1 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 7 asks a question I have found myself pondering: “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
You could look around right now and reflect on what you are receiving at this moment. Of course there is the air we take for granted, but just feel it now as it fills your lungs and your nostrils. It flows and does its work without any thought or extra care from you. And the protection from the elements provided by this building or your home or car. The other morning I rushed through the dry, cold, still air to my car and quickly closed the door as I scooted in. I shivered, impatient for the anticipated warmth from the heater vent. In that short time, think of all that I received from God – a car; the cold of winter; the dryness rather than the penetrating cold of moisture; the knowledge and possession of the coming warmth; a place to go that required my journey; a place to start that journey and the safety of both; the roads on which my car would travel; the agreement with our neighbors to abide by standard rules that allows a safe interaction while driving; the ability to move myself, with hardly a thought, to the car and to quicken the pace without any concern. We could go much further in the pursuit of all that we receive. But one more thing needs to be said before we move toward gratitude.
Some of those things you have received cannot be purchased at any price. There are those who would pay anything to own what some of us receive freely, without thought. From another perspective: others work just as hard or harder with both their minds and their bodies, but will never have the opportunity to receive what you have. Perhaps their mind is not as agile as yours or their body not as able; perhaps they didn’t receive the same opportunities.
Which of these can you thank God for, right now? Can you reflect a little further to realize other blessings you may regularly take for granted, but which make a profound effect on who you are and what you are able to do?
When you begin to notice these works of God in you and for you, you may also find a tendency to balance them with thoughts of what you do not have or what you have lost. Why do we sometimes do this? Does this affect our attitude of thankfulness? Is it possible that in losing something we now miss we may have gained something else? Perhaps even something that we are presently unaware of?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I Give Thanks…
Thank you, Lord, for my children. Each of them has blessed my life and the lives of others in unique ways. Each of them has challenged me in ways I could not have imagined; they have taught me about myself and other temperaments; they have taught me about a new kind of love. They have made me a better person.
Thank you, Lord, for the wife of my youth - for her years of giving and faithfulness; for her grace to our children and her industrious provisions for our family. Thank you for her intelligence, for our differences that challenge and bring appreciation for something wonderful I might not have known otherwise. Thank you for giving us companionship in our often individualized living and for creating one out of two
Thank you, Lord, for my parents and the family I grew up in - For the faith and righteousness that my parents exemplified and expected. Thank you for our ability to sacrifice for one another, to endure rivalry with grace, to allow for differences with appreciation. Thank you also for my extended family, for the good that was modeled in front of me, for the heritage of faith that teaches me what my own faithfulness can mean to others. Thank you for my brother’s and my sister’s family – that they have embraced me and mine with their hearts and hands.
Thank you, for your disciples, my God, who have surrounded me in times of triumph and defeat. Even in the worst of places and times, you have provided someone to minister to me. And in other times, you have given me that same opportunity. Thank you for trusting me and bringing me wholly into your family – a full participant and complete heir.
Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for stepping out from the veil of rules to reveal yourself personally to us. Thank you for enduring our worst and being encouraged by those rare moments when we truly love you deeply and completely. Thank you for letting us touch you in a crowd, or in a home, or in a place of worship; to touch your side where you were wounded, to touch your time with our common needs and habits, to touch your feet with our pain and tears, and to touch even your clothes and feel power flow into us through you. Thank you for enduring us past the point of endurance.
Thank you for the stuff of this world that you give us – for food and cars and homes and clothes; for education and jobs and prosperity. Thank you for the freedom we enjoy. Thank you for the cleansing rain, the changing seasons, the cool breeze, the shade of trees and their fruit that grows and produces by its own work on our behalf. And for so many more blessings that we cannot count, Lord…
Thank You.
Thank you, Lord, for the wife of my youth - for her years of giving and faithfulness; for her grace to our children and her industrious provisions for our family. Thank you for her intelligence, for our differences that challenge and bring appreciation for something wonderful I might not have known otherwise. Thank you for giving us companionship in our often individualized living and for creating one out of two
Thank you, Lord, for my parents and the family I grew up in - For the faith and righteousness that my parents exemplified and expected. Thank you for our ability to sacrifice for one another, to endure rivalry with grace, to allow for differences with appreciation. Thank you also for my extended family, for the good that was modeled in front of me, for the heritage of faith that teaches me what my own faithfulness can mean to others. Thank you for my brother’s and my sister’s family – that they have embraced me and mine with their hearts and hands.
Thank you, for your disciples, my God, who have surrounded me in times of triumph and defeat. Even in the worst of places and times, you have provided someone to minister to me. And in other times, you have given me that same opportunity. Thank you for trusting me and bringing me wholly into your family – a full participant and complete heir.
Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for stepping out from the veil of rules to reveal yourself personally to us. Thank you for enduring our worst and being encouraged by those rare moments when we truly love you deeply and completely. Thank you for letting us touch you in a crowd, or in a home, or in a place of worship; to touch your side where you were wounded, to touch your time with our common needs and habits, to touch your feet with our pain and tears, and to touch even your clothes and feel power flow into us through you. Thank you for enduring us past the point of endurance.
Thank you for the stuff of this world that you give us – for food and cars and homes and clothes; for education and jobs and prosperity. Thank you for the freedom we enjoy. Thank you for the cleansing rain, the changing seasons, the cool breeze, the shade of trees and their fruit that grows and produces by its own work on our behalf. And for so many more blessings that we cannot count, Lord…
Thank You.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Since God Chose You to be Holy…
One of my elders, Raymond, is known for his tender heart. He says he can cry at the drop of a hat, but that’s not really true – he cries for people. He is touched by the joys, the struggles, the losses of people who cross paths with him. His tenderheartedness is reflected in the compassion and dedication he exhibits in every encounter with people. And he is not the only one who cares. We all, who have decided to follow Christ, feel the struggle of balancing our responsibilities with our desire to serve the needs of others.
Colossians 3:12 says, in part, that tenderhearted mercy reflects our holiness. Indeed, this verse says that God chose us to be holy. He made his people unique when he selected them from out of the pool of humanity and set each one aside into his “keepers” bin. Then he says here is one way you need to reflect your uniqueness: treat people with a compassionate mercy.
Mercy is to not give people what they deserve. It is withholding punishment. It is also providing for them when they have not earned it. Mercy defies reason, since reason would dictate equity, but mercy freely slathers on much better than you could have expected. When you look back at mercy, you are still in wonder at how it could have worked out to be so beneficial for you.
Now, for all of those who have become immune to emotional entanglements with others; for those who often quote, “if a man will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thess 3:10); for those who love justice more than mercy; and who are perhaps more taken with the legal requirements of scripture, please note that this is an emphatic statement – a command. You must be completely enshrouded with a tender heart that expresses itself through mercy. Give, give, give to others more than they ought to responsibly expect. And don’t stop. Look, there’s someone else over there who could use a little compassion.
Colossians 3:12 says, in part, that tenderhearted mercy reflects our holiness. Indeed, this verse says that God chose us to be holy. He made his people unique when he selected them from out of the pool of humanity and set each one aside into his “keepers” bin. Then he says here is one way you need to reflect your uniqueness: treat people with a compassionate mercy.
Mercy is to not give people what they deserve. It is withholding punishment. It is also providing for them when they have not earned it. Mercy defies reason, since reason would dictate equity, but mercy freely slathers on much better than you could have expected. When you look back at mercy, you are still in wonder at how it could have worked out to be so beneficial for you.
Now, for all of those who have become immune to emotional entanglements with others; for those who often quote, “if a man will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thess 3:10); for those who love justice more than mercy; and who are perhaps more taken with the legal requirements of scripture, please note that this is an emphatic statement – a command. You must be completely enshrouded with a tender heart that expresses itself through mercy. Give, give, give to others more than they ought to responsibly expect. And don’t stop. Look, there’s someone else over there who could use a little compassion.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves You
In about 1997 the Mango Church of Christ and the Tampa Bay Church of Christ merged. They had come from very different backgrounds with very different personalities. The median age at one was about 37 and the other about 60. In the one, most of the brothers and sisters had grown up in the Church of Christ; in the other, most had been members less than 10 years and many had formerly lived very worldly lives. It is not hard to imagine many other differences between these two divergent groups of people. Yet they had made a decision to come together and work together.
The new congregation was named the Bay Area Church of Christ. Even after the merger was official, there were still many obstacles to be overcome. In a seminar each of the staff spoke about how the church could be united around and benefit from their respective areas of work. One of the ministers started his session by asking the question, “How do you feel about the Church?” My thoughts immediately wandered back through my experiences with the church. I thought of those who had cared for me and nurtured my spiritual growth. I had been the recipient of amazing love through the body of Christ. But I also thought of the pain that had come to me and to my family through our experience with the Church. I realized that there were people I didn’t want to sit next to in worship, or even be in the same room with ever again.
After his initial question, “How do you feel about the Church?” and a long pause, the speaker made what seemed to me to be a profound and convicting statement: “Christ, Jesus died for her.” That hit me in the face. Those brothers and sisters that I had felt so alienated from – Jesus died for them. The ones who had hurt me and I had kept my record of sins on them – Jesus died for them. The ones who were my enemies were worthy of the blood of Jesus, my very own Savior. How could I feel such enmity for those who Jesus loved so deeply and completely?
At that moment, another realization came to light: I was his enemy when he loved me. I was against him when he was for me. Those brothers and sisters who I had set myself against were no different than me and Christ poured out his life to purchase them and me together. How could I receive such love and grace from Jesus and refuse it to others? I was a hypocrite to love those who loved me and reject the rest. I had to learn to love the way Jesus loves.
“Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you, rather it is an old one you have had from the beginning. This old commandment – to love one another – is the same message you have heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the the truth of this commandment and you also are living it.” (1 John 2:7-8a)
The new congregation was named the Bay Area Church of Christ. Even after the merger was official, there were still many obstacles to be overcome. In a seminar each of the staff spoke about how the church could be united around and benefit from their respective areas of work. One of the ministers started his session by asking the question, “How do you feel about the Church?” My thoughts immediately wandered back through my experiences with the church. I thought of those who had cared for me and nurtured my spiritual growth. I had been the recipient of amazing love through the body of Christ. But I also thought of the pain that had come to me and to my family through our experience with the Church. I realized that there were people I didn’t want to sit next to in worship, or even be in the same room with ever again.
After his initial question, “How do you feel about the Church?” and a long pause, the speaker made what seemed to me to be a profound and convicting statement: “Christ, Jesus died for her.” That hit me in the face. Those brothers and sisters that I had felt so alienated from – Jesus died for them. The ones who had hurt me and I had kept my record of sins on them – Jesus died for them. The ones who were my enemies were worthy of the blood of Jesus, my very own Savior. How could I feel such enmity for those who Jesus loved so deeply and completely?
At that moment, another realization came to light: I was his enemy when he loved me. I was against him when he was for me. Those brothers and sisters who I had set myself against were no different than me and Christ poured out his life to purchase them and me together. How could I receive such love and grace from Jesus and refuse it to others? I was a hypocrite to love those who loved me and reject the rest. I had to learn to love the way Jesus loves.
“Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you, rather it is an old one you have had from the beginning. This old commandment – to love one another – is the same message you have heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the the truth of this commandment and you also are living it.” (1 John 2:7-8a)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Colossians 3:12-17
Reflections before I Get There
Colossians chapter three does not stand on its own; 2:23 says that the rules we make for ourselves, or even those imposed upon us by religion, “have no value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (NIV) One translation says, “These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desire.” (NLT)
I confess that I have been a part of the tribe that has worked very hard to conquer the sinful desires in my life by adherence to the rules. I don’t mean just any arbitrary rules. I chose the best: straight from scripture (and my parents, and my church, and my own interpretation of all those…). And, I confess that it worked – that is, it sort of worked. I felt stronger by my adherence to the rules. I felt more pleasing to God because of my adherence to the rules. I felt that I was a better testimony because of my adherence to the rules. The rules were comforting as long as I believed that I was staying on top of them. But I finally realized that, although those rules of religion may change my behavior, they weren’t doing much to change me.
If Colossians 2:23 tells me that the power to overcome sin is not found in the rules, then the next verse tells me how sin is overcome – it is in being raised with Christ. Although much of this chapter, and the next, is occupied with right living, the reader is blessed who notes that, there is no claim here that righteous living will overcome sin and its inherent conflict within us. There is nothing to say that following even these rules will transform one into the image of the Christ. Instead, these “moralisms” are emphatically described as the result what has already been accomplished in Christ.
2:20
You died with Christ and were set free from the battle to attain righteousness through the rules that work in the flesh.
2:23
Those rules have no value in the transformation from a person embattled with sin to the one who lives in the image of Christ.
2:6, 7, 3:1-3
The power of transformation comes from sinking our roots deep into Christ, accepting him as the only way to win the spiritual battle with the allure of this world and its rules. The thought here is not that one roots himself in Christ, but that he allows (passive) his roots to sink into Christ, further, that he allows his life to be built firmly on those roots and his faith can also be expected to grow. Perhaps it could be said, Since you have accepted Jesus as your Lord, let him do his work in your body to anchor you, construct you and nourish your faith. That is similar to 3:1, Since you have been raised to new life (instead of trying to re-create that old life into something worthy, grab hold of your new vision of heaven and hold tightly to it. Stop being controlled by the old vision of a better you in this world and let heaven’s vision transform you. Someone has said, “live up to what Christ has done for you.”
1. If rules of righteousness provide no help in conquering evil desires, do these passages offer any help?
2. How may the rules contribute to self righteousness? Or defeat? How are rules comforting? Or disconcerting?
3. How does rule-keeping affect one’s testimony about the Christ?
4. How might Paul have meant for 3:12-17 to differ from the idea of rule-keeping?
5. Pray about the work of Christ in raising you into a new life and how his righteousness might live in your body. Do you think God might show you the answer to this prayer?
Colossians chapter three does not stand on its own; 2:23 says that the rules we make for ourselves, or even those imposed upon us by religion, “have no value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (NIV) One translation says, “These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desire.” (NLT)
I confess that I have been a part of the tribe that has worked very hard to conquer the sinful desires in my life by adherence to the rules. I don’t mean just any arbitrary rules. I chose the best: straight from scripture (and my parents, and my church, and my own interpretation of all those…). And, I confess that it worked – that is, it sort of worked. I felt stronger by my adherence to the rules. I felt more pleasing to God because of my adherence to the rules. I felt that I was a better testimony because of my adherence to the rules. The rules were comforting as long as I believed that I was staying on top of them. But I finally realized that, although those rules of religion may change my behavior, they weren’t doing much to change me.
If Colossians 2:23 tells me that the power to overcome sin is not found in the rules, then the next verse tells me how sin is overcome – it is in being raised with Christ. Although much of this chapter, and the next, is occupied with right living, the reader is blessed who notes that, there is no claim here that righteous living will overcome sin and its inherent conflict within us. There is nothing to say that following even these rules will transform one into the image of the Christ. Instead, these “moralisms” are emphatically described as the result what has already been accomplished in Christ.
2:20
You died with Christ and were set free from the battle to attain righteousness through the rules that work in the flesh.
2:23
Those rules have no value in the transformation from a person embattled with sin to the one who lives in the image of Christ.
2:6, 7, 3:1-3
The power of transformation comes from sinking our roots deep into Christ, accepting him as the only way to win the spiritual battle with the allure of this world and its rules. The thought here is not that one roots himself in Christ, but that he allows (passive) his roots to sink into Christ, further, that he allows his life to be built firmly on those roots and his faith can also be expected to grow. Perhaps it could be said, Since you have accepted Jesus as your Lord, let him do his work in your body to anchor you, construct you and nourish your faith. That is similar to 3:1, Since you have been raised to new life (instead of trying to re-create that old life into something worthy, grab hold of your new vision of heaven and hold tightly to it. Stop being controlled by the old vision of a better you in this world and let heaven’s vision transform you. Someone has said, “live up to what Christ has done for you.”
1. If rules of righteousness provide no help in conquering evil desires, do these passages offer any help?
2. How may the rules contribute to self righteousness? Or defeat? How are rules comforting? Or disconcerting?
3. How does rule-keeping affect one’s testimony about the Christ?
4. How might Paul have meant for 3:12-17 to differ from the idea of rule-keeping?
5. Pray about the work of Christ in raising you into a new life and how his righteousness might live in your body. Do you think God might show you the answer to this prayer?
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Spiritually Formed
Eugene Peterson wrote, Eat This Book, from the conviction that we need to read and digest the spiritual words of God found in scripture. In Revelation chapter 10 John was preparing to take notes on the message he had heard from the angel, when he was interrupted by a voice telling him to go and retrieve the scroll from which the angel had been reading. John went to get the scroll, but then, oddly enough, the angel told him to eat it. It seems strange to think of eating even a small piece of paper, yet John ate the scroll of God’s word as he was told and it tasted sweet, but it soured his stomach.
Peterson hopes that we can approach scripture in the same way John was instructed. The Bible is not just rules of conduct, lists of doctrines, or even great stories about God and his people. God’s word is not dead words on paper, flattened and manageable. We must take it inside of us, let it digest into us and affect us…even if it sours our stomach.
This is the idea of formation. For much of my early life, I looked to the scripture only for doctrinal truth. I was missing the point of letting the word do its work of changing me more into the image of Christ. We would do well to submit our “self” to the words of scripture, to let the word critique our living, our attitudes toward righteousness and unrighteousness. As we read the word, we seek not just to learn some new fact or idea, but to learn about ourselves inside the word, to let it speak to our bodies and then, through our bodies to speak to others.
Our best worship for Jehovah God is to let our learning re-create us into his image (Romans 12:1). Where we live, right now, is God’s gift for our spiritual development (Acts 17:26, 27). You should take some time to contemplate the mystery of your own creation and the creation that surrounds you: all of it is from God for your eternal benefit. Submit yourself to God by being what he created you to be, participating with him in his work. Let your life become so intertwined with God’s that when you tell your story, people also hear his.
If we truly are what we eat, as the popular saying asserts, then let us not be formed by this world and its culture, but by the word of God living and digesting inside us. Let our story be God’s story in our bodies.
Peterson hopes that we can approach scripture in the same way John was instructed. The Bible is not just rules of conduct, lists of doctrines, or even great stories about God and his people. God’s word is not dead words on paper, flattened and manageable. We must take it inside of us, let it digest into us and affect us…even if it sours our stomach.
This is the idea of formation. For much of my early life, I looked to the scripture only for doctrinal truth. I was missing the point of letting the word do its work of changing me more into the image of Christ. We would do well to submit our “self” to the words of scripture, to let the word critique our living, our attitudes toward righteousness and unrighteousness. As we read the word, we seek not just to learn some new fact or idea, but to learn about ourselves inside the word, to let it speak to our bodies and then, through our bodies to speak to others.
Our best worship for Jehovah God is to let our learning re-create us into his image (Romans 12:1). Where we live, right now, is God’s gift for our spiritual development (Acts 17:26, 27). You should take some time to contemplate the mystery of your own creation and the creation that surrounds you: all of it is from God for your eternal benefit. Submit yourself to God by being what he created you to be, participating with him in his work. Let your life become so intertwined with God’s that when you tell your story, people also hear his.
If we truly are what we eat, as the popular saying asserts, then let us not be formed by this world and its culture, but by the word of God living and digesting inside us. Let our story be God’s story in our bodies.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
What do You Want?
“God, can I please have a girlfriend?”
“Well, George, I don’t see why not.”
“Yeah, me neither God, but it’s not working out so well. You see, there’s this girl I’ve been seeing, but now she is saying that we shouldn’t see each other anymore. I really think I love her and I don’t want to lose her.”
“Oh, I see. You know I have been watching and involved in that relationship too.”
“You have? Then you know that I have always treated her nicely. I have been respectful and affectionate and I have tried to be there for her no matter what.
“What I don’t understand God, is that I have been asking for this for a while now – I have told you before how badly I want this relationship with her – but you have not answered me. You remember that Jesus said, ‘you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.’ I asked in Jesus’ name, so why haven’t you been answering?”
“Well, George, there is this little thing you call, ‘free will’. I am not going to make her choose you. But there is something else you need to understand – ‘in Jesus’ name, amen’ are not magic words I gave so that you could conjure up the world at your beck and call. Those words convey a meaning that is much too valuable to abuse like that. When you ask for something in my son’s name, you are claiming his purpose and authority.”
“What? I don’t understand, God.”
“Yes, I have known that for awhile. You have seen those WWJD bracelets around for some time, right? So you probably know that is an acronym for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ It’s a question that can help you orient your heart and thoughts to behave as my son would in every circumstance. At least as well as you can.”
“Well sure God, I’ve done that before.”
“Yes, and I have been pleased with your efforts.
“That is what praying in Jesus’ name means. It means to think about what you pray for in light of what he wants. In this case, what he wants for you and for her. And I can tell you that he does not want to make her love you against her own will. You might try a different approach, like, asking for guidance on how you can honor me in this relationship with her, whether you are ever a couple or not.”
“But God, that’s not what I want.”
“And that is the problem…you are saying you do not truly want to pray in Jesus’ name, you only want magic words to get your own will accomplished.”
“When you put it that way, it sounds bad.”
“It is bad, George. But it doesn’t have to be. I promise that if you truly pray in the name of my son – for his purposes and under his authority, I will bless you with blessings created especially for you.”
“Lord, I really want her, but I will try what you have said because I want you more.”
“Well, George, I don’t see why not.”
“Yeah, me neither God, but it’s not working out so well. You see, there’s this girl I’ve been seeing, but now she is saying that we shouldn’t see each other anymore. I really think I love her and I don’t want to lose her.”
“Oh, I see. You know I have been watching and involved in that relationship too.”
“You have? Then you know that I have always treated her nicely. I have been respectful and affectionate and I have tried to be there for her no matter what.
“What I don’t understand God, is that I have been asking for this for a while now – I have told you before how badly I want this relationship with her – but you have not answered me. You remember that Jesus said, ‘you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.’ I asked in Jesus’ name, so why haven’t you been answering?”
“Well, George, there is this little thing you call, ‘free will’. I am not going to make her choose you. But there is something else you need to understand – ‘in Jesus’ name, amen’ are not magic words I gave so that you could conjure up the world at your beck and call. Those words convey a meaning that is much too valuable to abuse like that. When you ask for something in my son’s name, you are claiming his purpose and authority.”
“What? I don’t understand, God.”
“Yes, I have known that for awhile. You have seen those WWJD bracelets around for some time, right? So you probably know that is an acronym for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ It’s a question that can help you orient your heart and thoughts to behave as my son would in every circumstance. At least as well as you can.”
“Well sure God, I’ve done that before.”
“Yes, and I have been pleased with your efforts.
“That is what praying in Jesus’ name means. It means to think about what you pray for in light of what he wants. In this case, what he wants for you and for her. And I can tell you that he does not want to make her love you against her own will. You might try a different approach, like, asking for guidance on how you can honor me in this relationship with her, whether you are ever a couple or not.”
“But God, that’s not what I want.”
“And that is the problem…you are saying you do not truly want to pray in Jesus’ name, you only want magic words to get your own will accomplished.”
“When you put it that way, it sounds bad.”
“It is bad, George. But it doesn’t have to be. I promise that if you truly pray in the name of my son – for his purposes and under his authority, I will bless you with blessings created especially for you.”
“Lord, I really want her, but I will try what you have said because I want you more.”
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Praying
Henri J. M. Nouwen’s short, yet profound book, The Way of the Heart: connecting with God Through Prayer, Wisdom, And Silence, begins at the first open page:
Solitude. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit where he undertook one of the most severe tests on his life. I suppose Satan sought to nip his ministry in the bud, so to speak. But it is promising that God did not abandon Jesus, ever. While he was in the wilderness, accosted by Satan, God sent his angels to minister to him. In the solitude of the desert, Jesus found the wonderful presence of his father in the midst of some of his darkest temptations.
Silence. The psalmist says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) To be still is to wait quietly. According to this verse, two powerful things can happen when we come before God listening and waiting in silence. First, we can be assured that he is God and second, while we are quite before the Lord, listening, he will be exalted among the nations.
Prayer. Nouwen criticizes our tendency to reduce our approach to God to a mere intellectual pursuit, advocating an intentional exercise of the heart in prayer. “When we enter with our mind into our heart and there stand in the presence of God, then all our mental preoccupations become prayer.” (p. 86) Nouwen points the way, through prayer, to a restful heart in a tumultuous world. This makes our prayer life of great value in our daily Christian walk.
Ancient spiritual wisdom to heal our troubled modern souls
On Solitude
“Solitude is the place of purification and transformation, the place of the great struggle and the great encounter…the place of our salvation”
On Silence
“First, silence makes us pilgrims. Secondly, silence guards the fire within. Thirdly, silence teaches us to speak.”
On Prayer
“The prayer of the heart opens the eyes of our soul to the truth of ourselves as well as the truth of God. The prayer of the heart challenges us to hide absolutely nothing.”
Solitude. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit where he undertook one of the most severe tests on his life. I suppose Satan sought to nip his ministry in the bud, so to speak. But it is promising that God did not abandon Jesus, ever. While he was in the wilderness, accosted by Satan, God sent his angels to minister to him. In the solitude of the desert, Jesus found the wonderful presence of his father in the midst of some of his darkest temptations.
Silence. The psalmist says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) To be still is to wait quietly. According to this verse, two powerful things can happen when we come before God listening and waiting in silence. First, we can be assured that he is God and second, while we are quite before the Lord, listening, he will be exalted among the nations.
Prayer. Nouwen criticizes our tendency to reduce our approach to God to a mere intellectual pursuit, advocating an intentional exercise of the heart in prayer. “When we enter with our mind into our heart and there stand in the presence of God, then all our mental preoccupations become prayer.” (p. 86) Nouwen points the way, through prayer, to a restful heart in a tumultuous world. This makes our prayer life of great value in our daily Christian walk.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Teach us to Pray
Jesus said that we must become like little children and perhaps nothing puts us in that role more than the simple act of prayer. Prayer is childlike in its approach to the father. Paul encourages us to pray in all circumstances at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and yet the very nature of prayer makes approaching the throne room of God something more than just usual. Like children, who take for granted that their parents are always looking out for them and are ever present in their lives, we approach God without pageantry or procedure. And, like children who are quite aware of their need for their parent’s provision and direction, we also see our prayers in the context of a dependant speaking of his or her need.
And yet, prayer is also a kind of place we enter, it is more than merely speaking out-loud. We gather for prayer, we go to a quiet place or a private place for prayer, we may even journey to a place of majesty or of fond memories for a special time of prayer. Although we may have spontaneous prayer, we also have a more disciplined time of prayer that, by its very nature, declares that we are very different from the God we pray to and somewhat removed from him. Like a child who plans a conversation with a parent and approaches the parent with respect, we too come before God with great reverence.
A 4 year-old boy was asked to lead the family prayer over Christmas dinner,
A child recognizes both the accessibility of God and the holiness of his time with God. God is a friend, but he is also sacred; he is comforting and awe inspiring. We can learn something from observing children the prayers of children.
Don Morrison
*(from Letters to God, weblog, http://my-prayer-for-you-today.blogspot.com/2009/01/childrens-prayers.html).
And yet, prayer is also a kind of place we enter, it is more than merely speaking out-loud. We gather for prayer, we go to a quiet place or a private place for prayer, we may even journey to a place of majesty or of fond memories for a special time of prayer. Although we may have spontaneous prayer, we also have a more disciplined time of prayer that, by its very nature, declares that we are very different from the God we pray to and somewhat removed from him. Like a child who plans a conversation with a parent and approaches the parent with respect, we too come before God with great reverence.
A 4 year-old boy was asked to lead the family prayer over Christmas dinner,
He began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank God for the food. He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip. Then he paused, and everyone waited--and waited. After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, “‘If I thank God for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?’ *
A child recognizes both the accessibility of God and the holiness of his time with God. God is a friend, but he is also sacred; he is comforting and awe inspiring. We can learn something from observing children the prayers of children.
Dear God, please take care of my daddy and my mommy and my sister and my brother and my doggy and me. Oh, please take care of yourself, God. If anything happens to you, we're gonna be in a big mess.*
Don Morrison
*(from Letters to God, weblog, http://my-prayer-for-you-today.blogspot.com/2009/01/childrens-prayers.html).
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Word of God
When I think of the Word of God I almost always go to the scripture in Hebrews that says, “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates, even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) That passage teaches us several important ways the Word of God affects us.
The word of God is alive. We may read it in ink on paper, but it is much more than that. The word doesn’t change, but it applies to every situation we can endure or imagine. The same passage may come to mean something new regarding our present circumstances. When we are looking for direction in our lives, “seek first the kingdom of God” may mean something valuable to us as an encouragement, but when we are backslidden, it may mean something entirely different. Then when we wonder what we might say to someone to encourage their Christian walk, “seek first…” may give new meaning in old words. Yes, and the word also lives because it changes things. From the very beginning we see the creative power of the word. God spoke and it came to be. The word of God is just as creative today: “seek first the kingdom…” may not be a command as much as it is a promise, for God gives us everything we need to accomplish whatever he has asked.
Often, we may find great comfort in God’s word as we see his interaction with humanity, but Hebrews also reveals another side of the word – it cuts. If we always only find comfort in the word, we are not letting it do all that God has purposed in giving it to us. He wants us to be shaped and convicted by the words that describe his righteousness.
Finally the word has something to do with judgment. And I am both thankful and frightened by the realization that the word searches my private thoughts and even my attitude about things. When the preacher encourages us to have an attitude of gratitude, with God, that translates to faith. My mind is nowhere near to perfection, my attitudes are often at war with my own desires and goals, but God knows me. He has walked with me when I am weak and when I have had the strength to help others. His word teaches me new things about myself in all those circumstances. When the word judges the thoughts and attitudes of my heart, it finds more work for the holy Spirit in transformation and for the blood of Jesus in forgiveness.
The word of God is alive. We may read it in ink on paper, but it is much more than that. The word doesn’t change, but it applies to every situation we can endure or imagine. The same passage may come to mean something new regarding our present circumstances. When we are looking for direction in our lives, “seek first the kingdom of God” may mean something valuable to us as an encouragement, but when we are backslidden, it may mean something entirely different. Then when we wonder what we might say to someone to encourage their Christian walk, “seek first…” may give new meaning in old words. Yes, and the word also lives because it changes things. From the very beginning we see the creative power of the word. God spoke and it came to be. The word of God is just as creative today: “seek first the kingdom…” may not be a command as much as it is a promise, for God gives us everything we need to accomplish whatever he has asked.
Often, we may find great comfort in God’s word as we see his interaction with humanity, but Hebrews also reveals another side of the word – it cuts. If we always only find comfort in the word, we are not letting it do all that God has purposed in giving it to us. He wants us to be shaped and convicted by the words that describe his righteousness.
Finally the word has something to do with judgment. And I am both thankful and frightened by the realization that the word searches my private thoughts and even my attitude about things. When the preacher encourages us to have an attitude of gratitude, with God, that translates to faith. My mind is nowhere near to perfection, my attitudes are often at war with my own desires and goals, but God knows me. He has walked with me when I am weak and when I have had the strength to help others. His word teaches me new things about myself in all those circumstances. When the word judges the thoughts and attitudes of my heart, it finds more work for the holy Spirit in transformation and for the blood of Jesus in forgiveness.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What is Most Real?
It could be an odd question, but it’s a good one to consider: What are the things or beliefs that are most real to you? You should take some time and contemplate your answer. Let your mind wander; think of the implications.
Abraham and his son, Isaac walked together to the mountain top where Isaac was to be killed in sacrifice to God. Certainly, nothing about this procession could have felt right to Abraham, not the least that the God he had come to trust so completely over the last 40 plus years was asking something so out-of-character. When had God ever asked for a human sacrifice? When had God ever sought to destroy his promises?
The only conversation between father and son are about the supplies for the sacrifice. It seems to me that most of the journey was spent in silent contemplation. I imagine Abraham reaffirming, over and over, the conclusion he must have arrived at the night before: the God who is powerful enough to give him his son, Isaac, at such a late age is surely powerful enough to raise the dead, if he wishes. And he must wish to raise Isaac from the dead, since he is pivotal to God’s promise to bless all nations and to create a nation for himself. And God has not failed to keep every promise he has made.
On the other hand, Satan certainly used the opportunity to carry on another conversation in Abraham’s thoughts. Satan would have questioned God’s motives for giving Isaac to Abraham. He would have worked to undermine Abraham’s conviction that God loves; that God has a plan for his life and for Isaac’s; that God may be able to raise the dead. Satan would have done his best to create doubt about every facet of Abraham’s faith and hope.
Some people envision Abraham walking heroically up the mountain, on his way to a pre-determined victory. Others see him stoic, emotionless as he puts one foot in front of another, blindly obedient to the Almighty. I can only imagine that Abraham had the same intense battle as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – that the intensity of the battle for what is real waged in his face and throughout his body. The weakness and the strength worked through his bones and his mind.
Whether Abraham contemplated his faith on this journey, or whether it was a predetermined fact in his mind and heart, Abraham lived in the protective reality that our God is God – and loving and gracious in nature. The answer to, “What is most real?” is our faith.
May he be the most real for us in our blessings and our troubles.
Abraham and his son, Isaac walked together to the mountain top where Isaac was to be killed in sacrifice to God. Certainly, nothing about this procession could have felt right to Abraham, not the least that the God he had come to trust so completely over the last 40 plus years was asking something so out-of-character. When had God ever asked for a human sacrifice? When had God ever sought to destroy his promises?
The only conversation between father and son are about the supplies for the sacrifice. It seems to me that most of the journey was spent in silent contemplation. I imagine Abraham reaffirming, over and over, the conclusion he must have arrived at the night before: the God who is powerful enough to give him his son, Isaac, at such a late age is surely powerful enough to raise the dead, if he wishes. And he must wish to raise Isaac from the dead, since he is pivotal to God’s promise to bless all nations and to create a nation for himself. And God has not failed to keep every promise he has made.
On the other hand, Satan certainly used the opportunity to carry on another conversation in Abraham’s thoughts. Satan would have questioned God’s motives for giving Isaac to Abraham. He would have worked to undermine Abraham’s conviction that God loves; that God has a plan for his life and for Isaac’s; that God may be able to raise the dead. Satan would have done his best to create doubt about every facet of Abraham’s faith and hope.
Some people envision Abraham walking heroically up the mountain, on his way to a pre-determined victory. Others see him stoic, emotionless as he puts one foot in front of another, blindly obedient to the Almighty. I can only imagine that Abraham had the same intense battle as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – that the intensity of the battle for what is real waged in his face and throughout his body. The weakness and the strength worked through his bones and his mind.
Whether Abraham contemplated his faith on this journey, or whether it was a predetermined fact in his mind and heart, Abraham lived in the protective reality that our God is God – and loving and gracious in nature. The answer to, “What is most real?” is our faith.
May he be the most real for us in our blessings and our troubles.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
If We Are Really in a Battle, Who is Our Enemy?
Christians long to know that they have done something of importance in the kingdom of God. We find the passage in Matthew 25 where Jesus says that by serving one of the least of his disciples, we serve him – even by giving a simple drink of water. Sometimes we hope that is significant enough because we have got so many other things going on in our lives that we are not sure what else we can do. Or we just don’t see how we can make any other contribution.
So when do we need the armor of Ephesians 6? What is it for?
Most people make a great deal out of the defensive nature of the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-20. And maybe that is the correct way to understand it - perhaps the apostle is only equipping us to not lose ground. There is value in that. And defending our ground is a difficult battle when against Satan comes at you with temptation. But it is worth noting that when a Roman foot soldier went into an offensive engagement, those are the same weapons he would take.
But, getting more to the question, it may not be so important that we design the battle plan so that we know we are in the battle, as it is that we just put on the armor and fight the good fight. When I don’t know what to say, but I know the person I am talking to needs to hear from God – that is a spiritual battle. When I want to help someone out, but I just don’t have the time or the energy – that is a spiritual battle. When I am embarrassed or hurt – that is a spiritual battle. Those are the opportunities we have to live out of the good news of our faith and to share it with others. Those are the times when our faith, our gift of righteousness, the word, our readiness all comes into play. What we do and say may be rather small and plain, but those are moments of battle when we feel the intensity and we know we were tempted to fall back.
If we are not aware, we lose the moment. That’s one of the reasons why it is so important to put on the armor. Wearing the armor helps us to remember that we are indeed in a struggle for the kingdom of God. When we are not aware, there is still a battle raging around us, but we cannot win, if we do not fight. Perhaps then, the battle looks like us being engaged in the lives and welfare of others. Perhaps it looks simply like that cup of water. Maybe, the biggest part of my battle is what I fight within myself.
Putting on the armor of God is like our own personal call to arms. It says, “I will be engaged – I will not be oblivious.” It says, “I am ready to fight – I will not miss the opportunity to serve.” Then the enemy I often fight is my own self-absorption, my own will, my own agenda.
Lord, help us to take up your cross and follow you, whether it is in plain, simple service or in great sacrifice. Help us to be ready and engaged in that moment so we will stand for you.
So when do we need the armor of Ephesians 6? What is it for?
Most people make a great deal out of the defensive nature of the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-20. And maybe that is the correct way to understand it - perhaps the apostle is only equipping us to not lose ground. There is value in that. And defending our ground is a difficult battle when against Satan comes at you with temptation. But it is worth noting that when a Roman foot soldier went into an offensive engagement, those are the same weapons he would take.
But, getting more to the question, it may not be so important that we design the battle plan so that we know we are in the battle, as it is that we just put on the armor and fight the good fight. When I don’t know what to say, but I know the person I am talking to needs to hear from God – that is a spiritual battle. When I want to help someone out, but I just don’t have the time or the energy – that is a spiritual battle. When I am embarrassed or hurt – that is a spiritual battle. Those are the opportunities we have to live out of the good news of our faith and to share it with others. Those are the times when our faith, our gift of righteousness, the word, our readiness all comes into play. What we do and say may be rather small and plain, but those are moments of battle when we feel the intensity and we know we were tempted to fall back.
If we are not aware, we lose the moment. That’s one of the reasons why it is so important to put on the armor. Wearing the armor helps us to remember that we are indeed in a struggle for the kingdom of God. When we are not aware, there is still a battle raging around us, but we cannot win, if we do not fight. Perhaps then, the battle looks like us being engaged in the lives and welfare of others. Perhaps it looks simply like that cup of water. Maybe, the biggest part of my battle is what I fight within myself.
Putting on the armor of God is like our own personal call to arms. It says, “I will be engaged – I will not be oblivious.” It says, “I am ready to fight – I will not miss the opportunity to serve.” Then the enemy I often fight is my own self-absorption, my own will, my own agenda.
Lord, help us to take up your cross and follow you, whether it is in plain, simple service or in great sacrifice. Help us to be ready and engaged in that moment so we will stand for you.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Speaking Good News
I googled, “finding good news” just to see what might come up and I was surprised to learn that on the first page there were three sites that specialize in good news: goodnewsnetwork.org, goodnewsbroadcast.org, and goodnewsdaily.com. Evidently some people really do want good news.
We keep track of all the news, good and bad, because it affects us, but don’t you like the news that makes you smile more than the news that makes you scowl? There are those who listen to or watch the media onslaught of mostly-bad-news practically all day; it is important to them. But they can’t do much about the state of affairs, they often just end up worrying.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV) It is God’s will that we rejoice, pray continuously, and give him thanks for everything. When we trust in God’s power and his desire for us that allows us to thank him for everything, then he turns those things into a blessing for us and for others. And after he has blessed us through those things, we have a testimony that is Good News. Beforehand, we might have believed that God could work for our benefit in any circumstance, but afterward we have a story of exactly how he did.
When someone is hurting from loss, it would sound trite to say, “Well, just remember, 1 Thessalonians says, ‘In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ ” Instead, we may tell our story of loss and God’s deliverance to give that one hope and the knowledge of where hope comes from. That is Good News for the one who hears.
This could be why 2 Corinthians 4:10 is so powerful, “I believe, therefore I speak.” Paul quotes the psalmist who believed that God had rescued him from death at the hands of some who were full of deceit. Paul, himself, had been delivered many times from danger. Part of the speech was a description of mistreatment, part of it was declaring God’s redemption.
Evangelism is speaking Good News about God's desire to be involved to in people's lives. Listening to the stories of what people are experiencing and letting them know that God is near; that he is active; that he cares about us all. This can be a life-changing moment for people. Don't be afraid to be a part of that.
We keep track of all the news, good and bad, because it affects us, but don’t you like the news that makes you smile more than the news that makes you scowl? There are those who listen to or watch the media onslaught of mostly-bad-news practically all day; it is important to them. But they can’t do much about the state of affairs, they often just end up worrying.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV) It is God’s will that we rejoice, pray continuously, and give him thanks for everything. When we trust in God’s power and his desire for us that allows us to thank him for everything, then he turns those things into a blessing for us and for others. And after he has blessed us through those things, we have a testimony that is Good News. Beforehand, we might have believed that God could work for our benefit in any circumstance, but afterward we have a story of exactly how he did.
When someone is hurting from loss, it would sound trite to say, “Well, just remember, 1 Thessalonians says, ‘In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ ” Instead, we may tell our story of loss and God’s deliverance to give that one hope and the knowledge of where hope comes from. That is Good News for the one who hears.
This could be why 2 Corinthians 4:10 is so powerful, “I believe, therefore I speak.” Paul quotes the psalmist who believed that God had rescued him from death at the hands of some who were full of deceit. Paul, himself, had been delivered many times from danger. Part of the speech was a description of mistreatment, part of it was declaring God’s redemption.
Evangelism is speaking Good News about God's desire to be involved to in people's lives. Listening to the stories of what people are experiencing and letting them know that God is near; that he is active; that he cares about us all. This can be a life-changing moment for people. Don't be afraid to be a part of that.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost’s poem about life choices is set in the first two lines, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood / And sorry I could not travel both.” It is the nature of living that we will face many choices which in turn will tell the stories of our lives. But I had thought the title of this poem was “The Road Less Traveled” and that it was encouraging a certain way of thinking about facing the forks in our roads. The final lines seem to imply this, “Two roads diverged in a wood / And I took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference.” One interpretation has been that the non-conformist road is better than the mainstream road which seems to be taken by the majority.
That’s what I had wanted the poem to say. I wanted Frost to agree with Jesus that the way of the majority is broad, but ends in judgment and disappointment. On the other hand, the narrow way may be difficult because it is not well worn by many travelers, but taking that forsaken path makes all the difference in our eternal destiny.
In fact, as I study the poem, I believe that it notices, with regret, the inevitability of life changing choices that must be made without a complete understanding of where they may lead and the revised perspective we have of those choices when we look back at them in the future. Those choices that make “all the difference” are made with limited perspective.
In a sense, Frost’s poem does say what I had desired. That is, he says that a choice must be made and you must take the one that seems right, for whatever reason, at the time. But, about our way of life, we have chosen to follow Christ because, by faith, we can see farther down the road, all the way to the end. We believe that Jesus is the trailblazer who has created a new path – not the mainstream path that is comfortable and often requires no choice at all, since it just goes with the flow. And not the path that blends with all other paths, giving no indication of the destiny that lies ahead. Jesus has blazed a dangerous, difficult path that is not so appealing. It is not a path for the mere adventurer (though it is full of adventure), since he will be disappointed with the commonness of its setting. Nor is it a path for those seeking the common, since Jesus continually challenges the norms of life.
If Jesus wrote about the road not taken, there would be no regret, no wondering about the other path. He confidently sought the Father’s will at every juncture of his life so we have no need for doubt or regret. Remember, we follow Him.
That’s what I had wanted the poem to say. I wanted Frost to agree with Jesus that the way of the majority is broad, but ends in judgment and disappointment. On the other hand, the narrow way may be difficult because it is not well worn by many travelers, but taking that forsaken path makes all the difference in our eternal destiny.
In fact, as I study the poem, I believe that it notices, with regret, the inevitability of life changing choices that must be made without a complete understanding of where they may lead and the revised perspective we have of those choices when we look back at them in the future. Those choices that make “all the difference” are made with limited perspective.
In a sense, Frost’s poem does say what I had desired. That is, he says that a choice must be made and you must take the one that seems right, for whatever reason, at the time. But, about our way of life, we have chosen to follow Christ because, by faith, we can see farther down the road, all the way to the end. We believe that Jesus is the trailblazer who has created a new path – not the mainstream path that is comfortable and often requires no choice at all, since it just goes with the flow. And not the path that blends with all other paths, giving no indication of the destiny that lies ahead. Jesus has blazed a dangerous, difficult path that is not so appealing. It is not a path for the mere adventurer (though it is full of adventure), since he will be disappointed with the commonness of its setting. Nor is it a path for those seeking the common, since Jesus continually challenges the norms of life.
If Jesus wrote about the road not taken, there would be no regret, no wondering about the other path. He confidently sought the Father’s will at every juncture of his life so we have no need for doubt or regret. Remember, we follow Him.
Good News
The beginning of 2 Kings establishes Elisha as the successor to Elijah. There is story after story of Elisha’s power and wisdom to let the reader know that God had indeed selected Elisha to follow after Elijah. One of those stories is about a foreign military commander with leprosy.
Naaman was the commander of the Aramean army, the world’s superpower at the time. He would have had access to anything he wanted. He had the respect of his king, wealth, admiration of his soldiers and the rest of his country. He had arrived at the top of the achievement pyramid. The only threat to his glory was also a threat to his continuing ability to lead and even live.
Leprosy is usually a slow, but determined disease. Today it is treatable with antibiotics, but in Naaman’s days, it would slowly destroy the ability of nerves to feel sensation. A story is told about a physician who went to work in a leper colony in the days before antibiotics had been discovered, he was having trouble turning the key on an old padlock, when one of the residents offered to help. The man took the key and the lock and turned with great strength until the lock popped open. But then the doctor saw what had happened to the man’s hand in the process. His fingers were deeply cut and were bleeding profusely, yet he felt no pain. This reveals the danger to the leper, he abused his extremities, without realizing it till they literally were worn away or became infected.
Naaman was told that the prophet Elisha could heal him so the he went immediately to find the healer. Although he had to humble himself to obey the prophet’s prescription for healing, he believed the cost would be worth it and it was – it changed his life. Afterward he said, “From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other God except the LORD.” (2 Kings 5:17)
Naaman’s bad news came in contact with the kingdom of God and that changed his life. He recognized Jehovah’s preeminence among all deities. He humbled himself before God and men. He changed his life-long religion to worship the one true God.
The good news that changed Naaman’s life was first delivered by his servant girl when she told him she knew a man who could heal him. But the good news changed at the time of his healing: it became the realization that the most powerful being in the universe knows him and cares about his health.
We often find our best news and deepest devotion to God by reflecting back over our worst times and seeing his deliverance.
Naaman was the commander of the Aramean army, the world’s superpower at the time. He would have had access to anything he wanted. He had the respect of his king, wealth, admiration of his soldiers and the rest of his country. He had arrived at the top of the achievement pyramid. The only threat to his glory was also a threat to his continuing ability to lead and even live.
Leprosy is usually a slow, but determined disease. Today it is treatable with antibiotics, but in Naaman’s days, it would slowly destroy the ability of nerves to feel sensation. A story is told about a physician who went to work in a leper colony in the days before antibiotics had been discovered, he was having trouble turning the key on an old padlock, when one of the residents offered to help. The man took the key and the lock and turned with great strength until the lock popped open. But then the doctor saw what had happened to the man’s hand in the process. His fingers were deeply cut and were bleeding profusely, yet he felt no pain. This reveals the danger to the leper, he abused his extremities, without realizing it till they literally were worn away or became infected.
Naaman was told that the prophet Elisha could heal him so the he went immediately to find the healer. Although he had to humble himself to obey the prophet’s prescription for healing, he believed the cost would be worth it and it was – it changed his life. Afterward he said, “From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other God except the LORD.” (2 Kings 5:17)
Naaman’s bad news came in contact with the kingdom of God and that changed his life. He recognized Jehovah’s preeminence among all deities. He humbled himself before God and men. He changed his life-long religion to worship the one true God.
The good news that changed Naaman’s life was first delivered by his servant girl when she told him she knew a man who could heal him. But the good news changed at the time of his healing: it became the realization that the most powerful being in the universe knows him and cares about his health.
We often find our best news and deepest devotion to God by reflecting back over our worst times and seeing his deliverance.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Choosing What is Better
Jesus said lots about his priorities, perhaps most often he said things like “I have come...to do the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38) And he said, “…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33)
I also like the story in Luke 10:38-42 about Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha wants to be the gracious hostess, so she is diligently preparing for Jesus’ comfort and refreshment. Her sister, Mary, on the other hand, was enamored by the wisdom in Jesus’ words; she sat at his feet and listened as he taught. Martha caught a case of “righteous indignation” (also spelled, she was angry and perhaps jealous) because Mary had dropped the duty of a woman of her day and culture, and was learning at the teacher’s feet – a man’s place. It was not a woman’s place to be a rabbi’s disciple, but it was for her to prepare for the men.
When Martha complains to Jesus about Mary, his response must have been totally unexpected. “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Notice that Jesus didn’t bring this whole thing up; and he didn’t start by criticizing Martha for what she had been doing. And we should realize that what Martha had been doing was important and appreciated. Jesus point is that Mary had chosen to do something better, one of the few things that are most needed: don’t expect him to take that from her. In effect, Jesus says, in this series of events, that it is more important to humbly receive from God than to humbly give to him, to set at his feet rather than to serve at his table.
Finding what is more important or even most important is often counter-cultural. It isn’t easy and will meet with criticism. So it is good to contemplate your list of important things and reevaluate them regularly.
I also like the story in Luke 10:38-42 about Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha wants to be the gracious hostess, so she is diligently preparing for Jesus’ comfort and refreshment. Her sister, Mary, on the other hand, was enamored by the wisdom in Jesus’ words; she sat at his feet and listened as he taught. Martha caught a case of “righteous indignation” (also spelled, she was angry and perhaps jealous) because Mary had dropped the duty of a woman of her day and culture, and was learning at the teacher’s feet – a man’s place. It was not a woman’s place to be a rabbi’s disciple, but it was for her to prepare for the men.
When Martha complains to Jesus about Mary, his response must have been totally unexpected. “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Notice that Jesus didn’t bring this whole thing up; and he didn’t start by criticizing Martha for what she had been doing. And we should realize that what Martha had been doing was important and appreciated. Jesus point is that Mary had chosen to do something better, one of the few things that are most needed: don’t expect him to take that from her. In effect, Jesus says, in this series of events, that it is more important to humbly receive from God than to humbly give to him, to set at his feet rather than to serve at his table.
Finding what is more important or even most important is often counter-cultural. It isn’t easy and will meet with criticism. So it is good to contemplate your list of important things and reevaluate them regularly.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Amazing Grace
Most of us know the story of John Newton and the words he authored for the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace,” but there are a few elements of the story that you may not have known.
John Newton had been pressed into service by the British Royal Navy. Having learned that his ship was assigned an extended voyage, he attempted to desert. As punishment and as an example to the rest of the crew, he was flogged on his bare back with 97 lashes. Later, at his own request, he was transferred to a merchant vessel, but was set off at Sierra Leone because of his bad behavior towards the rest of the crew. There he became a servant and was abused by his master.
Newton was rescued in 1748, when he was about 22 years old, by a friend of his father, who returned him to England on his merchant ship. On that journey home, their ship, the Greyhound, encountered a violent storm which threatened to sink them. Newton had been reading the Bible and The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis. It was that day, May 10, 1748, that John Newton celebrated as his conversion to Christ: In fear for his life and in full awareness of his wretched sins, he cried out to God.
Newton continued to grow in his faith and in repentance, but he also continued to work in the slave trade, serving as first officer and as captain on several more ventures. He only gave up the sea after suffering a stroke in 1754.
He became an Anglican priest in 1764 and wrote his famous words around Christmas, 1772. They were framed around a sermon he had written based on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 and their reflection on his own life. The phrase, “the hour I first believed,” refers to a time when, in an intense storm, he had just gone below deck after his shift, when the man who relieved him was swept overboard. Shaken, he realized that only the grace of God had saved him.
Newton’s story strikes a familiar chord with so many people who, reflecting over their own sins and slow growth, realize how patiently God has endured with us all. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received on blessing after another” 1 John 1:16.
_______________________________________________
Incuded below are John Newton's lyrics for "Amazing Grace" which do not include the familiar stanza, "When we've been there ten thousand years..." which was added later. The additional verse was first published in Harriet Beecher Stowe's, Uncle Tom's Cabin and became included in hymnals after that. However, the style and the message do not match the other verses written by Newton.
John Newton had been pressed into service by the British Royal Navy. Having learned that his ship was assigned an extended voyage, he attempted to desert. As punishment and as an example to the rest of the crew, he was flogged on his bare back with 97 lashes. Later, at his own request, he was transferred to a merchant vessel, but was set off at Sierra Leone because of his bad behavior towards the rest of the crew. There he became a servant and was abused by his master.
Newton was rescued in 1748, when he was about 22 years old, by a friend of his father, who returned him to England on his merchant ship. On that journey home, their ship, the Greyhound, encountered a violent storm which threatened to sink them. Newton had been reading the Bible and The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis. It was that day, May 10, 1748, that John Newton celebrated as his conversion to Christ: In fear for his life and in full awareness of his wretched sins, he cried out to God.
Newton continued to grow in his faith and in repentance, but he also continued to work in the slave trade, serving as first officer and as captain on several more ventures. He only gave up the sea after suffering a stroke in 1754.
He became an Anglican priest in 1764 and wrote his famous words around Christmas, 1772. They were framed around a sermon he had written based on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 and their reflection on his own life. The phrase, “the hour I first believed,” refers to a time when, in an intense storm, he had just gone below deck after his shift, when the man who relieved him was swept overboard. Shaken, he realized that only the grace of God had saved him.
Newton’s story strikes a familiar chord with so many people who, reflecting over their own sins and slow growth, realize how patiently God has endured with us all. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received on blessing after another” 1 John 1:16.
_______________________________________________
Incuded below are John Newton's lyrics for "Amazing Grace" which do not include the familiar stanza, "When we've been there ten thousand years..." which was added later. The additional verse was first published in Harriet Beecher Stowe's, Uncle Tom's Cabin and became included in hymnals after that. However, the style and the message do not match the other verses written by Newton.
Amazing Grace
John Newton
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
David, Grace, and Self-Control
It is not difficult to imagine some of the emotions of the deposed king as he furtively escaped the city for safety. His own son had usurped the throne, having spent four years planning and worming his way into the hearts of his father’s subjects by inferring promises he knew were baseless. Evidently, King David had chosen to look the other way while his son, Absalom, built his influence.
At this low point in his life, while fleeing for his life from his own son, David is confronted by Shimei – a man with a grudge. Shimei was related to the previous king, Saul and had quietly born his anger for years, since God had taken the kingdom from Saul and given it to David. Now he interpreted David’s misfortune as his just rewards and poured out his repressed anger on David and his companions. He threw rocks and vitriol as he cursed David, calling him a murderer.
Abishai went to David and offered to kill Shimei, but David’s response is meekly restrained, “If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him? ...My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” (2 Samuel 16:10-12 NLT)
The rebellion is short-lived and David returns to the palace. But there is no rejoicing in David – he loved his rebellious son and now he is dead. The tangle of emotions must have left him raw. There was the betrayal of his son, some of his trusted officials, his own citizens whom he had served. There must have been questions about God’s design for all that had happened. There is painful victory mixed with humiliating defeat.
In the mixture of all the emotions Shimei has come to greet David on his way: “Please forgive me…forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. I know how much I have sinned.” (19:19, 20)
Here was David’s opportunity to unleash all the swirling emotions; to let go of his grief and anger on such a deserving recipient. David could surely be expected to deliver harsh justice to this one who represents the betrayal of an entire kingdom. David makes no such show. He controls his emotions and any vengeful desires; he looks at Shimei and makes a simple vow, “Your life will be spared.”
Grace is possible because of self-control.
At this low point in his life, while fleeing for his life from his own son, David is confronted by Shimei – a man with a grudge. Shimei was related to the previous king, Saul and had quietly born his anger for years, since God had taken the kingdom from Saul and given it to David. Now he interpreted David’s misfortune as his just rewards and poured out his repressed anger on David and his companions. He threw rocks and vitriol as he cursed David, calling him a murderer.
Abishai went to David and offered to kill Shimei, but David’s response is meekly restrained, “If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him? ...My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” (2 Samuel 16:10-12 NLT)
The rebellion is short-lived and David returns to the palace. But there is no rejoicing in David – he loved his rebellious son and now he is dead. The tangle of emotions must have left him raw. There was the betrayal of his son, some of his trusted officials, his own citizens whom he had served. There must have been questions about God’s design for all that had happened. There is painful victory mixed with humiliating defeat.
In the mixture of all the emotions Shimei has come to greet David on his way: “Please forgive me…forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. I know how much I have sinned.” (19:19, 20)
Here was David’s opportunity to unleash all the swirling emotions; to let go of his grief and anger on such a deserving recipient. David could surely be expected to deliver harsh justice to this one who represents the betrayal of an entire kingdom. David makes no such show. He controls his emotions and any vengeful desires; he looks at Shimei and makes a simple vow, “Your life will be spared.”
Grace is possible because of self-control.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
One Woe
As Jesus looks toward his impending crucifixion and the culmination of his ministry he gets more and more confrontational with the religious leaders who are influencing God’s people to follow them in their hypocrisy. On the one hand he is certainly angry at their abuse of position and its results on the people who have depended on them for spiritual guidance. On the other hand, his purpose is to find a way to redeem even them into a reconciled relationship with the Father. So when we look at the Seven Woes in Matthew 23:13-36 we have to make a decision about how we hear Jesus’ words. Is he angry or is he speaking a lament? Is he preaching for them or is he preaching against them?
At times I have heard these woes in my mind as a rant against the scribes and Pharisees – “hypocrites!” But most of the time I hear them as a more pitiful dirge; an explanation of their arrogantly pathetic circumstances and the disastrous results of their self-righteousness.
The fifth and sixth woes particularly strike me as sad. The fifth one says, “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.”
These people think that their religious activity is the essence of their relationship with God. Jesus proposes that they should work from the inside out; that when they are contrite and humble before God – when they devote their hearts to God – their bodies will follow their hearts' decision. Some have suggested that they were taking the opposite approach; that is, they were trying to work from the outside in, but that is not the case. They were completely neglecting the inside. In fact their motives for caring about the outside were corrupt from their conception. Jesus says they are motivated by greed and self-indulgence.
I think Jesus is preaching to two groups of people here. I think he is making a loving and frank attempt to jar the consciences of these leaders and he is also warning their followers and us about cultivating hypocrisy. Anyone can have a bad moment, a lapse in self-control, which they regret and bring to the Father for transformation and forgiveness. May we never attempt to hide behind a veil of religious practices, but be genuine in turning our hearts toward him.
At times I have heard these woes in my mind as a rant against the scribes and Pharisees – “hypocrites!” But most of the time I hear them as a more pitiful dirge; an explanation of their arrogantly pathetic circumstances and the disastrous results of their self-righteousness.
The fifth and sixth woes particularly strike me as sad. The fifth one says, “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.”
These people think that their religious activity is the essence of their relationship with God. Jesus proposes that they should work from the inside out; that when they are contrite and humble before God – when they devote their hearts to God – their bodies will follow their hearts' decision. Some have suggested that they were taking the opposite approach; that is, they were trying to work from the outside in, but that is not the case. They were completely neglecting the inside. In fact their motives for caring about the outside were corrupt from their conception. Jesus says they are motivated by greed and self-indulgence.
I think Jesus is preaching to two groups of people here. I think he is making a loving and frank attempt to jar the consciences of these leaders and he is also warning their followers and us about cultivating hypocrisy. Anyone can have a bad moment, a lapse in self-control, which they regret and bring to the Father for transformation and forgiveness. May we never attempt to hide behind a veil of religious practices, but be genuine in turning our hearts toward him.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
God is So Very, Extremely, Consistently, Unexpectedly, Unimaginably Good
God is good…..all the time. All the time….God is good!
When Christians are living in faith that God loves them and is involved in their lives, we can walk with a smile on our face. It means the realization and resignation that we don’t know everything, we’re not in charge of everything – and we don’t have to be. It is rest. It is the restfulness that trusts that whatever is happening to us, God is in control and will work all things to our ultimate blessing in Christ.
When Christians doubt, it is not always the kind of skepticism that leans toward agnosticism, it is often the questioning of God’s ways: “How could God (the god I have always thought God is), do or allow the things I see, (which I, personally, disapprove of)?” In other words, Christians doubt when they sit in judgment of God.
How much better to rest in his care and learn to trust. As Sara Groves writes in her song, “He’s Always Been Faithful,”
All that we have – all that we can ever have and hold onto is strictly by faith. Everything else melts away with the stuff of earth. When we trust and believe, we can see straight ahead to eternity. In that place everything is put right, everything makes sense. He has already given us his kingdom; we can live there now, by faith, when we trust that God is good….all the time. All the time….God is good.
When Christians are living in faith that God loves them and is involved in their lives, we can walk with a smile on our face. It means the realization and resignation that we don’t know everything, we’re not in charge of everything – and we don’t have to be. It is rest. It is the restfulness that trusts that whatever is happening to us, God is in control and will work all things to our ultimate blessing in Christ.
When Christians doubt, it is not always the kind of skepticism that leans toward agnosticism, it is often the questioning of God’s ways: “How could God (the god I have always thought God is), do or allow the things I see, (which I, personally, disapprove of)?” In other words, Christians doubt when they sit in judgment of God.
How much better to rest in his care and learn to trust. As Sara Groves writes in her song, “He’s Always Been Faithful,”
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed,
In awe of the mystery of his perfect ways
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me
All that we have – all that we can ever have and hold onto is strictly by faith. Everything else melts away with the stuff of earth. When we trust and believe, we can see straight ahead to eternity. In that place everything is put right, everything makes sense. He has already given us his kingdom; we can live there now, by faith, when we trust that God is good….all the time. All the time….God is good.
Integrity of Life
There is the psalmist’s response to the accuser. It is simple humility. There is no defense or excuse, no explanation or privilege.
There is an undertone of indignation revealed in the hyperbole. What could he have done to merit such consequences?
There is a tacit belief that justice is for all; no one is above the law.
There is no “spin,” no “double-speak” to attempt to cover or side-step the issue.
But look, there is no contrition either. The “if” acknowledges possibility, but not guilt. The psalmist isn’t saying, “I did this.” rather, it seems as though by putting his life further out for closer scrutiny, he believes he will be seen clearly as innocent.
Anyone can be guilty of something. But this is the confident response of an honest life of integrity.
“O LORD my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
If I have done evil to him who is at
peace with me or without cause have
robbed my foe—
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.”
Psalm 7:3-5
There is the psalmist’s response to the accuser. It is simple humility. There is no defense or excuse, no explanation or privilege.
There is an undertone of indignation revealed in the hyperbole. What could he have done to merit such consequences?
There is a tacit belief that justice is for all; no one is above the law.
There is no “spin,” no “double-speak” to attempt to cover or side-step the issue.
But look, there is no contrition either. The “if” acknowledges possibility, but not guilt. The psalmist isn’t saying, “I did this.” rather, it seems as though by putting his life further out for closer scrutiny, he believes he will be seen clearly as innocent.
Anyone can be guilty of something. But this is the confident response of an honest life of integrity.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Looking Forward
Memorial Day was first enacted in 1868 to remember the fallen Union soldiers of the civil war, although it was probably built upon practices already held in various areas around the country. The first documented communal remembrance after the civil war was a cemetery built by freed slaves in 1865 on the site of a former confederate prison camp in Charleston, SC, where union soldiers had been buried in a mass grave. The former slaves re-interred the bodies into their own individual graves, fenced the area, and posted an arched sign declaring the site a Union graveyard.
After World War II the holiday was expanded to the memory of all those United States men and women who had given their lives in war. In its earliest days the holiday was mostly called Decoration Day and on May 30th 1868, in keeping with the Memorial Day Order, those former slaves who had honored the Union dead by re-interring their bodies in Charleston, went back and decorated their graves with flowers they had picked from the countryside.
Honoring the dead is not about living in the past; rather it is about remembering what was so valuable that men and women were willing to lay down their lives for it. It is about gratitude for what we have received from their sacrifice. It reminds us of the cost that has been paid for our benefit. We honor their lives by not only remembering, but by living as stewards of what we have received.
In an even greater way, we also look forward from the cross to the lost world around us. We decorate the ugly place of death - the cross and the tomb – with our gratitude and praise. We remember and proclaim his death with a supper every Sunday. We draw inspiration and strength from the tragic moments of his death for our own transformation. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices so that his will may be accomplished through us. We remember while we look forward.
Memorial Day was first enacted in 1868 to remember the fallen Union soldiers of the civil war, although it was probably built upon practices already held in various areas around the country. The first documented communal remembrance after the civil war was a cemetery built by freed slaves in 1865 on the site of a former confederate prison camp in Charleston, SC, where union soldiers had been buried in a mass grave. The former slaves re-interred the bodies into their own individual graves, fenced the area, and posted an arched sign declaring the site a Union graveyard.
After World War II the holiday was expanded to the memory of all those United States men and women who had given their lives in war. In its earliest days the holiday was mostly called Decoration Day and on May 30th 1868, in keeping with the Memorial Day Order, those former slaves who had honored the Union dead by re-interring their bodies in Charleston, went back and decorated their graves with flowers they had picked from the countryside.
Honoring the dead is not about living in the past; rather it is about remembering what was so valuable that men and women were willing to lay down their lives for it. It is about gratitude for what we have received from their sacrifice. It reminds us of the cost that has been paid for our benefit. We honor their lives by not only remembering, but by living as stewards of what we have received.
In an even greater way, we also look forward from the cross to the lost world around us. We decorate the ugly place of death - the cross and the tomb – with our gratitude and praise. We remember and proclaim his death with a supper every Sunday. We draw inspiration and strength from the tragic moments of his death for our own transformation. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices so that his will may be accomplished through us. We remember while we look forward.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
What Mom Said
Dad often took the role of the enforcer in the home in which I grew up. He was the back-up whenever mom had a tough time getting us boys in line. I dreaded the words, “Go wait in your room till your father comes home.” It meant a long wait with a dismal end. I wanted all disciplinary issues to be settled by mom, if possible. So at that point there would be groveling and promises. Perhaps, if we hadn’t pushed things too far, she would accept our questionable penance.
It was always best just to obey mom. She was, of course, wiser than we thought. And she was always on our side – she believed in us (she still does) and enduringly sought the best for us. My mother used to tell me, “You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it.” She absolutely believed it. I didn’t know she really meant it; I thought it was just one of those things that parents are obligated to tell their children. I didn’t understand the wisdom she was trying to impart, the confidence she felt for us, her hopes for our future. I was just a kid, after all. But I soaked it in through her repetition and eventually it came to have meaning that shapes me.
It means, “I believe in you.” Whatever foolishness I may have gotten into; whatever failure, or even success I may have experienced, that was not going to define her complete vision for my life. There was more ahead: more achievement, more joy, more success, more inside that can be tapped for the future. Children need to hear that their mother believes in them.
It means, “Focus on what is important.” Put yourself to what is worth accomplishing in school, in friendships, in life. Move the distractions to the sidelines and the bleachers and let the important stuff keep your attention.
It means, “You get to choose whether or not the world around you is a better place.” It is optimism, soaked in reality. You make the difference whether good things happen; life doesn’t just happen to you. Sure some things will be beyond your control and sometimes you are just blindsided by circumstances, but even then, you can change things.
That's what mom meant when she said, "You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it." Her words continue to shape my life. Thank for believing in us, mom. Your blessing makes a difference in the course of our lives.
Dad often took the role of the enforcer in the home in which I grew up. He was the back-up whenever mom had a tough time getting us boys in line. I dreaded the words, “Go wait in your room till your father comes home.” It meant a long wait with a dismal end. I wanted all disciplinary issues to be settled by mom, if possible. So at that point there would be groveling and promises. Perhaps, if we hadn’t pushed things too far, she would accept our questionable penance.
It was always best just to obey mom. She was, of course, wiser than we thought. And she was always on our side – she believed in us (she still does) and enduringly sought the best for us. My mother used to tell me, “You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it.” She absolutely believed it. I didn’t know she really meant it; I thought it was just one of those things that parents are obligated to tell their children. I didn’t understand the wisdom she was trying to impart, the confidence she felt for us, her hopes for our future. I was just a kid, after all. But I soaked it in through her repetition and eventually it came to have meaning that shapes me.
It means, “I believe in you.” Whatever foolishness I may have gotten into; whatever failure, or even success I may have experienced, that was not going to define her complete vision for my life. There was more ahead: more achievement, more joy, more success, more inside that can be tapped for the future. Children need to hear that their mother believes in them.
It means, “Focus on what is important.” Put yourself to what is worth accomplishing in school, in friendships, in life. Move the distractions to the sidelines and the bleachers and let the important stuff keep your attention.
It means, “You get to choose whether or not the world around you is a better place.” It is optimism, soaked in reality. You make the difference whether good things happen; life doesn’t just happen to you. Sure some things will be beyond your control and sometimes you are just blindsided by circumstances, but even then, you can change things.
That's what mom meant when she said, "You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it." Her words continue to shape my life. Thank for believing in us, mom. Your blessing makes a difference in the course of our lives.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Heroes
There is a television series called Heroes about ordinary people who unexpectedly learn that they are extraordinary. It is comic book stuff. Some can fly, or read another’s thoughts, or be extra strong. One of the elements of the show that I like is exploring what it means to be a hero.
One character loses his special abilities so when he goes out to fight against the “bad guys” he has no extra protection. He’s not strong, or highly intelligent, or anything like what he had been, but he is very motivated by his idealistic vision of his place in the world. He sees himself as a hero and he is determined to do whatever he must in order to help others, regardless of the personal cost to him.
We get to choose that same course. We get to choose to be a hero for others. Dads, moms, brothers and sisters, neighbors…we get to choose who we will be in this world for all those we live with and around.
Many will choose to save the world from hunger; that’s a worthy cause. Others will choose to save the world and future generations from today’s pollution; also worthy . Some will save others from ignorance or violence. There are lots of ways you can be somebody’s hero even if it is just close around you, at home – our children need heroes at home too.
As you serve others, as you do good for those around you, remember why you are doing good. It is not only an ideal. It is an imitation of the Christ. Food saves from hunger; a job pays for food; education provides employment. As important as those things are, without Christ they become meaningless. The real heroes bring faith and life in Christ.
The real hero is not the stuff of comic books, he is real. He speaks the words that teach; he lives the grace of generosity; he shares his life as a symbol of Jesus’ life. You know these people. They are not perfect, but they showed you Jesus and they taught you the Way. They are our heroes.
There is a television series called Heroes about ordinary people who unexpectedly learn that they are extraordinary. It is comic book stuff. Some can fly, or read another’s thoughts, or be extra strong. One of the elements of the show that I like is exploring what it means to be a hero.
One character loses his special abilities so when he goes out to fight against the “bad guys” he has no extra protection. He’s not strong, or highly intelligent, or anything like what he had been, but he is very motivated by his idealistic vision of his place in the world. He sees himself as a hero and he is determined to do whatever he must in order to help others, regardless of the personal cost to him.
We get to choose that same course. We get to choose to be a hero for others. Dads, moms, brothers and sisters, neighbors…we get to choose who we will be in this world for all those we live with and around.
Many will choose to save the world from hunger; that’s a worthy cause. Others will choose to save the world and future generations from today’s pollution; also worthy . Some will save others from ignorance or violence. There are lots of ways you can be somebody’s hero even if it is just close around you, at home – our children need heroes at home too.
As you serve others, as you do good for those around you, remember why you are doing good. It is not only an ideal. It is an imitation of the Christ. Food saves from hunger; a job pays for food; education provides employment. As important as those things are, without Christ they become meaningless. The real heroes bring faith and life in Christ.
The real hero is not the stuff of comic books, he is real. He speaks the words that teach; he lives the grace of generosity; he shares his life as a symbol of Jesus’ life. You know these people. They are not perfect, but they showed you Jesus and they taught you the Way. They are our heroes.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Not Proud
Moses was under attack. It was the worst sort of attack because it wasn’t his enemies – it was his sister and his relative Aaron who were jealous of his position.
Think about that for just a moment…why would they be jealous of his position? They weren’t jealous when he went in to see Pharaoh, or when they were up against Pharaoh’s army on the one side and a horizon of water on the other. They were never jealous when the people of Israel complained about their hardships in the wilderness.
But when the Lord gave Israel quail to eat, things began to look a little different. Through Moses, God calls out 70 leaders among the clans to meet with Moses and he pours out his Spirit on them. Even the two that rejected or neglected Moses’ instructions to be at the Tent of Meeting prophesied in the camp. Joshua saw this as a “power grab” and volunteered to go stop it, but Moses, in typical humble fashion, is not worried about threats to his leadership.
Miriam and Aaron begin to talk against Moses under the pretext of his Cushite wife, but their true motives are revealed in their words, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (Were they among the 70 elders who prophesied by the Holy Spirit or were they referring to some other time that God spoke through them?) They are jealous. They want more recognition; they want more say.
Moses does not respond to them, but God does: First he defends Moses’ character and unique place under God’s rule. Then he punishes Miriam with leprosy.
You should probably catch verse three of Numbers chapter 12. It is a paragraph by itself. It is written in parentheses, yet it is a superlative: “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”
If love is not proud, then Moses was full of love for those rebellious people.
Don
Moses was under attack. It was the worst sort of attack because it wasn’t his enemies – it was his sister and his relative Aaron who were jealous of his position.
Think about that for just a moment…why would they be jealous of his position? They weren’t jealous when he went in to see Pharaoh, or when they were up against Pharaoh’s army on the one side and a horizon of water on the other. They were never jealous when the people of Israel complained about their hardships in the wilderness.
But when the Lord gave Israel quail to eat, things began to look a little different. Through Moses, God calls out 70 leaders among the clans to meet with Moses and he pours out his Spirit on them. Even the two that rejected or neglected Moses’ instructions to be at the Tent of Meeting prophesied in the camp. Joshua saw this as a “power grab” and volunteered to go stop it, but Moses, in typical humble fashion, is not worried about threats to his leadership.
Miriam and Aaron begin to talk against Moses under the pretext of his Cushite wife, but their true motives are revealed in their words, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (Were they among the 70 elders who prophesied by the Holy Spirit or were they referring to some other time that God spoke through them?) They are jealous. They want more recognition; they want more say.
Moses does not respond to them, but God does: First he defends Moses’ character and unique place under God’s rule. Then he punishes Miriam with leprosy.
You should probably catch verse three of Numbers chapter 12. It is a paragraph by itself. It is written in parentheses, yet it is a superlative: “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”
If love is not proud, then Moses was full of love for those rebellious people.
Don
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Pride
Pride is a tricky word for us. We are proud of our children and loved ones when they have accomplished something good or important. We are proud of ourselves, when we do well; when we move beyond our own expectations of ourselves. We are proud of our soldiers and our nation.
But sometimes we are proud in a different sense: we may be haughty, which means to think too much of ourselves. I like one Greek word sometimes translated pride, but when translated literally means inflated or puffy. That gives the image, to me, of a balloon all blown up and ready to….POP! It is a thin superficial covering that is filled with something as vapid as air. When the covering is scratched or poked, even with a blade of soft grass – nothing is left and all appearance is shown for what it truly was.
The New Testament uses the word both ways:
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
Galatians 6:3,4
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
James 1:9-10
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
2 Corinthians 5:12
We want to rejoice in our good accomplishments, and those of others, without becoming haughty. We want to be pleased with our diligence without believing we are better than someone else because of it. Sometimes that really can be tricky.
Don
Pride is a tricky word for us. We are proud of our children and loved ones when they have accomplished something good or important. We are proud of ourselves, when we do well; when we move beyond our own expectations of ourselves. We are proud of our soldiers and our nation.
But sometimes we are proud in a different sense: we may be haughty, which means to think too much of ourselves. I like one Greek word sometimes translated pride, but when translated literally means inflated or puffy. That gives the image, to me, of a balloon all blown up and ready to….POP! It is a thin superficial covering that is filled with something as vapid as air. When the covering is scratched or poked, even with a blade of soft grass – nothing is left and all appearance is shown for what it truly was.
The New Testament uses the word both ways:
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
Galatians 6:3,4
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
James 1:9-10
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
2 Corinthians 5:12
We want to rejoice in our good accomplishments, and those of others, without becoming haughty. We want to be pleased with our diligence without believing we are better than someone else because of it. Sometimes that really can be tricky.
Don
Saturday, February 28, 2009
My Personal Beliefs
I wrote this in 2001 during the pursuit of a ministry position. The church had asked me to write a statement outlining my beliefs. I found that intriguing; I was excited to cull through all the doctrines and traditions and try to prioritize the most important elements of my faith. After I had completed it I emailed a copy to my dad and asked him what he thought. Right off the bat he pointed out something I had comepletely missed - they didn't want this kind of a statement at all; they wanted to know where I stood on baptism, the Holy Spirit, "women's roles," denominationalism... He was so obviously correct. But they got this anyway.
I post this today because of Dell Kimberly's (Who Told You That) blog post today on Undeniable Truths. Thanks, Dell for making me think of this.
God exists and He loves. The fact that He is and that He loves is our only hope both in this life and forever in eternity with Him. Because He loves, we know what love is.
We receive His love through His promises. Promises given to Abraham and his descendants. Fortunately, we need not depend upon human ancestry for these promises – we are children of Abraham through faith, for he is the father of the faithful. But promises are not enough, especially when they are so veiled as to be indecipherable even by prophets who searched intently to understand them better.
We receive His love through His commands – that is how He chose to reveal His righteousness to us initially. But that is inadequate. Because of that revelation, sin gained power in our lives and God found fault with people.
This is where the story gets good . . .
We receive His love best of all through the presence of His Son and Spirit in our lives. Rather than pour out judgment because of our faults, He poured out redemption in the blood of Jesus. And His Spirit also was poured out on us by that same love. Just as we receive righteousness through the Son, so we are led into all righteousness by the presence of the Spirit. The Spirit works through His sword, the words of scripture, and through His presence. In fact we cannot discern spiritual words without some benefit from the Spirit of God. This presence of God among is an extravagant expression of God’s tender love for us. God desires that we all accept His extravagant love
But there will be a judgment against those who reject Jesus and do not accept His words. God is powerful Creator, so it is understandable that His judgment will be carried out with power. All His enemies will be destroyed: Satan, his angels as well as those souls whom God judges unworthy to enter His own glory; death, sorrow, confusion and fear – doubt, hunger, sin and sloth. These will all be destroyed to have no more power over us.
Praise God! His ways are just and forgiving. Judgment comes with power and mercy.
We have been redeemed from the worldly system and brought to life in Jesus. We have rejected the flesh to answer the Spirit. And so we have been given purpose by His mercy – we are ministers of reconciliation. We have left all to follow Him and so we call Him Savior and Lord. We desire to learn to love what Jesus loves, to hate what Jesus hates, to become unconcerned with those things He is not concerned with. We want to be like Him in righteous living and in purpose. So we place the Father at the highest place. We seek first His kingdom. And we love the people around us, honoring our brothers and sisters above ourselves, and even laying down our lives to reconcile people to God.
How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children.
Summary:
• I believe in the Father - Powerful Creator who willed us into existence through the force of His words.
• I believe in the story of redemption from before the fall into eternity. The words were spoken for life and for freedom.
• I believe in Jesus, the Son. Present and working with the Father at creation, He disavowed the glory and privileges of deity to become the perfect sacrifice, the ultimate expression of God’s love. He humbled Himself to death by His own volition. He raised from the dead by God’s power and so began the defeat of God’s adversary.
• I believe in the Spirit who leads us and aids us in understanding the righteousness of God – Who also comforts us in our present state of mortality, giving us a foretaste of the Heavenly Presence and sealing us for His sake.
• I believe in the first command: to love God with our entire being, to worship Him and bring glory to Him through our words and our lives.
• I believe in the second command: to love all others as they have need – especially those of God’s family.
• I believe in the mission of Christ to reconcile the world to Himself, thus fulfilling the Father’s design for Him. Which mission was first transferred first to His apostles and later to us as we accept His grace and call Him Lord.
• I believe God’s people have a bond that is greater than friendship or earthly family. We ought to encourage and admonish one another as brothers and sisters.
• I believe God is the ultimate Judge and we are not. But that we must be faithful to teach everything that is right. We cannot turn to the right or the left.
• I believe that God will deliver us from this world and its ways into a better world by the redemption that comes through faith in Jesus. (We share with Jesus in life by our baptism for the forgiveness of our sins – trusting in His grace toward us.) On that same day of deliverance for God’s people, most will meet their doom, having failed God’s righteous judgment since they have not trusted in the righteousness of Christ. Lord, have mercy on us all.
I wrote this in 2001 during the pursuit of a ministry position. The church had asked me to write a statement outlining my beliefs. I found that intriguing; I was excited to cull through all the doctrines and traditions and try to prioritize the most important elements of my faith. After I had completed it I emailed a copy to my dad and asked him what he thought. Right off the bat he pointed out something I had comepletely missed - they didn't want this kind of a statement at all; they wanted to know where I stood on baptism, the Holy Spirit, "women's roles," denominationalism... He was so obviously correct. But they got this anyway.
I post this today because of Dell Kimberly's (Who Told You That) blog post today on Undeniable Truths. Thanks, Dell for making me think of this.
God exists and He loves. The fact that He is and that He loves is our only hope both in this life and forever in eternity with Him. Because He loves, we know what love is.
We receive His love through His promises. Promises given to Abraham and his descendants. Fortunately, we need not depend upon human ancestry for these promises – we are children of Abraham through faith, for he is the father of the faithful. But promises are not enough, especially when they are so veiled as to be indecipherable even by prophets who searched intently to understand them better.
We receive His love through His commands – that is how He chose to reveal His righteousness to us initially. But that is inadequate. Because of that revelation, sin gained power in our lives and God found fault with people.
This is where the story gets good . . .
We receive His love best of all through the presence of His Son and Spirit in our lives. Rather than pour out judgment because of our faults, He poured out redemption in the blood of Jesus. And His Spirit also was poured out on us by that same love. Just as we receive righteousness through the Son, so we are led into all righteousness by the presence of the Spirit. The Spirit works through His sword, the words of scripture, and through His presence. In fact we cannot discern spiritual words without some benefit from the Spirit of God. This presence of God among is an extravagant expression of God’s tender love for us. God desires that we all accept His extravagant love
But there will be a judgment against those who reject Jesus and do not accept His words. God is powerful Creator, so it is understandable that His judgment will be carried out with power. All His enemies will be destroyed: Satan, his angels as well as those souls whom God judges unworthy to enter His own glory; death, sorrow, confusion and fear – doubt, hunger, sin and sloth. These will all be destroyed to have no more power over us.
Praise God! His ways are just and forgiving. Judgment comes with power and mercy.
We have been redeemed from the worldly system and brought to life in Jesus. We have rejected the flesh to answer the Spirit. And so we have been given purpose by His mercy – we are ministers of reconciliation. We have left all to follow Him and so we call Him Savior and Lord. We desire to learn to love what Jesus loves, to hate what Jesus hates, to become unconcerned with those things He is not concerned with. We want to be like Him in righteous living and in purpose. So we place the Father at the highest place. We seek first His kingdom. And we love the people around us, honoring our brothers and sisters above ourselves, and even laying down our lives to reconcile people to God.
How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children.
Summary:
• I believe in the Father - Powerful Creator who willed us into existence through the force of His words.
• I believe in the story of redemption from before the fall into eternity. The words were spoken for life and for freedom.
• I believe in Jesus, the Son. Present and working with the Father at creation, He disavowed the glory and privileges of deity to become the perfect sacrifice, the ultimate expression of God’s love. He humbled Himself to death by His own volition. He raised from the dead by God’s power and so began the defeat of God’s adversary.
• I believe in the Spirit who leads us and aids us in understanding the righteousness of God – Who also comforts us in our present state of mortality, giving us a foretaste of the Heavenly Presence and sealing us for His sake.
• I believe in the first command: to love God with our entire being, to worship Him and bring glory to Him through our words and our lives.
• I believe in the second command: to love all others as they have need – especially those of God’s family.
• I believe in the mission of Christ to reconcile the world to Himself, thus fulfilling the Father’s design for Him. Which mission was first transferred first to His apostles and later to us as we accept His grace and call Him Lord.
• I believe God’s people have a bond that is greater than friendship or earthly family. We ought to encourage and admonish one another as brothers and sisters.
• I believe God is the ultimate Judge and we are not. But that we must be faithful to teach everything that is right. We cannot turn to the right or the left.
• I believe that God will deliver us from this world and its ways into a better world by the redemption that comes through faith in Jesus. (We share with Jesus in life by our baptism for the forgiveness of our sins – trusting in His grace toward us.) On that same day of deliverance for God’s people, most will meet their doom, having failed God’s righteous judgment since they have not trusted in the righteousness of Christ. Lord, have mercy on us all.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Love
I really like the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8a)
There is no higher value than love. There is nothing more important than love. There is no greater commandment than love. There is no better marker for the “one true church” than love.
Conversely; there is no more pronounced deficiency in a person’s life than a deficit of love. There is no easier place to stir brother against brother, sister against sister than the one where love is in decline. There is no more caustic place to raise your children than a place where they are not loved.
We need love. We desperately need love. We need it so badly that we sometimes deny our need for it and pretend to be thick-skinned, self-sufficient, an island. But it’s not true – we all strongly feel the gaping hole that demands to be filled by love.
Thank God he loves us. And more, he intends for us to love one another…deeply, intently, sacrificially. To surround one another with protection and love. To give our very hearts to each other.
Love never fails.
I really like the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8a)
There is no higher value than love. There is nothing more important than love. There is no greater commandment than love. There is no better marker for the “one true church” than love.
Conversely; there is no more pronounced deficiency in a person’s life than a deficit of love. There is no easier place to stir brother against brother, sister against sister than the one where love is in decline. There is no more caustic place to raise your children than a place where they are not loved.
We need love. We desperately need love. We need it so badly that we sometimes deny our need for it and pretend to be thick-skinned, self-sufficient, an island. But it’s not true – we all strongly feel the gaping hole that demands to be filled by love.
Thank God he loves us. And more, he intends for us to love one another…deeply, intently, sacrificially. To surround one another with protection and love. To give our very hearts to each other.
Love never fails.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Grieving Your Loss
In some ways the essence of temptation is loss. And the question that goes with temptation is, “What will I lose?” or at least, what is the perceived loss?
From the first sin of Adam and Eve we can see what they were afraid of losing. They believed the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil could give them something superior to their current pursuit of righteousness. They were, in fact, tempted by a good thing, a spiritual thing – the desire to know what is good and the ability to avoid what is wrong. I think most things we are tempted by can be seen as good things: certainly we are only tempted by what we desire.
When faced with their temptation in the Garden, Adam and Eve could only resolve their circumstances by losing something. Either they would choose to honor God and trust in his provision and lose the ability to gain the special knowledge and wisdom they believed the fruit would provide. Or they would choose the fruit as a pathway to spirituality apart from God’s provision and lose something of the intimacy of that relationship.
Either way, when the decision had been made and all things done, they would feel the loss. What would have happened if we had…? That is what makes it temptation. Of course the stronger the desire, the deeper the sense of loss. If we choose wrong, we lose something of righteousness and relationship – and we will feel that loss. If we choose well, we lose the pleasure or reward we desired in the first place – and we will also feel that loss.
Innocence lost. Naiveté gone. So, this is what the world really looks like. Jaded, Cynical. Aren’t these just responses to our loss? Satan deceives, then he accuses.
Thank God for Jesus and restoration.
In some ways the essence of temptation is loss. And the question that goes with temptation is, “What will I lose?” or at least, what is the perceived loss?
From the first sin of Adam and Eve we can see what they were afraid of losing. They believed the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil could give them something superior to their current pursuit of righteousness. They were, in fact, tempted by a good thing, a spiritual thing – the desire to know what is good and the ability to avoid what is wrong. I think most things we are tempted by can be seen as good things: certainly we are only tempted by what we desire.
When faced with their temptation in the Garden, Adam and Eve could only resolve their circumstances by losing something. Either they would choose to honor God and trust in his provision and lose the ability to gain the special knowledge and wisdom they believed the fruit would provide. Or they would choose the fruit as a pathway to spirituality apart from God’s provision and lose something of the intimacy of that relationship.
Either way, when the decision had been made and all things done, they would feel the loss. What would have happened if we had…? That is what makes it temptation. Of course the stronger the desire, the deeper the sense of loss. If we choose wrong, we lose something of righteousness and relationship – and we will feel that loss. If we choose well, we lose the pleasure or reward we desired in the first place – and we will also feel that loss.
Innocence lost. Naiveté gone. So, this is what the world really looks like. Jaded, Cynical. Aren’t these just responses to our loss? Satan deceives, then he accuses.
Thank God for Jesus and restoration.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Refined
I have to admit that it frightened me to hear about salmonella in peanut products. But that turned to anger when it was reported that Peanut Corporation of America knew that their product was tainted with the deadly bacteria. Can you imagine how those sickened by the product must feel? And then there was the contaminated baby formula from China, where six babies died and over 1200 were sickened, and now thousands face atypically formed kidney stones.
Purity is important to our health. I never thought much about drinking from the stream when I was a child, but now I know what might be upstream. Pure clean water is essential to health and intellect.
Satan is the salmonella of our thoughts. He deceives, then he accuses. He is the impurity of our spiritual diet and the complications he brings when we indulge can be deadly. His deception is subtle - he takes what is good and makes it seem so much better under his terms. He gives every good thing new meaning. For the person desiring spiritual fulfillment, he brings spirituality. For the one needing deeper companionship and passion, he brings the depth of intimacy. For the one For the one seeking truth, he brings a truth that fits their size. But his spirituality is not a relationship with the Father, but a distraction from Him. His intimacy - his passion - is often based on sensuality, other times deception, sometimes substitution: satisfying for a moment, but self-imploding in the long-term. His truth resolves the crisis, but spins out more problems; more deception.
No wonder scripture sometimes describes our experiences in this life as refinement. The Spirit of God is working in our lives to rid us of the power and consequences of sin over us. God wants more for us than to merely escape the flames; he wants us to receive a purified life; he wants us to live a transformed life; he wants us to trust with a renewed, refined faith.
Purity is not just about eating and drinking: it is keeping ourselves for God’s service. Purity is another way of saying holy living. We are God’s holy people his pure refreshment. Let us feast on a pure life – a buffet of choices that glorify God in holiness.
I have to admit that it frightened me to hear about salmonella in peanut products. But that turned to anger when it was reported that Peanut Corporation of America knew that their product was tainted with the deadly bacteria. Can you imagine how those sickened by the product must feel? And then there was the contaminated baby formula from China, where six babies died and over 1200 were sickened, and now thousands face atypically formed kidney stones.
Purity is important to our health. I never thought much about drinking from the stream when I was a child, but now I know what might be upstream. Pure clean water is essential to health and intellect.
Satan is the salmonella of our thoughts. He deceives, then he accuses. He is the impurity of our spiritual diet and the complications he brings when we indulge can be deadly. His deception is subtle - he takes what is good and makes it seem so much better under his terms. He gives every good thing new meaning. For the person desiring spiritual fulfillment, he brings spirituality. For the one needing deeper companionship and passion, he brings the depth of intimacy. For the one For the one seeking truth, he brings a truth that fits their size. But his spirituality is not a relationship with the Father, but a distraction from Him. His intimacy - his passion - is often based on sensuality, other times deception, sometimes substitution: satisfying for a moment, but self-imploding in the long-term. His truth resolves the crisis, but spins out more problems; more deception.
No wonder scripture sometimes describes our experiences in this life as refinement. The Spirit of God is working in our lives to rid us of the power and consequences of sin over us. God wants more for us than to merely escape the flames; he wants us to receive a purified life; he wants us to live a transformed life; he wants us to trust with a renewed, refined faith.
Purity is not just about eating and drinking: it is keeping ourselves for God’s service. Purity is another way of saying holy living. We are God’s holy people his pure refreshment. Let us feast on a pure life – a buffet of choices that glorify God in holiness.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
The Higher Cost of “Unforgiveness”
All of us face hurts of many kinds. Others have threatened us, accosted us, betrayed our trust. We have faced loss and heartache. Sometimes we hold onto those events and they become touchstones in our lives that begin to define our response to the world around us. It’s one thing to forgive people when they are sorry and something else entirely to forgive someone who has become an enemy.
When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet he told Peter that unless he washed him, Peter could have no part with him. Jesus makes this connection of his service he performed for the twelve, in washing their feet, with the cleansing that he offers through the cross which must be received if we are to continue in a relationship with him. Jesus’ service to his disciples that evening was redemptive in that the cleansing he offered was especially needed since they would all run away. How would they have thought of Jesus' words and actions in retrospect when they came to believe in his resurrection?
But Judas was there also. Why did Jesus wash Judas’ feet? He knew that Judas would not return; he knew that he could not cleanse him and said as much (“you are clean, though not every one of you.”) Perhaps Jesus washed Judas’ feet because of what it did for himself. It was as much a redemptive act for his own sake as for the disciples. It was a way to bless his enemy and do good to the one who cursed him.
When we are hurt by others, our best course is to choose an active forgiveness. Unforgiven hurt leads to rejection of the perpetrator, but also to others who eventually become lumped into association with him/her. It leads to rebellion, retaliation, isolation and eventually a bitter life that rubs itself onto everyone around. Unforgiven hurt leaves the perpetrator in control.
When he washed Judas’ feet clean, I imagine Jesus wishing there was a way to break through and truly cleanse the dark heart of his betrayer. And when we find positive ways to approach our “enemies” we take a step forward in cleansing them as well – living in the likeness of Jesus.
All of us face hurts of many kinds. Others have threatened us, accosted us, betrayed our trust. We have faced loss and heartache. Sometimes we hold onto those events and they become touchstones in our lives that begin to define our response to the world around us. It’s one thing to forgive people when they are sorry and something else entirely to forgive someone who has become an enemy.
When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet he told Peter that unless he washed him, Peter could have no part with him. Jesus makes this connection of his service he performed for the twelve, in washing their feet, with the cleansing that he offers through the cross which must be received if we are to continue in a relationship with him. Jesus’ service to his disciples that evening was redemptive in that the cleansing he offered was especially needed since they would all run away. How would they have thought of Jesus' words and actions in retrospect when they came to believe in his resurrection?
But Judas was there also. Why did Jesus wash Judas’ feet? He knew that Judas would not return; he knew that he could not cleanse him and said as much (“you are clean, though not every one of you.”) Perhaps Jesus washed Judas’ feet because of what it did for himself. It was as much a redemptive act for his own sake as for the disciples. It was a way to bless his enemy and do good to the one who cursed him.
When we are hurt by others, our best course is to choose an active forgiveness. Unforgiven hurt leads to rejection of the perpetrator, but also to others who eventually become lumped into association with him/her. It leads to rebellion, retaliation, isolation and eventually a bitter life that rubs itself onto everyone around. Unforgiven hurt leaves the perpetrator in control.
When he washed Judas’ feet clean, I imagine Jesus wishing there was a way to break through and truly cleanse the dark heart of his betrayer. And when we find positive ways to approach our “enemies” we take a step forward in cleansing them as well – living in the likeness of Jesus.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Forgiveness Costs
When I got resigned from one of my ministries many years ago, it was painful. (Ministers sometimes have the option of resigning or being fired. It can be a difficult decision. In my case the elders agreed to keep the terms of our contract (severance) only if I resigned. If I had made them go through the turmoil of firing me and defending their decision to the church, they threatened to turn us out on the street (violating the terms of our contract). We picked up and moved to the edge of the known universe: Florida.
After living in Tampa for a couple of years, we were going back to our previous town to visit. The drive was moving along uneventfully. We were about halfway through our journey when suddenly I became aware of something that was happening to me. I felt this heat that was rising up inside me from deep down. It was the anger and resentment I felt over the circumstance surrounding my resignation.
I had been away for two years. I had prayed about it. I had said, “I forgive them.” And I thought I had meant it. Why was it rising up inside me with such strength and control? I knew that I would see those people I held responsible for those events. I knew that they would want to shake my hand and act like everything was clean, but I felt violated and angry. I had said I forgive them, but I had not and I didn’t really know how.
Once a friend of mine was talking about the power of forgiveness and he told a story of a girl who had been raped yet was able to speak words of forgiveness to her rapest during his trial. She realized something I did not: That forgiveness is the only way to take control of past hurt. Her perpetrator had power over her for a few minutes – if she had held his violation inside her soul she would have given him power over her for the rest of her life. She regained control over her heart and mind by forgiving her attacker. Further, she had the spiritual depth to actually pull it off, to actually forgive and not just to mouth the words.
Later, at a seminar our church was sponsoring, one of my coworkers began by asking the question, “How do you feel about the church?” I thought to myself, “Well, there are some brothers and sisters I am so thankful for; they have loved me far beyond what I deserve. But there are others that I would rather not set near at worship.” I was thinking, again, about those who had hurt me.
But then the speaker reminded me of something I had not considered: “Christ died for his Church. He gave his life to make us presentable.” That is the essence of forgiveness that someone has to take the “hit” and Christ did that for me. And now he expects me to take the “hit” for others. And how can I have fellowship with him if I reject this fact of forgiveness?
As Dell commented, “forgiveness costs.”
When I got resigned from one of my ministries many years ago, it was painful. (Ministers sometimes have the option of resigning or being fired. It can be a difficult decision. In my case the elders agreed to keep the terms of our contract (severance) only if I resigned. If I had made them go through the turmoil of firing me and defending their decision to the church, they threatened to turn us out on the street (violating the terms of our contract). We picked up and moved to the edge of the known universe: Florida.
After living in Tampa for a couple of years, we were going back to our previous town to visit. The drive was moving along uneventfully. We were about halfway through our journey when suddenly I became aware of something that was happening to me. I felt this heat that was rising up inside me from deep down. It was the anger and resentment I felt over the circumstance surrounding my resignation.
I had been away for two years. I had prayed about it. I had said, “I forgive them.” And I thought I had meant it. Why was it rising up inside me with such strength and control? I knew that I would see those people I held responsible for those events. I knew that they would want to shake my hand and act like everything was clean, but I felt violated and angry. I had said I forgive them, but I had not and I didn’t really know how.
Once a friend of mine was talking about the power of forgiveness and he told a story of a girl who had been raped yet was able to speak words of forgiveness to her rapest during his trial. She realized something I did not: That forgiveness is the only way to take control of past hurt. Her perpetrator had power over her for a few minutes – if she had held his violation inside her soul she would have given him power over her for the rest of her life. She regained control over her heart and mind by forgiving her attacker. Further, she had the spiritual depth to actually pull it off, to actually forgive and not just to mouth the words.
Later, at a seminar our church was sponsoring, one of my coworkers began by asking the question, “How do you feel about the church?” I thought to myself, “Well, there are some brothers and sisters I am so thankful for; they have loved me far beyond what I deserve. But there are others that I would rather not set near at worship.” I was thinking, again, about those who had hurt me.
But then the speaker reminded me of something I had not considered: “Christ died for his Church. He gave his life to make us presentable.” That is the essence of forgiveness that someone has to take the “hit” and Christ did that for me. And now he expects me to take the “hit” for others. And how can I have fellowship with him if I reject this fact of forgiveness?
As Dell commented, “forgiveness costs.”
Forgiveness
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
As I spoke these words recently I was thoughtful about the phrase, “forgive us our trespasses (debts) as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
It’s hard to forgive people who have hurt you. It’s even hard to want to. It’s not so hard to say the words, but it is difficult to live them in reality.
Forgiveness starts with a decision and a commitment to righteousness. It is believing that God’s command to forgive others is a righteous command and will bless us. Forgiveness depends on actions before emotions. The actions of forgiveness are prayer for the forgiven one; blessing them in conversation with others by pointing out their good qualities; treating them by the standard of the Golden Rule. Eventually forgiveness is loving the forgiven with genuine affection; being able to acknowledge their fault, yet not defining your relationship solely by it; allowing their other qualities to obscure the fault. Finally, forgiveness defends – just as Jesus has become our advocate.
Blessings,
Don Morrison
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
As I spoke these words recently I was thoughtful about the phrase, “forgive us our trespasses (debts) as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
It’s hard to forgive people who have hurt you. It’s even hard to want to. It’s not so hard to say the words, but it is difficult to live them in reality.
Forgiveness starts with a decision and a commitment to righteousness. It is believing that God’s command to forgive others is a righteous command and will bless us. Forgiveness depends on actions before emotions. The actions of forgiveness are prayer for the forgiven one; blessing them in conversation with others by pointing out their good qualities; treating them by the standard of the Golden Rule. Eventually forgiveness is loving the forgiven with genuine affection; being able to acknowledge their fault, yet not defining your relationship solely by it; allowing their other qualities to obscure the fault. Finally, forgiveness defends – just as Jesus has become our advocate.
Blessings,
Don Morrison
Monday, January 26, 2009
Yes, Lord
Before Paul began stumbling around in the darkness, Ananias had adjusted his heart to hear God. As far as we know, God had never spoken to Ananias, personally, before the moment he told him to go visit Saul of Tarsus. And, as far as we know, God had never spoken to Saul until, one day, walking along the road, he was blinded in the same moment that he met God. He lost the vision he had for his life – whatever goals or dreams he may have had immediately faded into the darkness that surrounded him. Where once, he saw clearly, now… nothing.
Ananias, on the other hand, was beginning to see God’s ever-working grace more clearly than he had wanted to imagine. God spoke to him and called him to step into faith. At first he objected, Lord, it’s not safe, Saul (aka Paul) was a dangerous enemy of the faith. Notice that God does nothing to reassure Annanias of his safety, instead, God simply says “Go!” and insists that it is part of his purpose. Ananias obeyed.
I am not sure how much to read into this, but I like the way Ananias begins his conversation with God. God calls him by name and Ananias answers, "Yes, Lord." That’s why I say that Ananias had adjusted his heart to hear God. Saul said, “Who are you , Lord?” which is fine, but Ananias said, “Yes.”
Those two words can say a lot about who we are. They are the most important wards we say. "Yes"..."Lord." Not “no” and not “buddy”. Not “What do you want? Perhaps after I evaluate your request I can give you a better answer.” and not “BFF.”
“Yes” is accepting, affirming, intentional. “Lord” is relationship, priority, humility. That simple phrase says, “I don’t know where this conversation is going, but it is going your way, Jesus.” And then, Ananias and Paul saw things they never imagined. With their eyes and with their hearts they saw mercy and mission as they could not have seen otherwise; mercy and mission that endures beyond that time.
All because Ananias said, “Yes, Lord.”
Before Paul began stumbling around in the darkness, Ananias had adjusted his heart to hear God. As far as we know, God had never spoken to Ananias, personally, before the moment he told him to go visit Saul of Tarsus. And, as far as we know, God had never spoken to Saul until, one day, walking along the road, he was blinded in the same moment that he met God. He lost the vision he had for his life – whatever goals or dreams he may have had immediately faded into the darkness that surrounded him. Where once, he saw clearly, now… nothing.
Ananias, on the other hand, was beginning to see God’s ever-working grace more clearly than he had wanted to imagine. God spoke to him and called him to step into faith. At first he objected, Lord, it’s not safe, Saul (aka Paul) was a dangerous enemy of the faith. Notice that God does nothing to reassure Annanias of his safety, instead, God simply says “Go!” and insists that it is part of his purpose. Ananias obeyed.
I am not sure how much to read into this, but I like the way Ananias begins his conversation with God. God calls him by name and Ananias answers, "Yes, Lord." That’s why I say that Ananias had adjusted his heart to hear God. Saul said, “Who are you , Lord?” which is fine, but Ananias said, “Yes.”
Those two words can say a lot about who we are. They are the most important wards we say. "Yes"..."Lord." Not “no” and not “buddy”. Not “What do you want? Perhaps after I evaluate your request I can give you a better answer.” and not “BFF.”
“Yes” is accepting, affirming, intentional. “Lord” is relationship, priority, humility. That simple phrase says, “I don’t know where this conversation is going, but it is going your way, Jesus.” And then, Ananias and Paul saw things they never imagined. With their eyes and with their hearts they saw mercy and mission as they could not have seen otherwise; mercy and mission that endures beyond that time.
All because Ananias said, “Yes, Lord.”
This from AP. Don't you know neighbors are asking themselves how this could have happened. What can be done to help others? How would you get involved?
93-year-old froze to death, owed big utility bill
Mon Jan 26, 3:32 pm ET
BAY CITY, Mich. – A 93-year-old man froze to death inside his home just days after the municipal power company restricted his use of electricity because of unpaid bills, officials said.
Marvin E. Schur died "a slow, painful death," said Kanu Virani, Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner, who performed the autopsy.
Neighbors discovered Schur's body on Jan. 17. They said the indoor temperature was below 32 degrees at the time, The Bay City Times reported Monday.
"Hypothermia shuts the whole system down, slowly," Virani said. "It's not easy to die from hypothermia without first realizing your fingers and toes feel like they're burning."
Schur owed Bay City Electric Light & Power more than $1,000 in unpaid electric bills, Bay City Manager Robert Belleman told The Associated Press on Monday.
A city utility worker had installed a "limiter" device to restrict the use of electricity at Schur's home on Jan. 13, Belleman said. The device limits power reaching a home and blows out like a fuse if consumption rises past a set level. Power is not restored until the device is reset.
The limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of Schur's body, Belleman said. He didn't know if anyone had made personal contact with Schur to explain how the device works.
Schur's body was discovered by neighbor George Pauwels Jr.
"His furnace was not running, the insides of his windows were full of ice the morning we found him," Pauwels told the newspaper.
Belleman said city workers keep the limiter on houses for 10 days, then shut off power entirely if the homeowner hasn't paid utility bills or arranged to do so.
He said Bay City Electric Light & Power's policies will be reviewed, but he didn't believe the city did anything wrong.
"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. "When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."
Schur had no children and his wife had died several years ago.
Bay City is on Saginaw Bay, just north of the city of Saginaw in central Michigan.
___
Information from: The Bay City Times, http://www.mlive.com/bay-city
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
93-year-old froze to death, owed big utility bill
Mon Jan 26, 3:32 pm ET
BAY CITY, Mich. – A 93-year-old man froze to death inside his home just days after the municipal power company restricted his use of electricity because of unpaid bills, officials said.
Marvin E. Schur died "a slow, painful death," said Kanu Virani, Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner, who performed the autopsy.
Neighbors discovered Schur's body on Jan. 17. They said the indoor temperature was below 32 degrees at the time, The Bay City Times reported Monday.
"Hypothermia shuts the whole system down, slowly," Virani said. "It's not easy to die from hypothermia without first realizing your fingers and toes feel like they're burning."
Schur owed Bay City Electric Light & Power more than $1,000 in unpaid electric bills, Bay City Manager Robert Belleman told The Associated Press on Monday.
A city utility worker had installed a "limiter" device to restrict the use of electricity at Schur's home on Jan. 13, Belleman said. The device limits power reaching a home and blows out like a fuse if consumption rises past a set level. Power is not restored until the device is reset.
The limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of Schur's body, Belleman said. He didn't know if anyone had made personal contact with Schur to explain how the device works.
Schur's body was discovered by neighbor George Pauwels Jr.
"His furnace was not running, the insides of his windows were full of ice the morning we found him," Pauwels told the newspaper.
Belleman said city workers keep the limiter on houses for 10 days, then shut off power entirely if the homeowner hasn't paid utility bills or arranged to do so.
He said Bay City Electric Light & Power's policies will be reviewed, but he didn't believe the city did anything wrong.
"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. "When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."
Schur had no children and his wife had died several years ago.
Bay City is on Saginaw Bay, just north of the city of Saginaw in central Michigan.
___
Information from: The Bay City Times, http://www.mlive.com/bay-city
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sincere Love
A mother races to scoop up her toddler who happens to be toddling through the front yard toward the street. She wraps the child into her arms and looks into dancing eyes and giggling smile.
Mother smiles while baby squirms; arms and legs in constant motion; writhing for freedom.
Mother protects, guards, nurtures, teaches, observes, watchfully drinking in the fresh dew of her baby’s morning.
Baby knows love, yet knows nothing of it. Receiving, needing, asking, crying, demanding.
Mother, only loving.
Scripture says,
“Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other.”
“When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.” (excerpted from Romans 12:9-15 TLB)
God smiles with sincere love for his children. He cares for us and provides for us in ways we cannot even know or understand. We all receive one thing after another from his hand and he is joyfully content to give.
We follow his example of sincerity when we love others in the same way: when we see beyond immaturity or our own selfish evaluations of others and receive one another just as we are. We love sincerely, affectionately, from the heart.
A mother races to scoop up her toddler who happens to be toddling through the front yard toward the street. She wraps the child into her arms and looks into dancing eyes and giggling smile.
Mother smiles while baby squirms; arms and legs in constant motion; writhing for freedom.
Mother protects, guards, nurtures, teaches, observes, watchfully drinking in the fresh dew of her baby’s morning.
Baby knows love, yet knows nothing of it. Receiving, needing, asking, crying, demanding.
Mother, only loving.
Scripture says,
“Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other.”
“When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.” (excerpted from Romans 12:9-15 TLB)
God smiles with sincere love for his children. He cares for us and provides for us in ways we cannot even know or understand. We all receive one thing after another from his hand and he is joyfully content to give.
We follow his example of sincerity when we love others in the same way: when we see beyond immaturity or our own selfish evaluations of others and receive one another just as we are. We love sincerely, affectionately, from the heart.
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