Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. (1 John 3:18-20 NASB)
Thank you Lord that You know my heart, its motivations and desires, better than me. When I think I know. Ha, what a fool. It is You who really knows. Hardly ever do I truly seek to serve without some sort of hidden self-motivation, whether I am consicous of it or not. Thank You that You know better and are infinitely greater than me.
3.31.2009
3.27.2009
the Jesus I worship: not Mr. Rogers
I think there are multiple misconceptions of the true character of Jesus that our culture holds. One of those large misconceptions, I think, is that Jesus was a hippy-like, carefree, peaceful soul who carried baby sheep on His shoulders. If He had been your neighbor, you might think He was Mr. Rogers. "Won't you be my neighbor...today?"
Well you ask, why is your characterization true over someone else's?
It might not be. I'm a human and I make plenty of errors. But I will say that the characterization of Jesus that I have gathered in my mind I have sought to form from Scripture, what the Bible says. That may or may not count for something.
One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is:
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" (Matthew 21:12,13 NIV)
I don't think Jesus went up to a money changer "excuse me sir, you are defaming the Holy house of the Lord, I am angry at you, may I overturn your table?" NO! I think Jesus was enraged, full of zeal for the Lord and He was sick and tired of people using the Lord and His holiness for their own personal gain. I can see Jesus yelling for the zeal of His Father's house and flipping these tables over in a rage.
He busted out a can of holy whoop ass on those people.
And why do I think this gets at the real aspect of Jesus' character, one that might not be a common perception of Jesus in our culture today?
Right before this event in the temple, Scripture records:
"When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matt 21:10-11 NIV)
WHO IS THIS? they asked....
And then Jesus shows them. Not tells them by some speech or witty conversation. He physically drives out people who are defaming God. Now, naysayers might say, well...Jesus, He got angry. God wouldn't do that. If He were really God.
I don't think the act of getting angry is sinful. It's what you decide to do with that anger that falls into sin or holy territory. Using anger that is in line with the righteousness of God...I certainly don't think is sinful.
Immediately after Jesus' rage in the temple, holy rage mind you, Scripture records:
"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant." (Matt 21:15-16 NIV)
Who would think to be compassionate and heal the destitute IMMEDIATELY AFTER an intense confrontation?
That would be Jesus of Nazareth, the Jesus I worship who is not like Mr. Rogers at all.
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Well you ask, why is your characterization true over someone else's?
It might not be. I'm a human and I make plenty of errors. But I will say that the characterization of Jesus that I have gathered in my mind I have sought to form from Scripture, what the Bible says. That may or may not count for something.
One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is:
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" (Matthew 21:12,13 NIV)
I don't think Jesus went up to a money changer "excuse me sir, you are defaming the Holy house of the Lord, I am angry at you, may I overturn your table?" NO! I think Jesus was enraged, full of zeal for the Lord and He was sick and tired of people using the Lord and His holiness for their own personal gain. I can see Jesus yelling for the zeal of His Father's house and flipping these tables over in a rage.
He busted out a can of holy whoop ass on those people.
And why do I think this gets at the real aspect of Jesus' character, one that might not be a common perception of Jesus in our culture today?
Right before this event in the temple, Scripture records:
"When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matt 21:10-11 NIV)
WHO IS THIS? they asked....
And then Jesus shows them. Not tells them by some speech or witty conversation. He physically drives out people who are defaming God. Now, naysayers might say, well...Jesus, He got angry. God wouldn't do that. If He were really God.
I don't think the act of getting angry is sinful. It's what you decide to do with that anger that falls into sin or holy territory. Using anger that is in line with the righteousness of God...I certainly don't think is sinful.
Immediately after Jesus' rage in the temple, holy rage mind you, Scripture records:
"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant." (Matt 21:15-16 NIV)
Who would think to be compassionate and heal the destitute IMMEDIATELY AFTER an intense confrontation?
That would be Jesus of Nazareth, the Jesus I worship who is not like Mr. Rogers at all.
Hosanna to the Son of David!
3.23.2009
satan always out to kill joy...
So I have to relate a story that really happened to me, because it seems clear to me that satan was out to kill my joy.
This past Sunday, I had some really good time in the Word before church. On top of that, I was coming off a retreat where I was really encouraged at the evidence of community and the power of the Lord and His ability to work powerfully through community to bring about His greater glory here in our corrupt and broken world.
You could say I was riding on a "spiritual" high. No drugs needed. Just Jesus.
I was riding my bike to church, and a block away from my house I turn right to go up a hill. A black truck turns onto the road behind me. Now, the driver, a male, has the whole street to pass me, and I'm riding close to the curb, out of the way. The truck slows down behind me, like I'm impeding its progress (he still has the whole street and an open lane)...after a few seconds, he roars ahead of me, slows down to cut me off, rolls the window down and yells "get on the god$*#$ sidewalk you motherfu*(#$".
I don't think he was talking to my bike. I was surprised at the random outburst, but wasn't really affected. My mind was on the earlier solid time with the Lord that morning and in that moment, I prayed for the guy in the truck.
I kid you not, not but 2 minutes later, I ride up to a major intersection, pull off on to the curb so I'm completely out of the road, and this time, a gold truck pulls up fast to the intersection, rolls its window down and yells "get on the $*$% sidewalk you idiot". Then quickly turns the corner and starts to speed off.
This time I quickly got enraged. I'm going to admit, not the right reaction. I was a little dumbfounded at how uncoincidental these two trucks with angry men yelling at me to get on the sidewalk were so close together in time (when riding your bike on sidewalks is against the law in most cities).
In my quick enrage, I flipped this truck guy the bird, and he was quick to flip it back. I was also gearing up to yell something to challenge him to come back and get out of his truck and I would get off my bike and then we'll see who would be up on the sidewalk, crying for momma. But I didn't.
I don't think these men were inherently evil, but I have to wonder about satan's ability to bring about evil through different means. My reaction in anger to the second guy wasn't right. Call me crazy, but after the fact, as I kept riding on to church, I was struck at how aggresive and timely these biker-hate events took place immediately after some solid intimate time with the Lord.
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)
After I arrived, church was great, the teaching was very solid and worship was fulfilling. But I couldn't help but think for the rest of the day, and how clear it was to me that satan is tireless, quite crafty, and will use any means necessary to distract or try to destroy any joy or intimacy, any at all, that arises between the Lord and me.
This past Sunday, I had some really good time in the Word before church. On top of that, I was coming off a retreat where I was really encouraged at the evidence of community and the power of the Lord and His ability to work powerfully through community to bring about His greater glory here in our corrupt and broken world.
You could say I was riding on a "spiritual" high. No drugs needed. Just Jesus.
I was riding my bike to church, and a block away from my house I turn right to go up a hill. A black truck turns onto the road behind me. Now, the driver, a male, has the whole street to pass me, and I'm riding close to the curb, out of the way. The truck slows down behind me, like I'm impeding its progress (he still has the whole street and an open lane)...after a few seconds, he roars ahead of me, slows down to cut me off, rolls the window down and yells "get on the god$*#$ sidewalk you motherfu*(#$".
I don't think he was talking to my bike. I was surprised at the random outburst, but wasn't really affected. My mind was on the earlier solid time with the Lord that morning and in that moment, I prayed for the guy in the truck.
I kid you not, not but 2 minutes later, I ride up to a major intersection, pull off on to the curb so I'm completely out of the road, and this time, a gold truck pulls up fast to the intersection, rolls its window down and yells "get on the $*$% sidewalk you idiot". Then quickly turns the corner and starts to speed off.
This time I quickly got enraged. I'm going to admit, not the right reaction. I was a little dumbfounded at how uncoincidental these two trucks with angry men yelling at me to get on the sidewalk were so close together in time (when riding your bike on sidewalks is against the law in most cities).
In my quick enrage, I flipped this truck guy the bird, and he was quick to flip it back. I was also gearing up to yell something to challenge him to come back and get out of his truck and I would get off my bike and then we'll see who would be up on the sidewalk, crying for momma. But I didn't.
I don't think these men were inherently evil, but I have to wonder about satan's ability to bring about evil through different means. My reaction in anger to the second guy wasn't right. Call me crazy, but after the fact, as I kept riding on to church, I was struck at how aggresive and timely these biker-hate events took place immediately after some solid intimate time with the Lord.
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)
After I arrived, church was great, the teaching was very solid and worship was fulfilling. But I couldn't help but think for the rest of the day, and how clear it was to me that satan is tireless, quite crafty, and will use any means necessary to distract or try to destroy any joy or intimacy, any at all, that arises between the Lord and me.
3.17.2009
that's church!
Last night, I was able to go to a home worship session. We sang, prayed, and offered our hearts to the Lord.
Other than being really awesome, it was really awesome.
There is something about an informal setting, being in the company of brothers and sisters who share a love for Jesus and a desire to serve Him, that makes all these bells go off in your head of "ding, ding, ding...you're getting it just right!!"
In fact, historical definitions of the word "church" mean more "the company of Christians that composed the spiritual body"...not necessarily what we understand "church" to mean in our contemporary culture.
It's not like we were doing something unique and original to the Christian identity for the first time in all of history. I do think the house church model has some very appealing elements to it -- namely that you are hitting the heart of Christian community and providing a setting that is potentially more comfortable and inviting than an institutionalized, professionalized church.
In fact, the early church was much like what we did last night.
Throughout the Book of Acts, we see various instances of healings, fellowship meetings, meals, and times of worship taking place in the context of home meetings.
See for yourself! Acts 2:1, 2:37-47, Acts 16 (40) when Paul gets out of prison...
Home worship, offering our lives to the Lord together...now that's church!
Other than being really awesome, it was really awesome.
There is something about an informal setting, being in the company of brothers and sisters who share a love for Jesus and a desire to serve Him, that makes all these bells go off in your head of "ding, ding, ding...you're getting it just right!!"
In fact, historical definitions of the word "church" mean more "the company of Christians that composed the spiritual body"...not necessarily what we understand "church" to mean in our contemporary culture.
It's not like we were doing something unique and original to the Christian identity for the first time in all of history. I do think the house church model has some very appealing elements to it -- namely that you are hitting the heart of Christian community and providing a setting that is potentially more comfortable and inviting than an institutionalized, professionalized church.
In fact, the early church was much like what we did last night.
Throughout the Book of Acts, we see various instances of healings, fellowship meetings, meals, and times of worship taking place in the context of home meetings.
See for yourself! Acts 2:1, 2:37-47, Acts 16 (40) when Paul gets out of prison...
Home worship, offering our lives to the Lord together...now that's church!
3.09.2009
I dare you to measure...
This post is my inner nerdling side coming out, which is a sizeable portion...but...
I think humans have an utter fascination with quantifying things.
Was it just coincidence that the founders of the United States mandated an every 10 year census as an inherent part of the Constitution? The answer -- no. Those guys were quite smart, it wasn't an accident.
We try to count everything. Look at sports fans, their teams and joys are built around sports stats, how many points their team or favorite player is scoring...if you think about it, in every industry and area of life, there is an important emphasis placed on being able to quantify whatever it is that needs quantifying.
Some things I have my doubts that accurate quantifying is going on. Scientists and doctors think they know about 15% of all there is to know about the brain. With so much unknown, how do they even know the overall amount to determine that they already know 15%? It's probably more like 0.15%.
Concrete quantities, or even estimates (that might be inaccurate), provide a much deeper understanding of the world around us. I guess that's why the human race wants to quantify so much in life, they want to understand the world in which they live.
Paul writes
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)
Paul gets human nature. He's saying, go ahead people! Try to understand the concrete amount of Christ's love like you want to quantify all things. Its almost as if Paul is getting at that we might actually be able to understand the quantity of Christ's grace. Then he immediately follows with:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)
"immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."
It's just going to be one of those things that we won't be able to quantify. Christ's love and His merciful grace is too great, too wide, too deep to count for us quantifiable-happy humans.
But go ahead, I dare you to really think about it and try to measure it.
I think humans have an utter fascination with quantifying things.
Was it just coincidence that the founders of the United States mandated an every 10 year census as an inherent part of the Constitution? The answer -- no. Those guys were quite smart, it wasn't an accident.
We try to count everything. Look at sports fans, their teams and joys are built around sports stats, how many points their team or favorite player is scoring...if you think about it, in every industry and area of life, there is an important emphasis placed on being able to quantify whatever it is that needs quantifying.
Some things I have my doubts that accurate quantifying is going on. Scientists and doctors think they know about 15% of all there is to know about the brain. With so much unknown, how do they even know the overall amount to determine that they already know 15%? It's probably more like 0.15%.
Concrete quantities, or even estimates (that might be inaccurate), provide a much deeper understanding of the world around us. I guess that's why the human race wants to quantify so much in life, they want to understand the world in which they live.
Paul writes
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)
Paul gets human nature. He's saying, go ahead people! Try to understand the concrete amount of Christ's love like you want to quantify all things. Its almost as if Paul is getting at that we might actually be able to understand the quantity of Christ's grace. Then he immediately follows with:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)
"immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."
It's just going to be one of those things that we won't be able to quantify. Christ's love and His merciful grace is too great, too wide, too deep to count for us quantifiable-happy humans.
But go ahead, I dare you to really think about it and try to measure it.
3.06.2009
a good team "slogan" for believers
So, lots of teams, universities, and corporations have mottos or slogans by which act as a backdrop for what the team aspires to or intends to do. It serves as a centerpiece for a group of individuals who collectively move towards something for a specific purpose.
My high school basketball's motto was: MT-XE. Mental Toughness. Extra Effort. Yes, I know, Extra does not start with an X.
The San Antonio Spurs have this as their locker room motto: "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."– Jacob August Riis
There are many others out there.
In terms of that, I think Scripture provides a great motto and then some for a group of believers who gather together in community:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17 NIV)
My high school basketball's motto was: MT-XE. Mental Toughness. Extra Effort. Yes, I know, Extra does not start with an X.
The San Antonio Spurs have this as their locker room motto: "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."– Jacob August Riis
There are many others out there.
In terms of that, I think Scripture provides a great motto and then some for a group of believers who gather together in community:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17 NIV)
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