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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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.
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