, I should have also attempted to walk in Gomer’s, (the wife’s shoes), for I am most like her in my faith walk. God wants to express his love for me, so he takes me from nothing and gives me a name, an inheritance and a place that is intimate with him. I realize my boredom with God only after I have chased after and replaced God with self-gratification, with riches, with entertainment etc. When I replace God with anything else, my actions are like that of Gomer.
The tragedy behind this story is not only that Hosea feels shortchanged, that the children have to walk around with names that carry a stigma, that God rarely receives a return on the love he gives to others , but the worst is that we do not know if Gomer ever had gratitude towards Hosea. We never get to find out if Gomer stayed true to her husband and children. In some way I guess, we get to finish the story. We can answer the questions of gratitude and a changed life in how we live today.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mercy Streak
Mercy Streak
Oh God, listen to me and hear my request. Open your eyes and see our wretchedness. See how your city lies in ruins-for everyone knows it’s yours. We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.
Daniel 9:18 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Whenever I pray, I usually ask God to forget my sin, blot it out! I ask him to look away from my sin and look to the empty cross that his son was on. I want God to look at the empty tomb. I always want him to forget my failures and look to the one that succeeded on my behalf. Perhaps Daniel knows something about God that I have yet to fully grasp, his mercy streak. I have a grumpy streak, so says my wife. I drive to work behind people I am sure have a mean streak. But Daniel sees a mercy streak in God. Maybe he has derived his opinion because he saw God’s mercy in the closed mouth of a hungry lion. Maybe because he saw his three friends thrown into a giant fire pit, and when they came out alive and unharmed, they didn’t even smell like smoke. What circumstances have you been in that make you think of God’s mercy?
In Daniel’s prayer, he takes a chance and trusts God and says, “See our wretchedness.” He asks God to see our failure and our sin and be the God we know you are. A God of mercy toward the ones you love. Protect your good name and your reputation and be merciful to us. You are famous for it! We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.
Oh God, listen to me and hear my request. Open your eyes and see our wretchedness. See how your city lies in ruins-for everyone knows it’s yours. We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.
Daniel 9:18 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Whenever I pray, I usually ask God to forget my sin, blot it out! I ask him to look away from my sin and look to the empty cross that his son was on. I want God to look at the empty tomb. I always want him to forget my failures and look to the one that succeeded on my behalf. Perhaps Daniel knows something about God that I have yet to fully grasp, his mercy streak. I have a grumpy streak, so says my wife. I drive to work behind people I am sure have a mean streak. But Daniel sees a mercy streak in God. Maybe he has derived his opinion because he saw God’s mercy in the closed mouth of a hungry lion. Maybe because he saw his three friends thrown into a giant fire pit, and when they came out alive and unharmed, they didn’t even smell like smoke. What circumstances have you been in that make you think of God’s mercy?
In Daniel’s prayer, he takes a chance and trusts God and says, “See our wretchedness.” He asks God to see our failure and our sin and be the God we know you are. A God of mercy toward the ones you love. Protect your good name and your reputation and be merciful to us. You are famous for it! We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Speechless Whore
Speechless Whore
“You’ll remember your past life and face the shame of it, but when I make atonement for you, make everything right after all you’ve done, it will make you speechless.” Decree of God, the Master.
Ezekiel 16:63 THE MESSAGE
Ezekiel has a message from God for Israel. In short, the message of Ezekiel chapter 16 is an allegory of an unfaithful wife. God makes the assertion that Israel, the unfaithful wife, is a whore. She was nothing when God found her, naked and discarded. He raised her, showered her with gifts and they committed themselves to each other. Later, Israel is described as a wife who has grown tired of her husband and gone off on her own. God says men commonly pay for their whores. But Israel is the opposite. She pays for the favors of her men! As Eugene Petersen; author of The Message, explained it, “you spread your legs to everyone who passed by.” (Ezekiel 16:24 MSG)
If this sounds really hard, really crude and not traditionally Christian in its language, I am glad. It is time to start looking at things the way they are. There can be no healing when lies are allowed to whitewash over illness. Too many times we have wanted to build each other up by telling each other what we want to hear. But if we only tell each other what we want to hear, are we really telling the truth? It’s sort of like having all the symptoms of cancer, but the doctor does not have the courage to operate and heal you. He or she just medicates you with kindnesses, platitudes and lies, until you die. Indeed, the truth can be very hard to take. Likewise, it can also be hard to deliver. If you are sick, do you want the placebo or the real thing?
God said Israel was a whore because she looked for her needs to be met by anyone except God. I can’t help but identify with Israel. I have made huge mistakes with a myriad of inspirations. I have been inspired to sin by peer pressure, poor self-control and poor judgment to name a few. Sometimes I would use sin to relieve the pain of my failures, which of course equals more sin. I have tried drinking, sex, building my intellect, anger, entertainment, solitude, selling my self-esteem to be liked by others and many other things. Ultimately, I looked to other things for fulfillment, instead of going to God. If I had only gone to him first!
My true peace and joy in life has come from sticking to God and knowing he still wants me. I recognize my shame, and I am speechless at the idea that God would want to reconcile with me. After all that I have done to him, hurt him and in some ways, even bring him shame in front of others. And yet, the Father still wants me. His forgiveness is so amazing! His commitment to me is amazing. I am one speechless and redeemed whore.
My wife says this scripture should give us hope. Indeed, she summed up the whole matter in only a few words. Hope for those that think they have gone so far from God that there is no way back. Hope that no matter what has separated you from believing or trusting God, it’s not enough to escape God’s love for you. There isn’t anything high enough, low enough, wide enough or any ideology or powers that can separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus.
“You’ll remember your past life and face the shame of it, but when I make atonement for you, make everything right after all you’ve done, it will make you speechless.” Decree of God, the Master.
Ezekiel 16:63 THE MESSAGE
Ezekiel has a message from God for Israel. In short, the message of Ezekiel chapter 16 is an allegory of an unfaithful wife. God makes the assertion that Israel, the unfaithful wife, is a whore. She was nothing when God found her, naked and discarded. He raised her, showered her with gifts and they committed themselves to each other. Later, Israel is described as a wife who has grown tired of her husband and gone off on her own. God says men commonly pay for their whores. But Israel is the opposite. She pays for the favors of her men! As Eugene Petersen; author of The Message, explained it, “you spread your legs to everyone who passed by.” (Ezekiel 16:24 MSG)
If this sounds really hard, really crude and not traditionally Christian in its language, I am glad. It is time to start looking at things the way they are. There can be no healing when lies are allowed to whitewash over illness. Too many times we have wanted to build each other up by telling each other what we want to hear. But if we only tell each other what we want to hear, are we really telling the truth? It’s sort of like having all the symptoms of cancer, but the doctor does not have the courage to operate and heal you. He or she just medicates you with kindnesses, platitudes and lies, until you die. Indeed, the truth can be very hard to take. Likewise, it can also be hard to deliver. If you are sick, do you want the placebo or the real thing?
God said Israel was a whore because she looked for her needs to be met by anyone except God. I can’t help but identify with Israel. I have made huge mistakes with a myriad of inspirations. I have been inspired to sin by peer pressure, poor self-control and poor judgment to name a few. Sometimes I would use sin to relieve the pain of my failures, which of course equals more sin. I have tried drinking, sex, building my intellect, anger, entertainment, solitude, selling my self-esteem to be liked by others and many other things. Ultimately, I looked to other things for fulfillment, instead of going to God. If I had only gone to him first!
My true peace and joy in life has come from sticking to God and knowing he still wants me. I recognize my shame, and I am speechless at the idea that God would want to reconcile with me. After all that I have done to him, hurt him and in some ways, even bring him shame in front of others. And yet, the Father still wants me. His forgiveness is so amazing! His commitment to me is amazing. I am one speechless and redeemed whore.
My wife says this scripture should give us hope. Indeed, she summed up the whole matter in only a few words. Hope for those that think they have gone so far from God that there is no way back. Hope that no matter what has separated you from believing or trusting God, it’s not enough to escape God’s love for you. There isn’t anything high enough, low enough, wide enough or any ideology or powers that can separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus.
Friday, October 15, 2010
A Suffering Savior Pt. 3
A Suffering Savior Pt. 3
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him. That ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the whole punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed!
Isaiah 53:5 THE MESSAGE
I was on the phone with a person I will call Tom. Tom had finally shared with me that he was using cocaine. He admitted that he worked hard to stay free, but if an argument with his wife came up, he would feel the desire, (or as he said, hear the cocaine voice speak), and on payday, disappear. These disappearances lasted as short as a day and as long as several weeks. I asked if he felt okay with his lifestyle or if he wanted a change. He told me he always felt it was wrong, but the cocaine voice was louder than any guilt he felt.
As we continued our conversation, he mentioned that a movie helped him stay clean for a short time. He said he had seen Mel Gibson’s The Passion several times. He asked if I thought that was really how it happened. I thought in silence for a long while. So long that he asked if I was still on the line. I thought about this verse, and I told him I didn’t know. But I do know that one of the blows inflicted on Jesus was for me. I asked him if maybe one of the nails or another one of the blows had his name on it.
Tom was later arrested for failing a drug test while on probation.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him. That ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the whole punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed!
Isaiah 53:5 THE MESSAGE
I was on the phone with a person I will call Tom. Tom had finally shared with me that he was using cocaine. He admitted that he worked hard to stay free, but if an argument with his wife came up, he would feel the desire, (or as he said, hear the cocaine voice speak), and on payday, disappear. These disappearances lasted as short as a day and as long as several weeks. I asked if he felt okay with his lifestyle or if he wanted a change. He told me he always felt it was wrong, but the cocaine voice was louder than any guilt he felt.
As we continued our conversation, he mentioned that a movie helped him stay clean for a short time. He said he had seen Mel Gibson’s The Passion several times. He asked if I thought that was really how it happened. I thought in silence for a long while. So long that he asked if I was still on the line. I thought about this verse, and I told him I didn’t know. But I do know that one of the blows inflicted on Jesus was for me. I asked him if maybe one of the nails or another one of the blows had his name on it.
Tom was later arrested for failing a drug test while on probation.
Friday, October 8, 2010
A Suffering Savior Pt. 2
A Suffering Savior Pt. 2
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him. That ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the whole punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed!
Isaiah 53:5 THE MESSAGE
For some time I was suffering greatly at heart. I had become acutely aware of my sin and how far I had fallen from many preconceived ideas of Christianity and fallen from the expectations of others. For months, my only prayer was, “God, I am sorry for being broken. I am sorry for the things I have done to myself. I am sorry for all the things wrong with me.”
In my own mind, I knew I had damaged myself by some of my life choices. I knew I was not exactly how God had designed me. There was a certain anguish in realizing I was not paying back what God had invested. As I continued to offer my apologies to God, I also knew I could not stay where I was. Angry, depressed and doubtful was not where I should continue to stand, without further damaging myself. I decided to continue my little prayer and seek out a reply from God that maybe… we could start again.
Three years previously, a friend had given me a Bible called The Message. I dug it out at random and vowed to start reading wherever it fell open. It opened to Isaiah 53. I was absolutely dumbfounded when I read, “But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.” I found it absolutely incredible that my prayer to God had been unknowingly answered years before it was even voiced. How do you explain such a coincidence? How do you explain that my exact words were staring me in the face?
My wife caught me standing in our back yard in the middle of winter. I think she noticed the “tear-cicles” and the runny nose. She came out and asked if I was okay. I gave her a big hug and told her I thought I might have finally become a Christian. She asked, “What have you been for the last decade?” I told her, “I’m not sure what I was before, but today, I am sure He has really forgiven me.”
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him. That ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the whole punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed!
Isaiah 53:5 THE MESSAGE
For some time I was suffering greatly at heart. I had become acutely aware of my sin and how far I had fallen from many preconceived ideas of Christianity and fallen from the expectations of others. For months, my only prayer was, “God, I am sorry for being broken. I am sorry for the things I have done to myself. I am sorry for all the things wrong with me.”
In my own mind, I knew I had damaged myself by some of my life choices. I knew I was not exactly how God had designed me. There was a certain anguish in realizing I was not paying back what God had invested. As I continued to offer my apologies to God, I also knew I could not stay where I was. Angry, depressed and doubtful was not where I should continue to stand, without further damaging myself. I decided to continue my little prayer and seek out a reply from God that maybe… we could start again.
Three years previously, a friend had given me a Bible called The Message. I dug it out at random and vowed to start reading wherever it fell open. It opened to Isaiah 53. I was absolutely dumbfounded when I read, “But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.” I found it absolutely incredible that my prayer to God had been unknowingly answered years before it was even voiced. How do you explain such a coincidence? How do you explain that my exact words were staring me in the face?
My wife caught me standing in our back yard in the middle of winter. I think she noticed the “tear-cicles” and the runny nose. She came out and asked if I was okay. I gave her a big hug and told her I thought I might have finally become a Christian. She asked, “What have you been for the last decade?” I told her, “I’m not sure what I was before, but today, I am sure He has really forgiven me.”
Friday, October 1, 2010
A Suffering Savior Pt 1
A Suffering Savior Pt 1
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him. That ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the whole punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed!
Isaiah 53:5 THE MESSAGE
Thank you.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him. That ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the whole punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed!
Isaiah 53:5 THE MESSAGE
Thank you.
Friday, September 24, 2010
I’ll Be Changed
I’ll Be Changed
Those that wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
My mother told me that when I was very young, I had appendicitis. The doctor told her if she had not brought me to the emergency room, I would not have made it to the next morning. Throughout my childhood, I had Osgood-Schlatter disease, (overactive knee syndrome), more than my fill of assorted colds, stomach flu and infections. I also used my cumbrous nature to cut and bruise myself regularly. Things have not changed. As an adult, I accidentally weed-whacked my own leg, broke my finger with a hammer, fell through a roof, sprained my wrist and shoulder, developed Asthma after pneumonia and now have an arthritic hip.
There are days when none of the pain and shortness of breath bothers me at all. Then, there are days that make me wonder why or if I should be alive? Though my physical sufferings are nothing like some others, I still feel crestfallen at the prospect of a continued life in this body of sin, of pain and deterioration.
The words from the prophet Isaiah offer hope for people that wait, (trust), on the Lord. If you continue to trust God as best you can, the day is coming when you won’t need pills for a chemical imbalance, or for pain. No more therapy or surgery required. We will be strong! Our minds and attitudes will no longer be affected by physical illness and pain. I think Isaiah used earthly examples to explain a heavenly promise. However it is now with this body; it will no longer be that way in the presence of the Father. I can’t wait!
Those that wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
My mother told me that when I was very young, I had appendicitis. The doctor told her if she had not brought me to the emergency room, I would not have made it to the next morning. Throughout my childhood, I had Osgood-Schlatter disease, (overactive knee syndrome), more than my fill of assorted colds, stomach flu and infections. I also used my cumbrous nature to cut and bruise myself regularly. Things have not changed. As an adult, I accidentally weed-whacked my own leg, broke my finger with a hammer, fell through a roof, sprained my wrist and shoulder, developed Asthma after pneumonia and now have an arthritic hip.
There are days when none of the pain and shortness of breath bothers me at all. Then, there are days that make me wonder why or if I should be alive? Though my physical sufferings are nothing like some others, I still feel crestfallen at the prospect of a continued life in this body of sin, of pain and deterioration.
The words from the prophet Isaiah offer hope for people that wait, (trust), on the Lord. If you continue to trust God as best you can, the day is coming when you won’t need pills for a chemical imbalance, or for pain. No more therapy or surgery required. We will be strong! Our minds and attitudes will no longer be affected by physical illness and pain. I think Isaiah used earthly examples to explain a heavenly promise. However it is now with this body; it will no longer be that way in the presence of the Father. I can’t wait!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Fight It Out
Fight It Out
“Come now, let us argue this out,” says the Lord. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow…”
Isaiah 1:18 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I finished the last question on a computer test. The hard drive churned and the red line came up on-screen, I had failed. I studied hard, went to the classes and still failed. I was embarrassed and bewildered at how this could happen. Sure, it was difficult material, but I had prepared for the test. I did everything I was supposed to do and I still failed. I thought to myself, “What is the point of all that study and prayer? God didn’t help; study didn’t help. I must be doomed or created to fail.”
I came home after failing the test and refused to speak with my wife. I was embarrassed for her to see me. I bolted straight to the bedroom, closed the door and set my mind to know and understand that God did not exist. If He did, I would not have failed. In my head, I could hear those TV evangelists speaking so proudly about getting everything they wanted and more because they refused to let Satan in and how they demanded that they be blessed because of God’s word, blah, blah, blah. I concluded chance is what really happens to us, not some all knowing big God-dude that if he existed; he is primarily there to crush our dreams.
As I sat there brooding in my room, something happened. I swear I could feel “something” tugging at my shirt, like a small child pulling on mom’s clothes to get her attention. The “something” was saying, “Come on, and let’s work this thing out. Don’t be this way, I love you.” Who or what do you think that was?
What do you do when life starts hurting? How do you handle guilt, disappointment and anger? Do you let those things keep you from going to God? Have you ever seen God as broken, hurting and abandoned? “Let’s argue this out,” God says through the prophet Isaiah. God is not yet ready to let go. He wants you to fight it out with Him. The NEW LIVING TRANSLATION uses the word “reason” instead of argue. But I like the word “argue”. To me “reason” suggests a soft and civil discussion. “Argue” suggests extreme emotion. Sometimes, life does not leave us in a position to be calm and soft. Sometimes we need to fight for what is right and most important.
God is looking for you to struggle with Him and sometimes have a big-time brawl. That is how success works. If something were easy to do, then it would have little value. My relationship with God is a struggle at times. We fight, He always wins, but I come away with a lesson and a new respect for the Father. After we argued, spit and cursed, I retook the test. And I passed.
“Come now, let us argue this out,” says the Lord. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow…”
Isaiah 1:18 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I finished the last question on a computer test. The hard drive churned and the red line came up on-screen, I had failed. I studied hard, went to the classes and still failed. I was embarrassed and bewildered at how this could happen. Sure, it was difficult material, but I had prepared for the test. I did everything I was supposed to do and I still failed. I thought to myself, “What is the point of all that study and prayer? God didn’t help; study didn’t help. I must be doomed or created to fail.”
I came home after failing the test and refused to speak with my wife. I was embarrassed for her to see me. I bolted straight to the bedroom, closed the door and set my mind to know and understand that God did not exist. If He did, I would not have failed. In my head, I could hear those TV evangelists speaking so proudly about getting everything they wanted and more because they refused to let Satan in and how they demanded that they be blessed because of God’s word, blah, blah, blah. I concluded chance is what really happens to us, not some all knowing big God-dude that if he existed; he is primarily there to crush our dreams.
As I sat there brooding in my room, something happened. I swear I could feel “something” tugging at my shirt, like a small child pulling on mom’s clothes to get her attention. The “something” was saying, “Come on, and let’s work this thing out. Don’t be this way, I love you.” Who or what do you think that was?
What do you do when life starts hurting? How do you handle guilt, disappointment and anger? Do you let those things keep you from going to God? Have you ever seen God as broken, hurting and abandoned? “Let’s argue this out,” God says through the prophet Isaiah. God is not yet ready to let go. He wants you to fight it out with Him. The NEW LIVING TRANSLATION uses the word “reason” instead of argue. But I like the word “argue”. To me “reason” suggests a soft and civil discussion. “Argue” suggests extreme emotion. Sometimes, life does not leave us in a position to be calm and soft. Sometimes we need to fight for what is right and most important.
God is looking for you to struggle with Him and sometimes have a big-time brawl. That is how success works. If something were easy to do, then it would have little value. My relationship with God is a struggle at times. We fight, He always wins, but I come away with a lesson and a new respect for the Father. After we argued, spit and cursed, I retook the test. And I passed.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Have You Heard Him Speak?
Have You Heard Him Speak?
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord. Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for Him with all their hearts.
Psalm 119:1-2 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I was in a Bible study group once where one of the members suggested the Old Testament was no longer necessary to read, or live by because of Grace. - Do you agree?
Here is another scenario: I was speaking with another believer and asked if she had a favorite piece of scripture. She told me, “Oh, I don’t read the Bible. I follow God in my own way.” - Do you agree?
I am not questioning either person’s salvation, but don’t you think they are losing out? When they ignore the Old Testament and “follow God in their own way” they are missing out on one VERY important thing; What God wants to say! Think about being in a relationship where someone else does all the talking and asking for favors, but you never get to say anything. You never get to say the words, “I love you.” You never get to tell them your pet peeves. You never get to correct them when they are wrong or praise them for a job well done. Well, that is the sort of relationship the aforementioned have with God. How do you think God feels about that? When someone says they have their own way or God’s First Testament and revelation of himself is irrelevant; that’s like saying you know better than God, what God wants from us. Ignoring God’s First Testament of himself is certainly ignoring his promises, his heart and our own history.
I know the popular thing nowadays is to be a nonconformist. But, we believers do not live by the whims and trends of others, we live by faith, and faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
In Psalm 119:1-2, the anonymous author suggests that there are a lot of depressed people walking around, but they just don’t know it. He or she says true happiness comes from being submerged in God’s word, God’s law and in God Himself. God speaks to us not only from the randomness of our minds and from the pulpit, but from His word of truth. Compassion is spoken in the word. Jesus speaks from the word; indeed, he is The Word (John 1:1).
How can you possibly know God, and you have yet to hear him speak?
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord. Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for Him with all their hearts.
Psalm 119:1-2 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I was in a Bible study group once where one of the members suggested the Old Testament was no longer necessary to read, or live by because of Grace. - Do you agree?
Here is another scenario: I was speaking with another believer and asked if she had a favorite piece of scripture. She told me, “Oh, I don’t read the Bible. I follow God in my own way.” - Do you agree?
I am not questioning either person’s salvation, but don’t you think they are losing out? When they ignore the Old Testament and “follow God in their own way” they are missing out on one VERY important thing; What God wants to say! Think about being in a relationship where someone else does all the talking and asking for favors, but you never get to say anything. You never get to say the words, “I love you.” You never get to tell them your pet peeves. You never get to correct them when they are wrong or praise them for a job well done. Well, that is the sort of relationship the aforementioned have with God. How do you think God feels about that? When someone says they have their own way or God’s First Testament and revelation of himself is irrelevant; that’s like saying you know better than God, what God wants from us. Ignoring God’s First Testament of himself is certainly ignoring his promises, his heart and our own history.
I know the popular thing nowadays is to be a nonconformist. But, we believers do not live by the whims and trends of others, we live by faith, and faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
In Psalm 119:1-2, the anonymous author suggests that there are a lot of depressed people walking around, but they just don’t know it. He or she says true happiness comes from being submerged in God’s word, God’s law and in God Himself. God speaks to us not only from the randomness of our minds and from the pulpit, but from His word of truth. Compassion is spoken in the word. Jesus speaks from the word; indeed, he is The Word (John 1:1).
How can you possibly know God, and you have yet to hear him speak?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Overcoming life's toughest problems (in review)
Overcoming life's toughest problems
By Ed Hindson
The back cover of this book says that, "you will learn to face a crisis with confidence, find clear direction, turn a problem to an opportunity and conquer depression, stress and feelings of failure." Sounds like a miracle book doesn't it?
I've read books that deal with pain. Some were better than others. And the thing that made one more interesting than the other was that the person was in pain while writing it. The author was honest, personal and he was angered by the superficial carbon-copy advice that many offer to others in pain. The author also came to the realization that one may not find help while in pain... because of their own misery. I felt the author's pain while reading and by the end, I was at the cusp of his hope as well. But Ed Hindson's book is not that kind of book. Don't go to this book expecting to connect to the author. This book is clinical. It seems more like a Christian-pop manual on the observation of life's troubles. And to that end, if you read this book, approach it as a text book on "the way we suffer" or "the process of suffering", it is nearly worth the read.
Again, it is squeaky clean, clinical and occasionally arrogant (or maybe challenging) in some of its proclamations. The example I'll give is, "If your marriage is falling apart because of your job, quit your job." The person the author was speaking to, of course, had reservations. But Ed's response was, "Do you trust God or don't you?" (Page 17). And to answer Ed's question, yes, I think I trust God. And maybe when I have become more mature, I might find that faith really is a matter of "just" trusting God. Though if you are honest, it is a lot harder to do than to say.
Should you read this book?: I would read this book for study. It serves as a good reminder that all pain and suffering aren't caused by external means. Sometimes, a poor attitude, lack of genuine prayer and self centeredness are the reasons we suffer. There are also lot's of good Bible verses to push your mind in the "God-direction" while in a tough situation.
By Ed Hindson
The back cover of this book says that, "you will learn to face a crisis with confidence, find clear direction, turn a problem to an opportunity and conquer depression, stress and feelings of failure." Sounds like a miracle book doesn't it?
I've read books that deal with pain. Some were better than others. And the thing that made one more interesting than the other was that the person was in pain while writing it. The author was honest, personal and he was angered by the superficial carbon-copy advice that many offer to others in pain. The author also came to the realization that one may not find help while in pain... because of their own misery. I felt the author's pain while reading and by the end, I was at the cusp of his hope as well. But Ed Hindson's book is not that kind of book. Don't go to this book expecting to connect to the author. This book is clinical. It seems more like a Christian-pop manual on the observation of life's troubles. And to that end, if you read this book, approach it as a text book on "the way we suffer" or "the process of suffering", it is nearly worth the read.
Again, it is squeaky clean, clinical and occasionally arrogant (or maybe challenging) in some of its proclamations. The example I'll give is, "If your marriage is falling apart because of your job, quit your job." The person the author was speaking to, of course, had reservations. But Ed's response was, "Do you trust God or don't you?" (Page 17). And to answer Ed's question, yes, I think I trust God. And maybe when I have become more mature, I might find that faith really is a matter of "just" trusting God. Though if you are honest, it is a lot harder to do than to say.
Should you read this book?: I would read this book for study. It serves as a good reminder that all pain and suffering aren't caused by external means. Sometimes, a poor attitude, lack of genuine prayer and self centeredness are the reasons we suffer. There are also lot's of good Bible verses to push your mind in the "God-direction" while in a tough situation.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The God Who Remembers
The God Who Remembers
The Lord remembers us, and He will surely bless us.
Psalm 115:12 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I took one of those “spiritual gift assessment” tests. I scored poorly as an evangelist. If the results of that test were accurate, it explains a lot. I recall two conversations of sharing what I thought was the good news that God is looking to forgive sins. In both cases, the conversation dulled down to irrelevant issues. It was a husband and wife. I spoke with them separately. The husband heard almost nothing I said. So, I figured I would listen, instead of talk. He spent most of his time telling me what was impossible for God to do. His biggest issue was he could not understand how God could bend man-made laws of physics and be everywhere at once.
Separately, his wife’s biggest stumbling block was that it was impossible for God to care about her because, as she put it, “I’m just little old me.” Both were willing to not trust and not believe God over an inability to accept that God is not bound by human laws and perceptions. I wonder what you haven’t trusted God with because you don’t think He can do it?
I can’t begin to stress the fact that God knows and remembers you. You are a specific design, how could He forget his creation? He even remembers us even when we don’t believe in him.
The Lord remembers us, and He will surely bless us.
Psalm 115:12 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I took one of those “spiritual gift assessment” tests. I scored poorly as an evangelist. If the results of that test were accurate, it explains a lot. I recall two conversations of sharing what I thought was the good news that God is looking to forgive sins. In both cases, the conversation dulled down to irrelevant issues. It was a husband and wife. I spoke with them separately. The husband heard almost nothing I said. So, I figured I would listen, instead of talk. He spent most of his time telling me what was impossible for God to do. His biggest issue was he could not understand how God could bend man-made laws of physics and be everywhere at once.
Separately, his wife’s biggest stumbling block was that it was impossible for God to care about her because, as she put it, “I’m just little old me.” Both were willing to not trust and not believe God over an inability to accept that God is not bound by human laws and perceptions. I wonder what you haven’t trusted God with because you don’t think He can do it?
I can’t begin to stress the fact that God knows and remembers you. You are a specific design, how could He forget his creation? He even remembers us even when we don’t believe in him.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Host (In Review)
Yep, I read the Host from Stephenie Meyer. The lady that wrote those vampire-human-werewolf love triangle books that have become a movie phenomenon. A co-worker thought that I would really like this book....
The plot: Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers - with a feminine love twist.
The book centers on a woman that seems to be awakening from some sort of coma. And she is trying to get a grasp of who she is, why she is in the condition she is in. She has been "inserted" to her host and should be able to playback of the memories of her host like watching movies. But something is dreadfully wrong, the host is still thinking, still living. So the two inhabit the same body. They end up being sort of a blend of each other like an alien with a schizophrenic disorder.
Over a lot of pages (and I mean a lot of pages - several hundred) we find out that Mel had a younger brother and loved another named Jared (another human they found while on the run while hiding from the "invaders") We also find that the human Mel leads the alien Mel (a.k.a. Wanda) to a cave full of human survivors. After that, the book turns into a shoe-in for a Lifetime tv movie. It has all of the stuff you might expect, a woman that is in love (and confused) but won't talk. A man that is more confused than she is. Add another man that is in love with Wanda. And imagine how interesting that can get when you consider that Wanda lives in Melanie's body... Mmmm... And by the time you find all of that out you realize you have actually fallen asleep.
Now I remember why I don't often read fiction. The ideas about the other alien inhabited worlds are silly at best. And though the plot was onotially interesting, the book bogs down with love squares (or octagons) and slows to an absolute crawl in the middle. To many "feelings" and not enough momentum of the plot. It gets way to sticky for way too long in my opinion. Rest assured that this very long story has about as much of a happy ending as it can. I think Stephenie is a good writer and she goes out of the way to prove it. She wants to prove it so bad that she tries for 619 pages. If this book was 300 pages I might have given it a B. But as bloated as it is, a D- is just my way of being kind.
Should you read this book?: Not unless you like Lifetime Network
The plot: Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers - with a feminine love twist.
The book centers on a woman that seems to be awakening from some sort of coma. And she is trying to get a grasp of who she is, why she is in the condition she is in. She has been "inserted" to her host and should be able to playback of the memories of her host like watching movies. But something is dreadfully wrong, the host is still thinking, still living. So the two inhabit the same body. They end up being sort of a blend of each other like an alien with a schizophrenic disorder.
Over a lot of pages (and I mean a lot of pages - several hundred) we find out that Mel had a younger brother and loved another named Jared (another human they found while on the run while hiding from the "invaders") We also find that the human Mel leads the alien Mel (a.k.a. Wanda) to a cave full of human survivors. After that, the book turns into a shoe-in for a Lifetime tv movie. It has all of the stuff you might expect, a woman that is in love (and confused) but won't talk. A man that is more confused than she is. Add another man that is in love with Wanda. And imagine how interesting that can get when you consider that Wanda lives in Melanie's body... Mmmm... And by the time you find all of that out you realize you have actually fallen asleep.
Now I remember why I don't often read fiction. The ideas about the other alien inhabited worlds are silly at best. And though the plot was onotially interesting, the book bogs down with love squares (or octagons) and slows to an absolute crawl in the middle. To many "feelings" and not enough momentum of the plot. It gets way to sticky for way too long in my opinion. Rest assured that this very long story has about as much of a happy ending as it can. I think Stephenie is a good writer and she goes out of the way to prove it. She wants to prove it so bad that she tries for 619 pages. If this book was 300 pages I might have given it a B. But as bloated as it is, a D- is just my way of being kind.
Should you read this book?: Not unless you like Lifetime Network
Friday, August 27, 2010
Secrets From the Unknown
Secrets From the Unknown
Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care. Oh that you would listen to his voice today! The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts”
Psalm 95: 6-8 author unknown NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I try to go against my instincts and be an open and outgoing person. But, I’d honestly rather stay at home and practice my favorite professional sport which is watching television. I love to stay in practice! Besides watching television, I also like staying in the house as it is a safety net. For me, no people means no pain. Over the last four years I have met with derision from many that find my behavior contemptible. Two people at the old church I served told me in their opinion; I should not be there because I “did not belong.” Not long after, I had a nice couple tell me I did not belong with their group and that I had “off center” theology. Another couple told me I “let them down” because I did not apologize fast enough for a mistake I made. Another person told me I had a “closed and small mind.” Someone else told me I was “unlikable.” Now the interesting thing to note is that these were all Christians. The aforementioned is a short list that represents a longer series of put-downs, disappointments, misunderstandings and mistakes. As a result, I am fighting the disease of having a hardened heart toward God’s people.
The unknown author of Psalm 95 indeed understood something of the human heart. He or she understood a lot of hurts in the same area makes a person so overtly cautious that the person recoils in self protection. That can be a good thing only as long as it is a reaction till healing is complete. Prolonged recoil can lead to bitterness, anger and a distorted judgment of others. In this prolonged bitterness, our anger will no longer need a reason to exist. As long as you are justified in your own head, your ill treatment of others will be justified. Now that’s just sick.
The author of Psalm 95 cautions us to listen to God’s voice and not become bitter. It may seem like weird medicine, but let your hurts cause you to praise God. You can praise Him with an instrument. You can praise Him with a song. You can praise Him by remembering a time when He has blessed you. If you can’t remember a specific time, I’ll start you off . . . remember THE CROSS.
When we praise God in the midst of pain, our minds are taken off the struggle, and placed on the One that endures the struggle along with us. Yes, God certainly is with us in the pain. We are the sheep under God’s care. He cares for you, and for me. He even cares for the people that told me I didn’t belong, that my theology is screwy, that I don’t apologize fast enough and that I am unlikable. God watches over us all. God sees.
Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care. Oh that you would listen to his voice today! The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts”
Psalm 95: 6-8 author unknown NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I try to go against my instincts and be an open and outgoing person. But, I’d honestly rather stay at home and practice my favorite professional sport which is watching television. I love to stay in practice! Besides watching television, I also like staying in the house as it is a safety net. For me, no people means no pain. Over the last four years I have met with derision from many that find my behavior contemptible. Two people at the old church I served told me in their opinion; I should not be there because I “did not belong.” Not long after, I had a nice couple tell me I did not belong with their group and that I had “off center” theology. Another couple told me I “let them down” because I did not apologize fast enough for a mistake I made. Another person told me I had a “closed and small mind.” Someone else told me I was “unlikable.” Now the interesting thing to note is that these were all Christians. The aforementioned is a short list that represents a longer series of put-downs, disappointments, misunderstandings and mistakes. As a result, I am fighting the disease of having a hardened heart toward God’s people.
The unknown author of Psalm 95 indeed understood something of the human heart. He or she understood a lot of hurts in the same area makes a person so overtly cautious that the person recoils in self protection. That can be a good thing only as long as it is a reaction till healing is complete. Prolonged recoil can lead to bitterness, anger and a distorted judgment of others. In this prolonged bitterness, our anger will no longer need a reason to exist. As long as you are justified in your own head, your ill treatment of others will be justified. Now that’s just sick.
The author of Psalm 95 cautions us to listen to God’s voice and not become bitter. It may seem like weird medicine, but let your hurts cause you to praise God. You can praise Him with an instrument. You can praise Him with a song. You can praise Him by remembering a time when He has blessed you. If you can’t remember a specific time, I’ll start you off . . . remember THE CROSS.
When we praise God in the midst of pain, our minds are taken off the struggle, and placed on the One that endures the struggle along with us. Yes, God certainly is with us in the pain. We are the sheep under God’s care. He cares for you, and for me. He even cares for the people that told me I didn’t belong, that my theology is screwy, that I don’t apologize fast enough and that I am unlikable. God watches over us all. God sees.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Why Me? – Why Not You?
Why Me? – Why Not You?
Do you know where light comes from and where darkness lives, so you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost? Why, of course you know that. You’ve known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood as them!
Job 38:19-21 THE MESSAGE
I once had a conversation with a person, let’s call her Mary. She spoke of suffering the loss of her spouse and two children to cancer. She said it was unfair and that God had a lot to answer for. When my dad passed on, one of my brothers voiced his anger in that God did not spare my dad because the rest of us were lacking in faith to heal him. Mary and my brother’s anger and frustration are universal to the human experience. It’s really hard to lose someone you love. It’s hard when you have tried your best to live a good life, to honor God in all that you do and to help others, but the payoff is that your spouse leaves you or you lose your money or health. It makes sense that if you do well, you will get good back. Worldly wisdom has always taught, “What goes around comes around.” How about, “What you put out is what you will get back?” People that may not have even read the Bible will say to, “Treat others the way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12). My friend “Mary” says that God has dealt unfairly with her. The biblical patriarch Job (pronounced “Jobe”) said the same exact thing. In chapter 23 Job says, “God has no right to treat me like this-it isn’t fair!”(THE MESSAGE Remix)
The answer to the dilemma of good people suffering is that. . . well, there is no good answer. We all suffer. That is the way it works. No, it does not seem fair that bad people “seem” to get away with proverbial and sometimes literal murder. It seems unfair that God-loving people should suffer at all. But, this world has been turned on its ear from the effects of sin. In this life, there is no escaping trouble.
I believe God’s (albeit lengthy) answer to Job’s question of suffering is a bitter-sweet one. First, consider the major fact that God has created everything, including you and me. Secondly, I think a translation of God’s answer to Job is something like, “If I told you the answer to suffering, you would not understand it. So, since you cannot see all the angles to this, just trust me.”
Sometimes I believe we are asking the wrong questions of God. Instead of asking why God allows suffering, ask God how we can honor Him in the midst of suffering? Maybe God allows His people to suffer so the rest of the world can see the difference.
Do you know where light comes from and where darkness lives, so you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost? Why, of course you know that. You’ve known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood as them!
Job 38:19-21 THE MESSAGE
I once had a conversation with a person, let’s call her Mary. She spoke of suffering the loss of her spouse and two children to cancer. She said it was unfair and that God had a lot to answer for. When my dad passed on, one of my brothers voiced his anger in that God did not spare my dad because the rest of us were lacking in faith to heal him. Mary and my brother’s anger and frustration are universal to the human experience. It’s really hard to lose someone you love. It’s hard when you have tried your best to live a good life, to honor God in all that you do and to help others, but the payoff is that your spouse leaves you or you lose your money or health. It makes sense that if you do well, you will get good back. Worldly wisdom has always taught, “What goes around comes around.” How about, “What you put out is what you will get back?” People that may not have even read the Bible will say to, “Treat others the way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12). My friend “Mary” says that God has dealt unfairly with her. The biblical patriarch Job (pronounced “Jobe”) said the same exact thing. In chapter 23 Job says, “God has no right to treat me like this-it isn’t fair!”(THE MESSAGE Remix)
The answer to the dilemma of good people suffering is that. . . well, there is no good answer. We all suffer. That is the way it works. No, it does not seem fair that bad people “seem” to get away with proverbial and sometimes literal murder. It seems unfair that God-loving people should suffer at all. But, this world has been turned on its ear from the effects of sin. In this life, there is no escaping trouble.
I believe God’s (albeit lengthy) answer to Job’s question of suffering is a bitter-sweet one. First, consider the major fact that God has created everything, including you and me. Secondly, I think a translation of God’s answer to Job is something like, “If I told you the answer to suffering, you would not understand it. So, since you cannot see all the angles to this, just trust me.”
Sometimes I believe we are asking the wrong questions of God. Instead of asking why God allows suffering, ask God how we can honor Him in the midst of suffering? Maybe God allows His people to suffer so the rest of the world can see the difference.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful
The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful
But Job replied, “You talk like a godless woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Job 2:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
In the old days, people would say of Job, “He was a man of patience.” I believe they were almost right. Job was really a man of trust. I am sure my response to the death of my children, financial ruin and a request from my wife to “curse God and die” would not be to “trust God.” But, that indeed was Job’s answer. When tragedy strikes, what is your response?
Many people today think believing in God is an automatic and almost magical protection from hurt and danger. Furthermore, they feel we should always have justice and that life should be mere perfection. But a running theme in Job is (1) we will suffer, (2) we do not have all of the answers to why God allows suffering and (3) whatever the outcome, God should be worshipped because of who He is, not what He supplies.
Of course none of us is looking to suffer, but there is a beauty in the suffering. Faith is the result of a life that incessantly pursues God, in spite of the circumstances. Faith never grows independent of trouble. Some problems we clearly bring on ourselves with poor life choices. Some problems come from attacks of Satan. Some problems come because we are in a fallen world where justice is turned upside down. Because of all those factors, we will have troubles. But, God has an awesome strategy He wants us to follow. . . perseverance! We know that suffering produces perseverance, which leads to character, which leads to hope, which leads to joy (Romans 5:3-4 paraphrased).
Thank you, God for hope!
But Job replied, “You talk like a godless woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Job 2:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
In the old days, people would say of Job, “He was a man of patience.” I believe they were almost right. Job was really a man of trust. I am sure my response to the death of my children, financial ruin and a request from my wife to “curse God and die” would not be to “trust God.” But, that indeed was Job’s answer. When tragedy strikes, what is your response?
Many people today think believing in God is an automatic and almost magical protection from hurt and danger. Furthermore, they feel we should always have justice and that life should be mere perfection. But a running theme in Job is (1) we will suffer, (2) we do not have all of the answers to why God allows suffering and (3) whatever the outcome, God should be worshipped because of who He is, not what He supplies.
Of course none of us is looking to suffer, but there is a beauty in the suffering. Faith is the result of a life that incessantly pursues God, in spite of the circumstances. Faith never grows independent of trouble. Some problems we clearly bring on ourselves with poor life choices. Some problems come from attacks of Satan. Some problems come because we are in a fallen world where justice is turned upside down. Because of all those factors, we will have troubles. But, God has an awesome strategy He wants us to follow. . . perseverance! We know that suffering produces perseverance, which leads to character, which leads to hope, which leads to joy (Romans 5:3-4 paraphrased).
Thank you, God for hope!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Anthem (In Review)
Anthem
by Ayn Rand
Plot: Anthem is a dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, first published in 1938. Think of any dystopian (degraded into a repressive and controlled society) story such as Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or even the movies Nineteen Eighty Four or the silent film Metropolis from Fritz Lang.
In the world of Anthem, the world is a collective one of the whole. Words like "I" or "me" have been lost in general, but if spoken, they are punishable by death. The revelation of technology is controlled (if released at all) and creativity (thinking outside your assigned duties) is strictly forbidden. The story centers around Equality 7-2521 who has a sin (or transgression) of a desire to learn. His love interest is Liberty 5-3000. He also has friends, International 4-8818 and Union 5-3992. And even having friends is sort of a transgression because no one person should value another person over the collective.
Without giving away the end, let's just say that Equality 7-2521 commits the worst of crimes and finds a new name fitting of his new freedom and self awareness.
At first I had to get accustomed to a few things like the long names that included numbers and a constant reference to an individual in the plural. I think I was also challenged with the culture of an oppressed society. Though I have thought that we have a certain type of freedom, it would be naive to believe that our society is without certain types of oppression (economic, religious etc.) and inoculations to hide the truth such as television, the news, self help movement, guru's etc.
It is also obvious that their dystopian world is a shout out to the author's Russian roots. I think a story like this takes on an interesting life of its own when you stop to consider your own freedoms, or whether you truly have any. If someone took away your right for creativity, individualism and focused your whole existence on following a set of orders and protocols in exchange for lodging, food and occasional sex, would you accept that? Knowing what personal freedom is, would you rebel or fall into your intended purpose? And this book sort of asks the question of what gives "the powers that be" the right to force their ideas and laws upon me? When does something like that go too far. And then ask yourself, when does my freedom go awry? Can I become a megalomaniac because I have complete autonomy?
I liked the book. On the surface it is a dystopian sci-fi story that is an absolute classic. But if you dig deeper there are underlying concepts that should be thought about on a personal level if not further considered on a political and social level.
Should you read the book?: Yes
by Ayn Rand
Plot: Anthem is a dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, first published in 1938. Think of any dystopian (degraded into a repressive and controlled society) story such as Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or even the movies Nineteen Eighty Four or the silent film Metropolis from Fritz Lang.
In the world of Anthem, the world is a collective one of the whole. Words like "I" or "me" have been lost in general, but if spoken, they are punishable by death. The revelation of technology is controlled (if released at all) and creativity (thinking outside your assigned duties) is strictly forbidden. The story centers around Equality 7-2521 who has a sin (or transgression) of a desire to learn. His love interest is Liberty 5-3000. He also has friends, International 4-8818 and Union 5-3992. And even having friends is sort of a transgression because no one person should value another person over the collective.
Without giving away the end, let's just say that Equality 7-2521 commits the worst of crimes and finds a new name fitting of his new freedom and self awareness.
At first I had to get accustomed to a few things like the long names that included numbers and a constant reference to an individual in the plural. I think I was also challenged with the culture of an oppressed society. Though I have thought that we have a certain type of freedom, it would be naive to believe that our society is without certain types of oppression (economic, religious etc.) and inoculations to hide the truth such as television, the news, self help movement, guru's etc.
It is also obvious that their dystopian world is a shout out to the author's Russian roots. I think a story like this takes on an interesting life of its own when you stop to consider your own freedoms, or whether you truly have any. If someone took away your right for creativity, individualism and focused your whole existence on following a set of orders and protocols in exchange for lodging, food and occasional sex, would you accept that? Knowing what personal freedom is, would you rebel or fall into your intended purpose? And this book sort of asks the question of what gives "the powers that be" the right to force their ideas and laws upon me? When does something like that go too far. And then ask yourself, when does my freedom go awry? Can I become a megalomaniac because I have complete autonomy?
I liked the book. On the surface it is a dystopian sci-fi story that is an absolute classic. But if you dig deeper there are underlying concepts that should be thought about on a personal level if not further considered on a political and social level.
Should you read the book?: Yes
Friday, August 6, 2010
Post the Guard!
Post the Guard!
“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”
Nehemiah 4:8-9 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
After reading verse 9, I had to ask myself, “Do I combat trouble with prayer?” The answer, unfortunately, is “Not all the time. . .” Nehemiah understood that even in the face of death, prayer was the first response, not a last resort. I decided to test God on this. I had a problem that nagged me day and night. Every time I thought about it, or began to worry, I prayed. All during the day and even at night, I told God that this was his battle. Though I am not accustomed to God working so quickly, I saw an answer that was very positive, the very next day. But even if it takes a while to get the answer, what is important is to be persistent. If you really want to be heard, you usually stop at nothing to get your request made. Well, do the same with God. Sometimes, He wants us to keep asking, seeking and knocking. Persistence shows that you really want help, and more importantly, it shows that you want His help.
The second thing that stood out is to “post a guard day and night to meet this threat.”
If you have a problem that seems to plague your mind and heart, post guard! That is, say a prayer. Tell God you are thinking about it again. Tell Him how awesome He is and that you need His help. Every time we say a prayer about a problem that is really gnawing at us we are posting a guard on our hearts, our lives, our families, our finances, our children, our health and our faith!
God is more than willing to meet the threat with us and sometimes for us. Place God first and post the guard!
“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”
Nehemiah 4:8-9 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
After reading verse 9, I had to ask myself, “Do I combat trouble with prayer?” The answer, unfortunately, is “Not all the time. . .” Nehemiah understood that even in the face of death, prayer was the first response, not a last resort. I decided to test God on this. I had a problem that nagged me day and night. Every time I thought about it, or began to worry, I prayed. All during the day and even at night, I told God that this was his battle. Though I am not accustomed to God working so quickly, I saw an answer that was very positive, the very next day. But even if it takes a while to get the answer, what is important is to be persistent. If you really want to be heard, you usually stop at nothing to get your request made. Well, do the same with God. Sometimes, He wants us to keep asking, seeking and knocking. Persistence shows that you really want help, and more importantly, it shows that you want His help.
The second thing that stood out is to “post a guard day and night to meet this threat.”
If you have a problem that seems to plague your mind and heart, post guard! That is, say a prayer. Tell God you are thinking about it again. Tell Him how awesome He is and that you need His help. Every time we say a prayer about a problem that is really gnawing at us we are posting a guard on our hearts, our lives, our families, our finances, our children, our health and our faith!
God is more than willing to meet the threat with us and sometimes for us. Place God first and post the guard!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Blue Like Jazz (IN REVIEW)
Blue Like Jazz
by Donald Miller
This semi-autobiographical work, subtitled "Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality," is a collection of essays and personal reflections chronicling the author's growing understanding of the nature of God and Jesus, and the need and responsibility for an authentic personal response to that understanding.
Don's book has a certain authentic warmth about it. It is one of the few books I have read that felt conversational (Call of the Wild was a book that felt conversational to me). Each page was like talking with a friend at a coffee shop. And in this case, a very funny, honest and intelligent friend. This book reminds me that there are a lot of people in the world that love God (Jehovah God, the god of the Bible). And to many of us, God is not so easily filed into comfortable little places like denominations and church bylaws. God is a being and this book begs the question, "How do I respond to this entity?" When you find out about God and his "person" as revealed in Bible scripture, how do you interact with him?
Donald, if you ever read this, thanks! This book made me want to become a writer.
Would I recommend this book: YES
by Donald Miller
This semi-autobiographical work, subtitled "Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality," is a collection of essays and personal reflections chronicling the author's growing understanding of the nature of God and Jesus, and the need and responsibility for an authentic personal response to that understanding.
Don's book has a certain authentic warmth about it. It is one of the few books I have read that felt conversational (Call of the Wild was a book that felt conversational to me). Each page was like talking with a friend at a coffee shop. And in this case, a very funny, honest and intelligent friend. This book reminds me that there are a lot of people in the world that love God (Jehovah God, the god of the Bible). And to many of us, God is not so easily filed into comfortable little places like denominations and church bylaws. God is a being and this book begs the question, "How do I respond to this entity?" When you find out about God and his "person" as revealed in Bible scripture, how do you interact with him?
Donald, if you ever read this, thanks! This book made me want to become a writer.
Would I recommend this book: YES
Just Do It!
Just Do It!
Naaman’s servants said to him, “if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply to go and wash and be cured!”
2 Kings 5:13 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
How much easier can it be? Just do it! In this story, Naaman, a king’s servant, had leprosy (skin and nerve disease that usually lead to death). Naaman was sent to see a great healer named Elisha. Being used to the pomp and circumstance of royalty, he expected a certain type of greeting from the host himself. Instead, he never actually got to see Elisha. All he received were a set of instructions from Elisha’s servant. The directions had three parts:
Go
Wash seven times in the Jordan
Be healed
I am a little like Naaman myself. I find it most difficult to simply trust God and do what he says. I figure, there has to be more to it than that, right? Everything in this life has value attached to it based on the amount of work you have to do to obtain it. We pay largely for things with value. The things that are free or nearly free are considered almost if not worthless. Besides, if you earn it, you can show it off to your friends and neighbors. You can show them what you did. Maybe I (or we) suffer so much because we have forgotten to simply do what God says, so we can be healed. Naaman’s healing was not in the Jordan, but in the obedience.
What has God asked you to do? Has God been needling you about a long overdue apology you owe someone? How about laziness or prayer or reading the Bible? Are you still blaming your problems on others and the past? Why not forgive them and be healed?
What has God asked you to do, so you can be healed? Just do it, and be healed!
Naaman’s servants said to him, “if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply to go and wash and be cured!”
2 Kings 5:13 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
How much easier can it be? Just do it! In this story, Naaman, a king’s servant, had leprosy (skin and nerve disease that usually lead to death). Naaman was sent to see a great healer named Elisha. Being used to the pomp and circumstance of royalty, he expected a certain type of greeting from the host himself. Instead, he never actually got to see Elisha. All he received were a set of instructions from Elisha’s servant. The directions had three parts:
Go
Wash seven times in the Jordan
Be healed
I am a little like Naaman myself. I find it most difficult to simply trust God and do what he says. I figure, there has to be more to it than that, right? Everything in this life has value attached to it based on the amount of work you have to do to obtain it. We pay largely for things with value. The things that are free or nearly free are considered almost if not worthless. Besides, if you earn it, you can show it off to your friends and neighbors. You can show them what you did. Maybe I (or we) suffer so much because we have forgotten to simply do what God says, so we can be healed. Naaman’s healing was not in the Jordan, but in the obedience.
What has God asked you to do? Has God been needling you about a long overdue apology you owe someone? How about laziness or prayer or reading the Bible? Are you still blaming your problems on others and the past? Why not forgive them and be healed?
What has God asked you to do, so you can be healed? Just do it, and be healed!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Providence Upon Nonbelievers
Providence Upon Nonbelievers
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom.
Ezra 1:1 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
In this verse, King Cyrus sounds like a follower of Yahweh, the God of the Jews. But, he isn’t. In his mind, his intention is to win the loyalty of the Jews by allowing them to return and reestablish their way of life. But in other portions of the Bible, God makes claim that He, the God of the Hebrews, uses the just and unjust for his purposes. Do you believe that?
Many years ago, I had packed a large military style duffle bag. I ate my last meal and stuffed my last $30 into my pocket.. You see, I was about to be homeless. I had no job and therefore could not pay my rent. I had nowhere to go, and figured it best to just disappear. I was going to drive my car until it ran out of gas. Wherever it stopped is where I would live. I decided to visit a few people before my disappearing act.
During my farewell rounds, I stopped in to see an old friend at his job. He asked me why I was so far away from home because he was in Lansing, Illinois. At the time I lived in East Chicago, Indiana, about fifteen to twenty miles away. I lied. I told him I was job hunting. As I exited the building, my friend yelled out, “Good luck job hunting!” Just then, another person yelled back to me.
“You need a job?” he asked.
“Yeah!” I said loudly and then only whispered, “I need a job . . .”
“Well, be here at twelve tomorrow!” and he went back to his office.
One of the guys said, “Welcome to the family.”
I asked if that guy was serious and they suggested I show at noon, or he would come looking for me.
Was Tom, (the owner of the company and person who offered me the job), a believer? No. Did he think that he had given me a job? Yes, but I also believe God used Tom to change me from destitute to solvent. And I didn’t even understand that until years later. I think God was after me. I think he used the hearts of the unsaved to get to the unsaved. I think God wanted to quiet my earthly need so that my spirit could be prepared for His arrival. I used to wonder if God worked in the hearts of unbelievers. That is sort of a silly thought because if he did not get inside the hearts and minds of the unsaved, none of us would be saved.
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom.
Ezra 1:1 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
In this verse, King Cyrus sounds like a follower of Yahweh, the God of the Jews. But, he isn’t. In his mind, his intention is to win the loyalty of the Jews by allowing them to return and reestablish their way of life. But in other portions of the Bible, God makes claim that He, the God of the Hebrews, uses the just and unjust for his purposes. Do you believe that?
Many years ago, I had packed a large military style duffle bag. I ate my last meal and stuffed my last $30 into my pocket.. You see, I was about to be homeless. I had no job and therefore could not pay my rent. I had nowhere to go, and figured it best to just disappear. I was going to drive my car until it ran out of gas. Wherever it stopped is where I would live. I decided to visit a few people before my disappearing act.
During my farewell rounds, I stopped in to see an old friend at his job. He asked me why I was so far away from home because he was in Lansing, Illinois. At the time I lived in East Chicago, Indiana, about fifteen to twenty miles away. I lied. I told him I was job hunting. As I exited the building, my friend yelled out, “Good luck job hunting!” Just then, another person yelled back to me.
“You need a job?” he asked.
“Yeah!” I said loudly and then only whispered, “I need a job . . .”
“Well, be here at twelve tomorrow!” and he went back to his office.
One of the guys said, “Welcome to the family.”
I asked if that guy was serious and they suggested I show at noon, or he would come looking for me.
Was Tom, (the owner of the company and person who offered me the job), a believer? No. Did he think that he had given me a job? Yes, but I also believe God used Tom to change me from destitute to solvent. And I didn’t even understand that until years later. I think God was after me. I think he used the hearts of the unsaved to get to the unsaved. I think God wanted to quiet my earthly need so that my spirit could be prepared for His arrival. I used to wonder if God worked in the hearts of unbelievers. That is sort of a silly thought because if he did not get inside the hearts and minds of the unsaved, none of us would be saved.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Last Words
Last Words
The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:
“He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!”
At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 5:13 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
It’s been about fourteen years, so some things are harder to remember now, but the words from this praise song could have been the last words I said to my father. He and I were never big talkers, to each other that is. I think most of my life I was so afraid of him there was no room for intelligent conversation, just preservation. My dad was in the hospital and a few days before he was released, I went to visit. I wanted to talk to him about God so badly, but I was really nervous. We sat speechless for some time. Then I just came out with, “Daddy, you know God loves you right? No matter how or when you decided to leave him, he’s never left you. He is good, isn’t he? He has been good to us.”
Dad never said a word, but his tears spoke volumes. Volumes I am still not sure I really understand. Not long after that, he would leave the hospital only to return catatonic till his death.
Dear God I hope that was the right thing to say. I hope it was enough . . .
My brother, Curtis, spoke to my dad about the Lord just before he slipped away from us and he says dad is saved. I do not know if my dad is in Heaven or not. If so, thank God for Curtis!
My last words to my dad may have blown it. I tried to speak to others about God before they passed on too, like Uncle Rick and John. I wanted my last words to them to be meaningful and about God. I do not know if they are in Heaven either. But they do not bother me as much as the ones that I never spoke to at all about God. What about Tom, my grandparents, Aunt Caroline, two uncles and my father-in-law? I hope God has forgiven me for not speaking up. Fear held me silent too long and that may be the biggest thing I regret in this life.
I pray the last words you have for family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and even people you don’t know or the ones your hate will be words of wisdom, words that speak life, words that lead others to Jesus, because God is good! His faithful love does endure forever. And I think people need to know that.
The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:
“He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!”
At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 5:13 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
It’s been about fourteen years, so some things are harder to remember now, but the words from this praise song could have been the last words I said to my father. He and I were never big talkers, to each other that is. I think most of my life I was so afraid of him there was no room for intelligent conversation, just preservation. My dad was in the hospital and a few days before he was released, I went to visit. I wanted to talk to him about God so badly, but I was really nervous. We sat speechless for some time. Then I just came out with, “Daddy, you know God loves you right? No matter how or when you decided to leave him, he’s never left you. He is good, isn’t he? He has been good to us.”
Dad never said a word, but his tears spoke volumes. Volumes I am still not sure I really understand. Not long after that, he would leave the hospital only to return catatonic till his death.
Dear God I hope that was the right thing to say. I hope it was enough . . .
My brother, Curtis, spoke to my dad about the Lord just before he slipped away from us and he says dad is saved. I do not know if my dad is in Heaven or not. If so, thank God for Curtis!
My last words to my dad may have blown it. I tried to speak to others about God before they passed on too, like Uncle Rick and John. I wanted my last words to them to be meaningful and about God. I do not know if they are in Heaven either. But they do not bother me as much as the ones that I never spoke to at all about God. What about Tom, my grandparents, Aunt Caroline, two uncles and my father-in-law? I hope God has forgiven me for not speaking up. Fear held me silent too long and that may be the biggest thing I regret in this life.
I pray the last words you have for family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and even people you don’t know or the ones your hate will be words of wisdom, words that speak life, words that lead others to Jesus, because God is good! His faithful love does endure forever. And I think people need to know that.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Jabez’s Example
Jabez’s Example
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I have been looking sideways at this prayer for several years now. It is a good prayer if you really know what it means and your life is such that this indeed matches your need. Maybe you are just like Jabez and this heartfelt desperate call to God gives voice to your suffering. On the other hand, I would not recommend looking at this prayer as a magical incantation to simply get the stuff you want. And frankly, I never pray it because I do not want my communiqué with God to be a set of manufactured requests. Though, I admit I would not turn down a blessing like this if God decided to offer it.
As I go through the scriptures, this verse stands in stark contrast to everything around it.
The would-be academic in me would like to point out that Jabez’s name means Pain or Sorrow. That usually, the men named their kids and in this instance, no father is mentioned. There is also no mention of a wife and children for Jabez. Many times children were named for their personality or to reflect the life they were born into. Some were even named as messages to the nation of Israel (See Hosea 1:4, 1:6 & 1:8-9). The pain and sorrow could have been childbirth, or it could have been the pain and sorrow of being a single mother. Though all of those things could be applicable in someone’s life, the thing that differentiates Jabez is the example he laid out for the people around him and for us today. Very simply, he placed his trust in God. He asked for God’s supernatural and physical blessings. He asked God to be with him. He asked for protection from the evil he might do and from the evil of others. I do not think the blessing in this prayer is for God to give us stuff. The blessing in this prayer is that someone has shown us that God hears the prayers of the sorrowful, and the prayers of those in pain. We all feel sorrow and pain because of life’s circumstances. But the source of the sorrow and pain is that most of the time, we live life without including God.
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I have been looking sideways at this prayer for several years now. It is a good prayer if you really know what it means and your life is such that this indeed matches your need. Maybe you are just like Jabez and this heartfelt desperate call to God gives voice to your suffering. On the other hand, I would not recommend looking at this prayer as a magical incantation to simply get the stuff you want. And frankly, I never pray it because I do not want my communiqué with God to be a set of manufactured requests. Though, I admit I would not turn down a blessing like this if God decided to offer it.
As I go through the scriptures, this verse stands in stark contrast to everything around it.
The would-be academic in me would like to point out that Jabez’s name means Pain or Sorrow. That usually, the men named their kids and in this instance, no father is mentioned. There is also no mention of a wife and children for Jabez. Many times children were named for their personality or to reflect the life they were born into. Some were even named as messages to the nation of Israel (See Hosea 1:4, 1:6 & 1:8-9). The pain and sorrow could have been childbirth, or it could have been the pain and sorrow of being a single mother. Though all of those things could be applicable in someone’s life, the thing that differentiates Jabez is the example he laid out for the people around him and for us today. Very simply, he placed his trust in God. He asked for God’s supernatural and physical blessings. He asked God to be with him. He asked for protection from the evil he might do and from the evil of others. I do not think the blessing in this prayer is for God to give us stuff. The blessing in this prayer is that someone has shown us that God hears the prayers of the sorrowful, and the prayers of those in pain. We all feel sorrow and pain because of life’s circumstances. But the source of the sorrow and pain is that most of the time, we live life without including God.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Big Show
The Big Show
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
1 Kings 19:11-13 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
For the longest time I always expected whatever God said or did, it would be big! He did big miracles like splitting water in half or raising the dead. Our church was big, so I expected that God only deals in big. Bigger is always better right? Size matters! The universe is big! Creation is big. I used to hear people say, my God is a big God! In college, the professors would say we needed to think global in our ministries! I figured God must be involved in the real big ministries, the ones that were on television or the ones in the mega-churches. Peter Gabriel says in his song named Big Time that he will pray to a big god, kneel in the big church and that his heaven will be a big heaven. I like his suggestion in the song that his mind is getting bigger because of the fancy words he knows. He goes on to say he has a big mouth, fat head, bigger eyes, big car, big belly, big house, big bank account and big circumstances. Big, big, big!
When God comes to meet with Elijah, he shows up big but, he only whispers. In the same way, the biggest thing I have ever heard from God, was that he designed me (Psalm 139) and that he has covered all the things wrong with me by his son’s sacrifice (Isaiah 53) which was also only a whisper. The biggest ministries I have been involved in were also the smallest. They were whispers to the homeless about where to find food. They were a soft knock on the door to deliver Christmas presents to kids. Those things don’t seem so big. Or are they?
No, I don’t think big churches and television ministries are bad. They serve a purpose that God understands and controls. But, maybe the biggest thing any of us can do for God is to bless one single person. Maybe the most earth-shattering and explosive thing we can hear from God is the small whisper that He loves us and wants us to leave our sin behind. Then, we can see how big He really is.
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
1 Kings 19:11-13 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
For the longest time I always expected whatever God said or did, it would be big! He did big miracles like splitting water in half or raising the dead. Our church was big, so I expected that God only deals in big. Bigger is always better right? Size matters! The universe is big! Creation is big. I used to hear people say, my God is a big God! In college, the professors would say we needed to think global in our ministries! I figured God must be involved in the real big ministries, the ones that were on television or the ones in the mega-churches. Peter Gabriel says in his song named Big Time that he will pray to a big god, kneel in the big church and that his heaven will be a big heaven. I like his suggestion in the song that his mind is getting bigger because of the fancy words he knows. He goes on to say he has a big mouth, fat head, bigger eyes, big car, big belly, big house, big bank account and big circumstances. Big, big, big!
When God comes to meet with Elijah, he shows up big but, he only whispers. In the same way, the biggest thing I have ever heard from God, was that he designed me (Psalm 139) and that he has covered all the things wrong with me by his son’s sacrifice (Isaiah 53) which was also only a whisper. The biggest ministries I have been involved in were also the smallest. They were whispers to the homeless about where to find food. They were a soft knock on the door to deliver Christmas presents to kids. Those things don’t seem so big. Or are they?
No, I don’t think big churches and television ministries are bad. They serve a purpose that God understands and controls. But, maybe the biggest thing any of us can do for God is to bless one single person. Maybe the most earth-shattering and explosive thing we can hear from God is the small whisper that He loves us and wants us to leave our sin behind. Then, we can see how big He really is.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Building the Right Altars
Building the Right Altars
David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:25 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Have you ever noticed what altars were used for in the Old Testament? They were used for sacrifices and ceremonies mostly. But they were also used as a means of remembrance. In many churches, the Communion meal is served from an Altar of Remembrance. We do that to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. Jacob remembered the Lord when he saw a vision of a ladder. Altars were built to remember a significant moment in history or in a person’s life. When I look back on my own life, I have not always built altars for the right reasons. No, I didn’t stack a bunch of rocks together and say a prayer. I mean that I built altars of remembrance in my heart. They were built when I chose to remember the wrong things so vehemently. For example, I regularly build altars for my failures. I build them for my sins.
I know of a person that built an altar of remembrance for her deceased husband. Every year for the last 10 years she slips into a depressed state at the anniversary of his death. She has chosen to build the wrong altar, the wrong reverent remembrance in her heart. She should miss her husband, but she has built her life around the moment of separation, instead of happy times like the day they met, or their wedding anniversary, or the birth of their first child. Others I know have built more than an altar, they have built monuments, to their alcoholic parents, to the pedophile stepfather, to illness that they think is their own fault, to the hurtful words they keep replaying in their heads, to the moments they failed others and to the moments others have failed them.
Do you think your life would be different if you tore down those altars of failure and built altars of praise? Maybe we can ask God to swap a praise moment for every failure moment? Then we can choose to build the right altars; the kind of altars that lead to an abundant life.
David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:25 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Have you ever noticed what altars were used for in the Old Testament? They were used for sacrifices and ceremonies mostly. But they were also used as a means of remembrance. In many churches, the Communion meal is served from an Altar of Remembrance. We do that to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. Jacob remembered the Lord when he saw a vision of a ladder. Altars were built to remember a significant moment in history or in a person’s life. When I look back on my own life, I have not always built altars for the right reasons. No, I didn’t stack a bunch of rocks together and say a prayer. I mean that I built altars of remembrance in my heart. They were built when I chose to remember the wrong things so vehemently. For example, I regularly build altars for my failures. I build them for my sins.
I know of a person that built an altar of remembrance for her deceased husband. Every year for the last 10 years she slips into a depressed state at the anniversary of his death. She has chosen to build the wrong altar, the wrong reverent remembrance in her heart. She should miss her husband, but she has built her life around the moment of separation, instead of happy times like the day they met, or their wedding anniversary, or the birth of their first child. Others I know have built more than an altar, they have built monuments, to their alcoholic parents, to the pedophile stepfather, to illness that they think is their own fault, to the hurtful words they keep replaying in their heads, to the moments they failed others and to the moments others have failed them.
Do you think your life would be different if you tore down those altars of failure and built altars of praise? Maybe we can ask God to swap a praise moment for every failure moment? Then we can choose to build the right altars; the kind of altars that lead to an abundant life.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Failure to Comply
Failure to Comply
The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they called that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the LORD.
Judges 2:1-5 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I made a deal with God and blew it. You see, I wanted to purchase a house. I made a list of what I wanted. I prayed over the list and asked God to help me choose the right house. “If this is the wrong house” I said, “then cause all the numbers on the contract to be wrong.” At closing, all the numbers were wrong. Like an idiot, I had the proper adjustments made and I bought the house anyway. My home is one hundred years old; it is beautiful with high ceilings, wide moldings, stained glass and lots of character. And, it is the wrong house.
Over the years, since the purchase, there has not been one home repair where I have not thought to myself, this is not what He intended for me. Have I asked for God’s forgiveness? Yes. Have I been blessed in this place? I don’t know. But I do know that I failed to comply with the agreement I made with God, and I am truly remorseful. I am not regretful because of the difficulties (or maybe the punishment) I have suffered. I am remorseful because I broke covenant with my friend, and my God.
Have you broken covenant with God too? How does one deal with that? In the above verse, the Israelites had an easy fix. Do what God said! Dismantle the faux-gods, repent, and stop making deals. But sometimes, the mess is such that one cannot simply dismantle and walk away. For example, what if you married the wrong person, spent all your money on the wrong thing, moved to the wrong area, have a child and realize that parenting did not solve your problems. What now?
I think the answer is so simple that it is easily overlooked. Say you are sorry and mean it. If you do not want to be sorry, ask God to give you a heart that understands your failure to comply. I know this will sound weird, but ask God to show you your sin, and his grace. If we only ask God to show his grace, we will take him and his gifts for granted. But, if we see our sin, we will also see the purpose of grace and no longer expect it because we deserve it. We can begin to expect it because God really is good. Then we can see that He never fails to comply with us.
The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they called that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the LORD.
Judges 2:1-5 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I made a deal with God and blew it. You see, I wanted to purchase a house. I made a list of what I wanted. I prayed over the list and asked God to help me choose the right house. “If this is the wrong house” I said, “then cause all the numbers on the contract to be wrong.” At closing, all the numbers were wrong. Like an idiot, I had the proper adjustments made and I bought the house anyway. My home is one hundred years old; it is beautiful with high ceilings, wide moldings, stained glass and lots of character. And, it is the wrong house.
Over the years, since the purchase, there has not been one home repair where I have not thought to myself, this is not what He intended for me. Have I asked for God’s forgiveness? Yes. Have I been blessed in this place? I don’t know. But I do know that I failed to comply with the agreement I made with God, and I am truly remorseful. I am not regretful because of the difficulties (or maybe the punishment) I have suffered. I am remorseful because I broke covenant with my friend, and my God.
Have you broken covenant with God too? How does one deal with that? In the above verse, the Israelites had an easy fix. Do what God said! Dismantle the faux-gods, repent, and stop making deals. But sometimes, the mess is such that one cannot simply dismantle and walk away. For example, what if you married the wrong person, spent all your money on the wrong thing, moved to the wrong area, have a child and realize that parenting did not solve your problems. What now?
I think the answer is so simple that it is easily overlooked. Say you are sorry and mean it. If you do not want to be sorry, ask God to give you a heart that understands your failure to comply. I know this will sound weird, but ask God to show you your sin, and his grace. If we only ask God to show his grace, we will take him and his gifts for granted. But, if we see our sin, we will also see the purpose of grace and no longer expect it because we deserve it. We can begin to expect it because God really is good. Then we can see that He never fails to comply with us.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Attraction for the Unsavory
Attraction for the Unsavory
That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.)
Mark 2:15 New Living Translation
We may learn a lot about Jesus based on the types of people he attracted. I find it a strange juxtaposition though, Jesus among sinners. You hardly hear of the saved among sinners in our time. In fact it has been tradition to see a strict separation between the two. In this verse, the distinction has been made that Jesus is dining with the unsavory type, and he has no aversion to them. And likewise, the sinners do not find Jesus to be arrogantly superior. In a way, Jesus seems to be on their side, especially when he faces down the religious leaders of the time. Though Jesus had his close seventy and even closer circles of eleven and three, he still had a larger expanse of diverse contacts that included prostitutes, tax embezzlers, your average run-of-the-mill sinners and religious professionals. Who are your close friends? What sort of people do you attract?
Maybe the type of people Jesus attracted shows us where his passion lived. And for those of us that desire to be like Jesus, this same passion should reside in us. Jesus says he came for those that are ill, not the ones that are well, (spiritually speaking). Maybe we need to develop an attraction for the unsavory? Or in other words, ask God for the same heart condition He has for those that are far from Him.
That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.)
Mark 2:15 New Living Translation
We may learn a lot about Jesus based on the types of people he attracted. I find it a strange juxtaposition though, Jesus among sinners. You hardly hear of the saved among sinners in our time. In fact it has been tradition to see a strict separation between the two. In this verse, the distinction has been made that Jesus is dining with the unsavory type, and he has no aversion to them. And likewise, the sinners do not find Jesus to be arrogantly superior. In a way, Jesus seems to be on their side, especially when he faces down the religious leaders of the time. Though Jesus had his close seventy and even closer circles of eleven and three, he still had a larger expanse of diverse contacts that included prostitutes, tax embezzlers, your average run-of-the-mill sinners and religious professionals. Who are your close friends? What sort of people do you attract?
Maybe the type of people Jesus attracted shows us where his passion lived. And for those of us that desire to be like Jesus, this same passion should reside in us. Jesus says he came for those that are ill, not the ones that are well, (spiritually speaking). Maybe we need to develop an attraction for the unsavory? Or in other words, ask God for the same heart condition He has for those that are far from Him.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Scary Feet
Scary Feet
Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
John 13:8 The Message
I do not know when it started, but I have an aversion to feet. I thank God that I have feet; I just don’t like mine touched or having to touch anyone else’s. I recall my dad had an illness and I had to apply a prescription cream on his feet. I was glad I could do something for him, but I do not recall enjoying it very much. Sometimes my wife asks me to rub her feet and I agree, only on the condition that she has socks on. One of the ladies in my Bible study group occasionally wears sandals for the expressed purpose of showing me her feet . . . wiggling toes and all. Ugh.
My brother, Jerome, lived with an elderly family member for a short time. He told me that she complained of foot pain. So, he asked her if she wanted a foot rub; she agreed. He said that her feet were crusty with dry skin and her toenails were long enough to look like that of a wild animal. He got a pail of water and soaked her feet. After that he clipped her toenails. As he clipped them, they went flying across the room and he could hear them ricochet off of the walls. After that, he put lotion on her feet and gave her a good foot message. Jerome and I laughed so hard while we discussed that story. But I had in the back of my mind that Jesus did the same sort of thing for the people he loved. He assumed the lower position as an example for us to also choose the lower position of servant.
My brother surpassed me that day in that he stooped down and did what no one else would do; he did what she would not or could not do for herself. And to me that is sort of the lesson and example that Jesus leaves behind. How we serve others is what lodges itself in their minds and hearts. If we really love someone, we serve them, and then I think they are changed from the head to the feet. Even if those feet are crusty, long- nailed, scary feet.
*******************************************************************************
Thoughts on faith from a sinful man
Author: Eric MontgomeryCopyright ©2009
Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
John 13:8 The Message
I do not know when it started, but I have an aversion to feet. I thank God that I have feet; I just don’t like mine touched or having to touch anyone else’s. I recall my dad had an illness and I had to apply a prescription cream on his feet. I was glad I could do something for him, but I do not recall enjoying it very much. Sometimes my wife asks me to rub her feet and I agree, only on the condition that she has socks on. One of the ladies in my Bible study group occasionally wears sandals for the expressed purpose of showing me her feet . . . wiggling toes and all. Ugh.
My brother, Jerome, lived with an elderly family member for a short time. He told me that she complained of foot pain. So, he asked her if she wanted a foot rub; she agreed. He said that her feet were crusty with dry skin and her toenails were long enough to look like that of a wild animal. He got a pail of water and soaked her feet. After that he clipped her toenails. As he clipped them, they went flying across the room and he could hear them ricochet off of the walls. After that, he put lotion on her feet and gave her a good foot message. Jerome and I laughed so hard while we discussed that story. But I had in the back of my mind that Jesus did the same sort of thing for the people he loved. He assumed the lower position as an example for us to also choose the lower position of servant.
My brother surpassed me that day in that he stooped down and did what no one else would do; he did what she would not or could not do for herself. And to me that is sort of the lesson and example that Jesus leaves behind. How we serve others is what lodges itself in their minds and hearts. If we really love someone, we serve them, and then I think they are changed from the head to the feet. Even if those feet are crusty, long- nailed, scary feet.
*******************************************************************************
Thoughts on faith from a sinful man
Author: Eric MontgomeryCopyright ©2009
Friday, May 28, 2010
Worthless Offerings
Worthless Offerings
What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is far better than offerings.
1 Samuel 15:22 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Many times in prayer, I have asked God for several things. But, one day I started asking, if I made Him proud. Which lead to the thought of what could possibly make God happy or proud…?
Over the years, I unconsciously tried many things. I preached, taught, performed musical pieces, evangelized, and cut peoples’ grass to name a few. All of which I seemed to either tire of or received very little thanks. I think that maybe I had been submitting burnt offerings and sacrifices the whole time. I wanted to do things to please God instead of just being pleasing, that is, knowing I am His because of His son.
I took the time to look up some synonyms for obedience, that mysterious stuff that 1 Samuel 15:22 says pleases God. I found that my being obedient to God consists of submission, dutiful respect, agreement and conformity. These things are more about “being” the likeness of and indeed the action of serving.
I am still teaching, cutting grass and doing other small things. But now, I have an updated and reworked agenda for these actions. My purpose now is to serve God in the practices. I now seek to be like Him, in the serving. I no longer serve others to gain a good reputation and good standing with God. I serve God and others out of the love that He pours into me by His Holy Spirit.
Can a person tell that you are a son or daughter of God, because you are just like Him?
What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is far better than offerings.
1 Samuel 15:22 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Many times in prayer, I have asked God for several things. But, one day I started asking, if I made Him proud. Which lead to the thought of what could possibly make God happy or proud…?
Over the years, I unconsciously tried many things. I preached, taught, performed musical pieces, evangelized, and cut peoples’ grass to name a few. All of which I seemed to either tire of or received very little thanks. I think that maybe I had been submitting burnt offerings and sacrifices the whole time. I wanted to do things to please God instead of just being pleasing, that is, knowing I am His because of His son.
I took the time to look up some synonyms for obedience, that mysterious stuff that 1 Samuel 15:22 says pleases God. I found that my being obedient to God consists of submission, dutiful respect, agreement and conformity. These things are more about “being” the likeness of and indeed the action of serving.
I am still teaching, cutting grass and doing other small things. But now, I have an updated and reworked agenda for these actions. My purpose now is to serve God in the practices. I now seek to be like Him, in the serving. I no longer serve others to gain a good reputation and good standing with God. I serve God and others out of the love that He pours into me by His Holy Spirit.
Can a person tell that you are a son or daughter of God, because you are just like Him?
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Tambourine Shows Grace
A Tambourine Shows Grace
Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner . . .”
Ruth 2:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I had this really cool job at a musical instruments store. I loved being around all the drums, keyboards and sound gear. Musicians are a funny bunch and I wanted to be in that group. I worked for a man everyone called Uncle Rick. He was about 6’ 2” and had a full grey beard. He always wore a denim hat, matching shirt and jeans. I always wondered if he had hair under that hat. I also wondered if he had stock in Levi’s or something. He NEVER wore anything other than denim. Anyhow, I was having this conversation with a lady that was waiting for her son to finish guitar lessons. I asked her, “Do you play any instruments?”
She replied, “No, but I always wished I had played percussion. Like a tambourine. I always liked that sound.”
“Why don’t you try one?” I said.
“Oh dear, I would be so embarrassed . . .”
I placed one in her hand. She liked it.
Meanwhile, Uncle Rick was listening to our whole conversation. He walked over, took the tambourine from her hand, removed the tag and handed it back to her. Then he walked over to the cash register, paid for it and walked away. He didn’t utter a single word. The woman and I stood there silently trying to collect our thoughts, or I should say pulling our emotions together. She had tears in her eyes as she asked me how he could do that. She said, “I don’t deserve this. Why would he do this? I can’t accept this. Why did he do that?”
I told her, “It is a gift. Maybe you should just accept it.” She did not know that I too was confused. Other than one other time in my life, I did not recall being so shocked and awakened to undeserved kindness. Maybe that is how grace works? It is shocking, unexpected, undeserved and for God’s own pleasure. It’s odd how a tambourine can show grace.
Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner . . .”
Ruth 2:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I had this really cool job at a musical instruments store. I loved being around all the drums, keyboards and sound gear. Musicians are a funny bunch and I wanted to be in that group. I worked for a man everyone called Uncle Rick. He was about 6’ 2” and had a full grey beard. He always wore a denim hat, matching shirt and jeans. I always wondered if he had hair under that hat. I also wondered if he had stock in Levi’s or something. He NEVER wore anything other than denim. Anyhow, I was having this conversation with a lady that was waiting for her son to finish guitar lessons. I asked her, “Do you play any instruments?”
She replied, “No, but I always wished I had played percussion. Like a tambourine. I always liked that sound.”
“Why don’t you try one?” I said.
“Oh dear, I would be so embarrassed . . .”
I placed one in her hand. She liked it.
Meanwhile, Uncle Rick was listening to our whole conversation. He walked over, took the tambourine from her hand, removed the tag and handed it back to her. Then he walked over to the cash register, paid for it and walked away. He didn’t utter a single word. The woman and I stood there silently trying to collect our thoughts, or I should say pulling our emotions together. She had tears in her eyes as she asked me how he could do that. She said, “I don’t deserve this. Why would he do this? I can’t accept this. Why did he do that?”
I told her, “It is a gift. Maybe you should just accept it.” She did not know that I too was confused. Other than one other time in my life, I did not recall being so shocked and awakened to undeserved kindness. Maybe that is how grace works? It is shocking, unexpected, undeserved and for God’s own pleasure. It’s odd how a tambourine can show grace.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Get Up!
Get Up!
The Lord said, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?”
Joshua 7:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Two simple words kind of say it all, Get up! Let me set the scene for you . . .
Joshua has recently taken over as leader of Israel from Moses. Joshua and the nation have an incredible win in battle over the Canaanites. Then, God calls Joshua to continue his path of taking the land God has set aside. Joshua goes to a little place called Ai (pronounced A-eye). Ai crushes the Israelites! Their response to the loss in battle is to lie on the floor all afternoon wallowing in their defeat. Basically, the Lord tells Joshua to get up and get going. We have work to do!
Often after a great loss, people can become sad, depressed and immobilized with a sense of failure. That is normal. But, we cannot stay that way. God wants us to respond to failures with speed, repentance and to move in the way He has directed. When failures hit, we are at our weakest in every way. This is the time when Satan will challenge you most. He will tell you no one loves you, you are alone, there is no way the problem can be solved, you are hopeless and helpless. But in these times, do the opposite of your feelings. Pray! Read your Bible and pray some more! God wants us to “Get Up” now! Call on him now!
Be strong and remember that after you have fallen down (and you will), get on up and know that God has not left you; He is with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
The Lord said, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?”
Joshua 7:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Two simple words kind of say it all, Get up! Let me set the scene for you . . .
Joshua has recently taken over as leader of Israel from Moses. Joshua and the nation have an incredible win in battle over the Canaanites. Then, God calls Joshua to continue his path of taking the land God has set aside. Joshua goes to a little place called Ai (pronounced A-eye). Ai crushes the Israelites! Their response to the loss in battle is to lie on the floor all afternoon wallowing in their defeat. Basically, the Lord tells Joshua to get up and get going. We have work to do!
Often after a great loss, people can become sad, depressed and immobilized with a sense of failure. That is normal. But, we cannot stay that way. God wants us to respond to failures with speed, repentance and to move in the way He has directed. When failures hit, we are at our weakest in every way. This is the time when Satan will challenge you most. He will tell you no one loves you, you are alone, there is no way the problem can be solved, you are hopeless and helpless. But in these times, do the opposite of your feelings. Pray! Read your Bible and pray some more! God wants us to “Get Up” now! Call on him now!
Be strong and remember that after you have fallen down (and you will), get on up and know that God has not left you; He is with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Friday, May 7, 2010
It Takes One to Know One
It Takes One to Know One
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Romans 2:1 New Living Translation
One thing that gives me the creeps about sin is that I can be involved in it and sometimes point the finger at others for doing the same things. Maybe this is possible because when I think of sin, I usually think big. Sin has to be extreme in its expression of greed, hate, theft, backstabbing, gossip, lust, or murder. But the truth is that sin does not need to be expansive and newsworthy; it can be subtle. So subtle in fact that I may be in the act at almost any moment and not know it. Yes, I can and do sin any time. Sometimes I sin while I am in church, at work, or even while watching television. But I know for sure that sin is creeping up on me when I am angry at others for their behavior. When I see someone else’s sin and I begin pointing it out; my anger is usually not inspired by God. My violent reaction to the sin of others is because sometimes I am guilty of it too. I can see their sin so easily because I’ve done it, or am doing it. I believe it is true when people say that it takes one to know one. As one who is well acquainted with his sins, I am keenly aware of the intricacies involved. Sometimes I see it in the way a person responds, or it is in the way they carry themselves. I can see it because I’ve done it.
How do you respond to the sins of others? Do you dispense the truth with a large measure of grace, or are you overly critical and cynical? Maybe the next time you are keenly aware of someone’s failure, also take the time to see your own. Then, when you are fully aware of your sin and you have asked for forgiveness, see to the needs of others. You know, Jesus said the same thing in regards to sin correction. He said that we should take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye. Do you think that a healthy account of your own sin will affect the way you decide to minister to others?
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Romans 2:1 New Living Translation
One thing that gives me the creeps about sin is that I can be involved in it and sometimes point the finger at others for doing the same things. Maybe this is possible because when I think of sin, I usually think big. Sin has to be extreme in its expression of greed, hate, theft, backstabbing, gossip, lust, or murder. But the truth is that sin does not need to be expansive and newsworthy; it can be subtle. So subtle in fact that I may be in the act at almost any moment and not know it. Yes, I can and do sin any time. Sometimes I sin while I am in church, at work, or even while watching television. But I know for sure that sin is creeping up on me when I am angry at others for their behavior. When I see someone else’s sin and I begin pointing it out; my anger is usually not inspired by God. My violent reaction to the sin of others is because sometimes I am guilty of it too. I can see their sin so easily because I’ve done it, or am doing it. I believe it is true when people say that it takes one to know one. As one who is well acquainted with his sins, I am keenly aware of the intricacies involved. Sometimes I see it in the way a person responds, or it is in the way they carry themselves. I can see it because I’ve done it.
How do you respond to the sins of others? Do you dispense the truth with a large measure of grace, or are you overly critical and cynical? Maybe the next time you are keenly aware of someone’s failure, also take the time to see your own. Then, when you are fully aware of your sin and you have asked for forgiveness, see to the needs of others. You know, Jesus said the same thing in regards to sin correction. He said that we should take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye. Do you think that a healthy account of your own sin will affect the way you decide to minister to others?
Friday, April 30, 2010
An Unexpected Continuation
An Unexpected Continuation
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Acts 28:30-31 New Living Translation
This was a weird way to end the story! Why build up to something and then stop it abruptly? In the final chapters of Acts, we can see that the religious gas bags have mobbed Paul and intend to kill him. A “death vow” is made by more religious boneheads to ambush Paul and murder him. Paul, on his way to Rome for the final showdown, is shipwrecked. After a snake bite and a three month layover Gilligan’s Island style, Paul and his companions finally make it to Rome and . . . well . . . he just goes on preaching. That sort of seems like the let down of all endings. I expected Paul to do a miracle, or convince a whole town to become Christians, or do something totally unexpected. But the end was lackluster, I think, for a perfectly good reason. The end of Acts has not actually happened. You and I are the continuing story of Acts. We keep the story going by praying for, teaching, healing, loving and telling others of Jesus. When we tell our personal stories of how Jesus saves us we are taking part in the ministry to reach the world that is lead by the Holy Spirit. The final words in Acts, “And no one tried to stop him,” bring to mind that no one can stop the spread of the good news except those of us that have learned it, live it, and hide it. How are you continuing the story?
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Acts 28:30-31 New Living Translation
This was a weird way to end the story! Why build up to something and then stop it abruptly? In the final chapters of Acts, we can see that the religious gas bags have mobbed Paul and intend to kill him. A “death vow” is made by more religious boneheads to ambush Paul and murder him. Paul, on his way to Rome for the final showdown, is shipwrecked. After a snake bite and a three month layover Gilligan’s Island style, Paul and his companions finally make it to Rome and . . . well . . . he just goes on preaching. That sort of seems like the let down of all endings. I expected Paul to do a miracle, or convince a whole town to become Christians, or do something totally unexpected. But the end was lackluster, I think, for a perfectly good reason. The end of Acts has not actually happened. You and I are the continuing story of Acts. We keep the story going by praying for, teaching, healing, loving and telling others of Jesus. When we tell our personal stories of how Jesus saves us we are taking part in the ministry to reach the world that is lead by the Holy Spirit. The final words in Acts, “And no one tried to stop him,” bring to mind that no one can stop the spread of the good news except those of us that have learned it, live it, and hide it. How are you continuing the story?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Holy Hankies?
Holy Hankies?
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts 19:11-12 New International Version
I’m sorry, Holy Spirit . . . .
I need to apologize to the Holy Spirit up front and confess my sin. My sin is that during the original writing for this verse, I was sarcastic. I was making a comical story over the unusual way God’s Spirit (or the Spirit of Jesus as He is called in Acts 16:7) moved and healed many. I made mention that it seemed silly that God would inhabit a napkin or a kerchief to bring healing to someone. I made mention of a religious program on television where they wanted you to mail in a cloth or hankie along with a small donation. The ministry would pray over the cloths and mail them back. And right at that point is when my sin started. I had this sly grin curling itself over my face. I could feel myself not believing that God would work this way. Idiotic ideas popped into my head like, “Does the hankie need to be cotton, or will polyester work? What if all I have is a ripped piece of denim off my jeans, will that suffice?” I was seeing this unusual move of the Spirit as silly and that is where the Holy Spirit convicted me.
I think my joking and attitude about this strange move of the Spirit was my putting down someone’s blessing. If you have mailed out your prayer cloths, and God has blessed you, well . . . , then bless you. If you say it was real, I believe you. It was certainly real for the people that God decided to bless in this situation with Paul. It was and is a unique circumstance. Paul and his crew may have been the only ones for miles that knew God, and this was a very special way for one man to reach a whole town or city. Even though this Holy Spirit endowed napkin thing is unique, I should not be shocked. Unique is nothing new for God. I remember other exceptional moves of God such as Elisha’s bones being filled with enough of God’s power that just a touch brought a man back to life (2 Kings 13:21) and how the Holy Spirit used Peter’s shadow as a healing device (Acts 5:15). I suppose this type of story is telling me that God can move any way He wants, when He wants. He heals so that we can know He sympathizes with our pain, having endured it himself while in the flesh. I think God healed (or heals) so that it acts as a supernatural sign for things to come . . . .
By the way, my knee hurts. Anybody got a hankie? I believe now.
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts 19:11-12 New International Version
I’m sorry, Holy Spirit . . . .
I need to apologize to the Holy Spirit up front and confess my sin. My sin is that during the original writing for this verse, I was sarcastic. I was making a comical story over the unusual way God’s Spirit (or the Spirit of Jesus as He is called in Acts 16:7) moved and healed many. I made mention that it seemed silly that God would inhabit a napkin or a kerchief to bring healing to someone. I made mention of a religious program on television where they wanted you to mail in a cloth or hankie along with a small donation. The ministry would pray over the cloths and mail them back. And right at that point is when my sin started. I had this sly grin curling itself over my face. I could feel myself not believing that God would work this way. Idiotic ideas popped into my head like, “Does the hankie need to be cotton, or will polyester work? What if all I have is a ripped piece of denim off my jeans, will that suffice?” I was seeing this unusual move of the Spirit as silly and that is where the Holy Spirit convicted me.
I think my joking and attitude about this strange move of the Spirit was my putting down someone’s blessing. If you have mailed out your prayer cloths, and God has blessed you, well . . . , then bless you. If you say it was real, I believe you. It was certainly real for the people that God decided to bless in this situation with Paul. It was and is a unique circumstance. Paul and his crew may have been the only ones for miles that knew God, and this was a very special way for one man to reach a whole town or city. Even though this Holy Spirit endowed napkin thing is unique, I should not be shocked. Unique is nothing new for God. I remember other exceptional moves of God such as Elisha’s bones being filled with enough of God’s power that just a touch brought a man back to life (2 Kings 13:21) and how the Holy Spirit used Peter’s shadow as a healing device (Acts 5:15). I suppose this type of story is telling me that God can move any way He wants, when He wants. He heals so that we can know He sympathizes with our pain, having endured it himself while in the flesh. I think God healed (or heals) so that it acts as a supernatural sign for things to come . . . .
By the way, my knee hurts. Anybody got a hankie? I believe now.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Grace Only
Grace Only
So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 15:10-11 New Living Translation
I sat in a Bible study for about a month. Every week we discussed salvation and how it is obtained. I kept struggling with different ideas in my head. Every time I mulled over an objection, another verse popped up about salvation coming from grace. I pondered baptism, living a God styled life and keeping the Big Ten as vehicles to achieve salvation. Of course, we also need to stay clear of the traditional do not things. Do not curse, drink, smoke, lose your temper, and do not hold grudges. But the flaw in that sort of reasoning is that a person can actually obtain salvation through any of those things. How do you earn your salvation? Maybe I should ask if you think you have earned it on your own.
According to Paul and Barnabas, salvation comes from grace. God’s special favor is what brings salvation. Does not the scripture say that salvation is given by grace so that no man or woman can brag about their achievement (Ephesians 2:8-9)? I think we humans, especially we Americans, are driven to succeed. Some people feel the need to succeed even at the cost of others. This high desire to define ourselves by our achievements is not new, and is frankly an obstacle to receiving God’s full measure of grace. I see earning salvation the same as putting the cart in front of the horse. God saves us and then we respond to this salvation by getting baptized, by living with better more godly choices. Imagine falling toward the edge of a cliff, and someone grabs your hand to keep you from falling. Did you have any power in your rescue? No, you were wholly dependent upon the person holding you. I’ll put it a different way, a friend and I were bantering about salvation wholly from grace vs. human assisted salvation. My friend asked me, “Doesn’t the Bible say that we are dead in our sin?” He was quoting Ephesians 2:1, but I did not know it at the time.
“Yes it does” I said.
“Then,” he asked, “how does a dead man call for help?”
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for blessing me with unmerited salvation. Amen.
So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 15:10-11 New Living Translation
I sat in a Bible study for about a month. Every week we discussed salvation and how it is obtained. I kept struggling with different ideas in my head. Every time I mulled over an objection, another verse popped up about salvation coming from grace. I pondered baptism, living a God styled life and keeping the Big Ten as vehicles to achieve salvation. Of course, we also need to stay clear of the traditional do not things. Do not curse, drink, smoke, lose your temper, and do not hold grudges. But the flaw in that sort of reasoning is that a person can actually obtain salvation through any of those things. How do you earn your salvation? Maybe I should ask if you think you have earned it on your own.
According to Paul and Barnabas, salvation comes from grace. God’s special favor is what brings salvation. Does not the scripture say that salvation is given by grace so that no man or woman can brag about their achievement (Ephesians 2:8-9)? I think we humans, especially we Americans, are driven to succeed. Some people feel the need to succeed even at the cost of others. This high desire to define ourselves by our achievements is not new, and is frankly an obstacle to receiving God’s full measure of grace. I see earning salvation the same as putting the cart in front of the horse. God saves us and then we respond to this salvation by getting baptized, by living with better more godly choices. Imagine falling toward the edge of a cliff, and someone grabs your hand to keep you from falling. Did you have any power in your rescue? No, you were wholly dependent upon the person holding you. I’ll put it a different way, a friend and I were bantering about salvation wholly from grace vs. human assisted salvation. My friend asked me, “Doesn’t the Bible say that we are dead in our sin?” He was quoting Ephesians 2:1, but I did not know it at the time.
“Yes it does” I said.
“Then,” he asked, “how does a dead man call for help?”
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for blessing me with unmerited salvation. Amen.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Reformed Racist
Reformed Racist
He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
Acts 10:11-15 New Living Translation
At the time, I did not know it had a name. But I learned about it all too well around age nine. I was a crossing guard in elementary school. We were required to wait an extra five minutes after the bell rang in case there were stragglers. As I waited for late kids, an adult white woman approached and mumbled as she passed by. I asked her what she said as she was staring directly at me. She pushed me to the ground and screamed, “You fucking nigger! That’s what I said, you nigger! What are you gonna do about it!”
Over the years, I have come across a few people that have a superiority complex. They feel that their race esteems them above everyone else. I wonder how they developed that false idea of identity. I wonder if they look at the lesser evolved as slightly overdeveloped farm animals that are not yet genetically worthy of inclusion into the human race.
I would venture to say that Peter had this same issue. While he was indeed full of God’s Spirit, he also had to struggle with the issue of race on more than one occasion. He had to be reminded of grace when he asked Jesus if he and the other disciples could ask for the destruction of Samaria (Samaritans were half pagan and half Jew). He also had to deal with the rebuke of Paul when he swapped dinner tables from gentiles to Jews at a public meal (Galatians 2:11-12). In our verse for the day, Peter shows some promise as he decided to live with a leather maker while on a missionary journey. Leather makers were considered unclean as they touched dead animals for their vocation. But obviously, the issue still needed attention. God shows Peter a bunch of the wrong things to eat. Then God proclaims them clean.
I think this lesson is specifically for Peter and those that feel other humans are beneath them. Do you have a problem with someone because they are not like you? Are Mexicans only a bunch of wetbacks, and Italians dagoes? When is the last time you said, thought, or chuckled at words like nigger, kike, Ms Ann, Mr. Charlie, coon, gook, kaffir, porch monkey, redneck, slant eye, dot head, towel head or whitey?
If God’s Spirit is truly residing in you, then none of those terms should ever enter your mind or vocabulary again. Why? Because God has declared them clean. Maybe you too can be a reformed racist.
He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
Acts 10:11-15 New Living Translation
At the time, I did not know it had a name. But I learned about it all too well around age nine. I was a crossing guard in elementary school. We were required to wait an extra five minutes after the bell rang in case there were stragglers. As I waited for late kids, an adult white woman approached and mumbled as she passed by. I asked her what she said as she was staring directly at me. She pushed me to the ground and screamed, “You fucking nigger! That’s what I said, you nigger! What are you gonna do about it!”
Over the years, I have come across a few people that have a superiority complex. They feel that their race esteems them above everyone else. I wonder how they developed that false idea of identity. I wonder if they look at the lesser evolved as slightly overdeveloped farm animals that are not yet genetically worthy of inclusion into the human race.
I would venture to say that Peter had this same issue. While he was indeed full of God’s Spirit, he also had to struggle with the issue of race on more than one occasion. He had to be reminded of grace when he asked Jesus if he and the other disciples could ask for the destruction of Samaria (Samaritans were half pagan and half Jew). He also had to deal with the rebuke of Paul when he swapped dinner tables from gentiles to Jews at a public meal (Galatians 2:11-12). In our verse for the day, Peter shows some promise as he decided to live with a leather maker while on a missionary journey. Leather makers were considered unclean as they touched dead animals for their vocation. But obviously, the issue still needed attention. God shows Peter a bunch of the wrong things to eat. Then God proclaims them clean.
I think this lesson is specifically for Peter and those that feel other humans are beneath them. Do you have a problem with someone because they are not like you? Are Mexicans only a bunch of wetbacks, and Italians dagoes? When is the last time you said, thought, or chuckled at words like nigger, kike, Ms Ann, Mr. Charlie, coon, gook, kaffir, porch monkey, redneck, slant eye, dot head, towel head or whitey?
If God’s Spirit is truly residing in you, then none of those terms should ever enter your mind or vocabulary again. Why? Because God has declared them clean. Maybe you too can be a reformed racist.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Failing Jesus
Failing Jesus
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, "Aren't you one of his disciples?" He denied it, "Not me.”
John 18:25 The Message
I was in a play where I had to portray Judas and the other person acted as Simon Peter. We both wore black on a dimly lit stage. Our conversation was about whether to continue a belief in Jesus right after his crucifixion. The tension in the play was due to our both having betrayed Jesus, but one of us lost all hope and the other had not. My character saw failure as separation. Do you feel the same way about God?
I once had a discussion about this very topic with a friend. I told her that God loved her. She replied that he didn’t. I asked her why she felt that way. She said, “I’ve done too many bad things to be forgiven or loved.”
But doesn’t grace cover that? I am not speaking of cheap grace that means you go out and do what you want without fear of reprisal. I mean real grace. The kind that says, “I know you messed up. I know that sometimes there are consequences for your behavior, but we can get through this together.” I think Peter understood Real Grace even if he did not know what it was called.
I would say that failing Jesus is a prerequisite for following him. If you have never failed him, then it wasn’t Jesus you were serving.
What I liked about our play was that Peter offered up an idea that may not have been so popular. Peter’s life suggested room for error and reconciliation. I think that failing Jesus is a place where no one wants to be, but while we are there, we can take in the lesson that Jesus still forgives, he still reconciles, and he still wants us. And maybe, that is what he expected in the first place.
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, "Aren't you one of his disciples?" He denied it, "Not me.”
John 18:25 The Message
I was in a play where I had to portray Judas and the other person acted as Simon Peter. We both wore black on a dimly lit stage. Our conversation was about whether to continue a belief in Jesus right after his crucifixion. The tension in the play was due to our both having betrayed Jesus, but one of us lost all hope and the other had not. My character saw failure as separation. Do you feel the same way about God?
I once had a discussion about this very topic with a friend. I told her that God loved her. She replied that he didn’t. I asked her why she felt that way. She said, “I’ve done too many bad things to be forgiven or loved.”
But doesn’t grace cover that? I am not speaking of cheap grace that means you go out and do what you want without fear of reprisal. I mean real grace. The kind that says, “I know you messed up. I know that sometimes there are consequences for your behavior, but we can get through this together.” I think Peter understood Real Grace even if he did not know what it was called.
I would say that failing Jesus is a prerequisite for following him. If you have never failed him, then it wasn’t Jesus you were serving.
What I liked about our play was that Peter offered up an idea that may not have been so popular. Peter’s life suggested room for error and reconciliation. I think that failing Jesus is a place where no one wants to be, but while we are there, we can take in the lesson that Jesus still forgives, he still reconciles, and he still wants us. And maybe, that is what he expected in the first place.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Good Life
The Good Life
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 -19 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
This verse sounds simple enough: work hard, eat well and live with gratitude. But, sometimes things can get complicated for me when I erroneously compare my life-gifts with others around me. It is also difficult when society insinuates what “good” is in magazines, television, film, music and in most every area of life. My life hardly measures up to their definition of good or desirable. I am black when white is better and beautiful, fat when thin is better, (on this point I might agree because of the health benefits), older while younger is more prized, mid-income when high income is respected and desired, (and sometimes needed), my home is small to mid size in a world where McMansions are becoming the norm. So, for those that do not measure up to the “American Standard”, what are we to do? Be thankful for what we have? Sounds like a cop-out answer doesn’t it? Maybe not.
When I get off track, I refer back to God’s plan for every man and woman. The life God plans for his person is more about attitude and gratitude than anything else. According to Solomon, the Bible’s most wise and richest man ever, the best life is to eat well and enjoy our work. Across Ecclesiastes, Solomon says he has done it all. He tried pleasure seeking, buying and selling, sex, philosophy and looking for “good people” to add more to his life. After a lifelong and probably expensive search by the wisest man ever, he concludes on just a few things: work hard, eat well and stick to God (5:18, 19 & 12:13). Oftentimes, the Biblical view seems upside down from the world view, and for good reason. God’s ways are not like ours. As He created life, maybe we should try it His way?
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 -19 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
This verse sounds simple enough: work hard, eat well and live with gratitude. But, sometimes things can get complicated for me when I erroneously compare my life-gifts with others around me. It is also difficult when society insinuates what “good” is in magazines, television, film, music and in most every area of life. My life hardly measures up to their definition of good or desirable. I am black when white is better and beautiful, fat when thin is better, (on this point I might agree because of the health benefits), older while younger is more prized, mid-income when high income is respected and desired, (and sometimes needed), my home is small to mid size in a world where McMansions are becoming the norm. So, for those that do not measure up to the “American Standard”, what are we to do? Be thankful for what we have? Sounds like a cop-out answer doesn’t it? Maybe not.
When I get off track, I refer back to God’s plan for every man and woman. The life God plans for his person is more about attitude and gratitude than anything else. According to Solomon, the Bible’s most wise and richest man ever, the best life is to eat well and enjoy our work. Across Ecclesiastes, Solomon says he has done it all. He tried pleasure seeking, buying and selling, sex, philosophy and looking for “good people” to add more to his life. After a lifelong and probably expensive search by the wisest man ever, he concludes on just a few things: work hard, eat well and stick to God (5:18, 19 & 12:13). Oftentimes, the Biblical view seems upside down from the world view, and for good reason. God’s ways are not like ours. As He created life, maybe we should try it His way?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Just Ask For the Directions
Just Ask For the Directions
The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going? Proverbs 20:24 THE MESSAGE
When my wife and I take long drives, she is normally the navigator and I am the driver. I think she likes it that way because she gets to continue telling me what to do, even in the car. One day I decided to get directions from Yahoo.com. I was going to handle the driving and the Navigation on my own. But, to my dismay, we got lost. We decided to pull into the unofficial location for directions, a gas station. I asked Urs to go in and get the directions since I had already gotten us misplaced and I wanted to maintain at least a little of my dignity and not have to ask for help. People began walking out of the gas station, pointing at our car and chuckling. Once Ursula came out, she told me several people wanted to help her. When she told them the directions we had, several people said the directions were horrible and asked if they were from Yahoo. She said yes and all of them had a good laugh.
I think it is important to get your driving directions from someplace other than Yahoo. I also think it is important to get your life directions from the one that authored you. It is good to make life plans, but discuss them with others that have strengths in your areas of weakness. Let go of your pride, ask, and then trust the answer even if you don’t fully understand it. In life, you can’t do things on your own all the time. Ask the Father who directs our steps, and trust that even though we don’t understand, He is trustworthy to the end. The steps of the people that trust God are directed by God. God is delighted to be involved and if we stumble, we won’t fall because God holds our hand (Psalm 37:23-24 Paraphrased New Living Translation).
It’s gainfully lucid to me that God wants us to depend on Him. He wants us to let go of our worry and pride and ask for His involvement and then act upon the answers He gives. We may not avoid every bump in the road, but we won’t fall and be destroyed, because He loves us.
The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going? Proverbs 20:24 THE MESSAGE
When my wife and I take long drives, she is normally the navigator and I am the driver. I think she likes it that way because she gets to continue telling me what to do, even in the car. One day I decided to get directions from Yahoo.com. I was going to handle the driving and the Navigation on my own. But, to my dismay, we got lost. We decided to pull into the unofficial location for directions, a gas station. I asked Urs to go in and get the directions since I had already gotten us misplaced and I wanted to maintain at least a little of my dignity and not have to ask for help. People began walking out of the gas station, pointing at our car and chuckling. Once Ursula came out, she told me several people wanted to help her. When she told them the directions we had, several people said the directions were horrible and asked if they were from Yahoo. She said yes and all of them had a good laugh.
I think it is important to get your driving directions from someplace other than Yahoo. I also think it is important to get your life directions from the one that authored you. It is good to make life plans, but discuss them with others that have strengths in your areas of weakness. Let go of your pride, ask, and then trust the answer even if you don’t fully understand it. In life, you can’t do things on your own all the time. Ask the Father who directs our steps, and trust that even though we don’t understand, He is trustworthy to the end. The steps of the people that trust God are directed by God. God is delighted to be involved and if we stumble, we won’t fall because God holds our hand (Psalm 37:23-24 Paraphrased New Living Translation).
It’s gainfully lucid to me that God wants us to depend on Him. He wants us to let go of our worry and pride and ask for His involvement and then act upon the answers He gives. We may not avoid every bump in the road, but we won’t fall and be destroyed, because He loves us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)