Servants or Masters of God?: Christianhood in America today

Been a while...

2011-12-29T11:18:00.000-06:00

Maybe it's the political season heating up, maybe I'm bored after Christmas...but I've been having an itch to blog of late, so I re-worked the blog a bit and plan to post more in the coming weeks and days.

Morality in us...

2010-08-30T13:18:00.001-05:00

They're finding that babies have a moral code:

NYT article

That's strong evidence that our moral code is innately in us. The article gets into where this moral code might come from. It concludes that it is a product of our cultures and the environment we live in, thus morality is evolutionary.

I disagree.

The article quotes Richard Dawkins, who says "Be warned that if you wish, as I do, to build a society in which individuals cooperate generously and unselfishly toward a common good, you can expect little help from biological nature."

Which fits in right with how Christianity plays out as Scripture describes it. We are innate sinners saved by Grace, and Grace alone. It is only through Christ's grace may we come together to attempt to do anything for the cities, communities and world we live in...but then it's still Jesus doing the work.

Good article, but I think their conclusion is off.

Insecurity destroys relationships

2010-07-23T12:18:00.000-05:00

It would be fair to say that intimacy and insecurity are polar enemies at play in both earthly and heavenly relationships.

Lack of trust or faith in the long-term promise of things is insecurity, which creates a host of worries and stress in the present that suck away the contentment of life-giving, joy-filling relationships.

Psalm 40 says
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.

Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.

One's individual purpose and identity in life is found in Christ, and Christ alone. Attempts to fill that critical bond with other earthly relationships will only end in heart ache, tears, or worse.

Psalm 40 continues:

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.

Attempting to walk on eggshells before the Lord is no way to live. Do this deed or perform this action, the Lord doesn't want that quick fix mentality. We're ok with Him because of what He did. Being ok with Him isn't a matter of what I can or cannot do. Christ wants a long-term, heart-convicted mentality of His purposes, ways, and life-giving Truth. In that frame of mind, it's much easier to love Him and others when I accept it's not about me or what I can do.

iphone hysteria

2010-06-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

Lord, forgive us that as a nation, as a people, we wait 10 hours in line to celebrate getting a new iphone, and we won't give 10 minutes to seeking out, serving, or speaking to Your children. Your children who are orphans, homeless, widows. Forgive us that we pass over these image-bearers of You so easily and so readily for things that don't last.

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

-Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Where are our hearts really Lord?

pride in believing

2010-06-07T08:07:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday, the message centered on Revelation 21. The message emphasized how it is the redemptive Christ that comes to us, not us to Him. We see this in the context of the new earth to be, "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." (Rev 21:2)

I've been reflecting on that a bit. That's exactly how Christ works. It is His initiative that brings reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21), not the other way around. Yet, so often, it's hard for us to accept this incredible gift. I get caught in a "must earn" mentality.

Christ freely left Glory, on His initiative, with us in mind to save. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't earn or know how to earn salvation. I still struggle with the concept of even accepting such an incredible offering, it's contrary to my conditioning here in this world, yet Christ compels us to, and it is my pride that keeps me from acknowledging His incredible gift.

Lord, help me let go of my earning power, let me latch on to the gift of Your salvation, that you so lovingly offered.

Isaiah 5 - meant for USA?

2010-05-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

Reading Isaiah 5, I don't think it's coincidental how many of these things would apply to our country today.

It's a picture of a choice planted vineyard - God has given His church every great advantage, especially in offering His son Jesus so that the church, God's people, may be redeemed and saved.

Yet...

"woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands." (5:11-12)

How often do we invest our time in personal entertainment and pleasure rather than focusing our attention on the deeds of the Lord?

"woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes, to those who say, "Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it. Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it." (5:18-19)

How often do we mellow in casual sin, that we don't think is that bad, while on the other hand we are impatient at seeing God's kingdom worked out here on earth, and want to see it happen on our own terms?

"woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight" (5:21)

Why do we always know everything and so often lack the humbleness to listen?

I like verse 5:25 quite a bit:
"Therefore the Lord's anger burns against His people; His hand is raised and he strikes them down. The mountains shake, and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets. Yet for all this, His anger is not turned away, His hand is still upraised."

I like it that God's perseverance and love for His people is greater than our stubborness and refusal to seek His way. No matter how much we are obstinate and fight to make life our way and our own terms, God stands strong throughout the test of time, drawing hearts to Him one way or another.

Being happy

2010-05-11T13:44:00.000-05:00

I here often in America, the phrase "I just want you to be happy." Or "I just want so and so to be happy." My mom says that to me often, as if she is stating that as the end goal for my life.

Happiness is not a bad thing, but I think the Bible teaches us that happiness isn't the end goal. Just "being happy" is a near impossibility in my mind, as we live in a disastrously fallen and broken world. I don't think we'll truly be happy until we are redeemed in the New Heavenly City, experiencing our joy and life directly from Christ.

That is where happiness comes from, real happiness I think. But that doesn't mean happiness in this life like our culture imagines. Jesus was tortured, He sacrificed the ultimate...the things Jesus did, people in our culture would not deem them as happiness-inducing actions.

Psalm 68:1-6 states:
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.

As smoke is blown away by the wind,
may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.

But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds —
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

and then Psalm 68:19 states:

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.

I think it's key to remember that our happiness comes as a result of our righteousness being found in Christ. Like Psalm 68:3 states.

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful."

Being found in Christ is not necessarily going to bring us the good and comfortable things of our culture that we may think might bring us happiness.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:30

May we find all our happiness locked up in the redemption we find in Christ. For it is through Him, by Him, and for Him that we live and have any of our being.

my selfishness leads to fear

2010-03-23T08:45:00.001-05:00

I was reading in Hebrews 11, and going through it, it's a great testimony to fathers of the faith that have come before us. Many of these individuals trusted and lived by faith. They did not necessarily see or receive their reward, or get to interact with Jesus, but they trusted in Him as the Hope to come. These men and women knew they were not in a country of their own,

"Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:16)

The trust in the promise was enough for them to not fear losing their earthly life. That is encouragement to me!

To be able to have faith and trust like these men and women who provided great examples..."Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." (Isaiah 64:4)

"who acts on behalf of those who wait for him..."

I often want purpose and meaning in my work and what I set out in life to do. To worry about that not happening is fear.

But that's just it. I'm being selfish with this. I want my purpose and meaning accomplished. Rather than God's kingdom come, and His glory to be revealed to all nations. For that to happen, I need to wait on Him better, and know that my purpose is found in trusting in the Lord's ways, His timing, and not my own.

marriage - a step of faith

2010-03-04T08:33:00.000-06:00

So I'm gonna get married!!

Let me first say, AWESOME!

Let me also say, in the context of life and life decisions, it's a commitment that both Aly and I would say involves a big step of faith. Neither one of us knows what the future holds or what it will look like. Big decisions like this have come before...choosing where to attend college, choosing to move to Nashville, choosing to move overseas...

At each front door of decisions in the past, we had no idea what was really inside. However, looking back on the things grace has done, we can see that God was clearly in it all the way, even when we lacked trust, thought we knew the way better, or tried to let our comfort rest in the things and security this world offers.

This decision to get married is a testimony to the faithfulness and goodness of God. We want nothing more than for His glory to be shared, to be revealed more...He is the name above all names, He deserves every bit and ALL of our worship. Jesus loved us first, and we can only love or be in love because of Christ.

It will be an adventure led by God. With that in mind, and trusting fully in His providence and sovereignty, we can worry less about our comfort here on earth and enjoy the ride to come. I'm not going to try and be Mr. "Big I know it all and have this marriage thing figured out." Quite the contrary. I have much to learn but I eagerly want to see the fun and joy, the struggles and pain, the future holds as we submit our lives to living out the Gospel for the purpose of His Kingdom come!!!

where the criticism really should be

2010-02-23T08:35:00.000-06:00

"Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them." Isaiah 1:23

In spite of our political state maybe looking more and more like this, I spend too much time being critical of the government and its ways. Yes I think it's inefficient and wastes a great deal of resources for the wrong reasons...but I'm forgetting the larger picture that God is in control. Always.

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and please God our Savior...." 1 Timothy 2:1-3a

I complain. I don't pray. I don't act on my own. This is a problem.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Shawshank Redemption. There's a famous line that Morgan Freeman says so well in his Morgan Freeman voice: "Get busy living, or get busy dying."

I could spend a lifetime and find endless channels to criticize this or that regarding government, or I could decide to use my time in trying to set up a parallel government. A government of righteousness and peace, bringing God's Holy City to earth.

Christ's government is characterized by love, mercy, justice hope, faith...not whiners and complainers.

The real complaint lies with the attitude of my heart, not big uncle Sam.

what God thinks and feels

2010-02-14T14:31:00.000-06:00

I'll speak for me first. I am often most wrapped up in myself. My desires, my thoughts, my wants, my needs. They come first.

I think we as a community do that as well, even as a worshipping universal church. Part of our fallen nature pridefully put us first. We deem the fruit on the tree appropriate to eat, although God had restricted it for our good. We think we know better.

My point is, do we genuinely think about what God feels or how He might react to things we set out to do or thoughts we might have, before WE act? A great deal of theology, studying God's economy, is even seen through a dedicated bias towards understanding God's relationship to man. Understanding God as He fits into the human experience and history.

May I offer that this is completely backwards, yet we continue to live in this predominant, mainstream thinking. The better question might be: how does man, by grace, fit into the desires of God's heart and movement to bring the Kingdom here to earth?

After all, it is God's story. God's creation. God's universe. By grace He's invited us to take part. By His mercy He gave us breath to participate. By love He saved us when we took for granted His gift.

We're still like society pre-Copernicus. The earth is still the center of the universe. God fits into our experience when it's convenient and appropriate.

If you don't think so, I would challenge that doesn't our society, and members within the church, wouldn't it look radically different in so many lives and actions, if we truly believed God first on a deep level?

Psalm 22:3 declares: "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." (NLV)

Now God doesn't need our praises to survive, but I do think they affect Him. When we choose to withhold our praises by our stupid selfish actions, I think the Lord gets more uncomfortable sitting in His chair.

We know the end story. Revelation 5:6 promises: "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."

The text specifically describes location. "standing in the center of the throne..." Christ, at the end, and as He should always be, is the center of attention.

Do we think about what God thinks and feels before we take action? Do we consider His purposes?

how easily I forget

2010-01-26T08:27:00.000-06:00

How easily I forget who is in my corner. Who I am walking down a dark alley with. The One who's got my back.

"I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mortal men,
the sons of men, who are but grass,

that you forget the LORD your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens
and laid the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?

The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;
they will not die in their dungeon,
nor will they lack bread.

For I am the LORD your God,
who churns up the sea so that its waves roar—
the LORD Almighty is his name.

I have put my words in your mouth
and covered you with the shadow of my hand—
I who set the heavens in place,
who laid the foundations of the earth,
and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.' "

-Isaiah 51:12-16 NIV

the Pope gets it

2010-01-25T16:27:00.000-06:00

'In a world marked by religious indifference and even by a growing aversion toward the Christian faith, a new, intense activity of evangelization is necessary," the pope said.

A new, intense activity of evangelization is necessary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_christian_unity

karma

2010-01-16T09:02:00.000-06:00

I'll go ahead and state that I'm not a big fan of karma.

Yet, it is a very prevalent part of our nation and people's outlook around the world. There are even quite a few Christians who believe in karma principles. Since so many people adhere to karma like philosophies, we need to understand if we believe it or not, for it motivates a great number of people's actions in life.

It's important to examine karma because I think it does have half-truths rooted in the truth of the Bible, but it's very dangerous because it abuses or uses the truth of God to propel a false philosophy.

In considering if it is true or not, what does the Bible have to say, either directly or indirectly about the topic. Is karma a principle close to the heart of God?

Karma is basically the belief that your good or bad deeds will come around back to you in the future via good fortune or bad misfortune.

1. karma equates to self-salvation
Belief in karma predicates the thought that a person can alter his or her actions to be good enough to find salvation or comfort in life. "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17

I think this is an arrogant and ignorant view of the human heart. I think most people, secular or Christian, can identify with Paul in Romans 7 when he talks about struggling with sin. He wants to do what is good -- all of us do most of the time -- yet there is something, some junk that prevents us from living that out.

2. karma has no need of Christ - grace is gone
Related to #1, belief in karma calls for throwing Christ out of the picture. For CHRISTians who believe in karma, this is a clear contradiction of beliefs -- it's sort of one or the other. Believing in karma reduces Christ from Great Savior to enlightened teacher at best, some guy in history at worst. "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace that you have been saved." Ephesians 2:5

Believing in karma means grace is gone.

3. With no first love, how does karma work?
Throwing out Jesus by believing in karma throws out that God has incredible love, unfathomable love, for His created order. The understanding of God's love is just that, unexplainable. Through the ages, the best we can come up with is labeling our understanding of God's great love as "grace," and it's true, we're not even close to getting how much He loves us.

By not understanding God's great love for us, we attempt to be like Jesus and love others, and then it is when that we get acts of service in line with His Kingdom. We only breathe each breath, wake up each day, eat each meal by the grace of God and His love and mercy for us.

"We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19

So without having a first, greater act of love from God, then how would karma proponents know how to do acts of "love"..."good deeds"? Do karma proponents believe in evolved moral standards? There seems to be a contradiction here.

When we get back around to it, I find it hard to believe that in the karma philosophy, there is something genuine that is the fuel, the underlying impetus, to motivate the good deeds. Here in lies a half-truth. Karma masks itself as being a genuine good act in the service of others, but based on the wrong motives.

Karma is meant to further the self. Jesus wanted us to further His kingdom, serve others, at the expense of self. Give our lives self-LESS-ly for the love of Christ and His people.

In that vein, karma can't exist.

Jesus = freedom

2010-01-14T07:50:00.000-06:00

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Paul was absolutely correct. In Christ, we find utmost freedom.

If you don't believe me, or doubt that yourself even a little bit, I'd offer this. Reading through Mark 5, Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. When Jesus exorcises these demons, they ask Him:

The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned (Mark 5:12-13)

Now you might say, well, that's not freedom, the evil spirits had to ask permission. Well, that view, no disrespect, is horribly arrogant. I think checking with Jesus for any request or decision is generally a good idea, since He created everything.

Really, think about it. Demons, yes demons asked Jesus to do something, they requested specifically to go into the pigs, and He gives them the freedom to do so.

So if Jesus gives great sovereignty of choice, does that mean He is not sovereign?

Not in the least, I don't think. In fact, I think it enhances His greatness. He doesn't have to be some autocratic, domineering totalitarian over what He created because He knows that love really doesn't exist in that way. He's obviously mature enough to know that the ones He created will rebel against Him and do stupid things.

Does Jesus get mad and quickly snap His created back in line?

No, just the opposite. He loves even more and offers even more grace. It's really quite counter-intuitive for what we're familiar with here on earth.

In a world that is deprived of all sorts of freedoms for all sorts of people and nations, Jesus offers real freedom from sin and the ways of the world.

Jesus means freedom.

God's will

2010-01-14T07:37:00.000-06:00

I was thinking, "God's will" in the context of the Christian church today is somewhat a twisted term. It's probably common to hear, "I wonder what God's will for my life is?" "Is God's will this or that, should I move to this or that place?"

When we say those phrases the way we intend them, and I have said them a great many times, we are acting incredibly self-centered, becoming the center of the universe.

I mean, really, God's will is God's will, the things He desires and the things that His heart cries for result in actions and decisions that course through our space time history.

Our will, when we decide to do this or that, move to there or here, those decisions are OUR WILL.

I was just feeling convicted that I was being quite self-centered when thinking about God's will for MY life. When I do that, I tend to start with me, think about my desires, whether they are wants or needs, and somehow pray about that, think about it, and then end up projecting that whatever it is is somehow God's will.

God's will is God's will. My will is my will.

When my will corresponds to God's will, which I will say, God's will is the unchanging, perfect, without compromise, absolutely pure will, when my will even minimally aligns with the Great Creator's will, then I'm on to something.

alone time

2009-12-27T11:32:00.000-06:00

Many people in our culture consider it weird when people want to spend time alone, be by themselves or get away. Something is thought of as not right, or that person has issues because they can't be in community 24/7.

I think it's interesting that the Gospel authors point out multiple times of Jesus' alone time. As in our culture, Jesus' desire to be by himself, to get away from people, was quite strange for that day and age. Especially in a time where robbers free-roamed the territory, wild animals couldn't be defended against with modern weaponry...it was much more dangerous being alone and people didn't often do it.

Yet Jesus did, alot.

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16)

"...Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed..." (Mark 1:35)

"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." (Luke 6:12)

"...Sit here while I go over there and pray..." (Matthew 26:36)

The key thing to notice is that Jesus didn't go be alone for the sake of getting away from people. He seems to have gotten away to have deep prayer time with the Father and reflect on His ministry and pray for God's will to be done. Before Jesus made major decisions, He went to be alone.

Ironically, Jesus' alone time seems to have strengthened and fortified Him for the times that He did interact with His community of disciples and the larger crowds full of thousands of people.

And so, just as Jesus was considered a complete weirdo for many of the habits He had and things He did, I think it's safe to say that we can also find intentionality in our times of solitude, for they are necessary to functioning well and living a life full of the Spirit for God.

Mark 8

2009-12-22T11:23:00.000-06:00

It's great how Jesus asks rhetorical questions to cut straight to issues that really matter. He asks a few of them in Mark 8, and they're quite poignant for the current reality of my life. His questions are good are-you-living-the-gospel reality checks.

Here's one:
He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." (Mark 8:12)

(notice Jesus sighed deeply before he said that, as if to communicate...you guys still really don't get it!!) I think a great number of Christians are always looking for a "neon sign" that points us to God's will. In life, we want signs or dreams or messages to tell us which big decisions to make that will properly line up with walking and serving God.

If we think about this for a second, this line of thinking is not really in the heart of God. He gives us an example and His word in Christ to know what His heart deeply cares about. God gives us freedom in our life to decide how to go about fulfilling that gospel magnetism with professed allegiance to Christ.

In this passage in Mark, Jesus just fed about 4,000 MEN the text says (more when adding women and children present)...so maybe about 10,000 people with 7 (SEVEN) loaves of bread. Jesus did this just after his disciples confessed their lack of faith "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"

Their problem is the same one I encounter when it comes to gospel living. I proudly depend on myself, my faculties, my abilities when it comes to trying to live out the gospel.

The same thing happens with Peter later in Mark 8 (8:31-33).

Hence, it's fitting that Mark 8 closes with:
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

notice Jesus said this to the crowd AND the disciples. He wants this to be public knowledge.

He's telling us to get rid of ourselves and our pride. Forget the ways of the world. It's empty tired and broken. Pursuing its rewards is empty and full of despair.

Jesus is challenging us to live a life marked by free gospel living that is based on an everlasting devotion to His name, depending on His power and not ours.

failing to eagerly wait

2009-11-17T08:22:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure if it's because I'm mostly a pessimist, but I have really been dropping the ball on eagerly waiting for the redemption of both the world and the New Jerusalem and my own redemption.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:45-51 NIV)

Part of eagerly waiting for the appointed promise is to "give them their food at the proper time...". I take that to mean that we are to constantly be serving and encouraging fellow servants (other believers) as well as non-believers. We are to be in a constant mindset with the gospel on the tip of our tongue...always sharing it in word and deed.

After all, Paul writes that "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19. The specific 'creation' word in the Greek that Paul uses, ktisis, is taken to mean a "creature" of creation, as in Gentiles, non-believers.

Now that's interesting. Even non-believers are eagerly waiting for the redemption. Which I think makes perfect sense. Non-believers, whether they like it or not, admit it or not, I believe were originally created in the image of God to worship Him and reflect His glory. And when that doesn't happen, something is off and not right ("subjected to frustration"...Romans 8:20).

The point is, as believers in Christ, we have the vision and promise of Revelation 21, the New Jerusalem.

For living out my present faith, I would do good to more eagerly anticipate Christ's return and actually try to believe in His promise and listen to His words.

can love be understood?

2009-11-15T22:01:00.000-06:00

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

I've been thinking a bit lately about love, and what that looks like in our media driven, for-profit day and age. Culture tries to splotter love all over the place, and I think people get de-sensitized to what love really is, at its core.

First, remember that love is something we don't understand well as humans -- that's why it goes in the abstract noun category. But certainly, love is demonstrated or exemplified by certain acts. It's hard to identify love without some sort of concrete, physical, can-be-seen act.

Well, this verse tells us that love comes from God, and that God is love. Can we understand God? I don't think God is abstract, but He's too intense, too vast, too full to understand fully by us and our feeble minds, in my opinion. So if we can't understand God, we can't understand love.

Certainly, love was showcased by the concrete, physical in-the-flesh act of Jesus on the cross. It was a manifestation, or the playing out of love, God's love...but that still leaves us a little in the dark on an absolute definition of love.

There's something else unique that I'm figuring out about love. Acts of love are not earned nor deserved. They result from grace. This is true for my human relationships. The most memorable things I remember about acts of love on me or to me are not done to earn anything back from me -- there is a genuine heart to love me because of the person I just happen to be.

Appreciating someone for them just being them and the way they are. Love doesn't try and instruct or tell, it simply celebrates.

Jesus did the necessary thing to fully celebrate each and every one of His. And driving it was grace -- not anything that Jesus expected to earn or deserve back from the people He saved.

In light of this, I think it frees us up to love in our human relationships like He did -- with freedom, no fear of condemnation, not thinking we have or deserve something in return -- we can simply celebrate.

the example of Mary

2009-11-02T10:53:00.001-06:00

Unfortunately, Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been deified by certain lines of the Catholic church. In lines that have not deified Mary, she is thought to have always been a virgin (please explain James and John), and is revered close to, if not more than Jesus.

In some ways, I think Protestant churches and Protestant theology have rebuked Mary a little too much in response to Catholic views towards Mary, by virtually never talking about her example or how faithful a woman she was to the Lord. She submitted faithfully and steadfastly to God's plan for her life, and I think that should be celebrated.

She is a great example of faith to consider, but not the reason for our faith. Jesus alone (includes the Holy Spirit and the Father) is the reason for our faith.

Consider her worship song:

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
(Luke 1:46-55 NIV)

the beginning too!!

2009-10-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

I tend so often to view and live out a faith that sees Christ as the end of all things.

Like Paul says in Romans 10:4, Christ in many ways tends to be the end goal. The end goal of worship, of trying to honor, of trying to live like and live for, of trying not to sin against...

I seem to so easily forget that Jesus is the beginning too!!

And I know that in my mind (John 1), but not in the way I live my life out.

I should do a better job at believing Jesus, for He very plainly says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13).

That's crazy to me, because dare I say, Jesus encourages that we can and we will do greater things than He did while He was here on earth.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:12-14 NIV)

Now, I need to be clear. We're not nor I am not as an individual going to save the world from their sin...and I doubt that I'll be resurrected to this physical life again, it could happen, I believe I'll be resurrected in Christ, but not back to the earth as I knew it. And Christ is very clear. Apart from Him, we're toast in our ability to do anything. It is only through Him can we do "greater" things than He did.

A distinction is necessary: I think we'll be able to do greater things than Jesus in the "what" but not in the "how" He did them.

Take any of Christ's examples. The miracle of feeding 5,000 people. It's going to be difficult to replicate just creating bread out of nothing, but we can grow wheat, bake it, and then distribute it to hungry mouths...it'll take time, but we can feed thousands of people. Even raising Lazarus from the dead dare I say. Modern science and doctors can do amazing things nowadays, to bring people "back" from death...but we'll never do it like Jesus did by just saying "Lazarus, come out!"

I don't often tend to look at Jesus as an "enabler" but I think that is what Scripture is telling me. Again, my perspective is often that Christ is the end of the law, the end goal in worship, the end goal in all I try to do...but I think Scripture is trying to convince me that He's much more than that.

He's the beginning of all things that are on God's heart. Sharing the truth of the gospel. Feeding starving people. Serving the poor. Healing the sick. Comforting the broken-hearted. Dissipating hate. Reconciling lost relationships.

It can only be done 1. because of Jesus and 2. with dependence upon Him.

Jesus, help me always remember You are the beginning, the starting point of all things too!!

the difference in generations

2009-10-25T18:59:00.000-05:00

Generational differences exist, both in identity and action.

I think this is clear when anyone considers their parents and/or grandparents. Their lives revolve around certain activities, behaviors, and habits that are more common to their own generation than they are to a particular family. Take facebook as an example. Take playing bridge as an example. Take wearing white New Balance walking shoes.

It got me thinking, what does my generation have to offer the world? And my generation here in the US, how is it distinct from my parent's generation?

And I considered this amidst the context of this passage in Matthew:
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. (Matthew 17:14-23 NIV)

The man who came to Jesus really wanted his son healed. That was his focus and his reason for coming to Jesus. It makes sense, back then, without modern medicine, that sickness and illness rates were much higher. Calamities and deformities were commonplace. In a sense, it was a generation that, as part of its identity, had high levels of sickness.

I think Jesus' response in this passage is so unique:
"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."

I think Jesus would have said this with an exasperated, almost frustrated tone. It seems all that the people wanted were surface level things, important, but surface level...to be fed...to be healed...to have comfort. Very plainly, Jesus then proceeds to tell them that they needed more faith, to consider something bigger than the surface level things they were wrestling with common to their current generational identity.

I consider that my parent's generation brought a great deal of prosperity to America. The sheer demographic number coupled with their work ethic helped usher in large economic gains for the country as a whole. Honestly, I don't forsee that staying the case, I think America's standard of living in economic terms will fall or flatline and not improve. The point is, my parent's generation seems to have, as part of their identity, earned prosperity, and thus, an accumulated status of wealth.

As proof of this, consider how many parents helped finance their kids college education (of my generation). Probably a great number more than their parents who could or could not help with their college education.

Each parent always wants to give their children more than their parents were able to give them.

I think that applies largely to a whole generation. And so what is my generation's gift to our children going to be?

I was thinking about that this weekend when I saw my best friend's baby boy, happy as ever to be dancing around with his dad, mom, and me in the room.

Well, I think it is going to be hard to give our children the kind of prosperity that our parents were able to give us. Remembering this passage in Matthew, I think we can give our children something maybe better than prosperity and comfort through having enough money.

May they grow and develop a sense of faith in Christ, modeled by their parents (us), that is bigger than a mustard seed, so that they will actually move mountains and bring Christ's kingdom here to earth.

James and judgment

2009-10-19T09:04:00.000-05:00

I admit that I struggle, and struggle often, with judgment.

James was doing a good job of kicking my butt this morning in regards to judging others.

It's something that I need to be kicked in the teeth on, it's something that's not good at all.

The most convicting part:
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12 ESV)

Basically, I am playing God when I judge others. I set myself up on a throne to determine who and who is not worthy of mercy, grace and compassion.

Jesus was very clear about judging others. (Matthew 7:1-6)

How dare I judge. How dare I even remotely try to act or take duties reserved for God. How dare I do something that Jesus explicitly said "do not..."

I'm thankful for James 2:12-13 that encourages me to be quick to be merciful, rather than quick to judge:
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I'm also thankful for the real people in my life who model that. My girlfriend and one of my roommates in particular, are modeling and teaching me, although I am stubborn and slow to learn, how mercy over judgment is such a better way to treat others and love your neighbor. I don't consider that they're perfect at it, but they offer such a fresh example that points in the right direction of mercy triumphing over judgment.

They apparently have been listening to what James has to say about judgment.

getting back to the heart of worship

2009-10-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

The chorus of this song is reminding me that all I do in my life, it is meant for the glory of God in the highest, to worship Him with every aspect of my life.

I've been forgetting that. In my busy-ness, the end goal of why I do all that I do sort of slipped under the table.

In reading a research article for class, do I do it for You Lord?

When I spend an hour at work, giving a test, do I do it for You Lord?

In playing frisbee with friends and seeing it as a time of fellowship, do I do it for You Lord?

Every word and action that I direct towards my girlfriend, a beautiful daughter of Yours, do I do it for You Lord?

I have to confess, I'm at a point where all these things I don't do with a heart of worship. Mixed in there is a heart of selfish desires, a heart of anger, a heart of fear, a heart of idolization, a heart of pride, a heart of independence and not dependence on You Lord...

Colossians 3 is giving me a refreshing view:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things...Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry...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...Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

This part of the chapter emphasized itself to me:
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...Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

Lord, on Your strength and by Your grace, please get me back to the heart of worshiping You Jesus. In all I do.

Wisdom difference

2009-10-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

One of America's most celebrated writers is William Faulkner. In his novels, he used multiple lenses of understanding, or points of view of different characters, in not necessarily chronological order, to weave together a unique and meaningful story. Movies such as Crash, and Amores Perros pursue a similar framework...multiple points of view and understandings interweave and connect to showcase a unique story.

I was thinking about how this is similar to the wisdom of the world vs. the wisdom of God.

The wisdom of God is unique and often antagonizes, or opposes the way the world might do something. Things thought in the heart of God are considered foolish or silly when those same things are considered through the world's wisdom glasses.

As a believer of Jesus who is God's only Son, and with a desire and attempting to follow Christ, I think it's important for believers to distinguish clearly these differences and pursue, in our lives, the wisdom of Heaven.

This is going to be hard and invite all sorts of doubt and ridicule. But remember, that's coming from a wisdom of the world perspective.

So which one do I bow down to and confess my allegiance to...here are some lines, just like Faulkner's novels or those movies, that weave through Scripture at different points at time, but still uniformly point to the wisdom of God being greater and higher:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 11: 33-36)

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
(1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
(2 Corinthians 10:3)

In this battle between the wisdom of God and the way of the world, let us wage war with the weapons of God's wisdom, the Spirit of Truth...His wisdom is far superior and far greater!

really powerful verse

2009-09-29T22:38:00.000-05:00

Please consider meditating on this verse. Reading the context is great too, but please meditate on this verse and how it relates to what Jesus may have done for you in your life.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

vulnerability in community

2009-09-23T08:23:00.000-05:00

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16 NIV)

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

Vulnerability is not an easy thing. Especially in America in 2009. Our culture is teeming with walled, very individualized, personal individuals. That's fine in one respect, but ends up costing individuals and collective communities in large ways.

I went to a Prodigal God Bible study last night, and this idea came up again and I've been thinking about it.

I feel Jesus was the best model of vulnerability. He left the comfort and splendor of heaven to come down to earth, and yes, while it was His creation, I'm going to say heaven is a far better place to be. He was open with the people He walked and interacted with...how is it that four different men, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record with a unique perspective each ways in which Jesus was vulnerable.

He exemplified this vulnerability by going to the cross, yes, but He also exemplified it by His willingness to talk about others sins. Not only speak of them, but heal them!!

Back to modern day America 2009, I don't think it is our responsibility to heal our brother or sister's sins. That is a ridiculous thought. Only Jesus Christ can do that. Nor am I proposing or am suggesting that people who are uncomfortable to speak about their sins should be forced in any way to speak of their sins. When they're ready. And certain relationships, obviously, sin shouldn't be confessed to the other person, both to protect and prevent further injury.

But if communities are environments of Christ's love, where fellowship is genuine and honest, a willingness to confess sins when appropriate can do so much to strengthen the relationships in those communities! Of course, I don't think it's easy, vulnerability never is, especially not in guard-everything-about-you-America, but it can have a strong cementing, binding, effect to solidify and strengthen communities that they may walk stronger together in the desire to bring Christ's kingdom here to earth.

the tongue's power

2009-09-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

So over the past few weeks, there have been different incidents where my mouth has led to trouble for me or some pain for other people. Not that it was intentional, but nonetheless, it happened.

I don't think James was under-do-ing it when he used the analogy of a ship's small rudder controlling the big ship. I was going over his words in James 3, and here are some running thoughts as the passage goes on, related to this idea of keeping the tongue in check:

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
My role in life with other people is not to instruct them or tell them what is right or wrong. That is the Lord's doing and the Lord's work. Not to say He can't use us as instruments to do that, He can...but in my zeal to help build others up, living an example of God's truth and His ways speaks far louder than words.

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
James knows human beings. We're going to goof up with our mouths from time to time. Nobody is perfect.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
Our tongues should not be used to control or to demonstrate power.

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
All that "sticks and stones may break my bones...but words will never hurt me..." That is the most untrue, horribly in-denial song for the world. Words have an incredibly powerful effect and should be chosen and used carefully.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Chosen words have the potential, if not checked, to spiral into a horrendous and dangerous snowball with even greater and greater consequences. Remember James points out a bit earlier he knows that all humans are going to mess up and say dumb and hurtful things sometimes. Yet, there ought to be a check in place and a desire to limit or reconcile those words from spiraling into something much much worse.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Yikes. Like I was feeling after my incidents, I would rather not ever talk again. It'd save me a lot of frustration, hurt on other people's part. So yes, there is something valuable to biting the tongue and not saying anything at all. Never might be an extreme, but I should speak less.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
This hit me hard. With my words, when I criticize people or gossip or talk negatively about someone behind someone's back, or even to their face, I am basically in God's face, saying, "this creature you made is not that great...not that wonderful." It is way too bold and arrogant on my part for me to dare to do something like this, I should always remember that when I speak of someone, I am speaking of a uniquely beloved creation of Christ.

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
I am clearly a person full of contradictions and hypocrisy. Most often, I need to seek the Lord's wisdom, and not my own (the next thing James talks about). I need to live out His wisdom, the knowledge of Christ's grace, and that sort of life should be the life that I am speaking about and living out loud.

Christ's love without condition in spite of physical condition

2009-09-08T12:11:00.000-05:00

It strikes me that so many people in our culture today love conditionally based on someone else's physical state or condition.

I admit that do this much more often than I'd like to admit. I engage people if they are like me, or clean enough, or pretty enough, or often of the same skin color.

I get impatient and judgemental if a person is fat or doesn't speak English fluently or smells awful.

It reveals the poor, but true, condition of my own heart.

How refreshing it is to look at Christ and His example! How he loved people with great compassion! Unconditional to their physical state or appearance.

In Matthew 8, Jesus heals a man of leprosy. Nobody approached lepers in Jesus' day. Not many do in today's day and age. Leprosy is an intense disease with outward disfigurement of the skin, possibly leaky skin ulcers, the strong smell deterring most people away...

A bleeding woman (who had been bleeding for 12 years) in Matthew 9 comes and touches Christ's cloak. She is immediately engaged by Christ. "Take heart daughter...your faith has healed you."

Most people who are randomly bleeding, and if I had known they had been like that for the previous twelve years, I would do my best to avoid them. Certainly not want to engage them. And yet Christ puts forth immediate compassion.

In John 11, we see Christ's power to defeat the worst physical condition of all: death. Yet, we know this physical condition does

"But Lord" said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." (11:39b). We know that Jesus is quite moved in this scene as He just wept. Not cried. Wept. (John 11:35)

In spite of the place stinking badly, in spite of a dead body, Jesus great compassion has the power to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus thanks His father for the power to do so, giving all honor and glory to the Creator of the universe, and then Lazarus walks out alive (John 11:44).

Christ loved unconditionally in spite of other's physical condition.

Someone's physical condition or state should not be a reason to withhold love. Whether someone stinks, is sweaty, is fat, is a different color, has corn rows, has creepy looking eyes...I don't think that is for me to judge and with hold a desire to serve and love that other person as Christ would have.

Yet it happens a lot in our modern day culture. When it does happen, those who may not have the most optimal or best physical state or appearance develop greater fears that they won't be loved for their physical condition. They may not want to love. They may fear being loved on condition.

The point is, it is a downward spiral. Instead of it getting started, it would be wise if I looked to Christ's example and sought to love others as He did, regardless of their physical state or condition.

perplexed by grace

2009-09-01T11:46:00.000-05:00

God is good. All the time. God is good to me. All the time.

The ironic thing is that I don't realize this all the time. I wish I did.

I feel now, Sept. 1, 2009, is a point in my life where the scales have somehow been removed from my eyes and I'm seeing incredible amazing God and the blessings and gifts He's given to me in my life.

And I'm incredibly confused. Perplexed is a better word. I don't understand it. I want to understand it. I don't feel like I necessarily have to understand it. But it's really crazy!! (His grace)

The provision of relationships, and sustenance, and beauty...I am in a funk of "wha?"...for me??

I wonder if my life could get any better. I don't say that arrogantly, but with a genuine heart of thanks. And even in recognizing incredible blessings, there is still doubt present. I wonder, and I actually doubt, it could get better.

One thing I am certain of: I have an obligation, not a works obligation, but a responsibility of love obligation, to turn His blessings and provision around and put them to use to furthering His kingdom here on earth.

But ya, for now, I don't get grace and the joyful giving of Jesus. But I'm okay with that.

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

-Psalm 16 (NIV)

successful sorrow

2009-08-31T14:39:00.000-05:00

When the Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, it is thought to have been #2 in a sequence of 4 letters. 2 Corinthians is thought to have been letter #4 of 4 total letters.

And so consider:
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God... I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds...Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter....
(from 2 Corinthians chapter 7 NIV)

In 1 Corinthians, Paul is both reminding the Corinthians and attempting to correct them because he dearly loves and adores them. Paul helped start the church at Corinth, and had invested a great deal of time and relationships into this church. It wasn't just another church down the road. There was a very real, true commitment and deep relationship between Paul and the church at Corinth.

The Corinthians in time got away from devotion to God, and were wronging God and each other. Living for themselves and pursuing selfish ends. Paul took personal offense to this, and probably had feelings of sadness and anger and disappointment that his children and family members were reveling in wild living and casting off the truth of God for wordly pursuits.

This passage in 2 Corinthians seems to be an affirmation passage. It seems that something did click with Paul's corrective attempts, and the Corinthians genuinely felt sorrowful for their previous behavior.

Paul is sorry that he hurt his beloved family members, but realizes that it ends up benefiting them and strengthening them. Sorrow in this case helped wake up the Corinthians.

I think there's a good take away for our modern-day culture. We typically see sorrow and sadness as bad things. They're not necessarily desirable. Nobody wants to be sad. Yet, if sadness brings about forgiveness or reconciliation, where there had previously been sin or brokenness, then sorrow has acted successfully.

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.."

burning with a passion for Jesus

2009-08-28T09:40:00.000-05:00

This song, among others, by Shane and Shane (who rock by the way) has been getting me to think.

What does it look like to burn with a passion for Jesus, today, in America, in 2009?

I don't necessarily have the answer, but I do want to burn on the inside.

Holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

"And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring." (Acts 17:25-28 NIV)

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV)

God's Health Care Plan

2009-08-21T10:28:00.000-05:00

The health care debate in America is "blowin' up" and getting out of control. Sanity please!

I’m not proposing that I know God’s heart when it comes to health care for America. Public option. Grandma death panels. Increased taxes for small business. I’m not sure what God thinks of those things, but His Word does talk about some really important things that I think are being missed or glossed over during this national debate.

“Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:13-17)

First of all, it’s kind of funny that Peter wrote this. The same Peter who wanted to fight the authority forces of power that came to arrest Jesus (and did, cutting off an ear). The same Peter at wits end for denying Jesus three times and then hearing the cock crow (Luke 22). The same Peter who met on the beach with the resurrected Christ (John 21), promising to follow Jesus and striving towards bringing His kingdom here to earth, even if it would cost his life (and it did).

Jesus changed Peter tremendously.

Maybe it was coincidence that Peter, with no medical training, became an amazing physician himself, healing a lifelong cripple in an instant (Acts 3). No, it wasn’t an accident. Christ was the reason that Peter was empowered to take care of such a sick man.

I point this passage and Peter’s story out to ask: are Christ followers doing and being health care in America, or are they just arguing, complaining, and debating like the rest of the world?

The passage in 1 Peter emphasizes “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men…Love the brotherhood of believers.”

When was the last time Christ followers took care of widows and orphans? (James 1:27)

Are Christ followers serving the needy out of a desire for wordly recognition or a passion to love Jesus? (Matthew 6:1-4)

Do Christ followers pray in the morning that their leaders during the day will be seeking to make health care decisions that are after God’s own heart? (1 Timothy 2:1) Doing this because they know that the Lord Mighty God is completely in control?

Are Christ followers giving more of themselves to others, losing their life by the world’s standards, than they are expecting or taking from others? (Luke 9:23-27)

It’s great to be zealous and passionate about certain proposals regarding the future of health care in America. Yet, Christ followers can set a greater and more powerful example for health care reform by living out Jesus’ example and His teachings on health care, and not just debating it.

celebrating what is right

2009-08-19T20:52:00.000-05:00

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

This I command you, that you love one another." (John 15:9-17 NASB)

Christ's love is the perfect love to which our hearts aspire. The perfect love in which our hearts, souls, and minds find perfect peace. Amidst the backdrop of this passage, I think I'm getting a deeper picture of Christ's love, and the joys as well as the limitations of a dating relationship.

Christ emphasizes that we humans love only because it's made possible through and by His love. "I have also loved you..." "just as I have loved you..." "You did not choose Me but I chose you..."

This passage to me makes it clear that we can only abide in any sort of love on this earth AFTER and dependent upon the love relationship with Christ.

Don't get me wrong. I personally have been really fortunate to progress into a deeper season of becoming greater friends with a really great girl. The jury is still out on if it's love or not, I can't say...but a lot of things seem to be clicking as right and honorable. It's an experience of thoughts, emotions, and events that is quite fun, exciting, and unique. Christ speaks, in this very passage, about how greater love is closely related to the idea of deep friendship. "No longer do I call you slaves...but I have called you friends..."

The earthly dating relationship never will, and never should surpass the primary love relationship with Christ. I don't think marriage should either. That sounds almost defeatist at first, definitely counter-cultural to not pour out everything into this other person, this great friend, and to put your primary hope in this other human.

That should never be the case and if I project that as a boyfriend or future husband, I am failing as a friend and a brother. Not to mention, I am selling short the love of Christ and cheapening it.

It needs to be remembered that both humans involved in that relationship have their own individual sin that they bring to the table. That fact will never allow the intimacy and a purity of love that can be experienced with Jesus, the holy and perfect One. Don't get me wrong, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends can have pretty awesome relationships that are fulfilling, honoring, and glorifying to the Lord. At their best, they can approach something less than the love of Christ. That's not a bad thing though, falling somewhat short of perfection can still be pretty darn good.

a life verse?

2009-08-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

I've never really been one for "life verses" or a "verse of the week." I'm not sure why. Maybe because I've thought that the ONE verse for the week or the life is too limiting. God's genius and wisdom is found in much more than just one verse...

but if I had a life verse, or perhaps, a life outlook, I think it might could be Proverbs 30:7-9:

"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God."

I only ask that I would know only Christ and His truth as my truth, and that Christ would sustain me sufficiently as each day comes. My daily bread in relationships...trials, discipline, finances, opportunities to glorify Him, chances to serve for His name...Christ and Christ alone.

the way I speak

2009-08-11T08:34:00.000-05:00

I was realizing something the other day, so I thought I'd write a post on it in case it resonates with anyone else.

The world is boastful, arrogant, loud, it wants to be known and gain recognition. I pick up on this example and end up doing the same thing. It translates into speech and thoughts which aren't always God-honoring. I'll sometimes joke, or gossip, or speak about someone behind their back in a negative way to affirm myself in the conversation, or in some weird way I'm trying to gain approval if I concede to talk about something or someone in a way that is not building up or encouraging.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

It's a big deal because it hurts the person I'm talking unwholesomely talking about, and it is a poor testimony on my part to Christ, for others are listening "..that it may benefit those who listen."

In contrast, those who are quiet and peaceful (who I dare to sometimes judge that they need to be more "active" or "vocal" about their faith)...know something I seem to forget too often.

"...that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:26 NIV)

"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:4)

The people who are quiet and gentle have a firm and bold peace and understanding that their salvation is found in the boldness and sovereignty of Christ. In light of this, they have no need to be load and boastful, or have a need to be heard by the world.

I should take notice of this example.

the deficit view, not the way Christ sees it

2009-07-30T12:51:00.000-05:00

I posted not too long ago about wondering how Christ sees things, and wanting vision more like Him. That post is here.

Well, I think I might understand a bit better how He does NOT see things.

We were studying some aspects of education, and there was the realization that policy makers first "identify problems," and then craft their solution accordingly to "fix that problem." In essence, it is a deficit view. You come at something realizing it's broken, needs fixing, and then proceed from there.

I was reading in Hebrews, and the context is where the text talks about the New Covenant. Not one of laws and regulations, but one of Christ, who paid for all sins by His suffering on the cross. The verse that hit me was

"The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus..."(Hebrews 9:15-19 NIV)

"I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds..."

It's as if the Truth is on every one of our hearts and minds already. Sinners around the earth already have Truth engraved in them, whether they like it or not, or acknowledge it or not.

I think God sees in us deeply and most clearly the Truth He has written in our hearts. Some of that may be obscured sometimes by our flesh and evil acts (Romans 7)...but Jesus sees the beauty of His laws and Truth in us.

Getting at understanding this, I think it's a model for us to look at and love others. Christ's compassion on us is that Truth is already on our hearts. He affords us the immeasurable and amazing grace to "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

who's first in a relationship?

2009-07-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

In many ways, being in a very close relationship, such as marriage, there is a strong intimacy and love for that other person in the relationship.

That is to be celebrated. A relationship where people can trust each other to such levels of baring-their-soul intimacy is a great thing. The love and security in a relationship like that, I imagine is an awesome thing to experience (I'm not married so I can't fully back up this post with a real-life experience). A developed and close-knit love helps each individual stand together and comfort each other amidst the world of evil, hate, and disappointment that we live in.

I think though, even in Christ-centered marriages, the influence of culture sometimes takes this idea too far. **This is where I acknowledge I lack clarity of insight having never been married. It's easy for me to say that a husband and wife should put Christ first and foremost in their marriage. Living that is something else.

Regardless, I really think it's true. Well, consider, if the other person were to be the primary focus in a relationship, that's going to eventually lead to disappointment. The fact of the matter is, no matter how great the other person is, no matter how deep and bonded the love of the relationship is, the other person is a sinner. More importantly, and what is a bigger deal, is that you are a sinner (I am a sinner). There's something there that will never allow a human relationship of love to be as perfect and pure as Christ's love for each one of His children.

I was reading in Genesis, and never picked up on this before. Before the fall, Adam and Eve DID live in a perfect relationship with each other, and it was pure, as God's relationship was to them. They were naked and not ashamed...then the fall happened, and the resulting sin produced some consequences. God says "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children; Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16)

so #1, giving birth is now painful. Giving birth to a child is perhaps the deepest proof, or "sign" of love between a man and a woman. Even greater than that is that giving birth is deep proof of God's love for both parents, His own children. God gives forth this incredible, miraculous blessing. What was meant to be an act of love without fear and completely joyous has turned into something painful and full of anxiety.
and #2 "your desire will be for your husband..." this line was really insightful. Before the fall, what was pure, what was holy, what was perfect leads me to think was the opposite of what this consequence. Eve's desire WAS for God. Now that the fall has occurred, the woman will desire her husband...she will gravitate towards loving her man more than God.

As Christian believers who seek to walk according to God's truth and live in holiness, I think we need to realize this. In spite of pop media and our general culture all around us encouraging us as much as possible to make idols out of our husbands or wives, and essentially put them up on pedestals, we need to be prayerful about putting Christ first in our lives, and walk in THAT desire. In doing so, I think we end up honoring and loving the spouse in a pure way far far greater than the alternative way of trying to love the spouse as #1.

music to dance for Jesus...

2009-07-17T18:03:00.000-05:00

sit back, close your eyes, listen to this awesome song, and dance for your King

diversity of service

2009-07-16T08:43:00.000-05:00

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

Although we humans are creatures of habit, I think we need to be prepared to be Christ's hands and feet on this earth in different ways. It was Jesus' example for us -- He met a variety of different needs.

He was a doctor and healed people of their severe and intense disease and afflictions. He fed people. He spoke Truth when Truth need to be heard. He comforted a woman living in societal sin and disgust...the list goes on.

Jesus, in His perfection, had multiple gifts and outstanding abilities. I'm going to go ahead and say we don't have that. It might be going out on a limb, well, no it's not, we don't have that.

Certain people have the gift of encouragement or the gift of empathy, maybe the gift of service or the gift of speaking Truth gently but firmly, or maybe the gift of making delicious birthday cakes...

the point is Jesus met/meets people where they were/are and was/is willing to serve them there. Jesus didn't ask them to come up to some level or modify themselves so it was more convenient for Him to serve and love them.

I think this is one part of Christ's example we should seek to follow.

the convenience culture

2009-07-07T08:13:00.000-05:00

My friend Rolf, who I met recently and is from South Africa, made an interesting observation of American life and culture. Not being a native to these parts himself, he has some qualified lenses to make some real observations about life here that we might not see as citizens immersed in our own culture. He hadn´t been here in a while, but this last visit, it was clear to him how much life in America is a culture of convenience.

I think he´s totally right.

Drive up ATMs, banks, delivery, take-out, fast food, fast casual restaurants, amazon.com, iphone apps...you name it. Some of these things can be good, useful tools...I'm not knocking all of them, I would some things, I'm just pointing out that the US is a saturated place for a convenience lifestyle.

As I got to thinking about this, I think it's true, but I also think it's unfortunate and sad that this cultural characteristic has snuck into the American church, and I would say is more widespread than we identify or care to admit. It's also not healthy I don't think.

The divorce rate within the American church around 50% is a statistic that supports this. When it gets hard or inconvenient, it's over. We'd rather not work hard or struggle in our marriage. This grieves God's heart intensely.

Rather than being missions, doing missions, it's very easy to give money to a non-profit. I've been struck by how true this is as I think more and more of it. I confess that I'm guilty of this way more than I want to admit. I'm not judging giving money or being generous to charities, those acts are great...but does Christ call us to something more?

The times in your life, when a) you've given money to a cause or b) you've sat down with someone and interacted with them when they are struggling, searching, or grieving...been an ear or served them or loved them unconditionally...which one gives a better sense of fulfillment to the whole situation?

Again, I am not criticizing giving money, especially if it is motivated out of a heart intention to support and love bringing about Christ's kingdom on earth.

Jesus wants more of us than what's convenient for us!

And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it."For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:23-25 NASB)

We live in a wealthy nation. That's fact. It's easy to give money. Yes, we're not all Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. I know. It's still easy to give money or divorce someone because things aren't working out.

As followers of Christ, I think we need to be acutely aware of the easy areas in our lives and guard against them disallowing us to serve Christ and be His hands and feet in this world.

relativisim

2009-06-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

In our modern-day culture, how do we grade, or consider our position or standing in life? If things are great, sad, we're rich, we're poor, we're smart or dumb, pretty or fat...how do we determine those things?

Don't we look at other people and compare? If I lived in a society where I weighed 350 pounds, but I looked around, and everyone around me was 500 pounds or more, I'd think I'm super-skinny, moms would want to constantly feed me and tell me I needed to thin out.

My point is, doing relative comparisons, and using other people as the measure, is a dangerous slope to be on I think while seeking to walk with and bring honor and glory to Jesus.

Husbands shouldn't look to other men and consider how they're doing in their marriages, and then decide if he's doing ok or poorly in his own marriage. Couples shouldn't consider how other couples interact and love and honor each other.

As followers of Christ, we have an absolute standard that we need to look to, and if you feel the need, to measure yourself.

Jesus is that absolute standard. As such, husbands should consider how Christ acted as a husband. Couples should consider how, in reality, Christ was in communion with the Father and Holy Spirit, and realize that a marriage is a three part relationship.

Now, you might think, attaining an absolute level like Christ is impossible. Yes, I agree. Attaining Christ's perfection is incompatible with the sinful, depraved human beings we are. But, it doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Jesus is completely perfect. We should attempt to live as holy a life as He did. In doing so, it's important to realize that we will never live up to His absolute standard of perfection. That shouldn't stop us from trying. His perfect grace makes up for the shortcomings that hinder that attainment of absolute perfection.

Peter writes (NASB):
"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Paul puts forth at various points in the New Testament (all NIV)" (1 Peter 2: 21-25)

and Paul writes (NIV):

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Phil 3:12)...

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

wanting this...

2009-06-19T21:44:00.000-05:00

Can we dare to imagine heaven on earth?

What would that look like?

It might include no fear, no pain, pride washed away, people living in harmony, loving each other purely...honoring God and spending ever waking moment bringing glory to the King and worshiping Him.

It's not that this mentality is one of "not" or "avoiding" sin. Rather, I think heaven on earth is going to be a proactive love and full worship of Jesus.

I went to a Hillsong concert about 3 weeks ago, and the pastor who shared a message put it very well: we should yearn and be led by the Spirit to live out and fulfill the bringing about of Christ's reformed Kingdom here on earth.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He said "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." (Matthew 6:9-10 NIV)

Did you catch that?

Jesus' own words: "your kingdom come!! your will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven"

I keep replaying this prayer in my mind over and over since the Hillsong pastor talked about it in his message. And the other day, 2 Chronicles 7:14 popped into my life. These are God's words, Him speaking, so I'm pretty confident that they're long-lasting, as in eternally TRUE words worth counting on.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land..."

How I long for that day when Christ's kingdom is all we know on this earth! God desperately wants to heal our land...to bring about the fulfillment of that promised earthly Kingdom...

And both these verses remind us and point to prayer as a fundamental starting point for that to happen.

teach me to see like You Jesus...

2009-06-12T14:19:00.000-05:00

there's a fairly well-played song on Christian radio these days that has the chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Yeah
Yeah
yeah
yeah

Now it's kind of a pop-ish song, but that's not the point. I've though a lot about this idea of really trying to "put on" Christ-like vision apart from this song. Do I read the Bible more? Do I pray more? Do I serve others more? Do I deny the comforts of this American lifestyle and life with poor or neglected people? I think the lyrics reinforce really well the idea of wanting to see like Jesus in the world we live in.

I simply don't see the world as Jesus does. But I really want to!

Seeing one way or another way, how you interpret the world, makes a big difference in the way your motivations and subsequent behavior takes shape. Just put on those 3-D glasses or the goggles that they use to show what a drunk person sees, and you get this idea very quickly.

To me though, it's deeper than just surface level vision. My mind so often thinks about what is "efficient" or "effective" or "optimal." This comes from a wordly perspective, and I realize, it often doesn't coincide with the way of the King and His vision for His Kingdom on earth.

Here's a perfect example:

I know a very faithful missionary family in Argentina. The father is very real, genuine, and is one of the most faithful servants I have ever met. They minister intentionally to a specific group of people in Buenos Aires, one of the most difficult people groups to share Christ with, in my opinion. I'm not going to write which people group that is, for reasons regarding their safety and confidentiality.

My point is, the family is great, and they are led by an incredibly faithful man. I know this. In my mind and my heart, I know this and believe this fully.

Yet, I sometimes question, in my mind, their ministry. I have such thoughts as "well, jeez, they get paid a normal year's salary through the contributions of so many churches" "...they have some "successes" to show for their work, but really not that many." "They are semi-accountable to their donors, but not wholly and fully transparent." "They could be doing anything really, living off the good graces and good intentions of others." (again, as I stated before, they are a really genuine and no funny business is going on). "Wouldn't their time and effort be best spent in other areas with other people groups, where more chances for "success" in sharing Christ could take place?"

So let me say, I hate these thoughts that I have. But I have them. I think I'm nifty and crafty that I can see inefficiencies and the way things can be improved...my mind often thinks about such things.

Never mind that I overlook their sacrifice of being in a foreign country, away from many comforts of friends and family, to intentionally share the Gospel with a group of people who are often so quick to reject their message.

In all reality, this just really reveals the depth of my selfishness, and what I'm talking about in this post...that I really don't see like Jesus sees the world.

Peter tells us the underlying sentiment of God's heart: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

Isn't it fitting that Peter is the one who writes this verse, even after his staunch promise to never deny Jesus, and then outright denying Him 3 times? Peter lived out fully this sentiment of God's heart.

Romans 3:23 speaks truth in reminding us that we're all broken. Sin is the culprit of our brokenness, and no matter who we are in the world, we can't escape this fact. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NASB)

Jesus has an amazing ability to see through our self-protections, piled up walls, defense mechanisms to deal with the world, to see the heart of our brokenness. He sees the problem crystal clearly AND the solution. I believe He desperately wants broken hearts to return to Him as soon as possible.

He is the perfect solution, and sees perfectly how events and His followers are going to work under His name to help heal those broken hearts and turn them back to Him, while delighting in the glory of this process.

I can't even give an answer of what Jesus' version of a solution really looks like, since I so frequently think of solving problems in worldly terms...and again, I don't see like Him.

But I think it's really great that He sees in a unique way, that's different from the worldly vision which I so frequently see things...and I want more of that eyesight. His eyesight.

Lord Jesus, please help me to see more like You...

Christ followers and their roles with orphans...?

2009-06-08T12:54:00.000-05:00

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27 NIV)

I feel like that verse is pretty straightforward in what it is saying to Christ followers. It comes out of a larger section in James that is talking about walking the walk, putting faith into practice and being the hands and feet of Christ.

I'm thinking about orphans now, which I have to admit, I haven't ever really done much of...I watched a documentary yesterday entitled "War Dance." It traces the stories of three kids, some of them orphans, in Northern Uganda who have been displaced by rebel uprisings and war.

I'm not really an emotional person, and I don't really do crying. I didn't cry yesterday watching the film, but I was close a couple of times, if that says anything. The film really tore some inner heart strings.

I looked up how many orphans are in the US today, and it is approximately 3 million (according to UNICEF statistics). Another article I found said there are about 150 million orphans in the developing world as well. Taking all the nations of the world together, that's a lot of kids...way too many to be orphans!

I think a hard question to ask and an even harder one to answer, but one seriously worthy of some intentional thought:
What role do intentional Christ followers here in the US have to play with a) orphans in the US and b) orphans in the rest of the world?

I'm not implying that Christ followers should be nationalistic to a particular country, I think Christ followers should recognize they carry a passport of Heaven that sees no earthly nation-state lines...but I ask the question in parts because the reality of the situation is that we do live in recognized nation-states, and so borders, and laws, and customs, and language do factor in.

I don't know if Jesus specifically refers to orphans in this passage, but I can see Him having a really compassionate heart for these children who could be orphans:
"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there." (Matthew 19:13-15 NIV)

go right ahead!

2009-06-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

this is a really interesting story on NPR:
(it's a 5 part series - you can click on the next one under "more in this series")

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104240746

Scientists are trying to prove or disprove the existence of God by examining people's brains to see if they can detect some sort of linked relationship of when people pray and have "spiritual" encounters.

I'll let you listen to the story yourself, but there's strong evidence from various studies that shows association between spiritual experiences and certain parts of the brain being more active, and certain chemicals in the brain doing certain things...all that to say that the evidence is pointing to a positive correlation between certain parts of the brain and "spiritual" activities.

Wait...you mean, we're hard-wired to interact with and experience God? Shut up!

This to me is ironic, but great. Most science typically wants to disprove God and His existence. But it looks like science will end up actually producing more convincing evidence for the existence of God than evidence that disproves Him.

I can imagine that all these scientists and experiments might be humorous to God, trying to prove so hard through empirical proof and rigorous analysis that He is alive and well, and that...WOW...we're hard wired for communication with Him...go figure! (ok, I'll stop being sarcastic about this, because it's really serious for a lot people)

It seems like there's a less painful way to enjoying God, recognizing His existence, and knowing Him at a point sooner in life...which involves learning about and getting to know Jesus...but, if this is the route some people need to get a hold of the existence and believe the Father, then go right ahead! They'll get to Jesus at some point or another.

The fact is that it's an indeniable part of relating to God. Truth tells us that:

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". (John 14:6 NIV)

thank You Lord...

2009-05-31T07:53:00.000-05:00

I just want to thank You Lord...

When I am weak,
when I am tired,
when my intelligence fails,
when the money entrusted to me isn't enough...

When I fear,
when I'm anxious,
when I become too prideful,
when I fail to love those closest to me...

when the Truth I try to speak for Your glory hits a firm wall,
when the ways of this world want nothing more than my shame and destruction magnified...

I want to bring a heart to You that is just thankful.
Thank You Mighty God for Jesus, and for not being selfish and sharing Him

I just want to bring You thanks Lord...THANK YOU!

grace and our ability to love

2009-05-27T21:51:00.000-05:00

So I've had this thought for about a week now:

The more we understand true grace found in Jesus, the more powerfully we are able to love. Agape love that Lewis points out.

I think this point is true in relationships between friends, and married couples as well. I've also been thinking about some of the saints that have walked before me in history and current ones. Some of the well-known ones, and some of the lesser known ones. People like Mother Teresa, William Carey, the Apostle Paul, John, Augustine...and some missionaries out there on the field today.

It seems like they each have a pretty deep understanding of what grace found in Christ really is, and what it means. In turn, that has motivated these individuals to selfless action in pursuit of God's glory.

I don't even know if it's proper to say, for these subsequent actions in following the understanding of grace, that it's a "response" to grace. When people respond to things, the action tends to be limited. They do enough for what merits a response, and usually not much more. In addition, "responding" to grace is very human-centric powered. The real love that comes from these devoted saints I find it very hard to believe was somehow man-made.

I think I'm still a long ways off from really getting it. I really think this is true though:
The more we understand true grace found in Jesus, the more powerfully we are able to love.

I really want to get it. I'm still a long ways off. I think, however, a deep understanding of Christ's grace that motivates action in love has a lot to do with submission and yielding. To the point that the "love actions" that result from a person end up becoming something like extensions of Jesus Himself, working in these people. So in fact, ironically, it isn't the people loving at all.

Again, it's Christ. Full circle. Grace. Our ability to love. A beginning and an end.

And He somehow thought and wanted to include us in the process...

Christians and missions

2009-05-21T21:44:00.000-05:00

I was thinking about "people groups" in the world, what's dear to them, and why they do or do not want to share what they have.

As I thought about it, genuine Christians seem to be an odd bunch. Go figure. Believers who hold that missions are important and who try to share the Gospel and be intentional about spreading the love of Jesus to others, do so for the benefit of those others.

There aren't many groups in the world with that sort of mentality. Now, I realize, I have to qualify this post quite carefully. The "Christians" I'm referring to are those that hold that missions are an inherent part of their walk with Jesus. And no, this doesn't mean going to a foreign land. There's all sorts of mission opporunities right here at home. Next door. It's not up to me to qualify who is a real Christian and who isn't. However, in reading Scripture, I am of the opinion that it's really hard NOT to care about missions if you are someone who genuinely desires to seek and pursue Christ.

There are certainly "Christians" who are in it for personal gain, and who seek their own benefit by using missions as a means to their own selfish goals and desires for comforts. But please keep in mind, when I refer to Christians from here on out in this post, I am meaning it to mean those who think missions as a means for sharing Christ's love and the knowledge of His grace.

And so...Do the rich people of the world try to share their secrets of being wealthy with numerous others, so those that lack wealth can become like the rich ones? (no, that doesn't happen, wealthy people don't want competition that would endanger their wealth)

Do the American citizens of the world go around trying to share the greatness of America and offer citizenship to non-Americans because, "hey, America is so great!" (no, this doesn't happen either. Americans share American values sometimes to show off, brag, or because their ignorant sometimes, but hardly do many Americans voluntary about inviting or offering citizenship to others)

Do the professional athletes of the world go out to foreign countries to share their highly valuable skills with other players so that they too can become really good? (no, this doesn't happen, athletes are busy working on their own skills to have time to share them with others)

I could go on with more examples, but hopefully my point is starting to become clear. There are many people groups out there, joined together by some sort of common denominator, but few of these groups have a desire to share what's at their core in a way that they're primarily seeking the benefit and good of others.

With different people groups, there is a natural built in hindrance to sharing what each of these people groups holds so dear. It might be competition or fear or unintended negligence, but many "people groups" of the world don't go around sharing the core of what they care about deeply and what their lives revolve around.

So why do Christians do it? Is there something different about the core of them, what makes them tick, that they feel they have to go and share with others?

Well, part of the reason is Jesus wanted them to. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19 NIV)

I think the other reasons Christians care about sharing the Gospel through missions so much is that they get a sense that the size of Christ's love is way too big for any one individual to handle. It has to be shared with others! It is so wide and high and deep and everlasting, more people gotta know about this Jesus!! It's too incredible to believe!! But it's true!!

I gotta run out and share this with the people I know, and the people I don't know!

May we as broken vessels and genuine seekers and followers of Christ be impassioned by the Holy Spirit with a desire to share Christ's love to all nations and peoples...

ALL of us are broken...

2009-05-18T11:45:00.000-05:00

Like it or not, we all have brokenness. If you are a "good" person, bad person, immoral, moral, Black, White, Latino, male, female, from the South, from Zimbabwe, from the North pole...you can't escape the fact that you are broken in one way or another.

No single person, Christ follower or not, can escape brokenness. It's part of our human condition. Of course, our brokenness plays out in different ways. Some people have abusive spouses, or have for years suffered heartbreak from relationships. Some are looking to be affirmed and go looking in the wrong places and thus get disappointed. Some are afflicted with disease or trauma. Some have empty family relationships. Some seek wealth, only to find that it doesn't really satisfy. There are many more types of brokenness.

I'm not always Captain Observant, but I don't think it's hard for anyone to see that every individual in some way or another, has both shallow and deep hurts that are part of that person's identity. Some people are good at concealing them, lying about them, and projecting an image of "got-it-togetherness", or "I'm-ok-ness". But the fact of the matter is we're all broken.

I think brokenness is closely related to sin, and Paul tells us "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NIV).

We're all broken. And so we all need fixing. Again, I think many people attempt to use the wrong tools and remedies to fix both the shallow and deep brokenness that is inherently part of them.

Not by arrogance, but by grace, those who identify and understand the gift found in Jesus have a way to deal with their brokenness. And the ironic thing is, the more humble and honest a person is about their own brokenness, the greater the work Christ can do in that person to heal whatever the brokenness may be.

He is the Greatest Handy-Man. He knows how to fix it all. And it is genuine and it works!

"On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13 NIV)

Psalm 96

2009-05-08T18:30:00.001-05:00

This Psalm complements the Great Commission really well I think.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.

Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;

tremble before Him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."

The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;

He will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,

He comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth.

-Psalm 96 NIV

wedding in Wealthville

2009-05-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went to a wedding in Dallas. The wedding crowd consisted mainly of guests from the Highland Park community, a wealthy suburb of Dallas. This is the Dallas version of the community I grew up in in San Antonio. So for most of my life now, I have gone to school with a good number of well to do kids or have grown up in a neighborhood whose occupants are for the most part quite prosperous.

See, the funny thing is, you, or I, nor anyone for that matter, has a choice of where you are born or the family to which you are born, or the socioeconomic class to which you are born into.

Statistics largely bear out that the socioeconomic class you are born into is the one you'll die in. Socioeconomic advancement or decline for the majority of Americans, world citizens, whoever you might be, just doesn't happen.

Sure, you hear of rags-to-riches success stories, even more of them in America, but the majority of people around the world will more or less stay in the same socio-economic class for their lifetime.

If you think about the reasons surrounding and supporting that claim, they make a lot of sense. But that's an entire other post altogether.

So anyways, can one be wealthy and have a relationship with Jesus? Can one be wealthy and pursue Jesus with all his or her heart?

Those are really two separate questions.

In the midst of the wedding and the reception, I got to thinking about this more (I have thought about it a ton already). I have to admit, I had judgements before (and still do) the wedding about people who are rich and how that plays into a relationship and pursuing Jesus.

I was able to take a walk around this neighborhood in Dallas, and I was mammothly impressed by how large some of the houses in this neighborhood are. Not only that, the architecture is really fascinating on many of these homes and I was thoroughly impressed.

It really got me thinking. If people build these homes out of pursuit for glamour or to showcase wealth, in some sort of competition, that becomes an IDOL, and it is false and despicable to God. If people build these homes with the genuine intent of, say gathering a family together, building a community, or serving their neighbors, or allowing underserved or underprivileged people to stay in their home, whatever it may look like...if they build a home with the intent of bringing glory to God, that is what God wants.

Those thoughts have led to some overall conclusions I have come to so far regarding wealth and pursuing Jesus (they aren't necessarily permanent conclusions).

Throughout history, God has given certain kings or the people of Israel numerous material blessings. They resembled in certain ways the Highland Park community of back then.

My point is, I don't think God despises wealth or have a problem with it. Wealth standing alone is a neutral for God. In fact, if anything, it may very well be a sign of God's approval and faithfulness.

Now, the previous paragraph is a very dangerous statement. Please re-read it. It is worded very carefully. It could lead to all sorts of misunderstandings...

What God DOES have a problem with is when wealth is pursued over Him or even somewhat instead of FULLY Him!! God is jealous. I don't blame Him. He made us. We belong to Him. As individuals or communities, how would we dare to put anything...wealth, sex, achievement...before God??

So, back to the idea of, well, I want to follow Jesus, but I have all these elements pulling againt me....what do I do if I'm born into a community or family that is prosperous?

I think the answer is seeking Jesus means getting poorer. It was His example for us.

I don't necessarily fully refer to monetary prosperity. And in fact, getting poorer can be done by anyone who is rich or poor (economically). "Getting poorer" for the Kingdom will just look differently for those in differing world socio-economic classes. Paul nails it on the head:

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)

I can't imagine what the prosperity of Heaven is like. Jesus voluntarily, willingly GAVE THAT UP to BECOME POORER! A man of all things!!

So no, I don't think being wealthy creates an impasse in having a relationship with Jesus. There are wealthy people and communities, contemporary and throughout history, who have been great models of faith in Christ, and incredible humble servants. It's not impossible.

However, I certainly think that wealth is an overly dangerous and strong tempation, especially in light of the way our world is culturally and economically structured. Wealth or its pursuit is an alternative life street to Jesus with way too many stumbling blocks. It requires a mature and humble follower of Jesus to possess wealth but have it be a relatively unimportant part of their identity.

Identity #1 is pursuing Jesus with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And I think, that looks like getting poorer by the world's standards.

So who wants to voluntarily become poor?

we're different, yes. But Jesus remains unchanging.

2009-05-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

This past week, spending time again in a foreign country, going to church, worship events, or spending time in fellowship with non-US believers, I was reminded of something important.

The body of Christ in its most authentic sense really knows no national, cultural, ethnic or racial boundaries. Jesus is the center and reason for our salvation. We (around the world "we") all have this to celebrate!

Yes, differences exist. Yes, different groups and individuals within the worldwide church differ on worship styles, worship songs, theological teachings and emphases. The diversity of these elements, I think, brings great pleasure to God. The fact that believers at Church Y in Nashville, TN worship through style such and such while at the same time Church X in Buenos Aires worship differently through style so and so -- God really digs that!

Differences can go too far to where they cross the line of appropriate and pleasing worship to God. But in the differences, I don't think they should be considered wrong by one group or another.

"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13 NIV)

In the end, we are going to unite before the throne to worship and celebrate the great gift of grace we find in Christ, and Christ alone.

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

what are we building?

2009-04-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6:46-49 NASB)

Well, I'm done. With year #1. I just finished half of the Master's degree I'm working to obtain. There is no wild exultation, leaping for joy, or party on the beach till the break of dawn or getting jiggy with it that I'll be doing to celebrate this fact.

I do my best to remind myself that this degree is really a house built on shifting sand. Yet, many of my actions and the time I spend does not reflect this very well. A degree, a credential to your name, is very much a world thing. I have not found anywhere in Scripture where it says, to be broken and receive endless, infinite, beautiful grace, you have to be a PhD in Brokeness, or have an M.Ed in Unworthiness.

I'm finishing up re-reading CS Lewis' The Four Loves. It has been a good reminder to question myself: well, what kinds of loves are you involved with and practicing? (it's related to this degree thing)

People all around me are broken. I'm broken. That's the state of our condition. When we practice Friendship love and Charity love, rather than practicing idol love of money or stature or recognition or __________(fill it in), we encourage each other, share in our brokeness, and help each other get rid of some of it.

And it works. These past few weeks, I've witnessed more and more of Community love and Friendship love. And let me tell you, those are the kinds of things that DO get me jazzed and make me want to dance around and party till the break of dawn.

That has been my big realization at the end of this semester. I'm spending far too much time loving myself and building this degree structure thing that will easily be blown away rather than loving my friends, strangers, and the community in which I am a part. There's something about Friendship and Charity love that I'm more confident about. Maybe its because Jesus modeled those loves often and very well.

yes, I agree that I'm in the world and I should properly use my talents, intelligence, and resource to further the Lord's Kingdom. I don't dispute that at all. But there's a fine slippery line between understanding that and the way in which one's actions take shape. I think I've been slipping too much.

I want to be sold out to AND for the Gospel. COMPLETELY. and that it would be my concern for all of my days.

marriage - not for everyone

2009-04-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

I think I've posted on this topic before, but I had some more thoughts about it after some conversations and James, and wanted to share. I mean James in the New Testament, not my friend James, who is cool too.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 3:18-4:3 NIV)

Marriage is not for everyone under the banner of Christ, although I think society wants to often tell us that. On the whole, it is probably safe to say that the institution of marriage in our society has been deteriorating. I recognize this. I think however, there's still a large underlying impetus or push to get married.

Having a "cultural push" to get married is not necessarily a great thing, especially when it is based on parameters outside the sanctity of marriage as defined by God. Marriage becomes an arrangement. Or a financial benefit.

But the point of this post is not to really talk about that. I wanted to talk more about Christians and the idea of marriage. With this cultural "push" to get married, people, both Christian or non-Christian, get married based on wrong motives, and this I think then leads to conflict within marriage.

Like James mentions above, I think the selfish desires people experience definitely apply to the realm of marriage and the desire to get married.

Girls and guys both value and are subject to this "gotta get married" strong cultural suggestion. There are so many things in our society that push this. Most girls from a young age start to dream about their wedding day and who they might marry. There's nothing necessarily wrong with this, but it can overshadow a more important dream or identity to be wrapped up in.

I hope I'm wrong, but in large part, it seems that the thoughts and dreams young girls are having are NOT about what spending eternity with Jesus might look like or what being Christ's hands and feet in our world might look like. I can't really say for sure, but I think this goes on based on what I understand mass media and culture communicates.

Guys have their culture thoughts and plans for marriage too, it's not just girls. Guys too can get overshadowed by the "what's in it for me" idea of marriage that drives the cultural push to get married. They may not dream about wedding days, but they dream or think about other things.

Marriage though, I think as the Lord would have it, is based on an incredible opportunity for service. It's like a 50 year mission trip, or however long you'll be married. Marriage at its core, should be about service, self-less, service and not selfish service. Marriage should be about helping the spouse grow closer in their relationship to Christ, for that is what matters most.

I don't think that's a pervasive cultural mentality.

We're all flawed I know. I'm not saying "oh, if you recognize any selfish desire in you, stay away from marriage!" God blesses brokenness. I think He can and often does bless brokenness that is mutually shared and identified. He blesses marriages even if they had orginally been built on selfish desires of the particpants involved. There's nothing short of His grace that He can't touch.

What I'm saying is that I think we should perceive marriage differently than our culture currently does. Not as a "what can it do for me?" but "how can I act like Jesus and serve and love this person and help them grow closer to the Father?"

GOOD Friday from Scripture...

2009-04-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:23-27 NIV)

We are to deny ourselves and bear our cross each day...

"Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:16-17, 28-30)

Jesus didn't just TELL us to take up our cross, He DID it, changing our lives and the world forever...

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:8-10 NIV)

And still today, Jesus wants nothing more than to purify us and make us holy. The meaning of the cross becomes greater and greater as we recognize more and more our own depravity.

Maundy Thursday in pictures...

2009-04-09T15:08:00.000-05:00

this sequence of events seems to happen regularly in our modern day,

not just once 2000 years ago...

What grace that we can share in fellowship with Jesus and that He offers to wash us clean again and again, despite the gravity of our sin in which we betray Him over and over again. How often we're just like Judas, in it for personal gain at the expense of the Lord.

We have an incredible Lord VERY WORTHY of all our PRAISE and DEVOTION!!

something the poor have that the rich (us) want

2009-04-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

So I need to qualify a few things for this post.

1. For all intensive purposes, if you read this post, you're rich. Comparatively speaking, I figure if you have access to a computer to read a blog, you're in the top quartile of the world's most prosperous people. Born in the USA or other developed nation sort of does that to you if you asked for it or not. I use "poor" generally in this post to refer to monetary status, but I believe a true definition of poverty really includes much more than that -- which involves social relations, political access and rights, human rights, but for this post, "poor" means without money...

2. What I'm going to write on some of us already have here in the US, but I think all of us could stand to gain more of it or have it be a more intentional and regular part of our everyday life...

So what is it that the poor have that we rich are missing in large quantities, but deep down inside really want? To the point that we envy this aspect of the poor?

I was thinking about the times when people come back from short-term missions trips, or even vacations for that matter, in a developing country with more acute poverty. The general reaction or feeling to the trip is very positive. The experience was great!, very fulfilling!, and even post-trip people are wanting to back and relive the experience again. I seem to notice that experiences with the homeless in our own country, our poor, is a bit different. It's filled with more sadness and empathy it seems. Why this difference?

Well, I think some of the desire to go back or relive the overseas experience or short term mission trip isn't self-sacrificial, it's actually selfish. I'm going out on a limb here, but yes, I am saying that humans are selfish, even after the context of something like a mission trip, where they went out to serve.

Call me crazy, but I think what people envy about the poor is that the poor have each other.

In the US, I feel that there is an association of loneliness with our poor, maybe that corresponds to our individualism, and so interactions with our homeless, our poor, tend to produce a different response. More of a sadness.

When people go to developing countries, yes social and cultural norms are different, and that plays into it I'm sure, but we recognize the poor to be mostly happy and very content with what they have. We are always amazed at that - "they have so little, but yet are so happy"

But they don't have a little of community. They have a lot of it. A lot more than us "rich" folk back here in the USA. I think that's part of the reason we so readily want to go back on those mission trips. We want that community association and living. It's something that we envy and selfishly desire.

I don't think it's a bad thing to desire community, I think it's quite natural and fundamental for our being.

Simply put, I think the poor demonstrate that better than our rich society does. Again, money isn't the only factor I'm implying makes the difference, social and cultural norms surely play a part. Part of being poor is often not having a job, and so maybe it's that community happens involuntarily. I'm sure many people who are poor would rather have a job and an ability to support themselves or their family better. I also think the poor use community as a defense mechanism against poverty. Whatever the reason, we see that the poor live more often and deeper in community.

That contrasts largely with what we're used to and live here in the US. For the most part, we work as indivduals. We earn money as individuals. We work out as individuals. We tend to pray as individuals.

There's nothing wrong with working hard. There's nothing wrong with making money. None of those things are wrong, but I think it stands to say that we "rich" people could become more like the poor and have a greater engagement into community.

Thank You that You know better.

2009-03-31T11:43:00.000-05:00

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.

the Jesus I worship: not Mr. Rogers

2009-03-27T14:35:00.001-05:00

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!

satan always out to kill joy...

2009-03-23T20:47:00.000-05:00

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.

that's church!

2009-03-17T13:32:00.000-05:00

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!

I dare you to measure...

2009-03-09T16:39:00.000-05:00

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.

a good team "slogan" for believers

2009-03-06T09:54:00.000-06:00

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)

evil in the world: old, but regular news

2009-02-27T12:38:00.000-06:00

The reality of things is that there is much evil in the world. This is nothing new really. A quick look to our history textbooks, and I'm going to guesstimate that 75% of the content deals with some sort of evil. History textbooks don't tend to report the good happy times. They report wars and revolutions and crisises.

Evil is both wide and deep. Evil occurs in every nation, city, household, and the depth of evil can be seen in multiple situations. Just look at any news media, tv or internet news. Our senses are infiltrated with knowledge of evil again, and again, and again.

I'm kind of wondering why news outlets like to stick to reporting mostly evil things and events. It's not all bad, but the majority of focus is spent reporting on child molestors, murders, rapes, wars, fires, sicknesses, depressions, relationships gone bad (personal and business ones), greed...the list goes on and on and on.

A possible answer to that question might be that it's probably related to another evil - greed...those news "suppliers" want to make a profit and the best way to do that is ratchet up the stories that portray evil and abuse and heartbreak.

Why is it that evil continues to "get us"? Why do we continue to pay attention to the high volume of it that's out there. Yes, there's a lot of it out there, but why haven't news "suppliers" changed the substance of what they report? We continue to pay attention to evil, time and time again, I think for one principal reason.

Deep down, in the intricate fabric of every human being, we know that hearing or seeing or experiencing evil -- there's something wrong with that. It makes our ears perk up and our eyes grow wider when we read of evil or hear about it. The inner places of our hearts recognize that's not the way it should be, and so we pay attention to evil event A because we are intrigued as to why something went wrong where it shouldn't have.

Over the past couple of adys, I've been struck by how much evil is in our world. I think we often de-sensitize ourselves to the volume and intensity of evil in our world, probably so we can continue functioning as human beings without being overwhelmed...but I've been somewhat undoing the de-sensitizing, and it's really awful to try and grasp the magnitude of evil in our world (I know I really am not coming close).

In the face of understanding evil a bit more, I'm so thankful I can trust a promise from Jesus the Great Savior: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB)

a good heart check

2009-02-24T10:26:00.000-06:00

So last week, I started to see lots of fliers up for a documentary showing put on by the Gay and Lesbian group here at Vanderbilt. The documentary was "For the Bible Tells Me So" and looks at what the Bible says about homosexuality. The film showcases intense evangelists screaming at the top of their lungs and calling gay people "an abomination" and that they passionately deserve the wrath of hell for their homosexual sins. In the end, the documentary takes the view that the Bible permits homosexuality.

I believe firmly, and I think the evidence is overwhelming, that Scripture clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and is not part of what God would deem holy or righteous for His people.

Based on this belief, and the overwhelming sense that our culture continues to grow in the acceptance of homosexuality, I was gearing up for attending the showing, thinking of all sorts of intelligent arguments in my head that I could use to showcase that the Bible does not teach acceptance of homosexuality for the discussion time that would follow. I was firm in my belief that I would do this in a manner starkly different than the preachers shown on the film and the traditional behavior of the church -- loudly and angrily condemning homosexuality. I kept telling myself, and really believed, that I would really seek to be more like Jesus in trying to deliver all these good arguments that I had thought up in my head. In a gentle manner, not condemning.

Well, Thursday came around, and right before the showing was to begin, I decided not to go. I really felt convicted that I wasn't in the right Spirit. A heart check examination clearly revealed to me that it wasn't in a state to humbly love and serve. I was in a frame of mind to "intelligently argue"...which in the end is just like the angry yelling preachers condemning homosexuality.

I was motivated for God's righteousness for the wrong reasons. I wanted to use what I thought were good rhetorical skills and angles of argument to defeat this pervasive cultural belief.

Rather than being like Jesus, seeking to be humble, wanting to go with a Spirit of self-sacrificial love, I was proud and arrogant. Which is just like the rest of the world, and starkly different from Jesus and what He offered (and the way He offered it).

The Apostle James really gets at this in James 4:1-12. I was certainly "double-minded" and where he writes "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble," this was certainly true in this case.

While I still firmly believe that homosexuality is not part of how God wants His people to live, and while I passionately desire the righteousness of God to break down the chains of bondage in our present day society, it's not going to happen with proud, double-minded hearts that seek their own way and forget Christ's perfect example of love.

vulnerability leads to intimacy

2009-02-21T20:07:00.000-06:00

I think most people would agree that intimacy is a great thing. Intimacy in relationships that is, above all things, pure and uncorrupted is a deep desire of hearts.

Most of all, our hearts want to be most intimate with Jesus. I believe all hearts are like this. They were created that way. It's only natural for them to be inclined to gravitate towards their founder, and best lover, Jesus.

I think it's just that some hearts have recognized this fact and have responded, either deciding to accept and pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus, and some have responded negatively...for selfish reasons, or possibly haven't responded yet because the enemy has blocked or constrained the joy and pure vision of Jesus from some hearts.

Whatever the case may be, I want to make the point that I think vulnerability leads to intimacy. **Let me caution that by immediately saying that vulnerability is risky too, and can lead to severe pain and hurt, when vulnerability is taken advantage of or abused.

Maybe a more clear expression is that vulnerability when led by the Holy Spirit leads to intimacy, which again, I'm pretty sure most people, deep down, are going to recognize is a great thing.

Think about instances where vulnerability occurs. When someone gets up to share their real and honest testimony, to share different joys and pains, they are opening a wider window into their hearts. They are being vulnerable in many ways, and it's not often easy to share a personal testimony. Yet, I can think of numerous examples where I have benefited greatly from a brother or sister sharing a testimony. I also certainly observe that the gathered body of believers who experiences that testimony seems to genuinely increase the closeness or togetherness of their relationships to each other. The body of believers becomes more intimate when Spirit led vulnerability takes place.

I also think of an example of a guy and a girl going down towards the road of marriage. That process certainly involves vulnerability, and something so intense and important as a process leading towards the holy covenant of marriage I'm thinking definitely is going to have a lot of the Holy Spirit involved. In terms of human relationships, I can't think of anything more intimate than a husband and wife. The intimacy doesn't just happen--it's something that grows after genuine vulnerability happens in each person (whether they like it or not).

Saving the best for last...the greatest instance of where I think vulnerability leads to intimacy was where I started this post. This verse also reminds us to follow the example (of being vulnerable).
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)

Jesus, finding himself in the glory of Heaven, in the security of sitting next to God the Father...desired to be more intimate with the hearts of those He had so lovingly created...hearts that had fallen away and been led adrift by sin. Our greatest example of pure vulnerability led by the Spirit was Jesus himself. If the picture of a man beaten and bloody, half-naked, with arms wide open nailed to a cross can't serve as a textbook definition of vulnerability, then nothing can.

And Jesus' gift of salvation to an individual heart, if that is not THE definition of what intimacy really is, then intimacy should be struck from being allowed to be a word.

And so...I think it's true. Vulnerability leads to intimacy. Especially when the Holy Spirit has a heavy hand in the vulnerability part.

Jesus greater than Hallmark

2009-02-14T07:48:00.000-06:00

So today is Valentine's Day.

I'm just going to offer that our culture really gets us to think about, and then expect a great Hallmark card, a wonderful flower arrangement, or some elaborately conceived romantic dinner.

Don't get me wrong, all those things can be great. But in thinking about these things or focusing on them, we miss something much much greater. Something that doesn't even compare in fact.

Today, it would be horrible to not even think for a few minutes and reflect on Christ's great act of love. Leaving the glory of heaven to come and suffer on the cross. To heal us and redeem us.

No Hallmark card, flowers, romantic dinners WILL EVER, not even come 1,000,000,000,000,000 light years anywhere close to Christ's love offering:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)

the missing men

2009-02-12T15:09:00.000-06:00

So as I sit up and survey the demographics in the body of Christian believers today, there seems to be a noticeable imbalance.

Where are all the men who love Jesus?

Sure there are some. For the most part, however, at church, in campus fellowship groups, church home groups...I see mostly women. It was like this in Argentina too. I'm guesstimating 70% women to 30% men. Maybe it's not that high, and maybe I'm wrong about this "armchair" observation, but if it's true, why would so many men be missing?

I got to thinking about this after reading in 2 Samuel more and more about King David and narratives about his life. I'm not trying to go Wild at Heart in this post, but I think there is something to be said about how the general teaching of truth is conveyed and the picture of Jesus that is disseminated from churches today in modern day America.

Life for Bible believing, Jesus believing men is watered down. I don't think many men, either outside the church or inside it see Jesus as a fierce warrior King.

I think men, more than women (I'm basing this judgement on limited experience of not having been a woman)...men more than women take their behavior cues from men around them. They often try to embody those who are stronger, wiser, more athletic, more talented...etc, more to a degree than women do. I'm not sure why, but I think it's true.

If that's the case, we need to start publishing King David stories and exploits in Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. King David was a warrior. He fought God's battles, and was regularly involved in some sort of serious conflict (like fleeing from his rogue king son). When he wasn't in some sort of armed conflict, David was worshipping God. Passionately.

The thing that struck me was how David fell into sin. Things that were culturally way off limits. Like murder. Or adultery. David committed these acts, and suffered for his misdeeds, but continued to come back to the glory and mighty holiness of God. I was amazed at the resiliency of David to quickly come back to and want to seek the glory of God. When he realized he had sinned, he owned up to it quickly and didn't try to hide his reputation or put off an image like he had it all together.

I think this is an example worth looking at and trying to embody (minus the murder, coveting, and adultery of course). This would be a starting place.

I think men of this generation should look at King David and his life stories as a man after God's own heart who was passionately in love with Jesus. David's love towards the Lord didn't make him a fairy or any less macho or any less intelligent...he did avoid trying to look cool and collected. King David never would have ended up on the cover of GQ magazine.

seeing more clearly...

2009-02-04T10:40:00.000-06:00

Over the past couple of weeks, I feel like my "spiritual vision" has been improving. I've been seeing more clearly...

This is both good and bad.

Bad because I'm seeing more and more how corrupt and wretched I really am. My sinful and selfish ways are often earthly and unspiritual. I often run on the wisdom of the world, rather than relying on the pure wisdom that comes down from heaven. The thing that has become extremely clear is the envy and selfish ambition wrapped up inside me.

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13-18 NIV)

The good part of all of this is that in seeing the sin and wretchedness, it is more abundantly clear day after day how great is God's faithfulness, and how His grace is really more than enough; it's everything! There have been so many good things that have come up and happened in my life in these past two weeks. So I'm writing this more as a testament to God's faithfulness even in the midst of a corrupt and sinful one.

Psalm 89:1-18 captures God's faithfulness of what I'm talking about.

Great is your faithfulness Oh God!....

the power of 2

2009-01-29T10:43:00.000-06:00

As Christ followers, one of the joys of that relationship is getting to share the gospel with others. Here at home, in other countries, next door...the "where" would be agreed upon by many that to the ends of the earth is as far as we should go.

But "how" exactly takes numerous diversions and there are many opinions out there on "how" best to go out and share the gospel. I don't claim to have the right answer, but I wanted to offer an observation that I think holds Truth.

Wise King Solomon thought: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV)

Is it coincidence that Jesus sent His disciples out 2x2 and we see other instances of Jesus' followers accomplishing things in twos?

Mark records "Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits." (Mark 6:7)

Luke picks up on the same detail with the 72 that get sent out after the twelve: "After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go." (Luke 10:1)

This two by two principle continued with Jesus' followers after His death.

Matthew writes "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to look at the tomb." (Matthew 28:1) Two Marys.

Luke records "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seventy miles from Jerusalem..." (Luke 24:13)

Sure, safety might have been an issue during their day, but I think it is no accident that this detail of two by two occurs quite frequently and is recorded by at least three gospel writers. Both men and women went out two by two. So what is this getting at?

I think this is a detail that Jesus wants us to recognize for ministry. Sure, going out to serve Him as an individual is good, but even better is going out with a partner in ministry. There are many more advantages to going out together and having a brother or sister to "tag-team" in gospel sharing.

As Proverbs 27:17 offers: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

oh what a good question.

2009-01-22T13:12:00.000-06:00

atheist bus campaign in London

2009-01-16T13:39:00.001-06:00

A group of atheists have banded together, raised some money, and have paid for advertisements on public buses in London encouraging people to deny the existence of God.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7813812.stm

Apparently, they cite Albert Einstein in one of their ads. Which is ironic, since he held that the existence of a personal God interacting in natural events could not be refuted. Einstein held a wonderment for the laws of nature, that had to have come from somewhere. Einstein was agnostic, not atheist.

Anyways, I think the real shame in this is to be found in the Christians who caused this group of people to go forward with this campaign. Apparently, "evangelical" advertisements encouraged viewers to go to a website, where they were then told "that those who rejected God were to face an eternity of torment in hell." That may be the case, but that judgement is for God to decide, not to be used as a threat passed on by those claiming to act in Christ's interests.

Christ's kingdom is a kingdom of love, and not fear.

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:16-18 NIV)

Using fear to encourage people to come to Christ is, I think, flat wrong, and quite opposite of Jesus' example.

If we, as Christ followers, desire to share the incredible joy and Peace that Jesus brings to a life, it will positively be accomplished through a spirit of love and actions of service. Not fear. Ugh!

men or institutions? (Jesus is not an institution)

2009-01-15T08:08:00.000-06:00

In everyday life, which do you trust more and put more faith in, human beings or institutions?

Think of a few examples.

With as great as facebook is, does it, or getting together with friends at a dinner party or for a game of frisbee, which gives you a greater community-experienced satisfaction?

I think the human element wins.

If you're trying to find a job, they say that the most effective way to do so (and I would personally agree very much) is to network via friends, family, and other contacts. Human beings. Considering your own history of actually finding jobs, which would you put more trust in, finding a job through networking, or a place like monster.com or careerbuilder.com?

Again, I think the human element wins.

If you go out and pursue a romantic relationship, even with as good as the 14 personality characteristics or whatever they are on match.com, which is better, interacting with that potential person in a group setting or being set-up by a friend you highly trust vs. a dating service or something like match.com? Yes, I know that some friends have no clue about your and someone else's compatability, even though they think so, but I said a "friend you highly trust."

I think humans win again, although I know this instance is quite debatable.

The point I'm getting at is: across the board in more cases than not, there's something about the human element, the human touch, that is stronger, more trustworthy, and more powerful than an institutionalized form that tries to embody the same. In business, community interaction, finding a job, pursuing a relationship, the human element is stronger than the institutionalized equivalent.

Does the same apply to Jesus vs. Christianity?

And an added consideration, the human element of Jesus being fully divine, the Lord of the universe vs. the institution of Christianity.

Back to the original question I asked at the beginning of this post.

In everyday life, which do you trust more and put more faith in, human beings or institutions?

Jesus or Christianity?

I think this one is a no brainer.

this song rocks!

2009-01-09T15:45:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdO7PQkALns

I think it's an awesome song. A good reminder that we worship Jesus for who He is. Not who we want Him to be. Or when it is convenient for us to worship Him.

He is the center.

We revolve, by incredible grace, around Him.

we need you back Malachi

2009-01-07T15:47:00.000-06:00

I wish the prophet Malachi would re-appear and go on a nation-wide speaking tour.

I know I could hear what he has to say.

His message is quite clear, and in my opinion, quite applicable to modern day America.

Malachi questions the motives of peoples hearts as to where their allegiances really rest. Instead of giving God our first fruits and best, we convenienty give him our leftovers, when it's convenient. This struck me hard when reading Malachi.

When we give food to a homeless man, do we pick out the leftovers from the fridge and give them away? Or should we give him the prime ribeye steak? We donate our used clothes that no longer fit us or are in fashion to Goodwill. Do we go out and buy a new sweater from the Gap and give it to someone who does not have a coat in the cold winter? When we see a sick friend, do we embrace them, hug them or encourage them? Or is it, love ya pal, but I (I,I,I) DON'T WANT to get sick, keep your distance.

I think I'm making my point. I know I'm pretty bad at giving my first and best to the Lord.

As Malachi reminds, our God is a God of justice, mercy, and love...GREAT LOVE.

It's quite selfish of me not to respond with my very best to that GREAT LOVE.

Malachi, you're the man, and your message is needed and relevant today.

ding! -- the Lord's will

2009-01-03T11:40:00.001-06:00

I had a pretty significant "ah-ha!" moment reading through a devotional (Utmost for His highest - Jan 2) yesterday morning and wanted to share it.

So here are my thoughts, and I'll start by using an analogy of marriage to present my case.

So as a marriage grows deeper and more intimate, it's many times the man and wife get to a point where they "know what the other is thinking" or easily understand why the other is upset. Growing in such a relationship is a matter of being in the presence of each other for both quality and quantity amounts of time. A husband and wife at this level of relationship don't sit around asking each other questions to reconcile and become closer. "Hey honey, um, did you just get mad again because I left the toilet seat up?" "Well dear, I didn't say I love you when you left for work today, did that somewhat bother you?" "Through thought osmosis, I'm expressing I adore you, but I really felt I didn't need to say it, is that cool?"

Don't get me wrong, questions are part of growing closer, but the intimacy, I think, really comes from spending quality time together where man and wife can soak in who each other are and what they're about as well as an outflow component of doing life together, so that man and wife can see how each other apply their passions and deeply held priorities to the world.

So here's how it hit me clearly.

My tendency with the Lord is to constantly ask "Lord, Lord, what is your will for me today or this month?" "Should I be doing this?" "Should I be initiating this relationship or trying to do this or that?" "Oh Lord, please show me a sign somehow in the amazing ways you work..." I ask and ponder these questions, but I now really don't think that's the best way for me to discern Christ's will.

My realization was this: I will find out much more what the Lord's will for my life is by coming to Jesus' feet to spend intimate time with Him, not asking Him questions about what our relationship looks like or should look like or what His will is in this or that. As I spend more time with Him, I'll know good and well what He desires.

anxiety, relationships

2008-12-28T18:40:00.000-06:00

So, I've been doing some thinking, and I have come to this conclusion/realization.

Anxiety seems to be arise out of selfishness. The more selfish one is, in general or in a particular relationship, the more anxiety is felt.

I was thinking of this in context of a good friend who has just entered into a dating relationship. He is an outstanding guy, and a solid brother, but he has expressed that he feels anxious in many ways with this relationship. I think it's selfishness. I don't think this unnamed friend is selfish in general, he does not act as such, but I think the source of his anxiety can be traced to his own selfishness with this relationship. In the sense that an ideal or a mental picture of what that relationship should look like or how it would proceed is held in my friend's mind.

I would say my friend with this relationship is a minor example that was supporting evidence for this thought of how selfishness is related to anxiety. The real incriminating evidence and major example for this came when I reflected upon myself, and how stupidly selfish I am in certain relationships in my life, and low and behold, those areas of my life are where I experience the most anxiety. I refer to relationship both as in relationships to other people as well as relationship as in my relationship to money, trust, marriage, and other non-human aspects of life.

Instead of relying on Christ to be the center, I rely on my self, convinced of my own ways and my own thoughts to figure things out. I set out this idea in my mind about how something should be, rather than trusting Christ's way over my way.

I think Paul alludes to this in Philippians: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

And Jesus gives a pretty clear solution to this problem of selfishness and the resulting anxiety that can simply wear someone out: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

Now, I want to be clear, I don't think we're just to sit down in a chair and let God run our lives. Completely the opposite. We're to walk according to the graces He has showered down upon us, but do so with a firm trust and reliance on Christ's precepts and principles rather than my own.

the value principle (grace)

2008-12-27T15:55:00.000-06:00

In our world today, someone of value is given something of value as a sign and symbol of worth. Value seems to be tied together.

Office employees who have been with a company for forty years receive a diamond studded bracelet in thanks for many years of outstanding service to the company. Or consider a regular salary for a worker. The worker receives value in the money for creating some sort of value through his or her work. Even little kids, who might go 0-12 for an entire basketball season, still get a trophy at the end of the season (I was that kid) for trying hard and coming close.

I'm claiming that this idea about value being tied to something else of value is some sort of universal principle... "well, ya, duh Hunter..." but I'm trying to make a very simple point.

I challenge you to come up with something that would be of greater value than a life that possesses the most joyful relationships that are truly authentic, a life that has the greatest possible purpose, and a life in which one receives the greatest contentment from such a purpose. Yes, these things rolled altogether into one life. Forever.

Possible?

Absolutely! The greatest gift of value is available for the incredible worth of individuals from every tribe, tongue and nation. If it were not so, Christ would not have come to earth, and He would have not gone to the cross.

Jesus recognizes, with His unique special eyes and insight, the worth of every person. And it is Christ, and Christ alone, who offers the most valuable gift--an eternal life spent in Jesus' presence--that is unparalleled in its worth. This great gift of value is given for the incredible value that individuals possess.

It is simply up to those individuals to allow Christ to give the gift and to accept it.

be still my soul...

2008-12-17T12:35:00.000-06:00

In our conect-a-thon world, we've got this mentality that we always need to be plugged in. Not doing so, we sometimes begin to feel anxious, like something is wrong. Surfing the net, facebook, cell phone texting, watching the Office...or work or getting together with friends for sports activities or for a coffee chat or community group...

Don't get me wrong, community is fundamentally important to this life we live, but it can also become an idol along with all other sorts of electronic means of "plugging in" that exist in our society nowadays.

Tim Keller makes the point that an idol is something that serves a good purpose, it can be a good thing, but it becomes elevated to being an ultimate thing. I think we should remember this.

One of the greatest ways, I think as Scripture teaches, and Christ often did himself, is to remove oneself from the world, go to a solitary place, and just have time to be with Jesus.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:10-11 NIV

This Scripture gives us the image of God as a Mighty Fortress. When we attempt to be still before the throne, with the King, we can picture ourselves doing so protected and surrounded by a mighty fortress. This will hopefully help block out all the "plugging in" temptations that battle for our attention.

How could a soul in solitude with Jesus not be renewing?

The Shack

2008-12-14T09:27:00.000-06:00

Well, I just finished reading The Shack by William P. Young. I have to admit, I was skeptical at first, mainly because it seemed like it was the bandwagon book everyone was reading at the time, and I tend to have caution with things that everyone else is doing.

Anyways, it was a good book and brought out some really solid questions to examine for yourself. I was really encouraged when I looked up the readership, and it's sold more than 2 million copies and has been #1 on the NY Times Best Seller list for 26 or something weeks now.

That's really encouraging to me that a lot of people are going through the substance of this book and finding and having time with Jesus in a different way than the institutionalized, culturized form of Jesus as they have known Him.

I totally agree with the book that Jesus is not a set of rules or an institution or an accepted status quo of how to act or what to think. God in His infinite-ness cannot be thought of fully or understood completely by finite-ness - that being US humans!! I think it's an amazing premise - that God is so huge and His love so great, even the love that we can actually understand and get an idea of -- the reality is that there's even that much more to His love than we know.

For this, as the book pointed out, Jesus deserves the center of attention and the entirety of our lives.

Another point that I really enjoyed about the book was the emphasis on reconciliation. To get a bigger grasp and a better sense of that huge huge love of God that we have a hard time experiencing because of our own selfishness and stupid independence -- a great way to get that love is via reconciliation. Reconciliation for friendships, marriages, relationships with family members, and acts of reconciliation with those who have hurt us or harmed us.

The power of reconciliation is incredibly great. After all, in doing so, we are seeking to follow God's example of how He worked on us, to make things right through Jesus. I don't think we can go wrong genuinely trying to emulate God's act of reconciliation in our own earthly relationships.

As Paul writes...
"If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:13-21 NIV)

One thing I felt was missing from the book was the importance of Scripture. The Shack never really included or talked about in the character conversations, anything about the primacy of the Word. I think it's great that a relationship with Jesus is going to look differently for each person, but I think that the Holy Scriptures are an inherent part of that relationship, since in the beginning, the Word was with God, and the Word was God...(John 1). Overall, a good book and a solid read!

disciples, not converts

2008-12-10T10:15:00.000-06:00

In terms of global evangelism and missions (which is still relevant here in the USA), it's great to go and share the gospel, but I think Scripture even more specifically calls us to try and make disciples, not just mere "converts" to the faith.

Jesus says so himself: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

Go and make "disciples"...it doesn't say go and make "converts"...

Paul, a great missionary himself, also keys on the importance of "disciples" and not mere converts throughout the book of Acts. We see different instances (please see for yourself in Acts) where Paul is growing up "disciples" or strengthening the already existing "disciples."

"Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." (Acts 19:8-12 NIV)

I think this is important to recognize. It changes the focus and logistics of what missions may involve and the commitment to missions.

1) It will be a slower process. We are used to so many things fast, fast, fast in our modern day and age. We acquire material goods, even large things, like buying a house very quickly. In many countries of the world, it may take a family 15 years to build their homes. They buy a lot, and when they can afford some cinder blocks they start a foundation. Then 5 years later when they can afford cinder blocks for a wall, they buy those and now you have a foundation and a wall. The point is, we are used to acquiring or accomplishing things with rapidity.

I feel like genuine discipleship and missions that seek to bring honor and glory to God are distinctly different.

2) The "numbers" won't be as many. Also in our day and age, we have this mentality of "more is better." We certainly take this approach to our financial holdings. Our houses as well. Even our food. Supersize me please! More, more, more!

I don't think it's wrong to desire that everyone know and have a genuine relationship with Jesus. I wish everyone I knew would know the Truth and Joy that is found in Jesus and Him alone. This may be my pessimistic attitude, but I'm not sure of the reality of how those two things mesh together. If we are taking time in missions to go deeper into relationships and with a commitment to discipleship, I feel like there's not enough time to go around for having deep relationships with numerous individuals.

That's hard to reconcile. In thinking about missions, against our fast and high quantity mindsets that we have been a-cultured to, I think the Lord wants us to do less, but do less well.

Scripture speaks clearly AGAIN!

2008-12-03T12:41:00.000-06:00

A great game plan for carrying on this life that's short and to the point...

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NIV)

grace

2008-12-01T15:18:00.001-06:00

I think the longer that I'm seeking and trying to follow Jesus, the more I recognize, truly get, that salvation is completely by grace, and grace alone.

This of course is a very central tenet to the Christian faith, one of the main ones, if not the most important thing that sets it apart. It gets talked about and preached quite often, but that doesn't always mean it's something that I really own and know to be true. That comes with time, and is till a work in progress.

The idea of grace that comes in the form of an incredibly joyous and pure eternal life found in Jesus, a pure gift with no strings attached of compensation from me or something I have to earn, is ridiculously radical.

I was thinking, the more I come to understand grace, the more incomprehensible it really becomes.

That sounds, at first, quite a contradictory statement. But I really think it's true. Think of doctors and their understanding of the human body. Or think of scientists and their grasp of the universe. In each case, the objects that are trying to be understood (the human body and the universe), are complex, but at the same time, wonderful and beautiful. Not much is understood of either. Talking to my doctor friends about the human body, the overall percentage of what's really known is very small. How all the systems interact with each other, how the brain works, how different cells work in different situations...if they really knew a lot more, I don't think we'd have as many diseases or cancers or afflictions.

Same with the universe. Scientists don't really know that much about all the stars or if global warming is really part of a longer term normal cycle or if it's something man-made. Sure, there's data to back up that claim. There's also data to back up the other side. You can get data to work how you want it to in scientific studies. The point is, not much is really understood. When doctors or scientists do discover something new or come to some new knowledge, it usually opens up more unknowns and more questions than before! Doctors and scientists can't even start to say how much they know because they don't know the finite amount of what can be known!!

In thinking about these examples, I think grace is similar. Grace is complex and we don't nearly know how extensive and amazing it really is. The more that is understood about a certain aspect of grace, more questions are brought up regarding other elements that stem from grace. So, the more I seem to understand grace, the more incomprehensible it really becomes. There are so many things I can think of right now that I take for granted that otherwise should not exist, and the only answer (rational or irrational) I have for those things, is grace. As complex as it may really be, I think it can also be compiled simply into Jesus, and the love He offers.

And so, more than anything, I'm incredibly stunned at how amazing grace really is.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:4-10 NIV)

sharing Jesus in your hometown

2008-11-27T20:37:00.000-06:00

"When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:53-58

First of all, let me be very clear. I'm not a prophet.

I do identify with Jesus in this passage however. It's a great irony. The people I should be most familiar with (family and some friends from home) and have spent the majority of my life with, I feel they are the hardest ones with whom to share Jesus and the significance of who Christ is. I can't really figure out why, but I think this passage speaks some to that.

With these closer life relationships, deeply ingrained habits and expectations exist on both sides of the relationship. Any sort of major change or concept breaking previously held notions and ways of doing things don't seem make many inroads. I find it hard finding the words, how to start a conversation, what to do...something so that Christ can be initiated or thought about in the relationship. Likewise, when I am able to try and start conversations, there is not a whole lot of patience for listening to what's being said on the receiving end of things. There seems to be resistance to listening to this "other" life in Christ.

I know it's not up to me and it's completely going to be the Holy Spirit working through these family members and friends if anything it to happen. I think I share Jesus' feelings of frustration and sadness when it comes to people you've grown up with and been around for so long.

the vision before the work

2008-11-17T09:04:00.000-06:00

If you are to sit down and build a house, what needs to happen first?

Of course, building a foundation is an important early step, but even before that, don't you have to sit down and imagine, in detail, the finished product? What each room will look like, how each fixture contributes to each room that contributes to the overall architectural functionality and design of the house.

As we seek to be brothers and sisters who desire to share the gospel with those who have not tasted the quenching and fulfilling of salvation through Jesus, are we daring and actually taking time to imagine and dream what that is to look like? Do we allow our minds to wander what our schools, neighborhoods, families, and individual relationships will look like with Christ as the centerpiece of those structures?

If we aren't, I think we should be.

In Revelation, we have a recorded vision like that. We to I think should feel free and be convicted to regularly dream big dreams of the power of salvation in Christ before we actually set out to go about being His hands and feet and seeking to share the gospel with others.

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:6-14 NIV)

sharing what's been up with me: restoration

2008-11-17T08:35:00.000-06:00

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:12 NIV)

This past weekend was awesome. God is graceful and compassionate in the least expected times. I went to Texas for a wedding which can only be described as: complete awesomeness. I mean primarily the wedding, but being in Texas didn't hurt matters. The fullness and completeness of the love and joy of Christ were so evident and visible throughout time with friends and the ceremony and festivities of the wedding. I wanted to bottle it up and take it home to have some more for later.

Before this weekend, I had just felt sort of blah, going through the motions, and this weekend helped me realize the complacency of that and how I was walking (or barely shuffling along) with Jesus, which is not ok. It's hard to describe exactly the specifics of the blah-ness, but it was there, and this weekend encouraged me through grace upon grace.

Different conversations and seeing the love surrounding the wedding provided a very clear distinction of what is found in Christ. That which is found only in Him. I talked with people and had conversations that resulted in a swelling up of compassion and recognition that Christ is so completely and extremely needed everywhere in this world. In every relationship, in every family, in every society. And in the wedding, I saw a clear and tangible proof of that.

And I don't think by coincidence, this morning, I woke up and really had a sense that there was more serious spiritual attack going on than normal. The enemy does not like it when your joy of salvation is exploding. So that's not saying a lot, other than I can positively testify that Christ is the Lord of compassion and all things good, and unto Him we are to take our brokenness, even if we forget to intentionally do so.

rethinking the "tithe"

2008-11-04T18:27:00.001-06:00

I just finished a book that looked at American Christian giving through a sociological lens.

It was interesting. Americans are not very generous. 2.5% I think is the average giving across the board, somewhere around there. And the numbers are actually skewed, because a small minority of Christians give a lot that has an effect to bumb up the average. So basically, the average American Christian is really stingy in their giving, around the 1% of total income level.

Well, why?

I'll let you read the book to explore the possibles they brought up, I think some great points were made and discussed, and some I didn't agree with. But the fact remains. The idea of the "tithe" as we now have it is not working.

So it got me thinking. This might be a radically bold suggestion, but why don't we change the entire mentality of what "tithe" implies for an American Christian. Forget 10%. In fact, I don't think there's a direct Biblical basis for 10% giving. That's something that comes out of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and the people involved actually ended up giving more than 10% of their possessions/money in a year's time. So, why not get rid of this somewhat off-base Scriptural mentality that is clearly not working.

Jesus' view and affirmation on tithing is different:
"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (Luke 21:1-4)

Nothing of 10% is mentioned or alluded to. Jesus affirms something beyond any set amount, and in fact, I think is affirming much more than just the monetary issue at hand. Jesus is emphasizing (through his affirmation) that we should be giving to where it makes us uncomfortable, at least in the wordly sense of the world. This woman was a widow. She didn't have the means and recourses to go out and get a job, nor a long time horizon to put her two coins in a 401k and watch her nest egg grow. I think she was able to, and did give because this widow knew her God was and was assured that He is Great Provider.

So in light of this, and other teachings throughout Jesus' ministry, we in fact should be giving a very large portion of ourselves and our finances. Which would add up to a lot more than 10%. Jesus gave all of Himself up for us, and we barely give more than 2.5% of our money!!, and money is only one aspect of our entire person!! don't forget our time, our relationships, our intelligence, our.....

So maybe the American church should start teaching something else. Who knows, maybe something like a "reverse" budget. You don't make a budget based on how much you earn, you figure out how much you need to fulfill basic living expenses in line with Scripture, and then the rest is given. Plan out how much you need for food, clothing, shelter, and paying taxes to Caesar, whose money it is anyway. And maybe throw in a dinner or two dining out with the wife or husband so you can have some quality fellowship time. The rest of the income goes to support Kingdom building work. Missions. Work that shares the gospel. Bible printing or translating or distribution. Hospital building. Building schools where the Gospel is taught. Meeting hands and feet needs in communities at home and abroad. There are a zillion ways the money of this world can be put towards Heavenly purposes.

"Well Hunter, that's just unrealistic" you might say. I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, giving more money for the sake of giving more is not going to do anything except make you poorer. Spiritually and materialistically. But people can get by and live joyously on not much money at all. You might have experienced this. Why do people in "third-world" countries seem so joyful and content when you interact or hear about them on missions trips? They certainly don't have 401ks, bank accounts, savings. They've got a lot of Jesus. So they might be "third-world" to the world as we know it, but they certainly aren't "third-world" to God.

I really do think we would serve ourselves, the church, and most importantly, Jesus, much better if committed time to sit down, study Scripture, seek the Holy Spirit, and really try to get a handle around the "tithe" that God really wants us to be sharing in our lives. Yes, it's going to be uncomfortable and challenging. But I think the reward on the flip side will be well worth the effort, and in doing so, I think we'll come to the conclusion that we'll want to be giving away much more than 10%.

the ookey kooky Spirit?

2008-10-31T11:50:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Halloween. In light of goblins, ghouls and ghosts, it got me thinking about things spiritual and related to the Holy Spirit.

In the world, we seem to place quite a bit of emphasis on things of the flesh. Money, clothes, food, a house, a job, sexual relationships. If you disagree, I'd ask that you look or listen to the substance of media advertising, that essentially markets having more and more of these things. I would say that well-intentioned and good meaning followers of Christ struggle with these things as well, fairly regularly, it's not simply isolated to just non-believers. There seems to be this underlying voice or hand, if you will, that pushes or draws us to fill our lives up with these material things. But I'm doubtful that this is in line with what Scripture teaches. Paul writes:

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:13-26 NIV)

Paul advocates that our lives be led by the Holy Spirit. Now, the world would most definitely think that as crazy. "What, led by a spirit? Ok, that's weird. Ya, witches and ghosts and things are spirits...what a wacko."

Maybe so to the world. But living for Christ, being led by the Spirit is the way to go for everything, including all these things that the world enticingly attempts via the flesh.

Again, Paul writes (me summarizing/emphasizing) "You, my brothers, were called to be free...serve one another in love......So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit"

So in light of it's Halloween, it's perfectly ok to be led by and depend on a spirit...the Holy Spirit!

stumbling blocks to genuine community

2008-10-28T11:26:00.000-05:00

In Acts, we have one of the purest pictures of the early church and early Christian fellowship:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 42-47 NIV)

I think an emphasis worth noting is "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Pure community. And not by coincidence, the body of believers was growing quickly. The more unified the community, the greater it was able to grow as others came to know Christ.

One of my pet peeves if I could call it that of Christian community is that there all sorts of weird aspects in relationships that prevent pure and genuine community. Obviously, sin plays a significant role in coming between brothers and sisters, brothers and brothers, sisters and sisters...a lot of these stumbling blocks I think have migrated from worldly cultural tenets and principles into Christian community. For brother and sister relationships, one of these main stumbling blocks I think involves the idea of marriage. I posted on that a bit earlier, that there is this underlying cultural expectation to get married that I don't think is necessarily completely in-line with Scriptures' premise of marriage. As a result of this, when brothers and sisters are meeting each other for the first time, or first developing friendships, I think there is an underlying weirdness, as a result of some cultural expectations. It's possible that what's going on is that brothers and sisters are reading into things or having their minds not foremost on developing Christian community for God's glory, but rather on personal desires for relationships, possibly marriage.

For brother - brother relationships, I think cultural aspects of the importance of being thought of as intelligent, "Godly" or even being this "manly" man sometimes provides a stumbling block. I think guys sometimes get together and there is an underlying desire (that comes primarily from culture) to be able to lift more in the gym than the other guy or being more witty or having a greater knowledge of the Bible. This is not a limited list, there are other things guys do with other guys to "one up" each other in a sense, even if it's in a subtle way. Some of this sounds dumb and childish, but I do think it goes on. In addition, this desire is exacerbated when in a group setting.

I'm not going to try and speak to sister-sister relationships, since I'm not a sister, but I imagine there are stumbling blocks with those relationships too. And so what are we to do?

First, I think it's important to examine and recognize tendencies in relationships that may contribute to these "stumbling blocks." I think the desire to be humble and a servant before your brother or sister is something really important to keep in mind. Being vulnerable is hard, but it can be done more easily I think the more one's eyes are on the prize, Jesus. Also, it wouldn't be bad to echo Jesus prayer for community unity and keep in mind the direction to which Jesus was pointing with His prayer (this is kind of long, but most excellent):

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17: 6-26 NIV)

judgement

2008-10-23T16:37:00.000-05:00

In many ways, I think the modern day church in America is missing the mark when it comes to using "judgement" at the appropriate time and in the appropriate context. By American church, I mean the collective individuals of Christians that make up that body. In the name of "tolerance," which has something that has developed more and more in our culture in recent decades, I think the church has done too little (staying quiet and not saying anything) or done too much (congregation fights or splits over various issues).

Please don't get me wrong, I think tolerance is a good and healthy thing, but it can be taken to far so that one, or a group of people basically becomes unprincipled and standing for nothing.

This post is meant to focus on the church and internal issues of the church. I'm trying not to link external issues and their relationship to the church, which obviously influence and play a part, but I really want this post to focus on the church itself.

One of the most highly quoted verses from Scripture, and I would think most highly quoted by non-Christians would be "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-3 NIV)

In this passage, I feel like Jesus is instructing believers regarding their relationships with those outside the church, non-believers. I think this because a) this is early in Jesus' ministry and a church doesn't really exist yet, the apostles are hardly in place, and so without a church really being formed, I don't think Jesus means this in the context of believer to believer relationships and because b) this passage follows a group of passages that Jesus highlights dealing with beliver-relating to the outside world issues. In Matthew 6, He talks about: giving to the needy, prayer (by comparing the worldly Pharisees, who I think Jesus certainly sees as outside the "church"), fasting (again, comparison to worldly Pharisees), treasures in heaven, and having not worrying for worldy sustenance (food and clothing). So I think that theme continues to the beginning of Matthew 7 where Jesus is giving instructions to belivers on external world issues, and how to deal with them.

What I'm getting to is that I think Jesus means it's not okay to judge those outside the church, but it's okay to judge those inside the church*. Notice I put an * mark, because I think Jesus would mean that you can judge those inside the church if they're clearly doing something that is out of line with Scripture and Christ's teaching.

Paul is more clear later on expelling the immoral brother: "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 5:1-3 NIV)

Now this presents a whole host of problems. And this may result in a "duh" Hunter, this post isn't saying anything new. Different people are going to interpret Scripture in a different way. This will lead to differences in issues that are controversial. That's one of the main problems of the church today.

Why am I writing about this? I think the church needs to figure itself out. As quickly as possible. Instead of fighting among itself, or teaching something completely contrary to Christ's intention (health and wealth gospel), it needs to get back to a more pure, original intent of what the church is supposed to be, which I think, also includes stop being so fragmented. Now, I just wrote that the health and wealth gospel is contrary to Christ's teaching. Others are going to completely disagree, in light of their interpretation of Scripture.

In light of this, I think Christians that have opposing viewpoints should sit down together, ask the Holy Spirit to guide their meeting(s), and seek out the real Truth of what Scripture is saying. If a Christian refuses to do this, or is unwilling, I think that's a sign for concern.

Now, I'm not going to go walking into every health and wealth gospel church and stand up in the middle of the service and start yelling and shouting. There's a proper Spirit of love that Christ would use to go about this I think, maybe He would do that, but I don't know.

My ending point to all this is that I think Christ-seeking Christians should be convicted more in their thoughts about the Supremacy of Christ and His Truth taught in Scriptures, and to not settle for all sorts of fluff the world, or other aspects of "the church" might present. I don't think they are to do this in a mean-spirited way, but follow Christ's example in standing firm in love and in Truth. If that involves correcting a brother or sister (again, in a spirit of "firm love"), then so be it.

the double-standard

2008-10-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Jesus

I'm going to propose that humans are finite. That may not be earth-shattering, but it's important to say, because it means a person's time is limited. They can only do so much in a 24 hour day, 7 day week, 12 month year, you get it. With that said, there's only so much one will be able to accomplish during this time of earthly existence for a) God or b) the world. (I include accomplishing things for oneself as part of accomplishing things for the world). And to be clear, "accomplishing" things for God, I mean loving Him and being devoted to Him, not in the sense that deeds are done for Him or in His name.

I think a double standard type mentality exists that I'm not sure is the best. Many people want to please God, to give Him honor and glory, which is a great thing to desire to do! Often times, especially in our culture that places a premium on "success," having money or owning a house or being pretty or having a model family or _________ (fill in the blank), there is a desire to accomplish much by the world's standards. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive, but there's something to be said for the fact that both are hard to accomplish simultaneously.

For a simple example, I can speak for myself and say that I'm bad at multi-tasking. It makes sense, right? If I'm devoting my focus and energy, to say, writing a paper, it's going to be much harder for me to have a real and genuine conversation on the phone with a good friend. Some people can do it, and more power to them.

I think this clearly applies to our walks with Jesus. If we are trying to serve Him and love Him with all our hearts, and that is a primary focus where energy is concentrated, are we still able to devote the necessary time and energy to be successful in this world? Should we? I sure think it's much harder.

I think people fool themselves more often than they want to admit (I'm inclusing myself in this generalization). It would be great to do a lot for God AND to accomplish a lot of good in this world. Whom do esteem more highly and say more loudly "wow, what a great guy" to: a rags to riches businessman who gave away his enormous fortune to charity in his twilight years or a janitor who didn't finish high school but consistently gave $25 every Sunday to the offering. If we're honest, I think most of us would say the businessman.

This is my point, none of these example guys were necessarily bad, they both did good things, but we don't really know about each one of their heart relationships with God throughout their time on earth (because yes, they are both hypothetical example men). My point is that we tend to go "oooo, aaaaa, wowww" to the wealthy guy because he accomplished a lot by the world's standards. But who knows, the wealthy guy's family life may have sucked, his friends may have thought he was always too busy for them. And maybe the janitor was smarter than Bill Gates, but chose a janitorial lifestyle so he could get up and pray and sing worship hymns to God for 4 hours before work each morning.

This is all hypothetical, but hopefully you get what I'm trying to get you to think about. Our relationship with God is a matter of the heart, but do we orient and make decisions in our life, wanting that heart relationship with God to like an intense marathon, or a heart relationship that looks more like intense sprinting, followed by fatigue, rest, and then an intense sprint again or an intense sprint at the end...

Having success in this world is not bad. I think to try for it at such a level that it takes away from our relationship with Jesus, then it is a problem. We need to be realistic with ourselves. We can only do so much with the time we have.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)

marriage and serving God

2008-10-13T09:56:00.001-05:00

I think a prevalent goal that exists in our society is to marry. Well DUH you might say. Yes, I agree, the human race wouldn't be able to continue if marriage wasn't a really big deal. I don't necessarily believe that God has placed a specific desire in everyone's heart for a wonderful other of the opposite sex. I do think that God has placed a desire for community in everyone's heart, and that very well could look like a woman and a man married together (the most intimate form of community). Even looking outside of the Christian community, I think this would pan out in the statistics: people divorce quite a bit, marriage rates are down, but people still live with each other and don't tie the knot (be it for saving money or having sex). Marriage doesn't quite have the premium it used to, but being together surely has not gone away.

I've read about some communities of single men and women who live together under the banner of Christ, who live in community, but choose to remain single to be devoted to the Lord first and foremost. I think this offers an interesting example to think about.

Marriage is not a bad thing at all, please don't get me wrong. My married friends tell me it's an awesome thing. And I believe them. But, I find that there are a lot of Christian brothers and sisters who pursue marriage as a primary goal to accomplish in life. Culture surely has had an influence on this. Little girls start thinking about their wedding day when they are still in diapers. I think guys start thinking about marriage later and a bit more gradually, maybe around their early 20s, but it still can grow into a passionate desire to be married. Think about various aspects of our culture, a lot of structures and institutions are set up that lead towards encouraging marriage (once again, these aren't necessarily bad in themselves). I think even that awful cotillion stuff my mom made me attend in middle school was a part of this whole call to marriage from society. The result from all this is that I observe many times that Christian brothers and sisters often have a decent amount of anxiety related to just that, marriage. Finding a mate. "I'll never find Mr. Right" or "I'll just be one of those lonely old men." I don't see as heightened anxieties about serving the Lord or orienting a vocation towards serving the Lord. Culture has cultivated a huge premium on getting married, and it's like if somebody doesn't, they're deemed a big fat loser.

But that's culture's opinion. Not God's. Paul talks about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7. I mention this insightful passage of Scripture to encourage you to read it for yourself and see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you regarding marriage. Some things I observe about it: Paul never says or explicitly commands, "don't marry". Or "marry." He does not lay out any specific absolutes. He talks about the benefits of being single so that one would be free to serve the Lord without disagreements or distractions that may arise in a marriage. Biblical scholars note that Paul was single during his apostleship period of Jesus (most likely when he wrote 1 Corinthians), but was very likely married during the time he served as a zealous Jewish persecutor of Christians. Paul knew both sides, he speaks from experience, which gives him more credibility.

In our culture, I wish that Christians would desire to seek and serve Jesus first and foremost, and not necessarily count on marriage as a given in their life. That they would pursue the Lord above all, and that if an opportunity for marriage does arise as a way to strengthen their service to the Lord, that they would get married! DUH! There are many situations that two together serving the Lord is a stronger ministry TOGETHER AS ONE than two single individuals serving the Lord, and so they should get married (that being that they love each other and seek each other's best interests before their own)! Marriage isn't for everyone, and shouldn't be pursuit #1, as our culture so often seems to claim and encourage.

I agree with the Pope

2008-10-06T12:40:00.001-05:00

Pope Benedict the 16th openly criticized the pursuit of wealth. This has been a relevant issue, and even more so now in the wake of the global "financial" crisis. It might be a "financial" crisis, but hopefully hearts and minds are going through a faith "renewal" or God "re-commitment."

See the article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7654878.stm

a wonderful prayer for today

2008-10-02T11:14:00.000-05:00

Fernando Ortega is the man. These lyrics are a wonderful prayer for today. You don't necessarily have to watch the video, please just let the words and the melody soak in.

safe for the whole family?

2008-10-01T11:10:00.000-05:00

A Christian radio station here in Nashville, which I very much enjoy listening to, has a slogan that they often repeat and play...

"safe for the whole family" is what they say.

Is the real Jesus safe?

If we look at Jesus in Scripture, and follow His history here on earth, I think there's strong evidence that Jesus is not safe, at least in an earthly sense of the word.

Let's take a look. Of the original twelve disciples, Simon Peter was crucified, Andrew was whipped and tied to a cross where he hung until he died, James (brother of John) was beheaded, Philip was crucified, Bartholomew was beaten severely, whipped, and THEN crucified, Thomas was speared to death and then incinerated in an oven, Matthew was axed to death, James (brother of Jesus) was thrown off the top of the temple, and though he survived the fall, he was then beaten to death by a gang wielding clubs. Jude and Simon the Zealot were crucified. Matthias (Judas' replacement) was stoned and THEN beheaded. Paul, who didn't interact with Jesus in person, but was clearly called by Jesus, was beheaded. The only disciple (other than Judas) to not die by murder, was John, although he was thrown in a pot of boiling oil, SURVIVED, and then was exiled to Patmos island.

The math is clear: of these 14 men who were very committed to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, ONLY ONE was not murded. 13 out of 14 were, and many times in brutal ways. I'm thinking Jesus is not so safe after all.

BUT HE IS! It all depends on the context of how you are defining the word "safe." I would argue that if you want to be safe in the world, leave Jesus alone. Families are split up, friends leave you, and it is very likely you will suffer physical and mental persecution as a result of claiming allegiance to Jesus. In America today, we do not experience this as clearly as some of our Christ brothers and sisters around the world.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.' "(John 15:18-25 NIV)

How are we to respond to the fact that the world HATES followers of Jesus? What are we to do? I think the same passage of Scripture gives us an answer:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:9-17 NIV)

Love each other! When it comes to the realm of the universe and who rules over all, then yes, I think Jesus is extremely safe. The SAFEST. Even safe for the whole family.

sharing what God's been sharing me

2008-09-22T08:15:00.000-05:00

Sharing this will maybe make some sense and have some relevance for you, so that's why I'm sharing it!

This past month, being new to Nashville, new to Vanderbilt, I've been impatient to say the least in trying to find opportunities for ministry. Through church or on campus or in Nashville, wherever it may be. My outlook has been "Lord, I want to do something NOW, please let me know what that is!!" However, God's wisdom is much greater than mine.

This past weekend, I really heard the Lord telling me "find and settle into community first. Get that cemented. Then you will have a strong base from which to serve..."

It makes so much sense!

I think Jesus went about the process of His ministry much the same way. We see Jesus baptized, then tempted by the devil, then he briefly begins to preach, and then goes about calling His disciples and setting up community.

Clearly, Jesus could go about His ministry doing it alone. He's Lord and didn't necessarily need the interactions and relationships with others, yet HE DID specifically go about finding it.

I thank God for making this clear to me this past weekend in a way my pea-brain and less than mustard seed sized heart could understand it, hopefully you can find something in this too!

take a deep breath, read Matthew 6, it's going to be OK!!

2008-09-20T17:16:00.000-05:00

This past week was not somewhat, but very crazy on Wall Street and financially speaking for the USA. People's investments, home mortgages, and stock accounts were going all over the place. I overheard a guy talking about his stock account at Target last night, and his voice revealed an intense amount of concern and worry.

Hurricane Ike is gone, but yesterday and today has brought gas shortages, a.k.a. no more gas being sold all around Nashville. I'm not sure how many other parts of the country were affected by refinery outages. I went to a gas station today, and ended up being the last person to get some gas after waiting in line. The scene was crazy. Employees of the gas station running around frantically, trying to direct the line of cars, shouting out anxiously. The person filling up next to me was speaking about all that's going on in a noticeably concerned tone. Newspaper articles with the titles "panic" this, panic "that" related to no gas.

I don't want to sound insincere or critical of the anxiety and panic, and I know that many people's livelihoods, at least somewhat, are found in their stock portfolios and being able to buy gas and transport themselves to work where they get their paycheck, the major livelihood. I also recognize that I've been afforded incredible, beyond logical comforts in life that I don't deserve.

But please, take a deep breath people!! I lived in Argentina where these "worries" were a much more frequent and noticeable part of life...gas shortages, money shortages, government instability, and Argentines have learned to take them in stride. Things come and they go. I want Argentina to get better, very much so, but my point in writing about Argentina is that while they may not have things as "figured out" as America in terms of political and economic issues, they still live and have full lives. Not having gas or having a stock portfolio that is never going to go down or fluctuate wildly will not be the end of the world.

Once again, I know these things are important and have much meaning for a lot of people. At the gas station today, I was very close to weeping. I was deeply saddened by the anxiety and panic I saw in people's actions and words.

Oh that people of this nation and Nashville would know the fullness of you JESUS! and be able to cast away their anxieties and concerns!! "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)

makes sense

2008-09-18T11:51:00.000-05:00

We have 5 senses that we know of and use everyday. Sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. We use these to navigate through life each and every day. In freaky sci-fi movies, there is many times a "6th sense" alluded to or somehow exists.

I'm going to make the hypothesis that a) we humans are fundamentally composed of a body and a soul, and that b) each one of those components has its own senses. We are already used to and for the most part know the bodily ones.

In the context of faith, I think we can also recognize a body and soul. How those two unite is another story. I do think that obtaining salvation has something to do with the merging of these two, body and soul, and somehow the Holy Spirit is involved, and has to be involved, in that merging/holding together. That's more complicated to understand I think, and that's not the purpose of this post.

This post is meant to spur thinking about: what are the soul's "senses"? I think there's considerable logic for the existence of soul senses, and I would also contend that we use them every day, just like our bodily senses. In that case, what are they, and of what importance are they?

Well, they're REALLY important. Think about it. If "touch" was broken down one day, that'd be very bad. You'd get burnt or cut or who knows what. Likewise, if our soul senses were broken down, one or many of them, there'd be similar implications of pain and/or hurt. But this time maybe emotional.

Leading to that, I would suggest that the soul's senses are: courage, hope, joy, praise/thanksgiving, compassion...this is not an inclusive list, but I think it's a start.

Throughout various Psalms, the soul is somewhat personified having bodily actions/features/reactions, which leads me to believe more strongly that it would have senses. Psalm 42 is a good example.

Later, in the New Testament, I think there is more evidence for this. The greatest commandment states "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (Matt 22:37 NIV)
Jesus delineates different parts of the whole person to which they are to completely love the Lord. The mind here I think represents the body. All are to love the Lord. It makes sense that if they are supposed to submit, each of these components has substance, and I would think they need senses to interpret other substances around them.

Hopefully that's not too confusing.

Paul later writes "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:17-18 NIV)

Paul asks for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation FOR THE BODY. And then "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..." I doubt Paul is repeating himself. He was a highly educated man, and an excellent author. I think Paul simply recognizes there are two important parts, body and soul.

So I guess I've focused more on trying to show that a human is composed of a body and soul, but I think it makes a ton of sense that the soul would also have senses.

That's important for our spiritual walks because if we recognize that there really is an existence of "soul senses", then we might try to enhance using them.