A friend an I have been conversing via email on various topics, the latest of which I had a question regarding the Sabbath year mentioned in Leviticus 25 and the gleaning of fields by the poor. My friend graciously gave me her thoughts on the matter, which I may get into another time, and in the process sparked an idea in my mind. Why is it that the Bible focuses so much on loving each other?
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing. (Deuteronomy 24:19-22, emphasis mine)
I think it's interesting that God continues to call them to remember their time in Egypt, the hardship they faced, the lack of food, the oppression and mistreatment, etc. He calls them to remember how difficult it was being poor, being a foreigner with nobody looking out for their needs, and calls them to have mercy, to love each other and forgive each other (Lev 19:17), to deal justly with each other (Lev 19:14-15, Lev 19:35-36) as well as with the strangers among them and instructs that they be treated as one of their own (Lev 19:34). This idea really blows open God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham.
Through Abraham's line salvation comes, but on top of that, as if the opportunity for salvation wasn't enough He tells us to love each other. Perhaps it is in loving each other, in dealing justly with each other the person receiving such treatment will come to see the greatness of God's mercy in a new way. How often the mercy and patience of God has escaped me until I see Him at work in the heart of someone I know. To be on the receiving end, to see someone who loves God so much that they can barely contain themselves, to see them reach out to someone who is so lost and lovingly care for them...Well, there aren't words to describe how moving it is when you realize God is working through them, when you realize God reaches out to each of us in a manner that is even more loving than that of the person you see. It is often when we receive grace from others that we find a new appreciation for the work Christ did on the cross.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Even as strangers He calls us to become part of His family, He longs to provide for us, to care for us, to redeem us by His Son's sacrifice, but we must be willing to go to that field and accept the provision He has left for us, we must be willing to go and lay at His feet in submission and accept the redemption He will provide at the cross. He redeems us because it is in doing so that He is glorified.
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Psalms 6:4-5)
He tells us to love each other, to be merciful, to be forgiving, to be patient, because He is all these things and when we do the these things we show the strangers in our midst His love.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
It Just Doesn't Make Sense
You know, sometimes the things we count on just don't last. Sometimes the logical thing isn't God's will for our lives. It's frustrating at times, especially for people that are used to controlling every aspect of their lives (like me), but ultimately it really is up to Him. Isn't it? It isn't for us to decide what makes sense and what must be done in our lives, not on a big level at any rate. We count our pennies (or our paychecks), watch our bank accounts, we meticulously control our lives because we think we know better. But you know, sometimes the things God wants for us don't make sense.
It didn't make much sense for Abraham to prepare to sacrifice Isaac, or for Moses' mom to put him in a basket and send him down the river. It didn't make much sense to take the long route to the promised land or to keep wandering the desert for forty years with little to no supplies. Changes of clothes? Not on this walk. New shoes? Pfft, the old ones held up the entire time. Doesn't make sense, does it? Hardly. And yet that is precisely what God had in mind for them. He did things in ways that forced them to rely upon Him for their every need. And He never failed. They always had enough food to keep them going, they always had clothes on their backs. It didn't make sense, but it was His will. It didn't make sense for Ruth to travel to an unknown, and unwelcoming land, but she did and we all know how that turned out. It didn't make sense to have our Savior born in a manger, live in a poor town, or even - especially - to die on a cross. This is not how we would picture our King coming, yet this is precisely what God chose to do.
Sometimes things just don't make sense...And it is a good thing.
It didn't make much sense for Abraham to prepare to sacrifice Isaac, or for Moses' mom to put him in a basket and send him down the river. It didn't make much sense to take the long route to the promised land or to keep wandering the desert for forty years with little to no supplies. Changes of clothes? Not on this walk. New shoes? Pfft, the old ones held up the entire time. Doesn't make sense, does it? Hardly. And yet that is precisely what God had in mind for them. He did things in ways that forced them to rely upon Him for their every need. And He never failed. They always had enough food to keep them going, they always had clothes on their backs. It didn't make sense, but it was His will. It didn't make sense for Ruth to travel to an unknown, and unwelcoming land, but she did and we all know how that turned out. It didn't make sense to have our Savior born in a manger, live in a poor town, or even - especially - to die on a cross. This is not how we would picture our King coming, yet this is precisely what God chose to do.
Sometimes things just don't make sense...And it is a good thing.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Excuse my French
Carla had an excellent post over a year ago which she referenced today in a post.
It is interesting, sometimes it is easier for us to realize our sin by seeing others mirror it. We can read something in Scripture and often ignore it, but when we see our sin on display...Well, it is a little more difficult to ignore, isn't it? Suddenly Scripture comes alive and we become heart broken over our sin. I suppose it is sad that we often are able to ignore Scripture (I'm as guilty as the next person) but I'm thankful that the Lord will show me my sin in my life. I can't tell you how I've just been broken when I allow Him to show me my sin. It is in times like these that the Bible just comes alive. In our trials, in our broken-ness, in our every day to day life His Word is there waiting for us to grab ahold of it and allow it to transform us. And like Carla, "The next many years was a constant and difficult battle to control my tongue, and also greive deeply over the little battles lost. To this very day - I'm painfully and sharply mindful of it, and still, every once in a purple moon, I lose a tongue-control battle - BUT - compared to how it used to be, well, let's just say He's brought me a LONG way."
One day, I was coming out of the grocery store, and as I was pushing my grocery basket to my car, I noticed a lady with a few kids, unloading her groceries into her car. What caused me to notice her, was her language. Her kids were doing what kids do, not listening when she said "get in a put your seatbelts on". One was standing up in the front seat, and the other two were chasing each other around the car. Typical kid-stuff - grocery store parking lots are fun, when you're a kid.(emphasis mine)
Anyway... she snapped, and began to unleash on those cute little kids, the most vile stream of expletives, I have ever heard. Now let me just say here - it's not as if I was a stranger to this kind of language. For many years I was a metal-head... you know what I mean, black leather clad head-banger type. All my friends were metal heads, and all their friends, were metal heads. We walked the walk, talked the talk, and lived what we were.
But everything was different now... all the leather was gone, all the abandon was gone, and I was a new creation in Christ, and most desirous to live to please Him, and grow in grace.
So when I heard this woman unload this verbal-bomb on her children, I literally stopped mid-parking lot, and I'm sure my jaw dropped open like a kid hearing the F word for the first time. I will never forget the impact those words, had on those kids. They were literally crushed. Their faces fell, their body language changed, they didn't even look her in the eye. They immediately calmed down, and almost as if in slow motion, got into their seats and put their seatbelts on. All the while I'm standing behind her car (she never even noticed me), with tears welling up in my eyes. The urge to go hug those cute little kids, was almost overwhelming. And she didn't stop cussing at them, AFTER they were in the car - that was when she took her opportunity to remind them how stupid they were, what brats they were, and so on and so forth, but said with just as many cusswords.
I wanted to say something to her... to them... but I didn't know what to say, or if saying anything at all was the right thing to do. I stood there like a statue, and started to cry. Eventually I got it together and walked away, toward my car, with a million thoughts racing through my heart. "They're going to speak just like her as they grow up"... "do they hear this all the time?"... "does their dad talk like this to them to?"... "I would have died if my mom ever talked to me like that"... and then the last thought, that overpowered them all was "this is what I sound like when I get mad".
That one - messed me up badly. What scum I was, daring for even one half of one iota of a second, to sit in judgement of that lady for doing the very same thing I did! So I went home crying, and told my husband about it. I said "is this what I sound like when I get mad and cuss?" he said no, not quite that bad, but sometimes very close. I was crushed as those kids in the parking lot. I had to go to the kids and tell them what I just witnessed, and apologized all over the place for EVER talking like that in front of them, or to them, and asked them to forgive me. After that I set out on a study to find out what the Bible says about our speech, and our conduct, and how we are to deal with both. If I was convicted by what I witnessed at the grocery store, and more convicted by what my husband said when I heard "not that bad, but close", I was thoroughly and absolutely UNDONE by what I read in Scripture about it.
It is interesting, sometimes it is easier for us to realize our sin by seeing others mirror it. We can read something in Scripture and often ignore it, but when we see our sin on display...Well, it is a little more difficult to ignore, isn't it? Suddenly Scripture comes alive and we become heart broken over our sin. I suppose it is sad that we often are able to ignore Scripture (I'm as guilty as the next person) but I'm thankful that the Lord will show me my sin in my life. I can't tell you how I've just been broken when I allow Him to show me my sin. It is in times like these that the Bible just comes alive. In our trials, in our broken-ness, in our every day to day life His Word is there waiting for us to grab ahold of it and allow it to transform us. And like Carla, "The next many years was a constant and difficult battle to control my tongue, and also greive deeply over the little battles lost. To this very day - I'm painfully and sharply mindful of it, and still, every once in a purple moon, I lose a tongue-control battle - BUT - compared to how it used to be, well, let's just say He's brought me a LONG way."
Iran eyes badges for Jews - Part 2
Well, it seems that the previous article I had posted on here concerning Iran looking at passing a law that would require minority religious groups to wear colored patches may have been a fabrication in part. I cannot say for certain, however, but if you want to read a couple articles concerning it then click here and here. Reports do state that a law like this was on the docket a couple years ago but had been blocked by parliament, but the fact remains that it was "factually true that Iran’s legal system is based on Sharia law and that under Iranian law, non-Muslims are systematically discriminated against, whether they are identified by coulour badges or not." I'll keep my ears open and should anything further develop you can be sure I'll have something to say concerning it.
The Same Yesterday, Today, & Forever
People often say how controversial Christ was, how revolutionary what He said was, how out of the ordinary He was. And yes, I suppose when one compares Him to the Pharisees of the day He can seem so out of the ordinary. But recently in my studies of the Old Testament I came to understand it isn't as if Jesus suddenly was doing things differently, God always had been doing things differently. It seems like everything out of Christ's mouth the Father had already revealed in the Old Testament, but because Bible literacy is at an astounding - and heartbreaking - low Jesus does sound very out of place. Admittedly I knew next to nothing of the Old Testament until recently, and still know far less than I should. It has been interesting to begin to really grasp the idea that God does not change. Like a patient father God gives us the same commands in the Old and New Testaments. We didn't grasp what He was saying in the Old so Christ came and repeated what was said and gave us more examples to help us understand the nature of God in the New.
OLD
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
NEW
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)
OLD
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
NEW
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)
OLD
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18)
NEW
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)
I could go on and give more examples, but I think you get the point.
Oh, the comfort that is found in understanding He's been calling us to Him, willing to repeat Himself in the New to reflect the truth of the Old so that we might hear and understand. How He loves us! He wants us to seek Him, to understand Him, if He were a god who was far off with no interest in our lives would He really repeat Himself? Would He stay the same if He had no interest in being understood? Indeed He has made it simple for us, He has stayed the same so that we might find Him when He calls.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
OLD
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
NEW
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)
OLD
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
NEW
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)
OLD
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18)
NEW
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)
I could go on and give more examples, but I think you get the point.
Oh, the comfort that is found in understanding He's been calling us to Him, willing to repeat Himself in the New to reflect the truth of the Old so that we might hear and understand. How He loves us! He wants us to seek Him, to understand Him, if He were a god who was far off with no interest in our lives would He really repeat Himself? Would He stay the same if He had no interest in being understood? Indeed He has made it simple for us, He has stayed the same so that we might find Him when He calls.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Catholics & The Eating of Blood
I've written before concerning the way we view God in the Old Testament in contrast with the New Testament - you can find that post here. Needless to say when God says, "For I am the LORD, I change not,"(Malachi 3:6) I believe it. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And I'm glad for that. How do you serve someone who is always changing their mind? How do you live a life in righteous submission if you don't know what to submit to? Thankfully we don't have to worry about that, because God doesn't change.
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. (Leviticus 17:10-13)
In this passage the Lord tells us that we must not eat blood, it is to be poured out to make atonement for our sins and must not be eaten. It is pretty clear cut, I think. Don't eat blood. So, if we believe that God doesn't change and He tells us we shouldn't be eating the blood that has been sacrificed for us why do the Catholics think they can change the rules?
The Catholic church teaches that the bread and wine offered at communion transforms and becomes the actual body and blood of Christ. Let's just say that this is true for a minute. If it is true, if the communion wafer is really the body and the wine is really the blood, then aren't we breaking the Old Testament commandment by participating in the ritual? If it really is the body and blood, and Jesus tells us to drink it isn't He enabling us to sin against the Father? If it is the body and blood, and we have been commanded to eat and drink of it, doesn't that mean that God has changed? If it is true there are some serious implications that go with it.
But did Jesus mean that the bread and wine were literally His flesh and blood? Seeing is how He knew more about God than any man could (because He is God) don't you think He would be aware of this Old Testament commandment? So, either He knew about it and tells us to break it anyway, or it slipped His mind and has caused us to sin unintentionally, or (and this is the one I tend to go with) it isn't His literal flesh and blood we consume in communion services. The first two options ultimately lead to the fact that we were deceived by God's perfect Son. And if He deceived us, couldn't it then be argued that He wasn't actually perfect and therefore would not be an acceptable sacrifice for our redemption? You see the problem then, the entire New Testament - and by implication The Father - is a lie if this is all true. So, you see the Catholic teaching of the body and blood of Christ is a very big problem when one considers its implications all the way through. But I praise God that this teaching isn't true, that He doesn't change, and that His Son truly was a spotless lamb sacrificed for our sins.
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. (Leviticus 17:10-13)
In this passage the Lord tells us that we must not eat blood, it is to be poured out to make atonement for our sins and must not be eaten. It is pretty clear cut, I think. Don't eat blood. So, if we believe that God doesn't change and He tells us we shouldn't be eating the blood that has been sacrificed for us why do the Catholics think they can change the rules?
The Catholic church teaches that the bread and wine offered at communion transforms and becomes the actual body and blood of Christ. Let's just say that this is true for a minute. If it is true, if the communion wafer is really the body and the wine is really the blood, then aren't we breaking the Old Testament commandment by participating in the ritual? If it really is the body and blood, and Jesus tells us to drink it isn't He enabling us to sin against the Father? If it is the body and blood, and we have been commanded to eat and drink of it, doesn't that mean that God has changed? If it is true there are some serious implications that go with it.
But did Jesus mean that the bread and wine were literally His flesh and blood? Seeing is how He knew more about God than any man could (because He is God) don't you think He would be aware of this Old Testament commandment? So, either He knew about it and tells us to break it anyway, or it slipped His mind and has caused us to sin unintentionally, or (and this is the one I tend to go with) it isn't His literal flesh and blood we consume in communion services. The first two options ultimately lead to the fact that we were deceived by God's perfect Son. And if He deceived us, couldn't it then be argued that He wasn't actually perfect and therefore would not be an acceptable sacrifice for our redemption? You see the problem then, the entire New Testament - and by implication The Father - is a lie if this is all true. So, you see the Catholic teaching of the body and blood of Christ is a very big problem when one considers its implications all the way through. But I praise God that this teaching isn't true, that He doesn't change, and that His Son truly was a spotless lamb sacrificed for our sins.
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
Saturday, May 20, 2006
And Your Title Is?
Oh boy, this was fantastic.
A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with-indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded. Before I could answer, and I didn't really have one handy, she blurted out the reason for her question.
It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is, "explained the recorder, "Do have a job, or are you just a......?" "Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'''housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like Official Interrogator or Town Registrar. "And what is you occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't?) in the laboratory and in the field. I'm working for my Masters (the whole family), and already have four credits (all daughters)." "Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind that "just another mother." Especially when there's a title on the door.
-Author Unknown
Friday, May 19, 2006
Are We Really Good At Heart?
My previous entry on the blog was an excerpt from a news article concerning a law that is about to be passed in Iran which would, in part, force anyone who isn't Muslim to wear color coded badges on their clothing. The Jews would be expected to wear yellow, which is reminiscent of the persecution that took place during Hitler's reign, and Christians would be assigned red. I wonder why they chose these colors?
At any rate the color scheme is really just a side issue that I was thinking about, more important is the fact that I have heard little to nothing said concerning this. The news, as par the course for it, is amazingly silent. At least it is here in the US - the article I found is from Canada. Why isn't this of concern? Why do we seem so willing to ignore things like this? The world ignored Hitler and millions of people lost their lives, what will it take for us to pay attention to this (and other things happening around the world)? Will the law have to pass and people start being put onto trains like cattle before we wake up?
The thing that struck me is that by in large we like to think that people are good, or at least by nature they are good perhaps they're simply corrupted by their circumstances. We say to ourselves, "Well, I'll just let [insert whatever] slide, maybe they'll straighten up on their own." How often are we completely caught off guard by the evil that takes place? We didn't see, or maybe we didn't want to see, the Holocaust coming, we didn't see Columbine coming, we didn't see September 11th coming. Had you asked me on September 10th what I thought of people in general I would have espoused the same line I'd been fed since I was a child.
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
- Anne Frank
It is a sweet sentiment I suppose, to see that a girl can go through so very much and not be filled with hate? It's beautiful. But is it true? Are we really good at heart? Sometimes I can't help but wonder. Maybe I sound like a cynic, but I really have a hard time believing that...Even about myself. Sometimes I sit and something will trigger a memory from my childhood and I see that I wasn't as good, or as honest, as I always pictured myself. I did some good things, sure, but I did a lot of wicked things as well that make me cringe.
Which is it, either we're good by nature or we're not. Are the bad things we do solely because of our environment? If I dropped my children off in the woods and left them to themselves, would they be good people when they emerged years later? What about the kids who go and shoot up their schools? Are these types of out bursts strange? Is it in our nature to be deceitful, hateful, and vengeful? Or are we normally sweet, honest, loving, forgiving people whose surroundings corrupt us?
Sometimes it is hard to imagine having any kind of an answer to these questions. Why are the younger generations growing up faster, engaging in sexual acts at younger ages, why are they doing things that their grandparents wouldn't have imagined doing? Is it really just because they've been raised "wrong"? Or is the lack of parental guidance simply an indication of what is brewing below the surface? Were our grandparents more "moral" because they naturally were that way, or because they were raised to be? I don't think anyone would argue with me when I say that, by in large, parents aren't involved in the same way and their way of relating to the children is probably quite different from the way our great grandparents interacted with our grandparents.
So, I put the question to you again. Were our parents better people because that's how people really are or are our younger generations running rampant with sin because the parents have essentially removed their moral compass from their children's lives forcing the children to find their own way? If the latter is the case, if our children are going crazy with sin because the parents took their guiding hands off their children, what does that say about the nature of our children? What does that say about us? If we hadn't been raised to think murder is wrong, would we be out killing people? Sure, our environment and culture shape us, but is that the sole determining factor in how we turn out? I hardly think so. Cain killed Abel and they were the first generation that was born to Adam and Eve. Obviously the fall effected much more than our location.
At any rate the color scheme is really just a side issue that I was thinking about, more important is the fact that I have heard little to nothing said concerning this. The news, as par the course for it, is amazingly silent. At least it is here in the US - the article I found is from Canada. Why isn't this of concern? Why do we seem so willing to ignore things like this? The world ignored Hitler and millions of people lost their lives, what will it take for us to pay attention to this (and other things happening around the world)? Will the law have to pass and people start being put onto trains like cattle before we wake up?
The thing that struck me is that by in large we like to think that people are good, or at least by nature they are good perhaps they're simply corrupted by their circumstances. We say to ourselves, "Well, I'll just let [insert whatever] slide, maybe they'll straighten up on their own." How often are we completely caught off guard by the evil that takes place? We didn't see, or maybe we didn't want to see, the Holocaust coming, we didn't see Columbine coming, we didn't see September 11th coming. Had you asked me on September 10th what I thought of people in general I would have espoused the same line I'd been fed since I was a child.
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
- Anne Frank
It is a sweet sentiment I suppose, to see that a girl can go through so very much and not be filled with hate? It's beautiful. But is it true? Are we really good at heart? Sometimes I can't help but wonder. Maybe I sound like a cynic, but I really have a hard time believing that...Even about myself. Sometimes I sit and something will trigger a memory from my childhood and I see that I wasn't as good, or as honest, as I always pictured myself. I did some good things, sure, but I did a lot of wicked things as well that make me cringe.
Which is it, either we're good by nature or we're not. Are the bad things we do solely because of our environment? If I dropped my children off in the woods and left them to themselves, would they be good people when they emerged years later? What about the kids who go and shoot up their schools? Are these types of out bursts strange? Is it in our nature to be deceitful, hateful, and vengeful? Or are we normally sweet, honest, loving, forgiving people whose surroundings corrupt us?
Sometimes it is hard to imagine having any kind of an answer to these questions. Why are the younger generations growing up faster, engaging in sexual acts at younger ages, why are they doing things that their grandparents wouldn't have imagined doing? Is it really just because they've been raised "wrong"? Or is the lack of parental guidance simply an indication of what is brewing below the surface? Were our grandparents more "moral" because they naturally were that way, or because they were raised to be? I don't think anyone would argue with me when I say that, by in large, parents aren't involved in the same way and their way of relating to the children is probably quite different from the way our great grandparents interacted with our grandparents.
So, I put the question to you again. Were our parents better people because that's how people really are or are our younger generations running rampant with sin because the parents have essentially removed their moral compass from their children's lives forcing the children to find their own way? If the latter is the case, if our children are going crazy with sin because the parents took their guiding hands off their children, what does that say about the nature of our children? What does that say about us? If we hadn't been raised to think murder is wrong, would we be out killing people? Sure, our environment and culture shape us, but is that the sole determining factor in how we turn out? I hardly think so. Cain killed Abel and they were the first generation that was born to Adam and Eve. Obviously the fall effected much more than our location.
Iran eyes badges for Jews
Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."
The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.
Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.
Source.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
But Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. (Job 42:5)
As I read this verse I was reminded of Christ's words:
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:13-16)
People often talk about coming to Christ, of choosing Christ, they seem to focus a lot - if not entirely - upon man's action in the redemptive process. The way I've heard it described you would think becoming a follower of Christ is as simple as choosing what shoes to wear that day. But I'm not sure I believe it is that simple. How many of us grew up in some form of church and ignored the message? I grew up in church and yet it made no impact on my life as a child. If it was just about making a choice, why didn't I make that choice at a younger age? Obviously if I was able to see, able to fully understand the value of Christ I would have (ideally) chosen to follow Him. Yet I refused to follow.
I grew up hearing that He was the Son of God, I grew up hearing His words preached, and still the value of serving Him escaped me. It certainly isn't because I was unintelligent, it isn't as if I didn't understand what the phrase, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," (John 14:6) meant. I did, and still I rejected. So, perhaps it isn't quite as simple as we like to make it.
Perhaps the only way one can accept Him is for the Spirit to move in one's heart? Perhaps the Spirit has to cause a stirring, remove the blinders from our eyes (or at least poke a couple holes in them), perhaps He has to unclog our ears and soften our hearts in order for us to be able to make that choice. How many of us spent our lives hearing about Jesus, we knew about Him, perhaps some of us even claimed to serve Him, yet we didn't live our lives in submission to Him. We knew of Him, but we didn't see Him. There was some aspect of His glory that escaped us. And then an awakening of sorts occurred and the blinders came off. We had heard of Him but what we heard escaped our hearts. We didn't have ears to hear, all the precious words we heard flew right through our heads because we didn't allow them to stop by our hearts.
How many of us had hardened our hearts to the words and we had become "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11) to the word we claimed to love? But then something happened, or maybe nothing happened and suddenly the Word came alive for you as it did for me. Now we can hear, now we can see, now we understand (at least in part) what an amazing gift was given to us on that cross.
No folks, I don't think you can just choose to follow. Sure you can go through the outward motions and appear to follow, but if the Spirit hasn't quickened you I think you are probably always going to fall short. You will hear, but you won't hear in a way that will bring genuine faith. You see, but it is as if you're watching a foreign film that has a plot you don't understand and no subtitles. You will see, but you won't comprehend what you're seeing. And until someone tells you, until someone turns the subtitles on for you you're never going to grasp what is going on fully. You may get a glimpse, you may have some inkling as to what is going on, but the depth of the dialog will always escape you. Until the Spirit moves you'll never be able to say "but now mine eye seeth thee," and that folks is the most beautiful moment you'll ever experience this side of heaven. When that light comes on, ah how beautiful. We never realize how dark it was until that light turns on. And at first we may blink a lot, we may squint, but as we adjust to the light the more we'll see. If only we stay in that light, if only we keep our hearts soft and our ears open...
But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:13-19)
As I read this verse I was reminded of Christ's words:
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:13-16)
People often talk about coming to Christ, of choosing Christ, they seem to focus a lot - if not entirely - upon man's action in the redemptive process. The way I've heard it described you would think becoming a follower of Christ is as simple as choosing what shoes to wear that day. But I'm not sure I believe it is that simple. How many of us grew up in some form of church and ignored the message? I grew up in church and yet it made no impact on my life as a child. If it was just about making a choice, why didn't I make that choice at a younger age? Obviously if I was able to see, able to fully understand the value of Christ I would have (ideally) chosen to follow Him. Yet I refused to follow.
I grew up hearing that He was the Son of God, I grew up hearing His words preached, and still the value of serving Him escaped me. It certainly isn't because I was unintelligent, it isn't as if I didn't understand what the phrase, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," (John 14:6) meant. I did, and still I rejected. So, perhaps it isn't quite as simple as we like to make it.
Perhaps the only way one can accept Him is for the Spirit to move in one's heart? Perhaps the Spirit has to cause a stirring, remove the blinders from our eyes (or at least poke a couple holes in them), perhaps He has to unclog our ears and soften our hearts in order for us to be able to make that choice. How many of us spent our lives hearing about Jesus, we knew about Him, perhaps some of us even claimed to serve Him, yet we didn't live our lives in submission to Him. We knew of Him, but we didn't see Him. There was some aspect of His glory that escaped us. And then an awakening of sorts occurred and the blinders came off. We had heard of Him but what we heard escaped our hearts. We didn't have ears to hear, all the precious words we heard flew right through our heads because we didn't allow them to stop by our hearts.
How many of us had hardened our hearts to the words and we had become "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11) to the word we claimed to love? But then something happened, or maybe nothing happened and suddenly the Word came alive for you as it did for me. Now we can hear, now we can see, now we understand (at least in part) what an amazing gift was given to us on that cross.
No folks, I don't think you can just choose to follow. Sure you can go through the outward motions and appear to follow, but if the Spirit hasn't quickened you I think you are probably always going to fall short. You will hear, but you won't hear in a way that will bring genuine faith. You see, but it is as if you're watching a foreign film that has a plot you don't understand and no subtitles. You will see, but you won't comprehend what you're seeing. And until someone tells you, until someone turns the subtitles on for you you're never going to grasp what is going on fully. You may get a glimpse, you may have some inkling as to what is going on, but the depth of the dialog will always escape you. Until the Spirit moves you'll never be able to say "but now mine eye seeth thee," and that folks is the most beautiful moment you'll ever experience this side of heaven. When that light comes on, ah how beautiful. We never realize how dark it was until that light turns on. And at first we may blink a lot, we may squint, but as we adjust to the light the more we'll see. If only we stay in that light, if only we keep our hearts soft and our ears open...
But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:13-19)
Highly Unusual
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. (Job 42:12-15, emphasis mine)
This is pretty unusual, I think, listing the daughters names but not the sons? Hmm interesting. First person to give me an explanation will be my new favorite person.
This is pretty unusual, I think, listing the daughters names but not the sons? Hmm interesting. First person to give me an explanation will be my new favorite person.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The Trinity
I rely on the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus which is also God.- a person on a message board I visit
I asked the person who said this to clarify, hoping that perhaps they just worded this badly. Upon clarification I realized he did in fact mean this. But is it Biblical, is this what the Bible teaches concerning the Godhead, that the Holy Spirit is Jesus who is, in fact, the Father?
Throughout the New Testament Jesus defers to the Father, He says the Father sent Him, that He returns to the Father, that He only does the will of the Father, even from the cross Jesus cries out to the Father asking Him why He has forsaken Him. If Jesus is the Father, how could He leave Himself? Obviously Jesus is speaking to someone other than Himself.
Needless to say, Jesus is not the Father. But is it possible that Jesus is the Holy Spirit? I think you know what my answer is, but I'd like to show you why.
Jesus is not the Holy Spirit, speaking to the disciples about His upcoming departure Jesus tells them, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (John 14:16)
If Jesus is the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) why would He insist that He is going to the Father, that they cannot come with them with Him, but that He will send another to be with them. He says another, this specifically shows that it is not Him.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
John the Baptist says this of Christ and the Spirit:
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)
If Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one, how can Jesus descend upon Himself? I think it is clear, Jesus is not the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not Jesus, and Jesus is not that Father. But they all are God. Three distinct beings, one God. Is it a difficult thing to grasp? Absolutely, but we must not try to rationalize it by saying they are all the same person. Just as a husband and wife come together and are one while maintaining their individual identities, the Three are all God but they are individual as well.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Psalm 130
A Song of degrees.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The first thing that stood out to me about this psalm is verse three, "If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" It occurred to me that no one can stand, at least not without the righteousness of Christ upon them. It is Christ's sacrifice that enables us to stand before God, that enables us to be able to come to the throne. Without His righteousness nobody can stand.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12)
Now as I came to the second half of the psalm (verses 5-8) it struck me that part of what is probably being talked about here is the psalmist is waiting for Christ's coming, after all our redemption was purchased at the cross. Without His sacrifice there is no mercy, no redemption. Without the cross we all are must bear our own sins, and the psalmist seems to understand this which is one of the reasons he awaits the Lord. For the Lord "shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities."
So the psalmist knows that Christ is coming, he knows his Redeemer will rescue him from his sin, he trusts that the Father will provide even though he hasn't seen.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Beyond that I think there is more going on. Yes, the psalmist is waiting for the Lord to bring redemption, he is waiting for the cross. But I believe this waiting, this hopeful expectation goes beyond the cross. We have found our salvation in Christ at the cross, and we are still waiting. We wait for that final sweep when God will return and over throw the evil kingdoms of this world. And so we wait. "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning."
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The first thing that stood out to me about this psalm is verse three, "If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" It occurred to me that no one can stand, at least not without the righteousness of Christ upon them. It is Christ's sacrifice that enables us to stand before God, that enables us to be able to come to the throne. Without His righteousness nobody can stand.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12)
Now as I came to the second half of the psalm (verses 5-8) it struck me that part of what is probably being talked about here is the psalmist is waiting for Christ's coming, after all our redemption was purchased at the cross. Without His sacrifice there is no mercy, no redemption. Without the cross we all are must bear our own sins, and the psalmist seems to understand this which is one of the reasons he awaits the Lord. For the Lord "shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities."
So the psalmist knows that Christ is coming, he knows his Redeemer will rescue him from his sin, he trusts that the Father will provide even though he hasn't seen.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Beyond that I think there is more going on. Yes, the psalmist is waiting for the Lord to bring redemption, he is waiting for the cross. But I believe this waiting, this hopeful expectation goes beyond the cross. We have found our salvation in Christ at the cross, and we are still waiting. We wait for that final sweep when God will return and over throw the evil kingdoms of this world. And so we wait. "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning."
Good Cheer In The Midst Of A Storm
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him, And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (Matthew 8:23-27)
I've written previously about being in the midst of a storm as the disciples were, fearful of certain failure and even death even though we are walking with Christ. Last night I was reading John Piper's "When I don't Desire God" and something he said just threw a light bulb on in my head concerning this passage in Acts right before Paul is shipwrecked.
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. (Acts 27:14-22, emphasis mine)
Be of good cheer? They think they are about to die! They're terrified, experienced sailors are throwing everything they can think of off the ship in order to stay afloat, and this crazy guy who has been hanging out somewhere by himself says to be of good cheer! Doesn't he understand what is going on? How can they be of good cheer when obviously they are about to die?!
Ah, but we know they aren't about to die. Great loss will come, but God has ordained that their lives will continue. I read this passage and am sure that something similar must have been going through these men's minds, simply because it is what would have been going through my mind. In this way they remind me of the disciples, fearful of death they don't know what else to do. And here comes Paul saying, "Guys, guys, just relax. We have nothing to fear, for God has told me we won't die."
Similarly Christ says to His disciples, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" In the time between Him asking this question and Him rebuking the waves I wonder if similar panic was running through the minds of the disciples? Why are we afraid, Jesus? You're asleep and we're about to die!!
But they weren't going to die now, were they? No. God had plans for them and though the surrounding circumstances seem to scream "death" God said "have peace." The world would say panic, indeed our very nature tells us panic, but God's word says to be of good cheer, to trust and we will find peace and rest.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)
The things we fear will kill us often won't. Nothing can take our lives until God has ordained it is time. And so we must have peace. Though things in our lives may be frightening and stressful, though we don't see how we're going to survive our latest trial we must be of good cheer because we will survive. If we have faith we will survive, no matter what the physical outcome of the situation may be we are "more than conquerors" in Christ (Romans 8:37).
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. (Isaiah 41:9-11)
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
I've written previously about being in the midst of a storm as the disciples were, fearful of certain failure and even death even though we are walking with Christ. Last night I was reading John Piper's "When I don't Desire God" and something he said just threw a light bulb on in my head concerning this passage in Acts right before Paul is shipwrecked.
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. (Acts 27:14-22, emphasis mine)
Be of good cheer? They think they are about to die! They're terrified, experienced sailors are throwing everything they can think of off the ship in order to stay afloat, and this crazy guy who has been hanging out somewhere by himself says to be of good cheer! Doesn't he understand what is going on? How can they be of good cheer when obviously they are about to die?!
Ah, but we know they aren't about to die. Great loss will come, but God has ordained that their lives will continue. I read this passage and am sure that something similar must have been going through these men's minds, simply because it is what would have been going through my mind. In this way they remind me of the disciples, fearful of death they don't know what else to do. And here comes Paul saying, "Guys, guys, just relax. We have nothing to fear, for God has told me we won't die."
Similarly Christ says to His disciples, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" In the time between Him asking this question and Him rebuking the waves I wonder if similar panic was running through the minds of the disciples? Why are we afraid, Jesus? You're asleep and we're about to die!!
But they weren't going to die now, were they? No. God had plans for them and though the surrounding circumstances seem to scream "death" God said "have peace." The world would say panic, indeed our very nature tells us panic, but God's word says to be of good cheer, to trust and we will find peace and rest.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)
The things we fear will kill us often won't. Nothing can take our lives until God has ordained it is time. And so we must have peace. Though things in our lives may be frightening and stressful, though we don't see how we're going to survive our latest trial we must be of good cheer because we will survive. If we have faith we will survive, no matter what the physical outcome of the situation may be we are "more than conquerors" in Christ (Romans 8:37).
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. (Isaiah 41:9-11)
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Monday, May 15, 2006
Two Problems With Mantras
There are so very many things that should be, and need to be addressed concerning this website, but I'd like to take this opportunity to focus on certain things they say concerning mantras. Even within this article there is much that needs to be addressed, but I'm going to focus on one idea right now.
One of the first things I notice is that this type of "prayer" goes about trying to create peace even when the person saying the prayer refuses to be still and go to God. They want to squeeze God into their spare time. Now, I've got no issues with praying when you're busy, I pray on the move all the time. I understand that, but I generally still find it is important to make that quiet time as well. If you just go running around talking to God all day long, when is He supposed to answer you?
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalms 46:10)
Problem number two is that these people aren't praying, they're repeating one thing over and over and over. It's like fooling yourself into something. If you tell yourself you're warm over and over in the middle of the winter, if you really want to believe what you're telling yourself you may experience some type of warmth...Even while your fingers are developing a nasty case of frost bite. Just because you may feel like you are experiencing peace doesn't mean you are experiencing God's piece.
On top of this fact is the simple point that it goes entirely against Scripture.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew 6:7)
It seems this is another case of us reversing the roles. We place man in the center of the universe and expect God's life to revolve around us. When we have time for Him then He'll get attention, when we need something then we'll talk to Him. But is this how life is supposed to be? Is God really supposed to sit around and hold His breath hoping we'll just glance His way? It seems a bit junior high-ish. God is a love sick school boy in this model and we're that ultra cool kid who only glances His way when we need Him to write our term papers for us. God is not God in this model but something we bring into our lives on a whim. We fit Him into our schedules rather than turning our lives over to Him.
It's a sad, sad immitation for what a relationship with God is supposed to look like. And what is even more sad is the fact that people think this is perfectly normal and acceptable and refuse to really look at, and re-evaluate, their relationship with God. When doing mantras I think it is safe to say you're not speaking to God, heck you're not even talking at God. You're just talking to yourself, giving yourself a placebo to fool yourself into thinking you've got a relationship with God when every aspect of your life would indicate otherwise.
A man vowed that he would do one hour of spiritual practice every day. It wasn't long before he went to his spiritual adviser to admit that he'd failed. He was just so busy! In the morning, he had to exercise, read the newspaper, and get the kids off to school. He was always pressured at work, and in the evening he had chores or shopping to do. Then he just wanted to relax with his wife and family. He couldn't find an hour for prayer. "What should I do?" he asked his teacher. The reply: "Two hours a day."
Sound impossible? Most of us would have trouble carving out two hours a day for prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, or service. But you don't have to be like the man in the story, defeated and resigned to failure. Instead, you can do a spiritual practice that can be easily integrated into the daily rounds of your life.
The mantra method of prayer is one such practice. A simple phrase is repeated silently as you go about your regular activities. The mantra becomes a constant companion, reminding you of your steadfast relationship with God and helping you navigate all the distractions your mind and heart may be prone to. By using a mantra, you can tap into and even expand your inner resources of patience, strength, and faithfulness.
...
The key to mantra practice is repetition, and you should repeat your word or phrase as often as possible. There are an amazing number of opportunities for this prayer practice during a day: while standing in the elevator, brushing your teeth, watching a page load on your computer, sitting on the bus, making the bed, petting your cat. All the times you have to wait — in doctor's offices, for the TV show to begin, at the checkout counter — can be regarded as practice periods. Two minutes here and five minutes there can easily add up to one or two hours of spiritual practice a day.
One of the first things I notice is that this type of "prayer" goes about trying to create peace even when the person saying the prayer refuses to be still and go to God. They want to squeeze God into their spare time. Now, I've got no issues with praying when you're busy, I pray on the move all the time. I understand that, but I generally still find it is important to make that quiet time as well. If you just go running around talking to God all day long, when is He supposed to answer you?
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalms 46:10)
Problem number two is that these people aren't praying, they're repeating one thing over and over and over. It's like fooling yourself into something. If you tell yourself you're warm over and over in the middle of the winter, if you really want to believe what you're telling yourself you may experience some type of warmth...Even while your fingers are developing a nasty case of frost bite. Just because you may feel like you are experiencing peace doesn't mean you are experiencing God's piece.
On top of this fact is the simple point that it goes entirely against Scripture.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew 6:7)
It seems this is another case of us reversing the roles. We place man in the center of the universe and expect God's life to revolve around us. When we have time for Him then He'll get attention, when we need something then we'll talk to Him. But is this how life is supposed to be? Is God really supposed to sit around and hold His breath hoping we'll just glance His way? It seems a bit junior high-ish. God is a love sick school boy in this model and we're that ultra cool kid who only glances His way when we need Him to write our term papers for us. God is not God in this model but something we bring into our lives on a whim. We fit Him into our schedules rather than turning our lives over to Him.
It's a sad, sad immitation for what a relationship with God is supposed to look like. And what is even more sad is the fact that people think this is perfectly normal and acceptable and refuse to really look at, and re-evaluate, their relationship with God. When doing mantras I think it is safe to say you're not speaking to God, heck you're not even talking at God. You're just talking to yourself, giving yourself a placebo to fool yourself into thinking you've got a relationship with God when every aspect of your life would indicate otherwise.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
The Best Laid Plans
I love old movies, especially old musicals. I discovered the art of the 1930s-1950s movie while I was in high school and fell in love. I could tell you why it is these films captivated me but we'd be here for a very long time; once I started watching them I couldn't stop. While most kids my age were watching junk on Fox and the WB I was watching Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and countless others dance across my screen. And while I don't watch these films like I used to they still hold a certain interest for me, every once in a while I will randomly start singing For Me and My Gal. If you were to ask me why I'm not sure I'd be able to tell you, especially since I haven't seen the film in well over a year.
At any rate, I really do enjoy these films. Given the choice between watching something on AMC and going to see the latest blockbuster you can count on the fact that I'll be at home in front of my TV. Interestingly enough one of my many dreams I had before I knew Christ was that I wanted to open a movie theater and only show old films. I had the decor picked out, the candy selection, even a general price plan. But somewhere along the line the dream faded. I can't tell you where, when, or why - it just did. Have you ever had that happen? Have something catch your heart and you're so sure that this is the thing, this is what you're going to do and then slowly you realize that you're not going to do it? Perhaps you don't even realize it at the time but it imperceptibly fades, the passion for this new thing in your life begins to cool and eventually dies.
I look back over my live and I see how often this happened. Movie theater, veterinarian, paramedic, librarian, science teacher, English teacher, preschool teacher - and those are just the ones I can recall of the top of my head. Why is that I wonder? I know I'm not alone in this, I know there are many of you who went through (possibly still are) a million ideas of what you want out of your life. So, why is it one dream isn't enough? Why do these things fade?
When I was really little I wanted to be a vet, this is the first and primary dream of my childhood. I look back and realize it is because I loved animals and enjoyed caring for them. I can't tell you how many times I brought stray animals home, turtles, dogs, cats, bunnies, wounded birds; any animal that looked out of place would find its way to my home. Remarkably my mother never protested it, she never told me to stop bringing animals home. It is funny how patient she was with me, I wonder if she honestly thought I'd end up a vet or if she was just going to let the interest run itself out? Either way this continued on until seventh or eight grade - Oh, and no we didn't keep all the animals I brought home. We would either find homes in the neighborhood, find the original owners, find nature reserves to take them to, or in the case of a pair of wounded chicks I found in my back yard I simply made them as comfortable as I could while they passed.
After this I decided I wanted to be a paramedic, then a science teacher, then an English teacher, then a librarian, then onto the movie theater, and finally coming to rest on the preschool teacher half way through high school. But still I wonder, why did I go through so very many ideas? It's interesting, so many dreams, so many plans, well thought out plans even, have died. But why? The short answer is quite simply because they weren't based upon what God wanted for me. The long answer? They weren't what God wanted for me. The best laid plans will eventually fall flat if not based upon God's desire for one's life. How can I truly know what I truly need when the very changing of the wind brings new interests into my life and sweeps old ones away? I'm reminded of what Christ said:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Simply put all those dreams I had were built on the sand. And as the sand eroded so did my dreams. Yes, I realize this may not be the most conventional way of looking at this passage, but is it applicable? I think so. Just before this Christ warns us that not everyone who has seemingly done things in His name will enter the kingdom. What a frightening thought! But why would they not be welcomed into the kingdom? Perhaps part of the reason is because while they claimed to being coming in Christ's name, while they said they were doing God's work, they really weren't.
Perhaps something caught their interest and they never really stopped to ask if this is really what God wanted them to do. Perhaps in pursuing their dreams they were, in fact, running from the very plan God had for their life. Before we know Christ, before we submit to Him we like to fool ourselves into thinking that if we are good enough we'll get to heaven. If we're generally good people, doing good things...Or not doing majorly bad things...We'll enter the gates of the kingdom. If we feed the hungry, if we shelter the homeless, surely then we'll win brownie points with God. What foolishness. All the good we do, it is nothing if it is not done within Christ. If you're outside the will of God can you really serve God?
But what does this have to do with my movie theater you may be wondering? All these ideas I had, all these plans were built with good intentions. Indeed most of my life was done with good intentions, and yet that wasn't enough. It wasn't enough because God didn't call me to open a movie theater, or to be a paramedic, or a vet. My best laid plans fall flat when done outside of the will of God. And sometimes I sit and pester God, I say to Him, "God, why did this fail? Why didn't you bless it?"
But I know the answer, I know why He won't give me everything that catches my eye. Why did he tell Adam and Eve they couldn't have the apple? Why did Abraham's seed have to flow through Sarah rather than Hagar? Why did Christ have to die on the cross? Because He has a plan, and though things don't always make sense to us, though we think we have a good idea, though we think we know what is best for us the truth is we have no idea. We can't know what is what is best for us outside of knowing that following the Father wherever His Spirit leads is best for us. That is all we need to know. We can't do things our own way. If not done as He says and when He says, then can we honestly say we were serving Him?
At any rate, I really do enjoy these films. Given the choice between watching something on AMC and going to see the latest blockbuster you can count on the fact that I'll be at home in front of my TV. Interestingly enough one of my many dreams I had before I knew Christ was that I wanted to open a movie theater and only show old films. I had the decor picked out, the candy selection, even a general price plan. But somewhere along the line the dream faded. I can't tell you where, when, or why - it just did. Have you ever had that happen? Have something catch your heart and you're so sure that this is the thing, this is what you're going to do and then slowly you realize that you're not going to do it? Perhaps you don't even realize it at the time but it imperceptibly fades, the passion for this new thing in your life begins to cool and eventually dies.
I look back over my live and I see how often this happened. Movie theater, veterinarian, paramedic, librarian, science teacher, English teacher, preschool teacher - and those are just the ones I can recall of the top of my head. Why is that I wonder? I know I'm not alone in this, I know there are many of you who went through (possibly still are) a million ideas of what you want out of your life. So, why is it one dream isn't enough? Why do these things fade?
When I was really little I wanted to be a vet, this is the first and primary dream of my childhood. I look back and realize it is because I loved animals and enjoyed caring for them. I can't tell you how many times I brought stray animals home, turtles, dogs, cats, bunnies, wounded birds; any animal that looked out of place would find its way to my home. Remarkably my mother never protested it, she never told me to stop bringing animals home. It is funny how patient she was with me, I wonder if she honestly thought I'd end up a vet or if she was just going to let the interest run itself out? Either way this continued on until seventh or eight grade - Oh, and no we didn't keep all the animals I brought home. We would either find homes in the neighborhood, find the original owners, find nature reserves to take them to, or in the case of a pair of wounded chicks I found in my back yard I simply made them as comfortable as I could while they passed.
After this I decided I wanted to be a paramedic, then a science teacher, then an English teacher, then a librarian, then onto the movie theater, and finally coming to rest on the preschool teacher half way through high school. But still I wonder, why did I go through so very many ideas? It's interesting, so many dreams, so many plans, well thought out plans even, have died. But why? The short answer is quite simply because they weren't based upon what God wanted for me. The long answer? They weren't what God wanted for me. The best laid plans will eventually fall flat if not based upon God's desire for one's life. How can I truly know what I truly need when the very changing of the wind brings new interests into my life and sweeps old ones away? I'm reminded of what Christ said:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Simply put all those dreams I had were built on the sand. And as the sand eroded so did my dreams. Yes, I realize this may not be the most conventional way of looking at this passage, but is it applicable? I think so. Just before this Christ warns us that not everyone who has seemingly done things in His name will enter the kingdom. What a frightening thought! But why would they not be welcomed into the kingdom? Perhaps part of the reason is because while they claimed to being coming in Christ's name, while they said they were doing God's work, they really weren't.
Perhaps something caught their interest and they never really stopped to ask if this is really what God wanted them to do. Perhaps in pursuing their dreams they were, in fact, running from the very plan God had for their life. Before we know Christ, before we submit to Him we like to fool ourselves into thinking that if we are good enough we'll get to heaven. If we're generally good people, doing good things...Or not doing majorly bad things...We'll enter the gates of the kingdom. If we feed the hungry, if we shelter the homeless, surely then we'll win brownie points with God. What foolishness. All the good we do, it is nothing if it is not done within Christ. If you're outside the will of God can you really serve God?
But what does this have to do with my movie theater you may be wondering? All these ideas I had, all these plans were built with good intentions. Indeed most of my life was done with good intentions, and yet that wasn't enough. It wasn't enough because God didn't call me to open a movie theater, or to be a paramedic, or a vet. My best laid plans fall flat when done outside of the will of God. And sometimes I sit and pester God, I say to Him, "God, why did this fail? Why didn't you bless it?"
But I know the answer, I know why He won't give me everything that catches my eye. Why did he tell Adam and Eve they couldn't have the apple? Why did Abraham's seed have to flow through Sarah rather than Hagar? Why did Christ have to die on the cross? Because He has a plan, and though things don't always make sense to us, though we think we have a good idea, though we think we know what is best for us the truth is we have no idea. We can't know what is what is best for us outside of knowing that following the Father wherever His Spirit leads is best for us. That is all we need to know. We can't do things our own way. If not done as He says and when He says, then can we honestly say we were serving Him?
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Contrasting The Old With The New: Does God Change?
It's interesting, isn't it? For years sitting under Catholic teaching I barely ever remember having heard a word mentioned out of the Old Testament. And for the past five years or so all I've heard out of the evangelical camp (I use that term loosely because my experience with this term is based upon my experiences with various charismatics and AoG people) is that the general impression concerning the Old Testament was one of drudgery, one seemingly of bondage, of a burden. People often contrast the way God is depicted in the Old Testament with Him in the New Testament. Inevitably people seem to think there was such a burden in the Old and that freedom is only found in the New. And yes, our freedom is found in the New, it was purchased on the cross at Calvary. Do not mistake my intent, it is not to diminish the work accomplished that day.
Yet, I believe to speak of the Old Testament in a way that diminishes God's wonderful patience and mercy...Well, it grieves my heart to hear how common this view of Him is. Christ's sacrifice on that cross freed us from our sin, from the bondage we put ourselves in. To make it seem as though before Christ came the Father enslaved and forced the Israelites to serve and sacrifice to Him is to speak in a way that disparages His character. The Israelites, just as we do today, had a choice to serve. And a choice to disobey. We see this very fact throughout Scripture.
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (Exodus 32:26)
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:2-4, emphasis mine)
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God loves a cheerful giver. He always has. Even under the law the Israelites still had a choice. Yes, there were consequences to be paid for disobedience, but this does not remove the fact that they had a choice. The very fact that so many have chosen from the time of the fall to walk a different path, a rebellious path shows us that we have a choice.
To imply that they didn't have a choice then, but once Christ came they had a choice is to imply that God changed. He did not. He is the same as He was when He lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He is the same as when He created man in the garden, and He is the same as He was on the day He poured out His wrath on His Son who willingly sacrificed Himself for the sins of many. He is the same, and He does not change. So, why then do we like to create such a stark contrast between the Old and New Testaments? If we truly believe His is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow - why do we act as if He isn't? Why do so many people put forth this idea that God was content with mindless drones serving Him in the Old Testament, that they just did it because they had to but their hearts weren't in it but all of a sudden Jesus comes along and God changes His mind and says "Hey! Wait, I've decided you have to love me!" Come on guys. Either He is the same or He isn't. And if He is the same, shouldn't His message be the same all the way through? Truly it is. His message has been, and will always be:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)
The Old through the New, He is always the same.
Yet, I believe to speak of the Old Testament in a way that diminishes God's wonderful patience and mercy...Well, it grieves my heart to hear how common this view of Him is. Christ's sacrifice on that cross freed us from our sin, from the bondage we put ourselves in. To make it seem as though before Christ came the Father enslaved and forced the Israelites to serve and sacrifice to Him is to speak in a way that disparages His character. The Israelites, just as we do today, had a choice to serve. And a choice to disobey. We see this very fact throughout Scripture.
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (Exodus 32:26)
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:2-4, emphasis mine)
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God loves a cheerful giver. He always has. Even under the law the Israelites still had a choice. Yes, there were consequences to be paid for disobedience, but this does not remove the fact that they had a choice. The very fact that so many have chosen from the time of the fall to walk a different path, a rebellious path shows us that we have a choice.
To imply that they didn't have a choice then, but once Christ came they had a choice is to imply that God changed. He did not. He is the same as He was when He lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He is the same as when He created man in the garden, and He is the same as He was on the day He poured out His wrath on His Son who willingly sacrificed Himself for the sins of many. He is the same, and He does not change. So, why then do we like to create such a stark contrast between the Old and New Testaments? If we truly believe His is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow - why do we act as if He isn't? Why do so many people put forth this idea that God was content with mindless drones serving Him in the Old Testament, that they just did it because they had to but their hearts weren't in it but all of a sudden Jesus comes along and God changes His mind and says "Hey! Wait, I've decided you have to love me!" Come on guys. Either He is the same or He isn't. And if He is the same, shouldn't His message be the same all the way through? Truly it is. His message has been, and will always be:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)
The Old through the New, He is always the same.
Gentleness Of The Spirit
Carla is at it again, she has an excellent post over at her blog. I suggest you take a look at it.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Facts of Life
I don't care what anyone says, I love the Facts of Life. I grew up watching reruns of the show and aside from Punky Brewster it quickly became one of my favorite television shows. At any rate Jo was my favorite, and this really isn't much of a surprise. I mean, Jo was awesome! I've long been irritated that they release shows that are still producing new episodes to DVD but haven't released the Facts of Life. Well, now my irritation has ended. Probably won't buy them, but it is the principle of the matter. Why should The Simpsons be getting sold if the Facts of Life isn't? Anyway, for those of you who like the girls, now you can relive some of the best TV moments by picking up season one and two at your local store.
PS: Jo doesn't appear until season two, but Molly Ringwald was on season one.
PS: Jo doesn't appear until season two, but Molly Ringwald was on season one.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Ack, I'm Sick
I don't feel so great, I've got ideas that need to be posted but just don't have the energy to think at this point. Yes, I feel that gross. So, go read some other blogs and come back in a few days.
Tom Cruise: Changing Our Culture One Film At A Time
"It's the biggest non-holiday opening for a Tom Cruise movie ever, and the third-biggest in the history of his movies," said longtime producing partner, Paula Wagner. "His career has spanned over 20 years of powerful, culture-reflecting and culture-changing films."Source(emphasis mine)
How in the world? Culture-changing films? Oh most certainly, Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire changed my life. Or how about his role in Interview with a Vampire? Certainly he set out to change the way we all think about vampires, those poor things. He's breaking down cultural barriers with his every step. ::barf:: Sorry, what was I saying? Eh, it doesn't matter.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
A Portrait of Ruth
Ruth, heroine of a story loved by multitudes, began life as a Moabite. Moab was the son of Lot and his daughter, so Ruth's lineage was a shameful one in the eyes of the Hebrews. Her story could have been a sad one, but Ruth took charge of her own life and turned it into one of the happiest stories in the Old Testament.- A Portrait of Ruth by Frances Fuller, Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, pg 252 (emphasis mine)
Anyone who reads this blog on a semi-regular basis will know that I love the story of Ruth, I agree that the story of her life is indeed one of the most beloved of the Old Testament. However, I have to disagree that she took her life into her own hands. This is not the image put forth by her story. Ruth didn't take her life into her own hands, she laid it into the hands of the God she'd come to know through her mother in law, Naomi.
Ruth easily could have gone to her father's home, she easily could have returned to her old life. In fact Naomi urges Ruth to do just that. It would have made sense for her to do so, perhaps in returning to her father he would be able to find her another husband to care for her. But Ruth understood that Naomi was returning to her home land, to her culture, to her God. Ruth understood that the God of Naomi was the true God and she was willing to face uncertain conditions in order to follow God. To any onlooker it wouldn't have made sense, but Scripture repeatedly exhorts us to "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
Ruth was willing to lean solely upon God's great wisdom, she was willing to turn away from everything she'd ever known to follow God. She was willing to head out into a land she'd probably never seen without any resources, without a husband, all to serve God. Ruth worked from sun up to sun down to care for her widowed mother in law. All human reasoning would have declared this situation to be disparaging, depressing, even seemingly insurmountable. But still Ruth trusted. What may have seemed foolish to the world was in God's great plan.
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:24-25)
In the lives of the disciples we see this same trust mirrored. Christ came and called them, and they were willing to just walk away from everything to follow. They didn't go home and pack a lunch, they didn't give their employers two weeks notice. Jesus said "follow me" and they did. They were willing to deny their lives, they were willing to eventually lose their lives in order to see God move in their lives.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)
Sure they could have gone back to fishing, sure they would have lived a life that would have fed their bellies, but were they unwilling to risk it all, would they have seen God's plan for their lives unfold to His glory? If they were unwilling to spread the Good News, if Ruth had been unwilling to walk into uncharted territory in her life, if they had taken the easy route would they really have been better off? I hardly think so.
If Ruth had turned back from her mother in law she may have gotten a new husband, she may not have had to work in fields all day long, but would she have known God? Would she have seen God's hand in her life? Sure the plans she could have made would have gotten her by, but God had something even bigger in store for her. And all she had to do was believe.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Writing on Writing on Writing
Carla has an excellent post, which she wrote after reading someone else's post. It's a big chain reaction. Start with Carla, then go to her reference. I'm not even going to attempt to add anything to what she wrote, I think she does a wonderful job summing things up (and I relate quite a bit to what she wrote, so to post on top of her post would get a bit redundant).
The Seasons of Our Lives: An Opportunity to See God's Glory
I'm coming into an interesting time in my life. For so very long I was lost, completely wrapped up in my sin - I was drowning in the darkness I'd walked into. I never intended to get lost, indeed I didn't really understand how lost I was. But by God's gracious sacrifice I've been saved. He's pulled me out of my sin, wiped my face clean and is leading me. It's been nearly a year, truthfully I'm just days shy of that fateful night's anniversary. The most terrifying night of my life was, as I look back on it, one of the most beautiful and meaningful moments of my life. Though I didn't realize it at the time, though I thought I was going to die in my heart ache, I now see God's loving hand amidst my tears. It has been quite the year, full of trial, times of heart ache and times of overwhelming joy, but more than that this has been a time of growth, of deliverance, a time in which God has blessed me with the understanding I am not responsible for any of the good in my life. It is all Him. I got myself into quite a mess, I pulled people down with me, and now God holds my hand as He leads me out.
No, deliverance hasn't been "fun" by any stretch of the imagination. That old phrase, "you reap what you sow," is more true than I ever could have imagined. But in the midst of my trials, in the midst of my failures, my Savior has been there calling me to Him. My sin sent Him to the cross, and still He loves me. He sees every aspect of my life, He sees the deceitfulness that is buried deep within my heart, He sees my fears and my distrust, and still He calls me to be reconciled to My Father. My God has seen me, and loves me so very much that He is willing to transform my heart (and truthfully I think it has very much more to do with seeing His glory displayed in the hearts of those He has called). Indeed when one submits themselves to Christ they become a new creature, the phrase born again has never meant so much to me as it does these days. Nothing I have done in my life warrants such loving grace, yet He willingly and abundantly gives it.
I'm entering a new phase in my life, I finally see the end of some trials that I imagined would overwhelm me, and with this new phase comes a new set of trials. And these trials are meant for my good, to help me, and though I may cry out to Him and wonder why at times, I see the cross and know why. Each new phase, each new trial is an opportunity for me to grow in my faith in My Father's love. Each new situation brings me an opportunity to see Him glorified. Each trial, each frightening moment is a blessed chance to trust Him and abide in the peace that He has promised to give those who will follow Him. And each victory is a moment to celebrate His glory.
No, deliverance hasn't been "fun" by any stretch of the imagination. That old phrase, "you reap what you sow," is more true than I ever could have imagined. But in the midst of my trials, in the midst of my failures, my Savior has been there calling me to Him. My sin sent Him to the cross, and still He loves me. He sees every aspect of my life, He sees the deceitfulness that is buried deep within my heart, He sees my fears and my distrust, and still He calls me to be reconciled to My Father. My God has seen me, and loves me so very much that He is willing to transform my heart (and truthfully I think it has very much more to do with seeing His glory displayed in the hearts of those He has called). Indeed when one submits themselves to Christ they become a new creature, the phrase born again has never meant so much to me as it does these days. Nothing I have done in my life warrants such loving grace, yet He willingly and abundantly gives it.
I'm entering a new phase in my life, I finally see the end of some trials that I imagined would overwhelm me, and with this new phase comes a new set of trials. And these trials are meant for my good, to help me, and though I may cry out to Him and wonder why at times, I see the cross and know why. Each new phase, each new trial is an opportunity for me to grow in my faith in My Father's love. Each new situation brings me an opportunity to see Him glorified. Each trial, each frightening moment is a blessed chance to trust Him and abide in the peace that He has promised to give those who will follow Him. And each victory is a moment to celebrate His glory.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Kristina Cooks Chicken in Picante Sauce!
Last night I made Chicken in Picante Sauce for some friends. I think it turned out fabulously. We were running a little behind schedule so the sauce didn't get to cook for as long as it calls for, but for the twenty minutes it did get I think it was great. Very easy to make (I think the most difficult thing for me was peeling the tomatoes. I'd never done that before), quite yummy. My friend made garlic mashed potatoes for the side. Have I told you garlic makes me happy? ;)
Pride, Humility, & Asking For Help
Challies has a great post concerning the opportunity to minister to those in need. Truly it is an excellent post, take a look.
First, expressing weakness is an expression of humility. Conversely, it is only pride that keeps me from making my needs known and asking others to minister to me. When I am filled with pride, a strong and ever-present foe, I would rather suffer silently than humble myself and allow others to extend help to me. Far too often I have feigned strength when I am filled only with weakness. Far too often I have allowed pride to overwhelm humility and have suffered in my sinful silence.
Be Still And Know That I Am God
Alright, I know I said I was done with my study on the Father, but I guess I was wrong. I've just got a wee bit more to post, which was only revealed over the past couple of days.
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. (Psalms 94:18)
Oh, the love that is shown here. Can you not just hear the desperation in the psalmist's voice as he cries out, "My foot slippeth!" Can you not hear the edge in his voice as he begins to fear that he will fall? So he cries out and the Lord holds him up. It reminds me of times when I was frightened as a child and I would cry out for my mom, she would come and help steady me and walk me through the end of whatever I was doing. But unlike God my mom wasn't always there, and she couldn't always be depended upon in my time of need. This, of course, is understandable and to be expected, after all my mom is only human. In the same way I will not always be able to help my kids, I will not always be next to them to hold their hand as they walk through their trials. This is just a fact of life. But, and here is the key, God can. He can, and is, there for us all the time. Sometimes we seem to forget that, we seem to lose sight of the fact that God loves us with a perfect love. Now, that doesn't mean that God isn't going to allow anything bad to ever happen to us, and we must not construe that all appearances of "bad" in our life are an indication that His love for us has wavered. It has not.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28,35,38-39, emphasis mine)
Sometimes God will guide us into a situation to allow our faith to be tested, just as He did with the Israelites in Exodus. He took them on the longest route possible and had them camp in the middle of a desert by the foot of the mountain. He was trying to teach them about His nature, about His ability to provide in the most destitute situations. He was trying to teach them He will always provide what we need for the days we are called to live. He was trying to teach them to have faith. That is why they couldn't go out and just hunt for food, that is why water flowed from rocks, that is why manna fell from the sky in the morning and quails came in the evening. They couldn't just go out to McDonald's and pick up a BigMac, they had to trust Him. And did He ever let them go without? No. They may have wanted steak rather than bread, but they always had food. He provided for them faithfully as any good father would, and more so because He is God.
Sometimes He will seemingly let us fall, and we wonder to ourselves "Why? Why did you let me get hurt? Why is your blessing not with me? Why Father?" Truth be told we are a stubborn lot. Every one of us. We want to do things on our own, in our own strength because that's how many of us were raised, it is in our nature to be self reliant. But God cries out to us, "No, beloved child, no. Come to ME to have your needs met. Come to Me, I have a plan for you and it exceeds anything you could ever dream of because I have tailored it specifically to fit you. The life I have for you will bring you to Me, the struggles you face will help you to realize you must rely upon Me. And as you walk My plan, not yours, for your life you will see My provision, and My glory. Come child." But we just don't like to listen, do we? We say, "No thanks, Pop, I'm going to go out and do it my way, I want your blessing but only if you will bless the desires of my flesh." And like any good father, God puts things in our way to try and slow us down so that we will realize we are sinning and repent of it. But sometimes the only way for us to learn is to fall.
How often have I told my son not to climb? How often has he disobeyed, refusing to heed my warnings? How often has he kept on his self destructive path even after many discussions, even after discipline for his disobedience? Sometimes when we are so set on continuing in our sin God says, "Very well," knowing perfectly that we are about to get hurt. He isn't going to force us to obey if we are so set on sinning against Him. And so we go out as the son does in Luke 15, we revel in our flesh but eventually something happens. I've found this to be quite true, those who are truly God's, something always happens. And we end up broken hearted, poor (physically or spiritually), and we realize how foolish we've been. We head back home weeping in repentance, secretly afraid that we've lost our Father's love; what do we find as we approach home? We find the Father rushing toward us, embracing us as we tell Him of our foolishness and asking for forgiveness. We find Him willing to forget the sin we have done against Him as He clothes us in the righteousness of Christ, and we find a banquet, a feast, an abundance in His home. And as long as we are willing to stay in His home and do His will, His provision and blessing shall always be with us.
I have often wondered why the Bible talks about being under the wing of God, and for some reason it never really hit home until a few days ago. I asked Him in prayer to help me understand, and boy did He ever. Why do chicks hide under their mother's wing? Why do children cower and cling to their parents legs in frightening situations? It is because there is security there. The little chick knows that so long as he stays beneath the wing he is safe. The mother protects him from predators that would consume him and she protects him from the unforeseen weather changes. Under that wing the chick is safe, should he venture out it is likely that an enemy would try to kill him. Should he venture out it is possible that he could be killed because he can't find shelter from the rain. And so he stays close to his mom. But beyond that what does this image say about God? Yes, He will defend and protect us. Yes, He will shelter us. Yes, He will provide for us. But is that it? I don't think that is all there is to this image.
When we understand that we are safe beneath His wing, when we understand that it is standing in the shadow of Him, in the shadow of that cross His Son bore, that we find our salvation and redemption. When we truly grasp that it is only when we are in line with His will that we can see Him move in powerful ways. When we realize He has provided that sacrifice for us that we might be restored to Him, all out of love for us, how can we not want to abide there? We have everything we could ever need beneath His wing. But we must stay there, beneath Him.
The baby chick knows he must stay as close to mom as possible, to be anywhere else is nothing but danger, and so he does. He learns to move as the mother moves, if she turns left he must turn left, if she stops he must stop. It is beneath the wing of his mother that he learns to move. He will learn to discern danger from beneath her wing, He will learn what paths to take and what ones to avoid, but he must be willing to abide by her.
That's what the cloud and the pillar of fire were about in Exodus, I truly believe this. God was showing the Israelites to trust Him, to follow His lead even when it didn't seem to make sense. They rested when He rested, they moved when He moved. It was in following that could that they saw provision, protection, and the glory of God. It is when we willingly accept whatever God has in store for us that we can see His glory really shine. It is when we delight ourselves in seeing His glory that He is most glorified, as Piper says. And all He asks of us is to trust Him. He will walk us through our trials, He has gone before us to make a way, and so we must trust, we must not listen to the voices that surround us telling us how foolish we look, we must stand beneath His wing!
He is a faithful Father, a patient Father, and He will provide. But we must, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." (Psalms 46:10-11, emphasis mine)
"
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. (Psalms 94:18)
Oh, the love that is shown here. Can you not just hear the desperation in the psalmist's voice as he cries out, "My foot slippeth!" Can you not hear the edge in his voice as he begins to fear that he will fall? So he cries out and the Lord holds him up. It reminds me of times when I was frightened as a child and I would cry out for my mom, she would come and help steady me and walk me through the end of whatever I was doing. But unlike God my mom wasn't always there, and she couldn't always be depended upon in my time of need. This, of course, is understandable and to be expected, after all my mom is only human. In the same way I will not always be able to help my kids, I will not always be next to them to hold their hand as they walk through their trials. This is just a fact of life. But, and here is the key, God can. He can, and is, there for us all the time. Sometimes we seem to forget that, we seem to lose sight of the fact that God loves us with a perfect love. Now, that doesn't mean that God isn't going to allow anything bad to ever happen to us, and we must not construe that all appearances of "bad" in our life are an indication that His love for us has wavered. It has not.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28,35,38-39, emphasis mine)
Sometimes God will guide us into a situation to allow our faith to be tested, just as He did with the Israelites in Exodus. He took them on the longest route possible and had them camp in the middle of a desert by the foot of the mountain. He was trying to teach them about His nature, about His ability to provide in the most destitute situations. He was trying to teach them He will always provide what we need for the days we are called to live. He was trying to teach them to have faith. That is why they couldn't go out and just hunt for food, that is why water flowed from rocks, that is why manna fell from the sky in the morning and quails came in the evening. They couldn't just go out to McDonald's and pick up a BigMac, they had to trust Him. And did He ever let them go without? No. They may have wanted steak rather than bread, but they always had food. He provided for them faithfully as any good father would, and more so because He is God.
Sometimes He will seemingly let us fall, and we wonder to ourselves "Why? Why did you let me get hurt? Why is your blessing not with me? Why Father?" Truth be told we are a stubborn lot. Every one of us. We want to do things on our own, in our own strength because that's how many of us were raised, it is in our nature to be self reliant. But God cries out to us, "No, beloved child, no. Come to ME to have your needs met. Come to Me, I have a plan for you and it exceeds anything you could ever dream of because I have tailored it specifically to fit you. The life I have for you will bring you to Me, the struggles you face will help you to realize you must rely upon Me. And as you walk My plan, not yours, for your life you will see My provision, and My glory. Come child." But we just don't like to listen, do we? We say, "No thanks, Pop, I'm going to go out and do it my way, I want your blessing but only if you will bless the desires of my flesh." And like any good father, God puts things in our way to try and slow us down so that we will realize we are sinning and repent of it. But sometimes the only way for us to learn is to fall.
How often have I told my son not to climb? How often has he disobeyed, refusing to heed my warnings? How often has he kept on his self destructive path even after many discussions, even after discipline for his disobedience? Sometimes when we are so set on continuing in our sin God says, "Very well," knowing perfectly that we are about to get hurt. He isn't going to force us to obey if we are so set on sinning against Him. And so we go out as the son does in Luke 15, we revel in our flesh but eventually something happens. I've found this to be quite true, those who are truly God's, something always happens. And we end up broken hearted, poor (physically or spiritually), and we realize how foolish we've been. We head back home weeping in repentance, secretly afraid that we've lost our Father's love; what do we find as we approach home? We find the Father rushing toward us, embracing us as we tell Him of our foolishness and asking for forgiveness. We find Him willing to forget the sin we have done against Him as He clothes us in the righteousness of Christ, and we find a banquet, a feast, an abundance in His home. And as long as we are willing to stay in His home and do His will, His provision and blessing shall always be with us.
I have often wondered why the Bible talks about being under the wing of God, and for some reason it never really hit home until a few days ago. I asked Him in prayer to help me understand, and boy did He ever. Why do chicks hide under their mother's wing? Why do children cower and cling to their parents legs in frightening situations? It is because there is security there. The little chick knows that so long as he stays beneath the wing he is safe. The mother protects him from predators that would consume him and she protects him from the unforeseen weather changes. Under that wing the chick is safe, should he venture out it is likely that an enemy would try to kill him. Should he venture out it is possible that he could be killed because he can't find shelter from the rain. And so he stays close to his mom. But beyond that what does this image say about God? Yes, He will defend and protect us. Yes, He will shelter us. Yes, He will provide for us. But is that it? I don't think that is all there is to this image.
When we understand that we are safe beneath His wing, when we understand that it is standing in the shadow of Him, in the shadow of that cross His Son bore, that we find our salvation and redemption. When we truly grasp that it is only when we are in line with His will that we can see Him move in powerful ways. When we realize He has provided that sacrifice for us that we might be restored to Him, all out of love for us, how can we not want to abide there? We have everything we could ever need beneath His wing. But we must stay there, beneath Him.
The baby chick knows he must stay as close to mom as possible, to be anywhere else is nothing but danger, and so he does. He learns to move as the mother moves, if she turns left he must turn left, if she stops he must stop. It is beneath the wing of his mother that he learns to move. He will learn to discern danger from beneath her wing, He will learn what paths to take and what ones to avoid, but he must be willing to abide by her.
That's what the cloud and the pillar of fire were about in Exodus, I truly believe this. God was showing the Israelites to trust Him, to follow His lead even when it didn't seem to make sense. They rested when He rested, they moved when He moved. It was in following that could that they saw provision, protection, and the glory of God. It is when we willingly accept whatever God has in store for us that we can see His glory really shine. It is when we delight ourselves in seeing His glory that He is most glorified, as Piper says. And all He asks of us is to trust Him. He will walk us through our trials, He has gone before us to make a way, and so we must trust, we must not listen to the voices that surround us telling us how foolish we look, we must stand beneath His wing!
He is a faithful Father, a patient Father, and He will provide. But we must, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." (Psalms 46:10-11, emphasis mine)
"
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Music
I don't listen to music much anymore. Maybe one song once or twice a month. That really is the extent of my music listening these days, which is quite the contrast when compared to my life a year ago. I used to always have the radio on, or a cd on, or I'd be playing guitar. I couldn't drive without music. And there was even a point in my life where I couldn't sleep without music. I love music, I still do, but I started to notice that when I shut the music off I found myself able to concentrate on the Word better, on God better. It seems that I had been distracting myself with the music. Rather than fill my time with God's Word I filled it with music.
As God showed me this I began to listen to music less and less in the house, but I still listened to it all the time in the car. And as I grew in the Word I listened to music even less. Until finally, one day I just shut the car stereo off. I found myself able to memorize Scripture better, I found myself praying more, I found peace in my life as I drew closer to God free from distraction (or at least less distraction).
But still, every once in a while it's nice to just hear a song. Songs can convey beautiful, powerful images. And sometimes it's good just to shake yourself up, I'm not saying we should all rush out and listen to Britney Spears or Tool, sometimes we can become complacent and harden our hearts and we ignore, or overlook what God shows us in His Word and a good God focused song can help us refocus. It's sad, but it does happen. At any rate, I was on my way to Barnes and Noble recently and decided to put on my mp3 player and listen to some tunes for a few minutes. The mp3 player put on Jars of Clay's "Hymn."
Oh refuge of my hardened heart
Oh fast pursuing lover come
As angels dance 'round Your throne
My life by captured fare You own
Not silhouette of trodden faith
Nor death shall not my steps be guide
I'll pirouette upon mine grave
For in Your path I'll run and hide
Chorus:
Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee
When beauty breaks the spell of pain
The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain
But not when love be pointed king
And truth shall Thee forever reign
[Chorus]
Sweet Jesus carry me away
From cold of night, and dust of day
In ragged hour or salt worn eye
Be my desire, my wellspring lie
[Chorus x 2]
Spring worship unto Thee
Spring worship unto Thee
As God showed me this I began to listen to music less and less in the house, but I still listened to it all the time in the car. And as I grew in the Word I listened to music even less. Until finally, one day I just shut the car stereo off. I found myself able to memorize Scripture better, I found myself praying more, I found peace in my life as I drew closer to God free from distraction (or at least less distraction).
But still, every once in a while it's nice to just hear a song. Songs can convey beautiful, powerful images. And sometimes it's good just to shake yourself up, I'm not saying we should all rush out and listen to Britney Spears or Tool, sometimes we can become complacent and harden our hearts and we ignore, or overlook what God shows us in His Word and a good God focused song can help us refocus. It's sad, but it does happen. At any rate, I was on my way to Barnes and Noble recently and decided to put on my mp3 player and listen to some tunes for a few minutes. The mp3 player put on Jars of Clay's "Hymn."
Oh refuge of my hardened heart
Oh fast pursuing lover come
As angels dance 'round Your throne
My life by captured fare You own
Not silhouette of trodden faith
Nor death shall not my steps be guide
I'll pirouette upon mine grave
For in Your path I'll run and hide
Chorus:
Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee
When beauty breaks the spell of pain
The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain
But not when love be pointed king
And truth shall Thee forever reign
[Chorus]
Sweet Jesus carry me away
From cold of night, and dust of day
In ragged hour or salt worn eye
Be my desire, my wellspring lie
[Chorus x 2]
Spring worship unto Thee
Spring worship unto Thee
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Misquoting Jesus
I was at Barnes and Noble (yes again) last night doing some browsing when I came across a book entitled Misquoting Jesus by Bart D. Ehrman. And since there are so very many books out basically saying that for the past 2000 years we've completely missed what Christ was actually teaching I thought I'd take a look at this one. I opened it up to the middle of the introduction and started reading. After a couple of pages I came to the most fabulous quote I think I've ever seen. I'd like to share it with you.
Once I read that, quite honestly, I started laughing and had to put the book down. I'm not sure what else the book said because I gave up right there. Let me ask you something, weren't the disciples and the people of that time also "God's people"? And obviously they didn't speak English at that time (Good golly! Jesus spoke something other than English? I must speak heresy! Everybody knows that Jesus was a white guy with pretty blue eyes that spoke beautiful English. HA!) so why would God inspire them to write in a language that they couldn't understand? How would the people of that time have been schooled and instructed in their lives if the church leaders decided to write them letters in a language that didn't even exist at the time? Never mind the English we speak today is quite different from the English that was spoken, say during the 1500-1600s which was quite different than the English that was spoken between 400-500. To insist that God spoke like us is pretty arrogant I think. The religion would have died out and this guy wouldn't have been able to get his book published because nobody would know who Jesus was.
So, yes, I laughed quite a bit and put the book back on the shelf after deciding perhaps I better just sit and read my Bible instead.
In some places, as we will see, we simply cannot be sure that we have reconstructed the original text accurately. It's a bit hard to know what the words of the Bible mean if we don't even know what the words are!- From page II of the Introduction
This became a problem for my view of inspiration, for I came to realize that it would have been no more difficult for God to preserve the words of scripture than it would have been for him to inspire them in the first place. If he wanted his people to have his words, surely he would have given them to them (and possibly even given them the words in a language they could understand, rather than Greek and Hebrew).
Once I read that, quite honestly, I started laughing and had to put the book down. I'm not sure what else the book said because I gave up right there. Let me ask you something, weren't the disciples and the people of that time also "God's people"? And obviously they didn't speak English at that time (Good golly! Jesus spoke something other than English? I must speak heresy! Everybody knows that Jesus was a white guy with pretty blue eyes that spoke beautiful English. HA!) so why would God inspire them to write in a language that they couldn't understand? How would the people of that time have been schooled and instructed in their lives if the church leaders decided to write them letters in a language that didn't even exist at the time? Never mind the English we speak today is quite different from the English that was spoken, say during the 1500-1600s which was quite different than the English that was spoken between 400-500. To insist that God spoke like us is pretty arrogant I think. The religion would have died out and this guy wouldn't have been able to get his book published because nobody would know who Jesus was.
So, yes, I laughed quite a bit and put the book back on the shelf after deciding perhaps I better just sit and read my Bible instead.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Kristina + Cats = Pain
I was around a cat tonight, my eye has swollen shut. Remind me to never visit anyone with animals again. Or plants. Or perfume. Or air fresheners. Or smoke. So, just remind me to never leave my house, never open the windows, and never allow my mom to wear perfume again and I then I'll be fine. Thanks. I took photos because it's really creepy looking, but I'm not posting them here because I don't want to scare you away.
I'm Soooooooo Silly!
I decided to have a snack while I was reading a book a little while ago, so I went to the cabinet and got out a bag of popcorn. I took the plastic wrapper off and threw it in the trash. I then proceeded to open the fridge and stick the unpopped popcorn on the shelf in the fridge. HAHAHAHA. Yea, I had a good laugh. Hope you do to.
Hi Mama! Thanks Mama!
::My three year old rolls up next to me on a toy truck::
Hi Mama!
Hi honey.
Thanks, Mama!
::rolls away::
Repeat...all day long.
haha My kid is funny.
Hi Mama!
Hi honey.
Thanks, Mama!
::rolls away::
Repeat...all day long.
haha My kid is funny.
The Gospel of Larry
The May edition of TSS is up and running. And they have an exclusive on a recently discovered gospel which has become known to scholars as The Gospel Of Larry (click link for full text).
Emmett:...The National Geographic Society has purely scholarly motives. That’s why I'm giving them the first shot at acquiring my recent archaeological discovery, The Gospel of Larry.
Maurice: The Gospel of... Larry?
Emmett: Yep, written by Larry... Larry Magdalene, Jesus' father-in-law. Man, this is juicy stuff. For the small price of $1 million, the Society can buy this controversial document today, produce a sensational TV documentary about it within six months, and undermine orthodox Christianity just in time for the 2006 Christmas season.
...
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
A Little Sin Never Hurt Anyone?
A small, or seemingly small sin can ruin your testimony. People often say "What do you expect of me? I'm only human, I can't be perfect," when defending their sin. But if one truly loves God, if one truly desires to serve Him and see Him glorified how can we say things like this with a straight face? If one truly loves God won't they be concerned that their unrepentant and purposeful sin would mar their testimony?
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. (Ecclesiastes 10:1, emphasis mine)
Small cancer cells bring death to the entire body if not removed or healed. A small crack in a damn left unrepaired leads to a great flood. This is why Scripture speaks so often of purging ourselves of old leaven. To purposefully allow old habits to stay opens you up to allowing more and more sin in, and what will that say to the unbelieving about the transforming power of Christ?
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9)
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)
And besides, did not Christ Himself tell us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48)? Obviously one is still going to have their momentary slip ups, but I believe this is a call to rely upon God and allow ourselves to be purged of our old natures. Similarly one mustn't put themselves in a position to be tempted. To avoid temptation, to avoid giving the enemy a foot hold in our lives, these are things we can and must do. To purposefully walk in a way that will make sin more easy to enter into is foolishness.
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness...Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:21-24, 27)
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
As followers of Christ we are called to live a life of separation, a life different than those around us. To put ourselves in situations where it is likely our walk could falter is to go against Scripture which commands us to have no confidence in our flesh (Philippians 3:3). To open ourselves up to temptation is foolish and unnecessary. No man, or woman for that matter is an island. Sin one does behind closed doors will inevitably work it's way into the light and will corrupt the believer through and through if left unchecked and unrepented of. If you the believer can't walk in a way that shows God's power, who will? A little sin hurts you, and hurts those around you in that it can damage other people's perceptions of who God is. And it is, after all, about bringing God glory.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. (Ecclesiastes 10:1, emphasis mine)
Small cancer cells bring death to the entire body if not removed or healed. A small crack in a damn left unrepaired leads to a great flood. This is why Scripture speaks so often of purging ourselves of old leaven. To purposefully allow old habits to stay opens you up to allowing more and more sin in, and what will that say to the unbelieving about the transforming power of Christ?
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9)
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)
And besides, did not Christ Himself tell us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48)? Obviously one is still going to have their momentary slip ups, but I believe this is a call to rely upon God and allow ourselves to be purged of our old natures. Similarly one mustn't put themselves in a position to be tempted. To avoid temptation, to avoid giving the enemy a foot hold in our lives, these are things we can and must do. To purposefully walk in a way that will make sin more easy to enter into is foolishness.
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness...Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:21-24, 27)
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
As followers of Christ we are called to live a life of separation, a life different than those around us. To put ourselves in situations where it is likely our walk could falter is to go against Scripture which commands us to have no confidence in our flesh (Philippians 3:3). To open ourselves up to temptation is foolish and unnecessary. No man, or woman for that matter is an island. Sin one does behind closed doors will inevitably work it's way into the light and will corrupt the believer through and through if left unchecked and unrepented of. If you the believer can't walk in a way that shows God's power, who will? A little sin hurts you, and hurts those around you in that it can damage other people's perceptions of who God is. And it is, after all, about bringing God glory.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Blogger Profiles
I'm a profiler, it's what I do, in fact it is one of my favorite past times. I love to read profiles. I'm one of those people who checks the profiles of the people on their buddy list on a regular basis simply to get a new glimpse of what is going on in their lives. I think profiles can reveal that about a person. I think a lack of information can, in many cases, indicate that one is hesitant to take a stand for what they put out on the internet, there isn't any accountability when you're using a fake name with no email address. I think blank profiles often indicate that one is fearful, of what? I don't know, but yes that is my theory. That or that you're just being lazy.
Anyway, more to the point I love a good profile. I like knowing a little bit of information about the author, it helps me relate. Perhaps this is why I very rarely read things that are written by people with blank profiles. If you can't even tell me if you live in the US or Canada, why should I expect you to share any thing of real worth with me? If you're so content on hiding, why have a blog? I'm not asking for your height, weight, and social security number, I'm just asking to know if you're a human, a dog, or a parasite. Boy or girl. That's really enough for me.
Especially since if you have a blog I will be able to get a glimpse of who you are anyway. I mean whatever you post on, obviously that interests you. It is going to reveal, in part, where your heart is. Do you talk about American Idol a lot? How about NASCAR? What about Jesus? These are things that will come out in your writing. If you don't want anyone to read what you write, why do you put it on the internet? Why not just put it in a notebook and hide it under your bed? It's because, maybe unintentionally, you are reaching out. You want to feel like you're connected to someone. Otherwise, why do it? Really, I want to know.
So, I'm a sucker for good profiles because they can reveal the heart of the author. And today, I found one.
Anyway, more to the point I love a good profile. I like knowing a little bit of information about the author, it helps me relate. Perhaps this is why I very rarely read things that are written by people with blank profiles. If you can't even tell me if you live in the US or Canada, why should I expect you to share any thing of real worth with me? If you're so content on hiding, why have a blog? I'm not asking for your height, weight, and social security number, I'm just asking to know if you're a human, a dog, or a parasite. Boy or girl. That's really enough for me.
Especially since if you have a blog I will be able to get a glimpse of who you are anyway. I mean whatever you post on, obviously that interests you. It is going to reveal, in part, where your heart is. Do you talk about American Idol a lot? How about NASCAR? What about Jesus? These are things that will come out in your writing. If you don't want anyone to read what you write, why do you put it on the internet? Why not just put it in a notebook and hide it under your bed? It's because, maybe unintentionally, you are reaching out. You want to feel like you're connected to someone. Otherwise, why do it? Really, I want to know.
So, I'm a sucker for good profiles because they can reveal the heart of the author. And today, I found one.
I used to believe that evolution was reasonable, that homosexuality was genetic, and that people became Christians because they couldn't deal with the 'reality' that this life was all there was. I used to believe, that if there was a heaven - I could get there by being good - and I used to think I was more or less a good person. I was wrong on all counts. One day I finally had my eyes opened and I saw that I was not going to go to heaven, but that I was certainly going to suffer the wrath of God for all my sin. I saw myself as a treasonous rebel at heart - I hated God for creating me just to send me to Hell - and I was wretched beyond my own comprehension. Into this spiritual vacuum Jesus Christ came and he opened my understanding - delivering me from God's wrath into God's grace. I was "saved" as an adult, and now my life is hid in Christ. I am by no means sinless, but by God's grace I am a repenting believer - a born again Christian.
Hate Within A Christian: A Sign of Disbelief?
Excellent.
Do you remember the first time you knew the intimate love of God? The love that brought you to your knees in heaving, uncontrollable sobs? Do you not remember how when the love of God was poured into you, how you broke - shattered into a million pieces so that you could say, Lord, there isn't enough of me to worship You as You deserve? That love that was so complete, and so free - and so compelling?
Today Was Like Christmas For Me
I found, oh probably about 30 books that I forgot even existed. So excited.
Judas Really Had A Heart For The Poor
And that is why he was so very upset when Jesus was anointed in Bethany. Apparently, Jesus Himself was also quite irritated at the "waste" of money but then changed His mind and decided that she had done a good thing in anointing Him. You've got to love the creative arts. ::sigh::
Here are the highlights:
You can find the entire essay here (emphasis mine). Poor Judas, how we have misunderstood him!
Here are the highlights:
Judas told us that if we lived simply and saved every shekel, one day we would be able to do some wonderful things for the poor and downtrodden. He had a big heart for things like that. He was always talking about the poor.
...
I never believed that part about the thirty pieces of silver, by the way, and I still don'’t. I know they gave him a bag of coins, but there was no way Judas would ever betray a friend for money. No way. There was something else going on, and I think I know what it was. I saw something in JudasÂ’ face that night. And in the face of Jesus too.
...
And I saw something that night that Judas missed. I saw something amazing in the face of Jesus.
When the woman poured that perfume on Jesus;’ head, I saw him cringe. He squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lower lip. It was over in a moment, but it was enough to tell me all I needed to know. This wasn'’t something he wanted to happen.
...
Jesus got everyone quiet, even Judas. Then he began to talk. The amazing thing was, he took the woman's side. He looked right at Judas and said that the poor had been waiting a long time, and they would still be waiting when Judas finally got his money together, and made his plans, and did whatever else he felt he had to do before he could start helping people.
He said that what she did was a nice thing, even the right thing. He also said that it was a beautiful gesture and that it was getting him ready for his burial. We had no idea what he was talking about, of course. Then he said that no one would ever forget what she had done for him, which turned out to be true, by the way. After that he didn'’t say anything else.
You can find the entire essay here (emphasis mine). Poor Judas, how we have misunderstood him!
Monday, May 01, 2006
Dutch Politicians Rap Battling?
I really should just save this for Wednesday, but yea. I'm not going to. I recently got wind of some Dutch politicians engaged in a musical battle of sorts. I'd call it a rap battle, but the Mayor chose to be backed by a punk band, where as the Justice Minister did go with rap.
**The mayor and justice minister links will open up their songs, so if you don't want to hear it, don't click on them. The first link is to the article.
**The mayor and justice minister links will open up their songs, so if you don't want to hear it, don't click on them. The first link is to the article.
I'll Fly Away...Or Will I?
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. (Psalms 55:6-7)
Oh, how very often I have cried out in this manner, how I've desired to fly away in the face of difficulty and great trials. How often have I said to myself, "I shall leave, and return once this storm passes."
But there will always be a storm. If my life doesn't have any hardship in it, perhaps I need to take a look at my life? Am I truly following Christ? Am I living in a way that puts Him and His glory above everything else? If not, why not? Have I withdrawn myself so completely from society that my life has no effect on anyone else? Or am I living in sin to the point where my life is no longer a reproach upon the lives of the unbelievers? If these things are the case, then I am in desperate need of God, in desperate need of repentance.
If these things are not the case, if I truly am seeking God, then surely there will be a storm in my life. The cross is an offense to those who don't value the power it brought. And because of this offense your life, very often, will not be as cushy as many of the unbelievers lives. So, if we run from our problems while promising to return once the storm passes, it is quite likely we shall never return at all. It is very likely we will spend the rest of our days in the wilderness. But God has not called us to run, rather to stand in His presence and cling to the peace that is found when you abide in His love and His commandments.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalms 55:22)
Oh, how very often I have cried out in this manner, how I've desired to fly away in the face of difficulty and great trials. How often have I said to myself, "I shall leave, and return once this storm passes."
But there will always be a storm. If my life doesn't have any hardship in it, perhaps I need to take a look at my life? Am I truly following Christ? Am I living in a way that puts Him and His glory above everything else? If not, why not? Have I withdrawn myself so completely from society that my life has no effect on anyone else? Or am I living in sin to the point where my life is no longer a reproach upon the lives of the unbelievers? If these things are the case, then I am in desperate need of God, in desperate need of repentance.
If these things are not the case, if I truly am seeking God, then surely there will be a storm in my life. The cross is an offense to those who don't value the power it brought. And because of this offense your life, very often, will not be as cushy as many of the unbelievers lives. So, if we run from our problems while promising to return once the storm passes, it is quite likely we shall never return at all. It is very likely we will spend the rest of our days in the wilderness. But God has not called us to run, rather to stand in His presence and cling to the peace that is found when you abide in His love and His commandments.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalms 55:22)
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