Sunday, August 8, 2010
With Utmost Sincerity
The last couple weeks I've been hit hard by a couple of sermons and not really even sermons but actually just in worship I've been hit hard by the Holy Spirit. And I realize that I need to apologize for my actions representing Christ. It is actually that I have been representing myself; have been representing the world more than anything, and I am accustomed to getting my own way. I never give what I can to Christ. It reminds me of a story in the Bible where the lady gave all that she had to Christ and it wasn't much, yet it was everything. On the contrary it seems that I have everything yet I give nothing and that's a hard spot for me to be in. I desire to be a role model to the youth that I work with, to my sister that looks up to me. I want to be a leader in my relationships; I want to be out leader to my friends, and I want to fully dependent on Christ as my leader. This is my prayer. Let me lead. Give me back my passion and concern. I want my anguish for the cause of Christ back. I need that fulfillment. I have had it before and it seems as if the only times I write is after a long bath in my depravity and a sudden realization that I need more of Jesus. But I do need more Jesus. And I plan to stay in His presence henceforth. Holy Spirit guide me and remove any indignation you have of me I pray. Teach me to give ALL I have.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Some Faith
I am completely and utterly heartbroken this morning. I got the news just after midnight last night that a child, one who hadn't yet learned many of the joys of life, had passed away. Luke Sexton lived only a few days in this world, yet he and his God-loving parents don't even know the tremendous impact they have made on lives everywhere. Sure, babies are born with health problems and pass away just days after birth all the time. Sure, some babies never even make it to their own birthday. However, this story is different. This story involves two young parents totally distraught at the sight of their baby boy born with a heart condition, that wouldn't give up, and furthermore trusted God fully. It is inspiring to say the least. I don't know how I would have handled the same situation myself. Blog posts written daily, texts and e-mails spread around, and Bible verses about perseverance and a "good" God were the Sexton's answer.
I have been burdened for baby Luke and this family myself, and the character and faith mustered by a young Christian couple have made me well up inside. How could a couple stricken with such bad luck be so optimistic? How could they choose to see the sunshine in the rain?
Luke 1:37 stands as the verse on the blog for baby Luke's status updates, and as a perfect theme for a pitiful situation. It reads: "For nothing is impossible with God." It is straight to the point, bold, and hopeful. Security is found in this verse. However, now, at a time when it seems that it was not God's will to impact the world with another day for baby Luke, I turn to a verse I know so well; a verse I turned to when I was dealing with loss. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We have no idea what good can come from this. Our incredibly feeble minds can't comprehend the plan God has in mind for the Sextons. I do know however, that He won't ever put on us more than we can bear, and from the heart I know that the Sextons love the Lord. If there is anything apparent from this whole period, it is that Luke had a fighting spirit and the courage to stick it out as long as he did, and his parents dearly love and depend on Christ. I think this can be a strong example for the rest of us to take a look at our own faith and see how we measure up today. How much do we trust Him and His plan?
We love you baby Luke.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Swimming Down
I recently wrote a new song entitled "Forgotten" in which I repeatedly mention "swimming down" and question why I am doing so. The song eludes to our sins being cast into the sea of forgetfulness and how we, for whatever reason, constantly seem to be trying to retrieve them. As it so clearly says in Micah 7:19, "You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
Doesn't that sound wonderful? I think we buy into that when we first find salvation or when we decide to fully devote ourselves to Christ's service. We say, "My sins are not only forgiven, but forgotten. Now I can move on too." That is so true. However, we never leave it there. We let it creep back in on us. Or maybe we don't ever even have the afore-mentioned thought process. Possibly, we come into Christianity with our doubts of our worth. The truth is, we really don't have worth until we come to Christ. We are as wretched sinners unworthy of the prize He has afforded. How can we begin to accept ourselves as deserving, when we are so clearly not?
It breaks down like this for me: however unworthy and ill-deserving I ever have been, still am, or will become, the Bible speaks truth for everyone. Maybe our problem forgetting is that we have a bigger problem accepting forgiveness.
We who have been called to a greater service must learn to accept forgiveness so we can tell others of the debt paid by a King who lives close by. Accept forgiveness. Live in that forgiveness pursuing purity. Tell others about this great forgiveness. After we become more comfortable with forgiveness we can start to forget. God is forgetting our sins when we pray with sincerity. Now we need to forget and move on. Let sin live in the past so it cannot thrive in the present.
Doesn't that sound wonderful? I think we buy into that when we first find salvation or when we decide to fully devote ourselves to Christ's service. We say, "My sins are not only forgiven, but forgotten. Now I can move on too." That is so true. However, we never leave it there. We let it creep back in on us. Or maybe we don't ever even have the afore-mentioned thought process. Possibly, we come into Christianity with our doubts of our worth. The truth is, we really don't have worth until we come to Christ. We are as wretched sinners unworthy of the prize He has afforded. How can we begin to accept ourselves as deserving, when we are so clearly not?
It breaks down like this for me: however unworthy and ill-deserving I ever have been, still am, or will become, the Bible speaks truth for everyone. Maybe our problem forgetting is that we have a bigger problem accepting forgiveness.
We who have been called to a greater service must learn to accept forgiveness so we can tell others of the debt paid by a King who lives close by. Accept forgiveness. Live in that forgiveness pursuing purity. Tell others about this great forgiveness. After we become more comfortable with forgiveness we can start to forget. God is forgetting our sins when we pray with sincerity. Now we need to forget and move on. Let sin live in the past so it cannot thrive in the present.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
BIG Words
"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
I don't know about you, but as for myself, I could never feel comfortable saying that. What kind of man must Paul have been to pen words like that. I think he must have been aware of the consequences of saying something that bold. I don't think Paul would write something like this in a presumptuous manner, rather he wanted to get a point across. He follows Christ. Closely. Make no mistake about it, Paul had his mistakes even while serving the Lord, but he was a man intent on serving Christ with all he had, bar none. I respect that. He knew that when he stumbled and momentarily lapsed into a life of sin he once lived, that he would most certainly face judgment and even malevolence, yet he spoke boldly of his attempt to follow closely.
Oh, how sweet it would be if we could all be so dauntless; so courageous! In my life, I have readily sat under a canopy of comfort, but rarely have I strode to follow Christ gallantly. I speak for myself, and likely any of my readers, when I say we need more. We need to seek more, trust more, DO more. I like Paul. He is fearless. However, not only was Paul brave enough to shout Christ's supremacy from rooftops, He was brave enough to say follow me. He said follow me because I am following Jesus extremely close, and I can guide you. I want to live a life that is not only bold with ignorant bliss, yet bold with some substance. I want to live a life that is of Christ; his words, his steps, his love.
Like a wise song once said from a book about a forest full of animals and one small child named Mowgli: "I wanna be like you, I wanna be like you, talk like you, too..."
I don't know about you, but as for myself, I could never feel comfortable saying that. What kind of man must Paul have been to pen words like that. I think he must have been aware of the consequences of saying something that bold. I don't think Paul would write something like this in a presumptuous manner, rather he wanted to get a point across. He follows Christ. Closely. Make no mistake about it, Paul had his mistakes even while serving the Lord, but he was a man intent on serving Christ with all he had, bar none. I respect that. He knew that when he stumbled and momentarily lapsed into a life of sin he once lived, that he would most certainly face judgment and even malevolence, yet he spoke boldly of his attempt to follow closely.
Oh, how sweet it would be if we could all be so dauntless; so courageous! In my life, I have readily sat under a canopy of comfort, but rarely have I strode to follow Christ gallantly. I speak for myself, and likely any of my readers, when I say we need more. We need to seek more, trust more, DO more. I like Paul. He is fearless. However, not only was Paul brave enough to shout Christ's supremacy from rooftops, He was brave enough to say follow me. He said follow me because I am following Jesus extremely close, and I can guide you. I want to live a life that is not only bold with ignorant bliss, yet bold with some substance. I want to live a life that is of Christ; his words, his steps, his love.
Like a wise song once said from a book about a forest full of animals and one small child named Mowgli: "I wanna be like you, I wanna be like you, talk like you, too..."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The Slide
Okay, I have been gone for a while again, but hopefully I have some time to share what has been on my heart and mind these last few weeks now and I can write a little more often.
As my small group met last week, we discussed some of the challenging truths we found in the newest book by Francis Chan called "Forgotten God." I really appreciate anything that challenges me spiritually and so do the guys, so we have really been enjoying this book. Last week something struck a chord within the reading that made us all stop and think for a minute. We had a great session loaded with discussion, and when it was over I didn't want to end. Words were read, which lead to dialogue about the test, which made us think new thoughts provoking new articulation of our grasps on the subjects.
We talked about how, as Christians, we haven't faced much pain or controversy. It's so hard for us to mention to a friend that we know something better for their lives yet we are called to the service of Christ. Christ suffered. He suffered so much that He died a slow and meticulous death of more agony than should even be fathomable, and that is who we follow. We are Christians, which is a follower of Christ; do as He said and do as He did. If we haven't done anything painful, anything risky, or anything even uncomfortable in life we have clearly missed it.
A thought that I had this week had to do with a particular community of people that host weekends of faith every year or so. Many readers know what community this is, and in fact many in this area have attended these weekends. The sad thing is that it has gotten the terrible reputation of only giving a spiritual high that last a few weeks before it dwindles. I am personally now under the impression that we lose that feeling of the experience because we don't build from there. We have a flame once we get on any spiritual high, whether we have attended a crusade, or worship conference, etc. Instead of feeding the flame, we try to coast. We let that flame eventually die out because we are just trying to slide back down to the point we were content at before the experience. It is impossible for us to even stop at that point however, and too often we try to throw on the brakes at that stop and we continue our slide. That's the easiest solution for us: to slide right off our spiritual high and drop ourselves into a hole worse than when we began. Easiest is not the best solution. Christ wants us to press on. We need to aggressively pursue all that is of Christ. There isn't a specific form for this pursuit, so it can seem hard. However, cliche or not, we have the book that tells us all we need to know. Read Revelation 2:5 and let us press on to pursue more of the glory of Christ instead of settling for a mediocre relationship this week.
As my small group met last week, we discussed some of the challenging truths we found in the newest book by Francis Chan called "Forgotten God." I really appreciate anything that challenges me spiritually and so do the guys, so we have really been enjoying this book. Last week something struck a chord within the reading that made us all stop and think for a minute. We had a great session loaded with discussion, and when it was over I didn't want to end. Words were read, which lead to dialogue about the test, which made us think new thoughts provoking new articulation of our grasps on the subjects.
We talked about how, as Christians, we haven't faced much pain or controversy. It's so hard for us to mention to a friend that we know something better for their lives yet we are called to the service of Christ. Christ suffered. He suffered so much that He died a slow and meticulous death of more agony than should even be fathomable, and that is who we follow. We are Christians, which is a follower of Christ; do as He said and do as He did. If we haven't done anything painful, anything risky, or anything even uncomfortable in life we have clearly missed it.
A thought that I had this week had to do with a particular community of people that host weekends of faith every year or so. Many readers know what community this is, and in fact many in this area have attended these weekends. The sad thing is that it has gotten the terrible reputation of only giving a spiritual high that last a few weeks before it dwindles. I am personally now under the impression that we lose that feeling of the experience because we don't build from there. We have a flame once we get on any spiritual high, whether we have attended a crusade, or worship conference, etc. Instead of feeding the flame, we try to coast. We let that flame eventually die out because we are just trying to slide back down to the point we were content at before the experience. It is impossible for us to even stop at that point however, and too often we try to throw on the brakes at that stop and we continue our slide. That's the easiest solution for us: to slide right off our spiritual high and drop ourselves into a hole worse than when we began. Easiest is not the best solution. Christ wants us to press on. We need to aggressively pursue all that is of Christ. There isn't a specific form for this pursuit, so it can seem hard. However, cliche or not, we have the book that tells us all we need to know. Read Revelation 2:5 and let us press on to pursue more of the glory of Christ instead of settling for a mediocre relationship this week.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Prayer of Lament
God,
Spiritual attack has burdened me so heavily that I have caved. My judgment has been lacking to say the least, and the passionate yearning and call upon my heart I felt after the Spirit rejuvenated me was utterly destroyed by my incompetence and willingness to fold to the enemy’s attacks. I have but one desire: to become cleansed. I desire the Holy Spirit so heavily in my life that I cannot think outside of it. I want my body to ache from movements outside of the Spirit. I want to be driven to tears when my mind isn’t wrapped in Your Glory. I desire for my heart to throb when I have become any less than overwhelmed by Your Son. I deserve nothing, because I seek you not. My words are foolish and filled with pride, because I have never been inside you completely. I have built walls around myself to the point that no human can attach themselves to me, and I have done worse to you, God. Even as I write this letter from my heart to yours, I have let pride enter my mind. I have not fully revealed the imbalance of my perception and I have certainly not let go of my grasp on sin. Or do I even hold sin? Does it hold me? Does it even matter as long as I am allowing it to win? I have not defended myself with scripture when Satan has waged his attacks. My prayers are monotonous and void, because I have said them all before. Where is my reality? Why can I no longer reach a point where I become “real?” Everything I say is manicured and revised to the point I have no conscious idea of what I have actually done to myself, to others, or to you. I am a hypocrite, because I retain my burdens and conceal my true thoughts. Even now I search my mind for words to say to make this note sound pretty to your ear. How fraudulent must I become before I take the God of the Universe seriously? How far down in this hole must I dig myself before I allow you to truly guide me? And I don’t want pretend guidance from a pretend God I have allowed my own desires to become. I seek true repentance; true leadership from a true God. You are the only one that can save me now. I have fooled myself with thoughts of my own wisdom. I have blinded others with my justifications for ignorance. I have no wisdom and my actions can be generally filed as sin and nothing more. Rip open my chest and do surgery within me. Never sew me up again, because I want others to see, not for my own benefit, but so they can see I could not do it by myself. Lead me back to you, oh God. Lead me back. Or perhaps lead me to you for the first time. I seek a lifestyle that screams assurance. Deep down I know I have it, but never have I let it show. I want to say the words “I love you,” and you know my heart at its most vulnerable of locations, but I feel quite conclusive that my actions should back it up, so for once let me show you I love you. God of the beginning, God of Israel, God the father, God the maker, God the King; speak to me.
Your Child
Spiritual attack has burdened me so heavily that I have caved. My judgment has been lacking to say the least, and the passionate yearning and call upon my heart I felt after the Spirit rejuvenated me was utterly destroyed by my incompetence and willingness to fold to the enemy’s attacks. I have but one desire: to become cleansed. I desire the Holy Spirit so heavily in my life that I cannot think outside of it. I want my body to ache from movements outside of the Spirit. I want to be driven to tears when my mind isn’t wrapped in Your Glory. I desire for my heart to throb when I have become any less than overwhelmed by Your Son. I deserve nothing, because I seek you not. My words are foolish and filled with pride, because I have never been inside you completely. I have built walls around myself to the point that no human can attach themselves to me, and I have done worse to you, God. Even as I write this letter from my heart to yours, I have let pride enter my mind. I have not fully revealed the imbalance of my perception and I have certainly not let go of my grasp on sin. Or do I even hold sin? Does it hold me? Does it even matter as long as I am allowing it to win? I have not defended myself with scripture when Satan has waged his attacks. My prayers are monotonous and void, because I have said them all before. Where is my reality? Why can I no longer reach a point where I become “real?” Everything I say is manicured and revised to the point I have no conscious idea of what I have actually done to myself, to others, or to you. I am a hypocrite, because I retain my burdens and conceal my true thoughts. Even now I search my mind for words to say to make this note sound pretty to your ear. How fraudulent must I become before I take the God of the Universe seriously? How far down in this hole must I dig myself before I allow you to truly guide me? And I don’t want pretend guidance from a pretend God I have allowed my own desires to become. I seek true repentance; true leadership from a true God. You are the only one that can save me now. I have fooled myself with thoughts of my own wisdom. I have blinded others with my justifications for ignorance. I have no wisdom and my actions can be generally filed as sin and nothing more. Rip open my chest and do surgery within me. Never sew me up again, because I want others to see, not for my own benefit, but so they can see I could not do it by myself. Lead me back to you, oh God. Lead me back. Or perhaps lead me to you for the first time. I seek a lifestyle that screams assurance. Deep down I know I have it, but never have I let it show. I want to say the words “I love you,” and you know my heart at its most vulnerable of locations, but I feel quite conclusive that my actions should back it up, so for once let me show you I love you. God of the beginning, God of Israel, God the father, God the maker, God the King; speak to me.
Your Child
Monday, April 19, 2010
Failure, etc.
I was reminded today of a passage I fell in love with when I first read it years ago. The passage is in Titus 3:3-7 and it reads like this:
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Wow. I don't know if that clicks with you quite like it did for me, but that was just a radical awakening for my heart when I first read those words. It says things that we have always heard and have known since we accepted Christ in our life, yet it says it so powerfully. We fail nonstop. We wake up and fail. We go through our days failing miserably one thing after another. We seem to look for opportunities we can take to fail God even more monumentally than the afore. I don't get it. I don't know why I want to do the things I insistently do and I furthermore cannot fathom the love and grace that is wrapped around me in order for me to commit such felonous acts towards the gospel and still be rewarded with an heirship. I praise God with my tongue and curse men subsequently. Is there really a place for all my failure to reside? In fact, there is. I believe in the power of failure. I believe in using the foolish to make wise. I have fallen so many times in this life. I have dusted myself off only to fall short again. Through all my failures I never learned anything, until I actually depended on God. Used cloyingly or not, it was and is true for me. I do not discount the influence of my abominations for the poorer side of things on others lives. I wish that were not the case. I wish people could only see my heart and the feelings I have about my transgressions instead of seeing the everyday failing Reyn that is truly still trying, but will never hit that mark. My action has lacked, my worship has fallen short, my acts of kindness to others are at times fleeting. All that said, I have a desire to live out the second half of that passage; to show the world the mark for which I aim. Maybe I will get there, more than likely not, but one thing is for sure: I am an heir to a kingdom beyond this world, and I will strive to live like I am more and more each day.
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Wow. I don't know if that clicks with you quite like it did for me, but that was just a radical awakening for my heart when I first read those words. It says things that we have always heard and have known since we accepted Christ in our life, yet it says it so powerfully. We fail nonstop. We wake up and fail. We go through our days failing miserably one thing after another. We seem to look for opportunities we can take to fail God even more monumentally than the afore. I don't get it. I don't know why I want to do the things I insistently do and I furthermore cannot fathom the love and grace that is wrapped around me in order for me to commit such felonous acts towards the gospel and still be rewarded with an heirship. I praise God with my tongue and curse men subsequently. Is there really a place for all my failure to reside? In fact, there is. I believe in the power of failure. I believe in using the foolish to make wise. I have fallen so many times in this life. I have dusted myself off only to fall short again. Through all my failures I never learned anything, until I actually depended on God. Used cloyingly or not, it was and is true for me. I do not discount the influence of my abominations for the poorer side of things on others lives. I wish that were not the case. I wish people could only see my heart and the feelings I have about my transgressions instead of seeing the everyday failing Reyn that is truly still trying, but will never hit that mark. My action has lacked, my worship has fallen short, my acts of kindness to others are at times fleeting. All that said, I have a desire to live out the second half of that passage; to show the world the mark for which I aim. Maybe I will get there, more than likely not, but one thing is for sure: I am an heir to a kingdom beyond this world, and I will strive to live like I am more and more each day.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Holy Spirit???
This past Sunday (Easter), I met with my small group which meets every Sunday. However, this time we went to Greensburg to a spot on my uncle's land which has three gorgeous crosses on a knoll. I was set on talking about dating and looking for a Godly wife this Sunday, since some of our group had wanted to discuss it, and because honestly, who doesn't think about it? That is what I was set on, but God changed my mind. I don't want to sound like the cliches I have heard millions of times before about preachers showing up to a revival and remarking how God had totally changed their sermons against their wills only moments before. I am not discounted that it happens, I just don't want to sound like a broken record. However, I, myself was sitting in our church service Sunday morning happy as could be (Easter is my favorite), when I came to the realization that just any subject wouldn't suffice for this Easter day small group. No, I had to talk of something far more special to this divine occasion. I wanted to talk about the Easter story, but in a way we don't typically think of it. This is when I recalled what I read only days before from Francis Chan's new book "Forgotten God: Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit."
Many times we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the Easter story. This is true. However, we also need to remember that this was also the first occasion we receive the Holy Spirit; even more of a reason for celebration! John 14:12 says that we will be able to do greater things after Christ rose, because of the Holy Spirit's guidance and power. Back in John 14:16, God's word tells us "another Helper" was given to us after Christ left the earth. The Greek translation for "another" in this instance meant just like the first. Chapter 16 verse 4 through 11 even says that it was to our advantage that Christ leave us, so the "Helper"could come to us.
My question is this: do we take God's word as absolute truth in all areas? We should. And if we do, we should realize that all the promises about the Holy Spirit are true and we have supernatural abilities to follow Christ now with the Helper. Chan said in his book that if you were told God inhabited a person and gave them a supernatural ability to play basketball, you would surely expect that person to be able to do some amazing things on the court. If you saw no change, then you would highly doubt the sincerity of their statement. We have a supernatural ability to serve Christ because the Holy Spirit inhabits us. Why do we not seem any different to the naked eye? Rejoice in this week following Easter knowing that not only has Christ risen, but we now have help through the Spirit. Also, let us see if we can't put our supernatural abilities to practice this week.
Many times we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the Easter story. This is true. However, we also need to remember that this was also the first occasion we receive the Holy Spirit; even more of a reason for celebration! John 14:12 says that we will be able to do greater things after Christ rose, because of the Holy Spirit's guidance and power. Back in John 14:16, God's word tells us "another Helper" was given to us after Christ left the earth. The Greek translation for "another" in this instance meant just like the first. Chapter 16 verse 4 through 11 even says that it was to our advantage that Christ leave us, so the "Helper"could come to us.
My question is this: do we take God's word as absolute truth in all areas? We should. And if we do, we should realize that all the promises about the Holy Spirit are true and we have supernatural abilities to follow Christ now with the Helper. Chan said in his book that if you were told God inhabited a person and gave them a supernatural ability to play basketball, you would surely expect that person to be able to do some amazing things on the court. If you saw no change, then you would highly doubt the sincerity of their statement. We have a supernatural ability to serve Christ because the Holy Spirit inhabits us. Why do we not seem any different to the naked eye? Rejoice in this week following Easter knowing that not only has Christ risen, but we now have help through the Spirit. Also, let us see if we can't put our supernatural abilities to practice this week.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Significance
I've been away again for a while, but unlike my last absence, I was able to focus on the Lord very much this time. Along with four of my friends from our university, I went on a mission trip we planned a couple weeks ago. We made stops on our excursion in Atlanta, Charleston, and Gainesville. Each part of the trip we did different mission-minded projects and each stop made an impact on all of our group. However, the ultimate stop for me was in Gainesville. Most of our time in this city was spent with the homeless community; giving them food and chatting about life in general. Many of the talks surprised me, but one in particular with an African-American man I was serving water to, struck the very depths of my heart. I was almost driven to tears as I was astonished as well as ashamed while listening to his words of pure wisdom.
The conversation went something like this: "Beautiful day we are having here today isn't it?" I said. "Why yes, every day is beautiful when you love and serve the Lord!" said the man. Now, that is not then end of our conversation by any means but it is enough to get my point across I believe. For the next ten to fifteen minutes or so, this man spoke of how blessed he was and how great the love of God is. He never said anything to oppose these truths and he didn't add to or take away from those statements either. Even if I could have gotten a word in edge-wise, I don't think I would have known what to say. I simply agreed and amened him with each breath he took to pause.
Meanwhile, my heart was pounding through my bones and my eyes were about to fill while I stood in absolute awe. In my mind I kept thinking: "does this man not realize he is homeless?" Well of course he had to know his circumstance, and to me, that is what made this story so very great. There with my own ears and eyes I witnessed a man, whom I was serving water on a warm March day, who had no home, likely no family, and very little physical assets to his name show me up in his faith. How had I, myself, become so content that I had forgotten all the gifts I have and the greatest gift of all in Christ, was also some distant story without a time and occurrence or relevance to me? I had traveled thousands of miles on my spring break missional journey to be taught about God by someone else.
Never should we think we have no significance in the world. Many times it would be simple to conclude that we are more important to reaching the world than the next guy, but that's just not it. A man of little significance to the world in appearance just made the biggest impact on me in fifteen minutes that any person could make in such time. How great is that? Let us have no bounds as love has no bounds.
The conversation went something like this: "Beautiful day we are having here today isn't it?" I said. "Why yes, every day is beautiful when you love and serve the Lord!" said the man. Now, that is not then end of our conversation by any means but it is enough to get my point across I believe. For the next ten to fifteen minutes or so, this man spoke of how blessed he was and how great the love of God is. He never said anything to oppose these truths and he didn't add to or take away from those statements either. Even if I could have gotten a word in edge-wise, I don't think I would have known what to say. I simply agreed and amened him with each breath he took to pause.
Meanwhile, my heart was pounding through my bones and my eyes were about to fill while I stood in absolute awe. In my mind I kept thinking: "does this man not realize he is homeless?" Well of course he had to know his circumstance, and to me, that is what made this story so very great. There with my own ears and eyes I witnessed a man, whom I was serving water on a warm March day, who had no home, likely no family, and very little physical assets to his name show me up in his faith. How had I, myself, become so content that I had forgotten all the gifts I have and the greatest gift of all in Christ, was also some distant story without a time and occurrence or relevance to me? I had traveled thousands of miles on my spring break missional journey to be taught about God by someone else.
Never should we think we have no significance in the world. Many times it would be simple to conclude that we are more important to reaching the world than the next guy, but that's just not it. A man of little significance to the world in appearance just made the biggest impact on me in fifteen minutes that any person could make in such time. How great is that? Let us have no bounds as love has no bounds.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Happily Married
Today as I opened my browser, the homepage on this foreign computer was set to msn.com. The opening story: "Does your marriage measure up?"
Interestingly enough, I am, even in my extremely single lifestyle, intrigued by marriage. I look forward to a marriage to a smoking hot wife and having children and adopting children of my own, as I have mentioned in earlier posts. However, I think marriage has turned into debauchery in our culture. Over fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, and the "happily" married couples are reading garbage like the page on MSN that make men and women feel like they're relationship isn't measuring up and make them question if their own marriage is truly happy. This infuriates me to my core. I don't know the first thing about being in a marriage, and not much more about maintaining a relationship for that matter, but I understand commitment, and not many people believe in it anymore.
Even more intriguing to me is the language of the Bible, and how time and time again marriage is used to identify our relationship with Christ or Israel and Judah's relationship with Yahweh. In Jeremiah 2, God says He remembers our devotion as a bride. Where has it gone? Have we not been even more of a whore to Christ in our relationship than in our own earthly excursions? We repeatedly offer up our bodies to Christ as a half-hearted sacrifice, unpleasing and unholy to God; just the opposite of what we are called to do.
For whatever reason I have always been drawn to this language of us as a bride to Christ; subjecting ourselves to the leadership of our husband. Paul remained single his entire life and did great work for Christ. He even stated in 1 Corinthians 7 that he would hope we all could remain single as well. However, there was one marriage Paul was most certainly a part of. He was the bride in a marriage he would desire us to belong to as well. Let us submit ourselves to our husband today, in Christ, and ignore thoughts of insufficiency and inadequacy of Christs love. He has, and always will be enough for us, and yes, my marriage most certainly measures up!
Interestingly enough, I am, even in my extremely single lifestyle, intrigued by marriage. I look forward to a marriage to a smoking hot wife and having children and adopting children of my own, as I have mentioned in earlier posts. However, I think marriage has turned into debauchery in our culture. Over fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, and the "happily" married couples are reading garbage like the page on MSN that make men and women feel like they're relationship isn't measuring up and make them question if their own marriage is truly happy. This infuriates me to my core. I don't know the first thing about being in a marriage, and not much more about maintaining a relationship for that matter, but I understand commitment, and not many people believe in it anymore.
Even more intriguing to me is the language of the Bible, and how time and time again marriage is used to identify our relationship with Christ or Israel and Judah's relationship with Yahweh. In Jeremiah 2, God says He remembers our devotion as a bride. Where has it gone? Have we not been even more of a whore to Christ in our relationship than in our own earthly excursions? We repeatedly offer up our bodies to Christ as a half-hearted sacrifice, unpleasing and unholy to God; just the opposite of what we are called to do.
For whatever reason I have always been drawn to this language of us as a bride to Christ; subjecting ourselves to the leadership of our husband. Paul remained single his entire life and did great work for Christ. He even stated in 1 Corinthians 7 that he would hope we all could remain single as well. However, there was one marriage Paul was most certainly a part of. He was the bride in a marriage he would desire us to belong to as well. Let us submit ourselves to our husband today, in Christ, and ignore thoughts of insufficiency and inadequacy of Christs love. He has, and always will be enough for us, and yes, my marriage most certainly measures up!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Many Thoughts
Today is one of those days that I think too much. I don't move throughout the day at all; no, I am just one point to another. I connect the dots of where I have to be in my schedule, I float through each terrorizing detail and I come to a point that I stop. I stop, just like I am now, and I think.
The case used to be with days like this one, that I would slip into depression. I would wonder why the world hated me in every aspect. I wondered why I felt I had not a true friend in the world, why I wasn't meeting the expectations of my family, and why I, myself, couldn't trust anyone. This afore-mentioned depressive state would be the same setting for my life right now in this very moment if I allowed it to be. I think I have to keep moving; keep going from task to task to keep my mind so boggled it's clear of dark thoughts. The fact is, I don't let my eyes get gloomy, therefore I stay out of my dysthymic element.
I know I am not the only person who connects thoughts, or looks entirely too far into situations. It is effortless for me to overthink a thought in my head until it turns into something far from the reality of the situation. I'm not saying I am crazy, of course crazy people wouldn't say they were either I don't suppose. However, I am saying that it would be easy for me to focus on another day slipping into oblivion forever to be erased from my memory and realizing I have still done nothing meaningful in my life. Time bothers me the most. We always say it flies, it goes by too fast, and "we remember when." But take a second and think. It is today, the ninth day of the third month of 2010. I don't know of anything importantant I have done with the almost three and a half months God has given me so far this year. It seems like just yesterday we were starting this year. The absolute truth is this: Christ is returning in the blink of an eye. No man knows the time of His return, and we have a commission to make disciples of all nations at our hands. What will we do with it? Will we allow ourselves to think too much and waste time? Or can we possibly actually do something we say we are going to for once, before this year is over?
The case used to be with days like this one, that I would slip into depression. I would wonder why the world hated me in every aspect. I wondered why I felt I had not a true friend in the world, why I wasn't meeting the expectations of my family, and why I, myself, couldn't trust anyone. This afore-mentioned depressive state would be the same setting for my life right now in this very moment if I allowed it to be. I think I have to keep moving; keep going from task to task to keep my mind so boggled it's clear of dark thoughts. The fact is, I don't let my eyes get gloomy, therefore I stay out of my dysthymic element.
I know I am not the only person who connects thoughts, or looks entirely too far into situations. It is effortless for me to overthink a thought in my head until it turns into something far from the reality of the situation. I'm not saying I am crazy, of course crazy people wouldn't say they were either I don't suppose. However, I am saying that it would be easy for me to focus on another day slipping into oblivion forever to be erased from my memory and realizing I have still done nothing meaningful in my life. Time bothers me the most. We always say it flies, it goes by too fast, and "we remember when." But take a second and think. It is today, the ninth day of the third month of 2010. I don't know of anything importantant I have done with the almost three and a half months God has given me so far this year. It seems like just yesterday we were starting this year. The absolute truth is this: Christ is returning in the blink of an eye. No man knows the time of His return, and we have a commission to make disciples of all nations at our hands. What will we do with it? Will we allow ourselves to think too much and waste time? Or can we possibly actually do something we say we are going to for once, before this year is over?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Faith?
I have found in my twenty-one years and some odd months that people say things. These things are generally as important to the orator of the statements as the word "things" is itself. THINGS don't pack any meaning, and neither do the assertions themselves. The biggest for instance I have found is in our faith. Our faith in anything is fickle, really. We have "faith" in God. We have "faith" that we are eternally secure. We have "faith" that we really could move mountains. I don't think so. I have said a million times that I have faith God will provide a way. I have meant that maybe three times. The thing is, I don't think I'm alone. I am not a pessimistic being or a cynically inclined drone of a person, I just think faith requires more than saying "things." I was standing in church Sunday singing a song about my belief that God can move the mountains. I was moved to tears, because I was emptying every word of that song into a barrel of disbelief. I'm not saying in any way that I have no faith in the existence of God, the power of His love, His Son's death and resurrection, or my salvation. I would never say that at all. I am saying I have doubted things before. I'm human. And I am not using my humanity to excuse my inconsistency, but I think it's clear I need help to stay true to faith. However, I felt overwhelmed as I stood there amongst the hundreds of flock members attending Sunday. I was singing words and putting little thought to their meaning. After all, James tells us that faith without works is dead right? This cannot possibly just mean helping the elderly cross the street and rebuilding houses can it? Though those things are good and can be examples, I think James would also say that part of our works is merely putting feet to our so-called faith: believing what we say. Truly believing the "things" we say. Doing things for Christ is essential and therefore that should most certainly be a challenge for each of us daily; to do missions and love one another. But I think our first task should be to believe what we claim. Simple yet difficult to us generally, and concrete, but carrying complexity as well. Just believe it, and as the saying goes, we can achieve it.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
My Absense
Here lately I haven't posted anything at all, and I feel bad. Even if nobody at all reads what I have to say, it tends to help me vent. The truth is: here of late I have felt less than inspired. I have definitely been overwhelmed at times, but not driven. Sure, there have been the bright moments where I wanted to go to the ends of the Earth just to show the unloved some love, like our small group meeting Sunday, but they have been few and far between, and I have struggled. I have struggled realize God's presence; much less seek it. Or is that even backwards? Point blank I have felt an enormous dose of humanity here lately, and my humility has been great, but my realization of a Spirit of change, my longing to make right my wrongs, my absolute sincerety has waned through periods of fecklessness. I am not a super man. Though I have never once claimed to be such, I hold myself to those standards; the standards of such a Super God-Man in Jesus. Slow in speech and slow to anger I am not. Loving to the unloved; sure. Loving to my enemies; I can't say that is true.
I wish those kind of things for myself. I hope for a life of prosperity in Christ, knowing He will always be sufficient to me. I look forward to finding a Christian, no not just that, a Christ-seeking follower as a wife, and adopting and loving children. I want to think all this can be possible and I will finish the race strong as Paul did. Honestly, however, I sometimes have my doubts. Is that so wrong, or is it humanity? I don't know. Another point for my flesh is I do not know.
C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite authors, and orator of some of the greatest quotes I know said this: "A man can no more diminish God's gloryby refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribing the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."
I don't see myself as refusing to worship God, and I'm sure no other Christian would toss that thought around either, but we do it. We refuse to worship God any time we are living life complacently, we are pursuing our idols over God's glory, and even when we are half-heartedly exalting him. That is an oxymoron. Exaltation and half-hearts don't go together, so why do we put them there. The point is: we are here to worship God. The end. Nothing we do affects God's glory. Point blank. And it is absurd to believe God needs us, but He desires our intimacy. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from us, He can still do anything.
I wish those kind of things for myself. I hope for a life of prosperity in Christ, knowing He will always be sufficient to me. I look forward to finding a Christian, no not just that, a Christ-seeking follower as a wife, and adopting and loving children. I want to think all this can be possible and I will finish the race strong as Paul did. Honestly, however, I sometimes have my doubts. Is that so wrong, or is it humanity? I don't know. Another point for my flesh is I do not know.
C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite authors, and orator of some of the greatest quotes I know said this: "A man can no more diminish God's gloryby refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribing the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."
I don't see myself as refusing to worship God, and I'm sure no other Christian would toss that thought around either, but we do it. We refuse to worship God any time we are living life complacently, we are pursuing our idols over God's glory, and even when we are half-heartedly exalting him. That is an oxymoron. Exaltation and half-hearts don't go together, so why do we put them there. The point is: we are here to worship God. The end. Nothing we do affects God's glory. Point blank. And it is absurd to believe God needs us, but He desires our intimacy. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from us, He can still do anything.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
God on the Move
I really am so excited about Christ. I am delighted to be earnestly and whole-heartedly seeking God like I never have before. Unfortunately, I have been blasphemous in my "efforts" to be a Christian thus far in life. More than my unconditional depravity or the gravity that sin has put on my actions, I have just been settled. Complacent like I mentioned in my previous post. I have been unwilling to make any attempts to pursue God, and content to "wait" on God to move.
I believe there are times in our walks we should be still and let God take over; let Him whisper to us in our silence. However, many times we forget we serve a God that many in the world still don't acknowledge. We serve a moving God. A God who put our planet into motion and made a vast amount of animals to move about the Earth, and he gave us the feet so we could make His body move.
I don't want to share how I am so superior in my walk now or how I am the wisest to ever roam the globe; I don't feel that way at all. In fact, I have come to recognize more and more that my faults are numerous and quite quantitative, which makes God's love even that more amazing to me. I just want to share that God can take a nobody, screw-up like yours truly and turn his life upside down. I've said all these things before at some point in my life, but I have never honestly believed what I have spoken. Now it is real.
Just a couple for instances: I was at a prayer meeting this past Sunday night to end our 21 day fast as a church. Not many people completed it, and even fewer showed up to share what God had done for them in the three weeks, but the ones that did open up were remarkable.
First, was a lady who shared about her son who had been away from God for years and even denounced His existence after being raised a believer. She was so emotional after stating that he was now deciding he needed Christ now in his life and making the effort to attend church again now. Then she mentioned his name. See, even as the supposed Christian I was proclaiming to be this struck my heart, because not too long ago I partied with this guy. Hard. I was being the guy I had been for years, a faithless religious person, and I was living not amongst the sinners, but as the sinner. It broke my heart, but also warmed it as I got to speak with him in a totally different dynamic later that night.
The second major one for me was a man struggling with his marriage. He wasn't struggling to coexist with his wife in the household, they weren't arguing about finances, and they weren't facing divorce. He is a very strong believer and servant to God's kingdom, working with the children's ministry every Sunday, and his wife didn't believe at all. For 21 days I had prayed for my future wife (and I haven't stopped). I prayed for her heart. I prayed she would be eager to seek God's face and that she would also be praying for a Christian leader of a husband. Then there was this man who loved God so much, in tears (as was I), painfully spilling his desires for his wife to know Christ. I don't know if irony is the word or if that was divine placement of our God, but I feel as if it was the latter. Either way, I have a peace for that man, because as I closed our group in prayer, praying over him standing in the place of his wife, I somehow knew God had control of her heart already.
God is on the move right now. I see him more everyday than I ever have before. Don't try to slow Him down. Let us move with God as He goes.
I believe there are times in our walks we should be still and let God take over; let Him whisper to us in our silence. However, many times we forget we serve a God that many in the world still don't acknowledge. We serve a moving God. A God who put our planet into motion and made a vast amount of animals to move about the Earth, and he gave us the feet so we could make His body move.
I don't want to share how I am so superior in my walk now or how I am the wisest to ever roam the globe; I don't feel that way at all. In fact, I have come to recognize more and more that my faults are numerous and quite quantitative, which makes God's love even that more amazing to me. I just want to share that God can take a nobody, screw-up like yours truly and turn his life upside down. I've said all these things before at some point in my life, but I have never honestly believed what I have spoken. Now it is real.
Just a couple for instances: I was at a prayer meeting this past Sunday night to end our 21 day fast as a church. Not many people completed it, and even fewer showed up to share what God had done for them in the three weeks, but the ones that did open up were remarkable.
First, was a lady who shared about her son who had been away from God for years and even denounced His existence after being raised a believer. She was so emotional after stating that he was now deciding he needed Christ now in his life and making the effort to attend church again now. Then she mentioned his name. See, even as the supposed Christian I was proclaiming to be this struck my heart, because not too long ago I partied with this guy. Hard. I was being the guy I had been for years, a faithless religious person, and I was living not amongst the sinners, but as the sinner. It broke my heart, but also warmed it as I got to speak with him in a totally different dynamic later that night.
The second major one for me was a man struggling with his marriage. He wasn't struggling to coexist with his wife in the household, they weren't arguing about finances, and they weren't facing divorce. He is a very strong believer and servant to God's kingdom, working with the children's ministry every Sunday, and his wife didn't believe at all. For 21 days I had prayed for my future wife (and I haven't stopped). I prayed for her heart. I prayed she would be eager to seek God's face and that she would also be praying for a Christian leader of a husband. Then there was this man who loved God so much, in tears (as was I), painfully spilling his desires for his wife to know Christ. I don't know if irony is the word or if that was divine placement of our God, but I feel as if it was the latter. Either way, I have a peace for that man, because as I closed our group in prayer, praying over him standing in the place of his wife, I somehow knew God had control of her heart already.
God is on the move right now. I see him more everyday than I ever have before. Don't try to slow Him down. Let us move with God as He goes.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wisdom
"My son, keep my words and store up my commands with you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister" and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words."
-Proverbs 7:1-5
I have come to the conclusion this week that though I pray daily for wisdom, I will never have it as long as I think I am becoming wise. A wise person would never claim wisdom; that would be foolish. No, a truly wise person doesn't just have the knowledge and life experience; they seek more. I don't think we will ever reach wisdom in comparison to someone like Solomon, but if we did we wouldn't know it. Being wise means you are humble. Being wise means you know your petty role. I seek wisdom, but I also seek to be like Christ. Just as we cannot achieve pure perfection as Jesus, I am skeptical we will ever achieve a maximum level of wisdom.
In my life testimony, I view it as a landscape. I have had valleys of course, and I have had mountain-like experiences. However, I can't help but think we are all going to be climbing the mountain for the rest of our life. And I think that is good. We should keep rising. We stop attaining wisdom when we plateau.
I really do want to gain wisdom in life. I have put myself in enough learning situations to be fairly wise already, but I hope I haven't missed it. Just know we may achieve a significant level of wisdom sometime in our life, but if we ever think we have become wise, we better re-evaluate. We won't ever have wisdom as long as we assume we have it.
-Proverbs 7:1-5
I have come to the conclusion this week that though I pray daily for wisdom, I will never have it as long as I think I am becoming wise. A wise person would never claim wisdom; that would be foolish. No, a truly wise person doesn't just have the knowledge and life experience; they seek more. I don't think we will ever reach wisdom in comparison to someone like Solomon, but if we did we wouldn't know it. Being wise means you are humble. Being wise means you know your petty role. I seek wisdom, but I also seek to be like Christ. Just as we cannot achieve pure perfection as Jesus, I am skeptical we will ever achieve a maximum level of wisdom.
In my life testimony, I view it as a landscape. I have had valleys of course, and I have had mountain-like experiences. However, I can't help but think we are all going to be climbing the mountain for the rest of our life. And I think that is good. We should keep rising. We stop attaining wisdom when we plateau.
I really do want to gain wisdom in life. I have put myself in enough learning situations to be fairly wise already, but I hope I haven't missed it. Just know we may achieve a significant level of wisdom sometime in our life, but if we ever think we have become wise, we better re-evaluate. We won't ever have wisdom as long as we assume we have it.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Trees
I've been thinking a lot lately about the significance of Trees in God's Word. My first revelation (in the words of Mac Powell) directed me to the passage in Psalms 1 that speaks of us as Godly people being trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit and prospering. How often, however, are we moreso like the tree that crucified our Savior? In other words, how much more often are we inflicting pain and even killing our Lord, than are we being content to wait on God and be planted in His Word? In my own life I have been much more like a tree of crucifixion, even more like the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, causing others to stumble and being a stumbling block to my Christian friends. I have been much more eager to point out the splinter in another's eye, than to evaluate the plank in my own.
I desire to be a tree deeply rooted; unmovable with yearning for Christ and His Kingdom. I want to one day eat from the tree of life in Revelatinon 2:7 and I want to be the voice granting every ear the ability to hear of God's grace, like the passage says. Obviously, I could go much deeper and much farther with a list of metaphors like this, but the point I hope to drive home, is that we can choose what type of life we want to lead, or what tree we decide to be. Let us focus on God first and being deeply rooted in Him, seeking to lead others to His Tree of Life.
I desire to be a tree deeply rooted; unmovable with yearning for Christ and His Kingdom. I want to one day eat from the tree of life in Revelatinon 2:7 and I want to be the voice granting every ear the ability to hear of God's grace, like the passage says. Obviously, I could go much deeper and much farther with a list of metaphors like this, but the point I hope to drive home, is that we can choose what type of life we want to lead, or what tree we decide to be. Let us focus on God first and being deeply rooted in Him, seeking to lead others to His Tree of Life.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Is He Not Enough?
I've been reading in the first chapter of First Samuel for the last few days since a friend and I were discussing it's context. In the passage, Elkanah has two wives. Hannah was one of Elkanah's wives and was barren, whereas his other wife had ten children. Elkanah loved Hannah very much and even showed favoritism towards her, but she still became distraught because of her inability to have children, and her rival's abrading. Hannah wept and and starved herself year after year; making herself sick all because she was yearning for children so heavily. In verse 8, however, Elkanah questions Hannah, asking why she is weeping, why she is starving herself, and why is she so sad? He asks her: "Am I not more to you than ten sons?"
Questions to think about: Why do we wail about our cares, yet seem perfectly content with a world of lost pagans going to Hell? Is our God, who sent His Son to die a tragic demoralizing death for our sin and rose him from that same grave, not more to us than our own cares? And why do we moan and drag about crying about our desires if we have already deemed our situations hopeless?
Honestly, to the first two questions, I would say that we really don't care. Especially not to the point we should. According to the most recent statistics I found on Christianity (2006), 33% of the world's population called themselves Christians. I actually think that is probably high for the actual percentage of true Christians, but either way, that means that some 67% remains unaccepting of Christ's atonement. We were commissioned in Matthew to do a crucial job, and frankly we haven't done it. Actually, I think if it weren't a conversation piece like this blog, we wouldn't even think anything of our downfalls. We just don't care. That is no way for you and I to treat a friend that sticks closer than a brother; no way at all.
Finally, in response to my last question, I think we have given up hope. We give up hope on praying for sustenance, our needs, and our desires. Truly, I'm afraid we may have given up on pursuing that 67% with the salvation of Christ. I hope that is not the case, but if it be, let us dry our eyes today and start pursuing a common goal in Him.
Questions to think about: Why do we wail about our cares, yet seem perfectly content with a world of lost pagans going to Hell? Is our God, who sent His Son to die a tragic demoralizing death for our sin and rose him from that same grave, not more to us than our own cares? And why do we moan and drag about crying about our desires if we have already deemed our situations hopeless?
Honestly, to the first two questions, I would say that we really don't care. Especially not to the point we should. According to the most recent statistics I found on Christianity (2006), 33% of the world's population called themselves Christians. I actually think that is probably high for the actual percentage of true Christians, but either way, that means that some 67% remains unaccepting of Christ's atonement. We were commissioned in Matthew to do a crucial job, and frankly we haven't done it. Actually, I think if it weren't a conversation piece like this blog, we wouldn't even think anything of our downfalls. We just don't care. That is no way for you and I to treat a friend that sticks closer than a brother; no way at all.
Finally, in response to my last question, I think we have given up hope. We give up hope on praying for sustenance, our needs, and our desires. Truly, I'm afraid we may have given up on pursuing that 67% with the salvation of Christ. I hope that is not the case, but if it be, let us dry our eyes today and start pursuing a common goal in Him.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Reminder
Lately, I have been failing in the regularity of my posts because of two consecutive Chrysalis walks and the preparation for those. (Which went amazingly, if you were wondering.) Anyways, God has shown me many cool things in the last couple weeks that I can't wait to share, but today is less of a scripture reference and more of a generalized thought. It seems many of us have lazily allowed parts of the salvation story to "slip through the cracks." We rarely fail to appreciate the death and suffering of Christ for our life everlasting, but we try to keep Him in the grave. He rose. The anomalous reality is that Christ lived a perfect life, was fully human while fully God, walked among thieves and tramps, and died for our sake, then he rose again. I think we all get caught up in the death of Christ which took on our shame, but even more miraculous is the fact that He lives now!
It is my desire to show people the relevance of this part of the story, because any man could have died, only one could rise from the grave. Look at the world today through this lense; one that doesn't skew our salvation and doesn't inhibit the true accomplishment of Christ.
It is my desire to show people the relevance of this part of the story, because any man could have died, only one could rise from the grave. Look at the world today through this lense; one that doesn't skew our salvation and doesn't inhibit the true accomplishment of Christ.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Convincing Stuff
So it has been a while since I have gotten to connect with the blogging world (mainly because of a weekend away at a Young Adult Chrysalis walk), and I feel so inspired and overwhelmed by Jesus Christ. I have been reminded repeatedly in the past few days of one of my favorite verses, Romans 8:28, and it's validity and power. It says "and we know all things work together for good for those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose." Simple enough, right? Well, if we take out the word "all" and replace it with "some" or even "most" then it becomes simple. However, for some reason that word "all" seems to trip us up. We can make all the good things that happen to us fit in the verse easily, we can even take the initial bad situations that turn good fit in, but we can't seem to make sense of the terrible things that don't seem to have a favorable foreseen outcome.
I was reminded this weekend on that Chrysalis walk of the power of Romans 8:28. As I shared my story of how I was deep in my own transgressions and squandering everything God had given me to the point I wanted to give up on life, I felt a little apprehensive, maybe even a little embarrassed by my honesty. However, I was told time and time again after my talk about how God was using me and how my story had helped someone else. I received even more confirmation when a girl told me yesterday that my story was so similar to hers she felt like she was standing there with me. I didn't want to share my past, and my past may not even be as bad as some, but I did, and God's promise in Romans paid dividends.
It makes me think of one more trying time of my life when I lost one of my dearest friends in a car accident not even a year out of high school. It was one of the toughest times of my life, but it also healed a massive amount of pain I had been concealing. I even marked and highlighted a verse in one of my good friend's Bible I gave him. (he was family to my friend that passed) Can you guess the verse I marked? Romans 8:28.
We know that God doesn't make empty promises, so let us try to live today and every day henceforth with joy knowing it will all work out.
I was reminded this weekend on that Chrysalis walk of the power of Romans 8:28. As I shared my story of how I was deep in my own transgressions and squandering everything God had given me to the point I wanted to give up on life, I felt a little apprehensive, maybe even a little embarrassed by my honesty. However, I was told time and time again after my talk about how God was using me and how my story had helped someone else. I received even more confirmation when a girl told me yesterday that my story was so similar to hers she felt like she was standing there with me. I didn't want to share my past, and my past may not even be as bad as some, but I did, and God's promise in Romans paid dividends.
It makes me think of one more trying time of my life when I lost one of my dearest friends in a car accident not even a year out of high school. It was one of the toughest times of my life, but it also healed a massive amount of pain I had been concealing. I even marked and highlighted a verse in one of my good friend's Bible I gave him. (he was family to my friend that passed) Can you guess the verse I marked? Romans 8:28.
We know that God doesn't make empty promises, so let us try to live today and every day henceforth with joy knowing it will all work out.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dreams
When I was a little boy I wanted to sing music all my life. That was most certainly going to be my career no matter what. Some other kids wanted to be firefighters, doctors, astronauts, etc. I just wanted to sing. I don't know if it's the kid still in me with childish ambition or what, but I still just want to play music. I could do other things, sure, but they don't feel right to me and I feel like if I only have one life on this planet, I should get to do what I love with my life. Not for money's sake or so I can be famous, I just want to be able to support myself (and possible family), and I want to make music that helps people through the day. I don't think I should have to let that go.
Don't assume I just think I am privileged; I don't. I think everyone should enjoy every breath they have on this great big ball. Sadly, I have wasted many of my breaths thus far in life worrying and mulling "what if's." There wouldn't really be a problem with world of everyone doing what they actually wanted to do would there? Sure, it would look different than our current world, but not necessarily bad. We would still have people in all sorts of positions. Some things don't even interest the average "fella" that I enjoy and vice versa. I just would like to see everyone like that for one day; in a niche that they absolutely loved. Maybe that would turn more people to know Christ even; to be grateful for all their blessings. I don't know, I'm just a dreamer like any other dreamer who hasn't given up hope on this world yet. I don't think anyone deep within their being really wants to hurt another human either if there weren't a trigger in their past somewhere. Call that being naive if you will, but it's practicality to me. One of the many definitions for being naive is having sincerity anyway, so maybe my naiveness isn't such a terrible thing anyway.
Remember we can do all things through Christ as we see in Phillipians 4:13. The Bible isn't a fictional novel, it's an absolute truth that was very intentionally written. That verse wouldn't be in there if it were not true. So, if you're an irrational dreamer like myself, lets take that chance, and trust in God to make it happen.
Don't assume I just think I am privileged; I don't. I think everyone should enjoy every breath they have on this great big ball. Sadly, I have wasted many of my breaths thus far in life worrying and mulling "what if's." There wouldn't really be a problem with world of everyone doing what they actually wanted to do would there? Sure, it would look different than our current world, but not necessarily bad. We would still have people in all sorts of positions. Some things don't even interest the average "fella" that I enjoy and vice versa. I just would like to see everyone like that for one day; in a niche that they absolutely loved. Maybe that would turn more people to know Christ even; to be grateful for all their blessings. I don't know, I'm just a dreamer like any other dreamer who hasn't given up hope on this world yet. I don't think anyone deep within their being really wants to hurt another human either if there weren't a trigger in their past somewhere. Call that being naive if you will, but it's practicality to me. One of the many definitions for being naive is having sincerity anyway, so maybe my naiveness isn't such a terrible thing anyway.
Remember we can do all things through Christ as we see in Phillipians 4:13. The Bible isn't a fictional novel, it's an absolute truth that was very intentionally written. That verse wouldn't be in there if it were not true. So, if you're an irrational dreamer like myself, lets take that chance, and trust in God to make it happen.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Balance
Something struck me this morning; a thought that I haven't been able to move from my mind since. It seems to me that somewhere in each person's existence there is a line drawn. An imaginary line of course, but nevertheless, there is a a discrepancy between one's humility and self worth. It seems we are closest to God when we are humbled, even broken, and yet God wants us to also know we are special individual creations crafted by His hand. This makes questions pop up uninvited and on their own will in my mind. I have questions like: is there actually a line between the two, or are they two completely different sectors of a person that are sufficient parts all by themselves? Also, if there is such a line, is it different for different people, or is there a specific dosage of humility and pride in a person required by our Creator?
I honestly don't have the answers to these questions, but I can't help but brood over them again and again in my mind. When I stand to sing in front of hundreds of people about my Savior, I want the worship to be entirely focused on Jesus, but can I honestly say I don't let applause boost my own esteem on occasion? No, I cannot. Part of the problem is we are all human. Well, in actuality, I guess that is more like most of the problem instead of part. Regardless, we all have something inside us that wants to be recognized for doing something right whether we admit it or not. We all might want to donate a hundred bucks to a local charity, but deep down inside we want someone to know we did it, too. However, the pendulum swings just as far the other way. We can't allow ourselves to become so caught up in our own depravity that we forget we are beloved children of God on high. Hence, we must find a balance. Where that balance is, perhaps none of us mere mortals truly know.
Take a look at 2 Samuel 9 sometime and read about a guy named Mephibosheth. I'm not 100% sure, but I think God can answer all those aforementioned questions with this story. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonahan, and was crippled. He felt unworthy, and even called himself a "dead dog." However, as a token of appreciation for Jonathon, David had Mephibosheth eat at his table like royalty. In a similar way we were (and still are) unworthy, but thankfully God sees us as friends of Christ. And as a token of His appreciation for Christ's sacrifice, we no longer must lay limp on the floor, yet get to rise to sit at the king's table, where our crippled legs are not even visible.
I honestly don't have the answers to these questions, but I can't help but brood over them again and again in my mind. When I stand to sing in front of hundreds of people about my Savior, I want the worship to be entirely focused on Jesus, but can I honestly say I don't let applause boost my own esteem on occasion? No, I cannot. Part of the problem is we are all human. Well, in actuality, I guess that is more like most of the problem instead of part. Regardless, we all have something inside us that wants to be recognized for doing something right whether we admit it or not. We all might want to donate a hundred bucks to a local charity, but deep down inside we want someone to know we did it, too. However, the pendulum swings just as far the other way. We can't allow ourselves to become so caught up in our own depravity that we forget we are beloved children of God on high. Hence, we must find a balance. Where that balance is, perhaps none of us mere mortals truly know.
Take a look at 2 Samuel 9 sometime and read about a guy named Mephibosheth. I'm not 100% sure, but I think God can answer all those aforementioned questions with this story. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonahan, and was crippled. He felt unworthy, and even called himself a "dead dog." However, as a token of appreciation for Jonathon, David had Mephibosheth eat at his table like royalty. In a similar way we were (and still are) unworthy, but thankfully God sees us as friends of Christ. And as a token of His appreciation for Christ's sacrifice, we no longer must lay limp on the floor, yet get to rise to sit at the king's table, where our crippled legs are not even visible.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010
Well, it's a new year.
A new year means new possibilities, new challenges, and new people in my life. As ready as I am to leave 2009 behind as the worst year-to-date for me probably, I am curious where a new year will lead me. Everything I have posted thus far has been related to things I've been mulling over myself or I have struggled with. The biggest thing I am analyzing over the last 24 hours is my life thus far. I have lived for at least part of three decades now and it really hit me hard that I will be in my thirties at the end of this decade. What's the worst for me is not that I have messed up so much in my life, because that is irrefutable. The biggest problem is I have been on the planet so long and I don't have anything to show for it. I am not speaking material pleasures, or physical assets; I simply can't think of how I have positively affected anyone enough to make a difference. I want to be a difference maker; a crusader for everything that should be right in the world, and I want to be known as a stand-up guy that had passion. So many acquaintances of mine are content with their lives to live in the small town, settle down, and have a decent job. I have always wanted more for my life. Not saying those things aren't okay; they're just not me.
My hope is that I won't just say I want to change the world and spend the next ten years repeating an empty statement.
In my first 21 years I have been, at least at times, complacent, depressed, abundantly sinful, cynical, and even cruel. I know that's harsh, but it's an unfortunate truth for most of us as human beings and Christians. I'm not proud of my past but I want to be proud of my future. I can't help but to think of Revelation 3:2a which says: "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die." Strong words given to a generation of people that feel like I do: spend the next decade living, not putting off death.
A new year means new possibilities, new challenges, and new people in my life. As ready as I am to leave 2009 behind as the worst year-to-date for me probably, I am curious where a new year will lead me. Everything I have posted thus far has been related to things I've been mulling over myself or I have struggled with. The biggest thing I am analyzing over the last 24 hours is my life thus far. I have lived for at least part of three decades now and it really hit me hard that I will be in my thirties at the end of this decade. What's the worst for me is not that I have messed up so much in my life, because that is irrefutable. The biggest problem is I have been on the planet so long and I don't have anything to show for it. I am not speaking material pleasures, or physical assets; I simply can't think of how I have positively affected anyone enough to make a difference. I want to be a difference maker; a crusader for everything that should be right in the world, and I want to be known as a stand-up guy that had passion. So many acquaintances of mine are content with their lives to live in the small town, settle down, and have a decent job. I have always wanted more for my life. Not saying those things aren't okay; they're just not me.
My hope is that I won't just say I want to change the world and spend the next ten years repeating an empty statement.
In my first 21 years I have been, at least at times, complacent, depressed, abundantly sinful, cynical, and even cruel. I know that's harsh, but it's an unfortunate truth for most of us as human beings and Christians. I'm not proud of my past but I want to be proud of my future. I can't help but to think of Revelation 3:2a which says: "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die." Strong words given to a generation of people that feel like I do: spend the next decade living, not putting off death.
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