There has been a song that has played on my pandora list off and on for the last several months. I've listened to it a lot. I clicked the "like" button so I normally hear it on there once a week. I've listened to it over and over, but I never really noticed the words. One day earlier this year when it came on something in the lyrics got my attention in a new way, and I stopped to read the lyrics as the song played.
I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
So what do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
But those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
So what do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
So what do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life its name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
So what do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
Lord what do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
Every time I hear the song the reality of it hits me. What do I know of Holy? What do I really know of God? Each time I hear it I'm like, "I have to write about this." And every time I try I can never find the words. Honestly, what do I know of Holy?
I think that maybe that's the point of all of this. We can't fully explain God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13.12, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." We cannot fully comprehend God now, our minds are limited by the fall. I believe that's why Jesus came as a man, to show us what God was like in a way we could understand. Notice how even then people didn't fully get it. Today people still don't get Jesus.
God desires for us to know Him. He's done so much for us to know Him. He sent Jesus to Earth to show us what He is like. He has given us the written word of Scripture for us to study and learn about Him. We are able to communicate directly with Him through prayer. He's given us the beauty of creation, as it says in Romans 1.20, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Psalm 19.1 says, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."
God is great, He is beyond our comprehension, and yet He desires for us to know Him, and has given us so much to aid us in that. Why do we neglect Him? On the other hand why do we get so arrogant to think that we have figured Him out? What do we know of Holy?
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
God=Life
Last night I was reading in Exodus 15, verse 26b says, "I, the Lord am your healer." God is a source of life.
Death and disease were not God's creation, but a result of the fall. God created life, God gives life; and Satan, who Jesus calls a murderer in John 8, the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy in John 10, brings death and disease.
God gives life. Genesis 2.7 says, "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." John 1.4 says, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men." Throughout John's Gospel Jesus tells how He has come to give eternal life. He offers life as it was meant to be, God's quality of life, free from death and illness.
God gives life, not death. He is master of death, master of disease. He has power over them because He is God, but they are not from Him. Everything we see in the Bible is God offering life to those who follow Him. Jesus said in John 10.10b, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Yesterday a tragic school shooting took place in Chardon, Ohio. Often in times like this someone asks the question, "Where was God?" or "Why did God let this happen?". In all honesty, part of me doesn't know. Part of me believes it's because we've told God to get out of our schools, government, country and lives; and because He will never force Himself on anyone He politely leaves. But that doesn't mean God was absent, it doesn't mean that it caught Him by surprise. It doesn't meat that He isn't present, offering comfort to families, students, and the community.
God did not cause this tragedy to happen. God has given us free will, and this was the result of free will for harm, destruction, and death. It was not God's desire, and God was and is there now with those affected.
Psalm 34.18, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 147.3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Isaiah 41.10, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
My mind goes to Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
And Jeremiah 31, "'At that time,' declares the LORD, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Thus says the LORD, the people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when it went to find its rest. The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, o virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, and go forth to the dances of the merrymakers. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the planters will plant and will enjoy them'" (verses 1-5).
To the city of Chardon, the families who have faced loss, to the teachers and students who went through this, I am praying for you.
God is the author of life. God will bring life and healing out of tragedy and destruction.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Death and disease were not God's creation, but a result of the fall. God created life, God gives life; and Satan, who Jesus calls a murderer in John 8, the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy in John 10, brings death and disease.
God gives life. Genesis 2.7 says, "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." John 1.4 says, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men." Throughout John's Gospel Jesus tells how He has come to give eternal life. He offers life as it was meant to be, God's quality of life, free from death and illness.
God gives life, not death. He is master of death, master of disease. He has power over them because He is God, but they are not from Him. Everything we see in the Bible is God offering life to those who follow Him. Jesus said in John 10.10b, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Yesterday a tragic school shooting took place in Chardon, Ohio. Often in times like this someone asks the question, "Where was God?" or "Why did God let this happen?". In all honesty, part of me doesn't know. Part of me believes it's because we've told God to get out of our schools, government, country and lives; and because He will never force Himself on anyone He politely leaves. But that doesn't mean God was absent, it doesn't mean that it caught Him by surprise. It doesn't meat that He isn't present, offering comfort to families, students, and the community.
God did not cause this tragedy to happen. God has given us free will, and this was the result of free will for harm, destruction, and death. It was not God's desire, and God was and is there now with those affected.
Psalm 34.18, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 147.3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Isaiah 41.10, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
My mind goes to Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
And Jeremiah 31, "'At that time,' declares the LORD, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Thus says the LORD, the people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when it went to find its rest. The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, o virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, and go forth to the dances of the merrymakers. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the planters will plant and will enjoy them'" (verses 1-5).
To the city of Chardon, the families who have faced loss, to the teachers and students who went through this, I am praying for you.
God is the author of life. God will bring life and healing out of tragedy and destruction.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Monday, February 27, 2012
God Will Provide
Yesterday I preached about how God's best days are not behind Him, and how if we live for His glory, as we were created to do, our best days are not behind us. We can't live in the past or off of our family name and think that covers us with God. Each of us is called to a personal relationship of faith with God, and to serve God while we walk the earth.
Last week I preached on how life is about God. And over the last few weeks, really months and years, the themes of the two sermons have been what God is showing me. Yesterday after the service I was given some news that I can't share yet, but it's one of those faith building experiences.
The human side of me wants to panic and begin to try to rationally figure it out. But the side of me that God has been working on for the last several years is trusting Him. It's reminding the human side that this situation is in the hands of God, that everything affected by it is God's. It reminds me that through all of this my reasonability is to live my life for the glory of God, and the results are up to Him.
Last night I was reading in Exodus 12, as I'm reading through the Bible looking for the heart of God, and the thing that stood out to me is that God always provides for His people. In this chapter the Passover is instituted. We see God giving protection for the first born through the blood of the lamb placed over the door of the homes. We see that God has sent them the deliverer to bring them out of slavery. And we see that when they leave God gives them the wealth of Egypt.
God always provides for His people. As they travel through the wilderness He leads them by a cloud and fire. He brings them food and gives them water. He provides escape by parting the Red Sea. And it isn't just here. All through the Old Testament God provides leaders, deliverance, food, healing and protection for His people. It continues in the New Testament. God always provides for His people. I'm reminded of Psalm 37.25, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
The point of the plagues in Egypt and God hardening Pharaoh's heart was so that He could show Israel that He was indeed God, that He had the power to deliver them and take care of them. We have a Bible that is full of the accounts of God's provisions for the faithful. Church history has countless stories of God taking care of those who trust Him. Look at people you know, I'm sure they can tell you of how God provided, how God took care of them.
Last night as I read with this situation on my mind a verse from Philippians 4.19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." My God WILL supply all your needs. Not He can or might, but will. I know that this is all in the hands of God. I am constantly reminded through life and Scripture how He has worked and taken care of His faithful followers in the past. And I know that He will take care of this situation. I spoke with my mentor this morning and He reminded me, "This didn't catch the Lord by surprise." God knows what He is doing, and this is all in His hands.
Philippians 4.20 is a great reminder, "Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen." God will provide, so let's not worry about anything but giving Him glory.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Last week I preached on how life is about God. And over the last few weeks, really months and years, the themes of the two sermons have been what God is showing me. Yesterday after the service I was given some news that I can't share yet, but it's one of those faith building experiences.
The human side of me wants to panic and begin to try to rationally figure it out. But the side of me that God has been working on for the last several years is trusting Him. It's reminding the human side that this situation is in the hands of God, that everything affected by it is God's. It reminds me that through all of this my reasonability is to live my life for the glory of God, and the results are up to Him.
Last night I was reading in Exodus 12, as I'm reading through the Bible looking for the heart of God, and the thing that stood out to me is that God always provides for His people. In this chapter the Passover is instituted. We see God giving protection for the first born through the blood of the lamb placed over the door of the homes. We see that God has sent them the deliverer to bring them out of slavery. And we see that when they leave God gives them the wealth of Egypt.
God always provides for His people. As they travel through the wilderness He leads them by a cloud and fire. He brings them food and gives them water. He provides escape by parting the Red Sea. And it isn't just here. All through the Old Testament God provides leaders, deliverance, food, healing and protection for His people. It continues in the New Testament. God always provides for His people. I'm reminded of Psalm 37.25, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
The point of the plagues in Egypt and God hardening Pharaoh's heart was so that He could show Israel that He was indeed God, that He had the power to deliver them and take care of them. We have a Bible that is full of the accounts of God's provisions for the faithful. Church history has countless stories of God taking care of those who trust Him. Look at people you know, I'm sure they can tell you of how God provided, how God took care of them.
Last night as I read with this situation on my mind a verse from Philippians 4.19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." My God WILL supply all your needs. Not He can or might, but will. I know that this is all in the hands of God. I am constantly reminded through life and Scripture how He has worked and taken care of His faithful followers in the past. And I know that He will take care of this situation. I spoke with my mentor this morning and He reminded me, "This didn't catch the Lord by surprise." God knows what He is doing, and this is all in His hands.
Philippians 4.20 is a great reminder, "Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen." God will provide, so let's not worry about anything but giving Him glory.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Act Like Men
I'm currently looking at Moses and the book of Exodus. This morning I read a verse that I had forgotten about. In Exodus 5 Moses has gone to Pharaoh and told him that God has commanded the people of Israel to be freed. God hardens Pharaoh's heart and he says no. Then, probably in an effort to assert his power over them, increases their work load.
Exodus 5.9 says this, "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." Let the work be heavier on the men. Bury them with work so they won't have time to listen to what Moses is saying God said. Bury them in work so they won't have time to take a stand and lead their families. Bury them in work so they won't have energy to take a stand for God.
Pharaoh knew, even then, that if the men decided to act there would be a problem. He knew even then that if the men got involved things would happen. And so he set out to make sure that didn't happen. He said let the work be heavier on them. Take up more of their time, drain them of strength and energy, don't let them be husbands and fathers, don't let them be leaders for God. If we can keep the men busy we can slow a lot down, maybe stop it all together.
It's the truth, if men refuse to act things don't get done, or if they do, it's a lot harder. John Eldredge talks in The Way of the Wild Heart about how Satan will try to bury us with one battle after another. Satan wants to keep us busy, he wants to keep us from church, from devotional time with God, from our families. Satan doesn't want men to rise up and act. He doesn't want men to be men.
Look at what happens when Godly men lead. Joseph saved nations from famine, Moses led Israel out of Slavery, Joshua took back the promised land. David united the kingdom of Israel, Elijah stood up to corrupt kings, Ezra and Nehemiah brought the people back from captivity. Jesus saved the world, Paul evangelized countless people and started churches on two continents. Look what happens when men stand up for God.
Do you ever wonder why many churches are in the state their in? Look at the majority of people sitting in the pews and the majority of the people who do the work. Aren't they women? Men have left the difficult job of spiritual leadership and service to women in order to be the provider for the family. It's important to provide. God said that we would work the soil in Genesis 3. We are the leaders of our households, and part of that is providing for them. But we can't let ourselves be consumed by that. We can't fail to lead spiritually with the excuse of providing. We can't fail to be there for our wives and children with the excuse of I'm too tired from work. We can't fail to lead the church because I'm too swamped at the office.
If men continue to fail to lead, nothing is going to get better. I know there are demands on us, I know there are expectations of us. But what is really important? The relationship with your family that will bond you forever, or the cool gadget you can buy them (that they'll forget about in a month) because you work 80 hours a week?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16.13-14, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Be on the alert, watch for the attacks and fight against them. Stand firm in the faith, take your stand for God, lead your family spiritually, help them become like Christ. Act like men, this is the part that really stands out to me. Act like men, be men, do what men do. Stand up against injustice, live for truth. Be strong, it's not going to be easy, it will be a battle, so endure it. Men are powerful and dangerous, let's use that for good. But let us act in Love. Let love for God and our families guide us. Let love be our motivation.
Men have been under attack for thousands of years, it's nothing new. God has made us men to lead. He had given us strength to fight the battles we face. He will be with us, He will guide and refresh us. Let us lean on Him for strength. Let us draw our energy from Him. Let us be the men He has created us to be. Men who love and lead our families into Christlikeness. Men who lead and serve the church. Men who live for the glory of God. Let us act like men.
Peace be with you
Exodus 5.9 says this, "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." Let the work be heavier on the men. Bury them with work so they won't have time to listen to what Moses is saying God said. Bury them in work so they won't have time to take a stand and lead their families. Bury them in work so they won't have energy to take a stand for God.
Pharaoh knew, even then, that if the men decided to act there would be a problem. He knew even then that if the men got involved things would happen. And so he set out to make sure that didn't happen. He said let the work be heavier on them. Take up more of their time, drain them of strength and energy, don't let them be husbands and fathers, don't let them be leaders for God. If we can keep the men busy we can slow a lot down, maybe stop it all together.
It's the truth, if men refuse to act things don't get done, or if they do, it's a lot harder. John Eldredge talks in The Way of the Wild Heart about how Satan will try to bury us with one battle after another. Satan wants to keep us busy, he wants to keep us from church, from devotional time with God, from our families. Satan doesn't want men to rise up and act. He doesn't want men to be men.
Look at what happens when Godly men lead. Joseph saved nations from famine, Moses led Israel out of Slavery, Joshua took back the promised land. David united the kingdom of Israel, Elijah stood up to corrupt kings, Ezra and Nehemiah brought the people back from captivity. Jesus saved the world, Paul evangelized countless people and started churches on two continents. Look what happens when men stand up for God.
Do you ever wonder why many churches are in the state their in? Look at the majority of people sitting in the pews and the majority of the people who do the work. Aren't they women? Men have left the difficult job of spiritual leadership and service to women in order to be the provider for the family. It's important to provide. God said that we would work the soil in Genesis 3. We are the leaders of our households, and part of that is providing for them. But we can't let ourselves be consumed by that. We can't fail to lead spiritually with the excuse of providing. We can't fail to be there for our wives and children with the excuse of I'm too tired from work. We can't fail to lead the church because I'm too swamped at the office.
If men continue to fail to lead, nothing is going to get better. I know there are demands on us, I know there are expectations of us. But what is really important? The relationship with your family that will bond you forever, or the cool gadget you can buy them (that they'll forget about in a month) because you work 80 hours a week?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16.13-14, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Be on the alert, watch for the attacks and fight against them. Stand firm in the faith, take your stand for God, lead your family spiritually, help them become like Christ. Act like men, this is the part that really stands out to me. Act like men, be men, do what men do. Stand up against injustice, live for truth. Be strong, it's not going to be easy, it will be a battle, so endure it. Men are powerful and dangerous, let's use that for good. But let us act in Love. Let love for God and our families guide us. Let love be our motivation.
Men have been under attack for thousands of years, it's nothing new. God has made us men to lead. He had given us strength to fight the battles we face. He will be with us, He will guide and refresh us. Let us lean on Him for strength. Let us draw our energy from Him. Let us be the men He has created us to be. Men who love and lead our families into Christlikeness. Men who lead and serve the church. Men who live for the glory of God. Let us act like men.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
God's Blessings
Even though God owes us nothing, He still pours out blessings on those who follow Him. You might be thinking right now, "My life is falling apart, nothing is going right. Where is God's blessing in this?"
Let's look again at the life of Joseph in Genesis. He begins life as his father's favorite son, and his brothers most hated sibling. They plot to kill him, but then settle for throwing him in a pit and then selling him as a slave. He gets to Egypt, and ends up being a slave in the house of Potiphar, the captain of the Guard. God was with Joseph and he did well.
Then Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph into an affair. He continuously refuses, and when she grabs him, he runs of, leaving his robe in her hands. She accuses him of trying to rape her, and he is unjustly thrown into prison on false charges. God was with Joseph, and even in prison he prospered. He was put in charge of the prisoners.
Two servants of Pharaoh are put in jail and they have a dream. God gives Joseph the meaning of the dreams, and to the one who will be restored to his position Joseph simply asks that he remembers him because he is innocent. Two years pass and when Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret Joseph is remembered. God gives Joseph the meaning of the dream and he is placed second in command of Egypt.
The key phrase in all of the hardships is that God was with Joseph. In all things Joseph remained faithful to God. He stood firm and did what he knew was right. For the most part, Joseph did nothing to deserve the bad things that happened to him. Even the jealousy and hatred of his brothers began with the favoritism of their father for Joseph. Joseph didn't deserve the bad things, he had done nothing to bring them about, but they happened. And yet he stayed faithful to God.
God blesses Joseph with two sons. Their names mean, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household" and "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." Hardships and trials may last a long time, remember Joseph was forgotten in prison for two years. But in God's perfect time Joseph is released and promoted. God blesses him to the point that he forgets about the hardships. God's blessings are that great.
God loves to bless us, remember what Jesus said? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11.13) But the thing to remember is that God owes us nothing. We aren't supposed to expect and demand the blessings of God as if we deserve them. We aren't supposed to look at the hardships of life as God's disfavor on us. Job 2.10b says, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" Job 13.15a says, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him."
God owes us nothing in life, but He pours out His love and blessings. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. While we were sinners, enemies of God, He sent His Son to die and rescue us. Those who follow Him have the promise of Heaven, eternal life after death, when all things will be restored, when all things will be as God intended for them to be. In Heaven we will be blessed with the presence of God, and there forget all of our hardships.
But life is not meant to be lived for Heaven. We have been given the greatest blessing here and now of being able to give glory to God. We have been given breath to praise Him, and life to worship Him with. Through the blood of Jesus we are able to enter into a restored relationship with God and live life with meaning. God created us for life, He sent His Son to restore life to us when it was lost. He empowers us to glorify Him.
God has blessed us with the chance to glorify Him. Let us do that, no matter what we are going through in life. Let us remember that God doesn't exist to make us happy but that we exist to give Him glory. And if we remain faithful to Him, He will be with us through everything we face, and in the end will bless us so much that we forget all of our hardships.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Let's look again at the life of Joseph in Genesis. He begins life as his father's favorite son, and his brothers most hated sibling. They plot to kill him, but then settle for throwing him in a pit and then selling him as a slave. He gets to Egypt, and ends up being a slave in the house of Potiphar, the captain of the Guard. God was with Joseph and he did well.
Then Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph into an affair. He continuously refuses, and when she grabs him, he runs of, leaving his robe in her hands. She accuses him of trying to rape her, and he is unjustly thrown into prison on false charges. God was with Joseph, and even in prison he prospered. He was put in charge of the prisoners.
Two servants of Pharaoh are put in jail and they have a dream. God gives Joseph the meaning of the dreams, and to the one who will be restored to his position Joseph simply asks that he remembers him because he is innocent. Two years pass and when Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret Joseph is remembered. God gives Joseph the meaning of the dream and he is placed second in command of Egypt.
The key phrase in all of the hardships is that God was with Joseph. In all things Joseph remained faithful to God. He stood firm and did what he knew was right. For the most part, Joseph did nothing to deserve the bad things that happened to him. Even the jealousy and hatred of his brothers began with the favoritism of their father for Joseph. Joseph didn't deserve the bad things, he had done nothing to bring them about, but they happened. And yet he stayed faithful to God.
God blesses Joseph with two sons. Their names mean, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household" and "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." Hardships and trials may last a long time, remember Joseph was forgotten in prison for two years. But in God's perfect time Joseph is released and promoted. God blesses him to the point that he forgets about the hardships. God's blessings are that great.
God loves to bless us, remember what Jesus said? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11.13) But the thing to remember is that God owes us nothing. We aren't supposed to expect and demand the blessings of God as if we deserve them. We aren't supposed to look at the hardships of life as God's disfavor on us. Job 2.10b says, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" Job 13.15a says, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him."
God owes us nothing in life, but He pours out His love and blessings. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. While we were sinners, enemies of God, He sent His Son to die and rescue us. Those who follow Him have the promise of Heaven, eternal life after death, when all things will be restored, when all things will be as God intended for them to be. In Heaven we will be blessed with the presence of God, and there forget all of our hardships.
But life is not meant to be lived for Heaven. We have been given the greatest blessing here and now of being able to give glory to God. We have been given breath to praise Him, and life to worship Him with. Through the blood of Jesus we are able to enter into a restored relationship with God and live life with meaning. God created us for life, He sent His Son to restore life to us when it was lost. He empowers us to glorify Him.
God has blessed us with the chance to glorify Him. Let us do that, no matter what we are going through in life. Let us remember that God doesn't exist to make us happy but that we exist to give Him glory. And if we remain faithful to Him, He will be with us through everything we face, and in the end will bless us so much that we forget all of our hardships.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Meaning of Life
The question has been on my mind for the past three or four years, and I didn't directly realize it until yesterday. The thing that helped me realize it was the answer.
For over four years now I've been studying the book of Philippians off and on. I'm working on a sermon series out of it focused on genuine Christianity, and what the church is really supposed to be. In that time I've read books, and studied other books of the Bible. I'm also reading through it looking for who God is, what He is like according to the Bible.
I took a class a pastor friend of mine was offering last spring/summer, and as part of the class we had to write a personal mission statement for our lives. I've shared mine on here before, as well as many of my findings in Philippians.
Currently I'm preaching through the Gospel of John on Sunday mornings. What we started the series last summer the main idea I was looking at was, "Who is Jesus Christ?" As we've progressed to two thirds of the way through John 8, that question is still there, but to it has been added "Who does He want me to be?"
I've recently finished the book of Genesis, and the last fourteen chapters tell the story of Joseph. And as I was reading this I found two quotes from Rev. Chuck Swindoll that really hit me.
"I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God."
"God is not a heavenly bellboy, delivering only pleasurable and comforting things to our door. He doesn't exist to make us happy. We exist to bring Him glory."
All of these things came together this past Saturday, and I've been thinking about them ever since. God owes me nothing. My life has been given to me so that I can glorify Him. I am here to give God the glory He must receive because He is God. That is what I was created to do; that is the sole purpose I have, to give glory to God. And that is the meaning of life.
God created man and woman to exist in relationship with Him, to praise Him and glorify Him. Then sin entered the world, it broke the relationship we have with God, and it cursed all of creation. God sent His Son Jesus to earth. God became a human in the form of Jesus Christ in order to save the world. Jesus came and set the example of how we are to live life, and after living a perfect life, He died on the cross to pay for sin. Three days later He rose again, defeating sin, death, and Hell forever. In Christ the relationship is able to be restored with God. We are able, through His blood, to be rescued and forgiven from sin, and in that we are set free from the bondage of sin and empowered to fulfill the purpose we were created for. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made, because of the life He lived, not only are we able to glorify God, but we have an example to follow.
Philippians 2.5-11 says, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus lived for the glory of God. Jesus who was God did not claim His right to anything, but humbled Himself and died on a cross. If Jesus, who was God, did not demand anything from God, did not claim His right to everything as God, then why do we as humans, as mere mortals, demand the blessings of God as if they are owed to us? God owes me nothing, God owes you nothing! We owe Him everything because He is God.
The meaning of life, is to give glory to the only one who is worth of it. In life we must serve someone, and there are only two options. We can serve God which we were created to do, or we can serve Satan which we do as a result of sin. If we live our lives for ourselves we live for Satan. If we live for Satan we are separated from God by the sin the has a hold of our lives. If we are separate from God we cannot glorify Him. Jesus came to free us from sin. He died so that we could be forgiven and free. In that freedom we can have a life of meaning. That freedom is the only way for meaning because it is the only way to give glory to God.
When I get to the end of life, I don't want people to say that I was a great man, husband, or pastor. I don't want people to marvel at anything I've accomplished. All I want is for people to say, "He was a servant of God." I want people to speak not of me, but of the God I lived for. To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
For over four years now I've been studying the book of Philippians off and on. I'm working on a sermon series out of it focused on genuine Christianity, and what the church is really supposed to be. In that time I've read books, and studied other books of the Bible. I'm also reading through it looking for who God is, what He is like according to the Bible.
I took a class a pastor friend of mine was offering last spring/summer, and as part of the class we had to write a personal mission statement for our lives. I've shared mine on here before, as well as many of my findings in Philippians.
Currently I'm preaching through the Gospel of John on Sunday mornings. What we started the series last summer the main idea I was looking at was, "Who is Jesus Christ?" As we've progressed to two thirds of the way through John 8, that question is still there, but to it has been added "Who does He want me to be?"
I've recently finished the book of Genesis, and the last fourteen chapters tell the story of Joseph. And as I was reading this I found two quotes from Rev. Chuck Swindoll that really hit me.
"I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God."
"God is not a heavenly bellboy, delivering only pleasurable and comforting things to our door. He doesn't exist to make us happy. We exist to bring Him glory."
All of these things came together this past Saturday, and I've been thinking about them ever since. God owes me nothing. My life has been given to me so that I can glorify Him. I am here to give God the glory He must receive because He is God. That is what I was created to do; that is the sole purpose I have, to give glory to God. And that is the meaning of life.
God created man and woman to exist in relationship with Him, to praise Him and glorify Him. Then sin entered the world, it broke the relationship we have with God, and it cursed all of creation. God sent His Son Jesus to earth. God became a human in the form of Jesus Christ in order to save the world. Jesus came and set the example of how we are to live life, and after living a perfect life, He died on the cross to pay for sin. Three days later He rose again, defeating sin, death, and Hell forever. In Christ the relationship is able to be restored with God. We are able, through His blood, to be rescued and forgiven from sin, and in that we are set free from the bondage of sin and empowered to fulfill the purpose we were created for. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made, because of the life He lived, not only are we able to glorify God, but we have an example to follow.
Philippians 2.5-11 says, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus lived for the glory of God. Jesus who was God did not claim His right to anything, but humbled Himself and died on a cross. If Jesus, who was God, did not demand anything from God, did not claim His right to everything as God, then why do we as humans, as mere mortals, demand the blessings of God as if they are owed to us? God owes me nothing, God owes you nothing! We owe Him everything because He is God.
The meaning of life, is to give glory to the only one who is worth of it. In life we must serve someone, and there are only two options. We can serve God which we were created to do, or we can serve Satan which we do as a result of sin. If we live our lives for ourselves we live for Satan. If we live for Satan we are separated from God by the sin the has a hold of our lives. If we are separate from God we cannot glorify Him. Jesus came to free us from sin. He died so that we could be forgiven and free. In that freedom we can have a life of meaning. That freedom is the only way for meaning because it is the only way to give glory to God.
When I get to the end of life, I don't want people to say that I was a great man, husband, or pastor. I don't want people to marvel at anything I've accomplished. All I want is for people to say, "He was a servant of God." I want people to speak not of me, but of the God I lived for. To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Men and Marriage
Yesterday one of the wrestlers was trying to get me to go with them for guys night, on Valentine's Day. He was listing all of the reasons I should go, after I reminded him I have a wife I was spending the evening with. I held up my left hand showing him my ring, and he made a motion with his hands telling me all I had to do was slip it off. Then he made the comment, "Just because you're on a diet, it doesn't mean you can't look at the menu."
That's the thinking in America today. It's ok to look, so long as you don't physically do something. It's ok to think so long as you don't act it out. Jesus said in Matthew 5.27-28, "You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job 31.1 says, "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?"
On August 20, 2011 at around 6:30 pm I entered into a covenant relationship. I stood with my wife before God, my mentor, our friends and family, and committed myself to her until death. We took vows, "...from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part..." As a sign of our covenant we exchanged rings, a symbol telling the rest of the world that we belong to each other. But the ring is just a symbol. The ring does not make me married when I wear it. If I take it off I'm not unmarried. Even if it's lost or destroyed, I'm still married to my wife.
Before we made our vows I was asked this, "Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's holy ordinance in the state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" I said "I will." At that moment I was committed, before God, to her. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. At that moment I had told God, my wife, and everyone there, that in every way I belonged to her.
My wife is the only one I desire. She is the only one I want to desire. I love her more than anyone else, and because of that I chose to enter the covenant of marriage with her alone. In the Old Testament covenants were a very serious thing, and were taken much more seriously than they are now. To seal a covenant an animal was killed and cut in two pieces (down the middle, right side and left side). The halves of the animal were laid on the ground and the parties making the covenant would walk between them. It was a statement that if either of them broke the agreement of the covenant that they would be cut in two just as the animal had been. To break a covenant meant death.
The seriousness of a covenant hasn't changed, but our commitment to them has. We live in a society where people have the mindset that I have mentioned at the beginning. The mindset where if I just slip of my wedding ring and no one knows it's ok. As I've been reading The Way of the Wild Heart, it talks a lot about how we are a society full of uninitiated men. We live in a world with men who are men by age, but still boys by maturity. When a society is full of men like that, we have these sort of problems.
We need men to be men. Men who refuse to be selfish and who are committed to the covenants they make. Men who keep their word and live for God, not themselves. Our society isn't going to fix itself. It's going to take real men who are willing to stand up and take it back.
To the men who read this and are willing to be those men, I encourage you to read Wild at Heart and The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. These are two books that examine who we are, how we've gotten to the state we're in, and how God can bring us back to where He created us to be. They are easy reads that will keep your attention. As you do I encourage you to read through the Bible, looking for who God is. Start in Genesis and read through asking God to show you His heart as you study the pages of Scripture. In Jeremiah 29.13 God says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." God wants us to know Him, and if we are willing to seek Him, He will show us who He is. Record your findings (note, there are some chapters where it isn't obvious, but God is there). Pray that God will help you become more like Him.
When you get done with that, read it again, this time looking at the men of Scripture. Look for their strengths and weaknesses. Look for the successes and failures. Again, record what you find. Pray that the good things will be part of who you are, and that the negatives will have no part in your life. This will take time and effort, but it is worth it. Life isn't about God making it easy for us. It's about us becoming the men God created us to be in order that we may give glory to Him. Finally, find a mentor, and be a mentor. Find a man who is a man, and ask him to walk through life with you, to pray for you, and help you understand who God is and who He made you to be. Find someone to mentor when the time is right, be a mentor. Find a younger man and help him become the man God created him to be. Share your story, your journey, and how God is working in your life.
Let us be the men God has called us to be.
Peace be with you
That's the thinking in America today. It's ok to look, so long as you don't physically do something. It's ok to think so long as you don't act it out. Jesus said in Matthew 5.27-28, "You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job 31.1 says, "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?"
On August 20, 2011 at around 6:30 pm I entered into a covenant relationship. I stood with my wife before God, my mentor, our friends and family, and committed myself to her until death. We took vows, "...from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part..." As a sign of our covenant we exchanged rings, a symbol telling the rest of the world that we belong to each other. But the ring is just a symbol. The ring does not make me married when I wear it. If I take it off I'm not unmarried. Even if it's lost or destroyed, I'm still married to my wife.
Before we made our vows I was asked this, "Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's holy ordinance in the state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" I said "I will." At that moment I was committed, before God, to her. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. At that moment I had told God, my wife, and everyone there, that in every way I belonged to her.
My wife is the only one I desire. She is the only one I want to desire. I love her more than anyone else, and because of that I chose to enter the covenant of marriage with her alone. In the Old Testament covenants were a very serious thing, and were taken much more seriously than they are now. To seal a covenant an animal was killed and cut in two pieces (down the middle, right side and left side). The halves of the animal were laid on the ground and the parties making the covenant would walk between them. It was a statement that if either of them broke the agreement of the covenant that they would be cut in two just as the animal had been. To break a covenant meant death.
The seriousness of a covenant hasn't changed, but our commitment to them has. We live in a society where people have the mindset that I have mentioned at the beginning. The mindset where if I just slip of my wedding ring and no one knows it's ok. As I've been reading The Way of the Wild Heart, it talks a lot about how we are a society full of uninitiated men. We live in a world with men who are men by age, but still boys by maturity. When a society is full of men like that, we have these sort of problems.
We need men to be men. Men who refuse to be selfish and who are committed to the covenants they make. Men who keep their word and live for God, not themselves. Our society isn't going to fix itself. It's going to take real men who are willing to stand up and take it back.
To the men who read this and are willing to be those men, I encourage you to read Wild at Heart and The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. These are two books that examine who we are, how we've gotten to the state we're in, and how God can bring us back to where He created us to be. They are easy reads that will keep your attention. As you do I encourage you to read through the Bible, looking for who God is. Start in Genesis and read through asking God to show you His heart as you study the pages of Scripture. In Jeremiah 29.13 God says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." God wants us to know Him, and if we are willing to seek Him, He will show us who He is. Record your findings (note, there are some chapters where it isn't obvious, but God is there). Pray that God will help you become more like Him.
When you get done with that, read it again, this time looking at the men of Scripture. Look for their strengths and weaknesses. Look for the successes and failures. Again, record what you find. Pray that the good things will be part of who you are, and that the negatives will have no part in your life. This will take time and effort, but it is worth it. Life isn't about God making it easy for us. It's about us becoming the men God created us to be in order that we may give glory to Him. Finally, find a mentor, and be a mentor. Find a man who is a man, and ask him to walk through life with you, to pray for you, and help you understand who God is and who He made you to be. Find someone to mentor when the time is right, be a mentor. Find a younger man and help him become the man God created him to be. Share your story, your journey, and how God is working in your life.
Let us be the men God has called us to be.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
About God
This morning I read a quote that went along with what I've been thinking about for a few weeks now.
"I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God." -Chuck Swindoll
For the past few weeks, maybe months, there have been some tough situations that I've encountered. Part of me wonders why me? I wonder what the point of this is, and how long I'll have to deal with it. About a month ago I hit a low point due to some circumstances. My mentor was able to take the situation and turn it into an encouragement, but it still has left me wondering why.
I've met with a few other pastors in the past month, and they have been a blessing and support as well. One of them told me something that has really helped, "You're here for God, no one else." It has been that statement that has really helped me. I am here, on this assignment, really in life, for God. It is all about God, not my comfort or preferences, but God's glory.
In 2 Timothy 1.8 Paul says, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,". My study of 2 Timothy has been very drawn out, and I've just recently started the third commentary portion of it. But today the commentary on this verse stood out to me. It said that we must be willing to take our share of persecution for the Gospel. We do this not in our power but in God's.
Persecution is part of being a Christ follower. We see this in Romans 5 and James 1. Jesus said it in John 16.33, "In the world you have tribulation,". But they all contain hope. Jesus statement ends with, "but take courage; I have overcome the world." James says "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And in Romans it says "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
As I write this I think of a quote from the movie Rocky Balboa, "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody!"
Following Jesus isn't easy, and God never said it would be. There will be troubles, there will be hardships, there will be persecution. If we are going to follow Jesus we must be willing to take the hits, the cheap shots, and everything else, because the road Jesus walks leads to a cross. But the cross ends at the Empty Tomb. Jesus told us that there would be hardships in the world, but to take courage, because He had overcome it. Paul said that we must be willing to suffer. In Philippians 3 he says that the suffering, the loss, ends in life as we pursue Christ.
We will face hardships, but we don't have to endure them on our own. We endure in God's strength, in God's power. And in His power we are able to victoriously conquer (Romans 8.37). God has called us into service. It involves hardship and suffering, but He will walk through it with us, and in the end we will enter His presence. This is all about God. Life for His glory.
Peace be with you
"I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God." -Chuck Swindoll
For the past few weeks, maybe months, there have been some tough situations that I've encountered. Part of me wonders why me? I wonder what the point of this is, and how long I'll have to deal with it. About a month ago I hit a low point due to some circumstances. My mentor was able to take the situation and turn it into an encouragement, but it still has left me wondering why.
I've met with a few other pastors in the past month, and they have been a blessing and support as well. One of them told me something that has really helped, "You're here for God, no one else." It has been that statement that has really helped me. I am here, on this assignment, really in life, for God. It is all about God, not my comfort or preferences, but God's glory.
In 2 Timothy 1.8 Paul says, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,". My study of 2 Timothy has been very drawn out, and I've just recently started the third commentary portion of it. But today the commentary on this verse stood out to me. It said that we must be willing to take our share of persecution for the Gospel. We do this not in our power but in God's.
Persecution is part of being a Christ follower. We see this in Romans 5 and James 1. Jesus said it in John 16.33, "In the world you have tribulation,". But they all contain hope. Jesus statement ends with, "but take courage; I have overcome the world." James says "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And in Romans it says "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
As I write this I think of a quote from the movie Rocky Balboa, "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody!"
Following Jesus isn't easy, and God never said it would be. There will be troubles, there will be hardships, there will be persecution. If we are going to follow Jesus we must be willing to take the hits, the cheap shots, and everything else, because the road Jesus walks leads to a cross. But the cross ends at the Empty Tomb. Jesus told us that there would be hardships in the world, but to take courage, because He had overcome it. Paul said that we must be willing to suffer. In Philippians 3 he says that the suffering, the loss, ends in life as we pursue Christ.
We will face hardships, but we don't have to endure them on our own. We endure in God's strength, in God's power. And in His power we are able to victoriously conquer (Romans 8.37). God has called us into service. It involves hardship and suffering, but He will walk through it with us, and in the end we will enter His presence. This is all about God. Life for His glory.
Peace be with you
Monday, February 13, 2012
Welded
In a few recent posts I've referred to my wife and I being welded together, or how God wants us to be welded to Him. It's Monday, and I don't have anything else on my mind, so I want to share this insight. I don't remember where I first heard this fact, but I've confirmed it with my father-in-law and he said it's correct.
When two pieces of metal need to be joined they can be welded together. There are many ways to weld metal, I want to focus on heat. Both pieces are heated up to essentially melt the two together. When this happens the two pieces are joined directly to each other, and the bond is stronger (most of the time) than the metal itself. Due to this, the metal will never break at the welded part. Two pieces become one single piece and the point of their union is stronger than each piece individually. You can see now why I've used the reference.
Marriage is a welding of two people. It is a bond, a covenant, unbreakable vows made to each other before God. I don't believe the welding of marriage is fully accomplished at the wedding however. That day you have two people at their absolute best, it's easy to be close an inseparable at that point. The welding comes after that day, when reality sets in, when life happens. The welding takes place when life gets hard and the two become closer together.
I think the tough times function as heat. Our reaction to them determines what happens next. A husband and wife can either come together, and be melted together into an unbreakable bond, or they can pull away from each other, and be two broken pieces of metal.
There has been some rough stuff in the situations my wife and I have found ourselves in recently. I know that I haven't always responded the best to them, but over all we have really begun to get closer. We are learning to support each other through the rough times. We're really learning how to pray for each other. I'm learning how to be there for her, how sometimes she just needs me to come pick her up and hold her on the couch.
I think of what it says in Romans 5 and James 1,"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5.3-5). "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1.2-4).
Testing and tribulations refers to metal being put through fire. It is cleansed, purified, strengthened, and becomes more valuable. The difficulties in life on a marriage are there to do the same thing to a couple. As the world tries to tear a marriage apart, God is there to bring the two together. He is there to weld them together.
Marriage is the closest model we have to the relationship God desires with each of us. During the hard times of life, God wants us to draw closer to Him. He wants us to learn to lean on Him, and through the difficulties to have our faith in Him strengthened. He wants us to be welded to Him, to have an unbreakable bond with Him. The trials of life provide the heat, but our response determines if the welding ever takes place.
Let the trials your marriage will face weld you to your spouse. Let the trials your faith goes through weld you to God. During the hard times draw closer to the ones that love you most. During the tough times unite together and become unbreakable.
Peace be with you
When two pieces of metal need to be joined they can be welded together. There are many ways to weld metal, I want to focus on heat. Both pieces are heated up to essentially melt the two together. When this happens the two pieces are joined directly to each other, and the bond is stronger (most of the time) than the metal itself. Due to this, the metal will never break at the welded part. Two pieces become one single piece and the point of their union is stronger than each piece individually. You can see now why I've used the reference.
Marriage is a welding of two people. It is a bond, a covenant, unbreakable vows made to each other before God. I don't believe the welding of marriage is fully accomplished at the wedding however. That day you have two people at their absolute best, it's easy to be close an inseparable at that point. The welding comes after that day, when reality sets in, when life happens. The welding takes place when life gets hard and the two become closer together.
I think the tough times function as heat. Our reaction to them determines what happens next. A husband and wife can either come together, and be melted together into an unbreakable bond, or they can pull away from each other, and be two broken pieces of metal.
There has been some rough stuff in the situations my wife and I have found ourselves in recently. I know that I haven't always responded the best to them, but over all we have really begun to get closer. We are learning to support each other through the rough times. We're really learning how to pray for each other. I'm learning how to be there for her, how sometimes she just needs me to come pick her up and hold her on the couch.
I think of what it says in Romans 5 and James 1,"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5.3-5). "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1.2-4).
Testing and tribulations refers to metal being put through fire. It is cleansed, purified, strengthened, and becomes more valuable. The difficulties in life on a marriage are there to do the same thing to a couple. As the world tries to tear a marriage apart, God is there to bring the two together. He is there to weld them together.
Marriage is the closest model we have to the relationship God desires with each of us. During the hard times of life, God wants us to draw closer to Him. He wants us to learn to lean on Him, and through the difficulties to have our faith in Him strengthened. He wants us to be welded to Him, to have an unbreakable bond with Him. The trials of life provide the heat, but our response determines if the welding ever takes place.
Let the trials your marriage will face weld you to your spouse. Let the trials your faith goes through weld you to God. During the hard times draw closer to the ones that love you most. During the tough times unite together and become unbreakable.
Peace be with you
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wrestlers
This winter I've had the opportunity to work as an assistant wrestling coach with the local high school team. It's been good to lace up my shoes again and step on the mat. I've enjoyed coaching, my wife says that I'm most alive when I'm working with boys and young men, helping them reach their potential. And with wrestling there are different types of young men.
You have some with talent, and some who don't have any. There are some who work hard and some who slack off. There are some that are there to compete, to be the best, and others who are there simply to goof around. Some of them frustrate you and others you love, and coaches have to work with all of them.
There are a few kids that should be state bound this year, they have the talent and know how to use it. There are some who have the potential to be phenomenal wrestlers. They are strong and solid, but have little drive or aggression. There are two that have the talent to be good, but just goof around all of practice, wasting their talent. And there are some with little talent, or little experience, that out work everyone else in the room. It's often that way, the ones with the least talent are the ones that work the hardest.
I was one of them. Most kids today start wrestling at four or five years old. I didn't start until seventh grade. Right away I was a middle weight with guys who had been wrestling most of their lives, I had a lot of ground to make up. I out worked everyone. I worked hard in the room, and did everything I could in the off season, running, lifting, as many open tournaments as I could find, open mats wherever I could get (thank you to my dad for the time and money he put into this). And even when I had gotten to be a good wrestler I kept working hard, I had seen the results of it, and so it continued to drive me.
That's why it frustrates me so much now to see some of these boys. They have more talent then I ever did, but they waste it because the work is hard. It frustrates me that some of the hardest workers don't get to see the victory that their work deserves. There is one kid who has a goal that his work has earned but his talent, barring a miracle, will never achieve. And some have the talent to be the best but their work ethic keeps them from achieving their full potential. It makes me wonder why God didn't bless the hard workers with the talent.
The Bible talks about Spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. These are God given talents to be used by us to serve others, build the Kingdom, and glorify God. Some have several, no one has them all, everyone has at least one. "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly" Romans 12.6; "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" 1 Corinthians 12.7.
God has given each of us at least one skill to use for Him. think about it, the God who spoke the universe into existence has decided to give you and me a talent that we can use to serve Him. The God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand, a universe that we are really, really small in, has given us a gift to serve Him. He has invited us to give Him glory that He must receive, allowing us to take part in the worship of Him. It is a service we are unworthy to give and unfit to offer, but He still invites and desires for us to give it to Him. Not only that, but He enables us, empowers us, to do it!
Why then do we waste our gifts? It is something precious given to us by God, and we ignore it, or treat it like it's nothing at all. One of the most frustrating things to a coach is the talented kid who wastes his talent by not working hard. It's almost heartbreaking, you see a kid that could do so well, who could get so for and do so much, and simply won't work for it. Do you think God feels the same way?
Let us not waste our gifts, let us use them for the glory of God. My mentor says there are six things that show a person where they are gifted; three internal and three external. The internal are joy, ease and losing track of time while you do it. When you serve you are joyful, you aren't drained but energized. When you serve it is easy, you get it done quickly and efficiently, you don't have to work that hard at it. When you serve you lose track of time, you aren't constantly looking at your watch. The external things are, fruitfulness, affirmation, and confirmation. When you serve things happen. When you serve people affirm you, telling you that you do it well. When you serve leaders confirm you, that you have that gift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CtCYrfGHQw)
Find your place to serve, discover your gift. Use it, don't waste it. Jesus told a story once about a master who went on a journey and gave each of his servants an amount of money. Two of them put it to work and on his return we praised. The third one however did not. He buried his portion, and when the master returned he called him wicked and lazy and said, "'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" But to the ones who had used their portion the master said, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master"(Matthew 25.14-30).
Which one do you want to be? What do you want to hear? Use your gifts for the glory of God.
Peace be with you
You have some with talent, and some who don't have any. There are some who work hard and some who slack off. There are some that are there to compete, to be the best, and others who are there simply to goof around. Some of them frustrate you and others you love, and coaches have to work with all of them.
There are a few kids that should be state bound this year, they have the talent and know how to use it. There are some who have the potential to be phenomenal wrestlers. They are strong and solid, but have little drive or aggression. There are two that have the talent to be good, but just goof around all of practice, wasting their talent. And there are some with little talent, or little experience, that out work everyone else in the room. It's often that way, the ones with the least talent are the ones that work the hardest.
I was one of them. Most kids today start wrestling at four or five years old. I didn't start until seventh grade. Right away I was a middle weight with guys who had been wrestling most of their lives, I had a lot of ground to make up. I out worked everyone. I worked hard in the room, and did everything I could in the off season, running, lifting, as many open tournaments as I could find, open mats wherever I could get (thank you to my dad for the time and money he put into this). And even when I had gotten to be a good wrestler I kept working hard, I had seen the results of it, and so it continued to drive me.
That's why it frustrates me so much now to see some of these boys. They have more talent then I ever did, but they waste it because the work is hard. It frustrates me that some of the hardest workers don't get to see the victory that their work deserves. There is one kid who has a goal that his work has earned but his talent, barring a miracle, will never achieve. And some have the talent to be the best but their work ethic keeps them from achieving their full potential. It makes me wonder why God didn't bless the hard workers with the talent.
The Bible talks about Spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. These are God given talents to be used by us to serve others, build the Kingdom, and glorify God. Some have several, no one has them all, everyone has at least one. "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly" Romans 12.6; "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" 1 Corinthians 12.7.
God has given each of us at least one skill to use for Him. think about it, the God who spoke the universe into existence has decided to give you and me a talent that we can use to serve Him. The God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand, a universe that we are really, really small in, has given us a gift to serve Him. He has invited us to give Him glory that He must receive, allowing us to take part in the worship of Him. It is a service we are unworthy to give and unfit to offer, but He still invites and desires for us to give it to Him. Not only that, but He enables us, empowers us, to do it!
Why then do we waste our gifts? It is something precious given to us by God, and we ignore it, or treat it like it's nothing at all. One of the most frustrating things to a coach is the talented kid who wastes his talent by not working hard. It's almost heartbreaking, you see a kid that could do so well, who could get so for and do so much, and simply won't work for it. Do you think God feels the same way?
Let us not waste our gifts, let us use them for the glory of God. My mentor says there are six things that show a person where they are gifted; three internal and three external. The internal are joy, ease and losing track of time while you do it. When you serve you are joyful, you aren't drained but energized. When you serve it is easy, you get it done quickly and efficiently, you don't have to work that hard at it. When you serve you lose track of time, you aren't constantly looking at your watch. The external things are, fruitfulness, affirmation, and confirmation. When you serve things happen. When you serve people affirm you, telling you that you do it well. When you serve leaders confirm you, that you have that gift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CtCYrfGHQw)
Find your place to serve, discover your gift. Use it, don't waste it. Jesus told a story once about a master who went on a journey and gave each of his servants an amount of money. Two of them put it to work and on his return we praised. The third one however did not. He buried his portion, and when the master returned he called him wicked and lazy and said, "'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" But to the ones who had used their portion the master said, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master"(Matthew 25.14-30).
Which one do you want to be? What do you want to hear? Use your gifts for the glory of God.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
1 Corinthians 13.11-12, revisited
Two years ago today I wrote the blog that has been read the most. At the time I was a single youth pastor in Michigan who thought I knew what love was. The blog post was written in response to something one of the teens had said about these two verses. "When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."
Over the last few months I've been thinking about it a lot. In that two years a lot has changed. I've gotten married, moved twice, dealt with some rough work situations, had a job that I didn't understand why God was having me do (and honestly don't know that I yet understand), been to two new countries, and taken my first senior pastor role. It's been a busy two years.
In two years I'd like to think I've grown up some more. I'd like to say I'm a better man now than I was two years ago. And I'd like to say I know a little more about love than I did then, I know that I do.
Two years ago I thought I knew about love. There was a girl I was infatuated with. From what I could see she was perfect. That didn't work out, and it wasn't supposed to. I remember that April of 2010, I was coming to the realization that whatever that was was over. At that point I thought I would never be able to feel that way about anyone ever again. That was a childish thought. One day I was watching Brave Heart, and there was a line in the movie that God spoke to me through.
At the beginning of the movie William Wallace is a young boy whose father has just been killed in a battle. That night William has a dream, he is laying next to his father's body. In the dream his father turns his head to look at him and says, "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." In that moment God gave me my heart back. He had set it free, and it wasn't just releasing me from the past situation, but freeing me to love again. My heart came with the message, "You can have this back now. Don't be afraid to give it away again."
I am so grateful for that moment. Because that moment enabled me to love my wife. That September I got a facebook message from a girl I had been friends with in college. I had always been attracted to her, but was never able to pursue her, she was dating someone else. So we became friends, honestly I never thought she would go for me. We had lost touch after she graduated, but now she had contacted me. I told her we should catch up, and as soon as she agreed I decided I would ask her out.
We played phone tag for a few days, but finally connected. At the end of our conversation I told her I would be around Mount Vernon the following week and asked if she wanted to get together. When she said yes, I immediately decided I would ask her out again at the end of the first date if it went well. It did. October 12, 2010 I had my first date with my wife, at the end I asked her out again, she obviously said yes. And at the end of the second date she asked me for a third one (at that point I was like, "Got her").
We got engaged May 7, 2011, and married on August 20. For almost six months now we've been adjusting to life as a married couple. It hasn't always been easy, but in the last few weeks things have been incredible. Situations in life has brought us closer together, more welded together as a unit. I never knew you could be like this with someone else. With her I've learned so much about love.
"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."
Love is not infatuation. Love is not just warm fuzzy feelings. Love is much deeper than that, much more than that. "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;" (1 Corinthians 13.4-8a).
I think for it to be love it has to last forever. It says that love never fails, that it endures all things. I think for it to really be love it has to last forever. Everything I've felt in the past for anyone else wasn't love, because I no longer feel that way. But with my wife, it's real. There is nothing that could ever happen to change the way I feel about her. Rough times that come up just help us grow closer together, it just makes us stronger and more inseparable. It takes patience and kindness. It takes trust and humility. It requires dignity and selflessness. It must be self-controlled and forgiving. It must focus on what is good and right. It must stand firm in everything, and it must look at the future with hope. Love will last.
I love my wife in a way I never knew I could love a human being. She is the only girl I have ever really loved, and I wish I had never said those words until I said them to her for the first time on November 6, 2010. Love is not infatuation because that doesn't last. Love is not warm fuzzy feelings because they won't get you through the hard times. Love is a suit of armor, it protects you and strengthens you to fight for it. As a child, as one immature I didn't understand this, I didn't understand what all love is, and still don't fully understand. In my marriage I am able to see a glimpse of how God loves me.
God will always love me, no matter what I put Him through. He will always fight for me, always protect me. God has sacrificed everything for me. And everything He and I go through together is just there to weld us together more. There is nothing good that God would not do for me. And in the way that God loves me I am to love my wife.
Ephesians 5.25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,". My wedding ring has stripes engraved into it (http://www.kay.com/ProductDisplayEnlargeView?langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&imgDir=2519&partNumber=251982601&imageAttributes=true&main=true). I got this one to remind myself of the stripes on Christ's back; to serve as a constant reminder to myself to love her as Christ loves the church. I still don't fully know what that means, but I believe it starts here in 1 Corinthians 13.
We have a model of how God loves us, a model of how we are to love God, and a model of how we are to love each other. Marriage is the closest model we have of the relationship God desires with each of us. In it we see in part the love of God; a dim reflection of God's love for us. One day we will know fully when we see God face to face. I used to look at love through childish eyes and with childish thoughts. But as I have truly become a man I have put those thoughts away. I am beginning to see love as it is.
Peace be with you
Over the last few months I've been thinking about it a lot. In that two years a lot has changed. I've gotten married, moved twice, dealt with some rough work situations, had a job that I didn't understand why God was having me do (and honestly don't know that I yet understand), been to two new countries, and taken my first senior pastor role. It's been a busy two years.
In two years I'd like to think I've grown up some more. I'd like to say I'm a better man now than I was two years ago. And I'd like to say I know a little more about love than I did then, I know that I do.
Two years ago I thought I knew about love. There was a girl I was infatuated with. From what I could see she was perfect. That didn't work out, and it wasn't supposed to. I remember that April of 2010, I was coming to the realization that whatever that was was over. At that point I thought I would never be able to feel that way about anyone ever again. That was a childish thought. One day I was watching Brave Heart, and there was a line in the movie that God spoke to me through.
At the beginning of the movie William Wallace is a young boy whose father has just been killed in a battle. That night William has a dream, he is laying next to his father's body. In the dream his father turns his head to look at him and says, "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." In that moment God gave me my heart back. He had set it free, and it wasn't just releasing me from the past situation, but freeing me to love again. My heart came with the message, "You can have this back now. Don't be afraid to give it away again."
I am so grateful for that moment. Because that moment enabled me to love my wife. That September I got a facebook message from a girl I had been friends with in college. I had always been attracted to her, but was never able to pursue her, she was dating someone else. So we became friends, honestly I never thought she would go for me. We had lost touch after she graduated, but now she had contacted me. I told her we should catch up, and as soon as she agreed I decided I would ask her out.
We played phone tag for a few days, but finally connected. At the end of our conversation I told her I would be around Mount Vernon the following week and asked if she wanted to get together. When she said yes, I immediately decided I would ask her out again at the end of the first date if it went well. It did. October 12, 2010 I had my first date with my wife, at the end I asked her out again, she obviously said yes. And at the end of the second date she asked me for a third one (at that point I was like, "Got her").
We got engaged May 7, 2011, and married on August 20. For almost six months now we've been adjusting to life as a married couple. It hasn't always been easy, but in the last few weeks things have been incredible. Situations in life has brought us closer together, more welded together as a unit. I never knew you could be like this with someone else. With her I've learned so much about love.
"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."
Love is not infatuation. Love is not just warm fuzzy feelings. Love is much deeper than that, much more than that. "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;" (1 Corinthians 13.4-8a).
I think for it to be love it has to last forever. It says that love never fails, that it endures all things. I think for it to really be love it has to last forever. Everything I've felt in the past for anyone else wasn't love, because I no longer feel that way. But with my wife, it's real. There is nothing that could ever happen to change the way I feel about her. Rough times that come up just help us grow closer together, it just makes us stronger and more inseparable. It takes patience and kindness. It takes trust and humility. It requires dignity and selflessness. It must be self-controlled and forgiving. It must focus on what is good and right. It must stand firm in everything, and it must look at the future with hope. Love will last.
I love my wife in a way I never knew I could love a human being. She is the only girl I have ever really loved, and I wish I had never said those words until I said them to her for the first time on November 6, 2010. Love is not infatuation because that doesn't last. Love is not warm fuzzy feelings because they won't get you through the hard times. Love is a suit of armor, it protects you and strengthens you to fight for it. As a child, as one immature I didn't understand this, I didn't understand what all love is, and still don't fully understand. In my marriage I am able to see a glimpse of how God loves me.
God will always love me, no matter what I put Him through. He will always fight for me, always protect me. God has sacrificed everything for me. And everything He and I go through together is just there to weld us together more. There is nothing good that God would not do for me. And in the way that God loves me I am to love my wife.
Ephesians 5.25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,". My wedding ring has stripes engraved into it (http://www.kay.com/ProductDisplayEnlargeView?langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&imgDir=2519&partNumber=251982601&imageAttributes=true&main=true). I got this one to remind myself of the stripes on Christ's back; to serve as a constant reminder to myself to love her as Christ loves the church. I still don't fully know what that means, but I believe it starts here in 1 Corinthians 13.
We have a model of how God loves us, a model of how we are to love God, and a model of how we are to love each other. Marriage is the closest model we have of the relationship God desires with each of us. In it we see in part the love of God; a dim reflection of God's love for us. One day we will know fully when we see God face to face. I used to look at love through childish eyes and with childish thoughts. But as I have truly become a man I have put those thoughts away. I am beginning to see love as it is.
Peace be with you
Monday, February 6, 2012
Impact
On Friday evening my sister called me to tell me one of my favorite teachers from high school had passed away. At first I was in shock. I knew she had been diagnosed, I believe with leukemia, but it just caught me off guard that she was gone.
She was one of the teachers who really poured into people. My junior year I went through several months with major depression. And it was in that time that she really began to have an impact on me. She was there to listen and offer encouragement. When depression was over we had a bond. She had been there for me in the hard times. Even after graduation we'd kept in touch. I'd go back to see her and we'd sit and talk in the English teacher's office.
As my wife and I went to viewing yesterday afternoon the parking lot was full, and there was a man directing parking. We got into the funeral home and it took us more than an hour to get through the line to see her. And as we waited the line just kept getting longer and longer. I don't know that I've ever been to a viewing like that before.
It made me think about my own life. Am I making an impact in the lives of people? Would there be a hours long line at my funeral? I have a hard time thinking of who would be there outside of family and my closest friends.
I want a life like she lived. I want to make an impact. Not so people will line up to pay their final respects to me. Not so people will say how great of a man/pastor I was. I want to make an impact for the Kingdom. I know that might sound cliche, but I think about the people who have impacted my life. The ones that I really remember, that stand out, are the ones that have helped me become more like Christ. The ones that haven't focused on their own glory or advancement, but simply the glory of God. And the more I'm around death, the more I want the glory of God to be my main focus, my only focus.
I want to make an impact for Jesus. I want to leave the world a better place than it was when I got here, and that can be as simple as making a difference in one life. Being there for one person during a season of depression in high school goes a lot farther than just that one person.
Make an impact.
Peace be with you
She was one of the teachers who really poured into people. My junior year I went through several months with major depression. And it was in that time that she really began to have an impact on me. She was there to listen and offer encouragement. When depression was over we had a bond. She had been there for me in the hard times. Even after graduation we'd kept in touch. I'd go back to see her and we'd sit and talk in the English teacher's office.
As my wife and I went to viewing yesterday afternoon the parking lot was full, and there was a man directing parking. We got into the funeral home and it took us more than an hour to get through the line to see her. And as we waited the line just kept getting longer and longer. I don't know that I've ever been to a viewing like that before.
It made me think about my own life. Am I making an impact in the lives of people? Would there be a hours long line at my funeral? I have a hard time thinking of who would be there outside of family and my closest friends.
I want a life like she lived. I want to make an impact. Not so people will line up to pay their final respects to me. Not so people will say how great of a man/pastor I was. I want to make an impact for the Kingdom. I know that might sound cliche, but I think about the people who have impacted my life. The ones that I really remember, that stand out, are the ones that have helped me become more like Christ. The ones that haven't focused on their own glory or advancement, but simply the glory of God. And the more I'm around death, the more I want the glory of God to be my main focus, my only focus.
I want to make an impact for Jesus. I want to leave the world a better place than it was when I got here, and that can be as simple as making a difference in one life. Being there for one person during a season of depression in high school goes a lot farther than just that one person.
Make an impact.
Peace be with you
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Romanced by God
Yesterday I was reading Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. It's a book that focuses on how a boy, and a man, becomes a man. It examines six stages that every man must go through, and then how we can raise our sons to reach them. Its a book that I try to re-read every year or two. I've looked at it, really trying to focus on the stage I'm in, and that's really the part that has stood out to me. In it, he talks about how many of the stages overlap, and while that is true there is a phase that is prominent at each stage of life.
Boyhood, Cowboy, Warrior, Lover, King and Sage. As I look at my life, the stage I am most prominently in right now is the Lover stage. This has so much more to do than my relationship with my wife. Eldredge points out that this relationship needs to come after our primary relationship with God. God is the great romancer, the source of beauty. A woman is simply the messenger, the bearer of beauty, not the source. Our souls must be romanced by God. We must allow God to be the lover of our souls.
As I was reading he talks about how many of us need to look at the things that captured our attention as boys. And in those things we can most likely find God. It is to those things we in some way need to return.
As I thought about the things that captured my attention my mind immediately went to Israel. Quiet mornings by the Sea of Galilee, time of solitude in Gethsemane and at the Garden Tomb, walking on a street that Jesus walked on, seeing where He performed miracles; I honestly don't know that I've ever felt so close to God as I did in the ten days I was there. I know that I can't live in Israel, and honestly I don't think I would want to. If I did the places might become just locations. They would be things I saw everyday, and I might begin to take them for granted.
As I think about the time there I realize that what I loved the most was just that, the time. I was given two weeks with no distractions, no interruptions, just time. That time is what my heart longs for.
I think about the things I desire to do. I want to be in a canoe, going down a river in the early morning as the mist rises off the river in the early morning light. I want to backpack, and just walk along trails in the wilderness. I want to camp and just sit to watch the sunset and the stars come out. It isn't about the adventure of it, it's about the uninterrupted time with no distractions. Time just to be alone in the presence of God. Time just to be with my wife in the presence of God. Time just to be with one of my brothers in the presence of God.
Its time without the worry of any phone calls, without the distractions of any technology. Time that I don't even need to speak, and wouldn't need God to speak; it's just about being in His presence. I look back at my time in college, and I had that. I was able to escape and simply be alone with God. There were places I could go where no one would bother me, where I didn't have to worry about being interrupted, and I could fully focus on my God. When I could open my heart to Him for healing, for encouragement, or simply for Him to love.
My heart longs for that time. My heart longs for a place with no distractions and no interruptions. It isn't a place to live in, but a place to retreat to and rest from battle. It is a place to be romanced by God, the lover of my soul.
Peace be with you
Boyhood, Cowboy, Warrior, Lover, King and Sage. As I look at my life, the stage I am most prominently in right now is the Lover stage. This has so much more to do than my relationship with my wife. Eldredge points out that this relationship needs to come after our primary relationship with God. God is the great romancer, the source of beauty. A woman is simply the messenger, the bearer of beauty, not the source. Our souls must be romanced by God. We must allow God to be the lover of our souls.
As I was reading he talks about how many of us need to look at the things that captured our attention as boys. And in those things we can most likely find God. It is to those things we in some way need to return.
As I thought about the things that captured my attention my mind immediately went to Israel. Quiet mornings by the Sea of Galilee, time of solitude in Gethsemane and at the Garden Tomb, walking on a street that Jesus walked on, seeing where He performed miracles; I honestly don't know that I've ever felt so close to God as I did in the ten days I was there. I know that I can't live in Israel, and honestly I don't think I would want to. If I did the places might become just locations. They would be things I saw everyday, and I might begin to take them for granted.
As I think about the time there I realize that what I loved the most was just that, the time. I was given two weeks with no distractions, no interruptions, just time. That time is what my heart longs for.
I think about the things I desire to do. I want to be in a canoe, going down a river in the early morning as the mist rises off the river in the early morning light. I want to backpack, and just walk along trails in the wilderness. I want to camp and just sit to watch the sunset and the stars come out. It isn't about the adventure of it, it's about the uninterrupted time with no distractions. Time just to be alone in the presence of God. Time just to be with my wife in the presence of God. Time just to be with one of my brothers in the presence of God.
Its time without the worry of any phone calls, without the distractions of any technology. Time that I don't even need to speak, and wouldn't need God to speak; it's just about being in His presence. I look back at my time in college, and I had that. I was able to escape and simply be alone with God. There were places I could go where no one would bother me, where I didn't have to worry about being interrupted, and I could fully focus on my God. When I could open my heart to Him for healing, for encouragement, or simply for Him to love.
My heart longs for that time. My heart longs for a place with no distractions and no interruptions. It isn't a place to live in, but a place to retreat to and rest from battle. It is a place to be romanced by God, the lover of my soul.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
WWJHUD
I've been re-reading Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. In his books he uses a lot of movie references. This one focuses on how a boy and a man becomes a man, examining the six stages in the life of every man. A lot of it has to do with training and adventure, and so the movies he uses deal with those things. One that has stood out to me a lot with this book is the movie Kingdom of Heaven. I had seen it once years ago and I remembered not really caring for it, but I couldn't remember why. I once felt the same way about Gladiator, so I gave it another shot. Last night my wife and I watched it.
The movie is set during the time of the crusades, when wars between Christans and Muslims were fought over the Holy Land. In the movie, which is based on factual events, a battle is fought over Jerusalem, and in the end the city is surrendered to Saladin, a Muslim general. After the surrender of the city there is a scene with a cross laying on the ground. A Muslim man is walking through the room and after noticing the cross, he gently picks it up and places it on a table.
The scene reminded me of my time in Istanbul, Turkey at the Hagia Sophia Church. Over the last 1500 years it has been a church for several branches of Christianity, a mosque, and currently is a museum. When the current structure was completed by Justinian in 537 AD he claimed that he had out done Solomon. Gold covered everything, today there is gold colored paint to show everything was covered in gold mosaic. If I have my church history right, people came from the west and claimed to have seen a glimpse of heaven when they entered the church.
Much of the gold is gone today but some remains. There are still mosaics portraying Christ that remain there, even after the the church had been converted to a mosque. The Muslims did not destroy the images, they simply covered them with tapestries. Even though they do not see Jesus as divine, they still respect Him as a great prophet. Therefore, they did not destroy the images.
As I stood there looking at the centuries old work that had been preserved, my mind wondered, what would have happened if it had gone the other way? What if it had gone from a mosque to a church? Would Christians have treated the Islamic work and symbols with the same respect? Sadly, I seriously doubt it. Christians led the Crusades, killing Muslims in the name of Christ with the battle cry, "God wills it!" Even today things haven't changed all that much. A few years ago a pastor in Florida planned "Burn a Quran day" as part of a memorial for the September 11 attacks. Is that how the Church and Christianity should behave? I have to ask, What Would Jesus Have Us Do?
As I write this I don't want it to sound like I am promoting Islam. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He came to earth, died on the cross to pay for sin, and then rose from the grave forever conquering sin, death, and hell. I believe that a relationship with Him is the only way that anyone will ever enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I am a Christ follower now and forever. And at the same time my mind keeps going to Gandhi's quote, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ." Jesus would not have led the Crusades, Jesus would not have burned a Quran; so why would His followers?
The Gospel of Jesus is a message of love, why has it been presented as hostile, violent, and so full of hatred? Jesus had respect for all people and He treated people with dignity no matter what their cultural background was. He said that the world would know we were His disciples by our love (John 13.35). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16.14, "Let all that you do be done in love." What would happen if we really lived as Jesus did? If we loved as Jesus loved? What if the world saw Christianity as God intended it to be; a faith full of love and hope.
We must stand firm on the truth. I see the bumper stickers all the time that spell out "COEXIST" and "TOLERANCE" with the different faith symbols. The issue is Christianity can't. It says that Jesus is the only way, that is what separates us from everything else. If we say "Yes, let's coexist. Whatever you believe is fine, and it's all the same God" we would cease to be Christian. Our belief that Yahweh alone is God, that Jesus, His Son, came to earth to die for sin, and that Jesus alone is the way to God, is what separates us from everything else.
Let us, the Church, go forth in the name of Jesus with His Gospel of love and hope. That is what God wills. That is what Jesus would have us do.
Peace be with you
The movie is set during the time of the crusades, when wars between Christans and Muslims were fought over the Holy Land. In the movie, which is based on factual events, a battle is fought over Jerusalem, and in the end the city is surrendered to Saladin, a Muslim general. After the surrender of the city there is a scene with a cross laying on the ground. A Muslim man is walking through the room and after noticing the cross, he gently picks it up and places it on a table.
The scene reminded me of my time in Istanbul, Turkey at the Hagia Sophia Church. Over the last 1500 years it has been a church for several branches of Christianity, a mosque, and currently is a museum. When the current structure was completed by Justinian in 537 AD he claimed that he had out done Solomon. Gold covered everything, today there is gold colored paint to show everything was covered in gold mosaic. If I have my church history right, people came from the west and claimed to have seen a glimpse of heaven when they entered the church.
Much of the gold is gone today but some remains. There are still mosaics portraying Christ that remain there, even after the the church had been converted to a mosque. The Muslims did not destroy the images, they simply covered them with tapestries. Even though they do not see Jesus as divine, they still respect Him as a great prophet. Therefore, they did not destroy the images.
As I stood there looking at the centuries old work that had been preserved, my mind wondered, what would have happened if it had gone the other way? What if it had gone from a mosque to a church? Would Christians have treated the Islamic work and symbols with the same respect? Sadly, I seriously doubt it. Christians led the Crusades, killing Muslims in the name of Christ with the battle cry, "God wills it!" Even today things haven't changed all that much. A few years ago a pastor in Florida planned "Burn a Quran day" as part of a memorial for the September 11 attacks. Is that how the Church and Christianity should behave? I have to ask, What Would Jesus Have Us Do?
As I write this I don't want it to sound like I am promoting Islam. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He came to earth, died on the cross to pay for sin, and then rose from the grave forever conquering sin, death, and hell. I believe that a relationship with Him is the only way that anyone will ever enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I am a Christ follower now and forever. And at the same time my mind keeps going to Gandhi's quote, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ." Jesus would not have led the Crusades, Jesus would not have burned a Quran; so why would His followers?
The Gospel of Jesus is a message of love, why has it been presented as hostile, violent, and so full of hatred? Jesus had respect for all people and He treated people with dignity no matter what their cultural background was. He said that the world would know we were His disciples by our love (John 13.35). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16.14, "Let all that you do be done in love." What would happen if we really lived as Jesus did? If we loved as Jesus loved? What if the world saw Christianity as God intended it to be; a faith full of love and hope.
We must stand firm on the truth. I see the bumper stickers all the time that spell out "COEXIST" and "TOLERANCE" with the different faith symbols. The issue is Christianity can't. It says that Jesus is the only way, that is what separates us from everything else. If we say "Yes, let's coexist. Whatever you believe is fine, and it's all the same God" we would cease to be Christian. Our belief that Yahweh alone is God, that Jesus, His Son, came to earth to die for sin, and that Jesus alone is the way to God, is what separates us from everything else.
Let us, the Church, go forth in the name of Jesus with His Gospel of love and hope. That is what God wills. That is what Jesus would have us do.
Peace be with you
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