The past few weeks there has been something on my heart and mind, something that keeps coming up in conversations and something that I just can't escape; prayer for instant divine healing.
A few months ago a friend sent me a link to a youtube video called "Finger of God", and it deals with God doing amazing things through people's prayers. As I watched it I didn't know what to think at certain parts, some of it was stuff I had never heard of, but honestly if I really believe God is who He claims to be and who I proclaim Him to be, why does it surprise me that He does things like that? Recently I was talking to some other youth pastors who actually know people who have received gold teeth from God as the video opens with, it's a real thing that God actually did.
The main thing that has been on my heart is this, If God is doing these things and if I believe He can do these things, why don't I pray for it to happen? Why don't I lay hands on people with injuries and pray that God heals them, not asking him to do it in a few days, or weeks, but immediately and completely?
As I sat with other youth pastor friends last week and we talked one of them brought up the fact that not everyone we pray for healing for will receive it immediately, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't ask for it and believe it will happen. Jesus healed people, and when he did he did it completely and immediately, but Jesus didn't heal everyone. There were people he walked past, people that needed his help, that really would have appreciated it and rejoiced over a healing miracle.
I am convicted to pray in faith for immediate healing in people's lives. I pray for the courage to act, and the faith to believe that the God I serve can and will act.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Song Theology
This past weekend I spent three days at Olivet Nazarene University for Regional Celebrate Life, a four state church youth competition in art, music, and sports. After three days of very little sleep and poor cafeteria food I escaped the weekend with a thought for Monday.
One event they had was Nazarene Idol, as you can probably guess was a singing competition. The second girl to sing, sang "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood. She sang it well, but the longer I listened to it, the more frustrated I became. This goes back to a previous blog, but I just feel I have to talk about it again.
The whole song "Temporary Home" deals with the idea that we simply need to hang on and deal with life. It talks about how it's hard, but it's ok because this is just temporary, we aren't supposed to be here, so let's just endure it while we have to and one day it will be over and we'll get to heaven. But that isn't what I see in scripture. Heaven is not the goal, heaven is not what we were created for.
In the beginning everything was perfect, the Bible says, "God saw that it was Good." My Theology professor said that Genesis was as much creation as it was eschatology, (study of the end times). In Revelation it talks about all things being made new, about a new heaven and a new earth. One of my mentors quoted someone, I can't remember who, but he said, "If we're going up, we'll pass him on the way down." Scripture points to the earth being made new, a new creation where we dwell. We were created for here, not how it is presently, but this is where we were created.
Later in the evening a young man sang "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin, and as he sang I realized that the idea is not that I simply need to hold on, endure the trials, and then rejoice in heaven, but that I WILL rise with Jesus because he has overcome. Jesus has won the victory. He has taken hold of the prize that I am to strive for. The Bible talks about in Romans 8 and Philippians 3, that we are to become like Christ. That is the goal. We strive not to endure life but we strive to live it to the fullest. We strive for the goal, unity with Christ.
One of my professors said this, "The Bible contains everything you need to know to get to heaven, it does not contain the answers to everything you are curious about." While I love that professor dearly, and I believe it's a true statement I want to alter it just slightly, "The Bible contains everything you need to know to become like Christ," unity with Christ is the goal.
Jesus said in John 16.33, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." It won't be easy, their will be hardships, but I don't need to just hang on and struggle through life, because Jesus has overcome the world. The one I am striving to be like has overcome the world, and in him, I can overcome the world as well.
St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." So don't live in a temporary home, Rise when he calls your name. Jesus has overcome and won the victory, and he calls us to join him. Philippians 3.7-14,
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Live life to the fullest, live to the glory of God, and Rise!
Peace be with you
One event they had was Nazarene Idol, as you can probably guess was a singing competition. The second girl to sing, sang "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood. She sang it well, but the longer I listened to it, the more frustrated I became. This goes back to a previous blog, but I just feel I have to talk about it again.
The whole song "Temporary Home" deals with the idea that we simply need to hang on and deal with life. It talks about how it's hard, but it's ok because this is just temporary, we aren't supposed to be here, so let's just endure it while we have to and one day it will be over and we'll get to heaven. But that isn't what I see in scripture. Heaven is not the goal, heaven is not what we were created for.
In the beginning everything was perfect, the Bible says, "God saw that it was Good." My Theology professor said that Genesis was as much creation as it was eschatology, (study of the end times). In Revelation it talks about all things being made new, about a new heaven and a new earth. One of my mentors quoted someone, I can't remember who, but he said, "If we're going up, we'll pass him on the way down." Scripture points to the earth being made new, a new creation where we dwell. We were created for here, not how it is presently, but this is where we were created.
Later in the evening a young man sang "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin, and as he sang I realized that the idea is not that I simply need to hold on, endure the trials, and then rejoice in heaven, but that I WILL rise with Jesus because he has overcome. Jesus has won the victory. He has taken hold of the prize that I am to strive for. The Bible talks about in Romans 8 and Philippians 3, that we are to become like Christ. That is the goal. We strive not to endure life but we strive to live it to the fullest. We strive for the goal, unity with Christ.
One of my professors said this, "The Bible contains everything you need to know to get to heaven, it does not contain the answers to everything you are curious about." While I love that professor dearly, and I believe it's a true statement I want to alter it just slightly, "The Bible contains everything you need to know to become like Christ," unity with Christ is the goal.
Jesus said in John 16.33, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." It won't be easy, their will be hardships, but I don't need to just hang on and struggle through life, because Jesus has overcome the world. The one I am striving to be like has overcome the world, and in him, I can overcome the world as well.
St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." So don't live in a temporary home, Rise when he calls your name. Jesus has overcome and won the victory, and he calls us to join him. Philippians 3.7-14,
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Live life to the fullest, live to the glory of God, and Rise!
Peace be with you
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mom
Today is Mother's day, so I want to thank the mothers in my life.
Mom: You did so much, but you always loved, always listened, always taught. I remember trips to the zoo when I was little, playing Batman in the cubby hole in my room, all the school field trips you took work off to be able to go on. In high school when things were tough you always listened. The thing that sticks out most though is the song, "Through it all". Every time it played when we were driving somewhere you would always tell us, "No matter what happens, no matter what you go through, God is there. God will always be there." You started me on the path I'm on, and I wouldn't be where I am today if you hadn't taught me to walk. I never would have gotten here if you hadn't showed me the way. I wouldn't have made it if you hadn't helped along the way. You did so much mom, and I love you so much.
Grandma Sage: You're the most Godly woman I know, and our family owes how close we are to you. You poured time into our lives, you made sure we spent time together, in a way, you almost made us be friends. We probably didn't make it easy all the time, but I know we're so grateful for it now. All the time we spent in your kitchen decorating cookies, all the time we spent "sleeping" in the living room. All the time we spent playing games in the basement and backyard, it all bonded us into the inseparable family we are today. Without you none of that would have happened. You showed us what family is supposed to be, and because of that we can all pass it on.
Grandma Ginger: I have never doubted that you love me. I love when I hear your voice, and how happy it sounds just to hear mine. I love how happy it makes you to see me. It shows me how important I am to you, and I know that even if everyone else didn't care about me, you always will. Thank you for watching me when I was little, for cutting my hair, for being at every sporting even and school activity. Thank you for the love you show me every day.
Jenny McConnell: It's crazy to think that five years ago you came into my life, and I doubt either of us expected it to become like it has. The first Mother's day I couldn't be around my mom you were there. You aren't old enough to be my mother, but you treat me like your son. It has been awesome to watch you grow as a mother to your own kids, as well as feel like your son. You have always been there through the last five years, and I don't know that I could have made it through some of the junk in college without you. You showed me how to love teenagers and young adults, and I look forward to the day when I can do all that you have done for me to someone else.
Linda Russe: It's hard to believe you've been gone for almost three and a half years, but you were mother to me too. I remember the day I met you like it was yesterday. My parents trusted you with two of their kids after knowing you for a few hours. At that point I had no idea the relationship we would have. I wouldn't have made it through that church experience without you. You helped get me through two and a half years of a living hell, and I will never be able to thank you for that. Sitting at your side as you died of cancer, you still gave me something, you showed me what Faith does. You showed me how to live a life as a servant and how to die in total confidence knowing what will happen when you breath your last breath and close your eyes for the last time on earth. It was an honor be learn from you even at the point of death. You affected so many lives, I am just thankful to have been one of them. I pray to leave a legacy like you left. Until we meet again in Glory, I will see you on that beautiful shore.
These are my mothers, the women who made me who I am. To all women, you don't know the lives you will affect, so do what these women did for me, love. Happy Mother's Day.
Mom: You did so much, but you always loved, always listened, always taught. I remember trips to the zoo when I was little, playing Batman in the cubby hole in my room, all the school field trips you took work off to be able to go on. In high school when things were tough you always listened. The thing that sticks out most though is the song, "Through it all". Every time it played when we were driving somewhere you would always tell us, "No matter what happens, no matter what you go through, God is there. God will always be there." You started me on the path I'm on, and I wouldn't be where I am today if you hadn't taught me to walk. I never would have gotten here if you hadn't showed me the way. I wouldn't have made it if you hadn't helped along the way. You did so much mom, and I love you so much.
Grandma Sage: You're the most Godly woman I know, and our family owes how close we are to you. You poured time into our lives, you made sure we spent time together, in a way, you almost made us be friends. We probably didn't make it easy all the time, but I know we're so grateful for it now. All the time we spent in your kitchen decorating cookies, all the time we spent "sleeping" in the living room. All the time we spent playing games in the basement and backyard, it all bonded us into the inseparable family we are today. Without you none of that would have happened. You showed us what family is supposed to be, and because of that we can all pass it on.
Grandma Ginger: I have never doubted that you love me. I love when I hear your voice, and how happy it sounds just to hear mine. I love how happy it makes you to see me. It shows me how important I am to you, and I know that even if everyone else didn't care about me, you always will. Thank you for watching me when I was little, for cutting my hair, for being at every sporting even and school activity. Thank you for the love you show me every day.
Jenny McConnell: It's crazy to think that five years ago you came into my life, and I doubt either of us expected it to become like it has. The first Mother's day I couldn't be around my mom you were there. You aren't old enough to be my mother, but you treat me like your son. It has been awesome to watch you grow as a mother to your own kids, as well as feel like your son. You have always been there through the last five years, and I don't know that I could have made it through some of the junk in college without you. You showed me how to love teenagers and young adults, and I look forward to the day when I can do all that you have done for me to someone else.
Linda Russe: It's hard to believe you've been gone for almost three and a half years, but you were mother to me too. I remember the day I met you like it was yesterday. My parents trusted you with two of their kids after knowing you for a few hours. At that point I had no idea the relationship we would have. I wouldn't have made it through that church experience without you. You helped get me through two and a half years of a living hell, and I will never be able to thank you for that. Sitting at your side as you died of cancer, you still gave me something, you showed me what Faith does. You showed me how to live a life as a servant and how to die in total confidence knowing what will happen when you breath your last breath and close your eyes for the last time on earth. It was an honor be learn from you even at the point of death. You affected so many lives, I am just thankful to have been one of them. I pray to leave a legacy like you left. Until we meet again in Glory, I will see you on that beautiful shore.
These are my mothers, the women who made me who I am. To all women, you don't know the lives you will affect, so do what these women did for me, love. Happy Mother's Day.
Monday, May 3, 2010
And we wonder why it is the way it is
This was not the original thought I had for today, it was going to be on the church, but that will be saved for later, maybe it'll fit in to this, we'll see. Every Monday morning I send a text message to 9 of the best friends I've ever had, 9 of my 10 Proverbs 18.24 brothers (the last one doesn't have texting). Each week begins with them getting a text message asking how I can pray for them this week. Today one of them sent me a request for Lebron James' elbow, and that started a discussion between us.
Look at Lebron, or any professional athlete, they have a skill for what they do, a God given ability, to play a sport. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive" and so when an athlete does what he does best that can be a way to glorify God. The issue I have is with what they receive as compensation for this skill.
Lebron makes millions because he can put an orange sphere through a circle consistently. I'm not bashing him, I know he gives millions away each year, as do many people with great wealth, and many without it. The issue is not on the athlete, but on the society that embraces him.
What does a professional athlete, a musician, or actor contribute to society, not based on what they do with their wealth, but with the skills they have? Honestly very little. But society embraces them as if they cured cancer, ended world hunger, or brought peace to the Middle East. But really they contribute nothing to the greater good of society. So why do we embrace them as we do?
I remember back shortly after the death of Michael Jackson, I read something wanting to make the day of his death a national holiday. Really? Is he the person we want to idolize? If so, we wonder why our society is the way it is. We wonder why it's so messed up and why we have so many problems, look at where our focus is. Again, none of this is directed at any of the individual people.
Where is our focus? Who or what do we live for? We wonder why our society is the way it is? Look at what we idolize, and by that what we worship, and that explains a lot.
Look at Lebron, or any professional athlete, they have a skill for what they do, a God given ability, to play a sport. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive" and so when an athlete does what he does best that can be a way to glorify God. The issue I have is with what they receive as compensation for this skill.
Lebron makes millions because he can put an orange sphere through a circle consistently. I'm not bashing him, I know he gives millions away each year, as do many people with great wealth, and many without it. The issue is not on the athlete, but on the society that embraces him.
What does a professional athlete, a musician, or actor contribute to society, not based on what they do with their wealth, but with the skills they have? Honestly very little. But society embraces them as if they cured cancer, ended world hunger, or brought peace to the Middle East. But really they contribute nothing to the greater good of society. So why do we embrace them as we do?
I remember back shortly after the death of Michael Jackson, I read something wanting to make the day of his death a national holiday. Really? Is he the person we want to idolize? If so, we wonder why our society is the way it is. We wonder why it's so messed up and why we have so many problems, look at where our focus is. Again, none of this is directed at any of the individual people.
Where is our focus? Who or what do we live for? We wonder why our society is the way it is? Look at what we idolize, and by that what we worship, and that explains a lot.
Monday, April 26, 2010
How strong is it?
This past weekend I was down in Mount Vernon, Ohio, a city I love and miss so much. From where I am in Michigan its a four hour drive. Normally I leave after board meetings and go down for Friday and Saturday, so I leave pretty late. That was the case this past weekend.
When I drive for long hours by myself I tend to talk to myself. I play out conversations I've had recently, pray and start talking about something that I'm working through, and then one tangent leads to another. I also find that I finish a thought, and then repeat the whole thing three or four times, because I really love how it sounded, or its a topic I have a lot of passion for. I've really started to notice that some of my most profound thoughts come during long drives late at night.
As I drove late Thursday night thoughts of the church came to my mind. I thought about things from the last sermon I preached, kicked some thoughts around for the one I'm about to start working on, and then this came out of my mouth. "We lay the foundation for the next generation, how strong is it?"
This made me think about something one of my mentors told me once. "I will fail as a pastor before I ever fail as a husband or a father. Someone else can do the work of the church, but I am the only one that can be a husband to my wife and a father to my kids. If my children are raised right, then they will far surpass anything I could ever accomplish in ministry." I've taken the same mindset, because I think its a crucial mindset to have. If I'm a pastor of a church of thousands, but my own family is neglected, callused towards the church because of neglect from me, I have failed in what is truly important.
Every generation passes on a foundation to the next one. Depending on how strong it is depends on what the next generation can accomplish. If the foundation is strong, they can grow, they can expand, they can build and accomplish so much. But if the foundation is week, the accomplishments will depend on the resolve of the generation.
A weak foundation must be reinforced, must be strengthened, possibly totally rebuilt. If the generation is strong, if they are determined, they will take the time, they will rebuild it, and they will press on to build upon it. What could they have accomplished if the foundation had been strong from the beginning?
So what type of foundation are we laying? What values and morals are we passing on? What things are we teaching and emphasizing? I've said it numerous times, the goal of the Christian is to become like Christ, the purpose of the church is to help each other to become like Christ. If this is the foundation we lay, if this is what we teach and emphasize, if this is what we pass on, then the future is hopeful.
Another mentor of mine once said, "If the church would be the church the world would be flipped upside down." If the church would be the church that was made up of members who are constantly striving to become more like Christ and constantly working to help others become more like Christ then the famous quote of Gandhi would no longer be a true statement, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
I don't want that to be said of me, either one of them. I want to be one of the people that John Wesley sought, "Give me three hundred people who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I will set this world on fire." Are you one of them?
The goal: Become like Christ
The Purpose: Help others become like Christ
Peace be with you
When I drive for long hours by myself I tend to talk to myself. I play out conversations I've had recently, pray and start talking about something that I'm working through, and then one tangent leads to another. I also find that I finish a thought, and then repeat the whole thing three or four times, because I really love how it sounded, or its a topic I have a lot of passion for. I've really started to notice that some of my most profound thoughts come during long drives late at night.
As I drove late Thursday night thoughts of the church came to my mind. I thought about things from the last sermon I preached, kicked some thoughts around for the one I'm about to start working on, and then this came out of my mouth. "We lay the foundation for the next generation, how strong is it?"
This made me think about something one of my mentors told me once. "I will fail as a pastor before I ever fail as a husband or a father. Someone else can do the work of the church, but I am the only one that can be a husband to my wife and a father to my kids. If my children are raised right, then they will far surpass anything I could ever accomplish in ministry." I've taken the same mindset, because I think its a crucial mindset to have. If I'm a pastor of a church of thousands, but my own family is neglected, callused towards the church because of neglect from me, I have failed in what is truly important.
Every generation passes on a foundation to the next one. Depending on how strong it is depends on what the next generation can accomplish. If the foundation is strong, they can grow, they can expand, they can build and accomplish so much. But if the foundation is week, the accomplishments will depend on the resolve of the generation.
A weak foundation must be reinforced, must be strengthened, possibly totally rebuilt. If the generation is strong, if they are determined, they will take the time, they will rebuild it, and they will press on to build upon it. What could they have accomplished if the foundation had been strong from the beginning?
So what type of foundation are we laying? What values and morals are we passing on? What things are we teaching and emphasizing? I've said it numerous times, the goal of the Christian is to become like Christ, the purpose of the church is to help each other to become like Christ. If this is the foundation we lay, if this is what we teach and emphasize, if this is what we pass on, then the future is hopeful.
Another mentor of mine once said, "If the church would be the church the world would be flipped upside down." If the church would be the church that was made up of members who are constantly striving to become more like Christ and constantly working to help others become more like Christ then the famous quote of Gandhi would no longer be a true statement, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
I don't want that to be said of me, either one of them. I want to be one of the people that John Wesley sought, "Give me three hundred people who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I will set this world on fire." Are you one of them?
The goal: Become like Christ
The Purpose: Help others become like Christ
Peace be with you
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Does my life?
The goal of life is to become Christlike. The purpose of the church is to help the members of it to become Christlike. I've been studying Romans 14 for the last two days and I've really been thinking about this a lot. It talks about having our own convictions based on our maturity in faith, but me living by my convictions can only go so far.
If something that I am not convicted of as being sin causes my brother or sister in Christ to stumble, to not become more like Christ because of something I do or say, I have failed in my responsibility, and honestly I feel that it is sin. I can't demand my rights at the expense of the Kingdom. Just because something is not a sin for me doesn't' mean I have the freedom to do it.
Philippians 2.3-4, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." I need to look out for my brother, I need to help him become more like Christ no matter what that means for me. If something I enjoy doing causes someone to not become more like Christ, I will stop.
I want to advance the Kingdom, not me. I want to become more like Christ and help others to become more like Christ as well. My life is meaningless if it doesn't center on those two things. If I live with any other goal and strive towards any other purpose I am demanding my rights over my responsibilities. I have no desire or intention of standing before God one day and having to explain to him why something in my life, something that was not a sin for me caused someone else to end up in hell.
We as the church need this attitude. The goal is not to demand our rights and to advance our lives over the kingdom. Our purpose is to strengthen the body of Christ by becoming and helping other become more like Christ. Are we willing to set ourselves aside and humbly serve? Are we willing to have the attitude that Christ had and set our rights aside and wrap a towel around ourselves and pick up a basin of water and wash the feet of one another?
Who are we living for?
If something that I am not convicted of as being sin causes my brother or sister in Christ to stumble, to not become more like Christ because of something I do or say, I have failed in my responsibility, and honestly I feel that it is sin. I can't demand my rights at the expense of the Kingdom. Just because something is not a sin for me doesn't' mean I have the freedom to do it.
Philippians 2.3-4, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." I need to look out for my brother, I need to help him become more like Christ no matter what that means for me. If something I enjoy doing causes someone to not become more like Christ, I will stop.
I want to advance the Kingdom, not me. I want to become more like Christ and help others to become more like Christ as well. My life is meaningless if it doesn't center on those two things. If I live with any other goal and strive towards any other purpose I am demanding my rights over my responsibilities. I have no desire or intention of standing before God one day and having to explain to him why something in my life, something that was not a sin for me caused someone else to end up in hell.
We as the church need this attitude. The goal is not to demand our rights and to advance our lives over the kingdom. Our purpose is to strengthen the body of Christ by becoming and helping other become more like Christ. Are we willing to set ourselves aside and humbly serve? Are we willing to have the attitude that Christ had and set our rights aside and wrap a towel around ourselves and pick up a basin of water and wash the feet of one another?
Who are we living for?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Four words I had never noticed, two endings and two beginings
Her life ended as theirs began. Or maybe they both started to end at the same time. I was reading in Luke this past weekend and I found four words that I had never noticed before.
When I read the Bible I read the section three times, once just to read it, twice to make highlights, and the third time to write notes. The second time I saw these four words in Luke 8.42, "about twelve years old," the age of Jairus' daughter was almost 12. I have no idea how many times I have read this story, but her age has never stood out to me.
The next verse talks about a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. When this happened she was ceremonially unclean in the Jewish world. She was unable to associate with people or take place in worship services. Her life was over, she was a social outcast, and no one could make her well, no doctor.
Jesus comes back to Capernaum from Gergesa and people are waiting for him. Jairus, the leader of the synagogue there, comes to him and says that his daughter is dying and asks Jesus to come and heal her. I have seen one story portrayal which has his daughter being sick her whole life and finally dies here, maybe that is the case, so maybe as soon as she was born they lived dreading the day she would die, the day they would have to let her go. But maybe this was a sudden illness that had grabbed her just as she was starting to enter womanhood. Either way his world is crashing down at this moment.
On the way the hemorrhaging woman works her way through the crowd to get to Jesus, knowing that if she can just touch the edge of his robe she will be healed. She touches him, and the Bible says he stops and asks who touched him, it says that he felt the power leave him. As this man's world is crashing Jesus is wondering who pulled on his sleeve! The woman comes forward and she tells him her story, he says to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." He gives her life back to her. She is no longer a social outcast because of her condition, she can now live her life as a member of the community.
As this happens someone comes from Jairus' house and tells him his daughter has died. His world has just ended. This woman had gotten her life back, but now he feels his is over. His daughter, his princess, is gone. The person who brought the news tells him to leave Jesus alone, but Jesus hears this and says, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well."
They go to the house, Jesus takes three disciples and her parents with him, he tells here to get up and she does. His world has been restored, his life has been given back to him.
Two miracles 12 years in the making, two worlds, two lives, ended, but two lives where restored. For twelve years this woman goes around as a social outcast, and possibly for 12 years this father has been wondering if his little girl will make it. But the whole time God is at work. Then finally he comes to them, and restores their lives.
I look at life, right now things are going well for me, but the last few months were rough. I spent a lot of time wondering, asking a lot of questions. And finally last week I was watching Brave Heart and God gave me my answer, "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." Life was restored.
I got two text messages in the last three days from two of my Proverbs 18.24 brothers, both of them going through rough times. But I know that God is working. The whole time that I was struggling God was at work, and I know that as my brothers struggle God is at work.
These miracles were 12 years in the making, but when they occurred two lives were fully restored. There was a song I used to love as a child, "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be, he's still working on me." Even if the answer is 12 years in the making when Jesus restores your life it is totally worth it. For 23 years I've been searching for something, something that I thought I had finally found, but right now it looks like I'm still searching, and that's ok. "Your heart is free." Yes, God has delivered it, God has given it back to me. The question is will I "have the courage to follow it."?
It won't always be the easiest road, but the road is worth it, because the road leads to Jesus and restoration.
Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it!
When I read the Bible I read the section three times, once just to read it, twice to make highlights, and the third time to write notes. The second time I saw these four words in Luke 8.42, "about twelve years old," the age of Jairus' daughter was almost 12. I have no idea how many times I have read this story, but her age has never stood out to me.
The next verse talks about a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. When this happened she was ceremonially unclean in the Jewish world. She was unable to associate with people or take place in worship services. Her life was over, she was a social outcast, and no one could make her well, no doctor.
Jesus comes back to Capernaum from Gergesa and people are waiting for him. Jairus, the leader of the synagogue there, comes to him and says that his daughter is dying and asks Jesus to come and heal her. I have seen one story portrayal which has his daughter being sick her whole life and finally dies here, maybe that is the case, so maybe as soon as she was born they lived dreading the day she would die, the day they would have to let her go. But maybe this was a sudden illness that had grabbed her just as she was starting to enter womanhood. Either way his world is crashing down at this moment.
On the way the hemorrhaging woman works her way through the crowd to get to Jesus, knowing that if she can just touch the edge of his robe she will be healed. She touches him, and the Bible says he stops and asks who touched him, it says that he felt the power leave him. As this man's world is crashing Jesus is wondering who pulled on his sleeve! The woman comes forward and she tells him her story, he says to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." He gives her life back to her. She is no longer a social outcast because of her condition, she can now live her life as a member of the community.
As this happens someone comes from Jairus' house and tells him his daughter has died. His world has just ended. This woman had gotten her life back, but now he feels his is over. His daughter, his princess, is gone. The person who brought the news tells him to leave Jesus alone, but Jesus hears this and says, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well."
They go to the house, Jesus takes three disciples and her parents with him, he tells here to get up and she does. His world has been restored, his life has been given back to him.
Two miracles 12 years in the making, two worlds, two lives, ended, but two lives where restored. For twelve years this woman goes around as a social outcast, and possibly for 12 years this father has been wondering if his little girl will make it. But the whole time God is at work. Then finally he comes to them, and restores their lives.
I look at life, right now things are going well for me, but the last few months were rough. I spent a lot of time wondering, asking a lot of questions. And finally last week I was watching Brave Heart and God gave me my answer, "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." Life was restored.
I got two text messages in the last three days from two of my Proverbs 18.24 brothers, both of them going through rough times. But I know that God is working. The whole time that I was struggling God was at work, and I know that as my brothers struggle God is at work.
These miracles were 12 years in the making, but when they occurred two lives were fully restored. There was a song I used to love as a child, "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be, he's still working on me." Even if the answer is 12 years in the making when Jesus restores your life it is totally worth it. For 23 years I've been searching for something, something that I thought I had finally found, but right now it looks like I'm still searching, and that's ok. "Your heart is free." Yes, God has delivered it, God has given it back to me. The question is will I "have the courage to follow it."?
It won't always be the easiest road, but the road is worth it, because the road leads to Jesus and restoration.
Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Flossing and Jesus
Yesterday I preached on Philippians 1.27-2.11 with the main theme is Jesus simply your savior or is he the Lord of your life? It was interesting to watch they congregation, more to listen to the congregation, it was dead silent. Honestly, I didn't know if I would be able to preach this sermon, but I feel that it went really well.
The thing that really seemed to silence the crowd was the question I asked about the biggest threat to the church. It isn't the government. It isn't Islam or any other religion. It isn't Atheism. The biggest threat to the church is disunity. If the church has made Jesus the Lord then we are united around him, but if the individual members of the church haven't submitted to him as Lord, simply accepted the grace from a savior we aren't unified.
A savior is easy to have, because a savior just gives, he doesn't ask for anything but out sin, the stuff we don't want anyway. But the Lord demands all of you, he deserves all of you. This is where it gets hard.
In the sermon I used the illustration of oral hygiene. Hopefully everyone brushes their teeth, but that is not total oral hygiene, that's the basic entry level part of it. There is also mouth wash, and mouthwash is great. It takes 30 seconds and it gives your mouth a nice minty fresh taste, it gets some of the stuff that brushing missed. But brushing and mouthwash aren’t enough. There is one more part of oral hygiene, a part that less than half of Americans do daily, but it is the most important part, flossing. Regular flossing aside from just preventing gum disease and bad breath is also linked to a reduced incidence of heart disease, and can actually increase life expectancy. Flossing can make you live longer. So why don’t more people do it? It’s time consuming, it’s hard, it hurts.
I think the savior and Lord thing is like that. Everyone breathing is alive, that’s like brushing your teeth, you just kind of do it. You have life, but not full life. Then one day someone introduces you to Jesus, they tell you about this awesome guy who wants to take your sin from you and give you eternal life you pray a simple prayer and you're forgiven. That’s like mouthwash, it doesn’t take much time or effort, and it leaves your life feeling minty fresh. But then you go deeper with Jesus, your relationship with him become more intimate, and you realize you need to become less as he becomes more, that you need to give him control of your life, and that you need to become the servant and he needs to be the master. You make Jesus your Lord, that’s adding flossing. Yeah it takes some time and effort, it might hurt a little bit, but studies show that flossing can increase your life expectancy, and the Bible tells us that the life we have with Jesus is better than any life without him. It’s defiantly worth the time, the effort, and the struggles.
Are we willing to floss our lives for Jesus?
The thing that really seemed to silence the crowd was the question I asked about the biggest threat to the church. It isn't the government. It isn't Islam or any other religion. It isn't Atheism. The biggest threat to the church is disunity. If the church has made Jesus the Lord then we are united around him, but if the individual members of the church haven't submitted to him as Lord, simply accepted the grace from a savior we aren't unified.
A savior is easy to have, because a savior just gives, he doesn't ask for anything but out sin, the stuff we don't want anyway. But the Lord demands all of you, he deserves all of you. This is where it gets hard.
In the sermon I used the illustration of oral hygiene. Hopefully everyone brushes their teeth, but that is not total oral hygiene, that's the basic entry level part of it. There is also mouth wash, and mouthwash is great. It takes 30 seconds and it gives your mouth a nice minty fresh taste, it gets some of the stuff that brushing missed. But brushing and mouthwash aren’t enough. There is one more part of oral hygiene, a part that less than half of Americans do daily, but it is the most important part, flossing. Regular flossing aside from just preventing gum disease and bad breath is also linked to a reduced incidence of heart disease, and can actually increase life expectancy. Flossing can make you live longer. So why don’t more people do it? It’s time consuming, it’s hard, it hurts.
I think the savior and Lord thing is like that. Everyone breathing is alive, that’s like brushing your teeth, you just kind of do it. You have life, but not full life. Then one day someone introduces you to Jesus, they tell you about this awesome guy who wants to take your sin from you and give you eternal life you pray a simple prayer and you're forgiven. That’s like mouthwash, it doesn’t take much time or effort, and it leaves your life feeling minty fresh. But then you go deeper with Jesus, your relationship with him become more intimate, and you realize you need to become less as he becomes more, that you need to give him control of your life, and that you need to become the servant and he needs to be the master. You make Jesus your Lord, that’s adding flossing. Yeah it takes some time and effort, it might hurt a little bit, but studies show that flossing can increase your life expectancy, and the Bible tells us that the life we have with Jesus is better than any life without him. It’s defiantly worth the time, the effort, and the struggles.
Are we willing to floss our lives for Jesus?
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Walk that Saved the World
In January of 2009 and I had the opportunity to travel to Israel and walk where Jesus walked. The trip was part of a class I took that month. One of the assignments was a living document paper, a paper sharing our experience at one of the locations we visited. This past weekend was Easter, and I was reading the paper I had written after getting back from Israel. As I read I felt that this was was I needed to share this week.
So many of these sites stand out to me. I think of Mt. Carmel, the view from the top, it spans the Jezreel Valley to the Mediterranean Sea. The knowledge of the event that took place there in the ninth century BS, it is mind blowing. I think back to the early mornings by the Sea of Galilee, the hazy sunrises, peace and calm before a busy day. I think back to the Jordan Rive, the calm yet freezing water. My mind wanders back to the Mount of Olives and to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus stood here, he prayed in these places, he taught people there. The Garden tomb the place where sin, death, and hell were conquered, communion there, it was an incredible place. All of these sites, and so many more hold amazing stories, but none of them seem to stand out enough to write this paper on.
So which one to pick? What event stands out the most? Which one was the most incredible? The walk to the cross, Via Dolorosa? Yes, that one. The walk that changed the world, that saved the world. It happened on what is now a series of narrow alley ways, and ends at a church that is falling apart, but that walk saved my soul.
In the Gospel of Luke the account is found in chapter 23.1-49. Jesus is brought before Pilate who then sends him to Herod who then sends him back to Pilate. Pilate brings the priests together and announces that neither he nor Herod finds grounds for the charges that have been brought against Jesus. Jesus is not deserving of death in the eyes of Pilate, so he says that he will punish him and then release him, hoping that the people will be satisfied with that. But the people instead cry out for the criminal Barabbas to be freed. Pilate tries to release Jesus to them, but their attitude does not change, and they cry out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Again he tries to release Jesus asking, "What crime has he committed?" and again offering to punish Jesus and then let him go. But still the crowd demands the death of Jesus by crucifixion. Pilate, somewhat reluctantly I imagine,, grants their wish. He releases Barabbas and then hands Jesus over to the mob.
Luke does not record the beating that Jesus received, but the Via Dolorosa begins at the Fortress of Antonio, It is here that Jesus is used in "The Game of the King" as the soldiers beat and torture him. It is here on the stone pavement, that Jesus is given the crown of thorns and the cross. Here is where the procession to Golgotha Begins.
Jesus is carrying his own cross; the Greek word is stauros, "an upright pole or stake." Criminals were nailed to them for execution. There were two beams that formed a "T" shape. The word is in the accusative form, which is used as the direct object. The cross is what is being carried, first by Jesus, and the analog the way Simon of Cyrene, is forced to carry the cross for Christ.
The text says that they seized him, they epilabomenoi him. This is a form of the word epilambanomai meaning to lay hold of, to seize. This comes form lambano and is in the aorist case. Simon is taken and is forced to carry the cross for Jesus. He follows Jesus as they march on towards Golgotha.
Following Jesus is a crowd of women, and to them Jesus says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23.28-31). Also with him are two other men, two criminals, also going to be crucified.
As I walked through the alleyways along the Via Dolorosa, up hills and through some very narrow parts, it took a while to get to the place where Simon takes the cross from Jesus. I kept thinking about The Passion of the Christ, the beating he took, and then he carried the cross. He was beaten to within an inch of his life, and from research I have done, the cross weighed about three hundred pounds. The road was not the easiest to walk on, and back then it would have been much rougher. Jesus was a total stud. He has been beaten and probably can barely stand, but he still carries a cross weighing probably close to double his weight over rough ground and through crowded allies.
Finally they arrive at Golgotha, the place of the Skull. It could have been a common place of execution as is the case with the location of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, or possibly a hill that actually resembles a skull, as is the case with Gordon's Calvary. The location was in a stone quarry along a main high way, and outside of the city walls. Both of these locations match these criteria. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built on the original site thought to be the location of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Once there, Jesus is stripped of his cloths, nailed to the cross, and then hung between the two criminals to die. Soldiers cast lots for his cloths, they mock him, but he prays for their forgiveness, he shows love and mercy even to those who have just mocked, beaten, and killed him. One criminal insults him, while the other seeks mercy and forgiveness. As the day goes on, the sky darkens, and the curtain in the temple tears into two separate pieces. Jesus cries out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands, I commit my Spirit." And with those words Jesus breaths his last and dies.
The word paratithemai is Greek for "I commit." It means to place by the side or near, to set before. Jesus is entrusting his spirit to God, he is surrendering it to him, placing it in his hands. Jesus has come to do the Father's will, now that it is fully accomplished by him giving his spirit into the hands of the Father.
The day we walked the Via Dolorosa was less busy than the next day. Taht day I remember a few children begging for money, and a few vendors trying to sell their merchandise. But I do not remember many smells. There was the faint hint of the sewer, but other than that, nothing. The next day we had a free day in Jerusalem, and for part of that day we retraced some of our steps. Walking along the same roads as the day before, things were different. They were crowded; there was life there that day. I remember the herbs and the spices, the bread baking, and meat cooking. The strong aromas, the sweet smell of baking bread, the strong fragrances of the herbs and spices sold out in front of the shops. There was the faint odor of the sewer again, but today it was more drowned out. There was smoke in the air. The smells of Jerusalem, undoubtedly some are different, some are new, but many, the herbs, the spices, the bread, those would have been things he would have smelled that day.
The markets were loud and crowded. There were people everywhere. Trying to just walk through the streets and not bump into anyone was a challenge at times. Imagine doing it with a three hundred pound cross while being able to barely stand up. The path would have had to be cleared for him. The other thing, I was just surrounded by people wanting me to buy something from them. he had people who were grabbing at his cloths, spitting at him, maybe throwing things at him. He had people who were mourning him and clinging to him. The walk would not have been easy, not even after Simon took the cross from him.
What did I touch? The road beneath my feet, the stone pavement. Underneath my shoes it was hard and slippery. The hills could be a challenge to climb in worn out shoes with no treads on the bottom of them. Did he have sandal on or was he barefoot? Imagine the stones he must have stepped on, the rocks he must have stumbled over, the hills he must have staggered up.
What did I see? The people, the shops, the items being sold. The carvings, the clothing, the spices, the hand worked objects, people just trying to make a living and survive. He would have passed people just like this, people who could not have cared less about this radical from Nazareth being crucified. All they wanted was to sell the things they had grown, carved, weaved, or cooked. All they wanted was to make a living, to feed their families, to live another day, to be able to come back and do the same thing again tomorrow. How much has changed in two thousand years? How many of these people live the same way? The only reason they care about the death of Jesus in Jerusalem is because it brings countless numbers of tourist each year. They only want to sell what they have and go home.
I think that the Via Dolorosa shows many different portraits of Jesus. Linda McKinnish Bridges discusses many different portraits of Jesus seen in the Gospels. It the Gospel of Mark she talks about Jesus' power and pain. Both of these are clearly seen on the road to the cross. Obviously Jesus sis in pain, he is bleeding from cuts and lacerations from all over his body, he is wearing a crown of thorns while carrying a heavy cross. But in all of this we clearly see his power. Jesus walks to Golgotha, part way carrying the cross, he comforts the women along the way, and even on the cross he offers love and forgiveness.
In Matthew she talks about Jesus as the teacher. Even on the way to the cross he still taught. He showed people what love was, what mercy and grace are. He taught people what taking up the cross for the will of the Father really meant. In Luke she talks about Jesus at the table. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. He offered the covenant of life long friendship to Judas just hours before he was betrayed by him. In John there is the image that Jesus saves. He protects, and that is what we see. In the Garden he protects the disciples form harm. He goes to the cross to save the world, to take our place an pay the price for sin. That is the love of the savior.
The thing that I remember the most about the Via Dolorosa is the beginning and the end. I remember kneeling on the stone pavement where the game of the king was carved. I remember touching the ribbed stones on the floor where he was beaten, the place where he was mocked and then given the crown of thorns to wear and the cross to carry. The stones where cool and smooth, I wonder if he had trouble walking, I wonder how much it hurt his knees when he fell under the weight of the cross.
I remember the end just as vividly, kneeling beneath the altar at the top of Golgotha. I wanted to pray there, I wanted to spend a few minutes there, but we were told to hurry. I think I was there on my knees for less than thirty seconds, and in that time I could say nothing. I had no words. But as I touched the spot where they say the cross stood, I managed to say a simple phrase, "Thank you." That was it, that was all I could say, but honestly, that was enough, what else is there to say?
So many of these sites stand out to me. I think of Mt. Carmel, the view from the top, it spans the Jezreel Valley to the Mediterranean Sea. The knowledge of the event that took place there in the ninth century BS, it is mind blowing. I think back to the early mornings by the Sea of Galilee, the hazy sunrises, peace and calm before a busy day. I think back to the Jordan Rive, the calm yet freezing water. My mind wanders back to the Mount of Olives and to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus stood here, he prayed in these places, he taught people there. The Garden tomb the place where sin, death, and hell were conquered, communion there, it was an incredible place. All of these sites, and so many more hold amazing stories, but none of them seem to stand out enough to write this paper on.
So which one to pick? What event stands out the most? Which one was the most incredible? The walk to the cross, Via Dolorosa? Yes, that one. The walk that changed the world, that saved the world. It happened on what is now a series of narrow alley ways, and ends at a church that is falling apart, but that walk saved my soul.
In the Gospel of Luke the account is found in chapter 23.1-49. Jesus is brought before Pilate who then sends him to Herod who then sends him back to Pilate. Pilate brings the priests together and announces that neither he nor Herod finds grounds for the charges that have been brought against Jesus. Jesus is not deserving of death in the eyes of Pilate, so he says that he will punish him and then release him, hoping that the people will be satisfied with that. But the people instead cry out for the criminal Barabbas to be freed. Pilate tries to release Jesus to them, but their attitude does not change, and they cry out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Again he tries to release Jesus asking, "What crime has he committed?" and again offering to punish Jesus and then let him go. But still the crowd demands the death of Jesus by crucifixion. Pilate, somewhat reluctantly I imagine,, grants their wish. He releases Barabbas and then hands Jesus over to the mob.
Luke does not record the beating that Jesus received, but the Via Dolorosa begins at the Fortress of Antonio, It is here that Jesus is used in "The Game of the King" as the soldiers beat and torture him. It is here on the stone pavement, that Jesus is given the crown of thorns and the cross. Here is where the procession to Golgotha Begins.
Jesus is carrying his own cross; the Greek word is stauros, "an upright pole or stake." Criminals were nailed to them for execution. There were two beams that formed a "T" shape. The word is in the accusative form, which is used as the direct object. The cross is what is being carried, first by Jesus, and the analog the way Simon of Cyrene, is forced to carry the cross for Christ.
The text says that they seized him, they epilabomenoi him. This is a form of the word epilambanomai meaning to lay hold of, to seize. This comes form lambano and is in the aorist case. Simon is taken and is forced to carry the cross for Jesus. He follows Jesus as they march on towards Golgotha.
Following Jesus is a crowd of women, and to them Jesus says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23.28-31). Also with him are two other men, two criminals, also going to be crucified.
As I walked through the alleyways along the Via Dolorosa, up hills and through some very narrow parts, it took a while to get to the place where Simon takes the cross from Jesus. I kept thinking about The Passion of the Christ, the beating he took, and then he carried the cross. He was beaten to within an inch of his life, and from research I have done, the cross weighed about three hundred pounds. The road was not the easiest to walk on, and back then it would have been much rougher. Jesus was a total stud. He has been beaten and probably can barely stand, but he still carries a cross weighing probably close to double his weight over rough ground and through crowded allies.
Finally they arrive at Golgotha, the place of the Skull. It could have been a common place of execution as is the case with the location of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, or possibly a hill that actually resembles a skull, as is the case with Gordon's Calvary. The location was in a stone quarry along a main high way, and outside of the city walls. Both of these locations match these criteria. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built on the original site thought to be the location of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Once there, Jesus is stripped of his cloths, nailed to the cross, and then hung between the two criminals to die. Soldiers cast lots for his cloths, they mock him, but he prays for their forgiveness, he shows love and mercy even to those who have just mocked, beaten, and killed him. One criminal insults him, while the other seeks mercy and forgiveness. As the day goes on, the sky darkens, and the curtain in the temple tears into two separate pieces. Jesus cries out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands, I commit my Spirit." And with those words Jesus breaths his last and dies.
The word paratithemai is Greek for "I commit." It means to place by the side or near, to set before. Jesus is entrusting his spirit to God, he is surrendering it to him, placing it in his hands. Jesus has come to do the Father's will, now that it is fully accomplished by him giving his spirit into the hands of the Father.
The day we walked the Via Dolorosa was less busy than the next day. Taht day I remember a few children begging for money, and a few vendors trying to sell their merchandise. But I do not remember many smells. There was the faint hint of the sewer, but other than that, nothing. The next day we had a free day in Jerusalem, and for part of that day we retraced some of our steps. Walking along the same roads as the day before, things were different. They were crowded; there was life there that day. I remember the herbs and the spices, the bread baking, and meat cooking. The strong aromas, the sweet smell of baking bread, the strong fragrances of the herbs and spices sold out in front of the shops. There was the faint odor of the sewer again, but today it was more drowned out. There was smoke in the air. The smells of Jerusalem, undoubtedly some are different, some are new, but many, the herbs, the spices, the bread, those would have been things he would have smelled that day.
The markets were loud and crowded. There were people everywhere. Trying to just walk through the streets and not bump into anyone was a challenge at times. Imagine doing it with a three hundred pound cross while being able to barely stand up. The path would have had to be cleared for him. The other thing, I was just surrounded by people wanting me to buy something from them. he had people who were grabbing at his cloths, spitting at him, maybe throwing things at him. He had people who were mourning him and clinging to him. The walk would not have been easy, not even after Simon took the cross from him.
What did I touch? The road beneath my feet, the stone pavement. Underneath my shoes it was hard and slippery. The hills could be a challenge to climb in worn out shoes with no treads on the bottom of them. Did he have sandal on or was he barefoot? Imagine the stones he must have stepped on, the rocks he must have stumbled over, the hills he must have staggered up.
What did I see? The people, the shops, the items being sold. The carvings, the clothing, the spices, the hand worked objects, people just trying to make a living and survive. He would have passed people just like this, people who could not have cared less about this radical from Nazareth being crucified. All they wanted was to sell the things they had grown, carved, weaved, or cooked. All they wanted was to make a living, to feed their families, to live another day, to be able to come back and do the same thing again tomorrow. How much has changed in two thousand years? How many of these people live the same way? The only reason they care about the death of Jesus in Jerusalem is because it brings countless numbers of tourist each year. They only want to sell what they have and go home.
I think that the Via Dolorosa shows many different portraits of Jesus. Linda McKinnish Bridges discusses many different portraits of Jesus seen in the Gospels. It the Gospel of Mark she talks about Jesus' power and pain. Both of these are clearly seen on the road to the cross. Obviously Jesus sis in pain, he is bleeding from cuts and lacerations from all over his body, he is wearing a crown of thorns while carrying a heavy cross. But in all of this we clearly see his power. Jesus walks to Golgotha, part way carrying the cross, he comforts the women along the way, and even on the cross he offers love and forgiveness.
In Matthew she talks about Jesus as the teacher. Even on the way to the cross he still taught. He showed people what love was, what mercy and grace are. He taught people what taking up the cross for the will of the Father really meant. In Luke she talks about Jesus at the table. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. He offered the covenant of life long friendship to Judas just hours before he was betrayed by him. In John there is the image that Jesus saves. He protects, and that is what we see. In the Garden he protects the disciples form harm. He goes to the cross to save the world, to take our place an pay the price for sin. That is the love of the savior.
The thing that I remember the most about the Via Dolorosa is the beginning and the end. I remember kneeling on the stone pavement where the game of the king was carved. I remember touching the ribbed stones on the floor where he was beaten, the place where he was mocked and then given the crown of thorns to wear and the cross to carry. The stones where cool and smooth, I wonder if he had trouble walking, I wonder how much it hurt his knees when he fell under the weight of the cross.
I remember the end just as vividly, kneeling beneath the altar at the top of Golgotha. I wanted to pray there, I wanted to spend a few minutes there, but we were told to hurry. I think I was there on my knees for less than thirty seconds, and in that time I could say nothing. I had no words. But as I touched the spot where they say the cross stood, I managed to say a simple phrase, "Thank you." That was it, that was all I could say, but honestly, that was enough, what else is there to say?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Temporary or Life?
I've heard so many times that happiness and joyfulness are not the same. I agree, happiness is an emotion that comes and goes based on our circumstances and situations. Things make us happy or unhappy. Honestly it's a fickle emotion that is easily swayed by one thing. Joyfulness is different, one of the dictionary defines of joy is, "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation" but I feel that this isn't enough.
1 Thessalonians 5.16 says, "Rejoice always" another translation says, "Be joyful always." To exist in a state of perpetual happiness is not possible, no one is happy all the time, so joy needs to be more than just happiness.
Philippians 4.4-13 talks about this, it begins very similar to the Thessalonians verse. "Rejoice in the Lord always." and the ending verse is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." If you read the verses in between it gives this idea of fully focusing on God, dwelling on him, and in that finding contentment. That is joy, contentment in the moment. Paul says in Philippians 4.11, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." That is joy, contentment with life.
This isn't complacency, it isn't sitting back and just letting life go by complacent with it. I think the way to live life is to be content but restless. To be satisfied with where God has put us, satisfied with what he has given us, but restless to do the best we can in that situation, restless to work with what he has given us as best we can, restless to live life to the fullest no matter where we are. We are called to a life of joy, a life of restless contentment.
I think this idea is true of other things as well. Lets look at fear. The Bible contains the idea of "Fear not" 365 times. It says, in 1 John 4, "There is no fear in love" I think fear is like joy, it is a lifestyle. It's ok to be scared, that is like happiness, a temporary emotion caused by a situation or our circumstances, but being scared is temporary. Fear is being in a constant state of panic of unease. When Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection the first thing he says is "Peace be with you." (John 20.19) It's that idea of fear not.
There will be moments in our lives when we feel scared, things like thunderstorms scare some people, big dogs scare people. Some things are scary, but when that feeling of scared begins to rule your life, when you are controlled by it, that's when it becomes a fear. We weren't made to have our lives ruled by things that scare us, we weren't made to live in a constant state of panic. "There is no fear in love."
Anger is another one. It's ok to be angry, they Bible simply says, "In your anger do not sin." There are things that will make us angry, and there are things that should make us angry. But when that anger consumes us it becomes hate, and that's where it consumes us.
"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." (Ephesians 4.26-27) If we hold on to anger it can consume us, it can grow into hate. Anger is like happiness and being scared, it is a temporary emotion, and it needs to remain that way.
Fear and hate, John Wesley said, "Give me 300 people who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I will set this world on fire." The fear of God is not a fear of terror, but a fear out of reverence. It is God who has power and God who we are to be ruled by. But that fear is, again, not a fear out of being terrified by him, but a healthy fear out of reverence for his holiness and power. The only thing we are to hate is the thing contrary to God, the thing opposite God. Evil is the only thing that we are to hate. The rest of creation, including the people who make us the angriest, are made by God.
Finally, concern vs. worry. There are things to be concerned about, situations that need us to be careful and plan for them, to spend time and prepare for them, but to be consumed by the planning, the possibility of everything going wrong, that becomes worry. To live in a constant state of anxiety will ruin your life. You won't be able to have joy if you are constantly anxious about what will go wrong tomorrow. The test you have in school, the assignment at work, yes be concerned, study for it, prepare for it, but don't be consumed by the pressure of failing.
So what will be your life, Hatred, Worry, Fear or Joy?
Peace be with you
1 Thessalonians 5.16 says, "Rejoice always" another translation says, "Be joyful always." To exist in a state of perpetual happiness is not possible, no one is happy all the time, so joy needs to be more than just happiness.
Philippians 4.4-13 talks about this, it begins very similar to the Thessalonians verse. "Rejoice in the Lord always." and the ending verse is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." If you read the verses in between it gives this idea of fully focusing on God, dwelling on him, and in that finding contentment. That is joy, contentment in the moment. Paul says in Philippians 4.11, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." That is joy, contentment with life.
This isn't complacency, it isn't sitting back and just letting life go by complacent with it. I think the way to live life is to be content but restless. To be satisfied with where God has put us, satisfied with what he has given us, but restless to do the best we can in that situation, restless to work with what he has given us as best we can, restless to live life to the fullest no matter where we are. We are called to a life of joy, a life of restless contentment.
I think this idea is true of other things as well. Lets look at fear. The Bible contains the idea of "Fear not" 365 times. It says, in 1 John 4, "There is no fear in love" I think fear is like joy, it is a lifestyle. It's ok to be scared, that is like happiness, a temporary emotion caused by a situation or our circumstances, but being scared is temporary. Fear is being in a constant state of panic of unease. When Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection the first thing he says is "Peace be with you." (John 20.19) It's that idea of fear not.
There will be moments in our lives when we feel scared, things like thunderstorms scare some people, big dogs scare people. Some things are scary, but when that feeling of scared begins to rule your life, when you are controlled by it, that's when it becomes a fear. We weren't made to have our lives ruled by things that scare us, we weren't made to live in a constant state of panic. "There is no fear in love."
Anger is another one. It's ok to be angry, they Bible simply says, "In your anger do not sin." There are things that will make us angry, and there are things that should make us angry. But when that anger consumes us it becomes hate, and that's where it consumes us.
"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." (Ephesians 4.26-27) If we hold on to anger it can consume us, it can grow into hate. Anger is like happiness and being scared, it is a temporary emotion, and it needs to remain that way.
Fear and hate, John Wesley said, "Give me 300 people who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I will set this world on fire." The fear of God is not a fear of terror, but a fear out of reverence. It is God who has power and God who we are to be ruled by. But that fear is, again, not a fear out of being terrified by him, but a healthy fear out of reverence for his holiness and power. The only thing we are to hate is the thing contrary to God, the thing opposite God. Evil is the only thing that we are to hate. The rest of creation, including the people who make us the angriest, are made by God.
Finally, concern vs. worry. There are things to be concerned about, situations that need us to be careful and plan for them, to spend time and prepare for them, but to be consumed by the planning, the possibility of everything going wrong, that becomes worry. To live in a constant state of anxiety will ruin your life. You won't be able to have joy if you are constantly anxious about what will go wrong tomorrow. The test you have in school, the assignment at work, yes be concerned, study for it, prepare for it, but don't be consumed by the pressure of failing.
So what will be your life, Hatred, Worry, Fear or Joy?
Peace be with you
Monday, March 22, 2010
Dumping my brain
The reason I started this blog was to use as an accountability tool to make sure that I kept thinking and developing thoughts. Sometimes Monday morning comes and I have no idea what to write about, today was one of those days. One of the teens I work with texted me a couple weeks ago about wanting to talk through some stuff she's trying to figure out. Actually she asked for prayer about it and I told her we'd talk about it soon. We still haven't talked, but to prep me for the conversation she sent me a song to listen to, "More like Falling in Love" by Jason Gray.
Last night I was talking with one of my Proverbs 18.24 brothers about a sermon he's writing on James 4.11-12, he talks about something Mark Driscoll said about Joel Osteen and Rob Bell. That started us on a conversation about the sermon and the idea of judging vs. holding someone accountable.
I look at the sermon I'm trying to work on for April 11, the Religious or Relational one I've preached several times, and basically my hope for the church, and it all focuses on that idea of genuine Christianity, not being blinded by the religious rituals and rule, but just captivated by the love of a the King of kings.
So this song, "More like Falling in Love"
Give me rules, I will break them. Show me lines, I will cross them. I need more than a truth to believe, I need a truth that lives, moves, and breaths, to sweep me off my feet. It's gotta be
More like falling in love, than something to believe in.
More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance.
Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now.
It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love.
Give me words, I'll misuse them, obligations, I'll misplace them. 'Cause all religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet. It never set me free. It's gotta be
More like falling in love, than something to believe in.
More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance.
Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now.
It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper, it was love that made me a believer in more than a name, a faith, a creed. Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.
More like falling in love, than something to believe in.
More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance.
Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now.
It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love.
I keep just hitting replay on youtube. I think about that, it's gotta be more like falling in love. It's all about a relationship. I hear people talk about politics, and this doesn't have any thing to do with health care, but the government can't fix anything. Making something legal or illegal doesn't make someone do or not do it, it's the mindset the person has. The song says it, "Give me rules, I will break them" but it also says "falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me."
If the church would be the church it was called to be we would have no need of politics. If Christians would live the life they claim to be a part of the world would be a better place.
I make it sound so simple, and honestly, I think it is that simple. God knew what he was doing, and if we would simply be who he calls us to be things would be so much better. If we stopped focusing on the rules that simply show us how messed up we are and simply fall in love with the best friend any of us could ever ask for, things would be so much better. I'm not saying that we'll have no problems, Jesus tells us we will, but if this idea of genuine Christianity caught on, what would happen in our lives? In our families? In our churches? In our cities? In our nation? In our world?
"It's gotta be more like falling in love, than something to believe in. More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance. Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now. It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love."
Peace be with you
Last night I was talking with one of my Proverbs 18.24 brothers about a sermon he's writing on James 4.11-12, he talks about something Mark Driscoll said about Joel Osteen and Rob Bell. That started us on a conversation about the sermon and the idea of judging vs. holding someone accountable.
I look at the sermon I'm trying to work on for April 11, the Religious or Relational one I've preached several times, and basically my hope for the church, and it all focuses on that idea of genuine Christianity, not being blinded by the religious rituals and rule, but just captivated by the love of a the King of kings.
So this song, "More like Falling in Love"
Give me rules, I will break them. Show me lines, I will cross them. I need more than a truth to believe, I need a truth that lives, moves, and breaths, to sweep me off my feet. It's gotta be
More like falling in love, than something to believe in.
More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance.
Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now.
It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love.
Give me words, I'll misuse them, obligations, I'll misplace them. 'Cause all religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet. It never set me free. It's gotta be
More like falling in love, than something to believe in.
More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance.
Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now.
It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper, it was love that made me a believer in more than a name, a faith, a creed. Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.
More like falling in love, than something to believe in.
More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance.
Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now.
It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love.
I keep just hitting replay on youtube. I think about that, it's gotta be more like falling in love. It's all about a relationship. I hear people talk about politics, and this doesn't have any thing to do with health care, but the government can't fix anything. Making something legal or illegal doesn't make someone do or not do it, it's the mindset the person has. The song says it, "Give me rules, I will break them" but it also says "falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me."
If the church would be the church it was called to be we would have no need of politics. If Christians would live the life they claim to be a part of the world would be a better place.
I make it sound so simple, and honestly, I think it is that simple. God knew what he was doing, and if we would simply be who he calls us to be things would be so much better. If we stopped focusing on the rules that simply show us how messed up we are and simply fall in love with the best friend any of us could ever ask for, things would be so much better. I'm not saying that we'll have no problems, Jesus tells us we will, but if this idea of genuine Christianity caught on, what would happen in our lives? In our families? In our churches? In our cities? In our nation? In our world?
"It's gotta be more like falling in love, than something to believe in. More like losing my heart, than giving my allegiance. Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now. It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love."
Peace be with you
Monday, March 15, 2010
Prepare, don't wait
James 4.13-14 says, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." Recently a friend and I were talking, she was sharing with me how she's trying to make decisions about the future and trying to see what the will of God is for her life. She's had people tell her not to worry about it, and to just let it all happen as God wills.
To a point I agree with that, but at the same time I think that's a horrible idea. God doesn't just want us to sit and wait for Him to work and show us what his plan is, he expects us to be ready.
Luke 12.35-40, "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves."
Jesus is talking about his return here, and I feel this is how we are to live, ready but not sitting idle. I said this to my friend, "Spend today preparing for tomorrow, don't spend today waiting for tomorrow." We spend today working for the future, but if it never comes then what have we lost? If we are preparing, nothing. If we are preparing that means we are working towards something, not sitting idly by wasting the breaths God has given us.
St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." When we live life to the fullest, we glorify God. Billy Graham once said, "Live every day like Jesus will return today, but live every day like we have to plan for the next thousand years.:
I think this is the way Jesus wants us to live, ready for when he comes, but not sitting by terrified that the end of the world might be near. The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear, so we don't need to be afraid about the end of the world.
I look at my life, there are things I want to do; Bike across America, climb Mt. Everest, spend Holy Week in Israel, that's just a few. So I live preparing for these things, glorifying God as I do them, but if I never get to accomplish any of them, then that's fine too, and I glorify God all the same. We weren't made to be miserable, we were given life to live it, and when we live it fully we are glorifying God.
I don't know if this makes sense, it is all so clear in my mind, and I hope that I've been able to get that idea out.
"The glory of God is man fully alive." Live you're life to the fullest, glorify God in all you do.
Peace be with you.
To a point I agree with that, but at the same time I think that's a horrible idea. God doesn't just want us to sit and wait for Him to work and show us what his plan is, he expects us to be ready.
Luke 12.35-40, "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves."
Jesus is talking about his return here, and I feel this is how we are to live, ready but not sitting idle. I said this to my friend, "Spend today preparing for tomorrow, don't spend today waiting for tomorrow." We spend today working for the future, but if it never comes then what have we lost? If we are preparing, nothing. If we are preparing that means we are working towards something, not sitting idly by wasting the breaths God has given us.
St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." When we live life to the fullest, we glorify God. Billy Graham once said, "Live every day like Jesus will return today, but live every day like we have to plan for the next thousand years.:
I think this is the way Jesus wants us to live, ready for when he comes, but not sitting by terrified that the end of the world might be near. The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear, so we don't need to be afraid about the end of the world.
I look at my life, there are things I want to do; Bike across America, climb Mt. Everest, spend Holy Week in Israel, that's just a few. So I live preparing for these things, glorifying God as I do them, but if I never get to accomplish any of them, then that's fine too, and I glorify God all the same. We weren't made to be miserable, we were given life to live it, and when we live it fully we are glorifying God.
I don't know if this makes sense, it is all so clear in my mind, and I hope that I've been able to get that idea out.
"The glory of God is man fully alive." Live you're life to the fullest, glorify God in all you do.
Peace be with you.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Goal for the Christian
What is the ultimate goal that followers of Christ strive to attain? Many would probably say something along the lines of getting to Heaven and spending eternity in the presence of God. This idea is presented heavily in churches that I have attended, not always explicitly, but this is the general idea I pick up from the places I've been.
It's an idea that is presented in many songs. I look at hymns like, Wayfaring Stranger, "I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger traveling through this world of woe, but there's no sickness no toil no danger in that bright world to which I go. I'm going there to see my father, I'm going there no more to roam." The song, When we all get to Heaven, "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory." There are many others that point to this idea of, "Let's just hold on, one day we will get to Heaven which is the goal."
I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the hymns, that is not my intention at all. I love them, they are full of so much great Theology, and I believe they truly are a treasure we can not afford to lose. But I think we've lost sight of the true goal, of what we are supposed to be striving for.
Heaven is a wonderful place, but I don't believe that Heaven is our goal. When God first created the world it was perfect, there was no sin, no death, and therefore no need for us to have heaven because the world was perfect. The goal was never to leave the earth, and I don't want to get into a discussion about my views of where Heaven is, but the purpose for us was never to die, and therefore Heaven wasn't what we were to strive for. And I honestly don't think anything else has changed.
Romans 8.28-30 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Here we are told that everything will work for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. It is not that everything works for good because we love God, it works for good because we are following the purpose of God. Next we see that we are called to be conformed to the image of his son. The word predestined, according to William Greathouse, refers to an invitation, not an order, God did not select some to become like Christ and others not to, he makes the offer to everyone, but because of love God does not force it upon anyone. It is a plan, not a script. So we are predestined to become like Christ, only after that does glorification happen, and glorification would be Heaven. So the goal is not heaven, the goal is becoming more like Christ.
Paul says, in Philippians 3, how he has counted everything as loss compared to knowing Christ. He talks about how he will share in Christs suffering, and even his death because he will be raised to a new life in Christ. He says that he is forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to the goal, the prize of the upward call of God. This call is not to make it through life to get to Heaven, the call is to become like Christ.
I really believe that is the true goal, that is the true purpose, to become like Christ. Heaven will be great, and I can't wait to get there. I can't wait to see Jesus, to fall at his feet and say thank you, if I'm even able to speak at all. But I don't want to live my life waiting for Heaven, and I don't think I'm supposed to. I want to be more like Jesus, every day I want to become more like him. That is what this is all about.
Peace be with you
It's an idea that is presented in many songs. I look at hymns like, Wayfaring Stranger, "I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger traveling through this world of woe, but there's no sickness no toil no danger in that bright world to which I go. I'm going there to see my father, I'm going there no more to roam." The song, When we all get to Heaven, "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory." There are many others that point to this idea of, "Let's just hold on, one day we will get to Heaven which is the goal."
I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the hymns, that is not my intention at all. I love them, they are full of so much great Theology, and I believe they truly are a treasure we can not afford to lose. But I think we've lost sight of the true goal, of what we are supposed to be striving for.
Heaven is a wonderful place, but I don't believe that Heaven is our goal. When God first created the world it was perfect, there was no sin, no death, and therefore no need for us to have heaven because the world was perfect. The goal was never to leave the earth, and I don't want to get into a discussion about my views of where Heaven is, but the purpose for us was never to die, and therefore Heaven wasn't what we were to strive for. And I honestly don't think anything else has changed.
Romans 8.28-30 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Here we are told that everything will work for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. It is not that everything works for good because we love God, it works for good because we are following the purpose of God. Next we see that we are called to be conformed to the image of his son. The word predestined, according to William Greathouse, refers to an invitation, not an order, God did not select some to become like Christ and others not to, he makes the offer to everyone, but because of love God does not force it upon anyone. It is a plan, not a script. So we are predestined to become like Christ, only after that does glorification happen, and glorification would be Heaven. So the goal is not heaven, the goal is becoming more like Christ.
Paul says, in Philippians 3, how he has counted everything as loss compared to knowing Christ. He talks about how he will share in Christs suffering, and even his death because he will be raised to a new life in Christ. He says that he is forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to the goal, the prize of the upward call of God. This call is not to make it through life to get to Heaven, the call is to become like Christ.
I really believe that is the true goal, that is the true purpose, to become like Christ. Heaven will be great, and I can't wait to get there. I can't wait to see Jesus, to fall at his feet and say thank you, if I'm even able to speak at all. But I don't want to live my life waiting for Heaven, and I don't think I'm supposed to. I want to be more like Jesus, every day I want to become more like him. That is what this is all about.
Peace be with you
Monday, March 1, 2010
He calls me Friend
Over the last few weeks there as been a verse on my mind, Galatians 4.9a, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God" the more I think about it, the more amazed I get.
I think back to one of my theology classes in college, we talked about the vastness of creation. Look at the universe, not simply our solar system or our galaxy, but the entire universe. The current estimates I found is that there are somewhere between 100 and 200 billion galaxies in the universe, a universe that we don't even know how big it is because we can't even see it all!
Louie Giglio has a DVD called Indescribable, where he talks about the vastness of the universe, he mentions a verse in it, where God measures the universe with his hand. He can hold it in his hand! If we look at our galaxy the world doesn't even show up. Even in our solar system it appears as a pal blue dot. But to that pal blue dot God came as a human, not to live a simple life, but to die a painful, humiliating death.
John 15.13-15
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
He died for us, he calls us his friends! The creator of a universe so big that we can't even comprehend it, loves us so much not just to create us, but to be involved in our existence, to die in order to redeem us, and calls us his friends! It truly is indescribable.
Galatians 4.9 says, "or rather to be known by God." Who cares that we know God? We should know him, he made the universe, he holds it in his hand, so what's the big deal for us to know him? But for him to know us, that's what's so incredible. The fact that while we exist in an incredible universe, amid countless stars which God knows by name (Psalm 147.4) he calls us his friends, truly is indescribable.
I think back to one of my theology classes in college, we talked about the vastness of creation. Look at the universe, not simply our solar system or our galaxy, but the entire universe. The current estimates I found is that there are somewhere between 100 and 200 billion galaxies in the universe, a universe that we don't even know how big it is because we can't even see it all!
Louie Giglio has a DVD called Indescribable, where he talks about the vastness of the universe, he mentions a verse in it, where God measures the universe with his hand. He can hold it in his hand! If we look at our galaxy the world doesn't even show up. Even in our solar system it appears as a pal blue dot. But to that pal blue dot God came as a human, not to live a simple life, but to die a painful, humiliating death.
John 15.13-15
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
He died for us, he calls us his friends! The creator of a universe so big that we can't even comprehend it, loves us so much not just to create us, but to be involved in our existence, to die in order to redeem us, and calls us his friends! It truly is indescribable.
Galatians 4.9 says, "or rather to be known by God." Who cares that we know God? We should know him, he made the universe, he holds it in his hand, so what's the big deal for us to know him? But for him to know us, that's what's so incredible. The fact that while we exist in an incredible universe, amid countless stars which God knows by name (Psalm 147.4) he calls us his friends, truly is indescribable.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Mission Statement
At a church board meeting last week I noticed the church's mission statement, or "Statement of Purpose" as it says. "South Flint Church of the Nazarene exists to exalt the name of our Lord Jesus Christ through worship, evangelism, and obedience to the living Word of God."
Over the last few weeks the idea of vision has been on my mind. I've never really been in a situation where I've needed a vision for more than just my life before now, so I'm in the beginning stages of figuring that out. But I think before you can create a vision you need to know what you're purpose is, in other words, what is your own personal mission statement?
As I sat waiting for this meeting to start I began to think about a mission statement for life, a personal mission statement. I've narrowed it down to three words: LIVE, PREACH, GLORIFY.
LIVE in the Spirit, Galatians 5.22-25
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
PREACH the gospel of Jesus, 2 Timothy 4.1-8
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
GLORIFY the Father, Philippians 2.1-11
"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 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."
LIVE, PREACH, GLORIFY
Peace be with you
Over the last few weeks the idea of vision has been on my mind. I've never really been in a situation where I've needed a vision for more than just my life before now, so I'm in the beginning stages of figuring that out. But I think before you can create a vision you need to know what you're purpose is, in other words, what is your own personal mission statement?
As I sat waiting for this meeting to start I began to think about a mission statement for life, a personal mission statement. I've narrowed it down to three words: LIVE, PREACH, GLORIFY.
LIVE in the Spirit, Galatians 5.22-25
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
PREACH the gospel of Jesus, 2 Timothy 4.1-8
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
GLORIFY the Father, Philippians 2.1-11
"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 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."
LIVE, PREACH, GLORIFY
Peace be with you
Monday, February 15, 2010
Worship Wars
Is it really about the music? Does style really matter? Obviously it does because this is an issue, but should it matter? This idea is one that is on the front of my mind this week. The church I am currently serving at is predominately older. Seventy-Five percent of the congregation is over the age of sixty. Several members have been here for seventy plus years. They love the hymns and the traditional style of music, and that's not a bad thing.
I think the hymns are wonderful. Currently I'm working on a book about the beauty and theology found in the hymns. And at the same time I love the new contemporary music. I love the simple truths that I hear in them. But does it really matter what my preference is?
I think back to a class I had in college, Worship in the Christian Tradition. My professor said something the first day of class, and if we learned nothing else in class but this, I think he would be satisfied. "Worship is a trusting obedient response to the word of God." With this definition worship is more than singing, praying, reading the Bible, going to church, tithing; all of these are part of worship but not any one of them individually is worship. Worship is so much bigger than that.
Worship is a life style. The way we live our lives, everything we do and say, is an opportunity to worship God. And the thing with it is this, worship is about God. Look at the definition my professor gave us, "a trusting, obedient response to the word of God." As I read the Bible I find this to be true. If you look up the definition of worship in the dictionary you find this, "Reverence toward a divine or supernatural power; Expression of reverence; Extravagant respect or devotion." The word revere means, "Show honor and devotion to" and devotion is "Loyalty and dedication to." It all points to a life style.
For worship to happen, based on the definition above, God has to speak. Worship begins with God. For it to be worship it has to be directed at God. The only part humans play in all of this is the choice to listen to God speaking and then choosing to respond in trust and obedience.
Worship is not about us, it is not about our preferences or comfort zone. I think back to a previous post, He Alone is Worthy, I mentioned how God HAS to be praised because of who he is. God will receive worship, he HAS to be worshiped, so it will happen. The best part is that he invites us to do it. He invites us, as unworthy as we are, to come and worship him for who he is.
There is a verse in Galatians 4, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God," the verse is talking about how we used to not know God and lived our lives enslaved to things that are not God. Then it talks about how now that we know God, how do we can we go back to being enslaved by things that are not God? How can we go back to worshiping something that is not God? But the best part of this verse is where it says, "or rather to be known by God," think about that. Take a moment and think about the vastness of creation, not just the world, but our galaxy, or even more, the entire universe. Think about how big it is, God made all of that. The song "God of Wonders" comes to my mind. Right now I'm listening to the song "God of this City" it says, "There is no one like our God" and that is so true.
So as we worship, not just in music but in life, we must realize that it isn't about us. It is not about our presences or comforts, but about God.
Romans 12.1-2, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
God speaks, may we have the wisdom to hear his voice and then the courage to respond in trust and obedience. My we live lives that worship God. May our lives be fully about God.
Peace be with you
I think the hymns are wonderful. Currently I'm working on a book about the beauty and theology found in the hymns. And at the same time I love the new contemporary music. I love the simple truths that I hear in them. But does it really matter what my preference is?
I think back to a class I had in college, Worship in the Christian Tradition. My professor said something the first day of class, and if we learned nothing else in class but this, I think he would be satisfied. "Worship is a trusting obedient response to the word of God." With this definition worship is more than singing, praying, reading the Bible, going to church, tithing; all of these are part of worship but not any one of them individually is worship. Worship is so much bigger than that.
Worship is a life style. The way we live our lives, everything we do and say, is an opportunity to worship God. And the thing with it is this, worship is about God. Look at the definition my professor gave us, "a trusting, obedient response to the word of God." As I read the Bible I find this to be true. If you look up the definition of worship in the dictionary you find this, "Reverence toward a divine or supernatural power; Expression of reverence; Extravagant respect or devotion." The word revere means, "Show honor and devotion to" and devotion is "Loyalty and dedication to." It all points to a life style.
For worship to happen, based on the definition above, God has to speak. Worship begins with God. For it to be worship it has to be directed at God. The only part humans play in all of this is the choice to listen to God speaking and then choosing to respond in trust and obedience.
Worship is not about us, it is not about our preferences or comfort zone. I think back to a previous post, He Alone is Worthy, I mentioned how God HAS to be praised because of who he is. God will receive worship, he HAS to be worshiped, so it will happen. The best part is that he invites us to do it. He invites us, as unworthy as we are, to come and worship him for who he is.
There is a verse in Galatians 4, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God," the verse is talking about how we used to not know God and lived our lives enslaved to things that are not God. Then it talks about how now that we know God, how do we can we go back to being enslaved by things that are not God? How can we go back to worshiping something that is not God? But the best part of this verse is where it says, "or rather to be known by God," think about that. Take a moment and think about the vastness of creation, not just the world, but our galaxy, or even more, the entire universe. Think about how big it is, God made all of that. The song "God of Wonders" comes to my mind. Right now I'm listening to the song "God of this City" it says, "There is no one like our God" and that is so true.
So as we worship, not just in music but in life, we must realize that it isn't about us. It is not about our presences or comforts, but about God.
Romans 12.1-2, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
God speaks, may we have the wisdom to hear his voice and then the courage to respond in trust and obedience. My we live lives that worship God. May our lives be fully about God.
Peace be with you
Monday, February 8, 2010
1 Corinthians 13.11-12
"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."
How does this relate to the rest of chapter? At an initial glace it may seem totally random and out of place. The first ten verses and the last verse are about love. This passage is very often used at weddings but the love Paul refers to here is so much more than a human emotion that a husband and wife show to each other.
The love that we read about is so much more than the love we as people have for one another. This love is the love that we are to have for God, but more importantly it is the love that God has for us! Think about it,
"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; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away" (verses 4-8).
All of those are things God shows to us and it is so awesome that he does, where would we be if he didn't? If he wasn't patient or kind? If he was provoked and took our sins into account? If his love didn't endure when we didn't accept or appreciate it, where would we be? This is the love that God has for us, and it is the model of the love we are to have for him and each other.
But the two verses I mentioned, eleven and twelve, look at them in relation to love, since that is the context they fall in. When I was a child the word love was one that was used so freely, and in some cases it still is. As a little boy, "I love Batman." "I love the Cleveland Indians." "I love ..." Even as I grew older and used the word towards a girl I dated, I never got it. My love was immature. As it says, I spoke, thought, and reasoned as a child would, and my love for God was the same way. But then my life changed, I became a man, and my ability to understand and show love changed.
I understand what it is to love another person, and even though I've never been able to say it to her except on paper in letters I haven't sent, I understand it. My love for, and understanding of, God has increased, and I've come to further understand his heart, due to things I've experienced with this girl.
But even though I have come to this deeper understanding and my love isn't childish and immature, my love is still incomplete, as is my ability to fully comprehend it. I see and know only in part, but one day I will fully know it, I will fully be able to love when I see love face to face. "God is love" (1 John 4.8b).
I will know love as God has loved me, and I will finally be able to love him as he loves me. And this is the most important part, not that I partially love God now, and one day will be able to fully love him, it isn't about my ability to love at all, it isn't that I have chosen to give that love to God. The most important part is that I have been loved by God. God loves me, and that is the only thing that matters at all. And one day I will fully be able to grasp that love when I look Love in the eye, face to face.
Peace be with you.
How does this relate to the rest of chapter? At an initial glace it may seem totally random and out of place. The first ten verses and the last verse are about love. This passage is very often used at weddings but the love Paul refers to here is so much more than a human emotion that a husband and wife show to each other.
The love that we read about is so much more than the love we as people have for one another. This love is the love that we are to have for God, but more importantly it is the love that God has for us! Think about it,
"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; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away" (verses 4-8).
All of those are things God shows to us and it is so awesome that he does, where would we be if he didn't? If he wasn't patient or kind? If he was provoked and took our sins into account? If his love didn't endure when we didn't accept or appreciate it, where would we be? This is the love that God has for us, and it is the model of the love we are to have for him and each other.
But the two verses I mentioned, eleven and twelve, look at them in relation to love, since that is the context they fall in. When I was a child the word love was one that was used so freely, and in some cases it still is. As a little boy, "I love Batman." "I love the Cleveland Indians." "I love ..." Even as I grew older and used the word towards a girl I dated, I never got it. My love was immature. As it says, I spoke, thought, and reasoned as a child would, and my love for God was the same way. But then my life changed, I became a man, and my ability to understand and show love changed.
I understand what it is to love another person, and even though I've never been able to say it to her except on paper in letters I haven't sent, I understand it. My love for, and understanding of, God has increased, and I've come to further understand his heart, due to things I've experienced with this girl.
But even though I have come to this deeper understanding and my love isn't childish and immature, my love is still incomplete, as is my ability to fully comprehend it. I see and know only in part, but one day I will fully know it, I will fully be able to love when I see love face to face. "God is love" (1 John 4.8b).
I will know love as God has loved me, and I will finally be able to love him as he loves me. And this is the most important part, not that I partially love God now, and one day will be able to fully love him, it isn't about my ability to love at all, it isn't that I have chosen to give that love to God. The most important part is that I have been loved by God. God loves me, and that is the only thing that matters at all. And one day I will fully be able to grasp that love when I look Love in the eye, face to face.
Peace be with you.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
It's been three years?
My tears have all been shed, but I still miss her so much. Today marks the third anniversary of my dear friend Linda Russe going home to Heaven, and honestly I can't believe it's been that long.
I knew the date was coming up, but I didn't realize that today was it until I saw the date on my watch this afternoon. And as I sat and listened to the cd she had made and read through the program from her funeral memories stared to come back. I could talk forever about her, but honestly I don't want to fill today with words that bring up the past.
Remembering is important, there are so many good memories that bring joy to my life, little things she would do that I really miss, things she would say to me, inside jokes we had, things that are treasured in my heart for the rest of my life.
But today as I looked at the funeral program I saw something that I had forgotten about. In the program was a list of Linda's favorite verses, and the one that stood out to me is from 2 Timothy 4.7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;"
I have an entire sermon dedicated to Linda that celebrates her life, but all of it can be summed up in these sixteen words. She lived with faith, she battled cancer with faith, and she went home in faith. She showed me how to live a life of love, and how to die with confidence. She knew that when she closed her eyes for the last time on this earth and when she took her last breath she would open her eyes and see the face of Christ, she would breath in the sweet air of Heaven.
And today as I remember, I am able to celebrate and not cry, because I know where my friend is, and I know that I will see her again.
I love and miss you Linda, until we meet again in Glory, I will fight the good fight, I will finish my course, and I will keep the faith. You taught me so much in the four short years we knew each other, and I hope to leave a legacy like you did.
I knew the date was coming up, but I didn't realize that today was it until I saw the date on my watch this afternoon. And as I sat and listened to the cd she had made and read through the program from her funeral memories stared to come back. I could talk forever about her, but honestly I don't want to fill today with words that bring up the past.
Remembering is important, there are so many good memories that bring joy to my life, little things she would do that I really miss, things she would say to me, inside jokes we had, things that are treasured in my heart for the rest of my life.
But today as I looked at the funeral program I saw something that I had forgotten about. In the program was a list of Linda's favorite verses, and the one that stood out to me is from 2 Timothy 4.7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;"
I have an entire sermon dedicated to Linda that celebrates her life, but all of it can be summed up in these sixteen words. She lived with faith, she battled cancer with faith, and she went home in faith. She showed me how to live a life of love, and how to die with confidence. She knew that when she closed her eyes for the last time on this earth and when she took her last breath she would open her eyes and see the face of Christ, she would breath in the sweet air of Heaven.
And today as I remember, I am able to celebrate and not cry, because I know where my friend is, and I know that I will see her again.
I love and miss you Linda, until we meet again in Glory, I will fight the good fight, I will finish my course, and I will keep the faith. You taught me so much in the four short years we knew each other, and I hope to leave a legacy like you did.
Monday, January 25, 2010
He alone is worthy
A few months ago I received an invitation on Facebook cause called, Allow God In Schools. Normally I just ignore the stuff, but I ended up joining the group because of a discussion that intrigued me. Over the course of several weeks the discussion gradually moved off topic but ended up with some really thought provoking statements. There was one in particular that stuck out to me that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. A professing atheist made the following statement.
"if there is a god and i meet him when i die, ill say the same thing to him as christopher hitchens would say... do you have some sort of self esteem issues that mean constant praise is what you strive for?..."
There was a little more to it, but this is the part I want to address. It took me a while to get my mind around the answer to this question, but during a recent prayer conversation with God He finally helped me understand it.
The God I love and serve is the creator of the universe, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is in His very nature, Holy, Righteous, and Perfect. God simply for who He is deserves praise, simply because of His status He deserves praise. But if we look at who He really is, what He really is, we see more than that. Because He is so Holy, so Righteous, and so Perfect, He HAS to be praised. It is not a preference that He simply asks to happen because He enjoys it, it isn't a privilege He has earned because of every blessing He has poured out on us. It is His right, something He is entitled to simply for who He is.
There is a verse in Luke that I love, and it is one that explains this so well.
"As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: 'BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.' But Jesus answered, 'I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19.37-40
God is so deserving of praise that He HAS to be praised. If we as humans do not give it, something else will, even a rock, because it has to be done! God is so deserving of it, He is the only one worthy to receive any glory at all, and we as fallen humans are so unworthy to offer it. Think about that, a God who is so holy that He has to be praised because of how holy He is, and yet the one creature most able to give it is unworthy to. But here is the most incredible thing about it, God, even though He deserves more than we could ever offer to Him, even in eternity when all things are made new and perfect, still wants our praise, and He invites us to praise Him!
I think it's incredible, that a God who is so far above us and worthy of praise that we cannot give not only wants it from us, but invites us to give it to Him. I think the very fact that God allows us to praise Him shows His love for us, but I think an even greater demonstration of His love is that He invites us to give Him glory.
It just blows my mind to think about. God is not the one with a self-esteem issue, if anything we should be the ones with it, and the saddest part of it is that some of us are so arrogant that we miss out on the awesome opportunity to praise the creator of the universe because of it.
I still have trouble fully wrapping my mind around this, but at the same time I have so much peace about it, and it makes so much sense. I simply hope my inadequate explanation does it some justice.
Peace be with you
"if there is a god and i meet him when i die, ill say the same thing to him as christopher hitchens would say... do you have some sort of self esteem issues that mean constant praise is what you strive for?..."
There was a little more to it, but this is the part I want to address. It took me a while to get my mind around the answer to this question, but during a recent prayer conversation with God He finally helped me understand it.
The God I love and serve is the creator of the universe, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is in His very nature, Holy, Righteous, and Perfect. God simply for who He is deserves praise, simply because of His status He deserves praise. But if we look at who He really is, what He really is, we see more than that. Because He is so Holy, so Righteous, and so Perfect, He HAS to be praised. It is not a preference that He simply asks to happen because He enjoys it, it isn't a privilege He has earned because of every blessing He has poured out on us. It is His right, something He is entitled to simply for who He is.
There is a verse in Luke that I love, and it is one that explains this so well.
"As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: 'BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.' But Jesus answered, 'I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19.37-40
God is so deserving of praise that He HAS to be praised. If we as humans do not give it, something else will, even a rock, because it has to be done! God is so deserving of it, He is the only one worthy to receive any glory at all, and we as fallen humans are so unworthy to offer it. Think about that, a God who is so holy that He has to be praised because of how holy He is, and yet the one creature most able to give it is unworthy to. But here is the most incredible thing about it, God, even though He deserves more than we could ever offer to Him, even in eternity when all things are made new and perfect, still wants our praise, and He invites us to praise Him!
I think it's incredible, that a God who is so far above us and worthy of praise that we cannot give not only wants it from us, but invites us to give it to Him. I think the very fact that God allows us to praise Him shows His love for us, but I think an even greater demonstration of His love is that He invites us to give Him glory.
It just blows my mind to think about. God is not the one with a self-esteem issue, if anything we should be the ones with it, and the saddest part of it is that some of us are so arrogant that we miss out on the awesome opportunity to praise the creator of the universe because of it.
I still have trouble fully wrapping my mind around this, but at the same time I have so much peace about it, and it makes so much sense. I simply hope my inadequate explanation does it some justice.
Peace be with you
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Full Heart of God
Did you ever notice how your hands make a heart if you bring them together, by connecting the thumbs at the bottom and curving your fingers inward? But you only have the full heart when you bring them both together. I think humans are the same way, not with our own hearts, but with God's.
Genesis 1.26, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness..." The word "our" here supports the idea of the triune God. We are made in the image of a God who is constantly in community and in relationship since before time began, and therefore, if we are made in the image of a communal and relational God, we ourselves were created for relationships and community.
Genesis 1.27, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created him." So here we see something amazing. God makes us in His image but we only have part of his image. As a men we posses the strong, warrior masculine heart of God. The part of God that is dangerous. Women have the tender, loving feminine heart of God, the part of God that is gentle. So both genders are created in the image of God, but not fully in an individual do we contain the full heart of God. Only when a man and woman come together in a marriage covenant do they both bring their half of the heart of God and together show the complete image of God.
I think the most crucial part of this though, is that both individual members must be whole and complete in themselves first, whole and complete in who God created them to be. As a man, I must know who I am in the heart of God. I have to be complete in who God has created me to be before I can ever join my heart to the corresponding half. My future wife will not be able to complete me because she simply can't. She cannot complete my half of the heart of God because she is not created in the same part of the image of God that I am. She will compliment and correspond to my half, literally she will match it, but she cannot complete it. And in the same way my heart cannot complete hers because I don't posses that part of the image of God. Only when two people who are whole and complete in who God created them to be, enter into a marriage can they melt their hearts into the whole heart of God, only then is the image complete.
During the last few weeks there has been a question on my mind. "How can I be full and complete in God, but at the same time have such a longing and desire to be with someone else? If I am satisfied with God why do I have the need for more?" I think the answer is found in Genesis 2.18, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a suitable helper for him." As I said at the beginning, we were made in the image of a relational God, we were made to join our hearts together, we were made to compliment and correspond to one another. Only when we bring our whole and complete heart into a relationship, into a marriage covenant, do we have the full heart of God.
I didn't plan to go this direction at the beginning, but I believe that this is why marriage was designed to be between a man and woman. Only then do you have both halves of the image of God. Only then is the heart of God made complete in our human relationships. I believe that is is why God hates divorce, because it literally breaks his heart.
Only together do we have the full heart of God. But only when both members are full and complete in who God created them to be can the two halves contribute to the whole.
Genesis 1.26, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness..." The word "our" here supports the idea of the triune God. We are made in the image of a God who is constantly in community and in relationship since before time began, and therefore, if we are made in the image of a communal and relational God, we ourselves were created for relationships and community.
Genesis 1.27, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created him." So here we see something amazing. God makes us in His image but we only have part of his image. As a men we posses the strong, warrior masculine heart of God. The part of God that is dangerous. Women have the tender, loving feminine heart of God, the part of God that is gentle. So both genders are created in the image of God, but not fully in an individual do we contain the full heart of God. Only when a man and woman come together in a marriage covenant do they both bring their half of the heart of God and together show the complete image of God.
I think the most crucial part of this though, is that both individual members must be whole and complete in themselves first, whole and complete in who God created them to be. As a man, I must know who I am in the heart of God. I have to be complete in who God has created me to be before I can ever join my heart to the corresponding half. My future wife will not be able to complete me because she simply can't. She cannot complete my half of the heart of God because she is not created in the same part of the image of God that I am. She will compliment and correspond to my half, literally she will match it, but she cannot complete it. And in the same way my heart cannot complete hers because I don't posses that part of the image of God. Only when two people who are whole and complete in who God created them to be, enter into a marriage can they melt their hearts into the whole heart of God, only then is the image complete.
During the last few weeks there has been a question on my mind. "How can I be full and complete in God, but at the same time have such a longing and desire to be with someone else? If I am satisfied with God why do I have the need for more?" I think the answer is found in Genesis 2.18, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a suitable helper for him." As I said at the beginning, we were made in the image of a relational God, we were made to join our hearts together, we were made to compliment and correspond to one another. Only when we bring our whole and complete heart into a relationship, into a marriage covenant, do we have the full heart of God.
I didn't plan to go this direction at the beginning, but I believe that this is why marriage was designed to be between a man and woman. Only then do you have both halves of the image of God. Only then is the heart of God made complete in our human relationships. I believe that is is why God hates divorce, because it literally breaks his heart.
Only together do we have the full heart of God. But only when both members are full and complete in who God created them to be can the two halves contribute to the whole.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Religious or Relational?
As a Christian are you religious or are you relational? Do you walk through the practices of a religion, or do you grow deeper in a relationship? Is is something you do, or is it something you are part of? Can you do both?
Jesus never called us to be a part of a religion. I do not think that what Western Christianity has become is what he had in mind 2000 years ago. Jesus did not go around saying to people, "Hey, I'm going to start this thing called Christianity. In it we meet Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday evening. We get together for an hour at a time, talk about something I said, and then go home and chill until the next meeting. You should check it out." As he walked along the dusty roads of the Middle East his message was not one of mediocrity, but one of urgency, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!" His message did not call us to simply walk along the shore of a shallow gently flowing creek, but to dive into the middle of a rapidly flowing river.
Christianity was not intended to be a religion. In a religion you can walk through the motions, unaware of what it going on. It is so easy to get caught in a routine and simply go with the flow. This is the ticket to heaven idea, you get saved to not go to hell, and that's all it is about. But this thing called Christianity is so much more than that. We are pardoned to participate as my theology teacher so frequently said. Salvation is not fire insurance, it is a passport, it calls us to go, it allows us to be involved, not in a religion, but in a relationship. If you are really in a relationship you can't just walk through it mindlessly. You cannot simply go through the motions, a relationship takes more than that, it requires more than that.
A relationship demands that we actively engage in it daily, that we don't settle with and grow complacent, but that we hunger and yearn to make it last, to grow closer to the one we are in a relationship with. You have to be starving for it. I have heard people quote verses from Jeremiah 29, "Seek me and you will find me" and James 4, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you," they sound so simple, but that is not the entirety of the verses. We leave off the parts that call us to action, that call us out of religion and into relationship.
Jeremiah 29.13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
James 4.8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
We are called to action, we are called to do something. God says, "I want you, I want you so badly. I sent my son to die on a cross for you. But because of that, you need to want me just as badly. You need to chase after me like I have chased after you. You need to pursue me like I have pursued you. Nothing less than all of you will work."
The steps of the Temple in Jerusalem were built in an awkward way. If you look at them you would think a drunk man built them. But they were built that way on purpose. The way the steps were built you could not run up and down them hurrying in and out of the Holy place of worship. You had to focus on each step, because if you didn't you could easily loose your balance and fall. You had to intentionally go up the steps, you had to focus on what you were doing. It took time to get to there, but that was the point. They had to to want it, they had to mean it.
Christianity was never intended to be something that was done half-hearted. The early followers lived knowing they could be put to death, they were serious about the relationship they were a part of, a relationship we are called to be part of.
Alvin Reid said, "Living the Christian life is not hard. It is impossible unless we do it with God's strength." The beauty of a relationship is that we are not in it alone. We are not walking into new territory that has never been explored. Jesus said that his yolk is light, a yolk is made for two, he is there to carry it with us. The journey we're are on, that journey that leads to the throne of God, is one that Christ walked first. The cross of Jesus paved the way back to the father.
Christianity was never intended to be something we could simply walk through and go through the motions. It was, and remains to be, something that requires all of us. Paul said in Philippians 3,
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
I think that is what Christianity is about. So are you practicing a religion or are you engaged in a relationship?
Jesus never called us to be a part of a religion. I do not think that what Western Christianity has become is what he had in mind 2000 years ago. Jesus did not go around saying to people, "Hey, I'm going to start this thing called Christianity. In it we meet Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday evening. We get together for an hour at a time, talk about something I said, and then go home and chill until the next meeting. You should check it out." As he walked along the dusty roads of the Middle East his message was not one of mediocrity, but one of urgency, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!" His message did not call us to simply walk along the shore of a shallow gently flowing creek, but to dive into the middle of a rapidly flowing river.
Christianity was not intended to be a religion. In a religion you can walk through the motions, unaware of what it going on. It is so easy to get caught in a routine and simply go with the flow. This is the ticket to heaven idea, you get saved to not go to hell, and that's all it is about. But this thing called Christianity is so much more than that. We are pardoned to participate as my theology teacher so frequently said. Salvation is not fire insurance, it is a passport, it calls us to go, it allows us to be involved, not in a religion, but in a relationship. If you are really in a relationship you can't just walk through it mindlessly. You cannot simply go through the motions, a relationship takes more than that, it requires more than that.
A relationship demands that we actively engage in it daily, that we don't settle with and grow complacent, but that we hunger and yearn to make it last, to grow closer to the one we are in a relationship with. You have to be starving for it. I have heard people quote verses from Jeremiah 29, "Seek me and you will find me" and James 4, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you," they sound so simple, but that is not the entirety of the verses. We leave off the parts that call us to action, that call us out of religion and into relationship.
Jeremiah 29.13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
James 4.8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
We are called to action, we are called to do something. God says, "I want you, I want you so badly. I sent my son to die on a cross for you. But because of that, you need to want me just as badly. You need to chase after me like I have chased after you. You need to pursue me like I have pursued you. Nothing less than all of you will work."
The steps of the Temple in Jerusalem were built in an awkward way. If you look at them you would think a drunk man built them. But they were built that way on purpose. The way the steps were built you could not run up and down them hurrying in and out of the Holy place of worship. You had to focus on each step, because if you didn't you could easily loose your balance and fall. You had to intentionally go up the steps, you had to focus on what you were doing. It took time to get to there, but that was the point. They had to to want it, they had to mean it.
Christianity was never intended to be something that was done half-hearted. The early followers lived knowing they could be put to death, they were serious about the relationship they were a part of, a relationship we are called to be part of.
Alvin Reid said, "Living the Christian life is not hard. It is impossible unless we do it with God's strength." The beauty of a relationship is that we are not in it alone. We are not walking into new territory that has never been explored. Jesus said that his yolk is light, a yolk is made for two, he is there to carry it with us. The journey we're are on, that journey that leads to the throne of God, is one that Christ walked first. The cross of Jesus paved the way back to the father.
Christianity was never intended to be something we could simply walk through and go through the motions. It was, and remains to be, something that requires all of us. Paul said in Philippians 3,
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
I think that is what Christianity is about. So are you practicing a religion or are you engaged in a relationship?
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Handshake like Jesus'
This past week I started to re-read Wild at Heart, and I shared part of it at a Men's prayer breakfast this past weekend. The main idea of the book, for those of you who have not read it, is that men were created to be wild and free. Men were created to be powerful and dangerous. The author John Eldredge talks about how in the very beginning when man was created he was made in the wilderness, only after his creation was he placed in the Garden of Eden.
God makes both man and woman, and both are in his image, both bearing different attributes. Women have the sensitive, caring side of God, while men have the powerful, fierce side of God. We as humans have been made in the image of God, and we have a human example in Jesus Christ. In him we see both sides of God, the gentle sensitive nurturing heart, as well as the powerful and dangerous side that is a force to be reckoned with.
At the church I am currently serving at there is a man named Steve, and Steve has a handshake that I feel is identical to the one Jesus would have had. Steve worked on the railroad until he retired, he did manual labor for most of his life, and it shows. When he shakes your hand, there is so much power. I have met a lot of people in my short 23 years, but I have never had a handshake like Steve's. I work out, and I know that I have strength that the average person doesn't have, but I don't have the power that Steve has. The only thing that I can think to compare it to is like trying to squeeze a stone as it squeezes you back. You realize that with very little effort it could crush your hand. Every week I shake his hand, and every time the power he has just amazes me, it's a power that has only come from a life of hard work.
If we look at Jesus we need to realize that he too had a life of hard work. The man was a carpenter, the Greek word is tekton, which means an artisan. An artisan is a skilled craftsman. In Israel, the one thing they have plenty of is rocks, they are everywhere. If you look at the remains of the buildings from the time of Jesus they are made from stone. Yes he would have worked with wood, but most likely also with stone. This man was no stranger to hard work, nor the raw physical power that came as a result of it. And I imagine that if you shook his hand, you would notice.
If we look at the church, so often it tries to portray only one side of Jesus, the meek, gentle one who welcomed children and touched lepers. That is a crucial part of who Jesus is, but it is not the only part. Honestly, how do we ignore such a huge part of who Jesus is? I do not serve a sissy Jesus.
My Jesus was a man's man. Think simply about his death. The man would have taught all day, then had the last supper with his disciples. After this he goes directly to the Garden of Gethsemane and prays most likely for 3 hours, as Matthew and Mark seem to indicate, then he is arrested, and marched all over Jerusalem from the High priest's home, to Pilot, to Herod, and then back to Pilot. Then he receives a brutal beating to within an inch of his life, and is then given a 300 pound cross to carry. He carries it for as long as he is able to by himself, and then receives help. After he makes it to Golgotha they nail him to the cross, and then stand it up, he hangs there for hours and the most amazing thing is that he can still put together coherent sentences!
The entire time he is on the cross the spectators tell him that if he simply comes down off of it they will believe he is the Messiah. One of my college professors said this, "It took a stronger man to hang there and die than it would have to come down off of the cross and beat everyone." This man was incredible. He possessed such a strength both physically and mentally, yet so often people don't mention this side of Jesus, we don't talk about it, we don't dwell on it. Why?
God makes both man and woman, and both are in his image, both bearing different attributes. Women have the sensitive, caring side of God, while men have the powerful, fierce side of God. We as humans have been made in the image of God, and we have a human example in Jesus Christ. In him we see both sides of God, the gentle sensitive nurturing heart, as well as the powerful and dangerous side that is a force to be reckoned with.
At the church I am currently serving at there is a man named Steve, and Steve has a handshake that I feel is identical to the one Jesus would have had. Steve worked on the railroad until he retired, he did manual labor for most of his life, and it shows. When he shakes your hand, there is so much power. I have met a lot of people in my short 23 years, but I have never had a handshake like Steve's. I work out, and I know that I have strength that the average person doesn't have, but I don't have the power that Steve has. The only thing that I can think to compare it to is like trying to squeeze a stone as it squeezes you back. You realize that with very little effort it could crush your hand. Every week I shake his hand, and every time the power he has just amazes me, it's a power that has only come from a life of hard work.
If we look at Jesus we need to realize that he too had a life of hard work. The man was a carpenter, the Greek word is tekton, which means an artisan. An artisan is a skilled craftsman. In Israel, the one thing they have plenty of is rocks, they are everywhere. If you look at the remains of the buildings from the time of Jesus they are made from stone. Yes he would have worked with wood, but most likely also with stone. This man was no stranger to hard work, nor the raw physical power that came as a result of it. And I imagine that if you shook his hand, you would notice.
If we look at the church, so often it tries to portray only one side of Jesus, the meek, gentle one who welcomed children and touched lepers. That is a crucial part of who Jesus is, but it is not the only part. Honestly, how do we ignore such a huge part of who Jesus is? I do not serve a sissy Jesus.
My Jesus was a man's man. Think simply about his death. The man would have taught all day, then had the last supper with his disciples. After this he goes directly to the Garden of Gethsemane and prays most likely for 3 hours, as Matthew and Mark seem to indicate, then he is arrested, and marched all over Jerusalem from the High priest's home, to Pilot, to Herod, and then back to Pilot. Then he receives a brutal beating to within an inch of his life, and is then given a 300 pound cross to carry. He carries it for as long as he is able to by himself, and then receives help. After he makes it to Golgotha they nail him to the cross, and then stand it up, he hangs there for hours and the most amazing thing is that he can still put together coherent sentences!
The entire time he is on the cross the spectators tell him that if he simply comes down off of it they will believe he is the Messiah. One of my college professors said this, "It took a stronger man to hang there and die than it would have to come down off of the cross and beat everyone." This man was incredible. He possessed such a strength both physically and mentally, yet so often people don't mention this side of Jesus, we don't talk about it, we don't dwell on it. Why?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Love Songs
Did you ever sing a worship song to God and think, "If you just took out God's name and put in a guy or girls name it would be a great love song to that person"? I have found myself thinking this during church services, and for the past week or so this thought has been on my mind. Why is this the case, and is it disrespectful to God that this song could so easily be sung to someone else?
Over the past few months I've had some experiences that have opened my heart and mind to the heart of God in ways I never expected to see. And as he has showed me things about himself I have come to have such an incredible love and respect for him. But at the same time it has helped me understand so much more about the nature of human relationships and what they are supposed to look like.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body."
Ephesians 5.25-30
The relationship that Christ has with us is the model relationship that we are supposed to have with each other. As a guy I have, in the past, had difficulty in being excited about being the bride of Christ. But on Saturday night during a prayer meeting one of my teens made a statement in prayer, and when she did, I finally understood that. She simply said, "God you are our beloved husband." but it finally hit me.
The love God has for me, is like the love that I have for the wife that I desire to one day spend my life with. The love that I have for her, and the life I want to give her is one that shows her who she is to God and who she is to me. And as I take the feelings that I have for her, and then take them and give them to God for me, multiplied by an infinite amount, it blows my mind.
The love songs we sing to God, the relationship we have with God, is to be the model relationship we have with each other, it is to be the standard with which we love.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
John 15.12
Every relationship we are in we are to love the way that God loved us. So if I sing a love song to God and think, I could easily sing this to my future wife, I think that's a good thing, because the love I have for God is supposed to be the foundation for the love I have for her. She does not take the place of God in my life, and I do not love her more or even as much as I love God, but the love I have for God is the basis for, and it gives me the ability to love.
Peace be with you
Over the past few months I've had some experiences that have opened my heart and mind to the heart of God in ways I never expected to see. And as he has showed me things about himself I have come to have such an incredible love and respect for him. But at the same time it has helped me understand so much more about the nature of human relationships and what they are supposed to look like.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body."
Ephesians 5.25-30
The relationship that Christ has with us is the model relationship that we are supposed to have with each other. As a guy I have, in the past, had difficulty in being excited about being the bride of Christ. But on Saturday night during a prayer meeting one of my teens made a statement in prayer, and when she did, I finally understood that. She simply said, "God you are our beloved husband." but it finally hit me.
The love God has for me, is like the love that I have for the wife that I desire to one day spend my life with. The love that I have for her, and the life I want to give her is one that shows her who she is to God and who she is to me. And as I take the feelings that I have for her, and then take them and give them to God for me, multiplied by an infinite amount, it blows my mind.
The love songs we sing to God, the relationship we have with God, is to be the model relationship we have with each other, it is to be the standard with which we love.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
John 15.12
Every relationship we are in we are to love the way that God loved us. So if I sing a love song to God and think, I could easily sing this to my future wife, I think that's a good thing, because the love I have for God is supposed to be the foundation for the love I have for her. She does not take the place of God in my life, and I do not love her more or even as much as I love God, but the love I have for God is the basis for, and it gives me the ability to love.
Peace be with you
Monday, January 4, 2010
Greatest gift of all
The most incredible gift in the world, what is it? Life? Salvation? Scripture? Eternal life? All good, and incredible, but at the same time all pointless worthless, and meaningless without something else. I think the greatest gift of all is the ability to give and receive love.
Look at it, creation was an act of Love. God made us to be in a relationship with him, he made us in order that we could love him, and receive love from him. He created us to love each other, for us to be able to give love out and to receive it in return.
We look at the way God interacts with us, and it is all an act of love. The Bible, it isn't a book of rules for how we are to live life to appease an angry God of wrath so he doesn't smite us. Rather, it is a love letter written from the heart of a loving father to his precious and beloved children. It communicates to them his desires for the best life.
The cross, is the greatest act of love. We look at God himself coming to earth in the form of a man, in order to live a perfect life only to die on a cross, taking the full weight of sin upon himself, taking the punishment we deserved upon himself, in order that we can have eternal life. He did it so we don't have to.
God gave us life, he gave us scripture, he gave us salvation, and through salvation he offers us eternal life, but all of these are meaningless without the ability and capacity to love.
Life with out love amounts to nothing.
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing....But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. "
Look at it, creation was an act of Love. God made us to be in a relationship with him, he made us in order that we could love him, and receive love from him. He created us to love each other, for us to be able to give love out and to receive it in return.
We look at the way God interacts with us, and it is all an act of love. The Bible, it isn't a book of rules for how we are to live life to appease an angry God of wrath so he doesn't smite us. Rather, it is a love letter written from the heart of a loving father to his precious and beloved children. It communicates to them his desires for the best life.
The cross, is the greatest act of love. We look at God himself coming to earth in the form of a man, in order to live a perfect life only to die on a cross, taking the full weight of sin upon himself, taking the punishment we deserved upon himself, in order that we can have eternal life. He did it so we don't have to.
God gave us life, he gave us scripture, he gave us salvation, and through salvation he offers us eternal life, but all of these are meaningless without the ability and capacity to love.
Life with out love amounts to nothing.
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing....But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. "
1 Corinthians 13.1-3, 13
Life with no love, is pointless. The bible with no love, is worthless. The Cross with no love, is meaningless. God with no love, is impossible.
Here is the most incredible part. The ability to love, to give it an receive it, is the ability to give and receive God himself.
Here is the most incredible part. The ability to love, to give it an receive it, is the ability to give and receive God himself.
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us."
1 John 4.7-12
God IS love. In giving us the ability to love, God gives us the ability to comprehend part of who he is. Love is how we share him, love is how we show him. Love is who he is. I wish I had the words to fully explain this, but my feeble attempt will have to do.
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