If i am lucky i may get to stick one more post here before the years end. Regardless this has been a good year, and i am very happy to have had the opportunity to post my thoughts here.
i was getting ready to toss my calendar when the last day of the year caught my attention. On it i had written, "Have i grown in character".
i only vaguely remember writing it there and it was much earlier in the year. Without much thought i really could not answer in the affirmative. But i thought about all that happened this year, and all that has changed. My second son was born, i stepped out of religion and into community with Jesus and fellow pilgrims, my views on capital punishment, and Christmas have changed dramatically. Above all my relationship to God and to my wife has come into greater clarity.
When i first wondered about my having grown i answered in the negative simply because there are a lot of areas that i still fail continually. After some thought though i changed my answer and approach to the above question. How?
Well. . . Simply, i realize that i have so many short comings. Before i was so very ignorant to them (or simply chose not to accept them). Recently, God has made me very aware of them, and he has been working me through them. This is a start - nothing more.
My prayer for this year is that we would accept our short comings and go before God willing to work through them. My prayer is that each of us would be willing to grow this year.
My prayer is that we would approach life from a God-centered point of view and not an American-ME-centered point of view.
God bless us all in the coming year.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
The best gift yet. . .
As Christmas fast approaches. . .in just a couple of hours, i had the blessing of coming into work. Ordinarily the idea of going to work isn't so enticing, but tonight it was.
The day was a warm 40 degrees, and there is still snow on the ground, enough that it will be a white Christmas.
The conflict between the cold snow and the warming atmosphere, and the slow movement of light just after the sun retired over the horizon made for an awesome sense of stillness and calm. The Christmas songs on the radio were quiet and gentle. It provided a great moment for reflection and introspection.
There are presents under my tree, though not an absurd amount as in years past, and there is a lot of food in my fridge. Still for all the joy that food and drink, and nicely wrapped gifts bring, they don't hold a candle to some of the best gifts of all!
Shaun and Andra who bring laughter, friendship and Joy.
Greg and Jill who bring good times, great conversation and food for thought.
Chris and Tina for your love, and desire to edify and the ability to see the good in all things (and the great cooking - thanks Tina!!).
Jerry and Rachel for wisdom, solidarity, and controversy.
Beth and Sam good times, good laughs, wisdom, and keeping me mindful of my place.
Tom and Kathy new friendship, like mindedness, sincerity and obedience.
Jody laughter, vulnerability, and a straight forward look at the insane.
David and Liz - introspection, honesty, an earnest desire to learn, and of course Star Wars.
Kristin - excitement, obedience to your calling, good laughs, and that evil sounding elmo thing you do.
Kris P. for zest for life, a youthful eye on things, and your passion for music.
Julie M. for your desire to see an upside to all situations (and for shooting a bigger deer than me).
Alan - devotion to God and the zeal with which you execute your calling.
James (The big one) for your ability to be as sensitive and passionate a man as i have known and yet possess that Vulcan like connection to logic (your poor wife has her work cut out for her).
Amy for you who keeps me focused and unknowing causes me about half of the thoughts that i spend so much time lost in, for your honesty with me and above all your patience.
The Boys (James and Owen) you inspire me beyond words, your youthful fascination with life and all its facets, and for helping me to better understand my father who i didn't really know till the end.
God bless you all my family and friends you are the best gifts this side of Heaven.
The day was a warm 40 degrees, and there is still snow on the ground, enough that it will be a white Christmas.
The conflict between the cold snow and the warming atmosphere, and the slow movement of light just after the sun retired over the horizon made for an awesome sense of stillness and calm. The Christmas songs on the radio were quiet and gentle. It provided a great moment for reflection and introspection.
There are presents under my tree, though not an absurd amount as in years past, and there is a lot of food in my fridge. Still for all the joy that food and drink, and nicely wrapped gifts bring, they don't hold a candle to some of the best gifts of all!
Shaun and Andra who bring laughter, friendship and Joy.
Greg and Jill who bring good times, great conversation and food for thought.
Chris and Tina for your love, and desire to edify and the ability to see the good in all things (and the great cooking - thanks Tina!!).
Jerry and Rachel for wisdom, solidarity, and controversy.
Beth and Sam good times, good laughs, wisdom, and keeping me mindful of my place.
Tom and Kathy new friendship, like mindedness, sincerity and obedience.
Jody laughter, vulnerability, and a straight forward look at the insane.
David and Liz - introspection, honesty, an earnest desire to learn, and of course Star Wars.
Kristin - excitement, obedience to your calling, good laughs, and that evil sounding elmo thing you do.
Kris P. for zest for life, a youthful eye on things, and your passion for music.
Julie M. for your desire to see an upside to all situations (and for shooting a bigger deer than me).
Alan - devotion to God and the zeal with which you execute your calling.
James (The big one) for your ability to be as sensitive and passionate a man as i have known and yet possess that Vulcan like connection to logic (your poor wife has her work cut out for her).
Amy for you who keeps me focused and unknowing causes me about half of the thoughts that i spend so much time lost in, for your honesty with me and above all your patience.
The Boys (James and Owen) you inspire me beyond words, your youthful fascination with life and all its facets, and for helping me to better understand my father who i didn't really know till the end.
God bless you all my family and friends you are the best gifts this side of Heaven.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
The Christmas Spirit. . .
My friends and i have had many a good "debate" over the value of celebrating Christmas. Some of my friends point to its pagan roots, and want nothing to do with it. Others still see it in the nostalgic light of the 1950's or Roy Rogers generation when Christmas was about family. Still others see it as an opportunity to dote upon their loved ones.
Up until this year i had never really put much thought to it. This year, though, has been very different. i have had the blessing and curse to have been exposed to poverty (by American standards). i have heard of families losing everything and others with nothing to begin with, yet they are happy.
The news has been broadcasting concerns that traditional giving to charities will decline because of all of the donations given because of the recent surge of "natural" disasters. Maybe God is trying to tell us something here.
A toy store employee made reference to people getting into the "spirit of Christmas" meaning that people were buying a lot of stuff. But is that the meaning of Christmas?
i believe that the meaning of Christmas is love unconditional, and real sacrifice and giving to those in need. i would have to agree.
So why is it the "Christmas" spirit? Why isn't it the spirit of Christ? Maybe this year God has been telling us to stretch out beyond the holiday season, and really love all over all year long.
After some of the stories i have heard this year, i don't think that i will celebrate Christmas the same. i know longer want gifts. i have way more than i need. Instead in the future i would recommend that those that want to give me gifts should redirect these kind offerings to people in real need.
Up until this year i had never really put much thought to it. This year, though, has been very different. i have had the blessing and curse to have been exposed to poverty (by American standards). i have heard of families losing everything and others with nothing to begin with, yet they are happy.
The news has been broadcasting concerns that traditional giving to charities will decline because of all of the donations given because of the recent surge of "natural" disasters. Maybe God is trying to tell us something here.
A toy store employee made reference to people getting into the "spirit of Christmas" meaning that people were buying a lot of stuff. But is that the meaning of Christmas?
i believe that the meaning of Christmas is love unconditional, and real sacrifice and giving to those in need. i would have to agree.
So why is it the "Christmas" spirit? Why isn't it the spirit of Christ? Maybe this year God has been telling us to stretch out beyond the holiday season, and really love all over all year long.
After some of the stories i have heard this year, i don't think that i will celebrate Christmas the same. i know longer want gifts. i have way more than i need. Instead in the future i would recommend that those that want to give me gifts should redirect these kind offerings to people in real need.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
What does God look like anyway. . .
i can no more describe God to you than i could any of my pen-pals whom i have never met. i have never seen his face or physically heard his voice. i have never physically walked in his presence and i have never looked deeply into his eyes.
Like my pen-pals though i have been paying attention to his personality and his being. As God and i commune together i have been learning about him.
i don't dare venture to give God physical attributes, and i understand him to be spirit. Whether He has form or not is His business.
i know God to be loving, creative, inventive, artistic, patient, stern, forgiving, trusting (faithful), gentle, peaceful, intimate, and close.
This is how God looks. i wish i could give you more, and perhaps you know him better than i.
i think of God like a pointilism painting. You can focus on one point of color all day, but you never see the greater picture. The longer you look at the whole picture, the more you see all the different points of color, and see how they tie together to make the greater picture. We can not put God in a box, but remember that we were created in His image. If this is true, then we must share some of His attributes.
Like my pen-pals though i have been paying attention to his personality and his being. As God and i commune together i have been learning about him.
i don't dare venture to give God physical attributes, and i understand him to be spirit. Whether He has form or not is His business.
i know God to be loving, creative, inventive, artistic, patient, stern, forgiving, trusting (faithful), gentle, peaceful, intimate, and close.
This is how God looks. i wish i could give you more, and perhaps you know him better than i.
i think of God like a pointilism painting. You can focus on one point of color all day, but you never see the greater picture. The longer you look at the whole picture, the more you see all the different points of color, and see how they tie together to make the greater picture. We can not put God in a box, but remember that we were created in His image. If this is true, then we must share some of His attributes.
Monday, December 19, 2005
In whose time???
If only i could be a fly on the wall of space and look at the earth more wholly. i would love to see how pilgrims around the world cope with the social and interpersonal issues that plague us all.
It has been my upbringing that when you run into a social wall, you pack your bags and walk the other way. That is to say that when you have a disagreement with someone (in the church) and it can not be easily resolved, you, at least on the surface, agree to disagree and go your separate ways. In "secular" life you just stop being friends, acquaintances, or whatever. Is it done this way all around the world, or just in western culture?
As i struggle through my own shortcomings and misunderstanding of the ways, convictions and shortcomings of others, it is repeatedly impressed upon me that problems are seldom solved quickly. Further if you turn tail and run, often you miss the bigger lesson that God is trying to get across. That lesson is often long reached and requires a great amount of real sacrifice.
Something about iron sharpening iron. Metal wears the metal down, chips off microscopic flakes like scabs off of a wound making the surface new and sharp. This can't be comfortable - think of the last time you had a scab yanked off a newer wound.
Where sharpening a knife takes mere minutes consider this tidbit of wisdom that a good friend passed onto me about time:
"Five minutes seems like nothing to the person eating an ice cream cone, but that same five minutes seems an eternity to the person walking across broken glass."
Be patient - life isn't McDonald. God will work things out in his time, and in retrospect it will all make sense.
It has been my upbringing that when you run into a social wall, you pack your bags and walk the other way. That is to say that when you have a disagreement with someone (in the church) and it can not be easily resolved, you, at least on the surface, agree to disagree and go your separate ways. In "secular" life you just stop being friends, acquaintances, or whatever. Is it done this way all around the world, or just in western culture?
As i struggle through my own shortcomings and misunderstanding of the ways, convictions and shortcomings of others, it is repeatedly impressed upon me that problems are seldom solved quickly. Further if you turn tail and run, often you miss the bigger lesson that God is trying to get across. That lesson is often long reached and requires a great amount of real sacrifice.
Something about iron sharpening iron. Metal wears the metal down, chips off microscopic flakes like scabs off of a wound making the surface new and sharp. This can't be comfortable - think of the last time you had a scab yanked off a newer wound.
Where sharpening a knife takes mere minutes consider this tidbit of wisdom that a good friend passed onto me about time:
"Five minutes seems like nothing to the person eating an ice cream cone, but that same five minutes seems an eternity to the person walking across broken glass."
Be patient - life isn't McDonald. God will work things out in his time, and in retrospect it will all make sense.
Monday, December 12, 2005
In spirit and truth. . .
i had the great pleasure of having coffee with some friends this morning. It is a vehicle that we use in order to stay in touch with one another's lives - Accountability. We have adopted a system by which we can stay on top of one another in areas where we struggle the most, and by keeping each other accountable in these specific areas we can track our failures and successes.
A couple of the questions that we ask are geared toward relationships and how we treat people both in their presence and their absence.
Dave, one of my friends, mentioned that God had really spoken to him about "remaining in my (Jesus) love." He didn't expound on it too much, but it stirred something.
What is Jesus love that we remain in it? What does it look like? If we remain in Christ's love should we not also mimic that love?
Can we harbor anger or hatred and still love? Can we truly call ourselves followers of Jesus if we are not willing to drop our anger and our hate, and love everyone unconditionally??
i don't believe that any one of us can say that we love God, call ourselves followers of Jesus, or even call ourselves Christians if we can not love Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Tookie Williams, and that person in each of our lives that causes us to shudder.
If we have no room for mercy, grace and forgiveness on EVERY level in our hearts, we have no room for Christ there either. It is easy for me to say this, I am not the family of those people killed. But in all of this God has intended to teach us, to build us up.
The case of Stanley Williams is one of the greatest opportunities for us to show the love that Christ showed the adulterous women, who by the law of her people was to be put to death.
Williams is guilty of horrible crimes and may be partly responsible for founding one of the worst gang organizations in the country. Since that time he has made efforts to renounce what he has done. He has made efforts to work against the damage he has done to thousands of teens. Yet in spite of these things we can not grant clemency.
Imagine if Christ treated us the same?
From this point forward I will struggle with anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ that supports the death penalty.
May God forgive us, and grant us clemency!!!!!
A couple of the questions that we ask are geared toward relationships and how we treat people both in their presence and their absence.
Dave, one of my friends, mentioned that God had really spoken to him about "remaining in my (Jesus) love." He didn't expound on it too much, but it stirred something.
What is Jesus love that we remain in it? What does it look like? If we remain in Christ's love should we not also mimic that love?
Can we harbor anger or hatred and still love? Can we truly call ourselves followers of Jesus if we are not willing to drop our anger and our hate, and love everyone unconditionally??
i don't believe that any one of us can say that we love God, call ourselves followers of Jesus, or even call ourselves Christians if we can not love Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Tookie Williams, and that person in each of our lives that causes us to shudder.
If we have no room for mercy, grace and forgiveness on EVERY level in our hearts, we have no room for Christ there either. It is easy for me to say this, I am not the family of those people killed. But in all of this God has intended to teach us, to build us up.
The case of Stanley Williams is one of the greatest opportunities for us to show the love that Christ showed the adulterous women, who by the law of her people was to be put to death.
Williams is guilty of horrible crimes and may be partly responsible for founding one of the worst gang organizations in the country. Since that time he has made efforts to renounce what he has done. He has made efforts to work against the damage he has done to thousands of teens. Yet in spite of these things we can not grant clemency.
Imagine if Christ treated us the same?
From this point forward I will struggle with anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ that supports the death penalty.
May God forgive us, and grant us clemency!!!!!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Trust. . .
"The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future."
- Brennan Manning
How much do we trust God? How much do we trust that he will tend to us? Are we not worth more than a sparrow?
Take a moment, honestly examine where you are. Is it really a life of in naked trust in Jesus?
- Brennan Manning
How much do we trust God? How much do we trust that he will tend to us? Are we not worth more than a sparrow?
Take a moment, honestly examine where you are. Is it really a life of in naked trust in Jesus?
Friday, December 09, 2005
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Retail Jesus. . . 50% off this weekend only!
i have been meeting recently with some members of the Mormon church. A year ago i may have grumbled that they had "caught me", or just avoided answering the door. Probably, all truth be told i would have found some non-offensive way of telling them to go away.
Problem is that i asked for it. i had a little time that morning to pray before going out into the woods (it was deer season). As i prayed i had asked God to send someone my way that wanted to talk about Jesus. At the end of the day, there they were. The only people that came in my path that day.
So. . . i invited them in. We have been talking now for a little over three weeks and it has been quite enlightening on a lot of levels. i have come to realize that there are fewer differences between the church of Mormon and many of the protestant denominations than we would like to think. The most disturbing of the similarities is the need to sell Jesus.
The tactics that the Mormons use is not all that different from the "evangelism" tactics that many protestants use. At the end the big difference is the book of Mormon.
i don't say these things to tear people down, or put them on the defensive. i hope that people that read these words will realize that we don't need to sell Jesus. We need to live with Jesus. i don't sell my friends to others. i live with my friends and relay my experiences. i introduce my friends to others. From there it falls into the hands of my friends whether or not a relationship will develop, grow and flourish.
We need to get away from the thinking that we save people, and remember that our role is to simply introduce people to Jesus. We can only introduce people to people we know. That being said, don't introduce people to anyone more than the Jesus that you know!
Once you have introduced them, let Jesus do the rest. As i hope you have experienced Jesus will reveal himself. It is our job to love God and one another. It is Jesus job to save people.
Tell me about Jesus. The Jesus that you know personally!!
Problem is that i asked for it. i had a little time that morning to pray before going out into the woods (it was deer season). As i prayed i had asked God to send someone my way that wanted to talk about Jesus. At the end of the day, there they were. The only people that came in my path that day.
So. . . i invited them in. We have been talking now for a little over three weeks and it has been quite enlightening on a lot of levels. i have come to realize that there are fewer differences between the church of Mormon and many of the protestant denominations than we would like to think. The most disturbing of the similarities is the need to sell Jesus.
The tactics that the Mormons use is not all that different from the "evangelism" tactics that many protestants use. At the end the big difference is the book of Mormon.
i don't say these things to tear people down, or put them on the defensive. i hope that people that read these words will realize that we don't need to sell Jesus. We need to live with Jesus. i don't sell my friends to others. i live with my friends and relay my experiences. i introduce my friends to others. From there it falls into the hands of my friends whether or not a relationship will develop, grow and flourish.
We need to get away from the thinking that we save people, and remember that our role is to simply introduce people to Jesus. We can only introduce people to people we know. That being said, don't introduce people to anyone more than the Jesus that you know!
Once you have introduced them, let Jesus do the rest. As i hope you have experienced Jesus will reveal himself. It is our job to love God and one another. It is Jesus job to save people.
Tell me about Jesus. The Jesus that you know personally!!
Sunday, November 20, 2005
GO. . .
Jesus said, "Go!"
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19)
"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'"
(John 20:21)
Isn't it unfortunate that we are not called to be comfortable, fat and happy?? In fact if it falls under the classification of the "American Way", you can bank that Jesus would probably question it.
As the Father sent me, I am sending you
Not only has Jesus sent Us out, but he has sent us out in the same manner that the Father sent him.
We can and should devote some time studying how it is that he (Jesus) went out. So that we can go out likewise.
So what did Jesus look like at the time? What were some of the key thoughts of his mission?
Matthew 22: 37-39 - The first and second most important commandments = LOVE (God first and then our neighbors)
John 15:1-17 - A passage that can be summed up in two profound thoughts = Obey Jesus Commands and Bear Fruit.
If we love God, we will Obey Jesus Commands. If we Obey Jesus Commands, we will naturally Bear Fruit. When we Bear Fruit we will by course of nature Love our Neighbor.
Matthew Chapter 10 (yes the whole thing) - Jesus sends out the 12. In sending them out, he gives them instructions and warnings about the way things will be. Those admonishments are just as applicable today as they were the day that Jesus first gave them.
As some of us go out in following with God's leading and as the rest of us stay in our communities, we can use the following passage as a tool to help us remember how to love in obedience to Christ:
Matthew 25:31-46 - The parable of the sheep and the goats. There are six basic things that we can do or provide to love our fellow man.
1. Provide drink to the thirsty
2. Give food to those who are hungry
3. Give shelter and love to STRANGERS (and friends)
4. Offer clothing to the naked (needy)
5. Give care, love, help and hospice to the sick and infirmed.
6. Visit, love and show compassion to prisoners. (love can do amazing things were other therapy fails).
Luke 6:27-36
Love your enemies. Easy to say difficult to actually do. When you are wronged don't seek vengeance. When you are stolen from offer more. Love can do amazing things were other reactions fail).
Some thoughts on Jesus:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19)
"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'"
(John 20:21)
Isn't it unfortunate that we are not called to be comfortable, fat and happy?? In fact if it falls under the classification of the "American Way", you can bank that Jesus would probably question it.
As the Father sent me, I am sending you
Not only has Jesus sent Us out, but he has sent us out in the same manner that the Father sent him.
We can and should devote some time studying how it is that he (Jesus) went out. So that we can go out likewise.
So what did Jesus look like at the time? What were some of the key thoughts of his mission?
Matthew 22: 37-39 - The first and second most important commandments = LOVE (God first and then our neighbors)
John 15:1-17 - A passage that can be summed up in two profound thoughts = Obey Jesus Commands and Bear Fruit.
If we love God, we will Obey Jesus Commands. If we Obey Jesus Commands, we will naturally Bear Fruit. When we Bear Fruit we will by course of nature Love our Neighbor.
Matthew Chapter 10 (yes the whole thing) - Jesus sends out the 12. In sending them out, he gives them instructions and warnings about the way things will be. Those admonishments are just as applicable today as they were the day that Jesus first gave them.
As some of us go out in following with God's leading and as the rest of us stay in our communities, we can use the following passage as a tool to help us remember how to love in obedience to Christ:
Matthew 25:31-46 - The parable of the sheep and the goats. There are six basic things that we can do or provide to love our fellow man.
1. Provide drink to the thirsty
2. Give food to those who are hungry
3. Give shelter and love to STRANGERS (and friends)
4. Offer clothing to the naked (needy)
5. Give care, love, help and hospice to the sick and infirmed.
6. Visit, love and show compassion to prisoners. (love can do amazing things were other therapy fails).
Luke 6:27-36
Love your enemies. Easy to say difficult to actually do. When you are wronged don't seek vengeance. When you are stolen from offer more. Love can do amazing things were other reactions fail).
Some thoughts on Jesus:
- Jesus was nomadic - not tied down to one place.
- Jesus met people where they were.
- Jesus went out to the people. When word of him got out then more people came to him.
- Jesus knew the needs of the people and he spoke to those needs directly. He did not use random teachings or lessons designed to be vague enough to meet a broader demographic.
- Jesus made relationships with people.
As the Father sent him, so has He sent us!!! Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
In the way of Jesus
When Jesus walked the earth he didn't set up seminars, or establish programs. He didn't treat people differently by targeting only certain demographics, nor did he ever tell us that the way to Heaven is through converting people. He was semi-nomadic. He never acquired property or concerned himself with building renovations or sound and lighting equipment.
Jesus came to love, save and teach us how we should live. He set the example for us. Toward the end of his physical work on this planet he said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, i am sending you." (John 20:21)
The Father sent him to set an example, to lay a pattern for us to follow. Perhaps a suitable paraphrase could read, "In the same manner that the Father sent me, now i am sending you to work in the same manner."
Perhaps that is reading too much into it!?!?
Worry not about how you are going to convert people. In fact, don't convert people. Love people. Your salvation is not dependent upon the number of people that you bring to church, or that are saved because of you. Those are not the good fruits that we have been commanded to bear.
The Bible tell us what the fruits that we are to bear are:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." (Galatians 5:22)
Are we exhibiting these? Are we growing stronger in these? Do we check ourselves periodically against this verse?
Jesus came to love, save and teach us how we should live. He set the example for us. Toward the end of his physical work on this planet he said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, i am sending you." (John 20:21)
The Father sent him to set an example, to lay a pattern for us to follow. Perhaps a suitable paraphrase could read, "In the same manner that the Father sent me, now i am sending you to work in the same manner."
Perhaps that is reading too much into it!?!?
Worry not about how you are going to convert people. In fact, don't convert people. Love people. Your salvation is not dependent upon the number of people that you bring to church, or that are saved because of you. Those are not the good fruits that we have been commanded to bear.
The Bible tell us what the fruits that we are to bear are:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." (Galatians 5:22)
Are we exhibiting these? Are we growing stronger in these? Do we check ourselves periodically against this verse?
- "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8)
- "The axe is already at the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:10)
- "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:20)
If we live and strive for good fruits we will not need to sell God or try to convert people. They will notice and come to us (or God as it were).
Your servant,
michial
Friday, November 11, 2005
A moment in honesty
Just the other day i read an inspirational thought, one of many that i receive on a daily basis from the Bruderhof. It spoke to me and the many others out there that wonder about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Here is the Post:
A Prerequisite for Belief
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Are you worried because you find it so hard to believe? Don't be surprised at the difficulty of faith, if there is some part of your life where you are consciously resisting or disobeying the commandment of Jesus. Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender at His behest, some sinful passion, maybe, or some animosity, some hope, perhaps your ambition or your reason? If so, you must not be surprised that you have not received the Holy Spirit, that prayer is difficult, or that your request for faith remains unanswered Â… The person who disobeys cannot believe. Only if you obey can you believe.
Source: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "The Cost of Discipleship"
This hit especially close to home tonight. I have been struggling with my relationship with God in recent weeks, and the events of tonight, in view of the Bruderhof post, really put things into perspective.
Earlier in the day, during a time of prayer, i asked God to intentionally bring someone into my path tonight that i would have the opportunity to talk with about God and freedom in him. Three minutes before i startedwrithingg this post my supervisor asked me about my Bible (Heeeeres my sign).
So what did i do? i let my jaw hit the floor, and i sat there in horror that i didn't know how to answer or where to take the conversation. i ended up finding the quickest fire door out of that conversation, and for i minute i believe i know how Peter felt while Jesus stood trial.
Before i finished this post i went back and tried to reopen the door and speak on the matter, but it was not as neat or easy as that first opportunity presented.
What a fool.
Father, i pray open our minds to hear your voice. Loose our tongues to speak of the volumes of love that you hold for us all. Let us be your servants, ready and capable right now. God bring someone into our path that is ready to listen and open to talking about you. - Amen.
A Prerequisite for Belief
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Are you worried because you find it so hard to believe? Don't be surprised at the difficulty of faith, if there is some part of your life where you are consciously resisting or disobeying the commandment of Jesus. Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender at His behest, some sinful passion, maybe, or some animosity, some hope, perhaps your ambition or your reason? If so, you must not be surprised that you have not received the Holy Spirit, that prayer is difficult, or that your request for faith remains unanswered Â… The person who disobeys cannot believe. Only if you obey can you believe.
Source: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "The Cost of Discipleship"
This hit especially close to home tonight. I have been struggling with my relationship with God in recent weeks, and the events of tonight, in view of the Bruderhof post, really put things into perspective.
Earlier in the day, during a time of prayer, i asked God to intentionally bring someone into my path tonight that i would have the opportunity to talk with about God and freedom in him. Three minutes before i startedwrithingg this post my supervisor asked me about my Bible (Heeeeres my sign).
So what did i do? i let my jaw hit the floor, and i sat there in horror that i didn't know how to answer or where to take the conversation. i ended up finding the quickest fire door out of that conversation, and for i minute i believe i know how Peter felt while Jesus stood trial.
Before i finished this post i went back and tried to reopen the door and speak on the matter, but it was not as neat or easy as that first opportunity presented.
What a fool.
Father, i pray open our minds to hear your voice. Loose our tongues to speak of the volumes of love that you hold for us all. Let us be your servants, ready and capable right now. God bring someone into our path that is ready to listen and open to talking about you. - Amen.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Our love, His love
Imperfect love delights in isolation
Imperfect love builds walls in company
Imperfect love is aware of self
Imperfect love fears conflict
Perfect love relishes community
Perfect love sees others as an extension of itself
Perfect love sees others in front of itself
Perfect love is honest and compassionate
Imperfect love builds walls in company
Imperfect love is aware of self
Imperfect love fears conflict
Perfect love relishes community
Perfect love sees others as an extension of itself
Perfect love sees others in front of itself
Perfect love is honest and compassionate
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Monday, October 31, 2005
For Kyle
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who trans[ition into heaven]. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is."
- Yoda
For us to lose a loved one is a hard thing! When we weep and wail, do we weep and wail for those we know are resting in the joy of the Lord? Or are we weeping for ourselves? We have lost somebody that we loved from this life of suffering. They are now at peace, true peace. In joy, true joy.
Everything in this life is temporary. All things are on loan - even our relationships. Perhaps our deep sense of mourning over death stems from our incomplete understanding of Heaven. When i leave my wife for a conference or a training i do not weep and mourn. The journey from here to Heaven, is much like a business trip. . .or perhaps more like a vacation.
All of these words, of course, do not eliminate the pain, or grief, or sorrow. Still we should make every effort to rejoice, for somehow just beyond our sight, this is all part of God's plan.
Life spans but a single breath, and our loved ones, now passed, are only half a heartbeat away.
To Kyle Lake - we will meet soon. In the meantime. . . rest good and faithful servant! With God's guidance the church will tend to your loved ones here.
- Yoda
For us to lose a loved one is a hard thing! When we weep and wail, do we weep and wail for those we know are resting in the joy of the Lord? Or are we weeping for ourselves? We have lost somebody that we loved from this life of suffering. They are now at peace, true peace. In joy, true joy.
Everything in this life is temporary. All things are on loan - even our relationships. Perhaps our deep sense of mourning over death stems from our incomplete understanding of Heaven. When i leave my wife for a conference or a training i do not weep and mourn. The journey from here to Heaven, is much like a business trip. . .or perhaps more like a vacation.
All of these words, of course, do not eliminate the pain, or grief, or sorrow. Still we should make every effort to rejoice, for somehow just beyond our sight, this is all part of God's plan.
Life spans but a single breath, and our loved ones, now passed, are only half a heartbeat away.
To Kyle Lake - we will meet soon. In the meantime. . . rest good and faithful servant! With God's guidance the church will tend to your loved ones here.
Peace
You want peace on earth. . .
Let us stop obsessing over our myriad differences and invest more energy into our one or few commonalities.
Let us stop obsessing over our myriad differences and invest more energy into our one or few commonalities.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Can't we all just get along?
Ever sit in a church building and think to yourself, "What is this place?" How about thinking that the catholic are different than Christians? And what of the house church heretics?
i went to a wedding the other day at an Episcopal church. The ceremony was lovely, as were the buildings and the grounds. As we entered and sat down i took in my surroundings and thought to myself how disturbing as my stomach churned at the thought that a community could meet in such a place. As the Rector stepped in to conduct the ceremony i was equally nauseated by the stage, the microphone, the priestly garb, the scripted prayers, and on and on. . . .
It was only later that it hit me. How dare i?!?!?!?!?!? i had just spent the better part of an hour tearing down and criticizing something that people used to get and feel close to God.
No, it didn't help me or harbor a sense of closeness with God in my opinion, but, since when was i the center of the universe?
Just because i feel closest to God at the base of a redwood grove, or in my living room doesn't mean that everyone does!
A friend of mine has been struggling with the idea of how/where she worships best. She is torn between the comfort of the traditions that she has grown up with in the "structured" church, and the power and intimacy of the house church.
It got me thinking. i thought about all of the different denominations. i thought about all of the "My way is the right way" line of thinking. i thought about all the dissension and the inability to get along. i thought about how much more we could get done for the sake of the Kingdom if we could just work together.
We as Christians tend to overlook one small truth. There is only one church. We have created a lot of denominations.
Now in truth, there are some groups out there that are way out in left field (and in some cases they are not even playing in the same park), and there are in every denomination some really quirky and off the wall practices. At the core of it all, though, we are working toward the same end.
God made us all in his image and if he made us all unique, can't we assume that our relationships to God are also unique??
Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:
"There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman (as recorded by John in chapter 4):
"Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Paul also wrote to the Church in Rome (chapter 14):
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. . .One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. . . You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. . . Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. . . Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. . . Everything that does not come from faith is sin."
i went to a wedding the other day at an Episcopal church. The ceremony was lovely, as were the buildings and the grounds. As we entered and sat down i took in my surroundings and thought to myself how disturbing as my stomach churned at the thought that a community could meet in such a place. As the Rector stepped in to conduct the ceremony i was equally nauseated by the stage, the microphone, the priestly garb, the scripted prayers, and on and on. . . .
It was only later that it hit me. How dare i?!?!?!?!?!? i had just spent the better part of an hour tearing down and criticizing something that people used to get and feel close to God.
No, it didn't help me or harbor a sense of closeness with God in my opinion, but, since when was i the center of the universe?
Just because i feel closest to God at the base of a redwood grove, or in my living room doesn't mean that everyone does!
A friend of mine has been struggling with the idea of how/where she worships best. She is torn between the comfort of the traditions that she has grown up with in the "structured" church, and the power and intimacy of the house church.
It got me thinking. i thought about all of the different denominations. i thought about all of the "My way is the right way" line of thinking. i thought about all the dissension and the inability to get along. i thought about how much more we could get done for the sake of the Kingdom if we could just work together.
We as Christians tend to overlook one small truth. There is only one church. We have created a lot of denominations.
Now in truth, there are some groups out there that are way out in left field (and in some cases they are not even playing in the same park), and there are in every denomination some really quirky and off the wall practices. At the core of it all, though, we are working toward the same end.
God made us all in his image and if he made us all unique, can't we assume that our relationships to God are also unique??
Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:
"There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman (as recorded by John in chapter 4):
"Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Paul also wrote to the Church in Rome (chapter 14):
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. . .One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. . . You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. . . Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. . . Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. . . Everything that does not come from faith is sin."
Could i be wrong? Looking at these passages it would seem to me that God's intent for the church is for us to relate to God. Each of us in our own unique way. When we come together to worship corporately we should be understanding of each others differences. If the early church fathers had really read and understood the fourteenth chapter of the letter to the church in Rome i firmly believe that there would not be so many denominations today! i mean really? Are there going to be "religious subdivisions" in heaven?
God be praised for our unity and our uniqueness!!
Monday, October 17, 2005
Perhaps i am a heretic, perhaps not. . .
i was actually in the process of writing about the fruits of the spirit (something i hope to post here soon), but there has been a nagging on my heart about another matter. The implications of which could be serious if misinterpreted (like i could be tarred and feathered), but something that should be meditated on.
Some time ago while i was still teaching a Sunday school class we spoke on the matter of idolatry. It was brought up that anything we place in front of God, or in his place of honor, in our lives could be viewed as idolatry. i posed the question at the time, "Is it possible to idolize your bible?" A question that, on the surface, i had intended to use just to stir thinking. Little did i want to accept the feeling down deep that there may be more truth to this notion than not.
i recall when i was in high school that i had a bible that had "seen some wear". Now mind you most of my bibles end up mummified in duct tape and are used until even the duct tape is worn beyond recognition. This particular bible had reached the point where entire chapters of some of the letters and books were missing. i had finally resolved to just throw it away, and wow what a controversy that struck. My mother was appalled that i would even consider throwing out a bible. . . i mean after all the bible is a Holy book. The debate came to a head when she called the pastor of the local church to ask him if it was wrong to throw it out. i don't remember his response but i do remember throwing it out. The idea of the sacredness of the bible has come up here and there since, but what is it that is sacred? The paper? The spirit?
i hadn't really considered the possibility that our focus on the bible may be unhealthy until i saw a sermon bulletin recently. In the speaker's outline was the phrase:
a. Worship is focused on God's word
Regardless of its intent the way it was written reflects an unhealthy approach to Christianity. Am i wrong in thinking that this view of God is academic and not relational? Worship isn't focused on God's word, worship is offered to God. Is God a matter of facts or a living being that longs for relationship with his creation?
i don't want anyone to think even for a moment that i don't believe that the bible is the word of God. The bible is our link to the history of God's relationship with man, the life of Jesus, and the beginnings of the early church. It should not however be our only link to God.
Unfortunately, except in the case of some seminary trained, a few "super Christians", and those who are earnestly seeking to meet God in a new and organic way, we use only the bible to connect with God. Too often we discount or overlook the period of history between Paul's life and John's exile to Patmos and the current Church.
Is God not in constant relationship with us? Does God not speak to us now? Has God been on vacation all this time? Why are we totally dependent on an inanimate object to see an animate God?
i have come to believe that we (at least in western society) like to view God (not relate to him) from a place of safety and security. A place where we can talk about the truths of God without running the risk of having to actually apply them to our lives in such a way that we would have to respond. I think that for a lot of us our relationship to God is no different than our relationship to Abraham Lincoln. We buy a history book, call it holy, learn everything there is to know about the man, subscribe to his ideologies and philosophies, but none of us know him. Is this any different from our relationship with God or Christ? i mean, really???
It is one thing to know about God:
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder."
- James 2:19
It is another thing all together to actually know God! It is through actually knowing Jesus that the promise comes to God's people.
"Then i will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
-Matthew 7:23
i liken our relational world to the Jewish temple. There are levels, different courts and gates in our lives. At the very center is the true us, the person as we really are; absolutely vulnerable - the Holy of Holies. We allow different people into the different courts as we feel comfortable. In truth God should reside with us in our Holy of Holies, but how often do we lock that gate, and leave him in the outer court, maintaining a distance, a wall between us and him. Even when we think we do differently.
i would like to challenge to anyone who may read this to seek out the living God in your life, in the world, and in your community (church). Let us seek out God as we seek out our loved ones. Let us see him as alive and well and at work in our lives and our world. Let us draw near to him, and expand our faith, let us open ourselves to him, and let him reveal himself to the world through us.
michial
Some time ago while i was still teaching a Sunday school class we spoke on the matter of idolatry. It was brought up that anything we place in front of God, or in his place of honor, in our lives could be viewed as idolatry. i posed the question at the time, "Is it possible to idolize your bible?" A question that, on the surface, i had intended to use just to stir thinking. Little did i want to accept the feeling down deep that there may be more truth to this notion than not.
i recall when i was in high school that i had a bible that had "seen some wear". Now mind you most of my bibles end up mummified in duct tape and are used until even the duct tape is worn beyond recognition. This particular bible had reached the point where entire chapters of some of the letters and books were missing. i had finally resolved to just throw it away, and wow what a controversy that struck. My mother was appalled that i would even consider throwing out a bible. . . i mean after all the bible is a Holy book. The debate came to a head when she called the pastor of the local church to ask him if it was wrong to throw it out. i don't remember his response but i do remember throwing it out. The idea of the sacredness of the bible has come up here and there since, but what is it that is sacred? The paper? The spirit?
i hadn't really considered the possibility that our focus on the bible may be unhealthy until i saw a sermon bulletin recently. In the speaker's outline was the phrase:
a. Worship is focused on God's word
Regardless of its intent the way it was written reflects an unhealthy approach to Christianity. Am i wrong in thinking that this view of God is academic and not relational? Worship isn't focused on God's word, worship is offered to God. Is God a matter of facts or a living being that longs for relationship with his creation?
i don't want anyone to think even for a moment that i don't believe that the bible is the word of God. The bible is our link to the history of God's relationship with man, the life of Jesus, and the beginnings of the early church. It should not however be our only link to God.
Unfortunately, except in the case of some seminary trained, a few "super Christians", and those who are earnestly seeking to meet God in a new and organic way, we use only the bible to connect with God. Too often we discount or overlook the period of history between Paul's life and John's exile to Patmos and the current Church.
Is God not in constant relationship with us? Does God not speak to us now? Has God been on vacation all this time? Why are we totally dependent on an inanimate object to see an animate God?
i have come to believe that we (at least in western society) like to view God (not relate to him) from a place of safety and security. A place where we can talk about the truths of God without running the risk of having to actually apply them to our lives in such a way that we would have to respond. I think that for a lot of us our relationship to God is no different than our relationship to Abraham Lincoln. We buy a history book, call it holy, learn everything there is to know about the man, subscribe to his ideologies and philosophies, but none of us know him. Is this any different from our relationship with God or Christ? i mean, really???
It is one thing to know about God:
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder."
- James 2:19
It is another thing all together to actually know God! It is through actually knowing Jesus that the promise comes to God's people.
"Then i will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
-Matthew 7:23
i liken our relational world to the Jewish temple. There are levels, different courts and gates in our lives. At the very center is the true us, the person as we really are; absolutely vulnerable - the Holy of Holies. We allow different people into the different courts as we feel comfortable. In truth God should reside with us in our Holy of Holies, but how often do we lock that gate, and leave him in the outer court, maintaining a distance, a wall between us and him. Even when we think we do differently.
i would like to challenge to anyone who may read this to seek out the living God in your life, in the world, and in your community (church). Let us seek out God as we seek out our loved ones. Let us see him as alive and well and at work in our lives and our world. Let us draw near to him, and expand our faith, let us open ourselves to him, and let him reveal himself to the world through us.
michial
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Business as usual. Or is it?
As i surf the web, and read books by various christian authors i have to wonder, what is it that we have done to the church. Is it the basic human need/desire to create structure and order? Do we as a species tend to over do most everything?
The local church with whom i meet opted not to meet this Sunday because a number of the community are away. i found this odd at first, after all, "where two or more are gathered in my name. . .".
We are a small group of four or so families, and we are pretty well spread out (geographically), and Sunday seems to be our one day to really meet together and catch up. That struck me as even more odd.
We have been called into community. Community doesn't come with business hours, or days of operation. Community doesn't have weekends. Community doesn't end. Community is all the time. Members of a community are deeply immersed in each others life.
i have always viewed community as the next step down the evolutionary chart from family. i see it as being as intimate as family without the living in close quarters part (although it is certainly an option for those desiring that depth). Meeting with, eating with, shopping with, having coffee with, praying with other christians all the time.
i am not talking about total separation from what some call "secular society" but i am talking about drawing our brothers and sisters in Christ into our life story and being drawn into theirs. Reading the accounts of the early church as recorded in Luke's letter to Theophilus, when speaking about the church Luke uses words like, "everyday", and "constantly", "always", and "homes". In the church today we use words like, "Wednesday night", and "Sunday morning", "bible study", and "church" (denoting the large constructs of wood and stone that some deem more holy than other structures).
i feel that this business of meeting at set times with set purposes in "holy" structures is counterproductive, if not detrimental to the church as a whole. What God intended to look like family we have restructured to look like a business. As a matter of personal opinion i would like to see the Church take back the word "church". Let's give meaning to the word Church again. Let it be what is was intended to be. i would love to see us refer to our large meeting halls (aka churches) as what they really are - "Community Centers". A place where the local communities of the global Church gather to meet and to fellowship for special occasions. A place where we can get together for functions too grand to be accommodated in a regular home.
On Saturday nights (not the church i spoke of earlier in this post) we are coming to recognize our own short comings in the devotion to one another in our community. We are all good friends. We are all, in our own circles, very close friends. Mind you these are not cliques, but we are not all as close as we could, or even should be. This week one from our group suggested that we drop all of our names in a hat and pull a name. That will be the person we spend focused prayer time on, and make a point to call during the week. i think that this is an awesome suggestion, and i am excited to see how it worked out for other people. This week will do the same and have a shot at getting to now someone different. It is a small step, but it is a start in the right direction.
Here's to closer community. . .
The local church with whom i meet opted not to meet this Sunday because a number of the community are away. i found this odd at first, after all, "where two or more are gathered in my name. . .".
We are a small group of four or so families, and we are pretty well spread out (geographically), and Sunday seems to be our one day to really meet together and catch up. That struck me as even more odd.
We have been called into community. Community doesn't come with business hours, or days of operation. Community doesn't have weekends. Community doesn't end. Community is all the time. Members of a community are deeply immersed in each others life.
i have always viewed community as the next step down the evolutionary chart from family. i see it as being as intimate as family without the living in close quarters part (although it is certainly an option for those desiring that depth). Meeting with, eating with, shopping with, having coffee with, praying with other christians all the time.
i am not talking about total separation from what some call "secular society" but i am talking about drawing our brothers and sisters in Christ into our life story and being drawn into theirs. Reading the accounts of the early church as recorded in Luke's letter to Theophilus, when speaking about the church Luke uses words like, "everyday", and "constantly", "always", and "homes". In the church today we use words like, "Wednesday night", and "Sunday morning", "bible study", and "church" (denoting the large constructs of wood and stone that some deem more holy than other structures).
i feel that this business of meeting at set times with set purposes in "holy" structures is counterproductive, if not detrimental to the church as a whole. What God intended to look like family we have restructured to look like a business. As a matter of personal opinion i would like to see the Church take back the word "church". Let's give meaning to the word Church again. Let it be what is was intended to be. i would love to see us refer to our large meeting halls (aka churches) as what they really are - "Community Centers". A place where the local communities of the global Church gather to meet and to fellowship for special occasions. A place where we can get together for functions too grand to be accommodated in a regular home.
On Saturday nights (not the church i spoke of earlier in this post) we are coming to recognize our own short comings in the devotion to one another in our community. We are all good friends. We are all, in our own circles, very close friends. Mind you these are not cliques, but we are not all as close as we could, or even should be. This week one from our group suggested that we drop all of our names in a hat and pull a name. That will be the person we spend focused prayer time on, and make a point to call during the week. i think that this is an awesome suggestion, and i am excited to see how it worked out for other people. This week will do the same and have a shot at getting to now someone different. It is a small step, but it is a start in the right direction.
Here's to closer community. . .
Friday, October 14, 2005
Getting to the root of the matter.
The only constant in life is change, regardless of your view on matters. Whether you are an evolutionist, whose ideology is all about change, or a Christian, whose mode of worship has constantly undergone change, it matters not. Look at history and you will find change.
i believe that if we really choose to grow or flourish we must accept change and steer our destiny as best we can. To that end, we should be mindful of everything that we hold true. Many of us have very strong convictions but have no idea why we hold these convictions, and we take advantage of the things we hear from those we respect, in seminars, in church etc. This is terribly irresponsible, and it stifles our relationships with God and with one another.
This came to light for me when i was browsing through Paul's first letter to Timothy. i had always been taught that chapter 6 verse 10 read:
"For the love of money is the root of evil. . ."
or, "money is the root of all evil."
when in fact the verse reads:
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
Holy cow!!! What can this mean? What is the implication???
So i got to thinking. If money is the root of all evil, what then is at the root of that love of money?
The simple answer is selfishness, the desire to be the center of the universe.
Every one is motivated by something, and at the core of the that motivation is more often than not selfishness.
Our desire for more money, our want of the latest "toys", and trends: every time we get into an argument and want to win, every time we desire praise, every time we are offended. At the root of all these things is selfishness.
i will not pretend to have the answers to matter of selfishness, but i will be spending sometime meditating on this. For now i am content that i have recognized that selfishness is a problem that permeates our society, and our personal lives.
Any thoughts??
i believe that if we really choose to grow or flourish we must accept change and steer our destiny as best we can. To that end, we should be mindful of everything that we hold true. Many of us have very strong convictions but have no idea why we hold these convictions, and we take advantage of the things we hear from those we respect, in seminars, in church etc. This is terribly irresponsible, and it stifles our relationships with God and with one another.
This came to light for me when i was browsing through Paul's first letter to Timothy. i had always been taught that chapter 6 verse 10 read:
"For the love of money is the root of evil. . ."
or, "money is the root of all evil."
when in fact the verse reads:
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
Holy cow!!! What can this mean? What is the implication???
So i got to thinking. If money is the root of all evil, what then is at the root of that love of money?
The simple answer is selfishness, the desire to be the center of the universe.
Every one is motivated by something, and at the core of the that motivation is more often than not selfishness.
Our desire for more money, our want of the latest "toys", and trends: every time we get into an argument and want to win, every time we desire praise, every time we are offended. At the root of all these things is selfishness.
i will not pretend to have the answers to matter of selfishness, but i will be spending sometime meditating on this. For now i am content that i have recognized that selfishness is a problem that permeates our society, and our personal lives.
Any thoughts??
Thursday, October 13, 2005
The Saturday Night Walk
Saturday night has come to mean a lot of things to me over the course of the last fourteen months. It was July of last year that a couple of people got together in my living room to have supper and good conversation. Before the night was over the meal had been eaten, the conversation had turned to matters of faith and the Church, and before we were done, we were all in prayer and weeping on the floor. It was a powerful evening, and totally unplanned to boot. I think we had planned to play cards or something like that.
For the four of us that gathered that night, it was the answer to prayer. We had been starved of real connectedness (is that a word?) with each other and with God. It was agreed upon that this type of gathering should not be isolated, and that while we knew that we couldn't force the power that we felt that night, that we would continue to gather together and create an environment that would foster humility, honesty, unity, and growth. Within a month our foursome had grown into a chaotic mob of something like twenty some odd regular attendants. Not that there was chaos in our gathering for teaching and prayer, but visualize if you will twenty some odd teenagers and adults gathered in a fourteen by seventy foot trailer, and the living room where we met. . .Well. . . You get the idea.
When i speak of chaos i mean more of a transitional chaos. There were many who were gathering with us that didn't really grasp what it was that we were seeking after. Of course there were others there that were reaching more desperately and deeply for what we wanted, but we weren't ready for nor could we provide it.
In the late summer a couple came to meet with us, they were about the age of my wife and i, and they attended the same "church", but we really knew nothing about them. After our meeting, which at 11:00 pm ended early by our standards, the young man, whom i had never met before, asked if he could speak with me. And so we spoke, that Saturday night, as we walked up and down our thousand foot driveway.
That night as we spoke, as strangers and also brothers, a lot of confession took place, and a genuine desire for healing and growth. Thus began my relationship with Shaun, the man i affectionately refer to as "Samir" (another story for another time). Over the course of the last year i have been floored to see what God has done with our small community. Lives have gone from broken to healed, leaders have been formed, our gatherings have moderated and a whole new family has formed. And all of this on Saturday nights.
On the whole i am rather computer illiterate, but Shaun and his wife are teaching me! Or at least helping me to navigate through this crazy maze. Shaun introduced me to the concept of "Bloging" which is still a little weird to me, but after sometime and reflection, i thought this would be interesting to try.
Some of my goals in life recently have been, to understand God better, and strengthen my relationship with the creator. To be a better husband and father, and to reconcile the church. i don't suspect that my last goal will come to fruition anytime in the near future, but still i feel a strong need to contribute what i have.
i have been at least loosely affiliated with a house church for the last 10 years. i say loosely because when my wife and i moved to the northeast, there was little tolerance for such "cults" until recently.
As i have met with many different communities two things have struck me. Number one - we are all working toward the same end. . . love God and share God's love. Number two - every denomination seems to be under the impression that they have the market cornered on "the right way".
i hope to have some hand in helping to dispel the notion that only "i" can be right in the way i commune with God. In the course of doing that i hope to eliminate the negative feelings and bitterness that come with so many of us from our pride and sense of ownership in others. Meaning that when an individual leaves a "church" for whatever reason, both the individual and the church seem to harbor ill feelings toward one another. This is especially rampant is some house churches. . .but guess what. . .it isn't biblical, it isn't right, and we need to stop it.
All these things i will get into later. For now i just wanted to introduce myself and figure out how this thing really works.
God Bless
For the four of us that gathered that night, it was the answer to prayer. We had been starved of real connectedness (is that a word?) with each other and with God. It was agreed upon that this type of gathering should not be isolated, and that while we knew that we couldn't force the power that we felt that night, that we would continue to gather together and create an environment that would foster humility, honesty, unity, and growth. Within a month our foursome had grown into a chaotic mob of something like twenty some odd regular attendants. Not that there was chaos in our gathering for teaching and prayer, but visualize if you will twenty some odd teenagers and adults gathered in a fourteen by seventy foot trailer, and the living room where we met. . .Well. . . You get the idea.
When i speak of chaos i mean more of a transitional chaos. There were many who were gathering with us that didn't really grasp what it was that we were seeking after. Of course there were others there that were reaching more desperately and deeply for what we wanted, but we weren't ready for nor could we provide it.
In the late summer a couple came to meet with us, they were about the age of my wife and i, and they attended the same "church", but we really knew nothing about them. After our meeting, which at 11:00 pm ended early by our standards, the young man, whom i had never met before, asked if he could speak with me. And so we spoke, that Saturday night, as we walked up and down our thousand foot driveway.
That night as we spoke, as strangers and also brothers, a lot of confession took place, and a genuine desire for healing and growth. Thus began my relationship with Shaun, the man i affectionately refer to as "Samir" (another story for another time). Over the course of the last year i have been floored to see what God has done with our small community. Lives have gone from broken to healed, leaders have been formed, our gatherings have moderated and a whole new family has formed. And all of this on Saturday nights.
On the whole i am rather computer illiterate, but Shaun and his wife are teaching me! Or at least helping me to navigate through this crazy maze. Shaun introduced me to the concept of "Bloging" which is still a little weird to me, but after sometime and reflection, i thought this would be interesting to try.
Some of my goals in life recently have been, to understand God better, and strengthen my relationship with the creator. To be a better husband and father, and to reconcile the church. i don't suspect that my last goal will come to fruition anytime in the near future, but still i feel a strong need to contribute what i have.
i have been at least loosely affiliated with a house church for the last 10 years. i say loosely because when my wife and i moved to the northeast, there was little tolerance for such "cults" until recently.
As i have met with many different communities two things have struck me. Number one - we are all working toward the same end. . . love God and share God's love. Number two - every denomination seems to be under the impression that they have the market cornered on "the right way".
i hope to have some hand in helping to dispel the notion that only "i" can be right in the way i commune with God. In the course of doing that i hope to eliminate the negative feelings and bitterness that come with so many of us from our pride and sense of ownership in others. Meaning that when an individual leaves a "church" for whatever reason, both the individual and the church seem to harbor ill feelings toward one another. This is especially rampant is some house churches. . .but guess what. . .it isn't biblical, it isn't right, and we need to stop it.
All these things i will get into later. For now i just wanted to introduce myself and figure out how this thing really works.
God Bless
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