Have you ever wondered, "Does God have any knowledge let alone plan for my broken life?"
We had quite the experience driving home for Christmas this year. The transmission in our van had been slipping. I took it to the shop on Friday knowing we were planning to leave on Saturday. The shop replaced a switch and it seemed to be working again. The next morning it was slipping again. I decided to go ahead and drive to Idaho and get it fixed there while we were visiting my folks. So we loaded up and took off. 2.5 hours later the transmission is gone and we are sitting on the side of the road calling roadside assistance. What are we going to do now God? I prayed about this, I thought it was going to be OK. What do we do now?
Well God had a plan B for the trip. First a little Subaru from Montana pulled up with two bible school students in it. A lovely woman in here 40s and a young college student. They prayed over us and then took Laura and Lorelai all the way to Postfalls where my mom picked them up arriving at my parents house at 3am. It was a good thing too, because I sat on the side of I-84 for 3 hours before the tow came and didn't get back to Portland until 2am. Big thanks to my friends who brought me home at 2am!
I made a dumb choice, I knew the transmission was slipping, a friend had offered to let me take his car (which I did the next day with mine in the shop), and I went anyway. Yet God still worked with me any way, he took care of us through his body of believers.
In Job 39 God speaks of his intimate knowledge of some of his creatures. Well he questions Job about them in ways that show his intimate knowledge of them. One of the things I find interesting in this passage is some of the instincts these animals posses are post fall instincts. The war horse charging into battle, the eagle feeding its young on the blood of other creatures. These were not things these animals were created to do before the coming of sin. We know this because death is a result of sin and there is a promise of the time to come when lamb will lay down with the lion and have no fear.
So God knows the state of the post fall animal kingdom and he gives them the instincts they need for plan B. Just as he know the state of the post blowing up of my transmission and had a plan B. This goes even further of course. God knows us as intimately as the animals mentioned in this chapter of Job. In the same way he moves in them and adapts to provide for them so he does for us.
Maybe you feel like you are on plan Z by now. May you find the faith to know God knows you and he has a plan and a purpose for you. For it is by grace we are saved through faith which in itself is a gift from God lest anyone should boast. We are his handiwork recreated in Christ Jesus to do the things he has planned for us from the beginning.
Lean into God today ask him to move you in his ways and may you find his provision new every morning.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Do you remember the day you were born?
Can anyone out there remember the face of the doctor when they popped out of the womb?
They day of my daughter Lorelai's brith is painted vividly in my mind. I remember getting up in the middle of the night with the contractions, getting in the car driving a block to the hospital, getting checked in, going to Walmart for the supplies for a long wait, the face of the doctor, the two epidurals, Laura giving birth (I will spare you the details), Lorelai's little and red grasping hands. I can see it all right now as I write this. It is all very clear to me, I don't have to make anything up or take anything on faith. I know what happened.
But I have to admit I remember nothing of my own birth. I know where I was born the town, the hospital, and I obviously know who my parents are, but I don't remember any of this from that day. I don't know what the doctor's face looked like, I know a few of the details of labor only because I have been told what happened. But I don't remember a thing, I would assume you don't remember anything about your birth either even though we were there.
God begins to speak in Job chap 38, "Who is it that darkens my counsel? Who speaks empty words without knowledge? Brace yourself up like a man. I will question you and you will answer me." God then begins to lay out the laws of nature and the calling of things into existence. As he describes placing the boundaries of the ocean and the foundations of the earth he says to Job, "surely you were there, surely you are old enough and know the things of which I speak." The obvious answer is no, we weren't there. Job wasn't there, you and I weren't there.
We speak so confidently of things we do not "know." We did not watch the world form. We weren't there whether it was the day of a big bang or the day when God spoke. Yet we have debates about it all the time speaking with the authority of one who stood there and watched it happen. The big bang relies of the reasoned theories of man, from the things we have observed and tested in this day and age, drawing what conclusions we may. Creation relies on the words of scripture, like this passage in Job, telling us what happened.
Both of these theories of origin depend on a decision of faith. Do we choose to believe in the proposed conclusions of the scientific observation? Do we choose to believe the words of scripture as the words of the God who was actually there and did these things? They both come down to faith, because we weren't there.
I know the story of my birth from listening to the words of my parents. The ones who were there. I choose to believe God is real, from the evidences in my life and the amazing ways the words of scripture have been ratified through history. So I'm choosing to listen to the words of my heavenly Father, because in faith I believe he was there.
Either way when we talk about our origins, I would pray we do it with the humility of faith, knowing neither one of us was there. We may be the one darkening God's counsel and speaking words with out knowledge. I choose to trust in his knowledge and lean into his wisdom. I brace myself up like a man and listen to the words God has to share.
They day of my daughter Lorelai's brith is painted vividly in my mind. I remember getting up in the middle of the night with the contractions, getting in the car driving a block to the hospital, getting checked in, going to Walmart for the supplies for a long wait, the face of the doctor, the two epidurals, Laura giving birth (I will spare you the details), Lorelai's little and red grasping hands. I can see it all right now as I write this. It is all very clear to me, I don't have to make anything up or take anything on faith. I know what happened.
But I have to admit I remember nothing of my own birth. I know where I was born the town, the hospital, and I obviously know who my parents are, but I don't remember any of this from that day. I don't know what the doctor's face looked like, I know a few of the details of labor only because I have been told what happened. But I don't remember a thing, I would assume you don't remember anything about your birth either even though we were there.
God begins to speak in Job chap 38, "Who is it that darkens my counsel? Who speaks empty words without knowledge? Brace yourself up like a man. I will question you and you will answer me." God then begins to lay out the laws of nature and the calling of things into existence. As he describes placing the boundaries of the ocean and the foundations of the earth he says to Job, "surely you were there, surely you are old enough and know the things of which I speak." The obvious answer is no, we weren't there. Job wasn't there, you and I weren't there.
We speak so confidently of things we do not "know." We did not watch the world form. We weren't there whether it was the day of a big bang or the day when God spoke. Yet we have debates about it all the time speaking with the authority of one who stood there and watched it happen. The big bang relies of the reasoned theories of man, from the things we have observed and tested in this day and age, drawing what conclusions we may. Creation relies on the words of scripture, like this passage in Job, telling us what happened.
Both of these theories of origin depend on a decision of faith. Do we choose to believe in the proposed conclusions of the scientific observation? Do we choose to believe the words of scripture as the words of the God who was actually there and did these things? They both come down to faith, because we weren't there.
I know the story of my birth from listening to the words of my parents. The ones who were there. I choose to believe God is real, from the evidences in my life and the amazing ways the words of scripture have been ratified through history. So I'm choosing to listen to the words of my heavenly Father, because in faith I believe he was there.
Either way when we talk about our origins, I would pray we do it with the humility of faith, knowing neither one of us was there. We may be the one darkening God's counsel and speaking words with out knowledge. I choose to trust in his knowledge and lean into his wisdom. I brace myself up like a man and listen to the words God has to share.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Introducing God
Anyone ever introduced God and then had him show up?
My wife as many of your know is a singer songwriter. She has a couple of CDs out and her own website www.laurawhidden.com. As she has done concerts over the last 12 years I have introduced her many times. She is a woman of great talent, an international touring artist, and opened for the likes of Scott Krippayne. The most important however is her mission statement; through her music she desires to inspire the awe of God which leads to worship, repentance, and relationship. Now here she is Laura Whidden.
Its fun to introduce her and then have people clap as she comes on stage. I know they are in for some good music, a fun show, and a chance to hear about what God can do in someone's life. Laura will sing songs interspersed with stories, she will write a song in concert with the audience and then invite them to come back home to be with their heavenly Father. She is all about worship, repentance, and relationship with God. I have to say though I have never seen a whirlwind come up afterwards and God speak out of it.
In Job chap 37 Elihu begins to describe God in the shape of a storm. I have a feeling he was inspired by the storm that was currently gathering. He speaks of God's thunderous voice, bringing snow and rain, and sweeping the land clean with his wind. He still has some things in here I don't agree with, hinting once again at the punishment of the wicked with the use of nature and then his love when he waters the earth. This once again is dangerous ground. I don't believe Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment of New Orleans, not do I believe when the rain doesn't come it means God doesn't love us. But even with Elihu's imperfect description of who God is he gets to introduce God. Because the next chapter starts with, "Then God spoke out of the whirlwind."
I think about the times when Laura does a concert, when we have lead worship music together, or when I have gotten up to speak about God to the minds and hearts of a congregation. There are mysterious moments when God shows up. You can feel his presence and the conviction that comes into the hearts of those there is far beyond what my words can do. I know my words and stories, and Laura's songs are not perfect descriptions of God just as Elihu's fall short, but somehow God shows up.
I don't think Elihu had any idea God was really in that whirlwind, he was just using it to illustrate his point. He didn't think Job should call out to meet with God. No man was worthy to ask for an audience with God in his opinion. Yet in his imperfect theology and understanding he gets to introduce God. Amazing!
May we recognize the opportunities we have to introduce God to those around us. Using whatever words, songs, or actions we have at our disposal. May our lives bring an awe of God which leads to worship, repentance, and relationship.
My wife as many of your know is a singer songwriter. She has a couple of CDs out and her own website www.laurawhidden.com. As she has done concerts over the last 12 years I have introduced her many times. She is a woman of great talent, an international touring artist, and opened for the likes of Scott Krippayne. The most important however is her mission statement; through her music she desires to inspire the awe of God which leads to worship, repentance, and relationship. Now here she is Laura Whidden.
Its fun to introduce her and then have people clap as she comes on stage. I know they are in for some good music, a fun show, and a chance to hear about what God can do in someone's life. Laura will sing songs interspersed with stories, she will write a song in concert with the audience and then invite them to come back home to be with their heavenly Father. She is all about worship, repentance, and relationship with God. I have to say though I have never seen a whirlwind come up afterwards and God speak out of it.
In Job chap 37 Elihu begins to describe God in the shape of a storm. I have a feeling he was inspired by the storm that was currently gathering. He speaks of God's thunderous voice, bringing snow and rain, and sweeping the land clean with his wind. He still has some things in here I don't agree with, hinting once again at the punishment of the wicked with the use of nature and then his love when he waters the earth. This once again is dangerous ground. I don't believe Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment of New Orleans, not do I believe when the rain doesn't come it means God doesn't love us. But even with Elihu's imperfect description of who God is he gets to introduce God. Because the next chapter starts with, "Then God spoke out of the whirlwind."
I think about the times when Laura does a concert, when we have lead worship music together, or when I have gotten up to speak about God to the minds and hearts of a congregation. There are mysterious moments when God shows up. You can feel his presence and the conviction that comes into the hearts of those there is far beyond what my words can do. I know my words and stories, and Laura's songs are not perfect descriptions of God just as Elihu's fall short, but somehow God shows up.
I don't think Elihu had any idea God was really in that whirlwind, he was just using it to illustrate his point. He didn't think Job should call out to meet with God. No man was worthy to ask for an audience with God in his opinion. Yet in his imperfect theology and understanding he gets to introduce God. Amazing!
May we recognize the opportunities we have to introduce God to those around us. Using whatever words, songs, or actions we have at our disposal. May our lives bring an awe of God which leads to worship, repentance, and relationship.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The arrogance of Youth
Have you ever thought, "man those old guys are just out to lunch?"
I think this is a common problem among youth in general, but especially young pastors. I love the looks I get from students when I suggest something they just know isn't going to work, or be cool, or whatever. I know the look because I have given it to my senior pastor way to many times myself. "You really think I should just keep things running along without having a vision in place, it would be way better just to stop everything and start over don't you think?" And yet low and behold he was right.
With my students the looks they give me usually come from not understanding what I am talking about or not having the experience of knowing how these things go. The truth is they and I often find out we just don't know what we are talking about. There are many times I learn things from my students and my senior pastor has followed my lead on something that have turned out well. Paul writes to Timothy and tells him don't let people despise you because you are young, but be an example in faith, life, and purity. Youth is neither completely foolish nor completely wise as it is with age.
But Elihu makes an outlandish statement in Job chap 36. "One with perfect knowledge is with you." At least he says he got his knowledge from someone other than himself, but still "one with perfect knowledge?" This boy has been taking arrogance pills. he has some good things to say about the awesomeness of God, but his world view is so skewed. Job is suffering therefore he must have sinned. We know its not true in this story from the first few chapters of the book.
How often are we so convinced of our own world view and yet it turns out we are completely wrong? This is one of the reasons I feel so inadequate on my own to stand up and speak to a congregation. Who am I to talk to people about God and their lives? By what authority do I stand here and speak into the minds and hearts of men? The only thing I have to stand on is the world of God. My experiences shift and change as do my feelings. I need the bible to help me interpret them. By the comparison of my life and scripture I then have some basis of truth to live by and to share with others.
There are many times when we will get it wrong, whether we are young or old. I pray today first of all we would compare our lives with the story of scripture and second we would be willing to fully admit when we have it wrong. I also pray we would never have the arrogance to say, "one of perfect knowledge is here with you today." I suppose you could say it if you wanted to get laughed right off the stage.
I think this is a common problem among youth in general, but especially young pastors. I love the looks I get from students when I suggest something they just know isn't going to work, or be cool, or whatever. I know the look because I have given it to my senior pastor way to many times myself. "You really think I should just keep things running along without having a vision in place, it would be way better just to stop everything and start over don't you think?" And yet low and behold he was right.
With my students the looks they give me usually come from not understanding what I am talking about or not having the experience of knowing how these things go. The truth is they and I often find out we just don't know what we are talking about. There are many times I learn things from my students and my senior pastor has followed my lead on something that have turned out well. Paul writes to Timothy and tells him don't let people despise you because you are young, but be an example in faith, life, and purity. Youth is neither completely foolish nor completely wise as it is with age.
But Elihu makes an outlandish statement in Job chap 36. "One with perfect knowledge is with you." At least he says he got his knowledge from someone other than himself, but still "one with perfect knowledge?" This boy has been taking arrogance pills. he has some good things to say about the awesomeness of God, but his world view is so skewed. Job is suffering therefore he must have sinned. We know its not true in this story from the first few chapters of the book.
How often are we so convinced of our own world view and yet it turns out we are completely wrong? This is one of the reasons I feel so inadequate on my own to stand up and speak to a congregation. Who am I to talk to people about God and their lives? By what authority do I stand here and speak into the minds and hearts of men? The only thing I have to stand on is the world of God. My experiences shift and change as do my feelings. I need the bible to help me interpret them. By the comparison of my life and scripture I then have some basis of truth to live by and to share with others.
There are many times when we will get it wrong, whether we are young or old. I pray today first of all we would compare our lives with the story of scripture and second we would be willing to fully admit when we have it wrong. I also pray we would never have the arrogance to say, "one of perfect knowledge is here with you today." I suppose you could say it if you wanted to get laughed right off the stage.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Can God hear us when we are bad?
Do we hear the cries of our children when they have gotten themselves in trouble?
When I was about 12 I got picked up for shoplifting. Surprising I know, Pastor Cory arrested for shoplifting, but it's true. I have told this story before so I won't go into much detail this time. I remember sitting in the police station of my little town while the sheriff was calling our parents. I remember the response my friend got from his dad,"I should just leave him in jail over night so he can learn his lesson"(He came anyway). My parents came and picked me up, the car ride home was very quiet. I don't remember much more punishment then what the state was giving me.
As I look back on it now, I am grateful my parents came and picked me up that night. There was no, "leave him in there" comments. They came and got me and they listened to me when I told them what had happened even though I was in the wrong, I had disobeyed them and the state, and I had gotten my friend in trouble right along with me.
In Job chap 35 Elihu makes a crazy assertion. He says God doesn't listen to the wicked. He starts with asking rhetorically if God is affected by our sin and righteousness. The answer for him is no, only other men are affected by such things. Then he says God doesn't even give us the time of day. When we are wicked he doesn't heed us one bit.
For one thing I think he is arguing against himself, if our sin and behavior doesn't effect God, then why does Elihu say God punishes us for it. If God was truly detached from us he would just leave us alone completely. And then to say God only pays attention to us and to our prayers when we are good is crazy talk. What kind of Father, let alone a father in heaven, would God be if he ignored us when we are good or bad.
I believe in a God who loves his children, who listens to their cries, and who came down to the police station, was born as a baby, lived on this earth, and died on the cross to pick us up. He has no intention of leaving us down here to wrought in prison. He is coming back again to save us, to take us home.
Today may we see the heart of and intimate God who is involved in the lives of his children and will take them home. He listens to our every prayer no matter what condition we have gotten ourselves into.
Jesus loves me when I'm good, when I do the things I should. Jesus loves me when I'm bad even though it makes him sad. Yes Jesus loves me! Yes Jesus loves me! Yes my Jesus loves me! The bible tells me so.
When I was about 12 I got picked up for shoplifting. Surprising I know, Pastor Cory arrested for shoplifting, but it's true. I have told this story before so I won't go into much detail this time. I remember sitting in the police station of my little town while the sheriff was calling our parents. I remember the response my friend got from his dad,"I should just leave him in jail over night so he can learn his lesson"(He came anyway). My parents came and picked me up, the car ride home was very quiet. I don't remember much more punishment then what the state was giving me.
As I look back on it now, I am grateful my parents came and picked me up that night. There was no, "leave him in there" comments. They came and got me and they listened to me when I told them what had happened even though I was in the wrong, I had disobeyed them and the state, and I had gotten my friend in trouble right along with me.
In Job chap 35 Elihu makes a crazy assertion. He says God doesn't listen to the wicked. He starts with asking rhetorically if God is affected by our sin and righteousness. The answer for him is no, only other men are affected by such things. Then he says God doesn't even give us the time of day. When we are wicked he doesn't heed us one bit.
For one thing I think he is arguing against himself, if our sin and behavior doesn't effect God, then why does Elihu say God punishes us for it. If God was truly detached from us he would just leave us alone completely. And then to say God only pays attention to us and to our prayers when we are good is crazy talk. What kind of Father, let alone a father in heaven, would God be if he ignored us when we are good or bad.
I believe in a God who loves his children, who listens to their cries, and who came down to the police station, was born as a baby, lived on this earth, and died on the cross to pick us up. He has no intention of leaving us down here to wrought in prison. He is coming back again to save us, to take us home.
Today may we see the heart of and intimate God who is involved in the lives of his children and will take them home. He listens to our every prayer no matter what condition we have gotten ourselves into.
Jesus loves me when I'm good, when I do the things I should. Jesus loves me when I'm bad even though it makes him sad. Yes Jesus loves me! Yes Jesus loves me! Yes my Jesus loves me! The bible tells me so.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Who...is the king of the earth?
If this is the kingdom of heaven...then it God really is a mess.
I went to workout this morning at Portland Adventist Academy with some men of God and good buddies of mine. When we walked into the dungeon of a weight room in the basement of the school we noticed an interesting dichotomy. Glancing in the guys locker room we discovered a mess. All kinds of stuff on the floor; shoes, trash, dress shirts and ties, dirty socks and the odor went right along with it. So just out of curiosity we knocked and looked in the girls locker room. The floor was clean everything was in order, the dirty jersey's were in a laundry hamper the trash in the trash can and there was even a nice smell permeating the room. When I look at those two rooms it would be silly to blame the principal of the school for the mess or lack of mess in those rooms. The responsibility falls on the teams for their own space.
I think this is true of the planet we call home as well. There are parts of this world where things are well maintained and cared for. There are parts of this world where chaos reigns. Is it really fair to blame the God of the universe for the mess or lack of mess in this world he has given us? Even more so we are the ones who chose to give dominion to the enemy of God, so why are we surprised when suffering and godlessness reign.
In Job chap 34, Elihu continues is tirade against Job. He accuses Job of speaking as the wicked do, saying there is no benefit to serving God, which isn't true at all, Job never said he wasn't going to keep serving God. Elihu goes on to speak of the justice of God, God reigns over the earth so everything taking place is for his divine justice. Therefore once again Job needs to be schooled in what he has done wrong and accept his punishment, coming back to God so he can be blessed once more.
God is sovereign, he could wipe out all of humanity if he wanted to as Elihu suggested and and as the flood basically did, but he chooses not to. This world is under the reign of an adversary and the mess he and we make of this locker room has little to do with God. It was our responsibility to care for this place and each other, we gave the rule over to someone else. So now we are left with caring for each other in the middle of the mess.
May we take responsibility for our lives today and the care we can bring to other people. And when uncontrollable suffering strikes I pray we would give credit where credit is due...to the guy we put in charge.
There is a time coming as Job himself cried out for, when we will see our savior in the flesh and God's justice will once again reign when this kingdom of earth is restored to the kingdom of heaven. Oh how sweet the smell will be on that day!
I went to workout this morning at Portland Adventist Academy with some men of God and good buddies of mine. When we walked into the dungeon of a weight room in the basement of the school we noticed an interesting dichotomy. Glancing in the guys locker room we discovered a mess. All kinds of stuff on the floor; shoes, trash, dress shirts and ties, dirty socks and the odor went right along with it. So just out of curiosity we knocked and looked in the girls locker room. The floor was clean everything was in order, the dirty jersey's were in a laundry hamper the trash in the trash can and there was even a nice smell permeating the room. When I look at those two rooms it would be silly to blame the principal of the school for the mess or lack of mess in those rooms. The responsibility falls on the teams for their own space.
I think this is true of the planet we call home as well. There are parts of this world where things are well maintained and cared for. There are parts of this world where chaos reigns. Is it really fair to blame the God of the universe for the mess or lack of mess in this world he has given us? Even more so we are the ones who chose to give dominion to the enemy of God, so why are we surprised when suffering and godlessness reign.
In Job chap 34, Elihu continues is tirade against Job. He accuses Job of speaking as the wicked do, saying there is no benefit to serving God, which isn't true at all, Job never said he wasn't going to keep serving God. Elihu goes on to speak of the justice of God, God reigns over the earth so everything taking place is for his divine justice. Therefore once again Job needs to be schooled in what he has done wrong and accept his punishment, coming back to God so he can be blessed once more.
God is sovereign, he could wipe out all of humanity if he wanted to as Elihu suggested and and as the flood basically did, but he chooses not to. This world is under the reign of an adversary and the mess he and we make of this locker room has little to do with God. It was our responsibility to care for this place and each other, we gave the rule over to someone else. So now we are left with caring for each other in the middle of the mess.
May we take responsibility for our lives today and the care we can bring to other people. And when uncontrollable suffering strikes I pray we would give credit where credit is due...to the guy we put in charge.
There is a time coming as Job himself cried out for, when we will see our savior in the flesh and God's justice will once again reign when this kingdom of earth is restored to the kingdom of heaven. Oh how sweet the smell will be on that day!
Monday, December 13, 2010
If you agree...then you can speak
How often do we push our point until we are agreed with?
Do you remember as a kid getting in trouble for saying shut-up. Back in the day with the "s" word meant something else. "We don't say that word jonny, it's not nice." It seems we still say it in different ways. When we just keep talking, we don't listen, and we push our point until the person or people we are talking too acquiesce to our request.
Elihu in Job chap 33 basically tells Job to shut-up, unless Job is willing to agree with him. He goes on and on describing how Job's suffering must be the work of a persistent God trying to set Job strait, to get him to confess some hidden sin. This must be the reason. So he tells Job to sit quiet and listen while he teaches him. Unless he speaks in a way which shows he agrees with Elihu and is willing to confess his sin. Otherwise Job, shut-up!
I am reminded of the article Rich Mullins wrote about the nuts and bolts of Christianity. He told of how he had a conversation with his friend. He explained all the nuts and bolts of Christianity to him and he did it so effectively his friend couldn't comeback with any sort of argument on the subject. Then the friend said to Rich, "I just don't want to believe in your Jesus." There was nothing more to be said at that point.
What do we do when people don't agree with us? Do we keep pounding them done until they do? I guess the more significant question is, are we aware of them enough to slow down and actually find out what is on their heart and mind. If we give all the arguments in the world to prove our point, but don't know where they are coming from or what they want out of life, how will we ever speak to their need.
When we go to by a car we check out the mileage, the price, the mechanical engineering. But when it comes down to it we decide on it based on our needs and whether we like the color or not. We need to know the needs of the people around us and understand them if we are ever to articulate the gospel in a way they will accept it.
May we learn to see the need of those around us, understand who they are, and then share the picture of God from the vantage point and perspective that will make the greatest difference in their lives. We won't have to worry about trying to get them to shut-up because the will be so interested in what we have to say for the need that will be met in there lives.
Do you remember as a kid getting in trouble for saying shut-up. Back in the day with the "s" word meant something else. "We don't say that word jonny, it's not nice." It seems we still say it in different ways. When we just keep talking, we don't listen, and we push our point until the person or people we are talking too acquiesce to our request.
Elihu in Job chap 33 basically tells Job to shut-up, unless Job is willing to agree with him. He goes on and on describing how Job's suffering must be the work of a persistent God trying to set Job strait, to get him to confess some hidden sin. This must be the reason. So he tells Job to sit quiet and listen while he teaches him. Unless he speaks in a way which shows he agrees with Elihu and is willing to confess his sin. Otherwise Job, shut-up!
I am reminded of the article Rich Mullins wrote about the nuts and bolts of Christianity. He told of how he had a conversation with his friend. He explained all the nuts and bolts of Christianity to him and he did it so effectively his friend couldn't comeback with any sort of argument on the subject. Then the friend said to Rich, "I just don't want to believe in your Jesus." There was nothing more to be said at that point.
What do we do when people don't agree with us? Do we keep pounding them done until they do? I guess the more significant question is, are we aware of them enough to slow down and actually find out what is on their heart and mind. If we give all the arguments in the world to prove our point, but don't know where they are coming from or what they want out of life, how will we ever speak to their need.
When we go to by a car we check out the mileage, the price, the mechanical engineering. But when it comes down to it we decide on it based on our needs and whether we like the color or not. We need to know the needs of the people around us and understand them if we are ever to articulate the gospel in a way they will accept it.
May we learn to see the need of those around us, understand who they are, and then share the picture of God from the vantage point and perspective that will make the greatest difference in their lives. We won't have to worry about trying to get them to shut-up because the will be so interested in what we have to say for the need that will be met in there lives.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Holding our breath vs. gaining understanding
Have you ever felt like you had words waiting to burst out of you?
When I was a kid I was a pretty extra-ordinary swimmer for my age. I suppose I'm not too bad now either. My mom had the perpetually late gene passed down to her from her mother. We would inevitably arrive at swimming lessons 5, 10, 15 minutes late. I would run into the pool, change, and run out to the deck. The swimming instructor would tell me what the laps we had for the day and I would dive in and get started. Usually I was able to finish the laps before the rest of the class even though I had arrived late.
One of my other swimming skills was holding my breath. I would attempt to Grab a big breath of air and swim the width of the pool. This be came easier and easier. I began to swim across and back under the water. Then I began to swim the length of the pool under water. I started by using the diving board and going half way, two thirds, then the whole length. Finally I could start with a push off of the wall and swim the whole length of the pool underwater.
When I first started I remember the burn in my lungs as I reached the half way point. I would explode to the surface gasping for breath. Must..have..air. But as I "trained" the burn got less and less, I could go further and further to the point where I could calmly come up from the water at the end of the pool.
When I read Job 32 I was reminded of this experience. Elihu just can't keep it in any longer. He just has to open his mouth. The other three older men have given their arguments to Job and failed. They are silent now. Elihu must speak his lungs are burning with the words he has been holding inside. It's not age or experience that gives you wisdom, it's God's spirit, says Elihu.
This description betrays the young man in my mind. If he is bursting with his argument it means he has been forming it this whole time. If he has been forming the whole time he hasn't been able to listen very well. You know this is the way we communicate, we pause in a argument only long enough to form our next statement of attack. We can't really be listening fully to the other person let alone trying to understand them if we are just planning what we are going to say next.
If we can learn not only to wait our turn, which Elihu did, but to listen as well then we will be able to speak with calm understanding words. Job needed understanding, he needed to know his pain was being felt and understood by those around him. Elihu was unable to give understanding because he was too focused on holding his own breath trying not to explode rather than listening to Job. He may have listened enough to fuel his fire and quote Job a few times to make his point, be he did not understand Job.
May we learn to listen today, to really listen. There are times to speak with passion to say the things which must be said, but only after the person we are listening to has been understood. I pray we would be able to listen to God today as well seeking understanding rather than reading just enough to get our devotional time in.
When I was a kid I was a pretty extra-ordinary swimmer for my age. I suppose I'm not too bad now either. My mom had the perpetually late gene passed down to her from her mother. We would inevitably arrive at swimming lessons 5, 10, 15 minutes late. I would run into the pool, change, and run out to the deck. The swimming instructor would tell me what the laps we had for the day and I would dive in and get started. Usually I was able to finish the laps before the rest of the class even though I had arrived late.
One of my other swimming skills was holding my breath. I would attempt to Grab a big breath of air and swim the width of the pool. This be came easier and easier. I began to swim across and back under the water. Then I began to swim the length of the pool under water. I started by using the diving board and going half way, two thirds, then the whole length. Finally I could start with a push off of the wall and swim the whole length of the pool underwater.
When I first started I remember the burn in my lungs as I reached the half way point. I would explode to the surface gasping for breath. Must..have..air. But as I "trained" the burn got less and less, I could go further and further to the point where I could calmly come up from the water at the end of the pool.
When I read Job 32 I was reminded of this experience. Elihu just can't keep it in any longer. He just has to open his mouth. The other three older men have given their arguments to Job and failed. They are silent now. Elihu must speak his lungs are burning with the words he has been holding inside. It's not age or experience that gives you wisdom, it's God's spirit, says Elihu.
This description betrays the young man in my mind. If he is bursting with his argument it means he has been forming it this whole time. If he has been forming the whole time he hasn't been able to listen very well. You know this is the way we communicate, we pause in a argument only long enough to form our next statement of attack. We can't really be listening fully to the other person let alone trying to understand them if we are just planning what we are going to say next.
If we can learn not only to wait our turn, which Elihu did, but to listen as well then we will be able to speak with calm understanding words. Job needed understanding, he needed to know his pain was being felt and understood by those around him. Elihu was unable to give understanding because he was too focused on holding his own breath trying not to explode rather than listening to Job. He may have listened enough to fuel his fire and quote Job a few times to make his point, be he did not understand Job.
May we learn to listen today, to really listen. There are times to speak with passion to say the things which must be said, but only after the person we are listening to has been understood. I pray we would be able to listen to God today as well seeking understanding rather than reading just enough to get our devotional time in.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
"No I'm not!!!"
Do you have anything you have been denying for just way to long?
Our daughter is learning the art of lying quite well. I don’t think she is so much lying intentionally, although she does sometimes. She just wants to be perceived as a good girl, she did what she was supposed to do. For example, when she comes out of the bathroom, we ask her if she has washed her hands. She says yes. We know she hasn’t because we didn’t hear the water run. She wants to be compliant so she says yes because it’s what she is suppose to say. When then say we didn’t even hear the water you need to go wash your hands. She comes back out with her hands still wet enough to convince us as she says, “See I washed them” and puts her wet hands on whatever part of us she can reach to prove her point.
Sometimes we deny something good we haven’t done or something bad we have done just to keep up appearances. In chap 31 Job is making a long list of the things deserving judgment if he had ever done them. This list includes looking on another man’s wife lustfully, giving worship to the sun or moon, not caring for the poor or strangers. The last one on his list is hiding his sin for the good standing if the eyes of others. He says,” if I have concealed my sin as men do, by hiding my guilt in my heart 34 because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside.”
The truth is it usually works out better if we have done something wrong we might as well some out with it. We are not going to be upset with Lorelai if she didn’t wash her hands, we will simply encourage her to go back in and wash her hands. She has learned this now and is more willing to admit she hasn’t or run back into the bathroom to wash her hands.
Sometimes we think if we just pretend we didn’t do the one thing that hurt that one person at that one place it will all just go away. The only thing we accomplish by not admitting the wrong we have done is lessening the relationship with the person we hurt. They know we did it, we aren’t actually hiding it from anyone. It’s the same way with those “secret sins.” God already knows we did them all we do by not admitting them to God or bring them out into the open is lessen our relationship with God.
We feel less inclined to speak to him, to share life with him and receive life from him. If we could just let those hidden things out to God and to the people around us whom they have affected a lot of wounds and relationships would be healed. Confess your sins one to another, says James, so you might be healed.
God knows we haven’t washed out hands, he didn’t heard the water running. He doesn’t want us to confess so he can punish us. He wants us to admit it so we can be cleansed and healed. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
May we find the freedom today to come out of hiding and how our relationships with God and each other deepened rather than lessened.
Our daughter is learning the art of lying quite well. I don’t think she is so much lying intentionally, although she does sometimes. She just wants to be perceived as a good girl, she did what she was supposed to do. For example, when she comes out of the bathroom, we ask her if she has washed her hands. She says yes. We know she hasn’t because we didn’t hear the water run. She wants to be compliant so she says yes because it’s what she is suppose to say. When then say we didn’t even hear the water you need to go wash your hands. She comes back out with her hands still wet enough to convince us as she says, “See I washed them” and puts her wet hands on whatever part of us she can reach to prove her point.
Sometimes we deny something good we haven’t done or something bad we have done just to keep up appearances. In chap 31 Job is making a long list of the things deserving judgment if he had ever done them. This list includes looking on another man’s wife lustfully, giving worship to the sun or moon, not caring for the poor or strangers. The last one on his list is hiding his sin for the good standing if the eyes of others. He says,” if I have concealed my sin as men do, by hiding my guilt in my heart 34 because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside.”
The truth is it usually works out better if we have done something wrong we might as well some out with it. We are not going to be upset with Lorelai if she didn’t wash her hands, we will simply encourage her to go back in and wash her hands. She has learned this now and is more willing to admit she hasn’t or run back into the bathroom to wash her hands.
Sometimes we think if we just pretend we didn’t do the one thing that hurt that one person at that one place it will all just go away. The only thing we accomplish by not admitting the wrong we have done is lessening the relationship with the person we hurt. They know we did it, we aren’t actually hiding it from anyone. It’s the same way with those “secret sins.” God already knows we did them all we do by not admitting them to God or bring them out into the open is lessen our relationship with God.
We feel less inclined to speak to him, to share life with him and receive life from him. If we could just let those hidden things out to God and to the people around us whom they have affected a lot of wounds and relationships would be healed. Confess your sins one to another, says James, so you might be healed.
God knows we haven’t washed out hands, he didn’t heard the water running. He doesn’t want us to confess so he can punish us. He wants us to admit it so we can be cleansed and healed. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
May we find the freedom today to come out of hiding and how our relationships with God and each other deepened rather than lessened.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Doing unto others what they have done unto us.
Are we training the rejected to become the rejectors?
It seems like maybe I have shared some of this story before, but it fits so well I have to do it again. I was not part of the popular group in high school. I wanted to be, but I just wasn't. I wasn't a jock I was an artist. The first half of my freshman year was pretty lonely. I was trying to find a group of friends to belong to. It just wasn't working, I wasn't able to break in, I felt like I was on the outskirts looking in.
The second half of the year I found my group of friends. The guys and girls who were also on the outside looking in. We found each other and wouldn't you know it we ended up doing the same thing that had been done to us. We became exclusive. I remember one particular shameful experience when we even kicked out one guy from our group because according to us he was misbehaving in some way. I remember thinking it was wrong then, but doing nothing about it. We just stopped hanging with him and then actually told him to get lost.
In Job 30 for about the first 15 verses or so, this same phenomena seems to be described. There is a group of men in Job's world who have been rejected by society, pushed out to the edges like dogs in a junkyard. They are now creeping back into Job's society and dishing out the same rejection they have experienced from society. Job's name becomes a byword to them, they spit on him and ridicule him.
You might think the group who has experienced rejection would have the most compassion or empathy for those who end up in the same circumstances as they are in. But it seems to go the other way around. The abused become the abusers, the accused become the accusers, the rejected become the rejectors.
I just had a great breakfast with the bible teachers from PAA. We were talking about some of the tough things the students there are going through and wondering how we can better support them. One of the situations we talked about were the kids who were on the outskirts. Some of them are still at this point the friendliest kids on campus, but they are taking a difficult dosage of rejection right now. I hope and pray they don't become bitter and begin doing unto others what has been done to them.
Donald Miller describes an allegory as to why this might be happening. We live in a life boat mentality. The ship of life is going down and we feel the panic of it all. There isn't enough room in the life boat so we have to prove we are worthy to get in. One of the easiest ways for us to do this is reject others, point out why they shouldn't make the cut or just shoulder them out by ignoring them and moving in front of them.
The truth is though, there is plenty of room for everyone in the boat of life and the boat of salvation. This is the paradigm Jesus is trying to teach us. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. There is room in the boat for everyone. In Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. There is nothing to separate us from the love of Christ we are all invited, we are all included, we are all part of the in crowd.
It is a challenge to me to set aside my evaluations of people and welcome all with open arms. It is easy to walk into Walmart and look around at the crowd and think, "man I'm glad I'm not like them." But I am, I'm there too. We are all the same, we are all invited into the same boat.
If you are on the outskirts, don't let those inside teach you how to act, don't become the rejectors. If you are inside open up the circle, make it broader and look for those who are on the outside. We usually aren't being exclusive on purpose, we just don't see. So open your eyes and see, open your heart and love, open your friendship and receive. We just might be surprised by the amazing friendships waiting to be had if we would break open our circle.
It seems like maybe I have shared some of this story before, but it fits so well I have to do it again. I was not part of the popular group in high school. I wanted to be, but I just wasn't. I wasn't a jock I was an artist. The first half of my freshman year was pretty lonely. I was trying to find a group of friends to belong to. It just wasn't working, I wasn't able to break in, I felt like I was on the outskirts looking in.
The second half of the year I found my group of friends. The guys and girls who were also on the outside looking in. We found each other and wouldn't you know it we ended up doing the same thing that had been done to us. We became exclusive. I remember one particular shameful experience when we even kicked out one guy from our group because according to us he was misbehaving in some way. I remember thinking it was wrong then, but doing nothing about it. We just stopped hanging with him and then actually told him to get lost.
In Job 30 for about the first 15 verses or so, this same phenomena seems to be described. There is a group of men in Job's world who have been rejected by society, pushed out to the edges like dogs in a junkyard. They are now creeping back into Job's society and dishing out the same rejection they have experienced from society. Job's name becomes a byword to them, they spit on him and ridicule him.
You might think the group who has experienced rejection would have the most compassion or empathy for those who end up in the same circumstances as they are in. But it seems to go the other way around. The abused become the abusers, the accused become the accusers, the rejected become the rejectors.
I just had a great breakfast with the bible teachers from PAA. We were talking about some of the tough things the students there are going through and wondering how we can better support them. One of the situations we talked about were the kids who were on the outskirts. Some of them are still at this point the friendliest kids on campus, but they are taking a difficult dosage of rejection right now. I hope and pray they don't become bitter and begin doing unto others what has been done to them.
Donald Miller describes an allegory as to why this might be happening. We live in a life boat mentality. The ship of life is going down and we feel the panic of it all. There isn't enough room in the life boat so we have to prove we are worthy to get in. One of the easiest ways for us to do this is reject others, point out why they shouldn't make the cut or just shoulder them out by ignoring them and moving in front of them.
The truth is though, there is plenty of room for everyone in the boat of life and the boat of salvation. This is the paradigm Jesus is trying to teach us. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. There is room in the boat for everyone. In Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. There is nothing to separate us from the love of Christ we are all invited, we are all included, we are all part of the in crowd.
It is a challenge to me to set aside my evaluations of people and welcome all with open arms. It is easy to walk into Walmart and look around at the crowd and think, "man I'm glad I'm not like them." But I am, I'm there too. We are all the same, we are all invited into the same boat.
If you are on the outskirts, don't let those inside teach you how to act, don't become the rejectors. If you are inside open up the circle, make it broader and look for those who are on the outside. We usually aren't being exclusive on purpose, we just don't see. So open your eyes and see, open your heart and love, open your friendship and receive. We just might be surprised by the amazing friendships waiting to be had if we would break open our circle.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Pastor's Prayer retreat day 3: Intimate Friendship (job 29)
How fast do you swing spiritually?
It's amazing to me how in one day I can swing from one end of spiritual high to spiritual low. Today was our day alone with God. So I got up read my bible prayed and then headed for a walk on the beach. A long walk on the beach. I was listening to John Eldredge's book Way of the Wild at Heart. In this book John describes the different stages of the masculine journey; beloved son, cowboy, warrior, lover, king, and sage. I was on the chapter where he talks about the king stage of life. This is the place in life where a man receives his kingdom.
When we were created by God in the beginning we were created with the intention that we would rule this earth. We would be the stewards, we would take care of things here for God (Gen chap 1&2). But we gave our reign up when Adam decided to follow Satan instead of God. Part of God restoring us is he is giving us back the kingdom he intended for us. It is a natural thing for a man to come to the place where he receives a kingdom to serve as ruler. This might come in being promoted at work, beginning to pastor a church, having a family. There are many different realms for this stage.
John goes on to say many men are wounded at kings, it might be beat out of them, maybe they were never given any responsibility growing up, or maybe they were given responsibility too much too soon. If dad left or was absent a young boy might have been made the man of the house too young. Any of these wounds might lead to a man not being able to be the king he is meant to be. We might have a kingdom only to use the spoils for ourselves or we might just not take responsibility at all afraid we will mess it all up. At times like these we might find we have disengaged from the kingdom God has given us.
So John calls men to rule, step up and serve your kingdom, don't let it flounder, don't just hoard the spoils for yourself, get up, get engaged, and serve. I got all excited about this. I have had some rough times at church lately with some criticism and other things. My mind has wandered a little to what might be next in my future. But God has placed me here and given me this kingdom to serve in, so I need to be a king here and now.
I started making plans and visioning for the future. We are going to set the students free to live, its going to be great, its going to be exciting and I am ready to go for it. I was walking so fast along the beach in my excitement I almost missed the most amazing tide pools. Then the tide pools and the life teaming in them jumped right into my vision as well. God wants us to be so full of life. YEAH!!!
I get done with my walk, I go find something to eat, my endorphins go back to normal, and I crash. I had this great vision, I am trying to write it down and make it great. It's just not working. The ideas are there and they are still good, but the steam is gone. I came back to my room, prayed through it, and fell asleep.
How do we go from the highs to the lows so quickly? Job is going through the same thing in chap 29. He is remembering the days when life was great. He would walk into town and everyone would be cheered by his presence. They would listen to what he had to say and find joy when he would show up because he would always offer his help. He took care of the poor and the widows, he gave to those who had need, he fought for the oppressed. He comes to the place where he says he remembers those days when he enjoyed an intimate friendship with God. Where he is now the friendship seems to have gone.
Job had lost his family, his livelihood, his wife, he lost it all and he was feeling the darkness. I lose my endorphins and I feel like I'm in darkness.
God is still there though. God is still here now, he still is my friend. He is the one who made me his friend, he is the one who called me to serve this kingdom. I am glad to have his promises in these times when I don't have the endorphins any more. I know God is still here and I know he will go home with me.
I also know he is already setting students free. He has let me be part of this amazing vision already and he will continue to make it happen through the highs and lows. I lost two student leaders tonight. They are burned out and engaged in other things. I understand and I accept it and I love them deeply. It's sad, I will miss them. I know God is still with them and he is still with me. God is setting us free and he will continue to do so for me and for all my student leaders, both those who go and those who stay.
For good or for bad, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part God is there. And then after death he is still there and we are still his friends each day growing closer and closer, more and more intimate.
It's amazing to me how in one day I can swing from one end of spiritual high to spiritual low. Today was our day alone with God. So I got up read my bible prayed and then headed for a walk on the beach. A long walk on the beach. I was listening to John Eldredge's book Way of the Wild at Heart. In this book John describes the different stages of the masculine journey; beloved son, cowboy, warrior, lover, king, and sage. I was on the chapter where he talks about the king stage of life. This is the place in life where a man receives his kingdom.
When we were created by God in the beginning we were created with the intention that we would rule this earth. We would be the stewards, we would take care of things here for God (Gen chap 1&2). But we gave our reign up when Adam decided to follow Satan instead of God. Part of God restoring us is he is giving us back the kingdom he intended for us. It is a natural thing for a man to come to the place where he receives a kingdom to serve as ruler. This might come in being promoted at work, beginning to pastor a church, having a family. There are many different realms for this stage.
John goes on to say many men are wounded at kings, it might be beat out of them, maybe they were never given any responsibility growing up, or maybe they were given responsibility too much too soon. If dad left or was absent a young boy might have been made the man of the house too young. Any of these wounds might lead to a man not being able to be the king he is meant to be. We might have a kingdom only to use the spoils for ourselves or we might just not take responsibility at all afraid we will mess it all up. At times like these we might find we have disengaged from the kingdom God has given us.
So John calls men to rule, step up and serve your kingdom, don't let it flounder, don't just hoard the spoils for yourself, get up, get engaged, and serve. I got all excited about this. I have had some rough times at church lately with some criticism and other things. My mind has wandered a little to what might be next in my future. But God has placed me here and given me this kingdom to serve in, so I need to be a king here and now.
I started making plans and visioning for the future. We are going to set the students free to live, its going to be great, its going to be exciting and I am ready to go for it. I was walking so fast along the beach in my excitement I almost missed the most amazing tide pools. Then the tide pools and the life teaming in them jumped right into my vision as well. God wants us to be so full of life. YEAH!!!
I get done with my walk, I go find something to eat, my endorphins go back to normal, and I crash. I had this great vision, I am trying to write it down and make it great. It's just not working. The ideas are there and they are still good, but the steam is gone. I came back to my room, prayed through it, and fell asleep.
How do we go from the highs to the lows so quickly? Job is going through the same thing in chap 29. He is remembering the days when life was great. He would walk into town and everyone would be cheered by his presence. They would listen to what he had to say and find joy when he would show up because he would always offer his help. He took care of the poor and the widows, he gave to those who had need, he fought for the oppressed. He comes to the place where he says he remembers those days when he enjoyed an intimate friendship with God. Where he is now the friendship seems to have gone.
Job had lost his family, his livelihood, his wife, he lost it all and he was feeling the darkness. I lose my endorphins and I feel like I'm in darkness.
God is still there though. God is still here now, he still is my friend. He is the one who made me his friend, he is the one who called me to serve this kingdom. I am glad to have his promises in these times when I don't have the endorphins any more. I know God is still here and I know he will go home with me.
I also know he is already setting students free. He has let me be part of this amazing vision already and he will continue to make it happen through the highs and lows. I lost two student leaders tonight. They are burned out and engaged in other things. I understand and I accept it and I love them deeply. It's sad, I will miss them. I know God is still with them and he is still with me. God is setting us free and he will continue to do so for me and for all my student leaders, both those who go and those who stay.
For good or for bad, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part God is there. And then after death he is still there and we are still his friends each day growing closer and closer, more and more intimate.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Pastor's Prayer retreat day 2: Seaching for wisdom (job 28)
Have you ever looked at a group of people and thought, "no way, I am not going to find what I am looking for here?"
When I am looking for inspiration I usually go off by myself somewhere. I will find a new book I am interested in or some music that has moved me in the past. I then typically head out into the wild of nature some where. I'm not really as wild as some of you might be thinking right now. The places I go usually have trails and sometimes it might be the wildness of the waves on the coast of a cozy little town like Cannon beach. But all the same I find a movement in my soul when I encounter something not made by the hands of mankind.
Sometimes I really seem to find the inspiration I am looking for and sometimes it seems to allude me. I get so frustrated on those days. I set this time aside to come out here and find God, find clarity, find vision, find wisdom. I end up disappointed and confused. It almost feels like going to a Chinese restaurant when what you really wanted was a burrito.
In Job chap 28 the search for wisdom is described the same way. Mankind knows how to carve away at the earth, where to find all of the precious gems and metals. We have mines for silver and gold. We find ways to pry out emeralds and rubies we even know how to shine them up and make them sparkle. But when it comes to wisdom, true wisdom we are clueless. What to do with our lives, where to go next, how to understand what is happening to us and why. These are the answers we really want, these are more precious than any of the sparkelies in the earth. We just can't seem to find them.
Job concludes wisdom comes from fearing God and understanding from shunning what is evil. Aligning our lives with God, following his lead turns out to be the wisest thing we can do. The question then comes where do we find out what God has in mind. I ask myself this question every time I come on this prayer retreat. Where will I find God, how will I obtain wisdom this year. So I pack my bag full of too many books to read in three days and prepare to hunker down in my room and really seek God through whatever means necessary and into all hours of the night.
This plan however makes me annoyed at the get-togethers we have with the other pastor's who are here. I get taken away from my all important books and solitude. Each year I am tempted to skip all the gatherings and just disappear into solitude. Today however as I met with some of the other guys who are here. I realized it might be possible to find wisdom in the God fearing men and women around me. The flesh and blood ones sitting right there looking at me rather than just the words on a page written by someone far, far away.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom right? Well there are many people around us who have been living God-fearing lives for a long time. Perhaps they have found more than just the beginning of wisdom and perhaps we just might be able to learn some wisdom from them.
I would encourage you to look around. Notice the people around you, put your book down, and find out what God has taught them.
When I am looking for inspiration I usually go off by myself somewhere. I will find a new book I am interested in or some music that has moved me in the past. I then typically head out into the wild of nature some where. I'm not really as wild as some of you might be thinking right now. The places I go usually have trails and sometimes it might be the wildness of the waves on the coast of a cozy little town like Cannon beach. But all the same I find a movement in my soul when I encounter something not made by the hands of mankind.
Sometimes I really seem to find the inspiration I am looking for and sometimes it seems to allude me. I get so frustrated on those days. I set this time aside to come out here and find God, find clarity, find vision, find wisdom. I end up disappointed and confused. It almost feels like going to a Chinese restaurant when what you really wanted was a burrito.
In Job chap 28 the search for wisdom is described the same way. Mankind knows how to carve away at the earth, where to find all of the precious gems and metals. We have mines for silver and gold. We find ways to pry out emeralds and rubies we even know how to shine them up and make them sparkle. But when it comes to wisdom, true wisdom we are clueless. What to do with our lives, where to go next, how to understand what is happening to us and why. These are the answers we really want, these are more precious than any of the sparkelies in the earth. We just can't seem to find them.
Job concludes wisdom comes from fearing God and understanding from shunning what is evil. Aligning our lives with God, following his lead turns out to be the wisest thing we can do. The question then comes where do we find out what God has in mind. I ask myself this question every time I come on this prayer retreat. Where will I find God, how will I obtain wisdom this year. So I pack my bag full of too many books to read in three days and prepare to hunker down in my room and really seek God through whatever means necessary and into all hours of the night.
This plan however makes me annoyed at the get-togethers we have with the other pastor's who are here. I get taken away from my all important books and solitude. Each year I am tempted to skip all the gatherings and just disappear into solitude. Today however as I met with some of the other guys who are here. I realized it might be possible to find wisdom in the God fearing men and women around me. The flesh and blood ones sitting right there looking at me rather than just the words on a page written by someone far, far away.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom right? Well there are many people around us who have been living God-fearing lives for a long time. Perhaps they have found more than just the beginning of wisdom and perhaps we just might be able to learn some wisdom from them.
I would encourage you to look around. Notice the people around you, put your book down, and find out what God has taught them.
Pastor's Prayer retreat day 1: darkness and light
Have you ever noticed how ominous the ocean is at night?
I arrived at the pastors prayer retreat tonight in Cannon Beach at midnight. It's late and I am physically tired, but my mind was wound up so I brought my bags into my room and went right back out for a walk on the beach. I walked through a bit of the little cozy town of Cannon Beach on my way to the waves and was cheered by the Christmas lights and shop lights still on in the store fronts. I made my way to the beach and started walking across the sand away from the lights of the town and towards the dark ocean with only the breaking foam of the waves visible in the vast blackness. As much as I love the ocean and enjoy night walks on the beach I have to say there is something ominous about the endless expanse of inky void the ocean depths turns into on a foggy cloudless night.
As I came back towards town I was struck with the brightness of the single street light shining down the concrete steps to the sand. I thought to myself, it is good to be called out of the darkness and into the light. It is good to be rescued from the deep covering night engulfing this world and it's inhabitants. I began to think about the promises of scripture, we are holy nation a royal priesthood called out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. Yeah! I thought here is the light of the world calling all of us wondering children out on the night to a place of safety and warmth. All who are weary come home.
But then I thought, we need to go into the darkness to bring others into the light, we can't just sit here in the light and becon. We have to go out there and as long as we don't go so deep into the dark we loose sight of Jesus our light we will be safe. The problem is Jesus isn't waiting back on the shore of safety, he is in the midst of the darkness. He is the light that came into the darkness, he didn't stay in heaven he came here and dwelt among us. So we need to follow him in!
But what if our light gets swallowed up in the darkness and we get lost? What happens if we can't see the safe harbor anymore? The truth is, in Christ we are the light to the world. Paul was called to be the light to the gentiles, in Isaiah the whole nation of Israel is called to be the light to the gentiles. Jesus is the light for the whole world. In Christ we are the light of the world, and a city on the hill can not be hidden.
There are many who has said, "let us run from this evil darkness, take our families and flee into the safe and secluded little cabins in the countryside and wait for Jesus to come." This is putting your light under a bushel! This is not being the light of the world or the salt of the earth!
We must go into and dispel the darkness by shining light like the stars in the heavens as we hold out the word of life. When we go into the places of deep darkness, they are not so dark anymore. When we bring love to the loveless as the apostle John wrote, we are walking in the light.
The darkness of this world need not be so ominous when Christ is shining from the inside out, we become the street lights dispelling the darkness and ushering in the kingdom of light!
I arrived at the pastors prayer retreat tonight in Cannon Beach at midnight. It's late and I am physically tired, but my mind was wound up so I brought my bags into my room and went right back out for a walk on the beach. I walked through a bit of the little cozy town of Cannon Beach on my way to the waves and was cheered by the Christmas lights and shop lights still on in the store fronts. I made my way to the beach and started walking across the sand away from the lights of the town and towards the dark ocean with only the breaking foam of the waves visible in the vast blackness. As much as I love the ocean and enjoy night walks on the beach I have to say there is something ominous about the endless expanse of inky void the ocean depths turns into on a foggy cloudless night.
As I came back towards town I was struck with the brightness of the single street light shining down the concrete steps to the sand. I thought to myself, it is good to be called out of the darkness and into the light. It is good to be rescued from the deep covering night engulfing this world and it's inhabitants. I began to think about the promises of scripture, we are holy nation a royal priesthood called out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. Yeah! I thought here is the light of the world calling all of us wondering children out on the night to a place of safety and warmth. All who are weary come home.
But then I thought, we need to go into the darkness to bring others into the light, we can't just sit here in the light and becon. We have to go out there and as long as we don't go so deep into the dark we loose sight of Jesus our light we will be safe. The problem is Jesus isn't waiting back on the shore of safety, he is in the midst of the darkness. He is the light that came into the darkness, he didn't stay in heaven he came here and dwelt among us. So we need to follow him in!
But what if our light gets swallowed up in the darkness and we get lost? What happens if we can't see the safe harbor anymore? The truth is, in Christ we are the light to the world. Paul was called to be the light to the gentiles, in Isaiah the whole nation of Israel is called to be the light to the gentiles. Jesus is the light for the whole world. In Christ we are the light of the world, and a city on the hill can not be hidden.
There are many who has said, "let us run from this evil darkness, take our families and flee into the safe and secluded little cabins in the countryside and wait for Jesus to come." This is putting your light under a bushel! This is not being the light of the world or the salt of the earth!
We must go into and dispel the darkness by shining light like the stars in the heavens as we hold out the word of life. When we go into the places of deep darkness, they are not so dark anymore. When we bring love to the loveless as the apostle John wrote, we are walking in the light.
The darkness of this world need not be so ominous when Christ is shining from the inside out, we become the street lights dispelling the darkness and ushering in the kingdom of light!
Monday, November 29, 2010
A wreck does not a failure make.
Have you ever given a life long passion up because of a single failure?
When I was in high school I loved to go skiing and later snowboarding. I still enjoy it now although I don't go as much for various reasons. I remember probably my freshman year we went up to Red Mountain in BC with the school ski program. It was a great place to go. The length of the runs far surpassed any other mountain I had been to before. I was skiing with a group of classmates who were not a proficient as I was. They knew it and you better believe I knew it. So they told me about a jump they hadn't been willing to try for being to scared and said I should do it. I wasn't very good at jumps really but I was a sucker for praise so I went for it. The problem is I didn't GO for it. I took it cautiously and didn't get enough speed so as my ski tips went over the lip of the jump they started to go down and ran into a lip at the bottom of the jump. My tips got caught and I went skidding on my face across the snow under the chair lift for all to see.
There are a couple of interesting lessons I can reflect on for this. One is to watch my pride because it did come right before a fall, second just because I failed on this one jump I'm not going to give up on skiing. Third my integrity, value, and worth are not tied to what I do or do not do, whether I fail or succeed.
This is what I pick up in Job chap 27. He says to his accusatory friends, " I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it: my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live." I struggle with this statement it seems so proud and so unrepentant. Job is a tricky subject, on one hand at the end of the book God says, "Job what you said about me was right, and what your friends said was wrong." And yet Job repents of speaking of things he does not understand and even despises himself.
So was what he said right or not? Is holding onto his integrity and righteousness really the right thing to do or not? I have to go back to the context once again. At the beginning of the book God calls job righteous, the suffering he is going through is not caused by any sense of punishment, but rather as a test of the devil. So Job is right to hold on to his integrity. He is right not to give up on his righteousness in the midst of what feels like a failure in life.
God is still there, Job is still the same righteous man who began this story, and Job is right to hang on.
Even when we fall on our faces we don't need to give up. Christ has still made us his righteousness. God placed value on us even when we were sinners, because he died for us while we were sinners while we were his enemies. All we need do is hold on to Jesus and we hold on to our integrity and stand righteous. Our failures need not make us to be failures. We do need to stop living or give up on our relationship with God when we fall or when the world seems to fall on us.
I hope today we can find the courage to hold on even when we feel like letting go.
When I was in high school I loved to go skiing and later snowboarding. I still enjoy it now although I don't go as much for various reasons. I remember probably my freshman year we went up to Red Mountain in BC with the school ski program. It was a great place to go. The length of the runs far surpassed any other mountain I had been to before. I was skiing with a group of classmates who were not a proficient as I was. They knew it and you better believe I knew it. So they told me about a jump they hadn't been willing to try for being to scared and said I should do it. I wasn't very good at jumps really but I was a sucker for praise so I went for it. The problem is I didn't GO for it. I took it cautiously and didn't get enough speed so as my ski tips went over the lip of the jump they started to go down and ran into a lip at the bottom of the jump. My tips got caught and I went skidding on my face across the snow under the chair lift for all to see.
There are a couple of interesting lessons I can reflect on for this. One is to watch my pride because it did come right before a fall, second just because I failed on this one jump I'm not going to give up on skiing. Third my integrity, value, and worth are not tied to what I do or do not do, whether I fail or succeed.
This is what I pick up in Job chap 27. He says to his accusatory friends, " I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it: my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live." I struggle with this statement it seems so proud and so unrepentant. Job is a tricky subject, on one hand at the end of the book God says, "Job what you said about me was right, and what your friends said was wrong." And yet Job repents of speaking of things he does not understand and even despises himself.
So was what he said right or not? Is holding onto his integrity and righteousness really the right thing to do or not? I have to go back to the context once again. At the beginning of the book God calls job righteous, the suffering he is going through is not caused by any sense of punishment, but rather as a test of the devil. So Job is right to hold on to his integrity. He is right not to give up on his righteousness in the midst of what feels like a failure in life.
God is still there, Job is still the same righteous man who began this story, and Job is right to hang on.
Even when we fall on our faces we don't need to give up. Christ has still made us his righteousness. God placed value on us even when we were sinners, because he died for us while we were sinners while we were his enemies. All we need do is hold on to Jesus and we hold on to our integrity and stand righteous. Our failures need not make us to be failures. We do need to stop living or give up on our relationship with God when we fall or when the world seems to fall on us.
I hope today we can find the courage to hold on even when we feel like letting go.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
By what spirit
Can you feel the war of the spirits in your life?
As soon as it begins to get colder in Portland land the fog really comes in. There are so many morning now when I drive my daughter to school through the pea soup. Sometimes visibility is reduced to a couple hundred feet and sometimes its seems its only to the front of the van. Sometimes I feel like my spiritual life is just about as clear.
Do you have the days when the temptation to go the wrong way with life and decisions just feels so strong? The days when it feels easier to stay in the house and watch TV or surf the internet. Why in the world would I want to get out and exercise or interact with any other human being in the world? Yet on the other side you really want to get out and actually do something productive with the day and know you would actually feel better about life if you could.
In Job chap 26, Job asks his advice spilling friends how their words are helpful to anyone around them, if in any way what they are saying is building up those who are weak. Finally he asks by what spirit are you speaking these "words of wisdom." This begs the question for me. By what spirit am I speaking today.
The are both at work in me - the spirit of God and the spirit of the age. In Christ its no long I who sin but the sin within me it is also no longer I who live but Christ who lives with in me. It's something like being multiple personality disorder or something. It is truly confusing at times. When I do the things I don't want to do and don't do the things that I want to do. As Paul would say who can save me from this body of death. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This has a two fold meaning for me. For one when I surrender my life to Christ I can live by the power of his spirit in my life. The second meaning is, when I fall I am so thankful that Jesus has given me the amazing gift of forgiveness and through him I can come back into relationship with God. I am reminded of the thorn in Paul's flesh which God had not chose to take away from Paul. The answer Paul is given? My grace is enough.
Thanks be to God his grace is enough for anything we run ourselves into and thanks be to God he that is in me, Christ, is greater than he who is in the world. So today can be a good day, I love the way Christ works and the way the fog clears from my mind as I seek him.
May we live lives by the power of the Holy Spirit in all we say and do. And when we fall may we run into the arms of grace.
As soon as it begins to get colder in Portland land the fog really comes in. There are so many morning now when I drive my daughter to school through the pea soup. Sometimes visibility is reduced to a couple hundred feet and sometimes its seems its only to the front of the van. Sometimes I feel like my spiritual life is just about as clear.
Do you have the days when the temptation to go the wrong way with life and decisions just feels so strong? The days when it feels easier to stay in the house and watch TV or surf the internet. Why in the world would I want to get out and exercise or interact with any other human being in the world? Yet on the other side you really want to get out and actually do something productive with the day and know you would actually feel better about life if you could.
In Job chap 26, Job asks his advice spilling friends how their words are helpful to anyone around them, if in any way what they are saying is building up those who are weak. Finally he asks by what spirit are you speaking these "words of wisdom." This begs the question for me. By what spirit am I speaking today.
The are both at work in me - the spirit of God and the spirit of the age. In Christ its no long I who sin but the sin within me it is also no longer I who live but Christ who lives with in me. It's something like being multiple personality disorder or something. It is truly confusing at times. When I do the things I don't want to do and don't do the things that I want to do. As Paul would say who can save me from this body of death. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This has a two fold meaning for me. For one when I surrender my life to Christ I can live by the power of his spirit in my life. The second meaning is, when I fall I am so thankful that Jesus has given me the amazing gift of forgiveness and through him I can come back into relationship with God. I am reminded of the thorn in Paul's flesh which God had not chose to take away from Paul. The answer Paul is given? My grace is enough.
Thanks be to God his grace is enough for anything we run ourselves into and thanks be to God he that is in me, Christ, is greater than he who is in the world. So today can be a good day, I love the way Christ works and the way the fog clears from my mind as I seek him.
May we live lives by the power of the Holy Spirit in all we say and do. And when we fall may we run into the arms of grace.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Do maggots talk to God?
Does the view of who we are affect our relationship with God?
This past week I have been asked 3 times why I became a youth pastor. What was it that lead me to make that decision? So 3 times this past week I have told the story of my call to different individuals and groups. The story is of the subtle yet firm way in which God lead me to understand public ministry was the path he had for me to take. Starting with, well I don't really know what it started with probably something I haven't even recognized yet. The things I have recognized start with being on a drama team my senior year in high school. This was my first experience with public ministry anyway. He moved me from speaking lines other people had written to sharing my own thoughts and study my third year in college on a traveling youth ministry team. As I stepped back from sharing my own words back into the world of drama and then back into a major of behind the scenes ministry of counseling he let me feel the loss of the public ministry he was calling me to.
Then he spoke very directly using my own emotional control to get through to me. Panic attacks I had never had before and have never had sense to make me uncomfortable enough to ask him if he wanted a change from me. When I processed the choice of psychology or theology with him in prayer the peace and relief flooding my soul was clear enough, so I accepted my call into public ministry. (Feel free to ask me sometime if you don't actually know the story.)
So here is my question when it comes to Job chap 25, Bildad says, "man is nothing in the sight of God. What man can be righteous, who born of a woman can be pure? The stars were not good enough for God so how can a man be? Man is but a maggot before God the son of man is a worm." Does God talk to maggots? Does God call maggots to share the gospel to the rest of the maggot mankind? I know God cares for all of his creation he sees every sparrow fall, but I don't think he has the same relationship with maggots as he does with man. In fact, after the sparrow thing, Jesus tells us how much more will he look after us.
Sometimes we are still sharing this maggot message with the world around us. Man is nothing in the sight of God, he has the same reaction to us as we do to maggots. Disgusting! Get them out of my sight destroy them before they mature. But this isn't the way God sees us at all. In fact he became the son of man himself. Redemption is accomplished so we can have a relationship with him once again.
Even in Job's time this was true, the system of sacrifice had already been set up pointing to the messiah who was to come and has now come. Even in Job's time God cared about humanity and wanted relationship with them.
Those who take the view of the nothingness of man like Bildad can't have much of a relationship with God. If they believe themselves to be maggots then how can they actually have a conversation with God let alone a relationship. God would be someone to be feared and avoided. Life would be spent groveling just hoping not to get squished.
This is not what God has in mind. We are invited into an intimate and direct relationship with him. To approach boldly before the throne of grace. Jesus teaches us to pray to God as our Father not our exterminator.
May we accept the much more privileged relationship and status God has in mind for us and move from maggots of God, to men and women of God.
This past week I have been asked 3 times why I became a youth pastor. What was it that lead me to make that decision? So 3 times this past week I have told the story of my call to different individuals and groups. The story is of the subtle yet firm way in which God lead me to understand public ministry was the path he had for me to take. Starting with, well I don't really know what it started with probably something I haven't even recognized yet. The things I have recognized start with being on a drama team my senior year in high school. This was my first experience with public ministry anyway. He moved me from speaking lines other people had written to sharing my own thoughts and study my third year in college on a traveling youth ministry team. As I stepped back from sharing my own words back into the world of drama and then back into a major of behind the scenes ministry of counseling he let me feel the loss of the public ministry he was calling me to.
Then he spoke very directly using my own emotional control to get through to me. Panic attacks I had never had before and have never had sense to make me uncomfortable enough to ask him if he wanted a change from me. When I processed the choice of psychology or theology with him in prayer the peace and relief flooding my soul was clear enough, so I accepted my call into public ministry. (Feel free to ask me sometime if you don't actually know the story.)
So here is my question when it comes to Job chap 25, Bildad says, "man is nothing in the sight of God. What man can be righteous, who born of a woman can be pure? The stars were not good enough for God so how can a man be? Man is but a maggot before God the son of man is a worm." Does God talk to maggots? Does God call maggots to share the gospel to the rest of the maggot mankind? I know God cares for all of his creation he sees every sparrow fall, but I don't think he has the same relationship with maggots as he does with man. In fact, after the sparrow thing, Jesus tells us how much more will he look after us.
Sometimes we are still sharing this maggot message with the world around us. Man is nothing in the sight of God, he has the same reaction to us as we do to maggots. Disgusting! Get them out of my sight destroy them before they mature. But this isn't the way God sees us at all. In fact he became the son of man himself. Redemption is accomplished so we can have a relationship with him once again.
Even in Job's time this was true, the system of sacrifice had already been set up pointing to the messiah who was to come and has now come. Even in Job's time God cared about humanity and wanted relationship with them.
Those who take the view of the nothingness of man like Bildad can't have much of a relationship with God. If they believe themselves to be maggots then how can they actually have a conversation with God let alone a relationship. God would be someone to be feared and avoided. Life would be spent groveling just hoping not to get squished.
This is not what God has in mind. We are invited into an intimate and direct relationship with him. To approach boldly before the throne of grace. Jesus teaches us to pray to God as our Father not our exterminator.
May we accept the much more privileged relationship and status God has in mind for us and move from maggots of God, to men and women of God.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Longing for Judgement
Has anything created a longing for justice in you recently?
As I was preparing for my sermon last week I watched some videos online having to do with modern day slavery. I saw one video with a teen girl who had been kidnapped at 11 or 12 from her village in Cambodia and enslaved in the sex trade. Kept in these dingy little rooms her virginity sold three times. The slavers sewed her up twice. If she refused to "serve her clients" she was tied up with a live wire around and inside of her and she was tortured with electric shocks. Finally she refused and the madam of the brothel took out her eye with a pencil. Now disfigured she was useless to the brothel and was turned out into the street. In the interview with CNN she was in a shelter run by a woman who had been rescued when she was young from the same bondage.
There are many other stories like this online and in our world today. For Americans the most shocking part of this problem is it exists here as well. This is not just a third world, far removed problem. There were 12 brothels discovered within a 20 mile radius of the White House.
In Chap 24 Job cries, “Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment?
Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?" This is not usually a phrase we hear coming out of our mouths. We usually think of the judgment of God as something to be feared. Why would we want the judgment of God to come down on our heads? Job shares a precious truth with us in these words. Those who follow God, like Job, have nothing to fear in God's judgment. In fact we have vindication and salvation to long for in God's judgment. Job goes on to describe the situation of the poor and enslaved, naked though they work weaving clothe, hungry though they gather the sheaves of wheat, thirsty though they tread the wine press. Job knows one day the oppressor will be judged and come to nothing and he is asking why God withholds this day.
If we are paying attention to what is happening in the world today we would pray for the same thing. Judgment for the oppressor and vindication for the oppressed. As I read this the need struck me for God's final judgment yes, but also for the part we have to play.
The videos I was watching on CNN were in connection with the people who were engaged in setting the prisoners free. Does that phrase sound familiar to anyone? It should! It's one of the lines of the mission statement of Jesus the messiah. He came to enable the lame to walk, the blind to see, cast out demons, and set the prisoners free. International Justice Mission (IJM) is just one of the modern day abolitionist movements out there. While we will not be able to accomplish the fulfillment of absolute freedom as Christ will when he returns, we have our part to play now.
I encourage you to check out IJM and other movements like it and find out what you can do. A group of high school students at Portland Adventist Academy is currently organizing and student group to do what they can to fight modern day slavery. There are many other causes as well; fighting world hunger and poverty, digging wells for clean water, and sponsoring a child or a hundred children.
As we long for the vindication and complete deliverance of God, may we do our part in the fight against injustice. May the blinders be removed so we might be moved enough to act.
As I was preparing for my sermon last week I watched some videos online having to do with modern day slavery. I saw one video with a teen girl who had been kidnapped at 11 or 12 from her village in Cambodia and enslaved in the sex trade. Kept in these dingy little rooms her virginity sold three times. The slavers sewed her up twice. If she refused to "serve her clients" she was tied up with a live wire around and inside of her and she was tortured with electric shocks. Finally she refused and the madam of the brothel took out her eye with a pencil. Now disfigured she was useless to the brothel and was turned out into the street. In the interview with CNN she was in a shelter run by a woman who had been rescued when she was young from the same bondage.
There are many other stories like this online and in our world today. For Americans the most shocking part of this problem is it exists here as well. This is not just a third world, far removed problem. There were 12 brothels discovered within a 20 mile radius of the White House.
In Chap 24 Job cries, “Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment?
Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?" This is not usually a phrase we hear coming out of our mouths. We usually think of the judgment of God as something to be feared. Why would we want the judgment of God to come down on our heads? Job shares a precious truth with us in these words. Those who follow God, like Job, have nothing to fear in God's judgment. In fact we have vindication and salvation to long for in God's judgment. Job goes on to describe the situation of the poor and enslaved, naked though they work weaving clothe, hungry though they gather the sheaves of wheat, thirsty though they tread the wine press. Job knows one day the oppressor will be judged and come to nothing and he is asking why God withholds this day.
If we are paying attention to what is happening in the world today we would pray for the same thing. Judgment for the oppressor and vindication for the oppressed. As I read this the need struck me for God's final judgment yes, but also for the part we have to play.
The videos I was watching on CNN were in connection with the people who were engaged in setting the prisoners free. Does that phrase sound familiar to anyone? It should! It's one of the lines of the mission statement of Jesus the messiah. He came to enable the lame to walk, the blind to see, cast out demons, and set the prisoners free. International Justice Mission (IJM) is just one of the modern day abolitionist movements out there. While we will not be able to accomplish the fulfillment of absolute freedom as Christ will when he returns, we have our part to play now.
I encourage you to check out IJM and other movements like it and find out what you can do. A group of high school students at Portland Adventist Academy is currently organizing and student group to do what they can to fight modern day slavery. There are many other causes as well; fighting world hunger and poverty, digging wells for clean water, and sponsoring a child or a hundred children.
As we long for the vindication and complete deliverance of God, may we do our part in the fight against injustice. May the blinders be removed so we might be moved enough to act.
Our ever present invisible God
Have you ever felt like God was completely silent and absent only to find out he was right next to you?
I remember one particular dark night of the soul for me. I was pastoring in a five church district in Colorado. I had been reading a lot of books on church growth. How to have a healthy church, meaning there were more and more people joining. All of these strategies of how to make sure the nickels and noses being counted in our weekly gatherings was growing. I got very, very discouraged with all of this. I came to the point of saying, "if all I am doing as a pastor is growing an institution then I don't want any part of it." This conclusion was the spring board into the depths of questioning life, the universe, and everything. I began to wonder if what we thought or believed actually made any difference in our lives. Why do we bother with deep thoughts of faith and mystery? Why not just live by the things we can see, touch, feel, and experience and leave it at that?
I remember my questions dragging me in deeper and darker, until in the midst of the blackness I realized what had brought me there. It was my thoughts. Nothing had changed in my physical world. I was still in the same house, I still had food in the fridge, I was still married to the same lovely wife. All of the physical world was the same. The only thing changed was my mindset. There for what we think, believe, question does effect out lives. "I think therefore I am." It had just drug me down into this pit and now this new realization was bringing me back out again.
Sometimes when we get in these dark places it is very hard for us to find God in them. Perhaps the darkness is much more physical like Job's was or the people in Haiti. But the truth is even when we can't find God he still knows exactly where we are. In Job 23, Job has his complaints and his case to bring before God, but where ever he looks for him, God is not to be found. He can't find him working in any four points of the compass and yet he comes to the realization even though he can't find God;
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily
bread.
God knows exactly where Job is and he knows Job has stayed on the path God has laid out for us. Even when we don't know where God is, he knows where we are. Let that sink in for a moment. Even when we feel lost. God knows where we are. Sense he is the one who can save us this is a good thing.
It reminds me of the old footprints story thing. There are two sets of footprints on the beach and then they go down to one. We look at this and say God why did you leave me during this trying time? Why would you leave when I needed you most? God's reply is that he didn't leave, the reason there is only one set of footprints is because he was carrying us.
Somehow in the midst of my questions about our faith affecting our lives, God was right there showing me through the same way I was sinking into the inky darkness he could lead me into the light. Through thoughts, belief, and a saving faith I could find hope in the very same physical circumstances I was sinking in discouragement.
May we come to see even when we don't know where God is or how he is working, he knows exactly where we are and may we find solace in this faith. The substance of things not seen.
I remember one particular dark night of the soul for me. I was pastoring in a five church district in Colorado. I had been reading a lot of books on church growth. How to have a healthy church, meaning there were more and more people joining. All of these strategies of how to make sure the nickels and noses being counted in our weekly gatherings was growing. I got very, very discouraged with all of this. I came to the point of saying, "if all I am doing as a pastor is growing an institution then I don't want any part of it." This conclusion was the spring board into the depths of questioning life, the universe, and everything. I began to wonder if what we thought or believed actually made any difference in our lives. Why do we bother with deep thoughts of faith and mystery? Why not just live by the things we can see, touch, feel, and experience and leave it at that?
I remember my questions dragging me in deeper and darker, until in the midst of the blackness I realized what had brought me there. It was my thoughts. Nothing had changed in my physical world. I was still in the same house, I still had food in the fridge, I was still married to the same lovely wife. All of the physical world was the same. The only thing changed was my mindset. There for what we think, believe, question does effect out lives. "I think therefore I am." It had just drug me down into this pit and now this new realization was bringing me back out again.
Sometimes when we get in these dark places it is very hard for us to find God in them. Perhaps the darkness is much more physical like Job's was or the people in Haiti. But the truth is even when we can't find God he still knows exactly where we are. In Job 23, Job has his complaints and his case to bring before God, but where ever he looks for him, God is not to be found. He can't find him working in any four points of the compass and yet he comes to the realization even though he can't find God;
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily
bread.
God knows exactly where Job is and he knows Job has stayed on the path God has laid out for us. Even when we don't know where God is, he knows where we are. Let that sink in for a moment. Even when we feel lost. God knows where we are. Sense he is the one who can save us this is a good thing.
It reminds me of the old footprints story thing. There are two sets of footprints on the beach and then they go down to one. We look at this and say God why did you leave me during this trying time? Why would you leave when I needed you most? God's reply is that he didn't leave, the reason there is only one set of footprints is because he was carrying us.
Somehow in the midst of my questions about our faith affecting our lives, God was right there showing me through the same way I was sinking into the inky darkness he could lead me into the light. Through thoughts, belief, and a saving faith I could find hope in the very same physical circumstances I was sinking in discouragement.
May we come to see even when we don't know where God is or how he is working, he knows exactly where we are and may we find solace in this faith. The substance of things not seen.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The glory of God is a man fully alive
How can man actually benefit God? Does God need us?
I was with a group of people the other day and we were sharing our triumphs together. I don't know if you have done this with a group. If you haven't I would highly recommend it. To hear the stories of finishing marathons, going from disappointment to football super star, the moment when everything becomes electric on stage when performing a brand new song. When we share these stories with each other you can feel the exhilaration. It almost feels like you can touch the glory. For me I have moments of when what could have been a very harsh conversation turns into a possibility for friendship and encouragement. I also remember one time when I was preaching about the messiness of our lives and the God who does messy and unexpected things to meet us where we are. At the end of the sermon I offered a prayer for those who wanted to come to the front. It was an amazing blessing to me as those people walked down and knelt to pray with me.
We get these glimpses of glory, when God is there working through us and we can sense it, feel it, know we are in the center of his will. We are God's workmanship Paul says created to do the good works he had in mind for us to do. And when we find ourselves in the middle of that we can shine and radiate the glory of God. Christ in us, scripture says, the hope of glory.
In chap 22 of Job Eliphaz asks the question, can a man benefit God? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? Eliphaz is still trying to get Job to admit his wickedness and then we he comes back to God things will be better, he will get his blessings back. But this is a very ignorant question to ask. Does God need us? No probably not, he could create completely new people to spend time with and he is three in one so he is never really lonely. But do we benefit him? Is a righteous man something of value to God? This answer is a resounding yes!
Why else would Jesus have come to die for us? Why would it matter if he paid the penalty for our sins so we could stand righteous before God. St. Iranaeus is quoted as saying, "The glory of God is a man fully alive." We are made in the image of God. When we shine we are reflecting the glory of God. When we step into the righteousness of Christ and live a life of glory to God in everything we do, whether we eat, drink, or whatever we do we are a benefit to God. We shine his name forth.
We do it even more so when we are daily transformed by him to leave behind old sinful patterns. It really is glorious to see a life changed by the power of God.
May we live lives of glory today, in Christ, changed by the power of his sacrifice and resurrection so those around us might see a glimpse of the glory of God reflected through us.
I was with a group of people the other day and we were sharing our triumphs together. I don't know if you have done this with a group. If you haven't I would highly recommend it. To hear the stories of finishing marathons, going from disappointment to football super star, the moment when everything becomes electric on stage when performing a brand new song. When we share these stories with each other you can feel the exhilaration. It almost feels like you can touch the glory. For me I have moments of when what could have been a very harsh conversation turns into a possibility for friendship and encouragement. I also remember one time when I was preaching about the messiness of our lives and the God who does messy and unexpected things to meet us where we are. At the end of the sermon I offered a prayer for those who wanted to come to the front. It was an amazing blessing to me as those people walked down and knelt to pray with me.
We get these glimpses of glory, when God is there working through us and we can sense it, feel it, know we are in the center of his will. We are God's workmanship Paul says created to do the good works he had in mind for us to do. And when we find ourselves in the middle of that we can shine and radiate the glory of God. Christ in us, scripture says, the hope of glory.
In chap 22 of Job Eliphaz asks the question, can a man benefit God? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? Eliphaz is still trying to get Job to admit his wickedness and then we he comes back to God things will be better, he will get his blessings back. But this is a very ignorant question to ask. Does God need us? No probably not, he could create completely new people to spend time with and he is three in one so he is never really lonely. But do we benefit him? Is a righteous man something of value to God? This answer is a resounding yes!
Why else would Jesus have come to die for us? Why would it matter if he paid the penalty for our sins so we could stand righteous before God. St. Iranaeus is quoted as saying, "The glory of God is a man fully alive." We are made in the image of God. When we shine we are reflecting the glory of God. When we step into the righteousness of Christ and live a life of glory to God in everything we do, whether we eat, drink, or whatever we do we are a benefit to God. We shine his name forth.
We do it even more so when we are daily transformed by him to leave behind old sinful patterns. It really is glorious to see a life changed by the power of God.
May we live lives of glory today, in Christ, changed by the power of his sacrifice and resurrection so those around us might see a glimpse of the glory of God reflected through us.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Bring it on!!!
Bring it on!!!
I was watching "the emperor's new groove" with my daughter the other day. There is this great scene where the two main characters (emperor Kuzco, played by David Spade (who has been turned into a llama) and John Goodman's character Pancha) are lashed to a log floating down a river. There is the expected "oh no" from Pancha which is followed by Kuzco's prediction, "let me guess there is a huge waterfall, with massive sharp rocks at the bottom...bring it on!"
I feel like this is exactly what Job is doing in Chap 21. In Chap 20 Zophar (great name by the way) is explaining to Job the way it has always been, from the beginning of time he says, "the wicked only get pleasure for a short amount of time and then they are snuffed out. Their children have to pay for their wickedness, they are poisoned from the evil that is hiding in their mouths, their desire is never sated, etc. etc."
I love the first line of Job's response in chap 21,"“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on." I love that! OK guys just let me speak here listen for a little while as I speak my piece and then...mock on! Bring it on! He then goes on to tell it like it is. The wicked prosper all around him they see their children established and they go down to the grave in peace. But that's not all Job has to say. Both the man who is well fed and healthy and the man who is skin and bones when they die they lay down in the same earth and the same worms come to eat them.
In other words there are no favorites in this world. Righteous or evil the same fate awaits us in the dust. The wicked are just as likely to get rich and happy as are the righteous in this world. The life circumstances in which we find ourselves has very little to do with whether we are righteous or wicked and much more to do with fortuitous opportunities and hard work.
So what reason do we have to be righteous??? It goes beyond the wealth of this world. It goes into heavenly treasures. Jesus told us not to store up treasures here on earth where moth and rust destroy, but store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy nor thief break in and steal. We end up with the same lot here, whether righteous or wicked when it comes to the grave and the worms.
But after the grave when Jesus returns and the grave is open, then the results are so much different. The wicked to be burned as chaft and righteous to rule in heaven.
So Zophar kind of had it right, he just had the time line wrong. The pleasure of the wicked is short in the span of eternity, but in this little time we have on earth suffering is not a gauge we can use for who is righteous and who is not.
I remember hearing a story once of a missionary who was coming home after 40 years in the mission field. On the same plane was a soldier boy coming home from the war. When they landed there was a huge welcoming party there for the soldier, but there was no one there for the missionary. No fanfare, no banners, no T.V. cameras. The missionary felt a little cheated. What's the deal God, I serve you for all of these years faithfully and I receive nothing at my home coming? Then he heard a small voice say, "You're not home yet."
May we remember today we are not home yet and may we look at the people around us, rich or poor, as people. People who need Jesus and who have the chance for a much better life after the grave than the best this world has to offer. Then we will go home. Even so Lord Jesus, Bring it on!
I was watching "the emperor's new groove" with my daughter the other day. There is this great scene where the two main characters (emperor Kuzco, played by David Spade (who has been turned into a llama) and John Goodman's character Pancha) are lashed to a log floating down a river. There is the expected "oh no" from Pancha which is followed by Kuzco's prediction, "let me guess there is a huge waterfall, with massive sharp rocks at the bottom...bring it on!"
I feel like this is exactly what Job is doing in Chap 21. In Chap 20 Zophar (great name by the way) is explaining to Job the way it has always been, from the beginning of time he says, "the wicked only get pleasure for a short amount of time and then they are snuffed out. Their children have to pay for their wickedness, they are poisoned from the evil that is hiding in their mouths, their desire is never sated, etc. etc."
I love the first line of Job's response in chap 21,"“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on." I love that! OK guys just let me speak here listen for a little while as I speak my piece and then...mock on! Bring it on! He then goes on to tell it like it is. The wicked prosper all around him they see their children established and they go down to the grave in peace. But that's not all Job has to say. Both the man who is well fed and healthy and the man who is skin and bones when they die they lay down in the same earth and the same worms come to eat them.
In other words there are no favorites in this world. Righteous or evil the same fate awaits us in the dust. The wicked are just as likely to get rich and happy as are the righteous in this world. The life circumstances in which we find ourselves has very little to do with whether we are righteous or wicked and much more to do with fortuitous opportunities and hard work.
So what reason do we have to be righteous??? It goes beyond the wealth of this world. It goes into heavenly treasures. Jesus told us not to store up treasures here on earth where moth and rust destroy, but store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy nor thief break in and steal. We end up with the same lot here, whether righteous or wicked when it comes to the grave and the worms.
But after the grave when Jesus returns and the grave is open, then the results are so much different. The wicked to be burned as chaft and righteous to rule in heaven.
So Zophar kind of had it right, he just had the time line wrong. The pleasure of the wicked is short in the span of eternity, but in this little time we have on earth suffering is not a gauge we can use for who is righteous and who is not.
I remember hearing a story once of a missionary who was coming home after 40 years in the mission field. On the same plane was a soldier boy coming home from the war. When they landed there was a huge welcoming party there for the soldier, but there was no one there for the missionary. No fanfare, no banners, no T.V. cameras. The missionary felt a little cheated. What's the deal God, I serve you for all of these years faithfully and I receive nothing at my home coming? Then he heard a small voice say, "You're not home yet."
May we remember today we are not home yet and may we look at the people around us, rich or poor, as people. People who need Jesus and who have the chance for a much better life after the grave than the best this world has to offer. Then we will go home. Even so Lord Jesus, Bring it on!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Brittany Spears and Job
Have you ever said this phrase: "He/She just needs Jesus?"
I remember when Brittany Spears was going through all of her craziness. I don't know if it is over yet or not, but she isn't in the headlines like she used to be. While she was all over the news feeds for poor parenting choices and shaving her head we had a small group meeting in our home. At one of our small group meetings we were talking about crazy Brittany and all she was going through. One of our group made the suggestion we pray for her rather than shaking our heads at her. I think this is a very good suggestion I am sure Brittany needs prayer just as much as the rest of us. As I think back on it now though, there seemed to be this inference that Brittany needed Jesus, like she didn't have him yet. If she just knew God then things would be working out better for her, she would be making better decisions.
This suggestion feels similar to what is happening in Job chap 18. Bildad is once again going off about how the wicked never prosper, their days are cut short, and their wealth is taken away; all the horrible things that happen to the wicked. He finishes his description with the statement, "such is the place of the one who knows not God." The insinuation can't be missed. Bildad is telling Job, you don't know God. Job you need Jesus, let me pray for you. If you just knew God then these horrible things wouldn't be happening to you.
I remember feeling so kind and generous about our decision to pray for Brittany instead of condemning her like the rest of the world seemed to be doing. We knew she just needed Jesus.
Job responds to Bildad's accusation in chap 19. He continues to assert it is God who has brought this suffering on him. God is tearing him apart, he has only escaped death by the skin of his teeth. His friends have now betrayed him as well, bringing no comfort and accusing him of not knowing God. In the middle of this chapter, and the middle of the whole book of Job by the way, Job cries out,"25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Don't you understand my foolish friends. I know God! I know he lives and I know I will see him. After I have perished, when my flesh has failed, after I have been rotting in the grave He will bring me back and I will see him.
Does Job need God? Yes! He already has God. He believes in his redeemer, he holds on to his redeemer, he knows he will see God and he longs for it. When we see people in hard situations in life and we think, "wow, that person needs Jesus." Who is to say they don't already have him.
"But Brittany was making these horrible decisions and she obviously wasn't doing to right thing for herself or her children." Are any of us perfect? Have you lived today without making a mistake, something you wish you could have done differently?
When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus he told the pharisees, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." I wonder sometimes today if our stones are wrapped in prayers. I am not saying we shouldn't pray for people who are in need or in a hard place in life, please do pray. I'm just saying perhaps we need to check out hearts when we pray. Are we assuming less of their connection with God? Or are we truly praying out of compassion and a heart felt empathy for them.
I am reminded of an old Steve Camp song, "Don't tell them Jesus loves them until your ready to love them too. Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through. With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do. Don't tell them Jesus loves them, till your ready to love them too."
May we recognize today, we all need Jesus and knowing him is eternal life even when it doesn't feel like it or look like it from the outside. Pray for me and I will pray for you as well. In fact I hope Brittany is praying for us too.
I remember when Brittany Spears was going through all of her craziness. I don't know if it is over yet or not, but she isn't in the headlines like she used to be. While she was all over the news feeds for poor parenting choices and shaving her head we had a small group meeting in our home. At one of our small group meetings we were talking about crazy Brittany and all she was going through. One of our group made the suggestion we pray for her rather than shaking our heads at her. I think this is a very good suggestion I am sure Brittany needs prayer just as much as the rest of us. As I think back on it now though, there seemed to be this inference that Brittany needed Jesus, like she didn't have him yet. If she just knew God then things would be working out better for her, she would be making better decisions.
This suggestion feels similar to what is happening in Job chap 18. Bildad is once again going off about how the wicked never prosper, their days are cut short, and their wealth is taken away; all the horrible things that happen to the wicked. He finishes his description with the statement, "such is the place of the one who knows not God." The insinuation can't be missed. Bildad is telling Job, you don't know God. Job you need Jesus, let me pray for you. If you just knew God then these horrible things wouldn't be happening to you.
I remember feeling so kind and generous about our decision to pray for Brittany instead of condemning her like the rest of the world seemed to be doing. We knew she just needed Jesus.
Job responds to Bildad's accusation in chap 19. He continues to assert it is God who has brought this suffering on him. God is tearing him apart, he has only escaped death by the skin of his teeth. His friends have now betrayed him as well, bringing no comfort and accusing him of not knowing God. In the middle of this chapter, and the middle of the whole book of Job by the way, Job cries out,"25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Don't you understand my foolish friends. I know God! I know he lives and I know I will see him. After I have perished, when my flesh has failed, after I have been rotting in the grave He will bring me back and I will see him.
Does Job need God? Yes! He already has God. He believes in his redeemer, he holds on to his redeemer, he knows he will see God and he longs for it. When we see people in hard situations in life and we think, "wow, that person needs Jesus." Who is to say they don't already have him.
"But Brittany was making these horrible decisions and she obviously wasn't doing to right thing for herself or her children." Are any of us perfect? Have you lived today without making a mistake, something you wish you could have done differently?
When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus he told the pharisees, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." I wonder sometimes today if our stones are wrapped in prayers. I am not saying we shouldn't pray for people who are in need or in a hard place in life, please do pray. I'm just saying perhaps we need to check out hearts when we pray. Are we assuming less of their connection with God? Or are we truly praying out of compassion and a heart felt empathy for them.
I am reminded of an old Steve Camp song, "Don't tell them Jesus loves them until your ready to love them too. Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through. With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do. Don't tell them Jesus loves them, till your ready to love them too."
May we recognize today, we all need Jesus and knowing him is eternal life even when it doesn't feel like it or look like it from the outside. Pray for me and I will pray for you as well. In fact I hope Brittany is praying for us too.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Where's the Love?
How important is friendship to you?
I don't know if you have every spent any time around drunk people. There are some mean drunks out there to be sure, but there are also some really loving drunks. Have you ever had the experience of an intoxicated fellow leaning on your shoulder and breathing out through his stench of breath the words of his undying love? "I love you man...no i really do!" On the opposite side have you ever walked into a church lobby and gotten nothing more than an evil eye and wondered if you were dressed correctly or if you had toilet paper stuck to your shoe? Why is it the most intoxicated are sometimes more loving than the most righteous?
I wonder sometimes if we are so concerned with the theology of the issue and finding the right answer to describe the difficult situation with which we are faced we forget the person in the middle of the situation. In Job 17, Job is asking God to put up the security for him in court because he friends don't seem to have any support for him. Even though Job has just said repeatedly, God is causing this suffering to him. He still finds more support from his "attacker" than from his friends. He even goes so far as to say those who betray their friends leave a legacy of abuse for their children (the message).
What kind of legacy are we leaving for our children? What kind of example do we set if we the righteous church folk great people with looks of judgment, when we great each other with these looks. And it goes both ways, I don't find myself judging the less than appropriate who walk through the doors of the church, but I sure do find myself judging those who are judging them. Its like saying I'm racist against racists.
I would much rather have my daughter see me greeting people with, "I love you man...I really do!" My hope would be I wouldn't have to be drunk in order to do that.
May we offer friendship rather than analysis and condemnation, may we build one another up in love. And may our children see our love and do likewise as our legacy.
I don't know if you have every spent any time around drunk people. There are some mean drunks out there to be sure, but there are also some really loving drunks. Have you ever had the experience of an intoxicated fellow leaning on your shoulder and breathing out through his stench of breath the words of his undying love? "I love you man...no i really do!" On the opposite side have you ever walked into a church lobby and gotten nothing more than an evil eye and wondered if you were dressed correctly or if you had toilet paper stuck to your shoe? Why is it the most intoxicated are sometimes more loving than the most righteous?
I wonder sometimes if we are so concerned with the theology of the issue and finding the right answer to describe the difficult situation with which we are faced we forget the person in the middle of the situation. In Job 17, Job is asking God to put up the security for him in court because he friends don't seem to have any support for him. Even though Job has just said repeatedly, God is causing this suffering to him. He still finds more support from his "attacker" than from his friends. He even goes so far as to say those who betray their friends leave a legacy of abuse for their children (the message).
What kind of legacy are we leaving for our children? What kind of example do we set if we the righteous church folk great people with looks of judgment, when we great each other with these looks. And it goes both ways, I don't find myself judging the less than appropriate who walk through the doors of the church, but I sure do find myself judging those who are judging them. Its like saying I'm racist against racists.
I would much rather have my daughter see me greeting people with, "I love you man...I really do!" My hope would be I wouldn't have to be drunk in order to do that.
May we offer friendship rather than analysis and condemnation, may we build one another up in love. And may our children see our love and do likewise as our legacy.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Behind the curtain
How many times do we only look at the surface and assume?
Do you remember the first time you saw the wizard of Oz? Me neither, but I do have this impression in my mind of the fiery floating green head of the wizard with the booming voice and all. And I remember little Toto pulling back the curtain to reveal the little nervous man behind it. When I was in seminary I did a cultural exegesis paper on the movie Constantine with Keanu Reeves. At one point in the movie Keanu goes into Hell. What hell ends up being is just a different dimensional view of the earth. As he looks over the streets of LA the same buildings and palm trees are there but there are burning and falling apart. While I don't believe in ever burning hell and I don't believe anyone is burning as we speak, there was a certain ring of truth to this unveiling.
In Job 16, job cries says his adversary has sharpened his eyes against me he is gnashing him with his teeth and made him desolate. The typical translation shows Job's words as they are with no interpretation and it seems God is the one Job is blaming for all of these things happening to him. And really this is what Job is doing, he sees God as sovereign and responsible for what is happening. But is was very interesting when I read the amplified version. The translator seems to pull back the curtain and let us see what is happening behind the scenes. Let me show you the comparison.
Job 16:7 (ESV) Surely now God has worn me out;he has made desolate all my company.8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face. 9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me;
he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me. 10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have pstruck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me. 11 God gives me up to the ungodly
and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
Job 16:7 (Amplified) 7But now [God] has taken away my strength. You [O Lord] have made desolate all my family and associates. 8You have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness [and wretched state of body] are further evidence [against me]; [they] testify to my face. 9[[a]My adversary Satan] has torn [me] in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me. 10[The forces of evil] have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me.(A) 11God has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked (Satan's host).
While I think the translator took some interpretive liberty with the language he has effectively pulled back the curtain on what is really happening. We know this because of the context at the beginning of the book and theology from the rest of scripture. Sure enough the Devil is the one afflicting Job. The accuser of the brethren is the devil. He is the prosecuting attorney on the case. This is what the Devil does.
How often do we forget this? How often to we look at our lives and say, well I guess today just isn't a lucky day. Or we get into the pain of life and blame ourselves and our mistakes or the sin of others. But if we could remember to pull back the curtain we would see the dimension of the spiritual battle going on around us. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist."
The good news though is the devil isn't the only one behind the spiritual veil. In the end of Chap 16 Job cries out for an advocate with the Father. He wants his defense lawyer in this court. When the curtain is pulled back we also get to see Jesus our advocate in heaven, our intercessor, our high priest. Evil is not the only power playing behind the curtain. Jesus is there. The holy angels of God are there waging war with us and for us. Fight for us today God of the angel armies!!!
May our eyes be opened today to the scene behind the curtain and see the evil we so often ignore and blame each other for and even more so the God who fights for us, who defends us, protects us, and sustains us. Jesus has already won the war so now he sustains us through the battle seeking to rescue as many as possible until the day comes when he will deliver us and vanquish evil for good.
Do you remember the first time you saw the wizard of Oz? Me neither, but I do have this impression in my mind of the fiery floating green head of the wizard with the booming voice and all. And I remember little Toto pulling back the curtain to reveal the little nervous man behind it. When I was in seminary I did a cultural exegesis paper on the movie Constantine with Keanu Reeves. At one point in the movie Keanu goes into Hell. What hell ends up being is just a different dimensional view of the earth. As he looks over the streets of LA the same buildings and palm trees are there but there are burning and falling apart. While I don't believe in ever burning hell and I don't believe anyone is burning as we speak, there was a certain ring of truth to this unveiling.
In Job 16, job cries says his adversary has sharpened his eyes against me he is gnashing him with his teeth and made him desolate. The typical translation shows Job's words as they are with no interpretation and it seems God is the one Job is blaming for all of these things happening to him. And really this is what Job is doing, he sees God as sovereign and responsible for what is happening. But is was very interesting when I read the amplified version. The translator seems to pull back the curtain and let us see what is happening behind the scenes. Let me show you the comparison.
Job 16:7 (ESV) Surely now God has worn me out;he has made desolate all my company.8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face. 9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me;
he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me. 10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have pstruck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me. 11 God gives me up to the ungodly
and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
Job 16:7 (Amplified) 7But now [God] has taken away my strength. You [O Lord] have made desolate all my family and associates. 8You have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness [and wretched state of body] are further evidence [against me]; [they] testify to my face. 9[[a]My adversary Satan] has torn [me] in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me. 10[The forces of evil] have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me.(A) 11God has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked (Satan's host).
While I think the translator took some interpretive liberty with the language he has effectively pulled back the curtain on what is really happening. We know this because of the context at the beginning of the book and theology from the rest of scripture. Sure enough the Devil is the one afflicting Job. The accuser of the brethren is the devil. He is the prosecuting attorney on the case. This is what the Devil does.
How often do we forget this? How often to we look at our lives and say, well I guess today just isn't a lucky day. Or we get into the pain of life and blame ourselves and our mistakes or the sin of others. But if we could remember to pull back the curtain we would see the dimension of the spiritual battle going on around us. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist."
The good news though is the devil isn't the only one behind the spiritual veil. In the end of Chap 16 Job cries out for an advocate with the Father. He wants his defense lawyer in this court. When the curtain is pulled back we also get to see Jesus our advocate in heaven, our intercessor, our high priest. Evil is not the only power playing behind the curtain. Jesus is there. The holy angels of God are there waging war with us and for us. Fight for us today God of the angel armies!!!
May our eyes be opened today to the scene behind the curtain and see the evil we so often ignore and blame each other for and even more so the God who fights for us, who defends us, protects us, and sustains us. Jesus has already won the war so now he sustains us through the battle seeking to rescue as many as possible until the day comes when he will deliver us and vanquish evil for good.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Humanity and Rightous - oxymoron?
Have you ever felt how light righteousness really is?
It was a beautiful sunny day and my family was at the beach. I don't remember for sure how old I was maybe 9 or 10. It was the first time I had ever been boogie boarding. I was so stoked. One of my mom's cousins had a miniature surfboard and I got to use it instead of those cheesey foam boogie boards everyone else had to use. I was having the time of my life catching waves and riding them in on my stomach. Then something happened that I will never forget. I was headed back out into the waves and a bigger wave was coming in. I didn't know how to dive under the wave and I wasn't in the right place to catch it and ride it in. So for the first time I experienced undertow and just how hard a wave can slam you into the sand. I thought I might not make it. I scrambled to the top of the water after having the wind knocked out of me and sand ground into my chest. The problem was as soon as I got the top and caught a breath the next wave was crashing down and I was thrown back against the sandy bottom for the second time. Now I was really scared I wouldn't be able to get out.
The weight of the water was immense. But it is nothing compared to the weight of being a sinner on my heart and mind. In Job 15 another "wonderful" friend of Job speaks up to tell Job once again there is no way he can be righteous before God. There is no way man can ever stand before God as righteous, if God didn't consider the holy ones of heaven righteous enough, how can we even think he would look at a man that way. Job you must give up this talk of being blameless before the Lord. You must realize all of the weight of this hardship being piled upon your shoulders is because of your sin. Wake up Job and repent.
Job as a human being lives under the decision of Adam and sin is part of his life. The bible tells us all have fallen short of the glory of God. We all have sinned, Job has sinned. But Job actively participated in the story of redemption. We know from the beginning of the book he offered sacrifices for himself and his children. This was all the people before Jesus' sacrifice had. They repented on the head of the lambs and goats and they were forgiven. Job was forgiven and by the blood of Jesus foreshadowed by the blood of the lamb Job was righteous before the Lord.
How many times have we stepped into the pulpit or sat down at a bible study and echoed the words of job's friend. You are human, you are sinful, you will forever be a sinner, you must repent. We need to repent, we need forgiveness for our sins. We need to fall at the foot of the cross and accept Jesus as our savior. But we don't need to stay there. Jesus didn't stay on the cross, he didn't stay in the grave. He was resurrected to new life. And we are to do the same. To quote John Eldredge the greatest lie in the church today is that we are only sinners saved by grace. It is true we are, but we are so much more. We are new creations in Christ.
Job was no longer a sinner, he was a new creation in Christ. He was a child of God, he was a righteous man standing before a righteous God. Paul doesn't greet the people in his letters "to the sinners in Galatia write." He greets them as SAINTS!!!
Do we still struggle with sin? Yes. Do we need to die daily? Yes. But as Paul says in Romans it is no longer us who sins but the sin that lives within us. We are no longer sinners, its not our identity anymore. We are saints in Christ. Paul also says it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me. True we can not take credit for being righteous in any way. Jesus did it all for us he trades his life for ours. But HE DID IT!!! In Christ we are saints we are new creations! Our name is no longer sinner, IT IS CHRISTIAN!
Can you feel the weight lift off of you shoulders? Can you feel the force of the pounding waves of condemnation finally release?
If there are any preachers out there reading this blog today. I want to encourage you to stop calling yourselves sinners from the pulpit unless you have not repented. If you have repented and accepted the blood of Jesus then your identity has changed. Every time you get up there and do not claim your new identity in Christ you are heaping the weight of condemnation on your congregation. The scripture is clear there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So if you still believe you are only a sinner saved by grace...STOP IT! You are a new creation in Christ and there is freedom and a burden to be lifted from you and those who listen to you!
May you find the weight of the waves of condemnation lifted from your soul today!
It was a beautiful sunny day and my family was at the beach. I don't remember for sure how old I was maybe 9 or 10. It was the first time I had ever been boogie boarding. I was so stoked. One of my mom's cousins had a miniature surfboard and I got to use it instead of those cheesey foam boogie boards everyone else had to use. I was having the time of my life catching waves and riding them in on my stomach. Then something happened that I will never forget. I was headed back out into the waves and a bigger wave was coming in. I didn't know how to dive under the wave and I wasn't in the right place to catch it and ride it in. So for the first time I experienced undertow and just how hard a wave can slam you into the sand. I thought I might not make it. I scrambled to the top of the water after having the wind knocked out of me and sand ground into my chest. The problem was as soon as I got the top and caught a breath the next wave was crashing down and I was thrown back against the sandy bottom for the second time. Now I was really scared I wouldn't be able to get out.
The weight of the water was immense. But it is nothing compared to the weight of being a sinner on my heart and mind. In Job 15 another "wonderful" friend of Job speaks up to tell Job once again there is no way he can be righteous before God. There is no way man can ever stand before God as righteous, if God didn't consider the holy ones of heaven righteous enough, how can we even think he would look at a man that way. Job you must give up this talk of being blameless before the Lord. You must realize all of the weight of this hardship being piled upon your shoulders is because of your sin. Wake up Job and repent.
Job as a human being lives under the decision of Adam and sin is part of his life. The bible tells us all have fallen short of the glory of God. We all have sinned, Job has sinned. But Job actively participated in the story of redemption. We know from the beginning of the book he offered sacrifices for himself and his children. This was all the people before Jesus' sacrifice had. They repented on the head of the lambs and goats and they were forgiven. Job was forgiven and by the blood of Jesus foreshadowed by the blood of the lamb Job was righteous before the Lord.
How many times have we stepped into the pulpit or sat down at a bible study and echoed the words of job's friend. You are human, you are sinful, you will forever be a sinner, you must repent. We need to repent, we need forgiveness for our sins. We need to fall at the foot of the cross and accept Jesus as our savior. But we don't need to stay there. Jesus didn't stay on the cross, he didn't stay in the grave. He was resurrected to new life. And we are to do the same. To quote John Eldredge the greatest lie in the church today is that we are only sinners saved by grace. It is true we are, but we are so much more. We are new creations in Christ.
Job was no longer a sinner, he was a new creation in Christ. He was a child of God, he was a righteous man standing before a righteous God. Paul doesn't greet the people in his letters "to the sinners in Galatia write." He greets them as SAINTS!!!
Do we still struggle with sin? Yes. Do we need to die daily? Yes. But as Paul says in Romans it is no longer us who sins but the sin that lives within us. We are no longer sinners, its not our identity anymore. We are saints in Christ. Paul also says it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me. True we can not take credit for being righteous in any way. Jesus did it all for us he trades his life for ours. But HE DID IT!!! In Christ we are saints we are new creations! Our name is no longer sinner, IT IS CHRISTIAN!
Can you feel the weight lift off of you shoulders? Can you feel the force of the pounding waves of condemnation finally release?
If there are any preachers out there reading this blog today. I want to encourage you to stop calling yourselves sinners from the pulpit unless you have not repented. If you have repented and accepted the blood of Jesus then your identity has changed. Every time you get up there and do not claim your new identity in Christ you are heaping the weight of condemnation on your congregation. The scripture is clear there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So if you still believe you are only a sinner saved by grace...STOP IT! You are a new creation in Christ and there is freedom and a burden to be lifted from you and those who listen to you!
May you find the weight of the waves of condemnation lifted from your soul today!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Creation of His Hands
Do you know God's longing for you?
Lorelai and I were sitting on the couch this afternoon watching the new toy story, which is really well done by the way. Lorelai is a restless movie watcher as children should be. She changes position from time to time. At one point she was sitting on my lap absent mindedly sucking one of her thumbs and the other hand was matching mine finger tip to finger tip. Her sweet little hand measured opposed to my large one. It was one of those sweet moments of longing. One of those moments when I am so glad to be a father and to have this little creation of mine sitting in my lap.
Chapter 14 of Job brings forward Jobs despair of life, but not eternal life. He desires for this life to be over. Convinced God is the one bringing all of this trial and suffering on him, Job asks God to let him be hidden away in the grave. A tree might be cut down but if the rains come it can spring up shoots of new life. This is not so with man he lies in the grave. At first glimpse I though perhaps Job didn't believe in the resurrection, but the chapter goes on to point out he very clearly does. He asks God to lay him in the grave and forget about him until the time when all his sin is bound up in a bag and forgotten, when sin is done. Then Job says God will long for the creation of his hands.
Have you ever thought about this before? God longing for us? I got just a glimpse of that with Lorelai lying right there in my lap hand in hand. I can't imagine the longing God has for the creation of his hands being separated from them for all of these years. Given this I can also imagine the pain the heavenly Father is feeling as the creation of his hands, his child Job cries out for God not to think of him and to leave him in peace. And yet perhaps he sees Job reaching up his small hand trying to compare his infinitely small hand to the immense hand of the creator. Stretching out his small understanding to try and understand the plan God has in mind with all of this.
I think of the smallness of Lorelai's hand in mine and I think of the little bit of understanding I have compared to God's knowledge and infinite wisdom in knowing me and the plan for my life. God's knowledge of the plan of history and when the time will come for him to raise up the dry stump of humanity once again restoring us to life.
My prayer today it that I might reach up to my father in heaven and he would have a tender moment of longing for me as I had for Lorelai today sitting on my lap. My you stretch out your hand today and find the heart of a creator longing for the creation of his hands.
Lorelai and I were sitting on the couch this afternoon watching the new toy story, which is really well done by the way. Lorelai is a restless movie watcher as children should be. She changes position from time to time. At one point she was sitting on my lap absent mindedly sucking one of her thumbs and the other hand was matching mine finger tip to finger tip. Her sweet little hand measured opposed to my large one. It was one of those sweet moments of longing. One of those moments when I am so glad to be a father and to have this little creation of mine sitting in my lap.
Chapter 14 of Job brings forward Jobs despair of life, but not eternal life. He desires for this life to be over. Convinced God is the one bringing all of this trial and suffering on him, Job asks God to let him be hidden away in the grave. A tree might be cut down but if the rains come it can spring up shoots of new life. This is not so with man he lies in the grave. At first glimpse I though perhaps Job didn't believe in the resurrection, but the chapter goes on to point out he very clearly does. He asks God to lay him in the grave and forget about him until the time when all his sin is bound up in a bag and forgotten, when sin is done. Then Job says God will long for the creation of his hands.
Have you ever thought about this before? God longing for us? I got just a glimpse of that with Lorelai lying right there in my lap hand in hand. I can't imagine the longing God has for the creation of his hands being separated from them for all of these years. Given this I can also imagine the pain the heavenly Father is feeling as the creation of his hands, his child Job cries out for God not to think of him and to leave him in peace. And yet perhaps he sees Job reaching up his small hand trying to compare his infinitely small hand to the immense hand of the creator. Stretching out his small understanding to try and understand the plan God has in mind with all of this.
I think of the smallness of Lorelai's hand in mine and I think of the little bit of understanding I have compared to God's knowledge and infinite wisdom in knowing me and the plan for my life. God's knowledge of the plan of history and when the time will come for him to raise up the dry stump of humanity once again restoring us to life.
My prayer today it that I might reach up to my father in heaven and he would have a tender moment of longing for me as I had for Lorelai today sitting on my lap. My you stretch out your hand today and find the heart of a creator longing for the creation of his hands.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Scruff of the Neck
Does making a decision for Christ at an early age really help?
My sophomore year in college I was in a world of confusion when it came to my relationship with God. I was leading - co-directing a christian drama group going around to different churches to perform and share the message of the gospel in a memorable and dramatic way. I was turning my radio tuning more and more to a christian station on a daily basis. I was attending a small group from time to time. On the other side, I wasn't sure about the existence of God or at least his involvement in my life which largely came from my desire to continue in my addiction of pornography and sleeping with my girlfriend at the time. If God didn't exist, then I can do whatever I want as much as I want to.
I took a trip on spring break to visit some friends in Oregon. This trip was the epitome of my two sided life. I was driving down the road fantasizing about hooking up with a girl at some gas station who I would never see again and not sure if I even wanted to come back to school. At the same time I was praying God would somehow use me to reach out to my friends I was going to see. And here is the kicker, I had submitted an application to join a traveling youth ministry team for the next year of my life. So while I'm in this massive lust spiral I am still looking for the opportunity of sharing Christ with others.
In the middle of this trip which included camping with friends who rolled their own cigarettes, target practice with 22s, life change stories shared around the campfire, and naively walking out of a store in which my friends had used their five finger discount. I get a call from the director of the ministry. Cory, he says, You're in I will see you in June. God was there the whole time watching me. He let me go so far, and then I feel like he grabbed me by the back of the collar and said, "that's far enough come on back now I have a job for you to do."
In Job 12 through the midst of his lament, Job affirms the sovereignty of God. God is the one who takes of shackles put on by kings, He leads priest away stripped and overthrows men long established. He makes nations great, and destroys them. In other words God is in charge and there is really nothing we can do about it. At least not in the outward circumstances. We can choose to reject his plan with in our hearts or to accept it.
I was baptized at 13 and I knew then I wanted to follow God. God took me at my word and at my vow even though I didn't know what was coming next. He kept a close eye on me when I wasn't sure if he was even around. When I was leaning out over the edge of the cliff he pulled me back on and gave me the opportunity to turn back around. It was still my choice what I was going to do with it. But he set it up for me and brought me back.
I am glad God is sovereign in my life, I don't know where I would have been without him but I got a good look over the cliff. He pulled me back again just last night. I was getting ready to take the plunge in to mediocrity and maintenance mode here in my church. But God caught me by the back of the neck once again and I was tipping forward and reminded me through a wonderful new mentor - get back your fire, your passion, your vision. You can do this.
May God grab you by the back of the neck today and keep you from falling, because...well...he promised to.
My sophomore year in college I was in a world of confusion when it came to my relationship with God. I was leading - co-directing a christian drama group going around to different churches to perform and share the message of the gospel in a memorable and dramatic way. I was turning my radio tuning more and more to a christian station on a daily basis. I was attending a small group from time to time. On the other side, I wasn't sure about the existence of God or at least his involvement in my life which largely came from my desire to continue in my addiction of pornography and sleeping with my girlfriend at the time. If God didn't exist, then I can do whatever I want as much as I want to.
I took a trip on spring break to visit some friends in Oregon. This trip was the epitome of my two sided life. I was driving down the road fantasizing about hooking up with a girl at some gas station who I would never see again and not sure if I even wanted to come back to school. At the same time I was praying God would somehow use me to reach out to my friends I was going to see. And here is the kicker, I had submitted an application to join a traveling youth ministry team for the next year of my life. So while I'm in this massive lust spiral I am still looking for the opportunity of sharing Christ with others.
In the middle of this trip which included camping with friends who rolled their own cigarettes, target practice with 22s, life change stories shared around the campfire, and naively walking out of a store in which my friends had used their five finger discount. I get a call from the director of the ministry. Cory, he says, You're in I will see you in June. God was there the whole time watching me. He let me go so far, and then I feel like he grabbed me by the back of the collar and said, "that's far enough come on back now I have a job for you to do."
In Job 12 through the midst of his lament, Job affirms the sovereignty of God. God is the one who takes of shackles put on by kings, He leads priest away stripped and overthrows men long established. He makes nations great, and destroys them. In other words God is in charge and there is really nothing we can do about it. At least not in the outward circumstances. We can choose to reject his plan with in our hearts or to accept it.
I was baptized at 13 and I knew then I wanted to follow God. God took me at my word and at my vow even though I didn't know what was coming next. He kept a close eye on me when I wasn't sure if he was even around. When I was leaning out over the edge of the cliff he pulled me back on and gave me the opportunity to turn back around. It was still my choice what I was going to do with it. But he set it up for me and brought me back.
I am glad God is sovereign in my life, I don't know where I would have been without him but I got a good look over the cliff. He pulled me back again just last night. I was getting ready to take the plunge in to mediocrity and maintenance mode here in my church. But God caught me by the back of the neck once again and I was tipping forward and reminded me through a wonderful new mentor - get back your fire, your passion, your vision. You can do this.
May God grab you by the back of the neck today and keep you from falling, because...well...he promised to.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What do we know?
Have you ever cautioned someone else on explaining the mystery of God and then done so yourself? Well here I go.
My daughter and I have been having an argument the last couple of days. She is four and she learned at pre-school about deciduous trees. She is claiming her teacher told her the trees with needles are the deciduous ones and the ones with leaves are not. I have been trying to get through to her the concept the trees with needles are evergreens - see it even has green in its name. Look outside and see which trees are still green. She is convinced she is right and I am wrong or "just joking dad." She firmly believes what she has gotten into her head and it not letting it rest. Every time we get in the car and she sees an evergreen she points to it and says,"that one is deciduous."
Have you ever gotten so sure of something only to find out you are way off base, or really had no idea of the complexities you were trying to speak to. In Job 11 Zophar just sets himself up. He tells Job the depths of God are too deep for us and the heights of God are to high for us. We can't really understand him. And then he goes on to explain with perfect clarity what Job needs to do in relationship to his sin and this God no man can understand.
How many times have we done this? We explain some truth about God and find our we were just way off base. Zophar tells Job if he would just cast his sin aside and not let any sin dwell in his house then he would be able to stand again. Then he would be able to have hope again by some self produced righteousness. The problem is we know from the beginning of the book, Job is considered righteous in God's eyes. It is not his sin bringing down this suffering. Zophar has no idea what he is talking about.
I pray today we would be open to what God has to teach us about the mysteries of himself. There are things he has revealed to us in his word. Things we can place of feet on. If we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can not put away our sin all on our own, we need a savior without him there is no hope. Christ is our righteousness, Christ is our savior, and Christ is our hope.
May God teach us today of himself, and may we open our minds and hearts to listen because he might just change our minds from deciduous to evergreens.
My daughter and I have been having an argument the last couple of days. She is four and she learned at pre-school about deciduous trees. She is claiming her teacher told her the trees with needles are the deciduous ones and the ones with leaves are not. I have been trying to get through to her the concept the trees with needles are evergreens - see it even has green in its name. Look outside and see which trees are still green. She is convinced she is right and I am wrong or "just joking dad." She firmly believes what she has gotten into her head and it not letting it rest. Every time we get in the car and she sees an evergreen she points to it and says,"that one is deciduous."
Have you ever gotten so sure of something only to find out you are way off base, or really had no idea of the complexities you were trying to speak to. In Job 11 Zophar just sets himself up. He tells Job the depths of God are too deep for us and the heights of God are to high for us. We can't really understand him. And then he goes on to explain with perfect clarity what Job needs to do in relationship to his sin and this God no man can understand.
How many times have we done this? We explain some truth about God and find our we were just way off base. Zophar tells Job if he would just cast his sin aside and not let any sin dwell in his house then he would be able to stand again. Then he would be able to have hope again by some self produced righteousness. The problem is we know from the beginning of the book, Job is considered righteous in God's eyes. It is not his sin bringing down this suffering. Zophar has no idea what he is talking about.
I pray today we would be open to what God has to teach us about the mysteries of himself. There are things he has revealed to us in his word. Things we can place of feet on. If we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can not put away our sin all on our own, we need a savior without him there is no hope. Christ is our righteousness, Christ is our savior, and Christ is our hope.
May God teach us today of himself, and may we open our minds and hearts to listen because he might just change our minds from deciduous to evergreens.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Undying love or bitterness?
Has life given up on you or have you given up on life?
You know the scene in the disaster movie when life on the planet is about to end. The characters move towards each other and confess their undying love to the person who they have held their feelings back from for years. “I just wanted you to know before we die, I love you, I always have loved you.” Or vows are recommitted between a couple, they well always love each other, they will never forget the other. As cheesy as this is, “I’ll ever let go Rose!” It still seems to tug at our heart strings. When we know life is about to end we are brought to the understanding of the importance of relationships. We reach out, we reconcile, we recommit to one another.
Contrast this to when we have given up on life before life is about to give up on us. Instead of love and reaching out, instead of coming together and reconciling we push others away. Instead of the desire and flow of love we let the words pour from the bitterness of our hearts. Job 9 & 10 are the pouring of a man’s heart as he has given up on live. The first verse of chap 10 is Job telling us he has no concern for his life, he has given up on being alive so he will let his complaint pour freely from the bitterness of his heart.
Have you ever been accosted by the bitterness of someone? The words shared are so bitter and hurtful. Perhaps the person questions you as a person, your integrity, even the call God has placed on your life. I remember a phone call like that a couple of years ago. A parent was very up set about a situation with their child and I was the one who received the full force of their anger. I have to confess I didn’t respond well and I got defensive. I made my apologies and after a time so did the parent. I remember a school newspaper railing against a ministry team I was a part of in College. We came to find out later the writer of these articles was a student who was very bitter at God and her own church experience.
If you have harsh words coming towards you today, I invite you into the possibly stressful situation of listening for the pain lying beneath the bitterness. This very possibly is someone who has given up on some part of their life. If we are the right ones to listen through their anger and bitterness we might just find out what the source of the pain is underneath and who knows perhaps God can use us to bring healing to this bitterness.
May we remember bitterness and bitter words often come from someone who has given up.
You know the scene in the disaster movie when life on the planet is about to end. The characters move towards each other and confess their undying love to the person who they have held their feelings back from for years. “I just wanted you to know before we die, I love you, I always have loved you.” Or vows are recommitted between a couple, they well always love each other, they will never forget the other. As cheesy as this is, “I’ll ever let go Rose!” It still seems to tug at our heart strings. When we know life is about to end we are brought to the understanding of the importance of relationships. We reach out, we reconcile, we recommit to one another.
Contrast this to when we have given up on life before life is about to give up on us. Instead of love and reaching out, instead of coming together and reconciling we push others away. Instead of the desire and flow of love we let the words pour from the bitterness of our hearts. Job 9 & 10 are the pouring of a man’s heart as he has given up on live. The first verse of chap 10 is Job telling us he has no concern for his life, he has given up on being alive so he will let his complaint pour freely from the bitterness of his heart.
Have you ever been accosted by the bitterness of someone? The words shared are so bitter and hurtful. Perhaps the person questions you as a person, your integrity, even the call God has placed on your life. I remember a phone call like that a couple of years ago. A parent was very up set about a situation with their child and I was the one who received the full force of their anger. I have to confess I didn’t respond well and I got defensive. I made my apologies and after a time so did the parent. I remember a school newspaper railing against a ministry team I was a part of in College. We came to find out later the writer of these articles was a student who was very bitter at God and her own church experience.
If you have harsh words coming towards you today, I invite you into the possibly stressful situation of listening for the pain lying beneath the bitterness. This very possibly is someone who has given up on some part of their life. If we are the right ones to listen through their anger and bitterness we might just find out what the source of the pain is underneath and who knows perhaps God can use us to bring healing to this bitterness.
May we remember bitterness and bitter words often come from someone who has given up.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Life is Fragile
Do you think that trust in God will bring you to unbreakable health and prosperity?
I was talking with a friend from high school the other day. He was telling me about his father's slow decline into dementia. It's a hard place to be in when you have to start taking care of you parents as if they were your children. It does strange things to your mind when these roles reverse. This family is a good God fearing family. I have another friend who has a friend who is dying from cancer. The man who is dying is a pastor and he was scheduled to be ordained in the ministry months ago, but he got sick. He dedicated his life to God and to his service. I remember having a conversation with some church members who told me their aunt had just be diagnosed with brain cancer. This was a woman who had taken care of her health all of her life believing her body was the temple of the Holy Spirit.
When these things happen we end up asking why. We wish those who really followed God would just continue in strength and health forever. Some people offer explanations. Bildad in Job chap 8 tells Job that Job's kids died because of their sin. It was a direct punishment for their evil behavior. He goes on to say Job must have the case of the boils because of a sin of his own. He then goes on to say if we rely on God then we are strong but if we don't then we are like a spider web. We have no foundation, we can be swept away at any moment. If Job would just turn back to God then God would rouse from his slumber and restore Job to the health and prestige he once held. His life would no longer be so fragile.
There are parts of this that are so true. We are on a firmer foundation with God. We do have strength to stand. He does hold us up. But we are not promised eternal health and prosperity on this earth. Our lives are fragile. There are things like germs and bacteria that cause disease and death. It does come from being in a fallen world which came from the result of sin, but getting sick doesn't mean you aren't relying of God. When you catch a cold it wasn't because you swore, when you have to go in for surgery to replace the hip that has worn our over the years it didn't wear out because you had an affair.
When we make direct comparisons like this it almost becomes laughable. But somehow we still think life is fragile because we are misbehaving or not fully relying on God. Relying on God doesn't mean our lives are not fragile. Relying on God means when we break he will carry us through. He will give us patience and endurance, he will never leave us alone, we can still be in his hands when we are broken. I am reminded of a line from the play "scars."
Jesus didn't promise us we wouldn't get scars, Jesus had scars too, he just promised us we wouldn't have to bear them alone. We have someone who understands them first hand on our side.
My we rely on God today whether we are whole or broken, knowing life is fragile and if it ends or continues we can still rest in the hands of God.
I was talking with a friend from high school the other day. He was telling me about his father's slow decline into dementia. It's a hard place to be in when you have to start taking care of you parents as if they were your children. It does strange things to your mind when these roles reverse. This family is a good God fearing family. I have another friend who has a friend who is dying from cancer. The man who is dying is a pastor and he was scheduled to be ordained in the ministry months ago, but he got sick. He dedicated his life to God and to his service. I remember having a conversation with some church members who told me their aunt had just be diagnosed with brain cancer. This was a woman who had taken care of her health all of her life believing her body was the temple of the Holy Spirit.
When these things happen we end up asking why. We wish those who really followed God would just continue in strength and health forever. Some people offer explanations. Bildad in Job chap 8 tells Job that Job's kids died because of their sin. It was a direct punishment for their evil behavior. He goes on to say Job must have the case of the boils because of a sin of his own. He then goes on to say if we rely on God then we are strong but if we don't then we are like a spider web. We have no foundation, we can be swept away at any moment. If Job would just turn back to God then God would rouse from his slumber and restore Job to the health and prestige he once held. His life would no longer be so fragile.
There are parts of this that are so true. We are on a firmer foundation with God. We do have strength to stand. He does hold us up. But we are not promised eternal health and prosperity on this earth. Our lives are fragile. There are things like germs and bacteria that cause disease and death. It does come from being in a fallen world which came from the result of sin, but getting sick doesn't mean you aren't relying of God. When you catch a cold it wasn't because you swore, when you have to go in for surgery to replace the hip that has worn our over the years it didn't wear out because you had an affair.
When we make direct comparisons like this it almost becomes laughable. But somehow we still think life is fragile because we are misbehaving or not fully relying on God. Relying on God doesn't mean our lives are not fragile. Relying on God means when we break he will carry us through. He will give us patience and endurance, he will never leave us alone, we can still be in his hands when we are broken. I am reminded of a line from the play "scars."
Jesus didn't promise us we wouldn't get scars, Jesus had scars too, he just promised us we wouldn't have to bear them alone. We have someone who understands them first hand on our side.
My we rely on God today whether we are whole or broken, knowing life is fragile and if it ends or continues we can still rest in the hands of God.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Something More
Is God really paying attention to us?
This was my question in high school and college. I grew up believing there was a God. I learned about him and I studied the bible. I was even baptized when I was 13. But as I got older I began to wonder if God was really interested in the details of my life. I believed he created everything and I believed he took care of the sin problem by sending his son. But those seemed to be the only two times he really interacted with Humans directly. OK there were lots of bible stories of God shutting the lions mouths and saving people from fiery furnaces. But those had become bedtime stories and things I remembered along the same lines as sleeping beauty and Cinderella. Nice stories fun to watch or read if I got a nostalgic kick. But I didn't see the relevance in my life.
As I got older life started to get harder. My dad's depression was one thing, but I found girlfriends to get closer to rather than God. My addiction was another thing, but I could white knuckle that one at least for a while. It was when my marriage and wife really crashed, a few years ago, and I had no where else to go I found myself fully in the arms on an intimate and involved God as he carried me through it and brought life back to my family.
Job continues his lament in chap 7. He is still struggling with the concept of being alive and he talks about the fragility of life here. He compares the life of man to the breath the wind, here and then gone. Because of this fragility he will lament and complain while he has breath to do so. His complaint is an interesting one though. Why God are you so mindful of man. Why do you pay so much attention to this fleeting breath which is a single man's life.
Somehow in the midst of all of the hardship Job finds God's mindfulness of man. I think this is true. It is interesting to me, when life gets harder some how we become more mindful of God's watchfulness. Perhaps it is because in these times we cry out to him more, because the circumstances of our lives are more than we can handle. So the truth is he was probably always there we just weren't paying attention as much before.
Scripture tells us that God sees a sparrow fall, how then can he not be watching us? Humanity, the only part of creation made in his own image. He is watching us and even when Job is crying out for death he knows God is watching over him.
May we know today, in the good or in the bad, God is mindful of us. No matter how insignificant we feel in the scheme of life especially in comparison to those around us. God is watching over us.
My personal mission statement is to share with others a God who is real and intimate and who offers us new life in the midst of spiritual warfare. I pray we might come to know this as true and recognize his watchfulness, his mindfulness of us...even today.
This was my question in high school and college. I grew up believing there was a God. I learned about him and I studied the bible. I was even baptized when I was 13. But as I got older I began to wonder if God was really interested in the details of my life. I believed he created everything and I believed he took care of the sin problem by sending his son. But those seemed to be the only two times he really interacted with Humans directly. OK there were lots of bible stories of God shutting the lions mouths and saving people from fiery furnaces. But those had become bedtime stories and things I remembered along the same lines as sleeping beauty and Cinderella. Nice stories fun to watch or read if I got a nostalgic kick. But I didn't see the relevance in my life.
As I got older life started to get harder. My dad's depression was one thing, but I found girlfriends to get closer to rather than God. My addiction was another thing, but I could white knuckle that one at least for a while. It was when my marriage and wife really crashed, a few years ago, and I had no where else to go I found myself fully in the arms on an intimate and involved God as he carried me through it and brought life back to my family.
Job continues his lament in chap 7. He is still struggling with the concept of being alive and he talks about the fragility of life here. He compares the life of man to the breath the wind, here and then gone. Because of this fragility he will lament and complain while he has breath to do so. His complaint is an interesting one though. Why God are you so mindful of man. Why do you pay so much attention to this fleeting breath which is a single man's life.
Somehow in the midst of all of the hardship Job finds God's mindfulness of man. I think this is true. It is interesting to me, when life gets harder some how we become more mindful of God's watchfulness. Perhaps it is because in these times we cry out to him more, because the circumstances of our lives are more than we can handle. So the truth is he was probably always there we just weren't paying attention as much before.
Scripture tells us that God sees a sparrow fall, how then can he not be watching us? Humanity, the only part of creation made in his own image. He is watching us and even when Job is crying out for death he knows God is watching over him.
May we know today, in the good or in the bad, God is mindful of us. No matter how insignificant we feel in the scheme of life especially in comparison to those around us. God is watching over us.
My personal mission statement is to share with others a God who is real and intimate and who offers us new life in the midst of spiritual warfare. I pray we might come to know this as true and recognize his watchfulness, his mindfulness of us...even today.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Fear breaking Friendship
Have you ever been so afraid of something you have seen in someone else you are scared away?
There are many things I see in this world from which I turn my gaze away. Homeless men and women on the side of the road holding up their signs for money. I don't want to make eye contact because they might just expect something from me and I either have nothing to give or I don't trust what they will do with what I give them so I don't want to give it, or I'm feeling the stress of trying to make ends meet myself and don't have a generous enough heart to give any of my own away.
There are gruesome things in the world I can't bear to look at. Stories on the news I don't want to see and I feel the media is just showing it too me so they can get ratings. These are things I don't mind looking away from.
There are things I wish I didn't run from though. When i see someone in need. Not someone on the side of the street who I don't know and I'm not sure what they will do with what I give them. But people I know, people at church, people in my circle of friends, people even in my own family. I know they are in need. I can see it on their faces and I walk the other way. Mostly because I don't feel like I have enough to give. My emotions are worn that day, I am low on sleep, I just don't have the time right now. I have so much to do if I stop to talk it will just slow me down. I won't know what to say. Or perhaps sometimes the reason we don't stop is because we fear what is going on might just be contagious and we will feel the same sorrow written in the lines on their faces.
Job replies to his friend in chap 6. He wishes once again that God would cut him off and let him die. And if God won't give that too him you would think he would at least have friends who would stand by him. But no these friends have seen his suffering and it has scared them away. Now we know they are still sitting right there. But they are trying to find something Job has done which they have not, so they can distance themselves in some way from this calamity and find themselves safe on the other side of the abyss.
What good can we actually be to our friends if we distance ourselves from them, in actual distance, lack of communication, business, or what ever else we might use as an excuse to keep us away and protected from the same fate or even in having to share in the suffering. We don't want to feel suffering, we don't like suffering, so we avoid it at every cost. But Paul tells us to morn with those who morn and weep with those who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice and laugh with those who laugh. The only way this will be possible is if we allow ourselves to get close to them.
May we set aside our fear tonight and enter into the lives of those around us even if we might find our eyes welling up with tears as well. Not to be scared fair weather friends but to be the ones who will enter the storm in the midst of the rain not waiting for it to blow over and not carrying an umbrella either. May we be willing to get drenched.
There are many things I see in this world from which I turn my gaze away. Homeless men and women on the side of the road holding up their signs for money. I don't want to make eye contact because they might just expect something from me and I either have nothing to give or I don't trust what they will do with what I give them so I don't want to give it, or I'm feeling the stress of trying to make ends meet myself and don't have a generous enough heart to give any of my own away.
There are gruesome things in the world I can't bear to look at. Stories on the news I don't want to see and I feel the media is just showing it too me so they can get ratings. These are things I don't mind looking away from.
There are things I wish I didn't run from though. When i see someone in need. Not someone on the side of the street who I don't know and I'm not sure what they will do with what I give them. But people I know, people at church, people in my circle of friends, people even in my own family. I know they are in need. I can see it on their faces and I walk the other way. Mostly because I don't feel like I have enough to give. My emotions are worn that day, I am low on sleep, I just don't have the time right now. I have so much to do if I stop to talk it will just slow me down. I won't know what to say. Or perhaps sometimes the reason we don't stop is because we fear what is going on might just be contagious and we will feel the same sorrow written in the lines on their faces.
Job replies to his friend in chap 6. He wishes once again that God would cut him off and let him die. And if God won't give that too him you would think he would at least have friends who would stand by him. But no these friends have seen his suffering and it has scared them away. Now we know they are still sitting right there. But they are trying to find something Job has done which they have not, so they can distance themselves in some way from this calamity and find themselves safe on the other side of the abyss.
What good can we actually be to our friends if we distance ourselves from them, in actual distance, lack of communication, business, or what ever else we might use as an excuse to keep us away and protected from the same fate or even in having to share in the suffering. We don't want to feel suffering, we don't like suffering, so we avoid it at every cost. But Paul tells us to morn with those who morn and weep with those who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice and laugh with those who laugh. The only way this will be possible is if we allow ourselves to get close to them.
May we set aside our fear tonight and enter into the lives of those around us even if we might find our eyes welling up with tears as well. Not to be scared fair weather friends but to be the ones who will enter the storm in the midst of the rain not waiting for it to blow over and not carrying an umbrella either. May we be willing to get drenched.
The "Christian" blame game
Do we blame sin to quickly?
It seems to be a favorite past time of at least a few high profile Christians out there to blame natural disasters on the sin of whatever place they effect. I remember when 9/11 happened and someone out there said it is because of the sin of greed and capitalism overcoming the united states. Then hurricane Katrina happened and someone tried to blame the sin and debauchery of New Orleans. Then there came the earthquake in Haiti, it must be the voodoo government someone shouted out.
Now I am all for blaming sin for natural disasters, but only sin in general. I agree with Paul as he writes to the Romans saying, all creation groans and waits for deliverance as it is fallen in to sin as well through the one, man, who subjected it. Adam was the regent of this world and when he fell he gave regency over to Satan. So all creation fell along with humanity. But we get to carried away too quickly when it comes to blaming particular natural disasters on particular people.
In Job 4-5 Job's first friend speaks up. He hears the rant of Job against the day of his birth and his wish to no longer be living and he just can't stand it any more. He must speak. Job don't you know terrible things only happen to the wicked? You don't see the evil in this world prosper and the righteous go down in flames. It's just not how things work. God promises blessings to the righteous and curses to the wicked. Job get over this whole wishing you were dead thing and blaming all of this on life and repent man, move forward get past it.
What kind of world is this guy living in??? The wicked prosper all over the place, those who cheat get ahead here. Those who work hard and do good can also get ahead here. Many of the wicked work very hard at being wicked and do very well. Add to this the rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked. Stuff just happens. We live in a fallen world with a regent who is happy to take us out. We know from the beginning of this book the devil is behind this mess. Which people would the devil rather see winning? The righteous or the wicked after all?
But somehow it is more prudent to take calamity upon ourselves. Some how we just aren't allowed to say this life sucks. The problem is living in a fallen world suffering is part of life. There are times in life when we feel it more than others and it can't all just be blamed on current active sin. There is plenty that can be. When we murder it hurts people, when we abuse our children it hurts people, when we reject the less popular it hurts people. But which one of you is able to stir up a whirlwind and crush a house or drown a city? I'm sorry those things are outside of our power. Unless you're Storm from the X-men I suppose.
It is good for us to get write with God and recognize we fall short with the rest of humanity. Job did this regularly he offered sacrifices daily for himself and his children. But sometimes life in a fallen world just sucks and sometimes we need to be able to say so without someone getting all freaked out and trying to fix it by finding the one to blame.
Next time you are tempted to look for the cause of deep personal suffering realize it just might be beyond any of our control and give credit where credit is due. We still live in a fallen world and sometimes life sucks. Relax let it go and rest in the promise of hope God has given us, it won't last forever.
It seems to be a favorite past time of at least a few high profile Christians out there to blame natural disasters on the sin of whatever place they effect. I remember when 9/11 happened and someone out there said it is because of the sin of greed and capitalism overcoming the united states. Then hurricane Katrina happened and someone tried to blame the sin and debauchery of New Orleans. Then there came the earthquake in Haiti, it must be the voodoo government someone shouted out.
Now I am all for blaming sin for natural disasters, but only sin in general. I agree with Paul as he writes to the Romans saying, all creation groans and waits for deliverance as it is fallen in to sin as well through the one, man, who subjected it. Adam was the regent of this world and when he fell he gave regency over to Satan. So all creation fell along with humanity. But we get to carried away too quickly when it comes to blaming particular natural disasters on particular people.
In Job 4-5 Job's first friend speaks up. He hears the rant of Job against the day of his birth and his wish to no longer be living and he just can't stand it any more. He must speak. Job don't you know terrible things only happen to the wicked? You don't see the evil in this world prosper and the righteous go down in flames. It's just not how things work. God promises blessings to the righteous and curses to the wicked. Job get over this whole wishing you were dead thing and blaming all of this on life and repent man, move forward get past it.
What kind of world is this guy living in??? The wicked prosper all over the place, those who cheat get ahead here. Those who work hard and do good can also get ahead here. Many of the wicked work very hard at being wicked and do very well. Add to this the rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked. Stuff just happens. We live in a fallen world with a regent who is happy to take us out. We know from the beginning of this book the devil is behind this mess. Which people would the devil rather see winning? The righteous or the wicked after all?
But somehow it is more prudent to take calamity upon ourselves. Some how we just aren't allowed to say this life sucks. The problem is living in a fallen world suffering is part of life. There are times in life when we feel it more than others and it can't all just be blamed on current active sin. There is plenty that can be. When we murder it hurts people, when we abuse our children it hurts people, when we reject the less popular it hurts people. But which one of you is able to stir up a whirlwind and crush a house or drown a city? I'm sorry those things are outside of our power. Unless you're Storm from the X-men I suppose.
It is good for us to get write with God and recognize we fall short with the rest of humanity. Job did this regularly he offered sacrifices daily for himself and his children. But sometimes life in a fallen world just sucks and sometimes we need to be able to say so without someone getting all freaked out and trying to fix it by finding the one to blame.
Next time you are tempted to look for the cause of deep personal suffering realize it just might be beyond any of our control and give credit where credit is due. We still live in a fallen world and sometimes life sucks. Relax let it go and rest in the promise of hope God has given us, it won't last forever.
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